Home » Culture & Society » Religion » Buddhism

So, what do you think about the Bodhisattva Vow? or this page?

From the lens Bodhisattva - living for others in Buddhism.

  • NanLT Sep 11, 2010 @ 11:40 am | delete
    One lifetime, I hope to be a Boddhisattva.

    Meanwhile, I try to live as if I already am.

    I think that if I had not chosen Paganism as my path this lifetime, I would probably have been Buddhist.

    blessed by an angel and the captcha is so fitting yet again: delightful
  • CrypticFragments Mar 12, 2010 @ 12:29 pm | delete
    interesting as always...lensrolled to my prayer wheels and Schools of Tibetan Buddhism lenses
  • RinchenChodron Jan 10, 2010 @ 10:13 am | delete
    Many thanks to Shantideva! Great lens - five stars.
  • Aug 18, 2009 @ 4:21 pm | delete
    Another great lens. Will check out more of them.
  • ArtisticMind Apr 16, 2009 @ 11:01 pm | delete
    WOW! Great and informative lens, thanks for bringing to the world!
  • JJ Dec 22, 2008 @ 11:21 am | delete
    This is my version of the Bodhisattva vow, I say it as I'm falling asleep and it's in my mind a lot when I wake up it is "I vow to forgo my own enlightenment until I have single handedly saved all sentient beings from suffering; May all beings be free from suffering and the cause of suffering, may they enjoy happiness and the cause of happiness and may they wake up to complete and thorough Buddhahood!"
  • OhMe Dec 22, 2008 @ 9:41 am | delete
    I don't know much about Buddhism and am enjoying reading about it. Great lens.
  • AndyPo Nov 14, 2008 @ 4:34 am | delete
    Another excellent lens. I find Buddhism fascinating. I really must read more about it.
  • DaveAllen Nov 13, 2008 @ 5:52 pm | in reply to researcher | delete
    Extending love and kindness is happiness. Sure this benefits others, but it benefits us even more. The Dalai Lama has said something along these lines. I feel this is the reality. When you extend lovingkindness this includes you too. You do what you can to minimize suffering in the world. Use wisdom and insight. This is a long term approach. If you have to accept a little pain or discomfort now for overall decrease in suffering that is what you do. This also includes you.

    Also, many surveys and more recent neuroscience studies suggest that those who practice altruism and meditation on compassion are happier. One of the happiest men tested so far - had such extraordinary EKG readings that he's considered an outlier-- has had more than a decade of compassion meditation. I've been doing some research too.

    Look into the studies of Richard Davidson and the Mind Life meetings for more.

    DaveAllen
  • meri Nov 8, 2008 @ 4:34 pm | delete
    there are many different ways to grasp buddhism..understanding buddhism through zen is one...if zen doesnt seem to click with u than move on to another area of pathway of buddhism that feels rite to u...
    as many perspectives there are to buddhism there are just as many paths to understanding it..
    i have read many books on buddhism..some i get, some i don't...
    one way is heading to a boodstore, find the buddhism section, look at the title and pick up the 1st one that seems to appeal to u. open a page..read it from top to bottom.if after reading it, it clicks...its worth a further investigation..if not..move on...with the endless variety of people, places, cultures, understandings this world has to offer, it seems judgemental to say one path is the one and only path..(and thats a path, nonjudgement)

    in the end..let your inner feelings guide u to the rite path...

    good luck,
    meri

    p.s. i dont claim to know the truth, only what feels right to me..and thats always a good place to start..
  • rbrown1 Sep 19, 2008 @ 12:52 pm | delete
    "I'm trying to understand Buddhism but i can't get my head around this principle."

    This is a big problem. Buddhism, especially zen, is not something you can get your mind around. There have been lots of words written about it, but to really "attain" Buddhism, you have to sit down on a cushion and meditate. Then do it the next day, the next, and so on. Eventually you'll get it, but not by getting your mind around it.
    Richard
  • mate_dhamma Sep 19, 2008 @ 12:44 pm | delete
    Very Nice resource
  • Silver_Lotus Aug 6, 2008 @ 9:12 am | delete
    another fine lens - well done!
  • researcher Aug 6, 2008 @ 4:57 am | delete
    thanks for clearing things up. i do agree that ALL humans deserve kindness and i suppose that is the simple truth this lense is trying to put across
  • spirituality Aug 6, 2008 @ 2:02 am | delete
    Does it lead to unhappiness to help your aging grandmother? Does it lead to unhappiness to be kind to a stranger on the street?

    We can't expect the begger, the thief, the murderer to react kindly to our animosity. The only chance we have of helping them become different is by being kind.

    Is it really that hard to imagine that life for all of us would be better if we all were nicer to each other?

    It does not imply that everyone deserves the same respect. A doctor will get respect for having worked hard to get where she is, for being able to help people. A begger would get kindness - not the same thing - because as a human being he or she deserves that.

    Anyhow - the point isn't that you should respect a murderer as you would a doctor. The point is to TRY to not feel anger and hatred, but perhaps pity for them.
    The bodhisattva ideal is an IDEAL - one can strive to live up to it, and some will be better at it than others.
  • researcher Aug 5, 2008 @ 5:39 pm | delete
    I'm trying to understand Buddhism but i can't get my head around this principle. If Buddha teaches to be completely selfless and to live for the sake of others, surely this could lead to a lot of unhappiness and therefore be counterproductive to attaining a peaceful mind? I think a lot of selfless people find they become abused and manipulated. Apparently the Dahli Lama said to behave as everyone's servant but this also implies that everyone deserves the same respect. I wonder if i can respect a murderer as i would a doctor. All the more reason i don't understand how devoting your life to other people can be as rewarding as satisfying our own needs and being self-sufficient. Please don't interpret these questions as critical, i am genuinely interested in trying to overcome my qualms and see the logic behind this principle. Would appreciate any words of wisdom!
  • Positive-quotes Jul 19, 2008 @ 1:07 pm | delete
    Really nice lens urs..i love buddha ..
    Good work

    My site spiritual quotes
  • TIBETARTS Jul 9, 2008 @ 4:01 am | delete
    Om Mani Padme hum
  • Jun 16, 2008 @ 2:50 pm | delete
    Hi, Katinka. This is one of my favorites of your many spiritual lenses.
    True joy comes in living for others.
  • Silver_Lotus Apr 6, 2008 @ 8:39 am | delete
    Thank you - nicely done!

by

spirituality

I'm a webmaster and student of religion and spirituality. See my website on religion and spirituality: www.katinkahesselink.net or my spiritual blog: All... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags