In Buddhism, a Boddhisattva is a person who has followed in the footsteps of the Buddha, a person of great wisdom and compassion. Buddhism places an emphasis on aspiration as a first step to following in the Buddha's path. In "The Way of the Boddhisattva," the 8th century Tibetan Buddhist author, Shantideva, sets forth the Boddhisattva's path, and in chapter 3 waxes ecstatic in his aspiration to realize wisdom and compassion--not for the sake of his personal achievement, but for the sake of all sentient beings.
 
The text of this choral piece is drawn from various translations of chapter 3 and my own interpretation.
 
Just as all the Buddhas of the past
Have brought forth the awakened mind
Just so, I will apply and train myself.

To those who need protection
I would give protection,
For those who need a guide
I would be their guide.

Let me be a boat, a raft, a bridge
For those who want to cross the ocean of pain.
May I be an island
For those who long for land.
May I be a lamp
For those who long for light.
May I be the wishing jewel,
May I be the universal healing,
May I be the tree of miracles
For ev'rything that lives.

Just as all the Buddhas of the past
Have brought for the awakened mind,
Just so, for the benefit of beings,
I will walk, step by step,
In the Boddhisattva path.