If you consider yourself Bodhisattva, do you delay your liberation for all mankind or for anyone specific?
For whom and why?
For whom and why?
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Bodhisattvas
- Thread starter SalixIncendium
- Start date
Rinchen
Member
"Three modes of generating an altruistic intention to become enlightened are described--like a king, like a boatman, and like a shepherd. In the first, that like a king, one first seeks to attain a high state after which help can be given to others. In the second, like a boatman, one seeks to cross the river of suffering together with others. In the third, like a shepherd, one seeks to relieve the flock of suffering beings from pain first, oneself following afterward. These are indications of the style of the altruistic motivation for becoming enlightened; in actual fact, there is no way that a Bodhisattva either would want to or could delay achieving full enlightenment. As much as the motivation to help others increases, so much closer does one approach Buddhahood." - Dalai Lama
That is the typical Tibetan Buddhist viewpoint.
Its about the type of ones motivation. And, seeing as one can only fully and most precisely benefit other beings when they become a Buddha themselves, who would care to delay that? When a Bodhisattva becomes a fully enlightened Buddha, that is when the ability to benefit others becomes most precise and manifest. Some say its actually the shepherd-like Bodhisattva who, because of their immense compassion, attain full awakening the quickest.
That is the typical Tibetan Buddhist viewpoint.
Its about the type of ones motivation. And, seeing as one can only fully and most precisely benefit other beings when they become a Buddha themselves, who would care to delay that? When a Bodhisattva becomes a fully enlightened Buddha, that is when the ability to benefit others becomes most precise and manifest. Some say its actually the shepherd-like Bodhisattva who, because of their immense compassion, attain full awakening the quickest.
Here is a story about an unawakened Bodhisattva that might surprise many regarding what a Bodhisattva actually is:
The Cucumber Sage
The Cucumber Sage
I've always found the notions of the three different types of Bodhisattva's being a bit off. To "delay" one's enlightenment until you help lead everyone to enlightenment makes no sense. How can you if you aren't Enlightened? There seems only one path. Get Enlightened as quick as you can, then you can help others.
Read the story of the Cucumber Sage. (It's an "out of the mouths of babes" sort of thing. Bodhisattvas are like embryonic arhats/buddhas. The unconscious content is there--they just haven't brought it into their own consciousness yet. However, other people might recognize it even though the Bodhisattva doesn't consciously recognize it themselves.
Bodhisattva = Sanskrit, ‘a person whose essence is perfect knowledge’, from bodhi ‘perfect knowledge’ (from budh- ‘know perfectly’) + sattva ‘being, essence’.
So we don't delay our ascension, we've already attained it, and choose to come back to this realm to help the rest.
In my opinion.
Buddha had always been infinite, and so has anyone who realizes their divinity; it is just the silly souls down here, who choose to be ignorant of being divine beings in the first place.
So we don't delay our ascension, we've already attained it, and choose to come back to this realm to help the rest.
For unliberated souls, who've chosen to not recognize reality for what it is.
In my opinion.
Hah! Yes, this is very true. In reality, it is what is in someone themselves that teaches them, not what others say. It is a matter of them believing in what's already there and allowing it to unfold their own Realization. By just being true to one's own path, it's that which inspires others to find their own.
ChanaR
Member
I don't know a lot about Boddhisattvas. My grounding is in the Abrahamic faiths so I'm not what you would call competent with the Hindu/Buddhist form. But I know that Bodhisattva are enlightened ones who voluntarily come back to work for the enlightenment of other beings. That sounds very much like me -- I can't imagine being happy in heaven if there is anyone in hell, or still reincarnating or whatever it turns out the case may be. But the problem is, I myself am still a flawed being. I don't want to treat the forum like a confessional, and I'm sure you don't want to hear it. But there are simply defects of character that I have worked on my whole life and I continue to work on. Just the other day for example, I said a downright snotty thing about my own synagogue and Reform Jews in general right here in this forum, and now I feel just awful about it. I just don't think that would be true if I were a Bodhisattva.
But now I've wasted two whole minutes wondering if I'm already a Bodhisattva, when it's way more important to become one. So I'm going to spend the rest of the evening treating people well.
But now I've wasted two whole minutes wondering if I'm already a Bodhisattva, when it's way more important to become one. So I'm going to spend the rest of the evening treating people well.
If you are Abrahamic, and are having difficulty in understanding what a Bodhisattva is, Jesus very much fits the bill.
IndigoChild5559
Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
What are the marks of a Boddhisattva?