The World Needs Bodhisattvas

Intense passion*
Intense intelligence
Intense compassion

Having a good wish is not enough. We need to take responsibility. A bodhisattva has no doubts, no faint heart, no fears, and has total confidence.

Yesterday, I attended a refresher course on ‘First Aid’ and the use of a defibrillator. In such an emergency situation, we have to know what we are doing, take charge, inspire confidence, and act immediately! People’s lives depend on it: that is how urgent one’s actions are.

A bodhisattva works in exactly the same way. Regardless of the level we are at, we can do something to be of benefit to others. It is only pride that stands in our way. Humanity needs help because it is suffering, just like the person lying on the floor.

New Age pride is not the place for authentic activity, because it thrives on misplaced ‘personal god powers’. We need the ability to cut through our pride, jealousy, fear, hatred and desire by using the energy that these emotions create.

The ideal of the bodhisattva has been in the East for thousands of years: here is a short prayer as an example:

For the sake of all sentient beings,
I intend to attain complete Buddhahood (awakened)
In order to tame the Maras (our inner demons) who create obstacles
I will attain the level of the Victorious Ones (Buddhas)

In the West, we don’t have such concepts in our traditions – but we can start, and this process is already going on among dedicated people. Some are householders, some have completed three year and twelve year retreats – and some are even in life-time retreats. That is dedication.

Unfortunately, new agers hate authentic teachings and teachers, but will cherry pick from them. They have no original ideas, but play at being ‘ascension heroes’. First, we have to be able to control our emotions and squash the idea of a puffed-up self…“I do this” and “I do that”. The new age agenda perverts truth by manipulating a kind heart over to the dark side.

This may take many lifetimes for those who are committed.

We are inspired
and that inspiration comes from
‘Goodness knows where’!

*Passion is intense emotions. When view correctly the emotions are seen as wisdom energy. This the working of the the two truths in union. When essence recognises a ‘wrong’, anger arises in the mind. If we have introduced to the true nature of mind, then when anger arise it immediately refers our attention back to essence, by brightening the mind. Then we can use compassion in the situation. This is intense intelligence at work.

If on the other hand our anger only relate to a self (the picture we created of our identity) then this anger become defensive and aggressive, causing harm to our own mind and that of others.