Top 15 Shantideva Quotes

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.

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

Let my possessions vanish; let my honor, my body, livelihood, and everything else pass away. But may my virtuous mind never be lost.

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.

Once I have forsaken the vow of guarding my mind, of what use are many vows to me?

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?

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

Just as a blind man might find a jewel amongst heaps of rubbish, so this Spirit of Awakening has somehow arisen in me.

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

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.

The Spirit of Awakening is known to be of two kinds: the spirit of aspiring for Awakening, and the spirit of venturing toward awakening. Just as one perceives the difference between a person who yearns to travel and a traveler, so do the learned recognize the corresponding difference between these two.

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.

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?

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?

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.