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Buddhisattev A Spiritual Analysis

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This chapter beautifully captured what Śãntideva learned from his training with the use of vows that embody merit. The topics of suffering and happiness are touched on in the numerous vows. However, from my understanding of this chapter, an awakened being, such as a Bodhisattva with its extensive training can believe that they can transfer their merit to benefit all beings and finding or even executing happiness can help achieve that. Happiness is explained to never fade or be interrupted, which causes some verses in the chapter to be unrealistic. For most people and even for lay followers happiness comes and goes. It is certainly not a stable emotion that individuals feel on a daily basis. Most of the time, we do not even know when it happens, feel it or even know how long it lasts. Also, it is not as easy to be or feel happy since you usually find something else to think about or you are longing to fulfill another desire, in order feel happiness. …show more content…

Although, the journey and training to become awakened can be considered challenging, the positive aspects outweigh the negative ones. Through training and the Bodhisattva vows, Śãntideva kind of focuses on elements he wishes to occur throughout humanity and the realms. The regions of hell surely cannot become “glades of delight”can be believed if they are awakened and with the mental act of transferring merit can explain how hell could become delightful. These good thoughts, especially regarding happiness, thus allowing it to determine Bodhisattva’s next

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