The Way of the Bodhisattva 01 Introduction

For as long as space endures And for as long as living beings remain Until then may I too abide To dispel the misery of the world. ―Shantideva

Compassion and generosity are the hallmarks of the most elevated souls, fully manifested within beings like Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Moses, and all the prophets. The amazing fact is that such beings were once like us: filled with greed, envy, resentment, and all of the psychological contaminations and defects that make us suffer. What is also empowering is that we have the potential to become like these enlightened masters, whom in the east are known as bodhisattvas: "the essence or incarnation of wisdom," the latter word indicating Prajna in Sanskrit, or "vis-dom: the power of vision / perception." The equivalent Hebrew term is Chokmah חָכמָה, signifying Christ in the mystical Kabbalah.

The essence of genuine spirituality is kindness, selfless service, and comprehension of the root nature of all existence: the unsurpassed wisdom of emptiness, Prajna, Śūnyatā, or uncreated light of the Kabbalists, denominated in Gnostic terms as Khristos, Christ. Christ is not a human person, but the intense, primordial root energy of boundless compassion for suffering beings trapped within cyclic or manifested existence. This divine force, the emptiness of enlightened cognizance, sustains all of the universe and sacrifices itself by entering within those practitioners who are properly cultivated and prepared through the great perfections or paramitas, the trainings, principles, or qualities of awakened consciousness within Tibetan Buddhism.

Learn about the path of enlightenment through a gnostic exegesis of Shantideva's seminal Mahayana text, The Way of the Bodhisattva, and how the enlightened mind / heart of wisdom, bodhichitta, can be developed within the practitioner of any denomination, religion, or tradition.

This lecture introduces Shantideva's text, the purpose and contexts of its composition, and its practical application within the art and science of meditation. The lecturer also explains how the mystical kabbalah and the gnostic tradition of Samael Aun Weor can elucidate the esoteric nature of this scripture.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/introduction-to-the-way-of-the-bodhisattva

Gnosis, Buddhism, & the Bodhisattvic Ideal

The lecturer opened with a clear explanation of what Gnosis truly is, followed by an insightful discussion of what a Bodhisattva is according to Samael Aun Weor. I really appreciated how he explained both of these, especially for newcomers to the teachings of Samael Aun Weor and Buddhism.

He touched on Mahayana Buddhism, Tantrayana Buddhism, and also elaborated on the Tree of Life, which helped bridge Eastern and Western esoteric principles beautifully.

I also appreciated the length and pacing of this episode — it gave space for deeper reflection. After defining both Bodhisattva and Gnosis, the lecturer began exploring The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva, which added great depth to the teaching.

Overall, this lecture offered a balanced and enlightening introduction to the path of conscious awakening.