The Bhodhisattva's Way of Life is one of the most dearly beloved Buddhist texts which has been taught and often quoted by the Dalai Lama as well as many other great Tibetan masters. Because of its relevance to modern times, his text has been translated into a dozen languages. The Boddhisattva's Way of Life was written by the eighth century Indian Bodhisttva, Shantideva, and is a comprehensive outline of everything one needs to know to be a Bodhisattva. A Bodhisattva is someone who decides to work towards achieving enlightenment and to not give up this task until all other sentient beings are liberated. The Bodhisattva's Way of Life begins by explaining how and why to make offerings to the Three Jewels and how take the bodhisattva vow (which is still being done this way 1,400 years later). The book also covers how to develop compassion toward those we like and also those who want to harm us. It explains the need to develop selflessness and how to actually do this, as well as how to develop patience with those people and things that obstruct us. It also describes how we should carry ourself in a peaceful and pleasing way to others and how to develop diligence and how to practice meditation. The famous ninth chapter, finally, explains how we should understand emptiness of all phenomena.

This edition of The Bodhisattva's Way of Life is unique because it combines both a translation of the root text with each verse or set of verses followed by a lucid and relevant commentary by Thrangu Rinpoche. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche is very well suited for this task, being a renowned Buddhist scholar who has had three decades of experience teaching students in centers across Asia, Europe, and North America.
Shantideva's A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, Thrangu Rinpoche, Translated by Ken Holmes and Thomas Doctor, LTWA, 263 pages, $17.00

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche is a renowned Tibetan Buddhist master known for his deep compassion and the clarity of his teachings. He was selected by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to serve as the principal tutor to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Oryen Trinley Dorje.

Thrangu Rinpoche is a full holder and teacher of the Kagyu Vajrayana lineages. He founded the Namo Buddha retreat center in Nepal, has established two shedras (monastic universities) in Nepal and India, and serves as Abbot of Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. He also built Tara Abbey, where nuns receive a full dharma education qualifying them to become khenpos or teachers. Thrangu Rinpoche teaches extensively throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. He has centers in Maine and California, and is building the Vajra Vidya Retreat Center in Crestone, Colorado.

CONTENTS: Shantideva's A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life
Foreword	vii
Prologue	xi
1. The Benefits of Bodhichitta	1
2. The Confession of Negative Deeds	17
3. The Commitment to Bodhichitta	37
4. Conscientiousness	49
5. Guarding Mindfulness and Alertness	63
6. The Perfection of Patience	101
7. The Perfection of Enthusiasm	127
8. The Perfection of Meditation	147
9. The Perfection of Wisdom	187
10. The Dedication	229
Chart 1 The Eight Forms of Leisure and Ten Forms of Endowment	241
Chart 2 The Seven Branch Practice	242
Chart 3 The Major Schools of Buddhism and their Characteristics	243
Chart 4 A Brief Summary of the Ten Bodhisattva Levels	245
Glossary	247
Glossary of Tibetan Terms	259
Bibliography	261
Index	265