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How can I fathom the depths
Of the goodness of this jewel of the mind,
The panacea that relieves the world of pain
And is the source of all its joy?
If merely a benevolent intention
Excels venerating the Buddhas,
Then what need to mention striving to make
Part II - The Bodhisattva Vow - Producing the Mahayana Motivation 97
From A Guide to The Bodhisattva s Way of Life
All beings without exception happy?
Although wishing to be rid of misery,
They run towards misery itself.
Although wishing to have happiness,
Like an enemy they ignorantly destroy it.
For those who are deprived of happiness
And burdened with many sorrows
It satisfies them with all ioy,
Dispels all suffering,
And clears away confusion.
Where is there a comparable virtue?
Where is there even such a friend?
Where is there merit similar to this?
If whoever repays a kind deed
Is worthy of some praise,
Then what need to mention the Bodhisattva
Who does good without its being asked of
him?
The world honors as virtuous
A man who sometimes gives a little plain food
Disrespectfully to a few beings,
That satisfies them for only half a day.
What need be said then of one
who, eternally bestows the peerless bliss of
the Sugatas
Upon limitless numbers of beings,
Thereby fulfilling all their hopes?
The Buddha has said that whoever bears an
evil thought
Part II - The Bodhisattva Vow - Producing the Mahayana Motivation 98
From A Guide to The Bodhisattva s Way of Life
Against a benefactor such as that Bodhisattva
Will remain in hell for as many aeons
As there were evil thoughts.
But if a virtuous attitude should arise (in that
regard).
Its fruits will multiply far more than that.
When Bodhisattvas greatly suffer they
generate no negativity,
Instead their virtues naturally increase.
I bow down to the body of him
In whom the sacred precious mind is born.
I seek refuge in that source of joy
Who brings to happiness even those who
harm him.
Part II - The Bodhisattva Vow - Producing the Mahayana Motivation
99
Making Space with Bodhicitta, by Lama Yeshe
Bodhicitta is the essential, universal truth.
This most pure thought is the wish and the will to bring all sentient beings to
the realisation of their highest potential, enlightenment.
The Bodhisattva sees the crystal nature that exists in each of us, and by
recognising the beauty of our human potential, always has respect.
For the disrespectful mind, human beings are like grass, something to be
used. "Ah, he means nothing to me. Human beings are nothing to me."
We all try to take advantage of someone else, to profit only for ourselves.
The entire world is built on attachment. Big countries overwhelm small
countries, big children take candy from small children, husbands take
advantage of their wives. I make friends with someone because he can
benefit me. It is the same with the rest of the world. Boyfriends, girlfriends.
Everybody wants something.
The desire to make friends only for the other person's benefit is extremely
rare; however, it is very worthwhile. Buddha explained that even one
moment's thought of this mind dedicated to enlightenment for the sake of
others can destroy a hundred thousand lifetimes' negative karma.
We have attachment that makes us tight and uncomfortable. But even a tiny
spark of bodhicitta's heat makes the heart warm and relaxed.
Bodhicitta is the powerful solution, the atomic energy that destroys the
kingdom of attachment.
Bodhicitta is not emotional love. By understanding the relative nature of
sentient beings and seeing their highest destination, and by developing the
willingness to bring all beings to that state of enlightenment, the mind is
filled with love born from wisdom, not emotion.
Part II - The Bodhisattva Vow - Producing the Mahayana Motivation 100
Making Space With Bodhicitta
Bodhicitta is not partial. Wherever you go with bodhicitta if you meet
people, rich people or poor people, black or white, you are comfortable and
you can communicate.
We have a fixed idea; life is this way or that. "This is good. This is bad." We
do not understand the different aspects of the human condition. But, having
this incredible universal thought, our narrow mind vanishes automatically. It
is so simple; you have space and life becomes easier.
For example, someone looks at us, at our home, at our garden and we freak
out. We are so insecure and tight in our hearts. Arrogant. "Don't look at me."
But with bodhicitta there is space. When someone looks we can say, "Hmm.
She's looking. But that's O.K." Do you understand? Rather than feeling upset
you know it is all right.
Bodhicitta is the intoxicant that numbs us against pain and fills us with bliss.
Bodhicitta is the alchemy that transforms every action into benefit for others.
Bodhicitta is the cloud that carries the rain of positive energy to nourish
growing things.
Bodhicitta is not doctrine. It is a state of mind. This inner experience is
completely individual. So how can we see who is a Bodhisattva and who is
not? can we see the self-cherishing mind?
If we feel insecure ourselves we will project that negative feeling onto
others. We need the pure innermost thought of bodhicitta; wherever we go
that will take care of us.
Part II - The Bodhisattva Vow - Producing the Mahayana Motivation 101
Stabilizing in the Bodhimind, by Shantideva
In the spiritual energy that relieves
The anguish of beings in misery and
Places depressed beings in eternal joy,
I lift up my heart and rejoice.
In the goodness producing illumination
I lift up my heart and rejoice.
I rejoice in the beings who have gained
Eternal liberation from suffering,
And I rejoice in those attained to Buddhahood
As well as in their offspring, the noble Bodhisattvas.
In the ocean-like virtue of the bodhimind
That brings joy to all beings
And in accomplishing the well-being of others,
I lift up my heart and rejoice.
To the Buddhas of the ten directions
I join my hands in respect.
Let blaze the light of Dharma s truth
For the beings lost in darkness.
To the Buddhas considering parinirvana
I join my hands in prayer.
Do not abandon the beings in sorrow
But remain and teach for countless ages.
May any spiritual energy thus generated
By my devotion to the enlightened ones
Be dedicated to dispelling the misery
Of living beings without exception.
Part II - The Bodhisattva Vow - Producing the Mahayana Motivation 102
Stabilizing in the Bodhimind
As long as diseases afflict living beings
May I be the doctor, the medicine
And also the nurse
Who restores them to health.
May I fall as rain to increase
The harvests that must feed the living beings
And in ages of dire famine
May I myself serve as food and drink.
May I be a treasury
For those desperate and forlorn.
May I manifest as what they require
And wish to have near them.
My body, every possession
And all goodness, past, present and future
Without remorse I dedicate
To the well-being of the world.
Suffering is transcended by total surrender
And the mind attains to nirvana.
As one day all must be given up,
Why not dedicate it now to universal happiness?
My bodily powers I dedicate
To the well-being of all that lives.
Should anyone wish to ridicule me
And make me an object of jest and scorn,
Why should I possibly care
If I have dedicated myself to others?
Let them do as they wish with me,
So long as it does not harm them.
May no one who encounters me
Ever have an insignificant contact.
Part II - The Bodhisattva Vow - Producing the Mahayana Motivation 103
Stabilizing in the Bodhimind
Regardless of whether those whom I meet
Respond toward me with anger or faith,
May the mere fact of out meeting
Contribute to the fulfillment of their wishes.
May the slander, harm
And all forms of abuse
That anyone should direct toward me
Act as a cause of their enlightenment.
May I be a protector of the helpless,
A guide to those traveling the path,
A boat to those wishing to cross over;
Or a bridge or a raft.
May I be land for those requiring it,
A lamp for those in darkness,
May I be a home for the homeless,
And a servant to the world.
In order to fulfill the needs of beings
May I be as a magic gem,
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