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I'm a very shitty, selfish, self absorbed, materialistic, greedy, mean, ego centric and me me me kind of person and therefore I could never ever be a Bodhisatva nor do I ever believe I could take an uphold that vow... that' would be like marriage to a 45 year old happy professional bachelor.
So what now?
Now, it's time to turn around and help others anyway! Start again! Do more... keep trying, keep helping, keep doing...why? for the selfish reason that it pleases ME to help others... hopefully they get relief, and in most cases they do. And it's better than not doing anything at all and watching others drown when I could have done something but didn't...
Feeling good when you help others is not being selfish. That's just empathy working. There are many, many people in the world who lack this ability to enjoy helping others. Another person's happiness has no effect on them, any more than another person's suffering causes them a moment's discomfort. Don't sell yourself short.
btw, I think you might be confusing yourself by trying to find an equivalent in Christianity. Bodhisattvas can't be compared to angels or saints without losing something in the translation. (I don't really know much about saints, though.) Sometimes it's best to leave one tradition/paradigm behind, and dive into the new tradition or culture with fresh eyes.
@dakini...you're right. I was trying to relate...I don't haves definition of what a Bodhisattva is completely...but words such as metta and samsara have a complete different meaning in one language than the other.
I will find some Arabic translations for angel for you since you like linguistics and history so much.
@dakini...you're right. I was trying to relate...I don't haves definition of what a Bodhisattva is completely...but words such as metta and samsara have a complete different meaning in one language than the other.
I will find some Arabic translations for angel for you since you like linguistics and history so much.
Comparing religions is an appropriate line of discussion. There are many issues in religions that are similar, but unfortunately too many people only want to outline the differences to separate us.
Bodhisattva sounds to me like a good person or saint. One step below prophethood. In some Christian and Islamic circles, angels can assume human form for a time to assist humanity. It is believed that they will also be judged by men and God at judgement day. That their deeds will be weighed. Also, some Christians believe that 1/3 of angel population may have been allowed to live as humans on earth.
@dakini...you're right. I was trying to relate...I don't haves definition of what a Bodhisattva is completely...but words such as metta and samsara have a complete different meaning in one language than the other.
I will find some Arabic translations for angel for you since you like linguistics and history so much.
Comparing religions is an appropriate line of discussion. There are many issues in religions that are similar, but unfortunately too many people only want to outline the differences to separate us.
Bodhisattva sounds to me like a good person or saint.
That's a simple definition, and it's not too far from how bodhisattvas are portrayed in Buddhism. As for what they are precisely, the exact definition depends upon the tradition. In general, though, a bodhisattva is someone who vows to become a buddha, a fully-awakened being who's able to effectively teach the Dhamma in all its complexity, for the sake of others.
In Theravada, bodhisattvas are portrayed as unenlightened beings who are striving towards buddhahood after making a vow in front of a past buddha, the achievement of which is gradually accomplished over multiple lifetimes by the quantitative development and accumulation the ten perfections (parami).
Other traditions have a similar conception of bodhisattvas, although there are differences. For one, it's not just by making a vow in front of a buddha that one can become a bodhisattva, but the cultivation of bodhicitta, a very special mind state that's often described as the union of compassion and wisdom, which not only acts as a cause to help keep the bodhisattva on the path to buddhahood throughout their innumerable lifetimes, but acts as a positive, non-afflictive cause for the continuation of the enlightened being/mindstream as well.
In addition, many Mahayana schools present bodhisattvas as enlightened beings surpassing arahants on the scale of enlightenment measured in stages called bhumis. For example, in Theravada, nirvana — the end of dukkha (suffering), and the extinguishing of greed, hatred, and delusion — is the final goal, the fulfillment of the holy life. In Mahayana, however, those who have attained nirvana are still said have work to do. This idea originates from certain Mahayana texts such as the Saddharmapundarika Sutra, where the arahant is said not to have reached final nirvana. Essentially, they're seen as being intoxicated with the bliss of the samadhi of cessation, not the nirvana that's attained by a fully enlightened buddha.
