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PART ONETHE GENERATION OF BODHICHITTA WHERE

IT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED

INTRODUCTION

2. AN EXPLANATION OF THE TREATISE ITSELF

WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA

Produced by Rafael Ortet (Tsadra Foundation). Outline text translated by the Padmakara Translation GroupCopyright 2009 by the Tsadra Foundation. All rights reserved

1. THE PRELIMINARY TOPICS OF THE COMMENTARY

3. The method of explanation and study

2. How disciples should attend to the teachings

1. How a teacher sets forth the Dharma

CHAPTER 1: THE EXCELLENCE AND BENEFITS OF BODHICHITTA

2. The benefits of bodhichitta

English Visual Outline of The Nectar of Manjushri’s Speech - A Commentary on Shantideva’s treatise Bodhicharyavatara by Kunzang Pelden

1. Inner motivation

2. An explanation of the treatise thus named

1. An explanation of the title of the treatise

1. The author of the treatise

2. The scriptural sources of the treatise

3. The general tendency of the treatise

4. The general synopsis of the Bodhicharyavatara

5. The purpose of the treatise

1. The expression of homage (verse 1)

2. The author’s commitment to compose

3. The taking of a humble attitude (verse 2)

4. The stirring up of a joyful and enthusiastic attitude (verse 3)

1. The human body as a basis for the generation of bodhichitta (verse 4)

2. The mind as a basis for bodhichitta (verse 5)

1. Behavior to be abandoned

2. Behavior to be adopted

2. The main body of the treatise

1. The preambles to the treatise

2. Outer conduct

1. The basis required for the generation of bodhichitta

1. The general benefits of generating bodhichitta

2. The specific benefits of bodhichitta in intention and the specific benefits of bodhichitta in action

3. The greatness of a person who possesses bodhichitta (verses 31–36)

1. The example of alchemy (verse 10)

2. The example of the jewel (verse 11)

3. The example of the miraculous fruit-bearing tree (verse 12)

4. The example of the heroic bodyguard (verse 13)

5. The example of the fires at the end of time (verse 14)

6. The benefits of bodhichitta explained in other texts

2. The benefits of bodhichitta in intention and in action (verses 17–19)

1. Proving with reasoning the benefits of bodhichitta in intention (verses 21–26)

2. Proving with reasoning the benefits of bodhichitta in action (verses 27–30)

1. Classification of bodhichitta in intention and action

3. Proving the benefits of bodhichitta by scripture and with reasoning

1. Plain or relative bodhichitta, engendered on the basis of prompting

2. Subtle or ultimate bodhichitta, gained through [the recognition of] ultimate reality (verses 15–16)

CHAPTER 2: CONFESSION OF NEGATIVITY

1. The making of offerings 4. The confession of negative actions

1. The offering of one’s possessions (verse 1)

2. The offering of things unowned (verses 2–7)

3. The offering of one’s body (verses 8–9)

1. Material offerings

2. Offerings manifested by the power of the mind

3. Offerings made through the power of aspiration (verses 20–21)

4. The unsurpassable offering (verse 22)

5. The offering of melodious praise (verse 23)

1. The offering of a ceremonial bath (verses 10–13)

2. Offerings of pleasant substances (verses 14–19)

1. The general principles of refuge

2. Refuge precepts

2. The essence of refuge

1. The cause of refuge

3. The different kinds of refuge

2. An explanation of ultimate resultant refuge

1. An explanation of provisional causal refuge

2. An act of veneration (verses 24–25)

1. The visualization of the witnesses of one’s confession (verse 27)

