The Hidden Bodhicaryāvatāra: Double Entendres, the Confession of Sins, and the Invocation of Mañjunātha

Summary

The eighth-century Buddhist text Bodhicaryāvatāra, often used in modern meditation teachings, developed alongside restricted tantric practices. The author shows that Śāntideva’s visualization techniques parallel transgressive rituals from the Secret Communion (Guhyasamāja Tantra), and his homage to Mañjunātha, an esoteric deity, suggests tantric influences. Double entendres about bodhicitta may reference libertine yogis. While tantric yoga aims at deification, Śāntideva’s mandalic confession rite fosters humility and altruism, offering an indirect critique of transgressive bodily yogas. The article reconsiders the relationship between guided meditation and ritual action in this contemplative tradition.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Modern teachings on Buddhist meditation often draw on Śāntideva’s eighth-century Bodhicaryāvatāra (Introduction to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life). While Śāntideva’s thought is presented as fit for broad global audiences, the fact that it developed in tandem with restricted tantric practices has received little attention. Visualization techniques in the early chapters parallel transgressive rituals in the system of the Secret Communion (Guhyasamāja Tantra). Śāntideva pays homage to Mañjunātha, an esoteric knowledge deity unknown in mainstream Mahāyāna texts, and his emphasis on holding on to bodhicitta, the “thought of awakening,” contains apparent double entendres about libertine yogis. Whereas tantric yoga aims at deification, Śāntideva’s mandalic confession rite aims to foster humility and altruism. Śāntideva’s indirect critique of transgressive bodily yogas paves the way for the internalization of tantric praxis. This article reconsiders the relationship between guided meditation and other kinds of ritual action in an influential contemplative tradition.