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 ...

Nāgārjuna’s quote from the Prajñā-daṇḍa is made to show the nature of Śāntideva’s pledge to compose this treatise. Sublime beings never waver in their promises. Such a promise or pledge is like taking on a precept. Through fulfilling the pledge of composing a treatise, the author gathers tremendous merit, much more than if he had simply written the text without making any pledge. A pledge [dam bca’ ba], precept [sdom pa], or discipline [tshul khrims], when taken on, immeasurably increases the merit in any virtuous action.

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