2. The confession itself

1. The strength of regretting that one has done wrong (verses 28–46)

2. The strength of support (verses 47–53)

3. The strength of the remedial practice (verses 54–65)

4. The strength of amendment

1. The joy the author feels in himself (verses 25–33)

2. Exhorting others to rejoice (verse 34)

1. Preparatory practice 2. The actual vow of bodhichitta (verses 23–24)

3. Conclusion

CHAPTER 3: TAKING HOLD OF BODHICHITTA

3. Taking refuge

CHAPTER 4: CAREFULNESS

2. The detailed explanation

1. A brief presentation (verse 1)

1. How the Dharma is taught by a Buddha

2. How the Dharma is taught by an Arhat

3. How the Dharma is taught by a learned master

1. The title itself

2. The translator’s homage

2. A change of name and of status (verse 9)

1. Bodhichitta is superior to all other virtues (verses 6–8)

3. The benefits of bodhichitta shown by means of examples

1. The accumulation of merit

1. Rejoicing in virtue (verses 1–4)

2. Requesting the Buddhas to turn the wheel of the Dharma (verse 5)

3. Praying that the Buddhas remain and do not pass into nirvana (verse 6)

4. Dedication of roots of virtue for the welfare of others (verses 7–10)

2. The mind-training

1. The actual mind-training (verse 11)

2. A reasoned demonstration of the need for mind-training (verse 12)

3. The specific gift of one’s body (verses 13–17)

4. Dedication of the results of mind-training to the welfare of others (verses 18–22)

1. Reflecting on the precepts to be implemented as a means to inculcate carefulness in one’s behavior

2. Reflection on the freedoms and advantages of the precious human body as a means to inculcate carefulness in action

1. Preventing the attitude of bodhichitta from weakening (verses 2–12)

2. Observing the precepts to be implemented without relaxing one’s diligence (verses 13–14)

1. Carefulness in action resulting from thinking of the difficulty involved in gaining the freedoms and advantages of the precious human condition (verses 15–20)

2. Carefulness in action resulting from reflecting on the difficulty of escaping from the lower realms (verses 21–22)

3. Now that the freedoms and advantages of this human form have been obtained, it is important to strive in virtue (verses 23–27)

1. The defects of the afflictive emotions (verses 28–35)

2. Putting up with the hardships involved in abandoning the afflictions (verses 36–42)

3. How emotional defilement is to be abandoned (verses 43–48)

3. Reflecting on the afflictive emotions to be discarded as a means to inculcate carefulness in one’s behavior

1. The perfect practice itself (verses 97–107)

2. A summary of the chapter (verses 108–109)

1. Guarding the mind in order to implement the trainings

2. Using mindfulness and introspection in order to guard one’s mind

3. Schooling oneself in the mind-training by means of mindfulness and vigilant introspection

1. A brief exposition (verse 1)

2. A detailed explanation

1. All harm comes from the mind (verses 2–8)

2. All virtue comes from the mind (verses 9–17)

3. The need to keep watch over the mind (verses 18–22)

4. Other elements of a perfect practice

1. A brief explanation (verse 23)


1. The drawbacks of having no introspection (verses 24–28)

2. How to practice mindfulness (verses 29–33)

1. The discipline of avoiding negativity

2. The discipline of gathering virtue

1. Purifying the actions of body, speech, and mind (verses 34–44)

2. Protecting the precepts from degeneration (verses 45–58)

1. Why it is necessary to abandon attachment to one’s body, which is the cause for not training in the precepts (verses 59–70)