It's said that buddhas are able to awaken these individuals from their temporary cessation in order for them to continue towards complete buddhahood (making buddhas extremely important), which is characterized by omniscience. This is said to be due to buddhahood being the result of wisdom and merit accumulation, and not just the eradication of afflictions (which isn't too different from Theravada sans the awakening of arahants bit). As Thubten Chodron explains it:
In the Sanskrit canon, or at least in the Tibetan tradition, when you have arhatship without remainder you abide in meditative equipoise on emptiness for a long, long time. So consciousness still exists, the person still exists, it's merely labeled in dependence upon those aggregates, which are not tainted aggregates, but not completely purified aggregates. Although they're free from ignorance, so they're untainted. Yes, they would be untainted. They still have the cognitive obscurations but they would be untainted. So you abide in the nirvana for eons in your meditative equipoise until eventually the Buddha wakes you up and says, “You have to work for the benefit of sentient beings, your job isn't really done.” So that's from a Mahayana viewpoint, what's happened to the arhats.
But all of that is very theoretical, and I don't really pay much attention to any of the doctrinal and traditional disputes over what a bodhisattva is and how one becomes one, mainly since I don't find it very helpful to my own practice. That said, I tend to think of a bodhisattva as anyone who desires out of loving-kindness and compassion to help other beings suffer less and makes a vow to do what they can to achieve that goal, Buddhist or otherwise. In this, they're not unlike saints, in my opinion.
Isn't it dangerous to believe your are an actual bodhisatva? then whatever you do in life, whether it produces positive or negative results won't matter... because you believe that you have attained some sort of "sainthood"... my problem with this statement is that many people with GOOD intentions have paved their own way to hell..such as Hitler. An artist with a delusional mentality who intended on helping his people through a socialist government.
Second, we can't prove past lives, like we can't absolutelly prove the existance of ghosts, aliens, angels or demons. How do these people know what they know and does it matter?
The point is that they are helping sentient beings...who cares what they are right? I doubt that aside from taking a wonderful vow, real bodhisatva's could care less about really being one but only desire to aid others...that is the driving force... their action into good or positive deeds... not a sort of HONOR of being called a bodhisatvva...
did i ramble...
From what I read above, it seems that the Bodhisattva doesn't even know that he or she is actually one. unless, of course, you take a vow. . .
No a Bodhisattva certainly knows when they have developed genuine Bodhichitta,
From what I read above, it seems that the Bodhisattva doesn't even know that he or she is actually one. unless, of course, you take a vow. . .
They may have subconscious past life memories that draw them toward altruistic activity.
A Bodhisattva comes from the mind of Bodhichitta which comes from the mind of universal compassion, High level Bodhisattva's have various clairvoyance which enables them to discern the best method to help others through any particular means or appropriate teaching. Good intentions that come from a purely altruistic mind combined with wisdom always produce good results Bodhisattva's always vow to help and not to harm others you never known who could be one because they manifest in a myriad of forms their compassion is non discriminatory between Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Jew...etc They even appear in forms such as that to aid others.
Ordinarily sentient beings such as you and I grasp at Self and others and form deluded minds of self cherishing, attachment, aversion, anger, Jealousy, pride and all the rest. We attach labels to ourselves and grasp strongly at them. Bodhisattva's do no such thing through meditating upon emptiness they cut the delusion of Self grasping Ignorance and destroy Samsara.
A Bodhisattva is an inspiration and an aspiration (for me). I know who they are, I meet them all the time; they're loving caring and motivated by compassion to help others. In A.A. I meet many 'front line Bodhisattvas', or I hear about them also.
On Sunday I had a chat with a heavily tattooed newly sober alcoholic and he was telling me about a guy who'd given him a bed when he was living on the streets; just a normal bloke taking a smelly, dribbly, vomitty alcoholic into his house to keep warm, safe and feed. The person who did this had to be a front line Bodhisattva. He told me about the kindness he'd received since coming into A.A.; about how he'd been 'loved' back to life.
