On this auspicious and merit-multiplying occasion of Vesak Day 2024, 22 May 2024, the Maha Tare Buddhist Centre is humbled to be able present with folded hands and in veneration, an audio recording of the Venerable Shantideva’s exalted teaching, the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra or Bodhicaryāvatāra (Sanskrit: बोधिसत्त्वाचर्यावतार; Tibetan: བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས་དཔའི་སྤྱོད་པ་ལ་འཇུག་པ་; Chinese:入菩萨行论) translated into English as A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life.
With the entirety of the text read aloud in English by Maha Tare Dharma friend Jamyang Namgyal, it is hoped that the recording of the ten (10) chapters of this inspiring text will make this epic Mahayana teaching accessible to those who may not have the time to read this precious piece of work.
The Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life was composed in the 8th Century C.E, and provides insight into the science of the human mind, and represents an important foundational path towards Awakening, with an erudite (and in some parts, very profound) discourse on to the twofold practices of wisdom and compassion that lead one to enlightenment.
May these words acquaint and establish in all who hear, the loving kindness, compassion and wisdom of the Buddhas of the ten directions and the Bodhisattvas of the ten bhumis. May all of you receive blessings manifold.
Whilst effort has been made to ensure a fully accurate reading of the text, any errors remain Jamyang Namgyal’s own, the faults of which are hereby openly and unreservedly confessed, and the kind indulgence of all our listeners, concurrently sought.
Jamyang Namgyal dedicates this work to the good health and long lives of all our lineage gurus, and expresses gratitude to our precious teacher Geshe Lama Konchok for his infinite kindness and patience in guiding all of us in our path towards enlightenment.
The Maha Tare Team
A light along your paths
CONTENT
Chapter 1 - The Benefits of Bodhicitta
Chapter 2 - Confession of Negative Deeds
Chapter 3 - Full Acceptance of Bodhicitta
Chapter 4 - Conscientiousness/Perseverance
Chapter 5 - Guarding Mindfulness & Alertness
Chapter 6 - The Perfection of Patience
Chapter 7 - The Perfection of Diligence
Chapter 8 - Meditation
Chapter 9 - The Perfection of Wisdom
Chapter 10 - Dedication
* The rights of this English text (translated from a 12th Century Tibetan commentary by Stephen Batchelor) belong to the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, whose permission to produce and disseminate this audio recording has been duly obtained.