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 ...

Bodhisattvas are beings who turn bad omens into auspicious conditions [ltas ngan g.yang du ’gug], who allow bad conditions to arise as enhancements [rkyen ngan grogs su ’char ba’ gang zag]. Bad omens [ltas ngan pa] connote bad signs [rtags ngan pa], something inauspicious [bkra ma shis pa], and even obstacles [bar chad]. For ordinary beings all these situations and circumstances are something that must be avoided [phar ’dor bya yin pa] and not something that must be accepted or welcomed [dang du len bya ma yin pa]. Such beings seek out methods to overcome [spong thabs] these difficult events.

When a bodhisattva yogin encounters bad omens and inauspicious events, he feels so confident and fearless that he invites them. He uses these obstacles to test his dharma practice. He perceives bad omens as auspicious circumstances [g.yang du len pa], as aids [grogs su len pa]. Instead of rejecting them he will joyously invite them.

The yogin bodhisattva has the strength to transform obstacles into enhancements for his practice due to his bodhicitta. When the yogin dwells within bodhicitta without wavering [byang chub sems las mi g.yo ba bsdad], no circumstances can harm his practice. Everything he encounters becomes an enhancement.

Even if suffering from a mortal sickness, he takes this as an enhancement for his practice, joyously thinking,

“May the suffering and sicknesses of all sentient beings ripen on my body. May all sentient beings be established on the level of ultimate happiness.”

In this way he views any situation with the ’eye of bodhicitta’ [byan chub sems kyi mig]. He dwells within bodhicitta unmoving like a mountain.

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