unlockthedoortolearning

The Three Pure Precepts are always associated with what we call the “bodhisattva vow.”  Each and every one of us working on the teachings of Buddhism and the Three Pure Precepts are acting as a bodhisattva even if we don’t know it.  “In Mahayana Buddhism a bodhisattva is a being who seeks buddahood through the systematic practice of the perfect virtues (page 24).”[1]  The determining factor for the bodhisattva’s behavior is to actualize good for others. 

Reb Anderson in his wonderful book Being Upright (2001) writes, “Empowered by the realization of the Three Pure Precepts, you will gladly do whatever is beneficial not only for humans but for all living beings (page 77).”  He goes on to write, “The great master Yunmen was once asked by a monk, ‘What was the Buddha teaching his entire lifetime?’ Yunmen answered, ‘An appropriate response.’ Throughout his life Shakyamuni was primarily concerned with what was appropriate for the edification and liberation of whomever he was facing at the moment (page 79).[2]

Each day—moment by moment—we are given opportunities to show unconditional love and compassion the bodhisattva way. For many this will help liberate them from a life of sadness, depression, and doubt. To encounter someone who is there to help and not criticize, to love and not hate, to give and not take, to share and not withhold is a rare event.  Remember it is important to be a bodhisattva for others and for you. 

It is living a life of selflessness and thinking about how our actions, thoughts, words, and emotions help make this a better more loving and compassionate world for everyone.  Now that may sound like a very big job for just one person, but all change and good begins with just one.

I am reminded of a story about a young girl who while eating in McDonald’s noticed that the food was being served in Styrofoam containers.  She had learned in her science class how bad Styrofoam was for the environment and how much of it was in our landfills and how long it took to decompose: 1+ million years!  How long does it take to decompose one paper bag: 1 week.  How many hamburgers do they sell anyway?  4.2 million daily that comes to 29.4 million a week or 1.528 billion a year! So she took on a campaign to get McDonald’s to stop using them, and as we all know, it worked.  We now get our food in wax paper coverings.  Just one girl, one blossoming bodhisattva, looking out for the good of all concerned.

That was definitely an appropriate response!

Norman Fischer in his book Training in Compassion (2013) wrote, “What good is a really big love if it never gets applied in the world?”[3]  She had a really big love for the environment and the planet which was being left to her and her generation and she applied it appropriately! She also was able to do this by another great thought from Reb Anderson, “Forgetting yourself, you are able to embrace and sustain the most difficult manifestations of being. Embracing and sustaining all beings, you are finally able to meet yourself completely (page 82).”[4]   

She meet her bodhisattva self!  As you meet yours you will be able to greet the loving compassionate you through actualizing good for all concerned.

Things to focus on this week:

1.  I will begin each day with the intention of “actualizing good for all concerned.”
2. When I think the project or situation is too large for me to fix or is unattainable I will think of the girl who saved us from Styrofoam!
3. Lastly, I will keep a journal of the opportunities that have been presented to me so I can keep track of my progress and the opportunities that are ahead of me to actualize good for all concerned.