New Year’s Day 2008
“I dedicate myself to the liberation and salvation of all sentient beings.…” This is the beginning of the Bodhisattva Vow that KPC sangha members in Arizona and Maryland recited at midnight, January 1, 2008, bringing in a new year by renewing their commitment to work for the benefit of sentient beings.
“I was there when Jetsunma gave this prayer, spontaneously,” remarked Sylvia Sommerville who was one of Jetsunma’s first students more that 25 years ago. “It must have been 1985, we were on a retreat praying. It came to her on the spot and she gave it to us!” Jetsunma has given this vow to hundreds of people over the years, connecting them with the path that has the potential to end our suffering that the Buddha described as aging, sickness and death.
On another more recent occasion in early December 2007, Jetsunma once again gave this vow to several new students. Afterwards she said, “[From] this moment forward all beings rejoice in you because you have the potential to liberate beings. You are their hope and their salvation and you will never again be separate from the three precious jewels of refuge.” Then she instructed them “to meditate on that joy.”
This new year we meditate on the joy of being Jetsunma’s students and on the remarkable opportunity of being guided on this path by her ocean-like wisdom and compassion. Whoever is reading this, no matter how firm or distant your connection is to the liberating energies of the Three Precious Jewels, may that connection ripen and grow in 2008, and may you have a wonderful, prosperous and healthy new year!
Here is the full text of Jetsunma’s Bodhisattva Vow:
I dedicate myself to the liberation and salvation of all sentient beings. I offer my body, speech, and mind in order to accomplish the purpose of all sentient beings. I will return in whatever form necessary, under extraordinary circumstances, to end suffering. Let me be born in times unpredictable, in places unknown, until all sentient beings are liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth.Taking no thought for my comfort or safety, precious Lama (Buddha), make of me a pure and perfect instrument by which the end of suffering and death in all forms might be realized. Let me achieve perfect enlightenment for the sake of all beings. And then, by my hand and heart alone, may all beings achieve full enlightenment and perfect liberation.By this effort may all sentient beings be free of suffering.
