Hell judge or Bodhisattva?
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If I had done many good deeds in present lifetime to merit a choice to be a Hell Judge or a Bodhisattva, what should I choose?
My present understanding about Hell Judges is that they were once humans and having accumulated some big good deeds, they were given the position of Hell Judges. The existence of Hell Judges is briefly mentioned in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's Original Vows sutra.
What are their job responsibilities? What are their goals or main intentions? Is it merely to punish those who are neither very good or very bad while they were alive and send off those who still has some good in them to be humans or animals which need not be slaughtered or tortured?
Yes, humans do suffer in many ways, and animals as well, but definitely better than being a hungry ghost or a hell prisoner, isn't it? After all, if you die of hunger, you are for that moment, free from suffering. But for punishments meted out for your soul after death, your punishment continues even when you 'die' after suffering the punishment. Your soul revives and returns to its original form for more suffering till your sins are fully repaid.
If, assuming that this is all or mainly what a Hell Judge has or need to do, I would rather choose to be one than to be a Bodhisattva; whereby it is mentioned in the scriptures that I have to offer my eyes, flesh and brain, to anyone who asks for it, without a single trace of hatred or reluctance prior, during and after my offering. I would also have to endure all kinds of humiliation from sentient beings; from mild slights to outright torture, yet at the same time harbour not even a single thought of hatred or regret during and after.
It is that hard to be a Bodhisattva, my friend. All such requirements are specifically mentioned by the Buddha himself in various sutras. That's why for those who really choose the Bodhisattva path and follow through it till they attain Buddhahood are the best models for all sentient beings to follow, to emulate, to be in great praise of.
Seriously I would rather choose to punish or send people off to suitable realms for rebirth than to bear the unimaginably heavy responsibilities of even wanting to try walking the Bodhisattva path.
And this is why partly most of Buddha's disciples attained sainthood or Arahanthood. But it is seldom mentioned what happens to those who have vowed to become Bodhisattvas in the present and future lifetimes. For having vowed in front of the Buddha doesn't mean you are free from rebirths after this present lifetime. Only an Arahant is.
So there, the above is my own personal view for now after reading and hearing many exhortations or appeals from Buddhist sutras, related books and audio-visual materials by Venerables to be brave and try walking the Bodhisattva path.
Remember the American TV show 'Heroes', you would have to do much more and much, much more better than that in order to be a Bodhisattva.
Seriously I don't even feel like caring for myself, much less for family or strangers. So I feel myself tearing into two personalities of good and evil; where for now the evil is very strong.
At times, I wish that I'm in the Bible setting, and then I would ask God: "Oh dear merciful God, strike me down with your lightning! I don't want to be tested by you nor tempted by the devil anymore. If you are indeed all merciful, all-loving, grant me this small but deeply sincere wish!"
But well, I'm a Buddhist now, so I can't really say that to anyone but myself. Even though this is a public forum where many people will read this, I know not many will take to my words. Because those who truly believe will still continue to believe. And also it could be I'm just a beginner who just doesn't know what Buddhism really is.
So just take it that I am having male periods, thereby hard not to sound cranky. But those parts about Bodhisattva are indeed true, and it is indeed very noble and compassionate to be able to help people in such a selfless way throughout countless lifetimes. I would praise such people deeply and continously if I get to meet them but I don't think I feel like walking their paths, at least for now. -
For me , i have never really strive to attain enlightenment. I merely aim to do as many good deeds and learn whatever i can from dharma. I try to accumulate merits so that i will have a good rebirth and also to come into contact with dharma again . At the same time , i also try to eradicate as many bad karma as i can .
Your opinion is a honest one , nothing wrong or weird as a buddhist. We need to acknowlege what we are thinking and not simply saying , we should all strive to be Bodhisattva. To be frank, i rather be a heavenly soldier or general and protect the pple or buddhas and etc .
At the same time , i also know that attaining nirvana is the only way to be free from rebirths and sufferings. -
Doing good and kind deeds must come from our hearts, pure hearts.
We shdnt be thinking whether are we accumulating sufficient good merit to award a position as Hell Judge or Bodhisattva after our deaths.
Just my opinion. -
Merit alone is not enough to make one a Bodhisattva. And if you are a Bodhisattva, you will know whether you wanna be a hell judge, animal, asura, deva or a human. You will go where your compassion guides you and your skillful means will guide you on how to help the sentient beings (all six realms in ten directions).
And also no need to go into so extreme in thinking of offering your head, eyes, brains and marrows to become a Bodhisattva. Just visualise helping someone you hate alot now. Imagine seeing your enemy and imagine helping your enemy. If you can start balancing your emotions between someone you love and someone you hate and someone you feel neutral to, it is a good start.
