the bodhisattva ideal

[Tokan]

Hi all

Thank you all for sharing, all of your teachings and experiences makes the path well-trodden and clear for others to follow, and some very beautifully crafted words

For my part, I like to think of the paramitas as inherent human qualities, much as the Dalai Lama speaks of humanity's "inherent goodness" and, as such, the world comes forth to give life to the paramitas in me, rather than I go into the world to practice the paramitas. Wind is all around us, but sometimes we must fan it to feel it right? So sometimes it does feel as if I go into the world to practice, but am I the fan, the wind, or the fanned wind?

For me also, there is great beauty in the path, in the forms of expression everywhere around us where we can "tag" what we perceive as a particular paramita. But I find they are like ghosts, as soon as I lift my camera to take a picture the ghost vanishes, so I try instead to sit with joy, in celebration of some others happiness, whether it exists as a consequence of an action or word of mine or not, and continue to vow to save all sentient beings, silently knowing that it is all beings that are saving me.

Deep bows, sattoday

Tokan

[Eva]

hi everyone,

to have a wish to literally become an all compassionate Bodhisattva is the beginning of the Bodhisattva Path. Knowing that you are, no matter how it looks like, is to be one .

I know you all are.
sattoday and also LAH

[pinecone]

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.

I wonder who it is who fulfils the vows?

Shall we not ask also if the vows fulfil us?

This dance...

Gassho

Mark

Sat

[Horin]

Hi pinecone,
I think, as long there's a gap between you and the vow, it's not the full embodiment, it's real paramita when there's just the virtue left, like, in shikantaza, there's neither the sitting fulfilling you nor you fulfill the sitting but just sitting, one with everything, beyond discrimination.

Gassho

Ben


Stlah

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[Jundo]

Hi pinecone,
I think, as long there's a gap between you and the vow, it's not the full embodiment, it's real paramita when there's just the virtue left, like, in shikantaza, there's neither the sitting fulfilling you nor you fulfill the sitting but just sitting, one with everything, beyond discrimination.

Gassho

Ben


Stlah

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Yeah, yeah ... but then when there is a guy with a gun pointed at my kid, my wife or me ...

... let's discuss the fine points later.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Horin]

Yeah, yeah ... but then when there is a guy with a gun pointed at my kid, my wife or me ...

... let's discuss the fine points later.

Gassho, J

STLah

Probably I will not be able to maintain any equanimity in that case.
But, yeah I'm looking forward to discuss further then.

Gassho,
Ben


Stlah

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[Ekai]

This was beautifully written. A nice reminder of the Bodhisattva today on this lovely Sunday. It's great to have the ideal to work towards on being more compassionate, loving and patient beings. But it's an ideal we may never achieve in this life because we are human, and we will make mistakes. Within those mistakes is where we find empathy for others who are on the path working towards being more loving beings.

Gassho,
Ekai
SATtoday