Bodhisattva Attitude: How to Dedicate Your Life to Others

During the Hayagriva retreat in early 2010, Rinpoche stressed the correct bodhisattva attitude, and gave this concise teaching of how to practice (extracted from Taking the Essence All Day and Night, a new practice booklet from FPMT Education Services on how to make all one’s daily actions most meaningful):

Recite or chant the following verses in the morning or at other times throughout the day and contemplate the meaning to bring about a total change to the normal attitude of self-cherishing, which only harms us and others. Then live the life in this practice. Recite all the verses or at least the last two or three. Recite with tonglen practice:

I shall dedicate fully with no sense of loss
My body, enjoyments and all past, present and future merits
To accomplish the work for all sentient beings.

By giving away all, I will be liberated from the oceans of samsaric suffering
And my mind will achieve the great liberation (of enlightenment).
Since I have to leave everything (at death)
It is best to now give it away to every single sentient being.

Having given this body to sentient beings
To use however they want that makes them happy,
Whether they always kill me, criticize me, beat me, or whatever,
It is totally up to them.

Even if they jest with my body,
Ridicule, belittle, or make fun of me
Whatever they may do, since I have given this body up to them,
What is the point of retaliating?

Let my body only do actions that don’t harm others,
And whoever looks at or thinks of me,
May it never be meaningless for them.

Whoever focuses on me –
Whether with anger or devotion –
May that be the cause for them
Always to achieve every success.

May all those who say unpleasant things,
Harm, mock, or make fun of me
Have the fortune to achieve enlightenment.

May I become a savior for those who are guideless,
And a captain for those who are entering the path,
A ship, a boat, and a bridge
For those who wish to cross (over water).

May I become a park for those who seek a park,
A light for those who look for light,
Bedding for those who wish to rest,
And a servant for all who want me as their servant.

May I become a wish-granting jewel, a wish-fulfilling vase,
Powerful mantras and a great medicine.
May I become a wish-granting tree
Fulfilling all the wishes and desires of sentient beings.

Just like the sky and the great elements
Earth, fire, water, and wind
May I always be the cause of living and happiness
For all the unimaginable number of sentient beings.

As long as space exists
As long as sentient beings exist
May I too abide,

And eliminate the suffering of sentient beings.