Questions on the Bodhicharyavatara

Shantideva

Study Questions on the Bodhicharyavatara - Here you can test your knowledge of [the first 4 chapters of] Shantideva's classic text, the Bodhicharyavatara.

General/Introduction

• What does the title Bodhicharyavatara mean?
• The first three verses of the text contain four important points. What are they?
• Give the outline of the main body of the text according to the four-line bodhichitta prayer.
• How do the ten chapters of the text relate to the six paramitas?

Chapter 1

• Give the general structure for the first chapter.
• What is the purpose of this chapter?
• Why is Bodhichitta superior to all other virtues?
• What happens to our identity when we give rise to Bodhichitta?
• Give the five examples (or images) which describe the benefits of Bodhichitta.
• What do these examples mean?
• What is the limit to the merit of bodhichitta in aspiration?
• How are benefits of bodhichitta proven by scripture?
• What is the reasoning which demonstrates the benefit of bodhichitta in aspiration?
• Why is a person who practises bodhichitta great?
• How can it be that to harm a bodhisattva leads to rebirth in hell yet any connection with a bodhisattva is beneficial?
• What is the point of reflecting on the benefits of bodhichitta?

Chapter 2

• What are the four main topics of chapter 2? And how do they support the generation of Bodhichitta?
• Why is it important to make offerings in this context?
• To make the very best of offerings they should be made with the three purities. What are they?
• How is it possible for us to offer things that we do not own?
• What are the different types of offering made by Shantideva?
• Why does refuge come at this point in the text?
• What are the four powers of confession in the order presented in this text?
• Why is it necessary to confess our faults swiftly?

Chapter 3

• What are the eight branches for accumulating merit taught in the Bodhicharyavatara?
• What are the three kinds of virtues one can rejoice in?
• What is the result of requesting the Buddhas to turn the wheel of the Dharma?
• Why is mind training presented before the Bodhisattva vow?
• What are the three foundations of ego-clinging?
• Bodhisattvas’ prayers are so sublime that it seems unlikely that they can become reality. What is their purpose?
• In which verse is the reasoned demonstration of the need for mind training explained?
• Why is it best to take the bodhichitta vow from a fully qualified teacher?
• When do you actually receive the Bodhichitta Vow and what kind of conviction should be born at that moment?
• What are the two traditions for taking the bodhisattva vow?
• Who are the two masters who founded them?
• Which two verses constitute the actual vow of Bodhichitta?
• What are the benefits of training “progressively” or “step by step”?
• Why should we rejoice after having generated bodhichitta?
• What are the definitions of emotional and cognitive obscurations?

Chapter 4

• What is carefulness and why do we need to practise it?
• Which three factors make the practice of discipline possible?
• What are the Bodhisattva precepts in general?
• What are the three main topics we reflect on in order to develop carefulness?
• How does reflecting on the precious human birth encourage us to take care in our actions?
• What is it that makes us squander this immensely rare and precious human life?
• Why are destructive emotions more harmful than any other enemy?
• Overcoming our negative emotions may result in hardships. What should be our attitude in this case?
• How do we eliminate our destructive emotions?
• Why are destructive emotions weak?
• What does it mean in this context to be like a lion and not like a dog?