Bodhisattvacharyavatara

by Andreas Kretschmar | 246,740 words

The English translation of the Bodhisattvacharyavatara (“entering the conduct of the bodhisattvas”), a Sanskrit text with Tibetan commentary. This book explains the bodhisattva concept and gives guidance to the Buddhist practitioner following the Mahāyāna path towards the attainment of enlightenment. The text was written in Sanskrit by Shantideva ...

Text Sections 144-145

Both general and particular reasons are found for giving a title to a text. The general purpose comes from the simple fact that without titles, names, labels, terms and words, one will not be able to understand anything. For instance, in order to understand what is meant by the term ’emptiness’, one must first have a word that denotes ’emptiness’.

The Buddha was forced to use words and terms in order to make his students understand a particular meaning. He named and labeled all his teachings with terms such as generosity, discipline, diligence, patience, meditation, wisdom-knowledge, and so forth. Had he not done so, no one would have understood him, and the whole world would have continued to languish in abject ignorance.

In particular, the title Bodhisattva-caryāvatāra was given to demonstrate the topic of this text. Those of highest capacity would be able to understand the entire meaning of the text from beginning to end upon simply hearing or reading the title. Those of average capacity would have a general understanding of what the text is about, and those of lowest capacity could easily locate the book based on its title, just as one easily finds a particular medicine based on the label.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: