"All the suffering in the world comes from seeking pleasure for oneself. All the happiness in the world comes from seeking pleasure for others." Shantideva
That's because he seems to have squeezed himself quite hard, over and over. I get the impression that all of his examples of loathsome behavior had been his own. You don't come by that knowledge of debased human potential casually. The picture he paints of the bodhisattva is a very fussy, prickly, harsh, selfish person who turns over a new leaf -- over and over and over to reach the straight and narrow of boundless selflessness. He seems to open inordinately preoccupied with himself. But, his achievement is staggering. He would have made one heck of a prison chaplain.
I love Shantideva! Just learned of him. This talk was great. Entertaining and inspiring. P.s. there is a Shantideva app! It will deliver a quote to you each day, or you can read the whole thing there.
Inspired talk by St. Batchelor whom I should be careful of not becoming excessively attached to. However could someone please recommend a good translation of the Bodhicaryavatara he regularly quotes in this talk ?
Edition Stephen Batchelor Dalai Lama Hamburg 2014 english www.dalailama-hamburg.de/fileadmin/user_upload/texte/bca-english-batchelor-ltwa.pdf or www.tibethouse.jp/about/buddhism/text/pdfs/Bodhisattvas_way_English.pdf Edition Alex Berzin studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-buddhism/original-texts/sutra-texts/engaging-in-bodhisattva-behavior Edition A+V Wallace - Drepung - www.drepunggomangusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/shantideva-bodhicaryavatara-wallace.pdf Edition Geshe Tenzin Zopa www.tenzinzopa.com/Ebooks/Cttb_Book_Final_Complete.pdf Padmakara revised edition 2011 promienie.net/images/dharma/books/shantideva_way-of-bodhisattva.pdf @ your choice not to leave out: vimeo.com/173000154; ref to Chapter 9, Wisdom www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Chapter-Miphams-Commentary-Bodhisattva/dp/1611804167 --- hope this helps
Patrick Leclercq if St Batchelor relays a more accurate semblance of truth then why should we not become attached until there is a better alternative? I have seen far too many people in the West (and East) attached to gurus (even of the Buddhist variety) who lacked significant truth or substance.
Beware! antecedence of delusion can creates further delusion and more disolution down the road. Until, and only until one has the understanding of the original Buddha's perspective of existence. That's the only then.!
