The Way of the Bodhisattva - (Shambhala Classics) 2nd Edition by Shantideva (Paperback)

About the Book

The Bodhicharyavatara (literally, "An Entry into the Activities of Enlightenment") is one of the masterworks of Buddhist thought. Written in 8th century India, it outlines the path of the bodhisattvas, spiritual aspirants who vow to cultivate wisdom to help others. This work is offered here in a highly accessible and poetic translation from the Tibetan.

Book Synopsis

The classic Buddhist text and "essential guidebook" on the ideal of compassion and the methods of attaining it (Pema Chödrön, author of When Things Fall Apart)

Treasured by Buddhists of all traditions, The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicharyavatara) is a guide to cultivating the mind of enlightenment, and to generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and patience. This text has been studied, practiced, and expounded upon in an unbroken tradition for centuries, first in India, and later in Tibet. Presented in the form of a personal meditation in verse, it outlines the path of the Bodhisattvas--those who renounce the peace of individual enlightenment and vow to work for the liberation of all beings and to attain buddhahood for their sake.

This version, translated from the Tibetan, is a revision by the translators of the 1997 edition. Included are a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a new translator's preface, a thorough introduction, a note on the translation, and three appendices of commentary by the Nyingma master Kunzang Pelden.

Review Quotes

"Shantideva's work is required reading for an understanding of Tibetan Buddhism, and the clarity and crispness of this new translation make it an accessible way into the world."--Publishers Weekly

"If I have any understanding of compassion and the practice of the bodhisattva path, it is entirely on the basis of this text that I possess it."-- H. H. the Dalai Lama

About the Author

Shantideva was a Buddhist scholar and a member of the monastic university of Nalanda, which was one of the most celebrated centers of learning in ancient India. He is said to have been a highly unusual and independent person, impervious to social and ecclesiastical pressures, and able to pursue his insights irrespective of public opinion. The Padmakara Translation Group, based in France, has a distinguished reputation for all its translations of Tibetan texts and teachings. Its work has been published in several languages and is renowned for its clear and accurate literary style.