Bodhisattva

Spellbound

Spellbound

Banned
Banned
In Mahayana Buddhism, bodhisattva is the Sanskrit term for a being with bodhi (enlightenment). A bodhisattva is anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has generated bodhicitta, which is a spontaneous wish to attain buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.[1] A bodhisattva is one of the four sublime states a human can achieve in life (the others being an arhat, buddha or pratyekabuddha).[2]
Usage of the term bodhisattva has evolved over time. In early Indian Buddhism, for example, the term bodhisattva was primarily used to refer specifically to Gautama Buddha in his former lives.[3][4] The Jataka tales, which are the stories of the Buddha's lives, depict the various attempts of the bodhisattva to embrace qualities like self-sacrifice and morality.[4]
Bodhisattvas are a popular subject in Buddhist art.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva

When I think of the word "Bodhisattva" I think of the body and its experience of something greater than itself. Does anyone have any experiences with being a Bodhisattva, even for a short while?
 
Spellbound said:
When I think of the word "Bodhisattva" I think of the body and its experience of something greater than itself. Does anyone have any experiences with being a Bodhisattva, even for a short while?
Click to expand...
When I think of bodhisattva I think of what it actually means.
 
I have a thing against throwing out pearls before swine. I think you have a thing for complex ideologies with intricate terminology that sound deep.
 
Forgiving everyone whos ever hurt you and forgiving/accepting people daily isnt weakness or being a pushover, its intelligence. Only hurt people hurt people, so being unforgiving just carries on the pain cycle for them AND you. Love feels better and ends the bs, its just a matter of reprogramming to be able to love, because we're conditioned for seperation and victim mentality.

-Girl with lots of tattoos
 
I think one who embraces the bodhisattva ideal compared to one who strives to end suffering for their own sake alone, is that the former is also concerned with the well-being of others, while the latter is mainly concerned with themselves.
 
VossistArts said:
I think one who embraces the bodhisattva ideal compared to one who strives to end suffering for their own sake alone, is that the former is also concerned with the well-being of others, while the latter is mainly concerned with themselves.
Click to expand...
Agreed.
 
you can't end suffering on a systemic level if it's only about you. that's how predatorial system works.

that said, if that's the way the general system runs, then you have no choice or at least to be defensive. otherwise, you just get eaten up. the golden rule only works when it goes both ways. if it's only one way, then there is only a winner/loser. so it either forces you to be defensive or offensive in such a system. how you implement this gradually is to make sure you treat others fairly who treat you the same. that way they have further faith in humanity or learn that they will be treated as whomever they treat and it passes on.
 
If you do not first take care of yourself, you will find yourself unable to assist others if you so desire. I try to always carry a smile on my face and warmly greet others I encounter. The mere act of smiling releases chemicals that are beneficial to me and lighten my mood. I often get a warm greeting in return. Sometimes the other person becomes a long term friend and thus further enriches my life.

The 4 noble truths are straightforward observations on human life experience, the primary benefit is to the practitioner . :smile:
 
When I think of a Bodhisattva I think of Christian Martyrs and Saints. the act of Martyrdom of a Bodhisattva is his sacrifice of not achieving Nirvana and instead leads others in their quest to reach Nirvana. Bodhisattva's are beings of immense compassion, yet their compassion is detached.

Detached Compassion separates the Compassion from the suffering of others while dealing with it. In other words, compassion does not lead to an empathic connection. Bodhisattva Samantabhadra came from Sri Lanka. It evolved from Mount Sri Pada also known as Adam's Peak. Samantabhadra made the 10 great vows of the Bodhisattvas. One of my favorite Bodhisattva is Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. It embodies the compassion of all the Bodhisattvas.
 
Of the many things I am, I am an artist. A long time ago I made a statue of a Bodhisattva. The blue glaze melted in such a way that it left streaks of exposed stoneware. It ended up being called "the blue boy" when it was meant to be Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

In the near future, I will make another Bodhisattva. this time of Samantabhadra. It will be made of Copper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top