by Tamu Hoyo Sensei,

My eldest son and I volunteered at the community Organic Garden that one of my local friends championed. We were there to pluck up the thick over growth and prepare a neglected plot for future use. Afterwards we stopped by the grocery store to fill up on  reverse osmosis water and potato chips.

As I was in the line I saw a magazine that boasted a lovely portrait of the late Catholic nun Saint Mother Theresa.   She is one who comes to mind when I think of the Bodhisattva spirit. Mother Theresa dedicated her life to helping ease the suffering of the lowest class of people in India, the Untouchables.

What is the spirit of the Bodhisattva? Dogen defines it as follows:

Awakening “the spirit of the Bodhisattva means awakening the aspiration (or vow) that says “Before I myself cross over to the other shore, I will take all sentient beings across first.” – “Awakening of the Bodhicitta.”

Not only does Saint Mother Theresa come to mind but also Harriet Tubman.  She was a run away slave and an abolitionist. She too is an excellent example of the Bodhisattva spirit. She not only freed herself from slavery but she kept returning for more of her people to help bring them to freedom from the Southern United States to the North and to Canada to ultimate freedom. She did allow herself to be liberated until she helped to liberate many people. These two women embody the spirit of the Bodhisattva. These women in spire me and I hope they will also help lead you to the Innermost Aspiration.

Every element of life is a teacher. Every moment can help point you to your Buddha self. You may have never thought of yourself as a Bodhisattva. Learn about the amazing lives of others who have embodied the Bodhisattva spirit.

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

― Mother Teresa

and

“ I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”

– Harriet Tubman

Tamu Hoyo is a Lay Minister with Bright Dawn Way of Oneness Buddhism to learn more about Bright Dawn click here.