2. Becoming skilled in one’s way of behaving (verses 71–83)

1. Earnestly working for the welfare of beings (verse 84)

2. Drawing beings to the Dharma by the gift of material things and of the teachings (verses 85–90)

3. Avoidance of giving scandal to others (verses 91–96)

3. The discipline of working for the benefit of others

1. An explanation of Hinayana refuge

2. An explanation of Mahayana refuge (verse 26)

3. The general way of taking refuge

3. Refuge according to the Bodhicharyavatara

1. The removal of anger (verses 1–10)

2. Cultivating patience 3. Respect for beings

CHAPTER 6: PATIENCE

PART TWOHOW TO PREVENT BODHICHITTA FROM WEAKENING

ONCE IT HAS BEEN GENERATED

CHAPTER 5: VIGILANT INTROSPECTION

1. Identifying the object of patience (verse 11)

2. Cultivating patience

2. Cultivating patience toward obstacles that prevent us from getting what we want

1. Cultivating patience with regard to what we do not want

2. Cultivating patience toward those who treat us with contempt (verses 52–63)

1. Cultivating patience with regard to what brings us suffering

1. The patience of accepting suffering (verses 12–21)

2. Patience that consists in certainty with regard to the ultimate reality of things (verses 22–33)

3. The patience of making light of what causes harm (verses 34–51)

3. Cultivating patience toward those who ill-treat our loved ones (verses 64–75)

1. Cultivating patience toward obstacles that prevent unpleasant things from happening to our enemies (verses 87–89)

2. Cultivating patience with those who obstruct what we and our friends desire (verses 90–111)

4. Cultivating patience when people do good to our enemies (verses 76–86)

1. Reverencing beings, considering them as the field of merit (verses 112–118)

2. Reverencing beings with the wish to rejoice the Buddhas (verses 119–127)

3. Practicing respect for beings, thinking of the consequences of the good and evil done to them (verses 128–134)

1. A brief explanation of the need for diligence (verse 1)

CHAPTER 7: DILIGENCE

1. Diligence identified (verse 2)

1. Summoning the four remedial forces


1. The general way of exchanging self and other

2. Cultivating the two strengths


3. Implementing the favorable conditions for diligence

2. An explanation of how to rid oneself of the three kinds of laziness

2. An explanation of specific points

2. Refutation of the belief in a self that is unconscious (verses 68–69)

2. Refutation of objections

2. Refutation of the belief in other-production

3. Refutation of the belief in self-production

4. Conclusion of the argument (verses 141–142)

3. Answers to objections concerning the nonexistence of the self

2. A detailed explanation2. An instruction on

the severe way

2. Giving up attachment to wealth and possessions (verses 79–84)


2. Refutation of objections with regard to the path, that is, emptiness (verses 30–34)

3. A reflection on the excellence of solitude (verses 85–88)

3. Summary (verse 110)

3. Refutation of objections with regard to the fruit, that is, the benefit of others (verses 35–39)

1. Identifying laziness and its causes (verse 3)

1. A general explanation (verses 47–49)

1. Refutation of the belief in a self that is conscious (verses 60–67)

1. Actual close mindfulness of phenomena

1. Refutation of the belief in uncaused origination (verses 116–117)

1. Brief explanation (verse 140)

1. An instruction on the gentle way (verses 155–167)

1. Abandoning one’s craving for a lover


1. Refutation of objections with regard to the ground, the two truths

1. Cultivating an antidote to the kind of laziness that is a yearning for idleness (verses 4–14)

2. Cultivating an antidote to the kind of laziness that consists in an inclination to unwholesome actions (verses 15–16)

3. Cultivating an antidote to the kind of laziness that consists in self-depreciation and defeatism (verses 17–31)

1. Cultivating a feeling of self-confidence with regard to the task (verses 50–51)

2. Cultivating a feeling of self-confidence with regard to one’s abilities (verses 52–59)

3. Cultivating a sense of self-confidence with regard to the afflictive emotions (verses 60–62)

1. The nonexistence of the self is not incompatible with the principle of cause and effect (verses 70–74)

2. The nonexistence of the self is not incompatible with compassion (verse 75)

3. A demonstration that the self as label is not refuted (verses 76–77)

1. Eliminating the objection that the two truths are untenable (verses 106–107)

2. Refutation of the objection that phenomena are inaccessible to reasoned analysis (verse 108)

3. Refutation of the objection that analysis must result in an infinite regress (verses 109–110)

1. Refutation of the belief in production from a permanent cause (verses 118–126)

1. Refutation of the primal substance (verses 127–134)

2. The actual refutation of self-production: the main argument (verses 135–140)

1. The equivalence of the eight worldly concerns (verses 151–154)

1. Examination of the body in general (verses 78–84)

2. Specific examination of physical parts (verses 85–86)

3. The need for relinquishing attachment to one’s body (verse 87)

1. Examination of the nature of the feelings (verses 88–92)

2. Examination of the cause of the feelings (verses 93–97)

3. Examination of the result of the feelings (verse 98)

4. Examination of the feeling subject (verses 99–101)

1. The mind is without inherent existence (verses 102–103)

2. The mind is unborn (verses 104–105)

1. Taking the place of others with enthusiasm (verses 114–120)

2. Getting rid of self-cherishing (verses 121–124)

3. The defects of considering oneself as important; the excellence that derives from considering others as important (verses 125–133)

