Amida Butsu & Bodhisattva

Below is from a couple of months ago as we were going through the book MAHAYANA BUDDHISM by Beatrice Suzuki wife of D.T. Suzuki.

This paper was written very informally (as all of mine usually are) and straight from deep heart felt sentiments.

The topic is AMIDA BUDDHA & BODHISATTVA

We all have the Bodhi seed within us. Each one of us is Buddha. Therefore I see Amida Buddha as Me. I have within me the Eternal Light and Infinite Life. There is nothing outside of myself to trust in. We are all ONE. 

I am a member of the Buddha family and because I AM  it is my duty to conquer sin (that which keeps me separated from knowing who I am) and fear (as a mother I have all sorts of fears I am dealing with in learning to let go of my children and allow them to experience their being) and work for the good of others.   

When I work for the good of others I am less likely to dwell on the perception of my own so called suffering. Keep my eye on the prize. The prize: Awakening. 

A few years ago I heard a friend say that he took the Boddhisattva vow to awaken and dedicate his life to helping others awaken. He said that a Boddhisattva was one who would forego breaking free from Samsara until every sentient being was awakened. 

I remember my immediate response to what he was saying was that of revulsion. I thought to myself….there is NO way I want to stick around this place; I want to awaken and NOT come back here never ever again. 

Well, to be honest there is a part of me that finds that appeal but on the other hand there is a part of me that sees the benefit in helping others to awaken. We are all in this together and that is a fact.  

When I was a young child my earliest memories of my thoughts are that I
felt that we were all connected. I knew that my family was my family but somehow I knew that the so called strangers walking down the street were somehow connected to me as well.  

So, defer to the Child Me and I think of the Bodhisattva vow as an ideal to put into practice in my daily life. It is not just for the benefit of the world but also for my benefit as well.  

We are all One. 

CAPPING PHRASE: Remember the Bodhisattva vows.
CODE PHRASE: We are in this together