Wisdom - What is a Bodhisattva

What is a Bodhisattva?

"A Bodhisattva is an ordinary person who takes up a course in his or her life that moves in the direction of Buddha. You and I, actually, anyone who directs their attention, their life, to practicing the way of life of a Buddha is a Bodhisattva....

The life that flows through each of us and through everything around us is actually all connected. To say that, of course, means that who I really am cannot be separated from all the things that surround me. Or, to put it another way, all sentient beings have their existence and live within my life. So needless to say, that includes even the fate of all mankind—that, too, lies within me. Therefore, just how mankind might truly live out its life becomes what I aim at as my direction. This aiming or living while moving in a certain direction is what is meant by vow.

In other words, it is the motivation for living that is different for a Bodhisattva. Ordinary people live thinking only about their own personal, narrow circumstances connected with their desires. In contrast to that, a Bodhisattva, though undeniably still an ordinary human being like everyone else, lives by vow. Because of that, the significance of his or her life is not the same. For us as Bodhisattvas, all aspects of life, including the fate of humanity itself, live within us. It is with this in mind that we work to discover and manifest the most vital and alive posture that we can take in living out our life."

~Kosho Uchiyama

(from the article What is a Bodhisattvas)

"What the world needs more than anything is Bodhisattvas, active servants of peace, “clothed,” as Longchenpa said, “in the armor of perseverance,” dedicated to their Bodhisattva vision and to the spreading of wisdom into all reaches of our experience. We need Bodhisattva lawyers, Bodhisattva artists and politicians, Bodhisattva doctors and economists, Bodhisattva teachers and scientists, Bodhisattva technicians and engineers, Bodhisattvas everywhere, working consciously as channels of compassion and wisdom at every level and in every situation of society; working to transform their minds and actions and those of others, working tirelessly in the certain knowledge of the support of the Buddhas and enlightened beings for the preservation of our world and for a more merciful future."

Wisdom- leo buscaglia/osho

“Every single time you help somebody stand up 

you are helping humanity rise.”

~Steve Maraboli

(Life, the Truth, and Being Free)

~*~

“I will be generous with my love today. 

I will sprinkle compliments and uplifting words 

everywhere I go. 

I will do this knowing 

that my words are like seeds 

and when they fall on fertile soil, 

a reflection of those seeds 

will grow into something greater.”

~Steve Maraboli

(Life, the Truth, and Being Free)

~*~

“We all are so deeply interconnected; 

we have no option but to love all. 

Be kind and do good for any one 

and that will be reflected. 

The ripples of the kind heart 

are the highest blessings of the Universe.”

~Amit Ray

(Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style)

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive...”

~Martha Graham

“To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.”

~Osho

“Don't spend your precious time asking 

"Why isn't the world a better place?" 

It will only be time wasted. 

The question to ask is 

"How can I make it better?" 

To that there is an answer.”

~Leo Buscaglia

~*~

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, 

it only saps today of its joy.”

~Leo Buscaglia

~*~

“The easiest thing to be in the world is you. 

The most difficult thing to be 

is what other people want you to be. 

Don't let them put you in that position.”

~Leo Buscaglia

~*~

“Don't hold to anger, hurt or pain. 

They steal your energy and keep you from love.”

~Leo Buscaglia

~*~

"I am often accused of being childish.I prefer to interpret that as child-like. I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things.  I tend to exaggerate and fantasize and embellish.  I still listen to instinctual urges.  I play with leaves.  I skip down the street and run against the wind.  I never water my garden without soaking myself.  It has been after such times of joy that I have achieved my greatest creativity and produced my best work."

~Leo Buscaglia

(Bus 9 to Paradise)

“There is no exercise better for the heart 

than reaching down and lifting people up.”

~John Holmes

~*~

“Even the smallest act of caring for another person 

is like a drop of water -

it will make ripples throughout the entire pond.”

~Jessy and Bryan Matteo

~*~

“Never underestimate 

the difference you can make in the lives of others. 

Step forward, reach out and help. 

This week reach to someone that might need a lift.”

~Pablo

~*~

“I believe that love expands. 

As you give love out, 

it’s received and reciprocated and it grows. 

That’s the beauty of it.”

~Hill Harper