37 Practices of a Bodhisattva (Togme Zongpo | c.1300)

[struggle4progress]

... Attraction to those close to you catches you in its currents;
Aversion to those who oppose you burns inside;
Indifference that ignores what needs to be done is a black hole.
Leave your homeland -- this is the practice of a bodhisattva ...

Even if your peers or subordinates,
Put you down to make themselves look better,
Treat them respectfully as you would your teacher:
Put them above you -- this is the practice of a bodhisattva ...

If you don't subdue the opponent inside, your own anger,
Although you subdue opponents outside, they just keep coming.
Muster the forces of loving kindness and compassion
And subdue your own mind -- this is the practice of a bodhisattva ...

Abusive language upsets others
And undermines the ethics of a bodhisattva.
So, don't upset people or
Speak abusively -- this is the practice of a bodhisattva ...

http://www.unfetteredmind.org/translations/37.php

[Taverner]

1. What if I take this line out of context: "Speak abusively -- this is the practice of a bodhisattva"

If all you speak is abuse, could this be the practice of a bodhisattva?

[white_wolf]

2. Well it would be intellectually dishonest.

Seeing as how you would have to get off mid-sentence to make it work.

[struggle4progress]

5. You might make a lousy bodhisattva but maybe a great Supreme Court Justice:

the famous decision Marbury v Madison was based on reading half a sentence, and everybody seemed to think it was brilliant

[Taverner]

7. It does give SCOTUS the power to declare a law unconstitutional

So I'm OK with that...

[leveymg]

3. Skinner - Please add to the DU discussion rules ;-)

[Silent3]

4. What does a half-hearted attempt at 12 of 37 get me?

My future as a bodhisattva seems pretty dim at the moment.

By the way, I hadn't noticed your new sig line until now. I love it... although I don't think it represents the practice of a bodhisattva very well. :)

[struggle4progress]

6. Yeah, my sigline probably reflects my own currently-dim prospects as a would-be bodhisattva

:)

[white_wolf]

8. For anyone interested here are the four main Bodhisattva Vows:

However innumerable all beings are,
I vow to save them all.
However inexhaustible my delusions are,
I vow to extinguish them all.
However immeasurable the Dharma teachings are,
I vow to master them all.
However endless the Buddha’s way is,
I vow to follow it completely.