The bodhisattva ideal is often compared to a warrior. We live in a time in which it takes great courage and determination to be more present in the world. Our culture is encouraging us all to fit in and comply, lulling us back to sleep with entertainment and distraction. Trying to wake up in that world is no easy task, and yet it presents an opportunity worth fighting for.
We cannot truly be deeply present in the world or contribute in meaningful ways until we can get past our own hesitation, fear and uncertainty. Our narrow conception of who we are and what we are capable of limits our experience of the world and what we have to give.
Doing the inner work of uncovering our natural buddha heart requires a lifelong journey of self-discovery. Our most meaningful work is to awaken in such a way that the gifts we have to share are seen as irreplaceable. That is work worth investing in and showing up for. That is work that we can spend our entire life doing, and work that will genuinely make a difference in creating a better world.
To be successful in our work does not require accomplishing some outer goal. Rather, it is to reconnect with our own nature in such a way that we reveal own our buddha heart and have the courage to bring it out into the world for the benefit of others.
Clarify your practice. Let your practice clarify you.
Showing posts with label courage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label courage. Show all posts
Friday, December 21, 2018
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Absence of denial.
Some turn off the news,
lock their door.
Some look down at their phone,
pretend like they didn't hear.
Some busy themselves with important things,
"I'd like to but I don't have time."
Some shift the blame,
believe a conspiracy or claim no control.
Some are paralyzed by fear,
others by indifference.
A few, the rare ones, have the courage to witness, to listen, to hold the space.
The courage to be vulnerable, to be open to pain and suffering. To stand for a moment with uncertainty and fear. To sit with discord and irritation. To wait, when its easier to run and hide.
Terrible things happen everyday. There is no end to the pain and struggle. It takes courage to hold that sadness in your hands, to feel it course through your life, and to keep practicing anyways.
lock their door.
Some look down at their phone,
pretend like they didn't hear.
Some busy themselves with important things,
"I'd like to but I don't have time."
Some shift the blame,
believe a conspiracy or claim no control.
Some are paralyzed by fear,
others by indifference.
A few, the rare ones, have the courage to witness, to listen, to hold the space.
The courage to be vulnerable, to be open to pain and suffering. To stand for a moment with uncertainty and fear. To sit with discord and irritation. To wait, when its easier to run and hide.
Terrible things happen everyday. There is no end to the pain and struggle. It takes courage to hold that sadness in your hands, to feel it course through your life, and to keep practicing anyways.
As long as space remains,
as long as sentient beings remain,
May I too remain,
to dispel the misery of the world.
Shantideva
Friday, January 9, 2015
Bodhisattva.
བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས་དཔའ་
Tibetan: Jangchub Sempa
English: Bodhisattva
The Tibetan byang chub (pronounced Jangchub) means enlightened or awakened.
byang means to clear away, purify or awaken (notice the action to as opposed to the Tibetan sangs).
chub means totally or perfectly.
The Tibetan sems means mind, dpa' means heroic, courageous, or warrior.
Sempa is a courageous mind. Courageous because it seeks enlightenment. It seeks to purify, clear away and awaken. Heroic because she is willing to bear the hardship of pushing through resistance, breaking through fear and doubt, and persevering amidst uncertainty.
Why?
Because they have something to share and they are sick of holding back, sick of consuming. They are tired of hiding. Disillusioned with indulging themselves with the mundane affairs of this world.
So they commit. They decide. They act. They do it for themselves, and they do it for others. They do it for themselves so that they can actually do it for others.
When their practice is perfected, they become Buddhas, fulfilling their own aims and benefiting others simultaneously.
Tibetan: Jangchub Sempa
English: Bodhisattva
The Tibetan byang chub (pronounced Jangchub) means enlightened or awakened.
byang means to clear away, purify or awaken (notice the action to as opposed to the Tibetan sangs).
chub means totally or perfectly.
The Tibetan sems means mind, dpa' means heroic, courageous, or warrior.
