bodhisattva: a bridge between the absolute and the relative

From the absolute perspective, everything is perfect, complete, and exactly how it should be. This is not a yoga babble; all can realize this inescapable truth. 

“But what about the enormity of the world’s problems–global warming, genocide, discrimination in all forms–are you saying they don’t exist?” They do, and I do not wish to debate the (absolute) perfection of the (relatively) awful world, for in doing so, I cannot help but sound like some out-of-touch, privileged, spiritually-bypassing hippie. 

So what is a bodhisattva?

A bodhisattva is a person who has seen through the illusion of self and thus glimpsed the undivided perfection of the world, yet dedicates his or her life to addressing the multitude of problems in the (relative) world. The relative world is what most folks believe in – it’s the world of right and wrong, birth and death, sickness and health – and it’s also the world of suffering. The absolute perspective is one without concepts; it’s one of infinite freedom. I digress…if you like a more academic definition of a bodhisattva, I’d go with “a person who can reach nirvana or enlightenment but delays doing so out of compassion to save suffering beings.” 

The story of the bodhisattva that comes to mind is that of a monk crossing a proverbial river in a row boat. On one shore is enlightenment or nirvana, and on the other, the world of suffering beings. The monk can stay in nirvana or return to the other shore to aid suffering beings.

For a long time, I viewed this story through the eyes of a seeker on a gradual journey. I presumed that a bodhisattva could sit blissed out in some meditative ecstasy but instead chose to do good works. Now, I believe this story references one who has seen the absolute [perfection] yet chooses to address the relative problems perceived by most beings.  

There is no escaping the absolute, yet the relative remains real.  

The bodhisattva is at peace with the paradox. 

Tat tvam asi