Remembering the kindness of all mother beings
"If we cannot appreciate the kindness of our present mother, how shall we ever be able to appreciate the kindness of all our previous mothers? Since it is easy to forget this kindness, or to take it for granted and to remember only the times when we think our mother harmed us, we need to remember in detail how kind our mother had been from the very beginning of this life.
In the beginning our mother was kind in offering us a place to rebirth. Before we were conceived in her womb we wandered about from place to place as a bardo being with nowhere to rest. We were blown by the winds of our karma without freedom to choose where we would go, and all our acquaintances were fleeting. We experienced great pain and fear, but from this state we were able to enter the safety of our mother's womb. Although we were an uninvited guest, when she knew that we had entered her womb our mother let us stay there. If she had wanted to evict us she could have done so and we would not have been alive today to enjoy all our present opportunities. We are now able to develop the aspiration to attain enlightenment only because our mother was kind enough to let us stay in her womb. In winter when it is cold and stormy outside, if someone invites us into their warm home and entertains us well, we consider this person t be extremely kind. How much kinder is our mother, who let us enter her own body and offered us such good hospitality there!
When we were in our mother's womb she protected us carefully, more carefully than she would guard a most precious jewel. In every situation she thought of our safety. She consulted doctors, exercised, ate special foods, and nurtured us day and night for nine months; and she was also mindful not to do anything that might damage the development of our physical and mental faculties. Because she looked after us so well we were born with a normal and healthy body that we can use to accomplish so many good things.
At the time of our birth our mother experienced great pain, but when she saw us she felt happier than if someone had presented her with a superb treasure. Even during the agony of childbirth our welfare was foremost in her mind. When we were newly born, although we looked more like a frog than a human being, our mother loved us dearly. We were completely helpless, even more helpless that a newborn foal, who can at least stand up and feed as soon as it is born. We are as if blind, unable to identify our parents, and we could not understand anything.
Who cared for and protected this scarcely human thing? It was our mother. She clothed it, cradled it, and fed it with her own milk. She removed the filth from its body without feeling any disgust. Sometimes mothers remove the mucus from their baby's nose by using their own mouths because they do not want the cause the baby any pain by using their hands. Even when our mother had problems she always showed us a loving expression and called us sweet names. While we were small our mother was constantly watchful. If she had forgotten us for even a short time, we might had met our death or been disabled for life. Each day of our early childhood our mother rescued us from many disasters, and she always considered things from the point of view of our own safety and well-being." Joyful Path of Good Fortune, pgs 403 - 405, VGKG
