Questions on the Bodhicharyavatara

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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?