A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way Of Life

The Bodhicaryavatara, sometimes glossed as A Guide of to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, is a famous Buddhist text written by Shantideva, around year 700. It has ten chapters dedicated to the development of an enlightened mind through the so called six perfections. The book also describes the benefits of the wish to reach enlightenment.

Chapter summary

• Chapter one: the benefits of the wish to reach full enlightenment for others
• Chapter two: purifying bad deeds
• Chapter three: acquiring the wish for enlightenment
• Chapter four: using carefulness
• Chapter five: guarding awareness
• Chapter six: the practice of not getting angry
• Chapter seven: the practice of joyous effort
• Chapter eight: the practice of meditative concentration
• Chapter nine: wisdom
• Chapter ten: dedication

Many Tibetan scholars wrote commentaries on this text, for example:

• Entry Point for the Children of The Victorious Buddhas, by Gyaltsab Je
  • In Tibetan: rgyal sras 'jug ngogs