Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c9.s4: Bodhisattva-Caryā
Aspects of Mahāyāna Buddhism and its Relation to Hīnayāna c9.s4
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Bodhisattva-Caryā
c9.s4.1
The *Bodhicaryāvatāra* then points out that a patient cannot derive the full benefit of a medicine, however good it may be, if he does not follow the directions of the physician. So also an adept cannot attain bodhi by simply developing bodhicitta and not practising the Bodhisattvasaṃvaras or Śikṣās as laid down by the Teacher.¹ It however asks the readers to consult the Śikṣāsamuccaya for details² and gives briefly the definition of Āpatti. It says that a bodhisattva would be guilty of an offence (āpatti) if for relieving beings from pain, present or future, and for producing joys and comforts for them for the present or the future, he does not strive sincerely by his body, word, or thought, to procure the things needed, remedy the obstacles, suffer pain or loss to avert the pain and loss to others, and utilise the opportune moment. It will be anāpatti (non-offence) if a bodhisattva’s efforts be fruitless in matters beyond his power. The āpatti, of which he may be guilty for not properly exerting in a matter really beyond his power, can be remedied by confession.³
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¹ Bodhic., pp. 91ff.; also p. 87.
c9.s4.3
² See infra, p. 320.
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³ Bodhic., pp. 93, 94=Śikṣā., p. 15 (Bodhisattvaśikṣāsarīram). The āpattis and anāpattis are dealt with in the Upāliparipṛcchā. See Bodhic., pp. 139, 153.
Cites (3)
- Bodhicaryāvatāra — Śāntideva, Sanskrit
- Śikṣāsamuccaya — Śāntideva, Sanskrit
- Upālipariprcchā — Sanskrit