From Norman Mailer's On God - The Vow of the Bodhisattva

I just finished reading Norman Mailer's book, "On God- an Uncommon Dialogue". It truly was an uncommon message; I was expecting the usual exegetical discussions on the nature of God and the cosmos and instead got blown away by a visceral and gritty heart to heart with a grizzled old novelist. I wonder if he ever talked with Joseph Campbell or Phillip K. Dick, because I think they would have had some good discussions. The image of the creator as an artist hooked me immediately. Very unconventional but casually profound, Mailer was still grounded, earthy and realistic in his intimations. This book was written the year he died, a synchronistic event in that the intent was to capture his unique belief system. He defies many conventions confronting religious orthodoxy despite maintaining a spiritual faith while retaining the brutal rationalism of his past atheistic stance. However, it was refreshing to have someone step out boldly while defending his beliefs intelligently and with common sense. An honest man who is aware of his imperfection but who is willing to share his fascinating view of the world and cosmos.

Towards the end of the book, the interviewer, Michael Lennon, mentioned the concept of the Vow of the Bodhisattva. Those who take the Bodhisattva Vow, renounce entry into the blessed state even when they attained perfection. Instead, they vow to stay in the fight; strive to free the rest of creation still struggling in the muck, like repeatedly Halo'ing back in as spiritual special forces to help humanity through the centuries. I looked it up and the prayer is absolutely beautiful, right along with Isaiah 61 or Prayer of Saint Francis. (I love tweaking -playfully- the nose of my conventional religious friends when I find parallel beliefs in non-Christian religions).

In the end, we are all human.
I think it articulates an excellent daily attitude.

Bodhisattva Vow


As long as there is suffering
As long as there are sentient beings in the 6 realms
May I never attain Enlightenment
And never cross over into Nirvana.


May I be a guard for those who are protectorless,
A guide for those who journey on the road;
For those who wish to go across the water,
May I be a boat, a raft, a bridge.

May I be an isle for those who yearn for landfall,
And a lamp for those who long for light;
For those who need a resting place, a bed,
For all who need a servant, may I be a slave.

May I be the wishing jewel, the vase of plenty,
A word of power, and the supreme remedy.
May I be the trees of miracles,
And for every being, the abundant cow.

Like the great earth and the other elements,
Enduring as the sky itself endures,
For the boundless multitude of living beings,
May I be the ground and vessel of their life.

Thus, for every single thing that lives,
In number like the boundless reaches of the sky,
May I be their sustenance and nourishment
Until they pass beyond the bounds of suffering.

Profoundly moving metaphors. Beautiful.

And... the parallel:

The Year of the Lord's Favor

61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor; [1]
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; [2]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. [3]
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen