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- Title: The Path of Light – The Bodhi-Charyavatara of Santi-Deva
- Author: Shantideva
- Narrator: Eric Metzler
- Length: 02:34:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2016
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Religion & Spirituality, World Religions
- ISBN13: SABLIB9787605
As a scholar who has spent decades traversing the intersections of literature, philosophy, and spirituality, I find Shantideva’s “The Path of Light” to be a remarkable confluence of poetic elegance and profound philosophical insight. This LibriVox audiobook edition, narrated by Eric Metzler, offers listeners an accessible portal into an 8th-century text that continues to illuminate minds across centuries and cultures.
“”First Impressions: A Text That Finds You””
I first encountered the “Bodhicaryavatara” during my research fellowship at Kyoto University, where I was studying the migration of Buddhist texts across Asia. What struck me then – and what Metzler’s narration captures beautifully – is how Shantideva’s verses seem to meet each listener at their particular stage of understanding. The opening chapter’s exploration of bodhicitta (the enlightenment mind) resonated with me differently during that initial academic encounter than it does now, after having lived through personal losses that made the text’s teachings on patience and impermanence vibrate with new urgency.
“”Narration That Honors the Text’s Spirit””
Eric Metzler’s narration deserves particular praise for achieving what few academic narrators manage – a delivery that is both precise enough for scholarly engagement and infused with the warmth these teachings demand. His pacing during the famous sixth chapter on patience (kshanti) allows each metaphor to land with transformative weight. I found myself pausing the audio frequently to sit with lines like “All the joy the world contains has come through wishing happiness for others” – a practice that Metzler’s thoughtful pauses between stanzas actively encourages.
“”Structural Brilliance in Audio Form””
The text’s ten-chapter structure, moving systematically through the six perfections (paramitas), translates surprisingly well to audio format. While some philosophical texts become cumbersome in audio form, the “Bodhicaryavatara”‘s poetic quality makes it naturally suited for listening. I often played chapters during my morning walks through Berkeley’s botanical garden, finding that the rhythm of walking mirrored the text’s progressive journey toward enlightenment. The ninth chapter on wisdom (prajna), with its profound emptiness (sunyata) teachings, took on new dimensions when heard surrounded by nature’s impermanent beauty.
“”Cultural Context and Contemporary Relevance””
Through my comparative literature lens, what fascinates me most is how this text bridges ancient Indian philosophy and modern mindfulness movements. Shantideva’s teachings on transforming adversity into spiritual growth (Chapter 6) anticipate contemporary resilience psychology by thirteen centuries. The audiobook format makes these connections particularly vivid – I found myself drawing parallels between Shantideva’s advice on dealing with anger and modern therapeutic techniques during my weekly commute to teach at Stanford.
“”A Balanced Perspective””
While the audiobook excels in many aspects, potential listeners should note that this LibriVox version lacks the supplementary commentary found in some commercial editions. For complete newcomers to Buddhist philosophy, certain sections (particularly the wisdom chapter’s Madhyamaka philosophy) might benefit from companion readings. However, the purity of experiencing Shantideva’s unadorned verses has its own merit, reminiscent of my first encounter with Murakami’s works in their original language before scholarly apparatus shaped my interpretations.
“”Comparative Literary Perspectives””
The “Bodhicaryavatara” invites fascinating comparisons across traditions. While teaching a seminar on Stoicism last spring, I created an assignment comparing Shantideva’s approach to patience with Marcus Aurelius’s meditations on adversity. The audiobook’s clear chapter divisions made it easy to assign specific sections for this comparative exercise. Similarly, the text’s emphasis on ethical discipline (shila) resonates with Confucian teachings I studied during my Harvard years, though Shantideva’s metaphysical framework remains distinctly Buddhist.
“”Recommendations for Listeners””
This audiobook will particularly reward:
1. Philosophy students seeking primary texts in accessible formats
2. Meditation practitioners looking to deepen their theoretical understanding
3. Comparative religion scholars studying cross-cultural ethics
4. Anyone navigating life challenges who might benefit from ancient wisdom on resilience
For optimal experience, I recommend:
– Listening to one chapter per sitting to allow integration
– Keeping a journal handy for reflections
– Re-listening to complex sections (the beauty of audio!)
– Pairing with Pema Chödrön’s commentaries for modern applications
With scholarly warmth and a bow to the wisdom keepers,
Prof. Emily Chen
