The Path to Full Awakening

Buried beneath our everyday concerns and distractions, we all have two profound desires: the desire to grow, and the desire to be of benefit to others. By applying the right methods we can fulfil these wishes. Just as a tiny seed can grow into a huge tree, we have the potential to grow vastly beyond our present confused and limited state. Through doing so, our potential to help others is increased correspondingly. In the Buddhist tradition, someone who is dedicated to realizing their full spiritual potential out of a compassionate desire to help all beings is known as a bodhisattva, sometimes translated as “Awakening Hero”. The main practice of a Bodhisattva is training in the six perfections – giving, moral discipline, patience, joyous effort, concentration and wisdom. Even if we are a complete beginner we can begin to practice these right now, causing our Buddha seed – our potential for full enlightenment – to germinate and grow.

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