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 ...
Text Section 264 / Stanza 18
From the point in time when one has genuinely adopted bodhicitta of application means from the moment one has firmly resolved,
“In order to liberate all sentient beings from their suffering, its causes and results, and to establish them on the level of omniscient buddhahood, I will practice generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, meditation or wisdom, any of the six perfections.”
The main point here is that one makes a firm resolution [thag chod], a stable commitment [dam bca’].
One develops the innate certainty [gdengs]:
“I will enact the six transcendental perfections for the sake of beings.”
That resolve is bodhicitta of application. One should receive the bodhicitta vows in a genuine fashion in front of one’s master, spiritual guide, or in front of a statue of the Buddha. Actually, a practitioner should take the bodhisattva vow [byang chub sems dpa’i sdom pa] every day.