A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life [Paperback]

Santideva (Author), Vesna A. Wallace (Translator), B. Alan Wallace (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997

In the whole of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition there is no single treatise more deeply revered or widely practiced than A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life. Composed in the eighth century by the Indian Bodhisattva Santideva, it became an instant classic in the curricula of the Buddhist monastic universities of India, and its renown has grown ever since. Santideva presents methods to harmonize one's life with the Bodhisattva ideal and inspires the reader to cultivate the perfections of the Bodhisattva--generosity, ethics, patience, zeal, meditative concentration and wisdom.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These two volumes present perspectives on the Boddhisattva ideal, the distinguishing characteristic of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes the desire for enlightment as an act of altruism toward all beings. A Guide to the Boddhisattva Way of Life is a classic of Tibetan Buddhism, composed in the eighth century by a Buddhist monk. The Wallaces (a professor and a student in religious studies, Stanford Univ.) translated this work with careful attention to Tibetan and Sanskrit versions, which makes their translation unique. The main text has been re-created from the Sanskrit with attention to the Tibetan. Where the nuances in the originals differ significantly, the translation of the Tibetan version is given in the notes. The Thirty Seven Practices of Boddhisattvas is a transcription of an oral teaching by a Buddhist scholar and teacher. The text on which the teaching is given is a set of verses written in the 14th century by a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Like the first title, this work seeks to elucidate the day-to-day practice of the Boddhisattva. The original verses are short and fairly clear, and the commentary by Rinchen makes the meaning and the demanding character of the Boddhisattva ideal realistic for the contemporary reader. The two titles offer insight upon insight as to the way a life should be lead. Rinchen's is perhaps the more accessible to general readers. For the price, any library with an interest in Buddhism would do well to acquire both.?Mark Woodhouse, Elmira Coll. Lib., N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...will stand for many years as the standard English translation of this key Tibetan Buddhist text."--Publishers Weekly

"The Wallaces have produced a concise, literal, and elegant translation. The extant Sanskrit edition frequently differs from the one used in Tibet a millennium ago, and the Wallaces have noted these differences in copious footnotes. These features make their translation both highly readable and an excellent source for scholars of the original languages."--Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

"Wallace and Wallace succeed with admirable eloquence where some earlier translations (such as S. Batchelor's) flounder under the weight of the scholarly apparatus used to represent the voices in the text."-- Liz Wilson, Religious Studies Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559390611
• ISBN-13: 978-1559390613
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My humble opinion of an excellent book., June 1, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life (Paperback)

I have no understanding the of Tibetan or Sanskirt languages, so it is good to have Buddhist ideas put into English which is easy to comprehend. The translators have translated the Sanskirt as the main verse, but they have also included translations of the Tibetan verse, in the footnotes when the two read differently. They have also explained various names and terms so that new or non Buddhist will have a better understanding of this SPIRITUAL CLASSIC. I hope that you find this book to be as spiritually uplifting as I have found it to be. May this book encourage all who read it, or hear teachings from it to strive to have the Awakening Mind.

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best translation of the Bodhicaryavatara, July 23, 2001

By 

Steve Uhlig (Berlin, Germany) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life (Paperback)

This translation of the Bodhicaryavatara certainly consitutes the highest quality English translation. The coupling of the Sanskrit and the Tibetan versions provides a definitive accuracy in the meaning of the text. The Sanskrit version alone is cryptic from time to time so that relying on the Tibetan version is very helpful, through its closeness to the western way of expressing things.

Although i feel this translation is the best English one, this version should not be used as a first version of the Bodhicaryavatara by newcomers. The translation from Crosby and Skilton is better suited for people not used to the context and the meaning of this text...thanks to its many excellent comments.

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for twelve year old readers..., May 5, 2001

By 

Elizabeth R. Walter (Wheatfield, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life (Paperback)

Probably the most inspirational book I have ever read. If you have made your way through any of the Dalai Lama's books, especially "Transforming the Mind," you will notice that he quotes Shantideva constantly. It's great to be able to go back and refer to this book for further insight.

Compassion is a path that takes constant work in order to walk steadily upon it. Even then, it's a pretty rough road to travel in the beginning. It is my hope that books such as these will open some minds to that path, and also to the plight of the Tibetan people. Wiping this culture from the face of the earth would be a great detriment to all of humanity.