n the 8th century CE, Shantideva wrote the Bodhicaryavatara, now known as The Way of the Bodhisattva or A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. He was a Buddhist monk at Nalanda Monastic University in India, where the text was also composed. The Bodhicaryavatara consists of ten chapters dedicated to developing bodhicitta (the mind of enlightenment) through practicing the six perfections (paramitas).

This text serves as a guide to becoming a bodhisattva—someone dedicated to attaining awakening for the benefit of all beings. It is widely regarded as one of the most important works in the Mahayana tradition. Throughout the text, Shantideva emphasizes bodhicitta, the altruistic aspiration to attain enlightenment for the sake of others, and provides practical instructions on cultivating and embodying this ideal.

A more precise way to describe its structure is as follows: The first three chapters develop bodhicitta; the next three stabilize and protect it; the following three deepen and apply it; and the final chapter dedicates the merit. It also functions as a commentary on the six paramitas.

In general, bodhicitta is broken down into two categories, relative and absolute. Relative bodhicitta is further broken down into aspirational bodhicitta, which is the wish to benefit others by helping them free themselves from confusion, and application bodhicitta, in which actual actions are taken to this effect. Absolute Bodhicitta is related to the fundamental space of wisdom in which all of this occurs (see: Heart Sutra).

Seeing how beings suffer by grasping at impermanent phenomena gives rise to a tender heart and a sense of urgency—the wish to utilize this precious life to practice the path of awakening for the benefit of all by practicing the six paramitas (perfections).

Reflect on how impermanence impacts your relationships and how, by recognizing impermanence, you can see dissatisfaction and the lack of independent existence. Contemplate the six paramitas and analyze which of their qualities you can personally focus on improving. Contemplate the suffering of others and our connection to them. Develop a wish to be of benefit to others.

• What would you change if you knew you only had one more day with the people around you?
• Reflect on Shantideva's statement, "This body of ours is like a momentary reflection." Do you agree?
• How could thinking this way impact your behavior?

Analyze the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life text, its structure, author, and importance. Differentiate between aspirational and ultimate bodhicitta, and evaluate how impermanence is a basis for generating compassion.