FOR ALL TIMES, NOW AND FOREVER:
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.
- Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama
Thanks go to Virtual Buddha (see Special Links) for this beautiful gift to a conflicted world.
4 comments:
This is a philosophical musing, I guess ... but I tend to think that if I were to wish to have become all of those, would be for me to wish to have attained a superior strength, knowledge, power, etc in order to have become the sanctuary, the savior, the guide of those who were in need for it.
And I think, in our world, much peril is done by those who wish (genuinely, and apolitically) to have "shown the path"
If I were to pray, I would wish for everyone, to be totally independent from everyone, in every sense, and for everyone to touch and feel and reach the other in none but an equal and mutual desire for discovering the other.
In your last paragraph you have described the philosophy (not religion) of Buddha perfectly, Naj.
It is so hard to remain agitated and upset in the face of such philosphical thoughts full of beautiful words and imagery....but
Because I am so fired up about entirely different matters I'll have to regain my "calmmmm" before I can remotely feel equated with these sentiments as expressed...
Breathe deeply! relax, relax
Bottom line is if only people would treat others as they themselves would wish to be, then we'd have a magnificent world.....
Buddhists, unfortunately, can't even stand on an ant, so their view of choice and dignity in dying is not necessarily helpful...This is why choice for the individual, based on their own personal needs for themselves alone is the very best philosphy of all. To thine self, be true.
Dubya says what's the big deal? I already am all of those!:P
Awful big wishes, awful big shoes to fill.
Post a Comment