a buddhist perspective - abuddhistperspective

Do we have the mind to help all? To help those we fear, dislike, hate? To help regardless of how we feel?

Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are around us all the time. In our lives when we encounter hardships someone may walk by and give us exactly the advice we needed to hear. If we ask them why they said it, they would say they didn't know. This is how Buddhas and Bodhisattvas help us.

If we can accept all sentient beings as future Buddhas then we will see Buddhas all around us, all the time.

The first vow of the Universal Vows of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is to help all sentient beings. The other three vows to sever all afflictions, learn all methods and attain Buddhahood are the ways to accomplish the first.

It is more important to have a cup of water on the Buddha Table than either flowers or incense. The water represents the stillness, the purity that is the mind of the Buddha.

~ Based on the teachings of Venerable Master Chin Kung

Update on March 31, 2010 by

Venerable Wuling

(I received an email from a friend who graciously gave me permission to post the following...)

All my life I lived with a parent who was in a constant state of anger. Nothing was ever good enough. As they reached the end, I still visited them in the hospital. Again, nothing but a wall of anger.

As they went into the final siezure, I asked the doctor to give morphine to reduce the suffering. That was my "Aha Moment". I remembered 8 years ago, in spite of a full life of fear, torment, anger and yelling, I was able to ask they not suffer. I now feel at peace with my karma concerning my parent.

I feel I "passed the test". I asked for compassion for someone who caused me misery my whole life.

I can't tell you how much lighter I feel. :-)