REFLECTIONS OCT 14

I picked up a "Dictionary of Buddhist Terms" in my travels over this long weekend, a reprint of a milestone work by the Sri Lankan Theravada monk, Nyantiloka (1897-1957). In his explanation of 'constructive action', he takes the conservative stance that this is a short list of behaviours we need to avoid - like non-killing, non-consumption of alcohol and the like. While one cannot dispute these as constructive actions, we need also to look more broadly.
There are certainly actions we can take as individuals which are appropriate as positive steps (rather than mere avoidances). The bodhisattva ideal is more of an active ideal. The paramitas and precepts stand as more calls to action. We cannot save all beings by just avoiding certain actions. When we see the bodhisattvas, we recognise them, for example by the 1000 Arms that demonstrate all the ways they act to save.

from Akashaloka,
Ray Innen Parchelo