Shantideva Quotes

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.

As long as diseases afflict living beings May I be the doctor, the medicine And also the nurse Who restores them to health.

Regardless whether those whom I meet Respond towards me with anger or faith, May the mere fact of our meeting Contribute to the fulfilment of their wishes.

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?

May the slander, harm And all forms of abuse That anyone should direct towards me Act as a cause of their enlightenment.

May I fall as rain to increase The harvests that must feed living beings And in ages of dire famine May I myself serve as food and drink.

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

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

Those who injure me are really impelled by my actions. For this they will go to the realms of hell. Surely it is they who are harmed by me?

Suffering is transcended by total surrender And the mind attains to nirvana. As one day all must be given up, Why not dedicate it now to universal happiness?

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

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.

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.