Bodhisattvacharyavatara

by Andreas Kretschmar | 246,740 words

The English translation of the Bodhisattvacharyavatara (“entering the conduct of the bodhisattvas”), a Sanskrit text with Tibetan commentary. This book explains the bodhisattva concept and gives guidance to the Buddhist practitioner following the Mahāyāna path towards the attainment of enlightenment. The text was written in Sanskrit by Shantideva ...

To be resolute [blo sna bstung ste] means to be resolved and certain that you want to practice the dharma. You need to hold on to that idea without wavering. You should not discuss this decision with your father nor with your mother as they will only dissuade you from practicing the dharma.

The phrase:

“Not handing over the power of decision to other people, I will maintain my own independence”,

literally means

“Not handing my nose-rope over to others but fastening it around my own head”

[rang sna mi lag tu mi gtod par sna thag rang mgor dkril nas].

This phrase means, ’I will not hand over the power of decision to practice the dharma to other people, but I will maintain my own decision-making power [chos sgrub pa’i rang dbang mi gzhan la ma gnang / rang dbang rang la zin dgos]. The example comes from Tibetan yaks, who have rings through their noses with pieces of rope attached. The yak must follow wherever the rope is pulled.

When the nose-rope is wrapped around the yak’s own head [sna thag rang gi mgor dkris], it can go wherever it wishes. In the same way, those who truly want to practice the dharma should make up their own minds and not hand the power of decision to other people. The resolve to practice must come from oneself and should not be discussed with relatives and friends.

I will leave my enemies to themselves [dgra gnya’ ring du btang] means, ’May they do whatever they want to do, it is not my business any longer’. Literally it means, ’I will place my enemies high and far’. I will let my fields dry up [zhing tha reng du byas / zhing ka skam por song byung shog] means giving up one’s fields, since maintaining them requires work.

Make the following resolve:

“Giving up my ordinary life, I will commit myself to practicing the genuine dharma, such as the ten ultimate jewels [phugs nor bcu] of the old Kadampas and the three wrathful mantras [drags sngags gsum] of master Tsang pa Gyare.”

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