May 2026

by Brenda

A verse from the King of Prayers says:

May I achieve the power of swift, magical emanation,
The power to lead to the Great Vehicle through every approach,
The power of always beneficial activity,
The power of love pervading all realms.

Here are a few reflections on how it might feel to have these powers.

“The power of swift, magical emanation”

My neighbour Margaret is terminally ill. Her seventy-year-old daughter Sarah is her principal carer and, despite her deep love for her mother and her determination to provide all necessary care, she is exhausted. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to emanate the form of someone who could take over Margaret’s care for a few hours each day or a couple of days each week? It would mean so much to them both.

“The power to lead to the Great Vehicle through every approach”

If you’ve ever tried to explain even a simple concept and failed to find quite the right words, you’ll immediately identify with this aspiration. As a language teacher, I know how difficult it can be to explain the subjunctive in Spanish to speakers of languages like English, where no such grammatical concept exists. How powerful it would be to know exactly the best way to present this to every individual student — and how much more powerful, then, to know the perfect way to share the Mahayana teachings with anyone according to their experience, capacity and interest.

“The power of always beneficial activity”

Do you ever doubt whether an action you’re about to take — or have just completed — was truly the best approach? I certainly do. I cannot foresee all the consequences of what I do or say. However good my intentions, I can still misread a situation and fail to achieve the positive effect I’d hoped for. If only I could know, unmistakenly, what would have the most beneficial short- and long-term impact. If only I could direct my energy where it would most benefit others — and know with certainty the most effective way to prevent harm.

“The power of love pervading all realms”

It is easy to wish happiness to those we already love, and perhaps not too great a stretch to extend that wish to strangers who cause us no trouble. On a good day, we might even open our hearts to some of those who cause great harm, recognising that truly happy beings do not act destructively. But can we extend that wish permanently — not only in our best moments or deepest meditation — to all sentient beings in every realm of samsara? The numbers alone are staggering.

Yet this is the highest aspiration. Enlightenment is possible. We only need to keep on keeping on.