Shantideva

Shantideva

Eighth-century Indian Mahayana Buddhist monk-scholar at the great university of Nalanda and author of the Bodhicaryavatara (The Way of the Bodhisattva), the most widely-studied text on the bodhisattva path in Tibetan Buddhism. The traditional account holds that Shantideva appeared lazy and ordinary at Nalanda — eating, sleeping, defecating, and seeming to do little else — until challenged to recite teachings before the assembly, at which point he composed the Bodhicaryavatara extemporaneously, rising into the air as he reached the final chapter on emptiness, his voice growing more distant until it could no longer be heard. The Dalai Lama has called the Bodhicaryavatara the most important book on the bodhisattva path ever written.

107

quotes in library

Quotes by Shantideva

107 quotes

“Wisdom is the eye of the bodhisattva. Without it, all other paramitas are blind.”

wisdomThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“Even the smallest virtue, dedicated to all beings, becomes inexhaustible.”

dedicationThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“To repay the kindness of one's mother, one must work for the welfare of all sentient beings.”

gratitudeThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“Aspiration without action is like a cloud without rain.”

aspirationThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“Action without wisdom is like a drum without a drummer.”

actionThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“The bodhisattva's vow: until samsara is empty, I will work for beings.”

vowThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“To one who possesses bodhichitta, every situation is an opportunity for awakening.”

opportunityThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“This precious human birth is rare. Do not waste it.”

opportunityThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“The mind is the master. Train it well.”

mindThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“In one moment of forgetting bodhichitta, eons of merit can be lost.”

vigilanceThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“The body is borrowed. Why be vain about borrowed clothing?”

bodyThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“Even those who hate you are teaching you patience.”

enemiesThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“To be angry at one who has harmed you is to drink poison and expect them to die.”

angerThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“In the open hand, no anger can stay.”

opennessThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“Practice in solitude when possible. Practice in society when necessary.”

practiceThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“The greatest enemy is one's own afflictive emotions.”

emotionsThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“To one who has trained in patience, no provocation can shake the mind.”

patienceThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“Death is certain. The hour of death is uncertain. Practice now.”

deathThe Way of the Bodhisattva

“All the joy the world contains has come through wishing happiness for others.”

joyThe Way of the Bodhisattva

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