The precept, “Do good for others,” is associated with a sincere intention to help all beings. Buddhists call this intention the “bodhisattva vow”. A bodhisattva is someone who seeks, in all circumstances, to do good for others. Throughout his life, the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, was primarily concerned with what was the most helpful teaching for whomever he was facing at that time.
Each day — moment by moment — we are presented with opportunities to show unconditional love and compassion. Often a sincere intention to act compassionately will help free others from a life of sadness, depression and doubt. To meet someone who can help without criticism, can love without judgement and can give without regret is a rare event. To live by the precept, to do good for others, is to live a life of selflessness. It is to be constantly thinking about how our actions, thoughts, words and emotions make this world a more loving and compassionate place for everyone. I know that sounds like a big job for just one person, but all change for the better begins with just one person acting with wisdom and compassion in this very moment.
I am reminded of a story about a woman who, while shopping, noticed how many products are packaged in plastic. She had learned in an educational TV program how harmful plastic is for the environment, and how much plastic sits in our landfills and oceans, and how long it takes to decompose: over one million years! She also learned how long it takes to decompose a paper bag: one week.
She wondered, “Why do they have to wrap everything in plastic?” So she undertook a campaign to get stores to stop using plastic bags, and as we all know, it has helped. She didn’t change everyone’s behavior, but if you look around at Overwaitea Foods or Extra Foods, many customers now use recyclable grocery bags. This change has happened because one woman, one blossoming bodhisattva, decided to look out for the good of all concerned. She became the change that she wanted to effect.
What good is a really big love if it never gets applied in the world? This woman had a really big love for our planet and she applied it skillfully! In so doing, she met and expressed her bodhisattva self! As each of us meets our own compassion we will be able to greet the world by doing good for everyone.
As I have often said, the cornerstones of Buddhist practice are generosity and compassion. I prefer the term altruism. To see how altruism acts as powerful a force for positive change all we have to do is look at how volunteers at the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors, at Gleaners or at the Therapeutic Riding Program have been good for others.
Two suggested practices: 1) Resolve to begin each day with the intention of doing good for others. 2) If you think a project is too large to fix, remember the woman who took on plastic.
Kuya Minogue is resident teacher at the Creston Zen Centre. For more information, visit www.zenwords.net or call her at 250-428-6500.