Shantideva Quotes

The Bodhimind is a great radiant sun To disperse the darkness of unknowing, And it is the very essence of butters Gained from churning the milks of Dharma. For all guests on the roads of life Who would take the very substance of joy, Here is the actual seat of true happiness, A veritable feast to satiate the world.

Like a blind man fumbling in garbage Happens to find a rare and precious gem, Likewise I have discovered The jewel of the precious Bodhimind. Thus was found this supreme ambrosia to dispel The Lord of death, destroyer of life; An inexhaustible treasure able to cure The poverty of all sentient beings.

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

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

May I act as the mighty earth Or like the free and open skies To support and provide the space Whereby I and all others may grow.

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

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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

May any spiritual energy thus generated By my devotion to the enlightened ones Be dedicated to dispelling the misery Of living beings without exception.

To the Buddhas considering parinirvarna I join my hands in prayer Do not abandon the beings in sorrow But remain and teach for countless ages.

To the Buddhas of the ten directions I join my hands in respect Let blaze the light of Dharmas truth For the beings lost in darkness