Monday, May 27, 2013

A Fruitful Life

You could be a guard for those who are protectorless, 
A guide for those who journey on the road.
For those who wish to cross the water, 
You could be a boat, a raft, a bridge.

You could be an isle for those who yearn for land, 
A lamp for those who long for light;
For all who need a resting place, a bed;
For those who need a servant, you could be their slave.

You could be a wishing jewel, the vase of wealth,
A word of power and supreme healing,
A tree of miracles,
For every being the abundant cow.

Just like the earth and space itself,
And all the mighty elements,
For boundless multitudes of beings
You could always be the ground of life, the source of varied sustenance.

Thus for everything that lives,
As far as the limits of the sky,
You could be constantly their source of livelihood
Until they pass beyond all sorrow.

But if you are going to do those things, then you need to train.  You need to train hard, following in the footsteps of those who have gone before you.  

You need to show up, do the work.  It is not going to be easy, but no one is going to do this for you. 

Adapted from Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva

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