Bodhisattva
There are nine levels of Bodhisattvas, the tenth being a Buddha.
If we take the path of a Bodhisattva, then we have to have tamed the mind and emotions. All sense of what “I” want and “I” do not want has gone….more or less (we are not perfect yet!).
A Bodhisattva is a being who, having developed the Awakened Mind, devotes their life to the task of achieving Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings. The key to this is that the idea and feeling of ‘self’ has gone, and we work solely for the benefit of others. This is very challenging, and not for the faint-hearted. We take a vow before an authentic master, and the practice is to supplicate bodhisattvas for blessings.
There are also Protectors who have peaceful and wrathful aspects that we can supplicate.
Through our practices, we develop Bodhicitta – the altruistic attitude. When we are talking about Protectors, we are talking about unconditional compassion, and for this, we have to know what we are doing. Unconditional compassion involves the enlightened activities of Pacifying, Magnetising, Enriching and Destroying…ego’s games.
The main problem is that if we haven’t stabilised our minds and emotions, these enlightened activities can easily become demonic activities when there is an “I” that is claiming: we can see this, day in and day out.
This is extremely subtle work.
BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog - a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. We are all Buddhas in the mud of concepts. 
Tony said:
“The main problem is that if we haven’t stabilised our minds and emotions, these enlightened activities can easily become demonic activities when there is an “I” that is claiming: we can see this, day in and day out.”
That is soooo simple! And soooo all encompassing! Such a simple, easy to understand explanation of the teachings – something I can use when talking to others about the Dharma.
Thanks!
Daisy
We have to be a little skilful when talking to others, as they can get quite annoyed. People can’t help constantly using the word “I” and claiming an activity: from a more profound level, this is slightly demonic (and definitely deluded!).
I still haven’t got to grips with explaining some aspects of the Dharma because it is heard at different levels, and one has to be mindful to whom one is speaking.
Tony