Bodhisattvacharyatara a great work was composed by Shantideva, A Buddhist Master at the Monastic University of Nagaland in Northern India. Shantideva’s Bodhisattvacharuavatara holds a unique place in Mahayana Buddhism akin to that of the Dhammapada in Hinayana Buddhism and the Bhagvad Gita in Hinduism. In combining those rare qualities of scholastic precision, spiritual depth and poetical beauty, its appeal extends to a wide audience of Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. Composed in India during the 8th century of the Christian era. It has since been an inspiration to millions of people throughout the world. Shantideva a monk was strictly observing the code of monastic discipline, and was a realized tantric adept. He was a realized soul a Boddhisattva motivated by the awakening mind, the wish to achieve Buddhahood. Buddhahood is quite simply, the tate of being Buddha. It is an expression of the state of being Buddha. It is an expression of complete, perfect enlightenment (samyak sambodhi) or that beyond which it is impossible to go. As such, it is the highest goal and attainment. Precisely because Mahayana philosophy presumes that all beings are already Buddha, this term reflects the concern to manifest the perfectness in everybody life. A Bodhichitta is a mind infused with the aspiration to attain the state of Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings. This is the entrance to and the motivation behind the Bodhisattva’s way of life. The perfect condition of human existence is in which one has freedom from unfavorable states of being and endowed with the conditions conductive to leading a spiritual life. Bodhisattvacharyavatara consists of about 914 Shalokas contained in ten chapters. In India at the time Mahayana Buddhism was well established and in the thousand or so stanzas of this text we find a concise yet comprehensive account of the principle features of this doctrine. In the first chapter Shantideva introduces the aspirant to Awakening Mind and inspires him to develop it. Shantideva’s Bodhisattvacharyavatara exhorts us to regulate and govern our lives in accordance with the Bodhisattva way of life. As a practitioner of Bodhisattvacharyavatara, with this precious human body, this precious human brain, every minute is something special. So, the proper utilization of time is very important. Time wastage is life wastage. The meaning of proper utilization means, if one can serve other people, other sentient beings. If not, at least, restrain from harming others, In such practice one, automatically gains, not only merit, but, also, one’s daily life will be more peaceful and happier.
There are no reviews yet.