A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night: A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Shambhala Dragon Editions) (Paperback)

by Dalai Lama (Author), Padmakara Translation Group (Translator) "THE Bodhicharyavatara opens with homage to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who are considered as the supreme recipients of offerings..." (more)
Key Phrases: ordinary enemy, primal substance, mental calm, Middle Way, Compendium of All Practices, Lord of Death (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
The Dalai Lama, the leader of Tibetan Buddhism, delivered this teaching and commentary on Shantideva's The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicharyavatara Sutra) for Westerners in a week-long instruction in Dordogne, France. Those who take the bodhisattva path promise to work toward attaining enlightenment and Buddhahood for the liberation of all sentient beings. The path thus involves the renunciation of self-centered goals and demands generosity, purification, attentiveness, patience, and wisdom. On many levels, the book is splendid as both an introduction to Buddhist spirituality and an explication of Shantideva for contemporary Westerners. Recommended for all libraries.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
If everyone considered only the well-being of others as the bodhisattva's way of life directs, the world would be a much better place. As it is, those who dream of such a society need both mystical and practical advice regarding what they can do to further the effort. They'll find it here. The Dalai Lama's teaching and reflection on the text of Shantideva provide a gentle guide to compassion and enlightenment. Throughout his explanations, the Dalai Lama refers to the experience of daily living. For most readers his examples will ring true, particularly when he is talking about the very human emotions of anger and frustration. The call to serve others and think of others first may seem idealistic, but it is the goal of enlightenmentsomething to work toward whatever one's path. One does not have to be a Buddhist to appreciate the beauty of the teachings and the simplicity of the life presented here. Indeed, non-Buddhists may discover a refreshing new approach to the doctrines of love your neighbor and do unto others. Mary Deeley

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 141 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1 edition (March 22, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877739714
• ISBN-13: 978-0877739715
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,469 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Mahayana
  #23 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( D ) > Dalai, Lama
  #23 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Dalai Lama

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspired treatment of classic Buddhist text, September 20, 2000

By	Buckeye (Harvard, MA USA) - See all my reviews

In this book the Dalai Lama presents an extended commentary on the The Way of the Bodhisattva, a well-known text of Mahayana Buddhism written by Shantideva, an 8th Century Indian Master. The premise of the Bodhisattva Path or Life is to attain enlightenment in order to serve and ultimately "save" others. As applied to everday life, it means living in as conscious and compassionate a way as possible - a life that concentrates on service to and awareness of other's needs.

While perhaps only a few can attain such an ideal state, one of the Dalia Lama's main points is that all of us can at least aspire to it. And regardless of one's feelings about this particular path, there is plenty of value in this book for those curious enough to look into it.

It's hard to pick up any book by the Dalai Lama and not take away something of great value from it, and this book is no different. However, in my opinion this book may be slightly less accessible to the non-Buddhist than some of his more recent books. This book sticks pretty close to doctrinaire Buddhism, and does not go to the lengths that some of the other books do in broadening the message for those of other faiths/practices. The concentration on reincarnation may strke most Western minds as exotic or peculiar, and might perhaps disguise the underlieing message. I would recommend Ethics for the Next Century or perhaps The Good Heart for those not very familiar with Buddhism.

For those with a reasonable grounding and comfort with Buddhist thought, this is an excellent book.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Science of Happiness, July 10, 2000

By	Timothy Walden (Asheville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A practical guide to finding peace and freedom from suffering, this commentary on, and translation of verses from, an eighth century text contains explanations and simple exercises and visualizations to help develop the six practices of generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, concentration, and wisdom in order to overcome ignorance, attachment, and aversion and to benefit all beings. The closer you look at the boundary between self and non self, the fuzzier it gets. Is your hair or sweat self? Is the meal you've just eaten non self? Are you not affected by the ideas and actions of those with whom you are in contact, whether they are friends, strangers, or enemies? Unless your motivation is to help everyone, you are working against yourself.

The keys to the practice are patience and concentration, the ways to avoid the pain of anger and to stay on the right path. "Animate causes that make us unhappy ... are themselves influenced by other conditions .... they are in fact powerless. So there is no need to get angry." Being distracted by the impermanent and unreal will bring no lasting happiness, only suffering. Changing your basic patterns of behavior by an act of will does not work, but moving slowly and consistently, step by step, using the well tested methods introduced here, it is possible to reprogram your brain.

His Holiness has selected the more practical and less dogmatic verses and has omitted the detailed philosophical arguments in the section on wisdom. Buddhist concepts and explanations from other texts are used. With a little previous exposure, this book will give a good overview of Tibetan Buddhism and foundation for further study.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspired treatment of classic Buddhist text, September 20, 2000

By	Buckeye (Harvard, MA USA) - See all my reviews

In this book the Dalai Lama presents an extended commentary on the The Way of the Bodhisattva, a well-known text of Mahayana Buddhism written by Shantideva, an 8th Century Indian Master. The premise of the Bodhisattva Path or Life is to attain enlightenment in order to serve and ultimately "save" others. As applied to everday life, it means living in as conscious and compassionate a way as possible - a life that concentrates on service to and awareness of other's needs.

While perhaps only a few can attain such an ideal state, one of the Dalia Lama's main points is that all of us can at least aspire to it. And regardless of one's feelings about this particular path, there is plenty of value in this book for those curious enough to look into it.

It's hard to pick up any book by the Dalai Lama and not take away something of great value from it, and this book is no different. However, in my opinion this book may be slightly less accessible to the non-Buddhist than some of his more recent books. This book sticks pretty close to doctrinaire Buddhism, and does not go to the lengths that some of the other books do in broadening the message for those of other faiths/practices. The concentration on reincarnation may strke most Western minds as exotic or peculiar, and might perhaps disguise the underlieing message. I would recommend Ethics for the New Millenium or perhaps The Good Heart for those not very familiar with Buddhism.

For those with a reasonable grounding and comfort with Buddhist thought, this is an excellent book.