The Bodhicharyavatara (literally, An Entry into the Activities of Enlightenment) is one of the masterworks of Buddhist thought. Written in 8th century India, it outlines the path of the bodhisattvas, spiritual aspirants who vow to cultivate wisdom to help others. This work is offered here in a highly accessible and poetic translation from the Tibetan A classic Buddhist text and essential guidebook on the ideal of compassion and the methods of attaining it (Pema Chödrön, author of When Things Fall Apart)Treasured by Buddhists of all traditions, The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicharyavatara) is a guide to cultivating the mind of enlightenment, and to generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and patience. This text has been studied, practiced, and expounded upon in an unbroken tradition for centuries, first in India, and later in Tibet. Presented in the form of a personal meditation in verse, it outlines the path of the Bodhisattvas-those who renounce the peace of individual enlightenment and vow to work for the liberation of all beings and to attain buddhahood for their sake. This version, translated from the Tibetan, is a revision by the translators of the 1997 edition. Included are a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a new translator's preface, a thorough introduction, a note on the translation, and three appendices of commentary by the Nyingma master Kunzang Pelden. Foreword ix Preface to the Revised Edition xi Introduction 1(24) The Text and the Translation 25(138) 1. The Excellence of Bodhichitta 31(6) 2. Confession 37(10) 3. Taking Hold of Bodhichitta 47(6) 4. Carefulness 53(8) 5. Vigilant Introspection 61(16) 6. Patience 77(20) 7. Diligence 97(12) 8. Meditative Concentration 109(28) 9. Wisdom 137(26) 10. Dedication 163(12) APPENDIXES 1. The Life of Shantideva 175(7) 2. Equalizing Self and Other 182(7) 3. Exchanging Self and Other 189(6) Notes 195(20) Bibliography 215