May the virtue that I have acquired by doing all this relieve every suffering of sentient beings! May I be the medicine and the physician for the sick. May I be their nurse until their illness never recurs! With showers of food and drink may I overcome the afflictions of hunger and thirst! May I become food and drink during times of famine. May I be an inexhaustible treasury for the destitute! With various forms of assistance may I remain in their presence. For the sake of accomplishing the welfare of all sentient beings, I freely give up my body, enjoyments, and all my virtues of the three times. Surrendering everything is Nirvana, and my mind seeks Nirvana. If I must surrender everything, it is better that I give it to sentient beings. For the sake of all beings I have made this body pleasure less. Let them continually beat it, revile it, and cover it with filth. Let them play with my body. Let them laugh at it and ridicule it. What does it matter to me? I have given my body to them. Let them have me perform deeds that are conductive to their happiness. Whoever resorts to me, may it never be in vain. For those who have resorted to me and have an angry or unkind thought, may even that always become the cause for their accomplishing every goal. May those who falsely accuse me, who harm me, and who ridicule me all partake of awakening! May I be a protector for those who are without protectors, a guide for travelers, and a boat, a bridge, and a ship for those who wish to cross over! May I be a lamp for those who seek light, a bed for those who seek rest, and may I be a servant for all beings who desire a servant. To all sentient beings may I be a wish-fulfilling gem, a vase of good fortune, an efficacious mantra, a great medication, a wish-fulfilling tree, and a wish-granting cow. Just as earth and other elements are useful in various ways to innumerable sentient beings dwelling throughout infinite space, So may I be in various ways a source of life for the sentient beings present throughout space until they are liberated. ————— The Bodhicaryavatara by Shantideva
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 03:36:58 +0000
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