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The Way of the Bodhisattva: (Bodhicaryavatara), Revised Edition (Shambhala Classics) Paperback – September 12, 2006

by Shantideva (Author), Padmakara Translation Group (Translator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 782 ratings
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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.
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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Shambhala
  4. Publication date
    September 12, 2006
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.68 x 8.97 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1590303881
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1590303887
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“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

From the Back Cover

One of the great classics of Mahayana Buddhism," 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. Presented in the form of a personal meditation in verse, it outlines the path of the bodhisattvas-those beings who renounce the peace of an individual salvation and vow to work for the deliverance of all beings, and to attain enlightenment for their sake. The text is beloved by Buddhists of all traditions.
Originally written in India in Sanskrit, the text first appeared in Tibetan translation in the eighth century. The fact that it has been expounded, studied, and practiced in Tibet in an unbroken tradition lends the Tibetan version of the "Bodhicharyavatara a particular authority. The present version has therefore been translated from the Tibetan, following a commentary by the Nyingma master Kunzang Pelden, renowned for its thoroughness, clarity, and accessibility.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shambhala; Revised edition (September 12, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1590303881
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1590303887
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.68 x 8.97 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 782 ratings

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Śāntideva

Śāntideva

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
782 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

J. Baker
5.0 out of 5 stars Buddhist Classic
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024
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One of the great classics of Buddhist literature, originally written in the Indian language but this translation is from the Tibetan and reads beautifully in English. Profound teachings. Patrul Rinpoche taught it hundreds of times.
One person found this helpful
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Stanley W. Harris
5.0 out of 5 stars Shipper did a beautiful job packing and shipping this book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024
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Shipper did a beautiful job packing and shipping this book! Beautiful hardcover book with like new dust jacket! Thank you!!!
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Catherine Pawasarat
5.0 out of 5 stars a pinnacle of Buddhist thought
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2023
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Any serious practitioner on the bodhisattva path will treasure this classic text. It’s a wellspring of inspiration, wisdom, and practical guidance. May all our efforts benefit all beings!
3 people found this helpful
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Pax
5.0 out of 5 stars It is what it says it is
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2023
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No idea if the book is good, but as a gift, the person I gave it to was happy they got what they had asked for. So I can at least vouch that it is what it says it is, whatever that is...
2 people found this helpful
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Lama Jigme Gyatso
4.0 out of 5 stars my favorite translation of this text
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2016
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Bad news and Good news. We'll start with the Bad; this ancient fundamentalist text (like most) can be dark, negative and encumbering. Now for the good news. It's prose can be stirring and intermittently beautiful; and of all translations of this classic, this version is my favorite. That being said, if you're looking for a complete synopsise of the path to enlightenment I strongly recommend puchasing "The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones." Although I'm not a fan of Dilgo Khyentse's commentary, the root text by Dza Patrul Rinpoche has been lauded by the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet as both a "...complete path..." and rather like "...an elixir for reviving the dead..." Heart Treasure is also sold by Amazon :-)
12 people found this helpful
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Tyler Re Richlie
5.0 out of 5 stars What do you think it means to live selflessly?
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2017
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Shantideva is a man who appears to have acquired alien like intelligence when it comes to living a selfless life. Consider this quote from his chapter on patience: "That the Buddha's heart might rejoice, henceforth I shall be the master of myself, the servant of the world. I shall not seek revenge though the crowds stomp on my head or kill me. Let the guardians of the world rejoice." I am pretty confident I will never meet someone this ethically committed to being patient--wish I had a time machine to talk with Shantideva for a day and ask him where exactly his insights came from (each verse in that book reads like a profound insight). Perhaps all his thoughts just assembled in his mind as he delivered his famous discourse to a crowd who was skeptical of his moral integrity at Nalanda. They thought he just walked around the university not caring about anything but rest and food. There are so many poetic, inspiring and beautiful verses throughout this book--however, I discourage you to take every verse literally unless you really don't mind being trampled or killed by crowds without seeking revenge. Nevertheless, a ton can be learned from this book just by leaning in the direction of the ethical path he has written. Consider another favorite verse I have from him: "There is nothing that does not grow light through habit and familiarity. Working with small trials, I train myself to handle great adversity."
50 people found this helpful
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Nick
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2023
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I use this translation in conjunction with a commentary by Geshe Yeshe Tobden. I actually bought it for that purpose and have found it very useful to use the both together.
4 people found this helpful
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a boat a bridge a ship
5.0 out of 5 stars Today I place myself in the service of the world
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2012
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honestly this is the only book you need for the rest of your life.

Those of us in the West, looking for a practice, this is it. We shop around the various schools and sects,
like bees buzzing around the lotuses of the various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
May the seed in all of us sprout and blossom,
may our nations bloom into a vast and limitless Dharma garden.
This book is the cultivation manual & almanac for that garden,
Shantideva's practice is the tending of that garden.

this is the textual equivalent of a cascading waterfall,
pouring over your head and cleaning the dirt from your heart.
the successful surgical removal of the ignorance cataract from your wisdom eye resulting in pure vision.
a wise man once said to me,
"Bible means Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth."
This is that, basic instructions before leaving earth.

"May I be a guard for those who are protectorless/
A guide for those who journey on the road/
For those who wish to cross the water/
May I be a boat, a raft, a bridge/

May I be an isle for those who yearn for land/
A lamp for those who long for light/
For all those who need a resting place, a bad/
For those who need a servant, may I be their slave/"

Amazing.
Read it before you meditate, read it after, read it every day.
Homage to manjushri, protector of the universe,
may the head of ignorance be struck from the shoulders of my body of confusion.
OM A RA PA TSA NA DHIH
19 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Awesome
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesone
Reviewed in Canada on November 7, 2023
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Kmf
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book.
Reviewed in Mexico on December 11, 2022
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Highly recommend to those interested in practicing compassion towards oneself and others.
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Damien
5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2023
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Hardback is palm sized and very lovely.

This is a beautiful translation that makes the tharpa version read like gibberish.
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Damien
5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2023
Hardback is palm sized and very lovely.

This is a beautiful translation that makes the tharpa version read like gibberish.
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Juan Manuel miguez pazó
5.0 out of 5 stars Clasic!
Reviewed in Spain on June 21, 2022
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The introduction is very much needed, but in this case I would highly recommend purchasing the book containing the commentary and the verses, so it becomes more didactic.
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Robert
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful every way
Reviewed in Germany on February 20, 2019
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Very beautiful quality of the paper and hard cover. The book itself is a life company.
One person found this helpful
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