No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
|jumbo-text=The sixth chapter of the ''Bodhicaryāvatāra'', devoted to the perfection of patience (''kṣānti'' or ''bzod pa''), is one of the most celebrated chapters of Śāntideva's beloved treatise. Though it has not received as much commentarial attention as the famous ninth chapter, commonly known as the Wisdom Chapter, the chapter on patience is one of the most practical sections of the text and the most relatable. While the argumentation of the ninth chapter takes as its opponents many ancient and long since defunct Indian philosophical traditions, the opponent in the sixth chapter is one with which we are all intimately familiar- anger. | |jumbo-text=The sixth chapter of the ''Bodhicaryāvatāra'', devoted to the perfection of patience (''kṣānti'' or ''bzod pa''), is one of the most celebrated chapters of Śāntideva's beloved treatise. Though it has not received as much commentarial attention as the famous ninth chapter, commonly known as the Wisdom Chapter, the chapter on patience is one of the most practical sections of the text and the most relatable. While the argumentation of the ninth chapter takes as its opponents many ancient and long since defunct Indian philosophical traditions, the opponent in the sixth chapter is one with which we are all intimately familiar- anger. | ||
|main-text=In the last chapter of the section on protecting bodhicitta, Śāntideva focuses on the pāramitā of patience as the antidote or means of removing anger. Nevertheless, Śāntideva's most often referenced verse related to patience appears in the previous chapter, though it is more often the imagery of the verse, rather than its words, that is invoked. In the context of detailing the necessity to guard the mind in order to persevere in the trainings, Śāntideva argues that rather than being merely physical or verbal actions, the perfections are primarily performed with the mind. As he explains in the context of the perfection of patience, | |main-text= | ||
The translator and scholar Thupten Jinpa gives us a "working definition" of patience, as well as a brief overview of Śāntideva's exegesis of the topic, stating, | |||
{{QuoteCite | |||
|quote-text="Patience" (soe-pa), according to the Buddhist understanding of the principle, is "a resolute response against adversity stemming from a settled temperament unperturbed by either external or internal disturbance." Certainly, this cannot be described as a passive submission; rather it is an active approach toward adversity. Shantideva's discussion of patience takes place within the framework of what could be called the three characteristics of patience. They are: (1) tolerance based on conscious acceptance of pain and hardships, (2) tolerance resulting from reflecting on the nature of reality, and (3) tolerance toward injuries from others. | |||
|source-wiki-page=Perfecting Patience | |||
|page-number=xviii | |||
}} | |||
In the last chapter of the section on protecting bodhicitta, Śāntideva focuses on the pāramitā of patience as the antidote or means of removing anger. Nevertheless, Śāntideva's most often referenced verse related to patience appears in the previous chapter, though it is more often the imagery of the verse, rather than its words, that is invoked. In the context of detailing the necessity to guard the mind in order to persevere in the trainings, Śāntideva argues that rather than being merely physical or verbal actions, the perfections are primarily performed with the mind. As he explains in the context of the perfection of patience, | |||
{{PullBcaVerses|5.12;5.13;5.14|63}} | {{PullBcaVerses|5.12;5.13;5.14|63}} | ||
The purpose of this website is to provide a resource hub for trustworthy information for learning about and teaching Bodhicitta ("bodhichitta") and Śāntideva's ("Shantideva's") related texts. Unique content will be shared here and the site will act as a broker for other projects and authors that have already created quality materials, which we will curate for a wide range of audiences.
See General disclaimer for more information.