>One mention of the prophecy of Maitreya is in the Maitreyavyākaraṇa. It implies that he is a teacher of meditative trance sādhanā and states that gods, men and other beings:
>«[...] will lose their doubts, and the torrents of their cravings will be cut off: free from all misery they will manage to cross the ocean of becoming; and, as a result of Maitreya's teachings, they will lead a holy life. No longer will they regard anything as their own, they will have no possession, no gold or silver, no home, no relatives! But they will lead the holy life of oneness under Maitreya's guidance. They will have torn the net of the passions, they will manage to enter into trances, and theirs will be an abundance of joy and happiness, for they will lead a holy life under Maitreya's guidance.»
A good practicing Buddhist will always remain a hundred miles from a Frontline war zone
Christopher Mitchell
For the liberation of all sentient beings
Caleb Jones
...
Carson Smith
>Who hurts with a stick beings that desire happiness, >searching for happiness himself, he will not reach happiness after death.
>The Buddha once saw a group of young men from Savatthi beating a snake with sticks. He asked why were they doing such thing. The youths answered that they were afraid of being bitten by the snake, therefore they beat it. The Buddha told them this verse, saying that if we do not wish to be harm by some being the first step is not to harm it ourselves. >The young men attained the first stage of Awakenment after hearing this discourse.
>Who does not hurt with a stick beings that desire happiness, >searching for happiness himself, he will reach happiness after death.
>The story for this verse is identical with that to the previous one. >To abstain from violence is one of the basic principles of the Buddha's teaching. Especially in the case of the young men hurting the snake it can be seen that to hurt somebody first to stop him from hurting me is not a good idea. >We should practice the universal loving kindness, known as metta and try to radiate it to all the directions. When faced with danger, we should radiate this metta towards the being that intends or might intend to hurt us.
>The Benefits of Saving Lives >by Chatral Rinpoche
>I bow down before the Lama, Buddha Amitayus, >And the bodhisattvas in training. >I shall now in brief describe the benefits >Of freeing animals and ransoming their lives.
>To save animals from slaughter and any mortal danger, >With an entirely pure motivation and conduct, >Is without doubt a practice to be taken up >By all followers of the Buddha Shakyamuni. >Many sutras, tantras and commentaries >Describe in detail the advantages it brings, >And countless learned and accomplished masters of India and Tibet >Have stressed the value and importance of benefitting beings. >Even in the basic vehicle one avoids inflicting harm on others, >In the mahayana this is the very training of a bodhisattva, >And in the secret mantra, a principal samaya of the ratna family. >The reasoning behind this is as follows: in this world, >Nothing is as dear to someone as his or her own life, >So no greater crime is there than taking life away, >And no conditioned virtue brings greater merit >Than the act of saving beings and ransoming their lives. >Therefore, should you wish for happiness and good, >Exert yourself in this, the most supreme of paths, >Which is proven through scriptures and through reasoning, >And is free of obstacles and potential dangers. >Consider your own body and with this as an example, >Make every effort not to kill any living creature, >Birds, fish, deer, cattle and even tiny insects, >And strive instead to save their lives, >Offering them protection from every fear. >The benefit of doing so is beyond imagining.
Camden Peterson
>This is the best practice for your own longevity, >And the greatest ritual for the living or deceased >It is my main practice of benefitting others. >It dispels all external and internal adversity and obstacles, >Effortlessly and spontaneously, it brings favourable conditions, >And, when inspired by the noble mind of bodhichitta and >Completed with dedication and pure aspiration prayers, >It will lead one to complete enlightenment, >And the accomplishment of one's own and others' welfare— >Of this you need have no doubts at all! >Those whose minds incline to virtue and acts of merit, >Should prohibit hunting and fishing on their land. >Some birds, in particular, such as geese and cranes, >Are impelled by their karma to migrate >And fly south in autumn, north in spring. >At times, weary from the efforts of their flight, >Or having lost their way, some are forced to land, >Distressed, afraid and anxious; when this happens, >You should not throw stones or shoot at them, >Nor try to kill them or do them any harm, >But protect them so they may easily fly once more. >To offer care and affection to sentient beings >In desperate situations who lack protection >Brings just as much merit as the meditation >On emptiness with compassion as its core— >So it has been said by glorious Lord Atisha. >Lamas, officials, monks, nuns, men and women, >In all the places over which you have control, >Exert every influence and do all within your power >To release animals and ransom their lives, >While encouraging others to do the same. >In all those places where this is done, >Sickness among people and livestock will cease, >Harvests will be plentiful and life will be long. >All will enjoy happiness and well-being in abundance, >And at death let go of deluded experience, >Before finding an excellent rebirth within the higher realms. >Ultimately, there is no doubt that this will lead one easily >To find the supreme and perfect state of awakening.
Carson Turner
The best metaphor I ever heard for compassion was that it has to be like sunlight and shine on everything without exception from the smallest insects to the largest aquatic marine mammals. You'll forgive my biosci off and going to sleep listening to ShantiDeva's Bodhicharyavatara. Lately though,every night. I listen to the Bardo _Thodal. I feel such a weight Dharma fren.
Sounds like a philosophy someone would design for a bunch of puerile slaves. You know, Indians.
Christopher Murphy
Buddha was a piece of shit who left his wife and kids to go on a mind bender. Fucking disgusting philosophy. Think of the type of vapid dirtbags and swindlers that practice it.
That was his path. It doesn't mean you have to abandon your family for enlightenment. That's old school buddhist monk stuff, and their insights are available now.
Daniel Sullivan
time to look for a job, son
Dominic Walker
You're very wrong, but your karma brought you here so that the seed of compassion may be planted in your stream of being. Good things will manifest once the conditions are ripe.
