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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 21

Benny: How did you first become on the saving power of bodhisattvas Śāntideva’s emphasis differs from
interested in Buddhism and why and buddhas. Another academic many Western virtue ethicists,
the special interest in Śāntideva? I admire, Charles Goodman, has in that he almost always places
argued that Śāntideva presents primary emphasis on the condition
I first learned about Śāntideva when one of the earliest global defenses of the mind. Doing correct and
I lived in Seattle. The dharma center of the ethical theory called helpful physical and verbal actions
where I practiced would frequently consequentialism, the position are important, but for the most
invite visiting Tibetan Lamas, that the right action is the one that part they follow naturally once the
some of whom would teach from maximizes good consequences mind is stabilized and protected
Śāntideva’s Guide to the Practices for all persons. My own approach from pathological emotions like
of Awakening [Bodhicaryāvatāra; is to focus on Śāntideva’s moral delusion, anger and craving. For
Guide for short]. Then, when I psychology, his explication of instance, Śāntideva characterizes
moved to Hawaii to pursue an M.A. the pathological and virtuous the perfection of generosity
in philosophy, I studied the same mental states, which respectively (dāna) as a mind that is free from
text in a seminar guided by Dr. Roy cause suffering, or are deeply craving, and that wishes to offer
Perrett. I was fascinated with the conducive to stable human all possessions to all beings. Once
way the text combined what initially happiness. In particular, I’m that mental attitude is in place,
appeared to be sharply contrasting interested in Śāntideva’s claim that skillful spontaneous giving of one’s
elements. Some passages would other-regarding virtues, such as possession follows naturally. But
focus on the joy and inspiring compassion and generosity, which there are a variety of resonances
nature of the bodhisattva path, are focused on benefiting others, with Western virtue ethicists, which
followed by explicit and sometimes are also deeply conducive to the I think suggest that Śāntideva can
graphic descriptions of the horrors bodhisattva’s own happiness. For be treated as offering an account
of saṃsāra, followed by rigorous instance, developing generosity of virtue. For instance, Aristotle’s
philosophical argumentation stabilizes the bodhisattva’s mind conception of virtue (arête) is of a
on moral responsibility and the by protecting it from the harms quality which is deeply conducive
irrationality of selfishness and anger. of craving, and improves social to its possessor’s happiness. This
relationships by eliminating applies to Śāntideva also, given
There are many Nalanda pandits attachment to material possessions, that he holds that developing the
whose teachings are a source of thereby reducing social conflict. bodhisattva’s virtues are the only
inspiration to many people. What Likewise, compassion loosens way to achieve lasting happiness.
would you regard as the most the grip of painful self-grasping,
unique teachings of Śāntideva? and thereby eliminates fear. It What is the rationale behind
Śāntideva’s belief that virtue
is also conducive to establishing
One of the reasons the Guide has harmonious social relationships. should be cultivated to benefit
become a global classic in the The generous compassionate others, and not for one’s own
st
th
20 and 21 centuries is that it bodhisattva, therefore, is entirely sake only?
is rich enough for people to find focused on the well-being of others,
inspiration in different aspects but thereby achieves freedom from According to Śāntideva, the virtues
of the text. One of my academic suffering themselves. have a self and other benefiting
friends, Perry Schmidt-Leukel, structure. Patience, for instance, is
for instance, approaches the text Is Śāntideva’s understanding a calm state of mind which protects
from the standpoint of Christian of virtues and ethics similar the bodhisattva from anger, which
theology and comparative religion, to modern Western moral Śāntideva argues always harms its
and focuses on the text’s emphasis philosophy? possessor. It also enables skillfully