Questions on the Bodhicharyavatara
Study Questions on the Bodhicharyavatara - Here you can test your knowledge 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?