May I become a protector for the protectorless,
A guide for those who travel on the road,
And, for those who wish to cross the water,
May I become a boat, a ship, or a bridge.
May I become an island for those seeking dry land,
A lamp for those needing light,
A place of rest for those who desire one,
And a servant for those needing service.
To benefit all living beings,
May I become a treasury of wealth,
Powerful mantras, potent medicine,
A wish-fulfilling tree, and a wish-granting cow.
Just like the great elements such as earth,
And like eternal space,
May I become the basis from which everything arises,
For sustaining the life of countless living beings;
And until they have passed beyond sorrow,
May I sustain all forms of life
Throughout the realms of living beings,
That reach to the ends of space.
Shantideva
from Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life