Difference between revisions of "Questions on the Bodhicharyavatara"
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| − | '''Study [[Questions on the Bodhicharyavatara]]''' - Here you can test your knowledge of [[Shantideva]]'s classic text, the ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]''. | + | '''Study [[Questions on the Bodhicharyavatara]]''' - Here you can test your [[knowledge]] of [[Shantideva]]'s classic text, the ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]''. |
==General/Introduction== | ==General/Introduction== | ||
| − | *What does the title ''Bodhicharyavatara'' mean? | + | *What does the title ''[[Bodhicharyavatara]]'' mean? |
*The first three verses of the text contain four important points. What are they? | *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. | + | *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]]? | *How do the ten chapters of the text relate to the [[six paramitas]]? | ||
==Chapter 1== | ==Chapter 1== | ||
*Give the general structure for the first chapter. | *Give the general structure for the first chapter. | ||
| − | *What is the purpose of this chapter? | + | *What is the {{Wiki|purpose}} of this chapter? |
| − | *Why is Bodhichitta superior to all other virtues? | + | *Why is [[Bodhichitta]] {{Wiki|superior}} to all other [[virtues]]? |
| − | *What happens to our identity when we give rise to Bodhichitta? | + | *What happens to our [[Wikipedia:Identity (social science)|identity]] when we give rise to [[Bodhichitta]]? |
| − | *Give the five examples (or images) which describe the benefits of Bodhichitta. | + | *Give the five examples (or images) which describe the benefits of [[Bodhichitta]]. |
*What do these examples mean? | *What do these examples mean? | ||
| − | *What is the limit to the merit of [[bodhichitta in aspiration]]? | + | *What is the limit to the [[merit]] of [[bodhichitta in aspiration]]? |
| − | *How are benefits of bodhichitta proven by scripture? | + | *How are benefits of [[bodhichitta]] proven by [[scripture]]? |
| − | *What is the reasoning which demonstrates the benefit of bodhichitta in aspiration? | + | *What is the {{Wiki|reasoning}} which demonstrates the [[benefit]] of [[bodhichitta in aspiration]]? |
| − | *Why is a person who practises bodhichitta great? | + | *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? | + | *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? | + | *What is the point of {{Wiki|reflecting}} on the benefits of [[bodhichitta]]? |
==Chapter 2== | ==Chapter 2== | ||
| − | *What are the four main topics of chapter 2? And how do they support the generation of Bodhichitta? | + | *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? | + | *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? | + | *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? | *How is it possible for us to offer things that we do not own? | ||
| − | *What are the different types of offering made by Shantideva? | + | *What are the different types of [[offering]] made by [[Shantideva]]? |
| − | *Why does refuge come at this point in the text? | + | *Why does [[refuge]] come at this point in the text? |
| − | *What are the four powers of confession in the order presented in this text? | + | *What are the [[four powers]] of {{Wiki|confession}} in the order presented in this text? |
*Why is it necessary to confess our faults swiftly? | *Why is it necessary to confess our faults swiftly? | ||
==Chapter 3== | ==Chapter 3== | ||
| − | *What are the eight branches for accumulating merit taught in the Bodhicharyavatara? | + | *What are the [[eight branches]] for accumulating [[merit]] [[taught]] in the [[Bodhicharyavatara]]? |
| − | *What are the three kinds of virtues one can rejoice in? | + | *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? | + | *What is the result of requesting the [[Buddhas]] to turn the [[wheel]] of the [[Dharma]]? |
| − | *Why is mind training presented before the Bodhisattva vow? | + | *Why is [[mind training]] presented before the [[Bodhisattva vow]]? |
| − | *What are the three foundations of ego-clinging? | + | *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 {{Wiki|purpose}}? |
| − | *In which verse is the reasoned demonstration of the need for mind training explained? | + | *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? | + | *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? | + | *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? | + | *What are the two [[traditions]] for taking the [[bodhisattva vow]]? |
| − | *Who are the two masters who founded them? | + | *Who are the two [[masters]] who founded them? |
| − | *Which two verses constitute the actual vow of Bodhichitta? | + | *Which two verses constitute the actual [[vow]] of [[Bodhichitta]]? |
*What are the benefits of training “progressively” or “step by step”? | *What are the benefits of training “progressively” or “step by step”? | ||
| − | *Why should we rejoice after having generated bodhichitta? | + | *Why should we rejoice after having generated [[bodhichitta]]? |
| − | *What are the definitions of emotional and cognitive obscurations? | + | *What are the definitions of [[emotional]] and [[cognitive obscurations]]? |
==Chapter 4== | ==Chapter 4== | ||
| − | *What is carefulness and why do we need to practice it? | + | *What is [[carefulness]] and why do we need to practice it? |
| − | *Which three factors make the practice of discipline possible? | + | *Which three factors make the practice of [[discipline]] possible? |
| − | *What are the Bodhisattva precepts in general? | + | *What are the [[Bodhisattva precepts]] in general? |
| − | *What are the three main topics we reflect on in order to develop carefulness? | + | *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? | + | *How does {{Wiki|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? | + | *What is it that makes us squander this immensely rare and [[precious human life]]? |
| − | *Why are destructive emotions more harmful than any other enemy? | + | *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? | + | *[[Overcoming]] our [[negative emotions]] may result in {{Wiki|hardships}}. What should be our [[attitude]] in this case? |
| − | *How do we eliminate our destructive emotions? | + | *How do we eliminate our [[destructive emotions]]? |
| − | *Why are destructive emotions weak? | + | *Why are [[destructive emotions]] weak? |
| − | *What does it mean in this context to be like a lion and not like a dog? | + | *What does it mean in this context to be like a [[lion]] and not like a {{Wiki|dog}}? |
==Chapter 5== | ==Chapter 5== | ||
Revision as of 16:25, 8 July 2014
Shantideva
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?
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 practice 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?
