Theos-Talk Archives (April 1999 Message tt00151)

In a message dated 4/15/99 6:16:29 PM, Leon wrote:

<<1. [n.] Kindly concern for others
     -benevolence
     -kindheartedness
     -beneficence
     -charitableness
     -good will
     -kindliness
     -kindness
     -tenderness
     -goodheartedness
     -humaneness
Doesn't that perfectly describe a Bodhisattva?  >>

No, it doesn't.  It describes an altruist.  A bodhisattva is far, far greater 
than this.  A bodhisattva has PRAJNA or non-conceptual wisdom, which pierces 
through categories and concepts, which reveals the foundations of the world, 
which sees backwards and forwards through time, and which penetrates likewise 
any other kind of illusion you can think of.  Because a bodhisattva has 
perfected compassion AND wisdom, s/he is quite a transcendent being.  This is 
from the Mahayana text called the VIMALAKIRTI-NIRDESHA SUTRA:

"Thereupon, the bodhisattva Sarvapasamdarsana, who was present in that 
assembly, addressed the [very wealthy layman] Vimalakirti: 'Householder, 
where are your father and mother, your children, your wife, your servants, 
your maids, your laborers, and your attendants?  Where are your friends, your 
relatives, and your kinsmen?  Where are your servants, your horses, your 
elephants, your chariots, your bodyguards, and your bearers?'

"Thus addressed, the Licchavi Vimalakirti spoke the following verses to the 
bodhisattva Sarvapasamdarsana:

"Of the true bodhisattvas,
The mother is the trascendence of wisdom,
The father is the skill in liberative technique;
The Leaders are born of such parents.

Their wife is the joy in the Dharma,
Love and compassion are their daughters,
The Dharma and the truth are their sons;
And their home is deep thought on the meaning of voidness.

All the passions are their disciples,
Controlled at will.
Their friends are the aids to enlightenment;
Thereby they realize supreme enlightenment.

Their companions, ever with them,
Are the six paramitas.
Their consorts are the means of unifications,
Their music is the teaching of the Dharma.

The incantations make their garden, 
Which blossoms with the flowers of the factors of enlightenment.
With trees of the great wealthy of the Dharma,
And fruits of the gnosis of liberation."

Etc. etc. etc. for 37 more stanzas.

Again, I would caution we Theosophists who believe we know the meaning of 
Buddhist, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese terms that Theosophy has lifted from 
Asian contexts.  Turning to our western dictionaries, western conceptions, 
western books (even those by HPB) won't explain the full meaning and depth of 
these terms.  (This is not aimed at Leon but *all* of us who read Theosophy 
and assume we understand because it's familiar to us after all these years.)

We can only imagine that HPB expected us to turn to Eastern sources directly 
(especially when she cites them as sources!!!), and not rely on her books 
alone.  HPB could have coined NEW terms in English for all of her teachings.  
The fact that she used established Buddhist terms for nearly everything she 
taught is a clue for those who will take it.

Let those who have ears, hear.

Rich



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