PERFECTION OF WISDOM

(CHAPTER IX)

BODHICARYAVATARA
A Guide to a Bodhisattva’s Way of Life

Bodhisattva Shantideva

Translated by Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul

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TIBET HOUSE
Cultural Centre of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
 PERFECTION OF WISDOM
(CHAPTER NINE)

B O D H I C A R Y A V AT A R A
A GUIDE TO THE BODHISATTVA’S WAY OF LIFE

BODHISATTVA SHANTIDEVA
 Tibet House Publication

©2014 Tibet House, New Delhi

All rights reserved

First Edition: 2014

Published by:

Tibet House
Cultural Centre of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
1 Insitutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110003
(PDLORIÀFH#WLEHWKRXVHLQ
:HEVLWHZZZWLEHWKRXVHLQ
Tel: +91 11 2461 1515

NOT FOR SALE

Printed in New Delhi, India

 Dedication

For the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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 Bodhicaryavatara - A Guide to the Bodhisattava’s Way of Life 1

PERFECTION OF WISDOM CHAPTER

BODHICARYAVATARA
A GUIDE TO THE BODHISATTVA’S WAY OF LIFE
BODHISATTVA SHANTIDEVA

THE NEED TO GENERATE THE WISDOM REALISING ULTIMATE

REALITY
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ASCERTAINING THE TWO TRUTHS

(2) Conventional and Ultimate,
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(3) In light of that, the world is seen to be of two types:

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Yogis too are undermined by progressively higher ones
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REFUTING OBJECTIONS FROM THE PROPONENTS OF INHERENT

EXISTENCE
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REFUTING THE REALISTS IN GENERAL

(A) BY REFUTING CONTRADICTION WITH DIRECT PERCEPTION
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(B) BY REFUTING CONTRADICTION WITH BUDDHA’S WORDS

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(11) In murdering, an illusory person and so on,

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are of varying kinds,
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REFUTING THE OBJECTIONS OF THE CHITTAMATRINS

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REFUTING THE ASSERTION THAT THE PATH WHICH UNDERSTANDS

EMPTINESS IS OF NO BENEFIT
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Of dispositions of disturbing emotions towards knowable things,
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(32) However, by habituating himself with the imprint of

understanding emptiness,
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(36) For example, when a garudika healer,

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(37) Similarly, when a bodhisattva has passed into nirvana,

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ESTABLISHING THAT THE WISDOM OF EMPTINESS IS ULTIMATELY

THE TRUE PATH TO LIBERATION
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yourselves and others,
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Moreover, it is impossible for pleasure and so on
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 >:HOO@KRZFDQLWEH>ERWK@JURVVDQGVXEWOH"
24 Perfection of Wisdom Chapter

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 >:HOO@FRJQLWLRQRI WKDWPXVW>DOVR@H[LVW

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 >6XSSRVH\RXUHWRUW@
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 Bodhicaryavatara - A Guide to the Bodhisattava’s Way of Life 25

 :LWKRXWKDYLQJLGHQWLÀHGWKHREMHFWRI >QHJDWLRQ@

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SUMMARY
(141) Therefore, when analysed in that way,
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 >7KLQJV@GRQRWH[LVWLQWKHLUFRQGLWLRQV
 :KHWKHULQGLYLGXDOO\RUFROOHFWLYHO\

 >$WKLQJ@GRHVQRWHPHUJHIURPVRPHWKLQJHOVH
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 +RZLVLWGLIIHUHQWIURPDQLOOXVLRQ"

(B) REASONING OF DEPENDENT ORIGINATION

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 >6RIRU@DQ\WKLQJHPDQDWHGE\DPDJLFLDQ
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 ZKHUHLWFRPHVIURP
And also where it goes,

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26 Perfection of Wisdom Chapter

&5($621,1*72(67$%/,6+´(037,1(66µ
FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF EFFECT
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Then again, if that is not existent,
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All wandering beings at all times
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SAMENESS OF SAMSARA AND NIRVANA ON THE ULTIMATE LEVEL

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Whether they are released or not released from sorrow
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 Bodhicaryavatara - A Guide to the Bodhisattava’s Way of Life 27

ADVICE ON THE NEED TO STRIVE TO REALISE EMPTINESS

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(151) With all phenomena empty in that way,
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When investigated at the ultimate level
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(154) Those of my type, please understand

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 7KHQ>GHVSLWH@FRPLQJWRWKHIDYRXUDEOHVWDWHVRI ELUWK

over and over again, and
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28 Perfection of Wisdom Chapter

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 7KHUHDVZHOOZLWKDFWLYLWLHVIRUORQJHYLW\DQGKHDOWK
With hunger and exhaustion,
With sleep and harms, and likewise
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 Bodhicaryavatara - A Guide to the Bodhisattava’s Way of Life 29

(163) And they fail to see their own suffering,

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(164) For example, some people perform ablutions and ablutions,

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Even though in terrible states of suffering,
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First, they will lose their lives,
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THE MODE OF APPREHENSION OF THE GREAT COMPASSION

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*
*** ***
This rendering of the Ninth, Wisdom chapter of Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life was
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TIBET HOUSE
Cultural Centre of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Tibet House, the Cultural Center of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is
dedicated to the study and practice of Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan art
and culture.