Sempa is a courageous mind. Courageous because it seeks enlightenment. It seeks to purify, clear away and awaken. Heroic because she is willing to bear the hardship of pushing through resistance, breaking through fear and doubt, and persevering amidst uncertainty.
Why?
Because they have something to share and they are sick of holding back, sick of consuming. They are tired of hiding. Disillusioned with indulging themselves with the mundane affairs of this world.
So they commit. They decide. They act. They do it for themselves, and they do it for others. They do it for themselves so that they can actually do it for others.
When their practice is perfected, they become Buddhas, fulfilling their own aims and benefiting others simultaneously.
Monday, December 16, 2013
The Plague of Indifference.
We are suffering from one of the worst epidemics in recent human history. It has the potential to spread to every corner of the land and to infect every person. It leaves its victims lifeless, like wandering zombies.
It is the plague of indifference.
It strikes those who care. Those that are trying to make a difference, to bring benefit to others. It has a slow onset, germinating in those who time and time again go the extra mile. It reproduces and gains its strength as kindness and generosity are taken advantage of, exploited and disrespected.
The infection starts to display signs and symptoms as the victim gets worn out, angry at themselves for trying so hard and for caring so much. They may feel guilty for wanting to help others, for repeating this cycle again and again only to end up in states of loss.
The infection has reached its full measure when the victim no longer cares, when they just go through the motions and do what they are told.
One remedy for this infection is to show appreciation and respect to those who aren't infected. To rejoice in their efforts. This remedy can delay or offset the progression of the disease, but it is not necessarily a cure.
The only cure is to protect your own mind, and the only way to do that is to cultivate bodhicitta, the awakened mind. It is only by cultivating bodhicitta that you can bear the burden of unpleasant and painful circumstances. It is only by cultivating bodhicitta that you can abandon your own susceptibility to 'woe is me'.
One who cultivates bodhicitta is a bodhisattva, a courageous awakened warrior.
They don't fight others, they fight to establish them in peaceful, happy states.
They fight to bring them benefit.
They fight for those who care, and to help those who don't to regain their purpose.
It is a battle worth fighting for.
As it states in the Heart Sutra:
There is no attainment, and even no non-attainment. Therefore, Shariputra, since bodhisattvas have no attainments, they rely on this perfection of wisdom and abide in it. Having no obscurations in their minds, they have no fear, and by going utterly beyond error, they will reach the end of nirvana.
It is the plague of indifference.
It strikes those who care. Those that are trying to make a difference, to bring benefit to others. It has a slow onset, germinating in those who time and time again go the extra mile. It reproduces and gains its strength as kindness and generosity are taken advantage of, exploited and disrespected.
The infection starts to display signs and symptoms as the victim gets worn out, angry at themselves for trying so hard and for caring so much. They may feel guilty for wanting to help others, for repeating this cycle again and again only to end up in states of loss.
The infection has reached its full measure when the victim no longer cares, when they just go through the motions and do what they are told.
One remedy for this infection is to show appreciation and respect to those who aren't infected. To rejoice in their efforts. This remedy can delay or offset the progression of the disease, but it is not necessarily a cure.
The only cure is to protect your own mind, and the only way to do that is to cultivate bodhicitta, the awakened mind. It is only by cultivating bodhicitta that you can bear the burden of unpleasant and painful circumstances. It is only by cultivating bodhicitta that you can abandon your own susceptibility to 'woe is me'.
One who cultivates bodhicitta is a bodhisattva, a courageous awakened warrior.
They don't fight others, they fight to establish them in peaceful, happy states.
They fight to bring them benefit.
They fight for those who care, and to help those who don't to regain their purpose.
It is a battle worth fighting for.
As it states in the Heart Sutra:
There is no attainment, and even no non-attainment. Therefore, Shariputra, since bodhisattvas have no attainments, they rely on this perfection of wisdom and abide in it. Having no obscurations in their minds, they have no fear, and by going utterly beyond error, they will reach the end of nirvana.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)