And not just for the duration of your lifetime or not just from Monday through Friday, or something like this, but it’s really, as the wording goes, As long as space endures, and as long as there are any beings to be found, may I continue likewise throughout all my lives to become more and more capable of driving away the sorrows of the world.

So, at some point, one feels inspired to make such a vow. Although, Shantideva himself says, I must have been out of my mind to take this vow, because I’m one of them… I’m one of the ones that needs to be saved! I’m as confused and ignorant and have has as much aggression and craving, and so forth, as other people.

But the little twist for Shantideva was instead of then saying, Therefore, I’m inadequate… therefore, I’m hopeless– turning it into some kind of negative twist.

Instead Shantideva says, I must have been mad to do this; therefore, I better get busy and really use the precious human birth I have, the remaining days, to come closer to this wish.

And that means working on yourself.

~Pema Chodron

We have Santa Claus riding down Main Street. In Japan, the Buddhist monk Hotei-osho brings presents to little children…Full Article

Interesting to see how a Buddhist Deity gets thrown into a story on Christmas beign celebrated around the world. It then got me to thinking, iwonder if everyone/anyone heard about the ‘Laughing Buddha’, and how ‘he’ gives out gifts. Here’s Wikipedia explaination of him LINK.
Jesus and santa being compared to Hoteis here-
…images display Hotei as a wandering monk who goes around and takes the sadness from people of this world, in some ways parallel to the Christian Jesus. He most certainly is a loving and cheerful character, strikingly similar to Santa Claus in the West, and is a common statuette found in homes and businesses in China and Japan.

1. All beings are subject to suffering. No one escapes… suffering is universal.
   
2. The cause of suffering is Ignorance. And Ignorance of oneself is the greatest Ignorance.
   
3. Ignorance, the cause of suffering, can be overcome, and
   
4. The way to overcome Ignorance is the Eightfold Path.

From that point forward, he was referred to as the Buddha, the Enlightened One. He is also referred to as Shakyamuni (the sage of the Shakya clan) Buddha, Gautama Buddha, Shakanyorai (in Japanese), and many other names to distinguish him from Amida Buddha, who in our Temple’s interpretation, is not seen as a historical figure but the idealized Buddha of unlimited wisdom and compassion and is equated with all of life itself, and thus signifies all of us.

Source - http://www.budtempchi.org/bodhiwriteup.html 

1. Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and to learn the ways of protecting the lives of people, animals and plants. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.

2. Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing and oppression, I vow to cultivate loving-kindness and learn ways to work for the well-being of people, animals and plants. I vow to practice generosity by sharing my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in real need. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others. I will respect the property of others, but I will do everything in my power to prevent others from human suffering of other species.

3. Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I vow to cultivate my responsibility and learn ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families and society. I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without love and long-term commitment. To preserve the happiness of myself and others, I am determined to respect my commitments and the commitments of others. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to protect families from being broken by sexual misconduct.

4. Aware of suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to the suffering of others, I vow to cultivate loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or bring suffering, I vow to learn to speak truthfully, with words that can inspire self confidence, joy and hope. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain, and not to criticize or condemn things I am not sure of . I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or the community to break. I willmake every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, even small.

5. Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I vow to ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and society. I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicants, or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins, such as certain T.V. programs, magazines, books, films and conversations. I am aware that to damage my body and my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my ancestors, my pafrents, my society, and future generations. I will work to transform violence, fear, anger, and confusion by practicing a diet for myself and for society. I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation, and for the transformation of society.

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GZD

Zee News, Nov 15, 2006

Beijing, China — Amid the heat generated by the latest Chinese claim of sovereignty over entire Arunachal Pradesh, prominent scholars here have backed Beijing’s claim over Tawang, a strategic Buddhist town nestled in the Himalayas.

Tawang monastery

Speaking at the first-ever seminar on the 1962 India-China war and the boundary issue, held ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s maiden state visit to India from November 20, prominent Chinese scholars on South Asia voiced their firm support for Beijing’s stand that India should return Tawang to China as part of the final settlement.

“India entered into Tawang, the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama, in 1951. For Tibetan Buddhism Tawang is important,” the Deputy Director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Sun Shihai said.

“In the negotiations for the settlement of the boundary issue, both countries should be sensitive to the national sentiments of each side,” sun said.

Sun, who presided over the seminar, told here that Chinese scholars were of the view that both India and China should be willing to make ‘adjustments’ in the eastern and Western sectors of the disputed boundary for the final settlement of the border dispute.

“The McMohan Line, drawn by British is illegal. Successive Chinese governments have not accepted it. There is no question of the current socialist government accepting it as well. But we can discuss and make adjustments,” he said.

“Yes, Subhuti. With regard to that highest and most awakened mind, I have
not attained anything. That mind is everywhere equally. It cannot be
attained or grasped, but it can be realized. It is realized through the
practice of all good actions when they are done in the spirit of no self and
no object of self.”

- Prajnaparamita