PROGRAMMES

Regular Discourses

Tenet Systems (in English):

This class introduces students to the

concepts and philosophy of the
different tenet systems of Buddhism.

Day and time: Sundays, 4:00 pm

Introduction to Buddhism (in Tibetan):

This weekly class has been designed

for Tibetans residing in Delhi, but is
open to all.

Day and time: Wednesdays, 6:00 pm

 Certificate Courses

Bodhisattva Shantideva’s Bodhicaryavatara (A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s

Way of Life) Chapters 1 – 7 (Series I):

This course focuses on the perfections of

generosity, ethical discipline, patience and
enthusiastic perseverance, and the topic of
bodhicitta.

Day and time: Fridays, 6:00 pm

Arya Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamikakarika (Fundamental Wisdom of the

Middle Way):
Chapters 1, 18, 22, 24, 25 and 26 of the text
are being covered. Entry into this course is
only for those who previously registered for
it.

Day and time: Sundays, 12:00 pm

Wisdom Chapter of Bodhisattva Shantideva’s Bodhicaryavatara (A Guide to

the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life):

This course will focus on the wisdom aspect

of the path- the concept of emptiness.
Registration for this course is now open.

Day and time: to be announced

 Certificate Study Retreat Programmes

15-Day Study Retreat on Acharya Chandrakirti’s ‘Entry into the Middle

Way’ and the commentary on it by Lama Tsongkhapa:
September 23 – October 7, 2014

For more information please visit http://tibethouse.in/node/314

Bodhicitta Retreat (Series 3): November 4 – 18, 2014

This ten-day retreat will focus on

learning about and meditating on
Bodhicitta and the wisdom of
emptiness.

The venue of the retreat

Intensive Courses
Intensive Courses, generally of 3-5
days duration, involve an in-depth
study of a particular text or area of
philosophy. Topics that have been
covered are Bodhicitta - The
Compassionate Mind of
Enlightenment, In Praise of
Dependent Origination, the Foundation of All Good Qualities,
Hymn to the Buddha: the World Transcendent, In Praise of
Dharmadhatu, Staircase to Emptiness, Heart Sutra, and Stages of
Meditation.
 Lectures, Seminars and Conferences

Tibet House regularly organises

conferences, seminars and lectures on
a wide range of topics, such as
environment, neuroscience,
psychology and philosophy.

TIBETAN LANGUAGE COURSE

Tibet House runs beginner to

advanced level Tibetan Language
Proficiency Courses.

For more information please visit: http://tibethouse.in/node/368

FACILITIES

Dalai Lama Study Scholarship

We offer scholarships to students wanting to attend Tibet House

Study Retreats.

For more information please visit http://www.tibethouse.in/content/announcement

 Library and Resource Centre
The collection at Tibet House covers a
wide range of rare manuscripts in
Tibetan and general interest books on
Buddhism and Tibetan culture.

Museum

The Museum at Tibet House

preserves an invaluable collection of
old and rare art objects from Tibet.

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS

Thonmi Sambhota Research Fellowship

Since 1987 Tibet House offers a research fellowship in the name of

Thonmi Sambhota, the seventh century scholar who developed the
Tibetan script.
For more information please visit http://www.tibethouse.in/content/research-and-publications

Lochen Vairochana Translation Committee

The Committee aims to translate key texts from

Sanskrit and Tibetan into English, Hindi and Chinese,
to make them available to a larger audience.
 Publications

Tibet House regularly publishes books, booklets and pamphlets on

a variety of topics related to religion, philosophy, Tibetan history
and culture, inter-religious tolerance and ecological
responsibility.

Tibetan Women Zamatok Bodong Panchen

(Sambhota XIX) Volume - 10 SungBum
(Volume 1-111)

The ‘Tibet House Bulletin’, is published annually and

keeps friends throughout the world informed about
activities at Tibet House.

Tibet House Bulletin

(2013)






























































































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Tibet House
&XOWXUDO&HQWUHRI +LV+ROLQHVVWKH'DODL/DPD
1, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110003
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