Questions on the Bodhicharyavatara: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:04, 25 May 2007

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

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?

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 proved by scripture?
What is reasoning which demonstrates the benefit of bodhichitta in aspiration?
Why a person who practices bodhichitta is great?
How can it be that to harm a bodhisattva leads to rebirth in hell but yet any connection with a bodhisattva is beneficial?
What is the point of reflecting on the benefits of bodhichitta?

What are the 4 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 3 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?

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 *How can it be that to harm a bodhisattva leads to rebirth in hell but yet any connection with a bodhisattva is beneficial?
 *What is the point of reflecting on the benefits of bodhichitta?
 ==Chapter 2==
+*What are the 4 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 3 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==