redraven
9th September 2006, 11:15 PM
First an explanation of what a Boddhisattva is:
A Boddhisattva is a Buddhist saint. What happens is that they have a chance to achieve the bodhi, and out of compassion they choose to remain in samsara and help others. They reincarnate in a boddhisattva realm, and they live one, very long life helping others before they attain the bodhi. How long depends on who they are. They are not a a Buddha, but they have much virtue and wisdom and compassion, and people pray to them for help.
I believe in the bodhisattvas because my reverence for them has completely changed my life. I am doing things now I never thought I could do.
My patron, one doesn't have to have one, is Lord Jizo. His Sanskrit name is Ksitigarbha, and he is found in both the Mahayana and Buddhist traditions. He is the guardian of those in Hell, the condemner of the evil, and will reincarnate until all of the pits of hell are empty, which is going to take a very, very long time. Like maybe "many years of Brahma" and a year of Brahma is 420 million years.
I also like Kwan-Yin, who is the female form Avalokitesvara, and who is the Lady of Compassion. When I am angry at someone, I pray to her to give me compassion for them, and it works.
I pray to Samantabhadra before each meditation session, who is very virtuous and represents the meditation practice of all of the bodhisattvas.
Lately, I've also been praying to Amitabha, who is the Bodhisattva of Pure Land Buddhism. His followers go to the Pure Land, his boddhisattva realm, when they die, and he instructs them in the dharma so that they may become Buddhas or Boddhisattvas.
It sounds like Heaven and a lot of Pure Land Buddhists think it is, but what they don't remember is that even though people live long lives in Bodhisattva realms, they also live and die. He is a very virtuous Boddhisattva and he also helps to obtain a favorable reincarnation.
All thanks to the Boddhisattvas!
A Boddhisattva is a Buddhist saint. What happens is that they have a chance to achieve the bodhi, and out of compassion they choose to remain in samsara and help others. They reincarnate in a boddhisattva realm, and they live one, very long life helping others before they attain the bodhi. How long depends on who they are. They are not a a Buddha, but they have much virtue and wisdom and compassion, and people pray to them for help.
I believe in the bodhisattvas because my reverence for them has completely changed my life. I am doing things now I never thought I could do.
My patron, one doesn't have to have one, is Lord Jizo. His Sanskrit name is Ksitigarbha, and he is found in both the Mahayana and Buddhist traditions. He is the guardian of those in Hell, the condemner of the evil, and will reincarnate until all of the pits of hell are empty, which is going to take a very, very long time. Like maybe "many years of Brahma" and a year of Brahma is 420 million years.
I also like Kwan-Yin, who is the female form Avalokitesvara, and who is the Lady of Compassion. When I am angry at someone, I pray to her to give me compassion for them, and it works.
I pray to Samantabhadra before each meditation session, who is very virtuous and represents the meditation practice of all of the bodhisattvas.
Lately, I've also been praying to Amitabha, who is the Bodhisattva of Pure Land Buddhism. His followers go to the Pure Land, his boddhisattva realm, when they die, and he instructs them in the dharma so that they may become Buddhas or Boddhisattvas.
It sounds like Heaven and a lot of Pure Land Buddhists think it is, but what they don't remember is that even though people live long lives in Bodhisattva realms, they also live and die. He is a very virtuous Boddhisattva and he also helps to obtain a favorable reincarnation.
All thanks to the Boddhisattvas!