4. The actual practice of exchange.Why it is necessary (verses 134–139)

1. The practice of envy from the point of view of someone less well-off (verses 141–146)

2. The practice of jealous rivalry from the point of view of an equal (verses 147–150)

3. The practice of pride from the point of view of someone better-off (verses 151–154)

1. Treating the mind severely (verses 168–173)

2. Treating the body severely (verses 174–184)

1. The difficulties men go to in order to acquire a woman (verses 40–42)

2. A reflection on the unclean nature of the human body (verses 43–70)

3. A reflection on the many injuries that result from attachment (verses 71–78)

1. How to meditate on equality (verses 91–103)

2. Answering objections to the equalization of self and other (verses 104–106)

3. The benefits of such a practice (verses 107–109)

1. Refutation of the objections of ordinary people (verse 5)

2. Refutation of the objections of the Shravakas (verses 6–15)

3. Refutation of the objections of the Chittamatrins (verses 16–29)

1. Distinguishing the two truths (verse 2)

2. Definition of the two truths

3. Concerning those who establish the two truths (verses 3–4)

1. The Mahayana is the Buddha’s teaching (verses 40–51)

2. Proofs that the theory and practice of emptiness are the real solution (verses 52–56)

1. The strength of earnest practice (verses 68–74)

2. The strength of controlling body, speech, and mind (verses 75–76)

2. A detailed explanation 2. Giving up wandering thoughts


1. Relinquishing the world

4. The force of relinquishment (verse 67)

2. The force of steadfastness

2. Training in the practice of exchange, with regard to specific antidotes

3. The force of joy (verses 63–66)

3. How to act once the meditative exchange of self and other has been made

2. Removing the conditions inimical to diligence

1. A brief explanation on how this chapter is related to the previous ones (verse 1)


1. Brief exposition (verse 1)2. A full explanation of conditions conducive to meditative concentration

2. A detailed teaching2. Detailed explanation

CHAPTER 8: MEDITATIVE CONCENTRATION

CHAPTER 10: DEDICATION

CHAPTER 9: WISDOM

1. A brief summary (verse 2)

1. A short exposition that links the subject to the previous teaching (verse 89)

1. Dedication of virtue as the cause of happiness and of benefit for others

1. Wisdom established by means of the view


2. A detailed explanation on how to train in meditative concentration on bodhichitta

2. Dedication of virtue for one’s own sake, that is, as the cause of enlightened activities (verses 51–56)

2. Wisdom experienced by means of meditation

3. Meditative concentration on bodhichitta

3. Conclusion

1. Why the world should be abandoned (verses 3–4)

2. Giving up attachment to beings (verses 5–16)

3. Giving up attachment to worldly gain (verses 17–24)

4. Once one has relinquished all attachments, one should rely on the excellent qualities of solitude (verses 25–38)

3. An injunction to practice meditative concentration (verses 185–187)

3. Dedication for the propagation and prosperity of the Buddha’s Doctrine embodying as it does the twofold goal (verse 57)

3. Misconceptions dispelled through reasoning

4. The benefits of realizing emptiness

2. The exchange of self and other

2. Refutation of objections to the two truths

2. Meditation on the absence of self in phenomena

2. An exposition of the proofs of those who uphold the doctrine of emptiness

3. Proofs of the supremacy of the Mahayana

1. Equalizing self and other

1. An outline of the two truths

1. Meditation on the absence of self in individuals

1. A refutation of the argument of those who believe in true existence (verses 111–115)

1. A brief explanation of this practice by stating the reason for it (verses 111–113)

1. Meditation on the emptiness of the coemergent self (verses 57–59)

1. Investigation of the cause: the diamond splinters argument

1. Close mindfulness of the body

2. A detailed explanation of this practice

2. Meditation on the emptiness of the imputed self

2. Investigation of the nature: the great interdependence argument (verses 143–144)

3. Investigation of the result: the argument that refutes the origination of the existent and the nonexistent effect (verses 145–150)

2. Close mindfulness of the feelings

3. Close mindfulness of the mind

4. Close mindfulness of phenomena

2. A detailed explanation of diligence

PART THREEHOW BODHICHITTA IS TO BE

DEVELOPED AND INTENSIFIED

2. Proving the benefits of bodhichitta with reasoning

1. Proving the benefits of bodhichitta by scripture (verse 20)

1. The force of aspiration (verses 33–46)

2. The effortless display of great compassion (verses 155–167)

1. General dedication of virtue in order to rid the three worlds of the sorrows with which they are filled (verses 2–3)

2. Dedication of virtue in order to free beings from their particular sufferings such as those of the three lower realms (verses 4–47)

1. Homage paid by remembering the kindness of Manjughosha (verse 58)

2. The translator’s colophon

3. Khenpo Kunzang Pelden’s colophon

PART FOURDEDICATION OF THE RESULTING MERIT

FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 3 TAKING HOLD OF

BODHICHITTA

Chapter 4 CAREFULNESS

Chapter 6 PATIENCE

PART TWOHOW TO PREVENT BODHICHITTA FROM WEAKENING

ONCE IT HAS BEEN GENERATED

Chapter 5 VIGILANT

INTROSPECTION

Chapter 7 DILIGENCE

Chapter 8 MEDITATIVE

CONCENTRATION

Chapter 10 DEDICATION

Chapter 9 WISDOM

PART THREEHOW BODHICHITTA IS TO BE

DEVELOPED AND INTENSIFIED

PART FOURDEDICATION OF THE RESULTING MERIT

FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS

Chapter 1 THE EXCELLENCE AND

BENEFITS OF BODHICHITTA

Chapter 2 CONFESSION OF

NEGATIVITY

PART ONETHE GENERATION OF BODHICHITTA WHERE

IT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED

WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA

bodhicharyavatara english outline poster

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