Pure Practice

A man will not be a mystic until he is like the earth,
     both the righteous and the sinner tread upon it;
and until he is like the clouds,
     they shade all things;
and until he is like the rain,
     it waters all things,
     whether it loves them or not.

Bayezid Bistami
9^th Century Sufi
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The thing i like about this is the reminder that success on the path isn't measured by what you become or what you achieve. Instead, it reinforces the truth that realization is manifested in what you do.

A realized person is as solid and immoveable as the earth — their life no longer sways this way and that in the winds of emotions, delusions, beliefs, and stories. Both sinner and the saint are seen for what they are, fellow human beings on the path of life.

A realized person is as protective as the clouds — offering their protection to all without thought of reward or gain, without thought of merit or need, without thought of who or why.

A realized person is as supportive as the rain — nurishing everyone and everything with no discrimination or prejudice. Nourishment is simply provided to all, with each to receive according to their needs and capabilities.

I guess that's the definition of a Bodhisattva, the person who vows that all others come first, before any thought of yourself, before even the thought of 'before.'

Makes me sit and take stock of my life. Who am i leaving out of my rain storms? Who have i told to stay out from under my clouds? How many miles have i drifted off course as i let my emotions and ignorance blow me here and there willy-nilly?

Crap.