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The Bodhisattva Ideal: Wisdom and Compassion in Buddhism
How can we be happy and at the same time responsive to the suffering of others? It can be done: this is the message of the Bodhisattva ideal. For one wishing to follow this path, the development of inner calm and positivity that leads to true wisdom is balanced by a genuine and active concern for others which flowers into great compassion. Sangharakshita places the ideal of the Bodhisattva within the context of the entire Buddhist tradition. Unfolding this vision of our potential, he demonstrates how we ourselves can move towards this ideal
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2000
8 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Sangharakshita
205 books76 followersSangharakshita was born Dennis Lingwood in South London, in 1925. Largely self-educated, he developed an interest in the cultures and philosophies of the East early on, and realized that he was a Buddhist at the age of sixteen.
The Second World War took him, as a conscript, to India, where he stayed on to become the Buddhist monk Sangharakshita. After studying for some years under leading teachers from the major Buddhist traditions, he went on to teach and write extensively. He also played a key part in the revival of Buddhism in India, particularly through his work among followers of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.
After twenty years in the East, he returned to England to establish the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order in 1967, and the Western Buddhist Order in 1968 (now known as the Triratna Buddhist Community and the Triratna Buddhist Order respectively).
Sangharakshita has always particularly emphasized the decisive significance of commitment in the spiritual life, the paramount value of spiritual friendship and community, the link between religion and art, and the need for a ‘new society’ supportive of spiritual aspirations and ideas.
In recent years Sangharakshita has been handing on most of his responsibilities to his senior disciples in the Order. Based at the Adhisthana retreat centre in Herefordshire UK, he is now focusing on personal contact with people. For more, go to www.sangharakshita.org.
A collection of 27 volumes will represent the definitive edition of his life’s work as a Buddhist writer and teacher. Find out more about The Complete Works of Sangharakshita
A series of talks by Sangharakshita: ‘Launch of The Essential Sangharakshita and Living Ethically’.
The Second World War took him, as a conscript, to India, where he stayed on to become the Buddhist monk Sangharakshita. After studying for some years under leading teachers from the major Buddhist traditions, he went on to teach and write extensively. He also played a key part in the revival of Buddhism in India, particularly through his work among followers of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.
After twenty years in the East, he returned to England to establish the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order in 1967, and the Western Buddhist Order in 1968 (now known as the Triratna Buddhist Community and the Triratna Buddhist Order respectively).
Sangharakshita has always particularly emphasized the decisive significance of commitment in the spiritual life, the paramount value of spiritual friendship and community, the link between religion and art, and the need for a ‘new society’ supportive of spiritual aspirations and ideas.
In recent years Sangharakshita has been handing on most of his responsibilities to his senior disciples in the Order. Based at the Adhisthana retreat centre in Herefordshire UK, he is now focusing on personal contact with people. For more, go to www.sangharakshita.org.
A collection of 27 volumes will represent the definitive edition of his life’s work as a Buddhist writer and teacher. Find out more about The Complete Works of Sangharakshita
A series of talks by Sangharakshita: ‘Launch of The Essential Sangharakshita and Living Ethically’.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 28, 2021
“The Enlightened person is like a clear window through which the light of reality shines, through which that light can be seen almost as it is. Or one can say that he or she is like a crystal or diamond concentrating and reflecting that light.” ― Sangharakshita, Bodhisattva Ideal: Wisdom and Compassion in Buddhism
June 2, 2017
I'm still trying to absorb the content of this book. The Bodhisattva Ideal is tremendously inspiring, and this book is well written: taking difficult concepts and proving accessible context for how to work towards this ideal.
August 10, 2023
The aspiration, set out in equal parts directly applicable to intangibly lofty
September 20, 2018
Originally posted at ragdollreads.co.uk
"To consider the Bodhisttva ideal is to place one's hand on the very heart of Buddhism, and feel the beating of that hears." ~Extract from the blurb
TL;DR - A fascinating read. Don't read this unless you have at least some idea about Buddhism beforehand.
RAGDOLL RATING: 4.5/5 BUTTONS
Why I read it…
I've been fascinated by the concept of the Bodhisattva from the moment I first heard about it, and this seemed as good a place as any to start.
As it says in my introduction, I am a practising Buddhist. I have started to read a chapter of a book on a Buddhist topic every day before meditating.
Also, it was on my Reading challenge list.
The Book…
This book is an intended as an introduction to the concept of the Bodhisattva - which simply (and completely underwhelming put), is a being who seeks enlightenment for all sentient beings, rather than for themselves.
The first chapter takes you briefly through the origins of this ideal - detailing the differing opinions of Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. This history is filled out a little more in the following chapters to provide you with a neat little guide to the origins and reasons for the rise of this ideal.
The remaining chapters are a fascinating account of the qualities of a Bodhisattva, and detailing how one becomes a Bodhisattva.* Chapter 2 introduces and explains the concept of Bodicitta and how it applies to the ideal. Chapter 3 introduces the Bodhisattva vows, and so on and so fourth. Each chapter introduces further qualities and concepts and explains them all.
*NOTE:- when I say 'how one becomes...' I do not mean to suggest this book is a sort of spiritual 'how-to' guide, nor that it pretends to offer a 'quick' guide to enlightenment.
What I liked…
I enjoyed the writing style. It was - for the most part - quite clear, and made use of metaphor, and drew parallels to other things in order to try and make difficult concepts clearer. I found the book mostly easy to read and to digest - the chapters are about 25-30 each, which was perfect for the way I chose to read this book.
