Living with a Bodhisattva

Being told that your then two year old son is a living Bodhisattva can set one up for a life time of teachings to ssay the least.

In 2004 shortly after Jake was diagnosed as Autistic, I had a dream, that has reoccured several times over the years . In front of me is Jake as a young man in a saffron robe. I notice there is fire all around us and he has a noose around his neck. His eyes are so soft and loving t I start to cry. I beg him to not go and to please not leave me. I hug him. I can smell him. He smells like sweet flowers. I step back and say, please. He replied telepathically, I must, for it is the only way to return and continue [the word sounded like bochetta]. I couldn't make out the word clearly, but learned later it was bodhichitta.

With that he takes one step back off a cliff and disappears.

Every time, I wake up sobbing. Even as I write this, I sob.

Shortly after having this dream for the first time, I was guided to seek refuge after a Buddhist Lama told me that indeed Jake was a living Bodhisattva,a Buddha of love. The ceremony of refuge is the taking of vows to practice Buddhism and live the Dharma.

This all made so much sense of what our experience with Jake had been up to that point. Finding him sitting up in his bed in lotus in middle of the night, eyes closed, face peaceful. His display of deep empathy when he was less than 18 months old was a moment I will never forget. I remember thinking,how is that possible.

It is very possible when you live with a Bodhisattva.

Some fourteen years later, I chuckle when I hear people explain what it is to be an empath, or better yet what it is not.

I have witnessed my son, the Buddha of love transmute people with his Divinity. It's not always beautiful and flowy either. Trust me, I was his very first student before he even took a human breath and I continue to this day, being his most devoted student.

This world is anything but graceful or an easy existence. Especially for someone who remains compassionate even in a state of suffering.

So please, know that there are those who are here for the benefit of all sentient beings. To assist in the enlightenment of us all and will return until this is completed.

Know that your definition of what it is to be an empath is not the only path an empath may be on.

Remain open and receive, you never know when you will be graced with the presence of

Divinity's empath.