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The-Tibetan-Book-of-Living-and-Dying

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202 THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYINGperson to whom that compassion is directed. As Portia says inShakespeare's Merchant <strong>of</strong> Venice:<strong>The</strong> quality <strong>of</strong> mercy is not strained,It droppeth as the gentle rain from heavenUpon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd;It blesseth him that gives, <strong>and</strong> him that takes ...Compassion is the wish-fulfilling gem whose light <strong>of</strong> healingspreads in all directions.<strong>The</strong>re is a very beautiful story that I love that illustrates this.Buddha once recounted one <strong>of</strong> his previous lives, before hebecame enlightened. A great emperor had three sons, <strong>and</strong> theBuddha had been the youngest, who was called Mahasattva.Mahasattva was by nature a loving <strong>and</strong> compassionate littleboy, <strong>and</strong> thought <strong>of</strong> all living things as his children.One day the emperor <strong>and</strong> his court went to picnic in a forest,<strong>and</strong> the princes went <strong>of</strong>f to play in the woods. After awhile they came across a tigress who had given birth, <strong>and</strong>was so exhausted with hunger that she was on the point <strong>of</strong>eating her little cubs. Mahasattva asked his brothers: "Whatwould the tigress need to eat now to revive her?""Only fresh meat or blood," they replied."Who could give his own flesh <strong>and</strong> blood to see that she isfed <strong>and</strong> save the lives <strong>of</strong> her <strong>and</strong> her cubs?" he asked."Who, indeed?" they replied.Mahasattva was deeply moved by the plight <strong>of</strong> the tigress<strong>and</strong> her cubs, <strong>and</strong> started to think: "For so long I have beenw<strong>and</strong>ering uselessly through samsara, life after life, <strong>and</strong>because <strong>of</strong> my desire, anger, <strong>and</strong> ignorance, have done little tohelp other beings. Here at last is a great opportunity."<strong>The</strong> princes were walking back to join their family, whenMahasattva said: "You two go on ahead. I will catch you uplater." Quietly he crept back to the tigress, went right up toher, <strong>and</strong> lay down on the ground in front <strong>of</strong> her, to <strong>of</strong>fer himselfto her as food. <strong>The</strong> tigress looked at him, but was soweak that she could not even open her mouth. So the princefound a sharp stick <strong>and</strong> cut a deep gash in his body; the bloodflowed out, the tigress licked it, <strong>and</strong> she grew strong enoughto open her jaws <strong>and</strong> eat him.Mahasattva had given his body to the tigress in order tosave her cubs, <strong>and</strong> through the great merit <strong>of</strong> his compassion,he was reborn in a higher realm <strong>and</strong> progressed toward hisenlightenment <strong>and</strong> his rebirth as the Buddha. But it was not

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