Bodhicitta: The Mind of Awakening

Bodhicitta: The Mind of Awakening

Bodhicitta (Sanskrit) is the mind that seeks enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. It is the heart of the bodhisattva path.

Two Levels of Bodhicitta

Relative Bodhicitta

The sincere desire to attain enlightenment to liberate all beings from suffering.

Ultimate Bodhicitta

The direct understanding that mind and phenomena are empty, without intrinsic existence.

How to Cultivate Bodhicitta

1. The meditation of the 4 immeasurables
2. The practice of tonglen
3. The visualization of suffering beings
4. The reading of the Mahayana sutras
5. The relationship with a master
6. The dedication of merits

The 4 Bodhisattva Vows

According to the Avatamsaka Sutra: "For all beings, infinite as space, vow to liberate them all. For all contaminations, vow to extinguish them. For all dharmas, vow to realize them. For Buddhahood, vow to attain it."

The 10 Paramitas

To cultivate bodhicitta, the bodhisattva cultivates the ten perfections.

Benefits

• Connection with the motivation of the Buddha
• Ability to overcome personal suffering
• Spontaneous compassion
• Direction for practice
• Realization of wisdom

Sources

• Santideva: Bodhicharyavatara
• The Dalai Lama: The Way to Freedom
• The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism