Like a Mother’s Love for Her Only Child

After some time a new change took place, and a female figure formed itself before my eyes. She had the same youthful grace as Manjushri (the Buddha of Wisdom), and even the lotus, which grew from her left hand, seemed to be the same. But instead of wielding the flaming sword, her opened right hand was resting on the knee of her right leg, which was extended, as if she were about to descend from her lotus-throne in an answer to some prayer of supplication. The wish-granting gesture, the loving expression of her face, which seemed to be inclined towards some invisible supplicant, were the liveliest embodiment of Buddha Shakyamuni’s words:

 

“Like a mother, who protects her child, her only child, with her own life, thus one should cultivate a heart of unlimited love and compassion towards all living beings.”

 

I felt deeply moved, and trying to concentrate my whole attention upon the lovely expression of her divine face, it seemed to me as if an almost imperceptible, sorrowful smile was hovering about her mouth, as though she wanted to say: “Indeed, my love is unlimited; but the number of suffering beings is unlimited too. How can I, who have only one head and two eyes, sooth the unspeakable sufferings of numberless beings?”

 

Lama Govinda (having a vision of Green Tara, the Buddha of Swift Compassion)

from The Way of the White Clouds.