Q & A with Robina

QUESTION

Dearest Robina,

I am thinking about the fact that sometimes I can't help people which makes me really sad. There's been multiple people I couldn't help in life – my mother, my father, friends.

I've tried to help a friend based on what he wanted, which isn't wise and doesn't actually solve his problems, but I realized the other day that his problems stem from the way he thinks.

I think it's the case that I can be supportive and positive, and a friend, but that I need to accept that there's only so much I can help someone. It's the same with my family, I can see things in a way they can't but I can't change what they see, and in the same way am limited in how I can help them.

I think the logical conclusion is that the only way I can really help people is to be a buddha and that just now, my best isn't enough for some people, but it's how to deal with that in the meantime that's challenging.

Much love,

B

ANSWER

Dearest B,

Of course we can help everyone, every single being we meet!

But we can’t make their problems go away.

There’s a massive difference.

Your attachment wants their problems to go away, that’s why you’re miserable.

How can you help everyone? According to your capacity to help and their capacity to be helped. If all they’re ready for is a cup of tea, that’s what you give them. If they want spiritual advice, that’s what you give them.

But the long term is the point. Bodhisattvas think in terms of aeons.

Each being we meet, apart from doing what we can now, we are glad we have made a karmic connection with them because that is the cause for our meeting them again in the future. Bodhisattvas happily go from life to life to life, perfecting the first four perfections in relation to sentient beings, hooking them, one at a time. And when they’re ready we’ll be able to lead them to enlightenment. (And they perfect the last two in their meditation.)

Instead of despairing, they have enthusiasm and, indeed, think in terms of aeons, never giving up. That’s what sustains them.

Look at His Holiness! For countless lives he has hooked each one of us — in our case, those who like him — by using peaceful methods. He hooked us! And now we can see and hear him. He must have used wrathful methods to hook the Chinese Communists — they can’t stand him! But he got them!

Bodhisattvas will do anything to hook us, ensnare us, get us. Then they can help us.

Think like that, B! Have a big, big mind! Forget about attachment!

Rxx