I probably could bore you with many other stories along this line.
I love stories about the hidden Bodhisattvas among us, @Tosh. This is the sort of person I had in mind when I responded to Alison's question re: do they know they're Bodhisattvas. Some know subconsciously, their past life memories guide them a long the path. Please, do continue "boring" us with more stories.
Ok, so I am slightly confused. Are Bodhisattva's aware that they are Bodhisattva's? When they are rebirth,ed are the guaranteed rebirth in the human realm? Or can they be rebirthed in any realm? Also, are the rebirthed with enlightenment, or do they have to reach enlightenment again? If they are not enlightened, how can a non-enlightneed one help someone reach enlightenment?
Ok, so I am slightly confused. Are Bodhisattva's aware that they are Bodhisattva's? When they are rebirth,ed are the guaranteed rebirth in the human realm? Or can they be rebirthed in any realm? Also, are the rebirthed with enlightenment, or do they have to reach enlightenment again? If they are not enlightened, how can a non-enlightneed one help someone reach enlightenment?
Ok, so I am slightly confused. Are Bodhisattva's aware that they are Bodhisattva's? When they are rebirth,ed are the guaranteed rebirth in the human realm? Or can they be rebirthed in any realm? Also, are the rebirthed with enlightenment, or do they have to reach enlightenment again? If they are not enlightened, how can a non-enlightneed one help someone reach enlightenment?
They can choose to be reborn in hell realms, to help people there. I think that many don't have conscious memories of past lives as bodhisattvas. They just get on with the business of helping people in their current life. Sort of like they're pre-programmed at birth.
They can choose to be reborn in hell realms, to help people there. I think that many don't have conscious memories of past lives as bodhisattvas. They just get on with the business of helping people in their current life. Sort of like they're pre-programmed at birth.
Where do you come up with this?
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personDon't believe everything you thinkThe liminal spaceVeteran
Ok, so I am slightly confused. Are Bodhisattva's aware that they are Bodhisattva's? When they are rebirth,ed are the guaranteed rebirth in the human realm? Or can they be rebirthed in any realm? Also, are the rebirthed with enlightenment, or do they have to reach enlightenment again? If they are not enlightened, how can a non-enlightneed one help someone reach enlightenment?
Karma comes in mental varieties too, so that means mental habits. A bodhisattva will have developed positive habits so they quickly develop them again in the new life. Learning Buddhism is more like a review than a brand new course.
This link might answer some questions for you. Its about the tulku system in Tibet for recognizing and training bodhisattvas from life to life.
They can choose to be reborn in hell realms, to help people there. I think that many don't have conscious memories of past lives as bodhisattvas. They just get on with the business of helping people in their current life. Sort of like they're pre-programmed at birth.
In the discussion the idea is introduced that there are Bodhisattvas with a capital "B", "avatars" one member called them, and bodhisattvas with a small "b", people we may run into as we go about life who are in "helping" professions, or who tirelessly volunteer their time on others' behalf. You may have encountered selfless people like this. It could be a relative, a friend, an anonymous person who spontaneously reaches out to others as the need arises. My prime example is Harry Belafonte, who was deeply involved in the US civil rights movement and the effort to end apartheid in South Africa, and who worked as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, reaching out to children around the world. He's still alive and kicking. One of his latest projects relates to gangs and troubled youth in the US. He never gives up, and is always looking for a way to empower the downtrodden. If this isn't a bodhisattva, I don't know what is. Jesus could be considered a Bodhisattva.
Ultimately, who we may identify as a bodhisattva is subjective. Having the concept in mind helps further our practice, IMO; it's a good lens through which to view the world.
Comments
The import thing is that you try to help.
I will find some Arabic translations for angel for you since you like linguistics and history so much.
