Bodhisattva Attitude Booklet

By Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche

This booklet was published in collaboration with Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, in honor of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s 2011 visit. It contains excerpts from a longer version, which was published by LYWA in March 2012 and is now available as an ebook. You can also experience these teachings in multimedia format, read the longer version online or download a PDF.

We still have copies of the short version, so please contact [email protected] if you would like one  (or more).

Bodhisattva Attitude: The Verses

1. The Full Verses
Recite or chant the following verses from Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life in the morning or at other times throughout the day. Then contemplate the meaning to bring about a total change to the normal attitude of self-cherishing that only harms ourselves and others. Try to live your life in this practice.

I shall give away fully with no sense of loss
My body, enjoyments and all merits of the three times
(past, present and future)
To accomplish the work for ALL sentient beings.
(Recite this verse with the meditation on “giving”)

By giving away all, I will be liberated from the oceans of samsaric suffering
And my mind will achieve the sorrowless state.
Since I have to leave everything (at death)
It is best to (now) give it away to every single sentient being.

Having given this body to sentient beings
To use HOWEVER they want that makes them happy.
Whether they always kill me, criticize, beat me, or whatever,
It is TOTALLY up to them.

Even if they jest with my body,
Ridicule me, put me down or make fun of me,
Whatever they do, since I have given this body to them,
What is the point of retaliating?

Let this body only do actions that cause no harm to others
And whoever looks at or thinks of me
May it NEVER be meaningless for them.

Whoever focuses on me—
Whether with anger or devotion—
May that ALWAYS be the cause for them
To achieve EVERY success.

May all who say unpleasant things,
Harm, mock or make fun of me
Have the fortune to achieve enlightenment.

May I become a guide for those who are guideless,
A leader for those who are entering the path,
A ship, a boat, and a bridge
For all who wish to cross (over water).

May I become a beautiful garden for those who seek one,
A light for those who look for light,
Bedding for those who wish to rest
And a servant for all who want me as their servant.

Like a wish-granting jewel,
A wish-fulfilling vase, powerful mantra,
Great medicine and a wish-granting tree,
May I fulfill all the wishes of sentient beings.

Just like the sky and the great elements
Earth, (water, fire and wind)
May I ALWAYS be the means of living and the cause of happiness
For sentient beings equaling the limitless sky.

As long as space exists
As long as sentient beings exist
May I too abide and eliminate the suffering of sentient beings.

2. The Short Verses

When there is no time to recite all the verses, just recite these last three or two that contain everything.

Like a wish-granting jewel,
A wish-fulfilling vase, powerful mantra,
Great medicine and a wish-granting tree,
May I fulfill all the wishes of sentient beings.

Just like the sky and the great elements
Earth, (water, fire and wind)
May I ALWAYS be the means of living and the cause of happiness
For sentient beings equaling the limitless sky.

As long as space exists
As long as sentient beings exist
May I too abide and eliminate the suffering of sentient beings. 

Next Chapter:

Bodhisattva Attitude: The Commentary »