The Bodhisattva Vow: The Essential Practices of Mahayana Buddhism

The subject of this book is the Bodhisattva’s moral discipline. The Sanskrit term Bodhisattva is the name given to anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has generated bodhichitta, which is a spontaneous wish to attain Buddha hood for the benefit of all living being. Since everyone has within their mental continuum the seeds of great compassion and bodhichitta, and since everyone can at some time meet a Mahayana Dharma Teacher, it is possible for everyone to become a Bodhisattva by training in the Mahayana teachings. A Bodhisattva’s every action is motivated by the with to attain full enlightenment for the sake of others; to fulfill this wish he or she takes the Bodhisattva vows and keeps them by practicing the six perfections-giving, moral discipline, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom. In this welcome guide to compassionate living, Geshe Kelsang explains in detail how to take and keep the Bodhisattva vows. He gives clear and practical advice on every aspect of a Bodhisattva’s moral discipline, as well as explaining a special practice for purifying our mind. With this book as our companion, we can enter into the Bodhisattva’s way of life and swiftly accomplish full enlightenment. It may serve as: A practical guide to the Bodhisattva’s way of life; An explanation of the Bodhisattva vows and six perfections; An essential companion for practitioners of Mahayana Buddhism.