Bodhisattva
“The Bodhisattva is like the mightiest of warriors;
But her enemies are not common foes of flesh and bone.
His fight is with the inner delusions,
The afflictions of self-cherishing and ego grasping,
Those most terrible of demons
That catch living beings in the snares of confusion
And cause them forever to wander in pain, frustration and sorrow.
Her mission is to harm ignorance and delusion, never living beings.
These he looks upon with kindness, patience, and empathy,
Cherishing them like a mother cherishes her only child.
She is the real hero, calmly facing any hardship
In order to bring peace, happiness and liberation to the world.”
– The Thirteenth Dalai Lama from his “Discourse on the Great Lam Rim”
Below is a copy of teaching of the Bodhisattva tradition that we compiled for a workshop at Mahidol University titled “Fierce Compassion and the Bodhisattva Spirit” – and some other inspiring readings on this tradition. We trust you will find these teaching enlightening…!
“Full Acceptance of the Awakening Mind”:
A Bodhicitta Prayer
by Shantideva
May I be the doctor and the medicine
And may I be the nurse
For all sick beings in the world
Until everyone is healed.
May a rain of food and drink descend
To clear away the pain of thirst and hunger
And during the aeon of famine
May I myself change into food and drink.
May I become an inexhaustible treasure
For those who are poor and destitute;
May I turn into all things they could need,
And may these be placed close beside them.
Without any sense of loss
I shall give up my body and enjoyments
As well as my virtues of the three times
For the sake of benefiting all.
By giving up all, sorrow is transcended
And my mind will realize the sorrowless state.
It is best that I now give everything to all beings
In the same way as I shall at death . . .
When anyone encounters me
May it never be meaningless for him or her.
If in those who encounter us
A faithful or angry thought arises,
May that eternally become the source
for fulfilling all their wishes.
May all who say bad things to me
Or cause me any other harm,
And those who mock & insult me
Have the fortune to fully awaken.
May I be a protector for those without one,
A guide for all travelers on the way;
May I be a bridge, a boat & a ship
For all those who wish to cross.
May I be an island for those who seek one,
A lamp for those desiring light.
And may I be a bed for all who wish to rest.
May I be a wishing jewel, a magic vase,
Powerful mantras & great medicine,
May I become a wish-fulfilling tree
And a cow of plenty for the world.
Just like space
And all the great elements such as earth,
May I always support the life
Of all the boundless creatures.
And until they pass away from pain
May I also be the source of life
For all the realms of varied beings
That reach unto the ends of space.
Just as the previous Sugatas
Gave birth to an Awakening Mind,
And just as they successively dwelt
in the bodhisattva practices;
Likewise for the sake of all that lives
Do I give birth to an Awakening Mind
And likewise shall I too
Successively follow the practices.
In order to further increase it from now on,
Those with discernment who have lucidly seized
An Awakening Mind in this way,
Should highly praise it in the following manner:
Today my life has borne fruit:
Having well obtained this human existence,
I’ve been born in the family of Buddha
And now am one of Buddha’s children.
Thus whatever actions I do from now on
Must be in accord with the Family.
Never shall I disgrace or pollute
This noble & unsullied race.
Just like a blind person
Discovering a jewel in a heap of rubbish,
Likewise by some coincidence
An Awakening Mind has been born within me.
It is the supreme ambrosia
That overcomes the sovereignty of death,
It is the inexhaustible treasure
That eliminates all poverty in the world.
It is the supreme medicine
That quells the world’s disease.
It is the tree that shelters all beings
Wandering & tired on the path of conditioned existence.
It is the universal bridge
That leads to freedom from unhappy states of birth
It is the dawning moon of the mind
That dispels the torment of disturbing conceptions.
It is the great sun that finally removes
The misty ignorance of the world.
It is the quintessential butter
From the churning of the milk of Dharma.
For all those guests traveling on the path
of conditioned existence
who wish to experience the bounties of happiness,
this will satisfy them with joy
and actually place them in Supreme bliss.
Today in the presence of all the Protectors
We invite the world to be guests
At a festival of temporary and ultimate delight.
May gods, anti-gods & all be joyful.
( See also Dalai Lama offering the Bodhisattva Vows in Dharmsala Sept. 6, 2019 – beginning around 59:00 – we were there for these teachings guiding a group of colleagues who also participated.)
Leveys’ Fierce Compassion Bodhisattva Handouts
•• Bodhisattva Peace Training Change of Heart Chagdud