Shantideva Quotes

For the sake of all beings I have made this body pleasureless. Let them continually beat it, revile it, and cover it with filth. Let them play with my body. Let them laugh at it and ridicule it. What does it matter to me? I have given my body to them.

One should eliminate yearning that arises for various idle conversations, which often take place, and for all kinds of entertainment.

Let those who falsely accuse me, who harm me, and who ridicule me all partake of Awakening.

Just as those standing in the midst of boisterous people carefully guard their wounds, so those standing in the midst of evil people should always guard the wounds of their minds.

The Spirit of Awakening … is the tree of rest for beings exhausted from wandering on the pathways of mundane existence.

When one intends to move or when one intends to speak, one should first examine one’s own mind and then act appropriately with composure. When one sees one’s mind to be attached or repulsed, then one should neither act nor speak, but remain still like a piece of wood. When my mind is haughty, sarcastic, full of conceit and arrogance, ridiculing, evasive and deceitful, when it is inclined to boast, or when it is contemptuous of others, abusive, and irritable, then I should remain still like a piece of wood. When my mind is averse to the interests of others and seeks my own self-interest, or when it wishes to speak out of a desire for an audience, then I will remain still like a piece of wood. When it is impatient, indolent, timid, impudent, garrulous, or biased in my own favor, then I will remain still like a piece of wood.

Thus today in the presence of all awakened Ones I invite every living being to this festival Giving both immediate and lasting joy. May the gods and all others rejoice.

In the spiritual energy that relieves The anguish of beings in misery and Places depressed beings in eternal joy I lift up my heart and rejoice.

May no one who encounters me Ever have an insignificant contact.

Where would there be leather enough to cover the entire world? With just the leather of my sandals, it is as if the whole world were covered. Likewise, I am unable to restrain external phenomena, but I shall restrain my own mind. What need is there to restrain anything else?

Until every being afflicted by pain Has reached nirvanas shores, May I serve only as a condition That encourages progress and joy.

My body, every possession And all goodness, past, present and future Without remorse I dedicate To the well-being of the world.

His the knife, and mine the body the twofold cause of suffering. He has grasped the knife, I my body. At which is there anger?

They who out of wisdom Have seized the supreme Bodhimind Praise, glorify and rejoice in it, That it may grow to fulfilment.

May all those languishing in hell come now to perfect joy.
And may the stooping animals be freed
From fear of being preyed upon, each other's food.