A [nother] prayer for my future doctor
OK, you might think I am about to say hoo-hum, "We need enlightened doctors, not tired doctors," but it is actually another kind of prayer.
Refuge is the committment to seek shelter and solace only in that which is pure, and not from that which is distorted and fallible. It is the pentultimate mast of the ship, the lamp on the stormy sea. It is safety itself. It refers to something that will never fail to uphold us, something that can only be found inside, not outside.
And so in refuge we find a source of safety and shelter that cannot be found in our imperfect outer world. And we say a little prayer to remind us, and that prayer upholds us and protects us. And just so we can contribute, we make a little promise of nonharming. And sometimes we even promise that we will work hard to become a kind of refuge for others, eventually, when we have perfected our ability to help ourselves.
I like to think of my future doctor out there (before she meets each patient) saying something like, "may I rely on three pure things and may I become an enlightened refuge for the sake of this patient who needs my help. I promise to practice the six perfections of generosity, patience and so forth." Its kind of like a hyppocratic oath. But a more enlightened one.
Even if its not her style, its OK. But sometimes I pray it for her. I know she won't mind the nonharming part -- she's going to be a doctor after all. And I don't see as how she would complain about any of the six perfections -- wisdom, concentration, joyous effort, and ethics being the other four.
I like to chant it in tibetan, but english is just fine.
Refuge is the committment to seek shelter and solace only in that which is pure, and not from that which is distorted and fallible. It is the pentultimate mast of the ship, the lamp on the stormy sea. It is safety itself. It refers to something that will never fail to uphold us, something that can only be found inside, not outside.
And so in refuge we find a source of safety and shelter that cannot be found in our imperfect outer world. And we say a little prayer to remind us, and that prayer upholds us and protects us. And just so we can contribute, we make a little promise of nonharming. And sometimes we even promise that we will work hard to become a kind of refuge for others, eventually, when we have perfected our ability to help ourselves.
I like to think of my future doctor out there (before she meets each patient) saying something like, "may I rely on three pure things and may I become an enlightened refuge for the sake of this patient who needs my help. I promise to practice the six perfections of generosity, patience and so forth." Its kind of like a hyppocratic oath. But a more enlightened one.
Even if its not her style, its OK. But sometimes I pray it for her. I know she won't mind the nonharming part -- she's going to be a doctor after all. And I don't see as how she would complain about any of the six perfections -- wisdom, concentration, joyous effort, and ethics being the other four.
I like to chant it in tibetan, but english is just fine.
Sangay cho tang tso kyi chog nam la
Chang chub par du dag nyi kyab su chi
Dag kyi gin sok gyi pay sonam kyi
Drola penchir sangay drup par shog
To my future doctor, and to all of you,
May you be held always in safety,
May you become enlightened,
May you protect others,
May it be so.
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