Shan Xue
31st March 2005, 05:03 PM
my first donation was during my junior college days. i don't really like needles but i think it is far more important to be able to donate blood to save others.
i am a buddhist and i believe in giving. Giving blood is inner giving and is much more difficult than outer giving such as monetary donation. Giving is a spiritual training.
In every act of spiritual training, all the six perfections can be practiced simultaneously. For example, when we are giving a gift, the aspect of giving with a generous mind is the giving. Giving the best and useful material with proper conduct is discipline. Not being irritated by being asked for more or by the hardship of providing the gift is patience. Giving consistently while ignoring difficulties and exhaustion is diligence. Concentrating on the giving without distraction is contemplation. Giving without grasping at the self of giving, giver and the objects of giving is wisdom.
Tulku Thondup Rinpoche
http://www.purifymind.com/JustTruths.htm
this quote greatly inspire me to continue to donate blood
" If a beggar were to ask me for any organ or any part of my body, I will consider it even nobler than being crowned. If a beggar were to ask me for my heart, I will cut open my chest with a sword, I will take out my heart, as if plucking a lotus, and will present it while blood oozes drop by drop. If someone asked for my flesh, I will cut my body with a sharp weapon, and give it to him. If someone asked me for blood, I will crush the whole of my body and will donate buckets full of blood. If one were to ask me for my eyes, I will take them out like the kernel of a nut and give them to th beggar. There is nothing I have not given out of these that could be donated. " So saying, he gave both his eyes to the blind Brahmin.
(Siviraja Birth Tale)
http://www.budaedu.org.tw/en/budaedu/3-15.php3
i am a buddhist and i believe in giving. Giving blood is inner giving and is much more difficult than outer giving such as monetary donation. Giving is a spiritual training.
In every act of spiritual training, all the six perfections can be practiced simultaneously. For example, when we are giving a gift, the aspect of giving with a generous mind is the giving. Giving the best and useful material with proper conduct is discipline. Not being irritated by being asked for more or by the hardship of providing the gift is patience. Giving consistently while ignoring difficulties and exhaustion is diligence. Concentrating on the giving without distraction is contemplation. Giving without grasping at the self of giving, giver and the objects of giving is wisdom.
Tulku Thondup Rinpoche
http://www.purifymind.com/JustTruths.htm
this quote greatly inspire me to continue to donate blood
" If a beggar were to ask me for any organ or any part of my body, I will consider it even nobler than being crowned. If a beggar were to ask me for my heart, I will cut open my chest with a sword, I will take out my heart, as if plucking a lotus, and will present it while blood oozes drop by drop. If someone asked for my flesh, I will cut my body with a sharp weapon, and give it to him. If someone asked me for blood, I will crush the whole of my body and will donate buckets full of blood. If one were to ask me for my eyes, I will take them out like the kernel of a nut and give them to th beggar. There is nothing I have not given out of these that could be donated. " So saying, he gave both his eyes to the blind Brahmin.
(Siviraja Birth Tale)
http://www.budaedu.org.tw/en/budaedu/3-15.php3