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learn to control your emotions
that is all -
I totally agree with you. I would rather be a heavenly soldier or general protecting ppl or Buddhas and etc too, if I were given a choice. But yet I do know nirvana is the only way to be truly free from all suffering.Originally posted by knightlll:Your opinion is a honest one , nothing wrong or weird as a buddhist. We need to acknowlege what we are thinking and not simply saying , we should all strive to be Bodhisattva. To be frank, i rather be a heavenly soldier or general and protect the pple or buddhas and etc .
At the same time , i also know that attaining nirvana is the only way to be free from rebirths and sufferings. -
I agree. The thing is for now, I'm just doing good deeds for two main reasons which are not at all altruistic by the standards laid down in sutras or in the minds of most men.Originally posted by Spartans:Doing good and kind deeds must come from our hearts, pure hearts.
We shdnt be thinking whether are we accumulating sufficient good merit to award a position as Hell Judge or Bodhisattva after our deaths.
Just my opinion.
I'm doing good deeds to avoid being reborn into evil realms and to hope for rebirths in good realms. I have no intention to save anyone but myself, for now.
I wasn't trying to say that we should think or crave merit to reborn as Hell Judge or Bodhisattva, I was saying that whatever good deeds we do has an effect and IF we do qualify to be awarded such a position (Bodhisattva is never a position that can be offered, it's more of a personal commitment), for me I would choose to be a Hell Judge assuming the duties are just to punish and send averagely good people to be reborn in good realms. -
Hell judge and bodhisattva is not mutually exclusive, once you become a bodhisattva, you can choose to go any realm in any manifestation be it a deity, monk, a dragon. You can go to hell to save the beings there or go to human realm to spread the dharma and so on. It is the wisdom and bodhicitta that counts.
For this hell judge thing, I will prefer to send those bad ones to bad realms and good ones to good realms. I don't want those suppose to go hell one go to human realm to create any havoc like war, killings and so on. but sometimes a little bad guys in our life can really help our practice path.
but I guess only karma can decide where one goes to, not the hell judge.
Being able to become a bodhisattva is a very big thing to me, of coz it is not easy. -
I agree that merit alone is not enough to make one a Bodhisattva. I also agree that the Bodhisattva will go where he is most needed and is guided by his wisdom and compassion. I also agree with the practicality and benefit of your advice in enemy/loved ones/neutral visualisation.Originally posted by oldkid:Merit alone is not enough to make one a Bodhisattva. And if you are a Bodhisattva, you will know whether you wanna be a hell judge, animal, asura, deva or a human. You will go where your compassion guides you and your skillful means will guide you on how to help the sentient beings (all six realms in ten directions).
And also no need to go into so extreme in thinking of offering your head, eyes, brains and marrows to become a Bodhisattva. Just visualise helping someone you hate alot now. Imagine seeing your enemy and imagine helping your enemy. If you can start balancing your emotions between someone you love and someone you hate and someone you feel neutral to, it is a good start.
However, my main concern is, if you really can attain the balance in maintaining the thought to even offer help towards your enemy, I don't see any problem with offering head, eyes, brains and marrow to save him now or in the future. After all, if one day you are willing to die to save your enemy, what is stopping you from giving your eyes by plucking them out raw from your sockets?
For me, the best I can do now is not to help my enemy, it's more of preventing myself from wanting to take revenge when I have the ability or power to. That's when the real test comes. When you have no power or ability that can overwhelm your enemy totally, naturally you would say "that's okay, I shall practise trying to forgive, or to visualise helping him one day".
And the word 'enemy' means different things to us. People scold you, you can also think of them as enemy. People ignore you, you can too think that they are your enemy. But that's for trivial matters. How about more serious ones? People rape you, torture your loved ones in front of you, massacre your entire clan or village, then you say you can forgive, and eventually or almost immediately be willing to forgive and even sacrifice when necessary to help him, then I truly agree that you have already achieved the basic standards of being a Bodhisattva. -
It's true that a Bodhisattva can take on many manifestations, including that hell judge. It is also absolutely correct that it is the wisdom and bodhicitta that counts. But I'm talking about a layman who has no single drop of spiritual achievement to merit rebirth in heaven nor as a rich man/woman who need not worry to working like a cow to put rice on the table.Originally posted by justdoit77:Hell judge and bodhisattva is not mutually exclusive, once you become a bodhisattva, you can choose to go any realm in any manifestation be it a deity, monk, a dragon. You can go to hell to save the beings there or go to human realm to spread the dharma and so on. It is the wisdom and bodhicitta that counts.
For this hell judge thing, I will prefer to send those bad ones to bad realms and good ones to good realms. I don't want those suppose to go hell one go to human realm to create any havoc like war, killings and so on. but sometimes a little bad guys in our life can really help our practice path.
but I guess only karma can decide where one goes to, not the hell judge.
Being able to become a bodhisattva is a very big thing to me, of coz it is not easy.
Indeed only karma can decide where one goes. However the hell judge's main purpose is to judge and sentence those souls who are neither too burdened with evil deeds or supported by good deeds from present lifetimes, hence the need to also consider their deeds from previous lifetimes in totality to arrive at a final and fair sentence.
Who are those who need not go through the hell judge? It is mentioned that those who commit the five serious sins need not go through the hell judge right after one's last breath. They are: Killing parents, saints like Buddha, Arahants or saints like Confucius, create schism in the monastic order and slandering any Buddhist teaching taught by the Buddha. There are also other serious sins like stealing any property or belonging of the monastic order. These sins need not go through trials by Hell Judges.
These people are mentioned in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Original Vows sutra to fall straight into Avici and Abyss hell after their last breath, where after uncountable eons, they are still reborn in evil realms.
However, it is to a very large part due to these groups of seriously sinful sentient beings that prompted Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to continuousy make new vows even after attaining the 2nd last stage of Bodhisattvahood, to save all of us who commit serious sins, especially in the Dharma Ending Age.
Please refer to the The sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva for more details. -
Be patient. We are just not ready for it and neither do we have the condtions and wisdom to really strive for it. There is a small progress everyday and we are still heading towards the right direction.Originally posted by Spnw07:I totally agree with you. I would rather be a heavenly soldier or general protecting ppl or Buddhas and etc too, if I were given a choice. But yet I do know nirvana is the only way to be truly free from all suffering. -
Well said! Agree. But take one step at a time. From zero to hero is not an overnight thing that will happen magically. Even if it seems to happen overnight, it is through immense training of not only this lifetime but many lifetime of practises. The conditions were just right for Bodhicitta sprout. And also do note that an enemy do not appear out of no where just to rape, torture or kill the entire family/village for no good reasons. The receipient of such evil karma had reap such fruits because of such seeds were planted.Originally posted by Spnw07:I agree that merit alone is not enough to make one a Bodhisattva. I also agree that the Bodhisattva will go where he is most needed and is guided by his wisdom and compassion. I also agree with the practicality and benefit of your advice in enemy/loved ones/neutral visualisation.
However, my main concern is, if you really can attain the balance in maintaining the thought to even offer help towards your enemy, I don't see any problem with offering head, eyes, brains and marrow to save him now or in the future. After all, if one day you are willing to die to save your enemy, what is stopping you from giving your eyes by plucking them out raw from your sockets?
For me, the best I can do now is not to help my enemy, it's more of preventing myself from wanting to take revenge when I have the ability or power to. That's when the real test comes. When you have no power or ability that can overwhelm your enemy totally, naturally you would say "that's okay, I shall practise trying to forgive, or to visualise helping him one day".
And the word 'enemy' means different things to us. People scold you, you can also think of them as enemy. People ignore you, you can too think that they are your enemy. But that's for trivial matters. How about more serious ones? People rape you, torture your loved ones in front of you, massacre your entire clan or village, then you say you can forgive, and eventually or almost immediately be willing to forgive and even sacrifice when necessary to help him, then I truly agree that you have already achieved the basic standards of being a Bodhisattva. -
yes, I'm trying to be patient. But all those books and vcds that continuously preach about the importance of loving all sentient beings as if they were your parents, the full of gratitude thing...learning to be sincere when I have observed that people around me are learning to be sincere for the wrong reasons and the fact that they are observed to be sincere could be that they are simply good actors.Originally posted by knightlll:Be patient. We are just not ready for it and neither do we have the condtions and wisdom to really strive for it. There is a small progress everyday and we are still heading towards the right direction.
How can I cultivate in an environment where most people around me practise fake or conditional sincerity and kindness? I am fake too, I honestly admit. Partly because it's so hard to find people that can live up to standards described in books by saints like Confucius, not to mention what is being preached in the sutras. Can you imagine what a dinosaur look like based on drawings? Can you imagine how the air on top of Mount Everest feels like just by reading or hearing the best description about it? Or just watching the best close up of the clouds, hence deducing the velocity of winds at the summit?
Have you ever been thanked for doing a small thing? As in really being thanked sincerely, not just as a matter of courtesy or manners by the other party. If you have done a big thing for people naturally, you would have earned some gratitiude from people, that's quite natural, whether you expect it or not or whether you will actually get thanked or not. Some will say you can continuously do small things for ppl and ppl will notice too. Then one day you can progress to big things for people.
But the thing is, what is considered 'small' by others may be considered big by me. What is considered 'big' by me, maybe considered as something that should be done as a matter of fact, so no big deal.
If you have not been sincerely thanked by people, how do you know how to thank people sincerely in return when people really lends a helping help?
If you have not been truly loved and cared about by people other than your parents, how would you know how to love and care for others who are merely colleagues or even strangers?
Being a Bodhisattva, oh my god, is..I don't know...
Maybe I should just follow the example of Sariputra, just take the Smaller Vehicle and become an Arahant. Perhaps that wouldn't be so hard and so painful... -
I agree with you totally, especially on the part where "the recipient of such evil karma had reaped such fruits...planted".Originally posted by oldkid:Well said! Agree. But take one step at a time. From zero to hero is not an overnight thing that will happen magically. Even if it seems to happen overnight, it is through immense training of not only this lifetime but many lifetime of practises. The conditions were just right for Bodhicitta sprout. And also do note that an enemy do not appear out of no where just to rape, torture or kill the entire family/village for no good reasons. The receipient of such evil karma had reap such fruits because of such seeds were planted.
But if you are to approach a lady or a small girl who has just been raped, surely you won't comfort the poor victim using such reasons even though she might be a Buddhist right and that it's the truth? And if she's not a Buddhist, such truths may sound very cruel for she cannot see or experience her past life with her own eyes and senses.
I can't do it, man. If my sister were to be raped in front of me, whether she's a Buddhist or not, I would never say this truth to her in my entire life. That is unless she is observed to be willing to use Buddhist teachings to help herself understand and let go of her trauma, I will never say it to her that 'You deserved it'.
If it had happened to me (males get raped in this era too, okay?), I can't imagine using the law of Cause and Effect to comfort myself and let go just like that...
I would probably act like comfort women from Korean, Taiwan or countries conquered by Japan during WWII and protest everyday for them to make a formal and public apology. But I wouldn't ask for compensation unless I get STDs which zaps clean all my life savings. -
Originally posted by Spnw07:
Yah, the safest way is not to judge actually. We never really know what others are really thinking - they may have the most sinister or altruistic intentions - we can never be sure, and there's really no point judging.
[b]yes, I'm trying to be patient. But all those books and vcds that continuously preach about the importance of loving all sentient beings as if they were your parents, the full of gratitude thing...learning to be sincere when I have observed that people around me are learning to be sincere for the wrong reasons and the fact that they are observed to be sincere could be that they are simply good actors.
How can I cultivate in an environment where most people around me practise fake or conditional sincerity and kindness? I am fake too, I honestly admit. Partly because it's so hard to find people that can live up to standards described in books by saints like Confucius, not to mention what is being preached in the sutras.
But what we do know of is that everybody wants to be happy - though everybody's interpretation of happiness and the means to gain happiness may differ, we all want to be happy in our own ways. That "wanting to be happy" is an indication of the presence of Buddha Nature in all of us. And this, I believe, we should learn to appreciate; and the more we appreciate that, the softer and less critical we become of the good and bad behaviours of people around us.
Even for people who pretend to be kind (actually, like what you say, most of us are like that - we more or less always have self-serving motivations, which is why we're still trapped in Samsara), well, sometimes I think that it's good that they're trying to be nice, or at least trying to appear nice. This shows that in their minds they know what are the better qualities, even if they may not have the conditions to be genuinely kind at the moment. Well, at least these people are spending time and effort in pretending to be good people; at least they're not spending time and effort in making and planting bombs...
No. For now, we can only just imagine. Then researching and trying to get more information about the top of Mt Everest and its air(by studying/listening to the Dharma), by analysing and continually checking and questioning about the routes to Mt Everest (by contemplating over and over again what we learnt from books and sermons), and practicing and rehearsing over and over again climbing the mountain - and eventually really engaging in the actual climbing (by doing meditation regularly and diligently, and eventually actualizing the meditation itself).
Can you imagine what a dinosaur look like based on drawings? Can you imagine how the air on top of Mount Everest feels like just by reading or hearing the best description about it? Or just watching the best close up of the clouds, hence deducing the velocity of winds at the summit?
Rightly as you pointed out, big and small are relative. There's no 'big' truly existing separately from 'small' and vice versa. Whether big or small, like what you say, "no big deal". Just as when your right hand scratches your left hand to relieve its itch, your RH doesn't think it did anything big or small to help LH, no big deal yea?
Have you ever been thanked for doing a small thing? As in really being thanked sincerely, not just as a matter of courtesy or manners by the other party. If you have done a big thing for people naturally, you would have earned some gratitiude from people, that's quite natural, whether you expect it or not or whether you will actually get thanked or not. Some will say you can continuously do small things for ppl and ppl will notice too. Then one day you can progress to big things for people. But the thing is, what is considered 'small' by others may be considered big by me. What is considered 'big' by me, maybe considered as something that should be done as a matter of fact, so no big deal.
If you know what is "not sincere", you are probably quite close to knowing what is "sincere". At least you have a vague idea of what that is. Yet due to our temporary defilements, we do not really know what is truly beneficial for others, nor do we really know how to engage in beneficial actions. For now, what we can do is really limited - though that shouldn't stop us from helping beings in our currently limited ways. That's why we should try to generate the motivation to become Buddhas ourselves - not just for our own sake, but really so that we will have the wisdom and skilful means to be truly able to benefit others.
If you have not been sincerely thanked by people, how do you know how to thank people sincerely in return when people really lends a helping help?
If you have not been truly loved and cared about by people other than your parents, how would you know how to love and care for others who are merely colleagues or even strangers? -
For beings like us, what we can do is probably to ASPIRE. Making aspiration is a very important practice, especially for us whom Bodhicitta has yet been firmly established within us.
Being a Bodhisattva, oh my god, is..I don't know...
Maybe I should just follow the example of Sariputra, just take the Smaller Vehicle and become an Arahant. Perhaps that wouldn't be so hard and so painful...
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As you probably already know, Bodhicitta is usually divided into Relative and Absolute Bodhicitta. And Relative Bodhicitta is further sub-divided into Aspirational Bodhicitta and Engaging Bodhicitta. The former is mainly making aspirations and generating the intention of wanting to attain Buddhahood for the sake of benefiting all sentient beings. The latter is mainly putting the altruistic intention into actual action.
Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa ever said that (not the exact words, based on my memory which is pretty faulty) for beings like us, it is really difficult to have Engaging Bodhicitta. What we can do, is probably just Aspirational Bodhicitta, and this we should try to do as much as we can.
In reply to a question on this topic, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche said (again, I may not have remembered correctly) that eventually Aspirational Bodhicitta will lead to Engaging Bodhicitta, just as when the horse pulls the cart, the cart will definitely move. For now, we should just put in a lot of effort into the moving the horse (generating the intention) and not worry too much about the cart.
It is my personal belief that one should try to make great aspirations, whether or not we believe we're able to accomplish it at this point in time. Continually making aspirations don't hurt, don't cost, they're risk-free, yet they plant within our consciousness the very vital seeds of Bodhicitta, that will definitely flower one day. When there are ideals which we hope to attain, but seem too far/hard for us at this point in time, goals that we don't even dare to dream about - then we can even make aspirations that one day we will have the wisdom and courage to aspire for them. This was taught by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. He also taught that due to our ignorance we may not really know what is truly good for ourselves and others, so we can even aspire in this way: that whatever aspirations made by Samantabhadra, Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara (u can add on to the list according to your own inclinations), I wish to make aspirations like they do.
The reason why I'm typing all these, is because I hope you will not be discouraged by the seeming difficulty of the Bodhisattva path and give up on that. Sometimes I try to encourage myself by thinking that Shakyamuni Buddha must have had been through the processes that we're going through presently, and since he eventually became a Buddha, we definitely will become Buddhas in future. As Buddhists, we should have the confidence that we will become Buddhas eventually, even if it does not seem convincing at the moment. But if we don't believe that we will become enlightened one day, then what's the point of becoming a Buddhist? Hadn't the Buddha taught extensively that you and I possess Buddha Nature, by nature we are all Buddhas, only that now our Buddha Nature has been veiled by very thick but temporary layers of defilements.
I also remember a story of one of Shakyamuni Buddha's students - pardon me for not remembering the name of the student. There was this account that in his past life he wanted to practice the Bodhisattva path. So one of the heavenly gods decided to test him. The god took the form of an ordinary man and appeared before the Bodhisattva. This man cried and told the Bodhisattva, "My mother is very seriously ill and needs the eye of a practitioner. Would you please give me your eye to save her life?"
Now the Bodhisattva thought to himself, "I had vowed to practice the Bodhisattva path and should help other sentient beings. If I give one eye, I would still have one eye left." So the Bodhisattva agreed and gouged out one eye (I forgot which eye, let's say it's his left eye).
The man teared again, "Why did you take out your left eye? I need the right eye!"
The Bodhisattva thought, "Alas, I should have asked him before I gouged out my eye. Now even though I'll become blind, I should give him my other eye." So with that, the Bodhisattva gouged out his right eye and gave it to the man.
Then this man sniffed at the eye and remarked, "Eeks, this eye really stinks. How can it be from a practitioner?" With that, he threw the eyes onto the ground and walked away.
At this point, the Bodhisattva thought, "Sentient beings are so ignorant. The Bodhisattva path is really too difficult for me. I think I should just give up and pursue the path of individual liberation."
Then knowing that the Bodhisattva gave rise to the thought of giving up on the path, the god appeared and explained to him what really happened. The god then encouraged him never to give up on the Bodhisattva path.
The Bodhisattva regained his eyesight and re-established his motivation to continue on the Bodhisattva path.
A short anecdote - may not be entirely accurate cos I read this story many years ago. I like this story very much as I think it's very encouraging. Hope it inspires you to continue on the path. Jia you!!
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Hi, nice reply _wanderer_. That Bodhisattva is Shariputra
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Hi spnw07, if you find it difficult to jump straight to such level like absolute bodhicitta or so on, you can always practice from foundation level.
I myself also practicing bodhisattva path, but also find that sometimes I get angry quite easily.
To generate compassion or bodhicitta, one method is to imagine yourself being the other party, feel their pain and suffering. Also, know that they were your parents in the past. This is not to hypnotize yourself, but it is true that all beings were really your parents in the past for not just once but many times. Constantly contemplate over this.
Actually I think that bodhicitta is one way to make us progress fast. Without it, our progress will slow down and tends to become lazy once our current problems are all resolved. -
Yah, the safest way is not to judge actually. We never really know what others are really thinking - they may have the most sinister or altruistic intentions - we can never be sure, and there's really no point judging.
True, indeed the safest way is not to judge. But don't you think it's very frightening, these very people pretending to be kind and all that, and you trusted them almost completely, and poff, you don't know what hit you, you lost your job, or your performance review gets the worst grade in all working years, and you STILL think that guy is a kind person becos he has always been kind and helpful to you....
But what we do know of is that everybody wants to be happy - though everybody's interpretation of happiness and the means to gain happiness may differ, we all want to be happy in our own ways. That "wanting to be happy" is an indication of the presence of Buddha Nature in all of us. And this, I believe, we should learn to appreciate; and the more we appreciate that, the softer and less critical we become of the good and bad behaviours of people around us.
Even for people who pretend to be kind (actually, like what you say, most of us are like that - we more or less always have self-serving motivations, which is why we're still trapped in Samsara), well, sometimes I think that it's good that they're trying to be nice, or at least trying to appear nice. This shows that in their minds they know what are the better qualities, even if they may not have the conditions to be genuinely kind at the moment. Well, at least these people are spending time and effort in pretending to be good people; at least they're not spending time and effort in making and planting bombs...
Though they are not making bombs, but they are creating bombs of distrust and manipulation...that is invisible killing....
But still I wish to say I understand your intentions and main point here, to be less critical. But I'm a mere human, I have needs too before I attain the Diamond Sutra's level of perfect non-ego and non-attachment.
It's just so unfair to be less critical on people, but critical on myself thinking "oh dear, I must have done something to deserve this", or "it's not his fault, it's my fault"...
I'm just so afraid, that not thinking about good and bad behaviours, makes me a zombie. I just trying to numb myself into not thinking about good and bad behaviours...I'm afraid I might become indifferent and uncaring about myself and others...No. For now, we can only just imagine. Then researching and trying to get more information about the top of Mt Everest and its air(by studying/listening to the Dharma), by analysing and continually checking and questioning about the routes to Mt Everest (by contemplating over and over again what we learnt from books and sermons), and practicing and rehearsing over and over again climbing the mountain - and eventually really engaging in the actual climbing (by doing meditation regularly and diligently, and eventually actualizing the meditation itself
Wow, you are good at relating to and explaining such examples.Rightly as you pointed out, big and small are relative. There's no 'big' truly existing separately from 'small' and vice versa. Whether big or small, like what you say, "no big deal". Just as when your right hand scratches your left hand to relieve its itch, your RH doesn't think it did anything big or small to help LH, no big deal yea?
Nope, not entirely no big deal. My RH wouldn't think because my consciouness is the only 'thing' that can think. IF my RH scratches my left hand, obviously it's no big deal. But when there's a need to use either of my hands to scratch the itch of others who ask of me, then it's not easy for me to think it's no big deal.
Cos some will say "scratch harder", some will say "use so much force for what?" And some will say "scratch longer leh...."If you know what is "not sincere", you are probably quite close to knowing what is "sincere". At least you have a vague idea of what that is. Yet due to our temporary defilements, we do not really know what is truly beneficial for others, nor do we really know how to engage in beneficial actions. For now, what we can do is really limited - though that shouldn't stop us from helping beings in our currently limited ways. That's why we should try to generate the motivation to become Buddhas ourselves - not just for our own sake, but really so that we will have the wisdom and skilful means to be truly able to benefit others.
I agree with you that we should help others within our current limited ways. I don't know, I just feel so fake, feel so useless... -
Well, I don't really know about absolute and relative, aspiring and engaging bodhicitta. I have not yet come across such terms, both in English and Chinese.Originally posted by _wanderer_:For beings like us, what we can do is probably to ASPIRE. Making aspiration is a very important practice, especially for us whom Bodhicitta has yet been firmly established within us.
As you probably already know, Bodhicitta is usually divided into Relative and Absolute Bodhicitta. And Relative Bodhicitta is further sub-divided into Aspirational Bodhicitta and Engaging Bodhicitta. The former is mainly making aspirations and generating the intention of wanting to attain Buddhahood for the sake of benefiting all sentient beings. The latter is mainly putting the altruistic intention into actual action.
Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa ever said that (not the exact words, based on my memory which is pretty faulty) for beings like us, it is really difficult to have Engaging Bodhicitta. What we can do, is probably just Aspirational Bodhicitta, and this we should try to do as much as we can.
In reply to a question on this topic, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche said (again, I may not have remembered correctly) that eventually Aspirational Bodhicitta will lead to Engaging Bodhicitta, just as when the horse pulls the cart, the cart will definitely move. For now, we should just put in a lot of effort into the moving the horse (generating the intention) and not worry too much about the cart.
It is my personal belief that one should try to make great aspirations, whether or not we believe we're able to accomplish it at this point in time. Continually making aspirations don't hurt, don't cost, they're risk-free, yet they plant within our consciousness the very vital seeds of Bodhicitta, that will definitely flower one day. When there are ideals which we hope to attain, but seem too far/hard for us at this point in time, goals that we don't even dare to dream about - then we can even make aspirations that one day we will have the wisdom and courage to aspire for them. This was taught by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. He also taught that due to our ignorance we may not really know what is truly good for ourselves and others, so we can even aspire in this way: that whatever aspirations made by Samantabhadra, Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara (u can add on to the list according to your own inclinations), I wish to make aspirations like they do.
The reason why I'm typing all these, is because I hope you will not be discouraged by the seeming difficulty of the Bodhisattva path and give up on that. Sometimes I try to encourage myself by thinking that Shakyamuni Buddha must have had been through the processes that we're going through presently, and since he eventually became a Buddha, we definitely will become Buddhas in future. As Buddhists, we should have the confidence that we will become Buddhas eventually, even if it does not seem convincing at the moment. But if we don't believe that we will become enlightened one day, then what's the point of becoming a Buddhist? Hadn't the Buddha taught extensively that you and I possess Buddha Nature, by nature we are all Buddhas, only that now our Buddha Nature has been veiled by very thick but temporary layers of defilements.
I also remember a story of one of Shakyamuni Buddha's students - pardon me for not remembering the name of the student. There was this account that in his past life he wanted to practice the Bodhisattva path. So one of the heavenly gods decided to test him. The god took the form of an ordinary man and appeared before the Bodhisattva. This man cried and told the Bodhisattva, "My mother is very seriously ill and needs the eye of a practitioner. Would you please give me your eye to save her life?"
Now the Bodhisattva thought to himself, "I had vowed to practice the Bodhisattva path and should help other sentient beings. If I give one eye, I would still have one eye left." So the Bodhisattva agreed and gouged out one eye (I forgot which eye, let's say it's his left eye).
The man teared again, "Why did you take out your left eye? I need the right eye!"
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A short anecdote - may not be entirely accurate cos I read this story many years ago. I like this story very much as I think it's very encouraging. Hope it inspires you to continue on the path. Jia you!!
I agree that aspiring bodhicitta should be constantly cultivated so that such seeds will eventually ripen into engaging bodhicitta. So sometimes I try to do that. On a personal note, I admire and respect Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva a lot. So much so that when I first come across the sutra in comic vow, I was moved to tears when I read that he was so compassionate that he make another vow to help us, who are in the Dharma-Ending Age especially, even though he has already attained the 2nd last stage of Bodhisattvahood. I even made a vow to myself: Should I become a Bodhisattva in future, I shall be known as Ksitigarbha. I shall carry on what Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has done and is doing even after he has attained Buddhahood. I want to offer my gratitude and respect for this super compassionate Bodhisattva who vowed to save all beings from 3 evil realms before becoming a Buddha himself, I would like him to quickly feel at ease that someone is willing to take on his vows, so that he can feel assured to quickly attain Buddhahood.
Dear wanderer, you have been patient, caring and encouraging in your two posts here. You did not chastise me like what some Venerables or fellow Buddhists would, saying that I think too much, all talk and no action...blah blah...etc.
If every Buddhist, every Venerable speak such kind and encouraging words to beginner Buddhists, regardless of how stupid their ideas or questions are, perhaps more will want to learn more about Buddhism and continue to stay as a steadfast Buddhist in faith and action. -
Sariputra is the name of the disciple mentioned in your story, this was also pointed out by AEN. I have heard of it quite long ago. The sad fact is only now that I know what had happened in the end, right after the gouging out of the eyes.
I only knew that Sariputra decided to turn to the Smaller Vehicle and stayed in that level for many eons, before he finally became Buddha Sakyamuni's disciple and later received his future attaining of Buddhahood prediction by the Buddha himself in the Lotus Sutra.
Because of this story and later after reading Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's Original Vows sutra, I made a vow to myself, that should I become a Bodhisattva, the power of vows would be first to guide and help with uncountable skilful means, to help those starting on the path towards cultivation of good, to help those starting on the path towards Smaller Vehicle and those who started making their first vows to be Bodhisattvas.
Only when all these people and those in evil realms in all ten directions become Buddhas themselves, then only will I attain Buddhahood.
When all these people become Buddhas, I shall be their Bodhisattva disciple. I will continue to spread their teachings till their Dharma-Ending age, helping especially all sentient beings in Dharma Ending age to at least hear of the Dharma.
I vow that when I become a Bodhisattva, my manifestations are as many as the uncountable, unconceivable beings of the ten directions. Every sentient being will by the power of my vows, be able to have a wise and caring friend to guide and comfort them, till they finally attain Buddhahood, then only will I rest.
I know the above is big talk and very laughable, but it came from me cos I understood quite deeply how painful, how hard the route towards Buddhahood is...
Sorry for the big talk
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Hi, thanks for your advice and encouragement too. I really appreciate it.Originally posted by justdoit77:Hi spnw07, if you find it difficult to jump straight to such level like absolute bodhicitta or so on, you can always practice from foundation level.
I myself also practicing bodhisattva path, but also find that sometimes I get angry quite easily.
To generate compassion or bodhicitta, one method is to imagine yourself being the other party, feel their pain and suffering. Also, know that they were your parents in the past. This is not to hypnotize yourself, but it is true that all beings were really your parents in the past for not just once but many times. Constantly contemplate over this.
Actually I think that bodhicitta is one way to make us progress fast. Without it, our progress will slow down and tends to become lazy once our current problems are all resolved.
I am trying to feel people's pain and suffering, but who cares about my suffering? I'm a human, I need love too...I'm not yet a first-stage saint or an Arahant, my need for love from fellow human beings is comparable to that of the need to eat and sleep...
I wonder how many Buddhists or Venerables realise that, before you attain the stage of no needs or non-attachment, basic human needs should be adequately met.
Even if any Buddhist or Venerable has attained non-attachment, hence indifferent to how they are treated by others, I hope they will exercise great compassion in their words and behaviour towards others who has not yet attained that level of cultivation.
We Buddhists talk about compassion, but we rarely see in practical forms among fellow Buddhists when interacting with one another. It's my personal experience of course. I will probably get flamed for saying this, but what the heck, it's what happened to me man.
It's such a conflict inside me: I like Christianity for their warmth, showers of love and concern, fun and friendly, but yet I know I cannot join them because I totally don't agree with the idea of a Creator God and that which likes to test the faith of his creations. For Buddhism, I took to it cos I agree deeply with Cause and Effect; as I can sort of infer and understand to some extent through the Law, as to why in this present life, I'm so lonely and forlorn, with no close friends at all to talk to and trust with about my feelings and thoughts. My parents will die one day, no matter how much I wish for them to stay, as they are the only ones I can trust with all my heart now. When they have died, I will be all alone, maybe one day die alone in my flat and my corpse will be discovered after it rots like hell...
Sometimes to comfort myself, I imagine myself attaining buddhahood under the bodhi tree or become a Bodhisattva like Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, starting to help sentient beings already...
It helps to take away the pain and that's what I do when I can't sleep at night sometimes, thinking about all these... -
Self learn to be bodhisattva?
Just know your limits because there will be stages that will FREE your mind -
Before I forget, I know that yakuzas (Japanese gansters or triad members) will cut off their last finger as atonement for their failure in completing tasks given to them.
If only they could learn Buddhism and start to cultivate aspiring bodhicitta, they could have been able to help lots of people till their last breath.
A person who can cut off any bodily part like flesh, bones, eyes, with no regret or hatred after that, has already got the potential to be an aspiring bodhisattva. At least this part resembles a bit of most of the trials that would be faced by an aspiring or engaging bodhisattva.
I speak of the same for self-radicalised terrorists too; if you could blow yourself up just like that without much hesitation, why not use your life, your bodily parts to help those who need you? But of course since they have no qualms about sacrificing themselves in such a tragic and destructive way to kill other innocent lives, I don't think such rationale will appeal to them in any way though...
If only such people could aspire to be Bodhisattvas...
If they could, imagine the speed at which these people can progress in their path towards Buddhahood! -
I tot hell is a manifestation of ur actions and intention .
should not be judged by hell judge .
it's decided by karma .