new fortune

diff --git a/infobase/fortunes.dat b/infobase/fortunes.dat
index 1036a13b84beed359813ddbf66255f79481042b5..02ad7f10f55fbefb69be2bf7e40abc84f471459e 100644 (file)
--- a/infobase/fortunes.dat
+++ b/infobase/fortunes.dat
@@ -40432,3 +40432,41 @@ enemy or obstacle, you regard it as a brussels sprout that you cook and eat.
   -- Chögyam Trungpa, "The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma.  Volume
      Two: The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion", published by
      Shambhala Publications
+~
+  Sentient beings are brought to maturation through three forms of generosity:
+giving all, giving equally, and giving tirelessly.  Bodhisattvas do not have
+even one iota of their own body or enjoyments that they are not willing to
+give to others if they see that it would help the other person to do so.  They
+give all that they possess.
+  Moreover, their generosity does not simply benefit others by supplying them
+with the particular thing that is given.  It benefits others in this life by
+completely fulfilling their wishes, and, as it also matures them and
+establishes them in virtue, which is the cause of the fulfillment of one’s
+wishes, it benefits them in future lives as well.  Thus, bodhisattvas
+establish these beings in lasting happiness by planting the seed of
+liberation.  In this way, generosity matures sentient beings by helping them
+in two ways, insofar as there are both temporary and lasting benefits.
+  Moreover, this generosity is practiced with equal regard for all.  Since
+there are no biases in terms of the recipients’ moral standing, social
+position, or relation to oneself, they characteristically practice giving
+equally.
+  Finally, not content with giving a confined number of material things for a
+certain number of years or eons, a bodhisattva never knows enough of the
+qualities of generosity, even were he or she to continue giving until the end
+of cyclic existence.
+  -- from "Ornament of the Great Vehicle Sutras: Maitreya’s
+     Mahayanasutralamkara", with Commentaries by Khenpo Shenga and Ju Mipham,
+     published by Shambhala Publications.
+~
+Something I find worthy of meditation is how in the dialectic between Samsara
+and Nirvana, the dreamworld of Samsara is logically prior to and quite
+necessary for the awakening to Nirvana.  When discussing Tantric Buddhism,
+Gunapala Dharmasiri says in the spirit of Nagarjuna, "We make a Samsara out of
+Nirvana through our conceptual projections.  Tantrics maintain that the world
+is there for two purposes.  One is to help us to attain enlightenment.  As the
+world is, in fact, Nirvana, the means of the world can be utilized to realize
+Nirvana, when used in the correct way."
+  -- Charles Johnson, "Taming the Ox: Buddhist Stories and Reflections on
+     Politics, Race, Culture, and Spiritual Practice", published by Shambhala
+     Publications
+