Šantidéva: Mind

Šantidéva was 8th-century Indian Buddhist monk and scholar. Explore interesting quotes on mind.

Šantidéva: 82 quotes5 likes

“Just as those standing in the midst of boisterous people carefully guard their wounds, so those standing in the midst of evil people should always guard the wounds of their minds.”

Bodhicaryavatara, A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life

“Suffering is transcended by total surrender
And the mind attains to nirvana.
As one day all must be given up,
Why not dedicate it now to universal happiness?”

Bodhicaryavatara

“Let my possessions vanish; let my honor, my body, livelihood, and everything else pass away. But may my virtuous mind never be lost.”

§ 5.22
Bodhicaryavatara, A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life

“Once I have forsaken the vow of guarding my mind, of what use are many vows to me?”

§ 5.18
Bodhicaryavatara, A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life

“When one intends to move or when one intends to speak, one should first examine one’s own mind and then act appropriately with composure. When one sees one’s mind to be attached or repulsed, then one should neither act nor speak, but remain still like a piece of wood. When my mind is haughty, sarcastic, full of conceit and arrogance, ridiculing, evasive and deceitful, when it is inclined to boast, or when it is contemptuous of others, abusive, and irritable, then I should remain still like a piece of wood. When my mind is averse to the interests of others and seeks my own self-interest, or when it wishes to speak out of a desire for an audience, then I will remain still like a piece of wood. When it is impatient, indolent, timid, impudent, garrulous, or biased in my own favor, then I will remain still like a piece of wood.”

§ 5.47
Bodhicaryavatara, A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life

“Where would there be leather enough to cover the entire world? With just the leather of my sandals, it is as if the whole world were covered. Likewise, I am unable to restrain external phenomena, but I shall restrain my own mind. What need is there to restrain anything else?”

§ 5.13
Bodhicaryavatara, A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life