In the mornings, or anytime during practice, or all day actually...

All Bodhisattvas make a commitment, that was originally written by Shantideva in the Bodhicharyavatara:

For as long as space endures,
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I too abide,
To dispel the miseries of the world.


And every morning, Bodhisattvas say this. They fully and completely practice this with every action they make, move, speak, do.

If I were even close to such a highly realized being, then I would be able to benefit beings continuously. But I'm not even close to that state. And while the Bodhisattva path starts at the beginning, and we begin to generate this 'aspirational bodhicitta' -- the aspirational mind of enlightenment -- it is difficult for us to help beings right at this point. So, we can only make that aspiration.

I promise that every action I take, every word I speak, and every thought that arises from the pristine nature of mind, I will help sentient beings to the extent that I can.


May we all be free,
completely liberated,
gone beyond,
and may we all reach the other shore together.


Much love,

Rob

We go through hell to follow these kleshas, that we create with our own mind.

There you are, you poor, miserable beast of a human being. Crouched over at the bottom of a cliff, attempting to get cool from the sweltering heat of the sun and burning coals under your feet.

You poor, poor being, trying to find some relief from the suffering you've been enduring for years on end. You look on into the black smoke clouds in the endless beyond. My god, where am I, you wonder.

Suddenly, you hear a voice calling from above. "Hey! Where have you been? I've been looking all over!"

Your crippled back jumps up from the hot coal ground, and begins to climb the cliff you previously sought relief at the bottom of. You start climbing, but as you continue knives a foot long start to spring out, piercing your skin in the most tender areas. Your limbs are torn, but haven't been fully cut off.

Reaching higher and higher, you cannot find a spot to hold onto that will grant you any peace or relief, but only more suffering.

"I want you so bad! I've missed you, dear!"

And you reach and reach, your body bloodied and worn.

Suddenly, you lose a hand. Still 108 feet from your lover, you are falling back down the cliff, scattered with knives.

Falling, falling, falling, your lover yells louder, and you continue to climb.

*******

There's no end to this story.

You know why, I hope. I hope for your benefit.

This is you, this is the world, this is me. We climb and climb and climb, representing our own unfortunate habitual tendencies. Constantly clinging to the things of the world that we believe will bring us peace. Something that will bring us relief from the fiery hell that we live in.

Fortunately, we can cut off these habitual tendencies. But only after we realize, to some degree, that everything is impermanent. To chase after such a hollow image is suicide.

Its important to think about consequences. I'm sure you've heard of karma. Its easy to keep repeating these same old habits. We like them. We like the feeling of these emotions.

But if you look for just one moment, you may be able to see the peace on the other side.

Cut off your shackles of attachment. Do it now!...or start now. To keep on with this practice of clinging will only bring you further trouble, for times to come.


Lovers don't last forever.



Much love,

Rob