Shantideva c. 685 AD – c. 763 AD
Shantideva was an Indian Buddhist monk and philosopher of the Madhyamaka school. According to tradition, he was a prince who renounced the throne to enter the great monastic university of Nalanda, where his fellow monks considered him a do-nothing until he astonished them by delivering, in spontaneous verse, the Bodhicaryavatara, the Way of the Bodhisattva. The work has become one of the most beloved texts of Mahayana Buddhism, articulating in lucid and often moving language the practice of the six perfections and the cultivation of the awakening mind. His Siksasamuccaya is a companion compendium of Mahayana practice.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Indian
- Era
- Medieval
- Movements
- Buddhism, Indian Philosophy
Selected quotes
-
Attributed to Shantideva:
“All happiness in the world comes from desiring the welfare of others; all suffering comes from desiring one's own welfare.”
-
Attributed to Shantideva:
“If a problem can be solved, what is the use of worrying? If it cannot be solved, what is the use of worrying?”
-
Attributed to Shantideva:
“By protecting others you protect yourself.”
-
Attributed to Shantideva:
“Patience is the noblest of virtues.”
-
Attributed to Shantideva:
“May I become a protector for those without protection, a guide for travelers on the way.”