A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night: A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of LifeCompassion is the guiding principle of the bodhisattvas, those who vow to attain enlightenment in order to liberate all sentient beings from the suffering and confusion of imperfect existence. To this end, they must renounce all self-centered goals and consider only the well-being of others. The bodhisattvas' enemies are the ego, passion, and hatred; their weapons are generosity, patience, perseverance, and wisdom. In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is considered to be a living embodiment of this spiritual ideal. His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama presents here a detailed manual of practical philosophy, based on The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicharyavatara), a well-known text of Mahayana Buddhism written by Shantideva. The Dalai Lama explains and amplifies the text, alluding throughout to the experience of daily life and showing how anyone can develop bodhichitta, the wish for perfect enlightenment for the sake of others. This book will surely become a standard manual for all those who wish to make the bodhisattva ideal a living experience. |
Contents
The Way of the Bodhisattva | 1 |
The Benefits of Bodhichitta | 9 |
Offering and Purification | 20 |
Copyright | |
8 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
able accumulate anger arise aspects attachment attain attain enlightenment attitude avoid become begin benefit bodhichitta Bodhisattvas body bring Buddha Buddhahood Buddhist called cause chapter compassion completely concentration consciousness consider continue desire destroy develop Dharma difficult discipline Dordogne emptiness enemies enlightenment everything example existence experience explained fact feel five follow four future gain give hand happiness harm human ignorance important knowledge liberation lives means meditation mental merit mind nature negative actions negative emotions never object obscurations offering ordinary ourselves pain path patience perceive perfect phenomena pleasure positive actions practice praise protect qualities realization realms reason refers reflect refuge relative result sake samsāra sense Shantideva simply spiritual suffering teachings things thoughts tion tradition Translated true truth turn ultimate understanding Vehicle wisdom wish