Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

Siddhartha Gautama (563 BCE-483 BCE), practiced dhyana (meditation) and

became enlightened at age 35…after 6 years of searching. He was the father of
Buddhism. He founded “The Middle Way” – between worldly self-indulgence and
asceticism’s self-denial. His teachings lead one to transcend suffering: from aging,
sickness and death…to overcome the 3 poisons: Greed, Ignorance and Anger to a
blissful world beyond separate selfhood. He died at the age of 80.

Bodhidarma (470-543 AD) brought Siddhartha’s teachings dhyana) to China…

c.520AD. Dogen brought Chinese Buddhism (Ch’an) to Japan in the 13 th C. – The Soto
school – to create Zen Buddhism. Suzuki brought Japanese Zen (Buddhism) to the
West (U.S.) c. 1900 AD.

“…each of us, deep within, is inherently perfect, whole and complete, with the
capacity to overcome suffering, transform ourselves into forces for good, and, in so
doing, liberate the world. We are perfect as we are.”

Bodhisattva – an awakened being (Sanskrit), dedicated to the ultimate liberation

and spiritual enlightenment of all (sentient) beings…a teacher with wisdom and
compassion, he gently, brings out the best in everyone. Bodhisattvas exhude a sense
of peace, joy, fulfillment and naturalness and use it for the benefit of all…extreme
giving. Giving creates joy in the world for all involved…”We must give to live.”

Non-judgmental observation encourages you to express your inner gifts and talents
and allow them to blossom…To become the best you you can be…from moment to
moment.

Dharma – Buddhist teachings…giver and receiver are one. Spiritual truths that lead
to wisdom, compassion and joyful enlightenment. Suffering comes from self-clinging
and egotistical attachment. Happiness comes from thinking unselfishly of the
wellbeing of others.

Meditation (your life) leads to self-inquiry, nonattachment and enlightenment.

Samsara is the world of suffering. Mother Theresa – “…do small things with great
love.” “A smile is the shortest distance between two people.”

You and I and life are all One. “Avoid doing harm and seek to do good.”

By liberating and helping others we liberate and help ourselves. “Think, speak and
act in the service of others.” Liberating others liberates oneself. Healing others heals
oneself. Transforming others transforms oneself. See yourself in others and others
in yourself.
Anger (lack of patience) leads to hatred, cruelty and violence…selfishness, greed,
ignorant delusion and separation…based on fear.

Life is difficult and full of suffering…unenlightened life: impermanent and full of

dissatisfaction and disappointment. But, through difficulties pride is dissolved,
karma is purified, inner strength is furthered and peace attained. Hardships and
obstacles become opportunities for spiritual growth. Life is difficult because of our
deluded, desire-based clinging and craving.

Ego has to die. See things as they are without trying to control them. We have the
choice to respond to events with fear or love, negatively or positively, destructively
or constructively. We are not in control of all that comes our way but we are in
control with how we deal with what comes our way. Attitude is everything.
Bodhisattva operates through generosity, discussions regarding truth and reality,
encouraging others to implement what they have understood and through being a
living example of his/her teachings.

This (temporary) life is a rare opportunity, precious and brief, to attain true
liberation. We all come with expiration dates, so now is the time to act toward this
most meaningful goal of enlightenment.

Service to God through service to humankind. Service can be as simple as a smile or

a random act of kindness. To renounce entry into nirvana until all sentient beings
may likewise join in is the bodisattva’s way.

Be kinder, more loving, more giving, more accepting and more patient.

Meditation leads to waking up to one’s true self…from separateness, delusion and

confusion…to enlightenment. It leads to profound wisdom and Buddhahood. We are
all Buddhas. In fact, we are all the one Buddha.

Meditation can lower stress, tension, blood pressure, anxiety and relieves chronic
pain and insomnia. It can elevate energy and tame self-destructive patterns (habits).
Meditation can increase our sense of happiness, joy and wellbeing. We learn to
appreciate things as they are.

While you are meditating you are living the enlightened life and your life as it is can
be your meditation. Meditation leads to non-meditation, which is “the supreme
meditation.” – lama Mingyar Rinpoche.

Transitory distractions – bodily discomfort, emotional turmoil, ceaseless mind

chatter. These keep us from focusing on the present…They keep us in the past for
the future.

Trust your intuition: your non-rational way of knowing things. Let your mind and
the “universal mind” be in sync.
Be mindful—aware, and meditate. Be focused in the now. Let your daily life become
your (focused) meditation, 24/7, by paying full attention to the present; the task at
hand. Surrender totally to your present activity. Get lost in your own life.

Our natural state is joyful and free, at one with all that is with unconditional love
and selfless compassion.

Transcendental wisdom – wisdom beyond ideas and intellect. The third eye is the
“wisdom eye”. It sees unity (within) while the two “normal” eyes see duality without

Wisdom is nonattachment and non-clinging. Trust things to proceed without trying

to control them. With wisdom comes peace of mind, compassion, unselfishness,
generosity and kindness.

The aspiration to realize enlightenment for the benefit of others is the Bodhisattva’s
path…of wisdom and compassion. Reveal another’s riches to them. Enter nirvana
after all others. Nirvana is a wondrous place with nowhere to go, no one to go and
nothing to get or strive for.

Become a player and not a prop. Be a power for positive change in the world. Be
inclusive…all is one. As pure, clean water can flow from an imperfect (dirty) pipe,
our innermost purity can flow from a less-then-perfect form. Be part of the solution
and no longer part of the problem.

When we are our best, we benefit and the world benefits. We are spontaneous,
creative, flexible, blissful and enlightening.

As you lose your (lower) self to find your (higher) self, your best self, your
Bodhisattva self, you create paradise wherever you are.

“Who am I? What is real? What is the meaning of life? When we awaken to our true
selves we answer these questions and more. We then live our everyday life more
fully, productively, dynamically, intentionally, gracefully and meaningfully. We live
with greater wisdom, compassion, clarity and power…attuned to reality as it is.

Begin to see what’s beautiful in yourself and others. Open up to others, freely, as
children do before being taught to do otherwise. Let down your guard and welcome
life…as it is, from moment to moment. Be the person you’d like to meet. Dance as
though no one were watching and sing as though no one were listening and allow
others to do the same. Remember, love is the only thing that you accumulate the
more you give it away.

As the Dalai Lama has said: “We need each other to become enlightened.”
Say yes to life – yours and others. Welcome all life as it unfolds. Embrace it, share it,
and move on with no regrets. Just be…the best you you can be, from moment to
moment.