“It is for these reasons that traditional Indian and Tibetan texts single out mothers as an example of how we should relate to other beings. In fact the Tibetan language has coined a special term for ‘clear old mother sentient beings,’ and the expression has become so deeply embedded in people’s psyche, it has a poetic ring to it. Nowadays, whenever people raise gender issues in the context of Tibetan culture, I tell them that for me the whole idea of ‘mother sentient beings,’ and the Tibetan expression that goes with it, is a good example of how motherhood was valued in Buddhist culture.”
Daily Wisdom from the Dalai Lama
One response to “Daily Wisdom from the Dalai Lama”
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I see what I have to do here: I’m going to call my mother today and tell her that she’s a “dear old mother sentient being.”
I shall take the liberty of substituting “dear” for “clear”… : )
hilitehead 
elaborate?