Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life: How to Enjoy a Life of Great Meaning and Altruism

There are a few translations of Shantideva's discourse out there. I got this one because my teacher suggested it as an alternative to another which she was working from. Her purpose was to show how different scholars can offer alternative readings of the text. And that hearing or reading those alternatives can be useful in getting the essence of the teachings. As to the content of the discourse, it seems to make the most sense to me if I take it a little at a time, just two pages a day and let the meaning of those two pages sink in. If you take "Guide..." as a long poem admonishing a group of monks to stick with the precepts of their order, it really doesn't make a lot of a sense to a layperson with no background in Buddhism. On the other hand, if you have been doing a bit of meditation and have been attempting to apply that practice to your daily encounters with people and to your own habits, Shantideva's "Guide.." is a very useful book.

This is a terrific translation of Shantideva's classic poem, but, as a relative newcomer to Buddhist thought, I found it to be quite challenging. It is a text to be studied and savored. Despite its relatively short length, it still took me a couple of weeks to finish since I was constantly taking breaks to digest and interpret what was being said.I also must admit that, coming from a somewhat materialistic, Western background, it takes a shift in mental gears to focus on the needs of others as a means of gaining happiness.I'd also like to mention that this book is of a very high quality on the physical plane. The print is elegant. The texture of the paper is pleasing and the artwork is exceptional.

A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Bodhisattvacaryavatara) is a must have for anyone wishing to understand Mahayana buddhism, its truly a gem in the realm of spiritual texts. With this text alone one can find peace and learn how to maintain a level of equanimity during times of suffering and happiness alike. If you are just interested in a book on self help, this book is also great! There is no need to be buddhist to gain a lot of insight into human existence and our shared experience.

Great read

Clean, well packaged, arrived sooner than expected. Great source.

A classic Buddhist text bringing Shantideva into full view. Batchelor has made Shantideva's compassion a direct, lineal descendant of Nagarjuna's emptiness (see Verses from the Center by the same translator/author).

I have known several passages from this book. The whole book is satisfying and Batchelor makes it come alive. Very glad I bought it. Living up to it is a big ambition.

I bought this book thinking it was more like a novel, but its actually "verses" of poems. You can just read one verse a day and contemplate on it as a daily meditation.