Meaningful to Behold: The Bodhisattva's Way of Life

Rating:
Summary: This Is Authentic.
Review: I was at the course taught by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso at Manjushri Institute in Ulverston, England, that served as the basic text of this book. The state of mind of a fully enlightened Buddha is not truly known by many of us in the West; we just don't have living examples among us demonstrating for each living being, the exact same heartfelt love in action that a mother has for her child. In giving this commentary, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso provided the living example one could refer to in oneself becoming a Buddha. Meaningful to Behold is therefore more than an exquisitely clear and precise compilation of method. It is more than a step-by-step manual for the highest personal attainment. It is the expression of pure love expecting nothing in return that inspires us to become the best and happiest people that is possible for us. Nothing inspires us like absolute kindness; this is absolute kindness in its most helpful and instructive form. It shows us how to be happy beyond anything we can now imagine. A very worthwhile book.

Rating:
Summary: Defines the Bodhisattva Path
Review: This huge tome is a commentary on the 8th century master Shantideva's "Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life." It provides a step-by-step methodology in near-infinite detail. It's a definitive text. Interestingly, the Dalai Lama provides commentaries on two somewhat shorter texts (one by Asanga and one by Nagarjuna) on the same subject in his "Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment." This is a free book published by Ranjung Yeshe Publications. I have attended a weekend with Kelsang Gyatso including empowerments. It was certainly beneficial. This was the first of his books that I've read. It's one of the best of the 5 I've now read. It does, however, include list after list of entries in a very tightly organized outline-like format. I find such lists rather mythical because I believe the number in the list more important (and symbolic) than the list itself. Frequently such lists vary between authors and the entries don't seem to hang together too well. Nevertheless, this is a a fine commentary to one of (if not THE) classic text on the Bodhisattva Path.