The few dollars given is like a little snowflake. A
snowflake is indeed a tiny and frail thing.It is
weaker than feather since it melts away. But
many snowflakes block up roads, hold up trains
and pull down the roof of houses. The
snowflake though tiny has power in it. By itself
a few dollars may not mean much. When it is
added to a few dollars from someone else from
everyone it can build the funds required to print
these booksand share the Dhamma with others.
It is indeed a great gift to be able to transform a
life. The cruel man becomes compassionate, the
vengeful man forgiving, the restless man serene.
the troubled man happy. Great indeed is the joy
of experiencing this blessing, and great is the
blessing to the one who gives it.
The Pure White Lotus"This body of flesh and blood I bear
Just for the world's good and welfare."
[Sri Sanghabodhi]According to a person's temperament, he can
choose one of the three modes of
Enlightenment (Bodhi) - the Savaka Bodhi,
Pacceka Bodhi and the Samma sambodhi. The
attainment of the Savaka Bodhi is relatively the
easiest while that of the Samma bodhi the
hardest.
Savaka Bodhi is the ideal of one who seeks to
become an Arahant with the guidance of a
superior instructor. One becomes an Arahant
after completely eradicating all defilements and
fulfilling the ten transcendentalVirtues (Parami)
for many series of births. After achieving
Enlightenmentthe Arahant devotes the rest of
his life serving other seekers of peace by
example and precept.
Pacceka Bodhi is the Enlightenment of a highly
evolved person who achieves his goal by his
own effort. To become a Pacceka Buddha one
should practice the Paramis for many aeons.
Though he teaches morality, he lacks the power
to purify others through expounding the
Dhamma. Pacceka Buddhas arise only during
those periods when the Teaching of the Samma
sambuddha does not exist.Samma sambodhi is the supreme
Enlightenment of a most developed and all-
knowing perfect being. This is a most difficult
ideal. A person who aspires to become the All
Enlightened Buddha (a Bodhisatta) should make
a firm resolution and take the vow in the
presence of other Buddha. After becoming a
Bodhisatta, he delays his personal salvation and
practices the ten Paramis to perfection, in order
to help others to attain salvation.Not only does he understand the Dhamma by
his own efforts and wisdom, but he also
expounds the Dhamma to purify and serve
those who seek the Truth. Unlike Pacceka
Buddhas, several of whom can appear at any
one period in the history of the world, only one
Suprema Buddha arises at a particular time.Thus a Bodhisatta is one who aspires and strives
to be the All-Enlightened Buddha. This is the
most refined ideal to serve others selflessly
during one's efforts to reach the ultimate Truth.
The Jataka Stories related the supreme efforts
of Gotama Buddha at perfecting the ten
transcendental virtues in his previous births as a
Bodhisatta in his efforts to attain Supreme
Buddhahood.The Bodhisatta acts with compassion towards
all beings. So boundless is his love and
compassion that throughout the series of his
countless lives he strives to diminish suffering,
to help the poor and needy.On the way to perfection, he abuses not when
abused; he beats not when beaten; he annoys
not when annoyed. His forgiveness is unfailing
even as the mother earth suffers in silence all
that may be done to her.8