Obviously I enjoyed the content. Going in, I was primarily interested in finding some explanations as to how a Bodhisattva functions - unlimited compassion and seeking enlightenment for all sentient beings is a lofty ideal, and something that I find both interesting and inspiring. I found some good information in this area, and the rest of the book was just as interesting. The historical aspects in particular were very enjoyable.
I also liked that the book was well referenced throughout, pointing to Buddhist. It's usually a good sign to have proper referencing in a factual book.
Finally, there is a neat little Further Reading section at the back, which is something I always like to see.
What I disliked…
I would have liked a glossary of terms at the end - all the non-English terminology is translated and explained within the text, it just would have been nice. That said, there is a fairly big index that appears to contain all the non-English terminology (and a whole lot more) so it would not be difficult to research.
I found it a little difficult at times to grasp some of the concepts, and on occasion I was confused about the point being made - however this almost certainly has more to do with the complexity of the topic, the difficulty of explaining concepts that by their are difficult do understand from what I would term 'the normal level', and also inexperience on my part - as such, I would warn that this is not a book for the beginner; some knowledge of Buddhism is (I would think) essential, before reading this book.
Final thoughts...
I really enjoyed this book. I found it a very enjoyable and fairly simple read, and it answered a lot of questions - of course it also raised countless other ones, but that is definitely a good thing. It has inspired me to further reading on the subject of the Bodhisattva ideal, and also Buddhist history.
The book loses half a star, purely because it was not always as beginner friendly as I hoped. However, it will be going on my 'read again' list for a time when I will understand it better.
I would definitely recommend this book to anybody interested in the subject - providing they have some prior knowledge of Buddhism or don't mind a doing a little bit of research.
___________________________________________
Please note: I am in no way affiliated with the author or publishers. I bought this book with my own money for my own reasons. The opinions contained within are my own and have not been influenced by any external entity!
"To consider the Bodhisttva ideal is to place one's hand on the very heart of Buddhism, and feel the beating of that hears." ~Extract from the blurb
TL;DR - A fascinating read. Don't read this unless you have at least some idea about Buddhism beforehand.
RAGDOLL RATING: 4.5/5 BUTTONS
Why I read it…
I've been fascinated by the concept of the Bodhisattva from the moment I first heard about it, and this seemed as good a place as any to start.
As it says in my introduction, I am a practising Buddhist. I have started to read a chapter of a book on a Buddhist topic every day before meditating.
Also, it was on my Reading challenge list.
The Book…
This book is an intended as an introduction to the concept of the Bodhisattva - which simply (and completely underwhelming put), is a being who seeks enlightenment for all sentient beings, rather than for themselves.
The first chapter takes you briefly through the origins of this ideal - detailing the differing opinions of Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. This history is filled out a little more in the following chapters to provide you with a neat little guide to the origins and reasons for the rise of this ideal.
The remaining chapters are a fascinating account of the qualities of a Bodhisattva, and detailing how one becomes a Bodhisattva.* Chapter 2 introduces and explains the concept of Bodicitta and how it applies to the ideal. Chapter 3 introduces the Bodhisattva vows, and so on and so fourth. Each chapter introduces further qualities and concepts and explains them all.
*NOTE:- when I say 'how one becomes...' I do not mean to suggest this book is a sort of spiritual 'how-to' guide, nor that it pretends to offer a 'quick' guide to enlightenment.
What I liked…
I enjoyed the writing style. It was - for the most part - quite clear, and made use of metaphor, and drew parallels to other things in order to try and make difficult concepts clearer. I found the book mostly easy to read and to digest - the chapters are about 25-30 each, which was perfect for the way I chose to read this book.
Obviously I enjoyed the content. Going in, I was primarily interested in finding some explanations as to how a Bodhisattva functions - unlimited compassion and seeking enlightenment for all sentient beings is a lofty ideal, and something that I find both interesting and inspiring. I found some good information in this area, and the rest of the book was just as interesting. The historical aspects in particular were very enjoyable.
I also liked that the book was well referenced throughout, pointing to Buddhist. It's usually a good sign to have proper referencing in a factual book.
Finally, there is a neat little Further Reading section at the back, which is something I always like to see.
What I disliked…
I would have liked a glossary of terms at the end - all the non-English terminology is translated and explained within the text, it just would have been nice. That said, there is a fairly big index that appears to contain all the non-English terminology (and a whole lot more) so it would not be difficult to research.
I found it a little difficult at times to grasp some of the concepts, and on occasion I was confused about the point being made - however this almost certainly has more to do with the complexity of the topic, the difficulty of explaining concepts that by their are difficult do understand from what I would term 'the normal level', and also inexperience on my part - as such, I would warn that this is not a book for the beginner; some knowledge of Buddhism is (I would think) essential, before reading this book.
Final thoughts...
I really enjoyed this book. I found it a very enjoyable and fairly simple read, and it answered a lot of questions - of course it also raised countless other ones, but that is definitely a good thing. It has inspired me to further reading on the subject of the Bodhisattva ideal, and also Buddhist history.
The book loses half a star, purely because it was not always as beginner friendly as I hoped. However, it will be going on my 'read again' list for a time when I will understand it better.
I would definitely recommend this book to anybody interested in the subject - providing they have some prior knowledge of Buddhism or don't mind a doing a little bit of research.
___________________________________________
Please note: I am in no way affiliated with the author or publishers. I bought this book with my own money for my own reasons. The opinions contained within are my own and have not been influenced by any external entity!
January 4, 2008
Absorbing and inspiring take on the bodhisattva ideal. Made lots of things that had seemed incomprehensible to me suddenly clearer! Sangharakshita puts it all in very accessible and relevant terms and relates it all to practice, so it never seems detached from daily life. I find his books really helpful and this is a new favourite.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews