Even
After
All this time
The Sun never says to the Earth,
“You owe me.”
Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the whole sky.
– Hafiz-
Simply This
by Reishin Denise Leong
“Thank you so much.”
“But I didn’t do anything!”
“No, you did. You listened.”
I recently was in a state of inner turmoil and confusion as I struggled to make a crucial, heart-wrenching decision. And then a Bodhisattva of no rank (and no Buddhism!) appeared…
In our practice, a Bodhisattva is a being who could enter nirvana but instead chooses to stay in this world and, with great love and compassion, helps all beings end their suffering. Our first vow commits us to the Bodhisattva Path: “However innumerable all beings are, I vow to serve and liberate them all.”
And yet, the mission can be daunting at times.
It helps to remember that there are countless gifts in the many arms and hands of Kwan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. One such gift we can offer others is simply being present – entering fully into the chaos with eyes open, heart open; being with things as they are, not how we want them to be; staying steady in the midst of turmoil; listening without an opinion. This is our practice.
…so when my Bodhisattva listened to me weigh all of the options for the difficult decision I had to make, she said nothing; she gave me space and time and became my spiritual pillar, allowing me to hear myself clearly and then make my choice wisely. Her caring, sturdy presence was all I needed.
You don’t know how to be a Bodhisattva?
It happens through daily practice, one kindness at a time. Our real practice is off the cushion – how we treat everyone we encounter, how we are moved to action by someone’s pain, how we find time to help each other. By staying on the Bodhisattva’s Path, we will simply, over time, embody this compassion and love. We will be less frightened of the world and its messiness, more determined to face it with courage and resolve.
There are countless beings working selflessly to end suffering in this world – sometimes we hear grand, inspirational stories and are awed. And sometimes it is simply the gift of
A surprise morning coffee and breakfast
An emergency run to the drugstore
A respite
A hug
As the Buddha taught, there is suffering, but any person with a simple gesture or with an unconditional loving presence can bring relief. You are truly and simply this Light.
Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
