The Scholar Monk Shantideva
Shantideva (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Shantideva and Dorje Shugden
Deity: Shantideva (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Shiwa Lha (Tibetan)
Shantideva was a great scholar, monk and saint from Nalanda Monastery in ancient India who was the head of over 500 pandits. Having mastered the teachings, he practised them internally, without any outward display of high spiritual attainments because he was extremely humble. This, however, led others in the monastery to think that he only ate, slept and defecated rather than striving to live by the Buddha’s teachings. In their eyes, he was a disgrace because they saw him doing nothing while everyone else busied themselves studying, debating, engaging in pujas or teaching.
Although they wanted him expelled from the monastery, he had done nothing wrong so they made a new rule. Each student in the monastery had to give a teaching and due to his humility, Shantideva was apprehensive at the prospect. However, the other monks built him a grand throne in a field, thinking that he would not be able to teach and would be disgraced into leaving Nalanda.
To their great surprise, Shantideva gave a profound explanation on the Bodhisattvacharyavatara or Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, a text which he himself had composed. When he reached the fourth verse of the ninth chapter, he levitated off the throne as portrayed in this image and rose so high into the air that he could no longer be seen, though he could still be heard until he finished the teaching.
The monks of Nalanda realised their mistake in thinking so lowly of an attained master and set out all over India to find him, as he never returned to Nalanda Monastery. When they finally came across him at the Stupa of Sri Dakshina in South India, they invited him back but he refused. Instead, he answered their questions on the Dharma and gave them transmissions of his teachings. The Bodhisattvacharyavatara is a seminal text still used and revered by Tibetan Buddhists today.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma Protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way View. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Thus, he has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources.
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Interesting to learn about the story of Shantideva. Many times we like to make assumption on what we see from surface without knowing the truth. Shantideva showed us that we do not need to show off our knowledge and being humble is the key. We should focus to continue learning and practising dharma. Do not make judgement without any basis.
Beautiful rime thangka of Shantideva and Dorje Shugden. Shantideva was an 8th-century Indian Buddhist monk, a great master, scholar, and bodhisattva,at Nalanda. Wow …..interesting story of how he rose off the throne as high into the sky as no one could see him yet his teachings could still be heard from the ground by many . Together with Dorje Shugden who is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri as portrayed in this beautiful thangka.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.