Shantideva · Theology

The Perfection of Patience

Chapter 6 of the Bodhicharyavatara: a single flash of hatred destroys ages of good, so Shantideva dismantles anger with analysis - wrongdoers are driven by conditions, the enemy is a teacher - and recasts patience as the greatest strength.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Shantideva calls hatred the destroyer of merit gathered over aeons, that anger is disarmed by analysis - offenders are moved by conditions, not self-guided, so blaming the person is like blaming the stick instead of the wielder - that the enemy is a treasure because patience can only be practised on s…

Leads to Nagarjuna.

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