In Theravada, bodhisattvas are portrayed as unenlightened beings who are striving towards buddhahood after making a vow in front of a past buddha, the achievement of which is gradually accomplished over multiple lifetimes by the quantitative development and accumulation the ten perfections (parami).
Other traditions have a similar conception of bodhisattvas, although there are differences. For one, it's not just by making a vow in front of a buddha that one can become a bodhisattva, but the cultivation of bodhicitta, a very special mind state that's often described as the union of compassion and wisdom, which not only acts as a cause to help keep the bodhisattva on the path to buddhahood throughout their innumerable lifetimes, but acts as a positive, non-afflictive cause for the continuation of the enlightened being/mindstream as well.
In addition, many Mahayana schools present bodhisattvas as enlightened beings surpassing arahants on the scale of enlightenment measured in stages called bhumis. For example, in Theravada, nirvana — the end of dukkha (suffering), and the extinguishing of greed, hatred, and delusion — is the final goal, the fulfillment of the holy life. In Mahayana, however, those who have attained nirvana are still said have work to do. This idea originates from certain Mahayana texts such as the Saddharmapundarika Sutra, where the arahant is said not to have reached final nirvana. Essentially, they're seen as being intoxicated with the bliss of the samadhi of cessation, not the nirvana that's attained by a fully enlightened buddha.
It's said that buddhas are able to awaken these individuals from their temporary cessation in order for them to continue towards complete buddhahood (making buddhas extremely important), which is characterized by omniscience. This is said to be due to buddhahood being the result of wisdom and merit accumulation, and not just the eradication of afflictions (which isn't too different from Theravada sans the awakening of arahants bit). As Thubten Chodron explains it: But all of that is very theoretical, and I don't really pay much attention to any of the doctrinal and traditional disputes over what a bodhisattva is and how one becomes one, mainly since I don't find it very helpful to my own practice. That said, I tend to think of a bodhisattva as anyone who desires out of loving-kindness and compassion to help other beings suffer less and makes a vow to do what they can to achieve that goal, Buddhist or otherwise. In this, they're not unlike saints, in my opinion.
Ordinarily sentient beings such as you and I grasp at Self and others and form deluded minds of self cherishing, attachment, aversion, anger, Jealousy, pride and all the rest. We attach labels to ourselves and grasp strongly at them. Bodhisattva's do no such thing through meditating upon emptiness they cut the delusion of Self grasping Ignorance and destroy Samsara.
On Sunday I had a chat with a heavily tattooed newly sober alcoholic and he was telling me about a guy who'd given him a bed when he was living on the streets; just a normal bloke taking a smelly, dribbly, vomitty alcoholic into his house to keep warm, safe and feed. The person who did this had to be a front line Bodhisattva. He told me about the kindness he'd received since coming into A.A.; about how he'd been 'loved' back to life.
I probably could bore you with many other stories along this line.
This link might answer some questions for you. Its about the tulku system in Tibet for recognizing and training bodhisattvas from life to life.
http://www.wisdom-books.com/FocusDetail.asp?FocusRef=11
http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/7874/has-there-been-anyone-in-modern-times-who-has-reached-enlightenment/
In the discussion the idea is introduced that there are Bodhisattvas with a capital "B", "avatars" one member called them, and bodhisattvas with a small "b", people we may run into as we go about life who are in "helping" professions, or who tirelessly volunteer their time on others' behalf. You may have encountered selfless people like this. It could be a relative, a friend, an anonymous person who spontaneously reaches out to others as the need arises. My prime example is Harry Belafonte, who was deeply involved in the US civil rights movement and the effort to end apartheid in South Africa, and who worked as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, reaching out to children around the world. He's still alive and kicking. One of his latest projects relates to gangs and troubled youth in the US. He never gives up, and is always looking for a way to empower the downtrodden. If this isn't a bodhisattva, I don't know what is. Jesus could be considered a Bodhisattva.
Ultimately, who we may identify as a bodhisattva is subjective. Having the concept in mind helps further our practice, IMO; it's a good lens through which to view the world.