Joe, I disagree and your view is certainly at odds with Buddhist tradition.
The traditional view is that the enlightened being sacrifices some of what he has attained to return to the world to help other beings reach enlightenment and thus transcend suffering. He does it FOR other beings, not FOR himself. However as I just said I do agree that the best way to help other beings is to manifest one's own realization as an example. But that should NOT selfishly be thought of as doing it FOR ONESELF. One manifests realization back into reality to bring realization TO reality. The process of realization can be thought of as the entire universe achieving realization of its inherent Buddha Nature piece by piece as being after being achieves realization and manifests it back to the rest of the universe. Edgar On Nov 28, 2012, at 2:40 AM, Joe wrote: > RAF, > > Howdy from Arizona. > > The Bodhisattva vows are for ONESELF, not for all beings. That's important. > > One vows to oneself to save all beings, because, when we awaken, we realize > that this is already the case, already done. So, vow fulfilled. > > The vow is a skilful means that one puts on oneself, skilfully. It is also a > yoke. Thus, a Yoga. Really, it's very practical. Nothing to eschew, because > it is not a promise. It is something that is fulfilled automatically when you > wake up. But there I go spilling the beans. > > There's nothing wrong with the Bodhisattva vows; the only error is in > preconceptions. It's Mister Dubious who is dubious. The vows are yours, not > someone else's, and no one, nor anything else, holds you to them. > > But it helps to make them. I mean, to make them helps us to wake up. If you > begin this or have begun this, especially in a formal context with teacher > and sangha, in the midst of STRONG practice, you'll see. > > A pleasure to meet and talk, RAF! > > Best, > > --Joe > > > R A Fonda <rafonda@...> wrote: > > > > "Work out your OWN salvation with diligence". > > Ironic you should mention that, as it is the very reference I recently > > cited to Edgar, as supporting my view that the Bodhisattva Vow is > > presumptuous and a dubious doctrine. At any rate, my choice to eschew > > that vow is why I don't call myself a Buddhist, in spite of my sincere > > gratitude for his elucidation of the Way. > > > > > Thank you for an excellent response. > > > > RAF > >
