equities

Save the world. Or savor it.

November 13, 2017

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to save the world and an inclination to savor it.

-E.B. White

Bodhisattvas live in compassionate service to humanity.

Bodhisattva is a Sanskrit word for those who are committed to the spiritual awakening; we postpone our personal enlightenment to aid others in reaching it first.

Living in compassion and service is is in ‘complete contrast to the excessive individualism of some cultures.

Bodhisattvas believe happiness comes from tending to those who are suffering, helping them overcome their despair.

[…]

What can we do when we hear the news of poverty, inequity, war, terror, injustices or environmental destruction? It is easy to slip into despair and go numb.

Bodhisattva philosophy and living invites us to turn toward instead of turning away from the pain.

To begin, we learn to quiet our mind and find the peace that resides in our collective hearts. Only when there is peace on the inside can we bring the benefit of this to the outside world. We are not separate, but are interconnected and interdependent with all beings. 

Life is suffering. (Buddhism) And happiness often comes of being devoted to the well-being of others.

We need not be a Kuan Yin, a St. Francis of Assisi, a Mother Teresa or the Dalai Lama. Simply, being congruent with our outer actions in alignment, or balance, with our inner desires, we able to be a blessing to the people we are with, and situations we find ourselves living in.

jai  ☀

[Science of Mind Magazine/November]