This is one of the most dearly beloved Buddhist texts and has been translated into over a dozen languages because of its relevance to modern times. This book was written by an eighth century Indian Bodhisattva, Shantideva, and is a comprehensive outline of what it is to be a bodhisattva. This edition is unique because it contains both a translation of the root text and also a detailed verse by verse commentary by Thrangu Rinpoche, one of the outstanding teachers of our time, in this 265 page book. Other texts have either a translation of the root text with numerous notes or just the commentary with no root text to go back to.
The Bodhisattva's Way begins explaining how and why to make offerings to the Three Jewels and how to take the bodhisattva vow (which has not changed in 1,300 years). It also covers how to develop compassion towards those we like and also those who want to harm us. This is done by developing selflessness and Shantideva explains how to how to develop patience for those people and things that obstruct us. Then he describes how to carry ourselves in a peaceful and pleasing way and how to develop diligence in the practice of meditation. The famous final 9th chapter explains how we should understand emptiness of all phenomena as a bodhisattva.
