Methods for Generating Bodhicitta

From Vast as the Heavens, Deep as the Sea. By Khulu Rinpoche.

Bodhicitta is "the thought to become enlightened for the sake of others". The sources explain that it is "the biggest thought anyone can think" because it concerns the enlightenment of all beings.
According to the sources, there are several practical methods that one can employ to generate bodhicitta:

Meditate on the suffering of others: The sources explain this involves recognizing that all beings want to be free from suffering, just as you do. By contemplating the pervasiveness of suffering and our shared desire to be free from it, one cultivates compassion, which is the root of bodhicitta.

Contemplate the qualities of a Buddha's wisdom: Reflecting on a Buddha's perfect wisdom and ability to help all beings can inspire the wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all.

Reflect on the fact that all beings have been your mother: The sources suggest contemplating the kindness of all beings, recognizing that each has been your mother in a past life. Recalling this kindness and feeling gratitude naturally cultivates a wish to repay that kindness by helping them attain enlightenment.

Engage in altruistic actions: While bodhicitta is ultimately a thought or motivation, it can be cultivated through engaging in actions that benefit others. By acting for the benefit of others without seeking personal gain, one naturally begins to weaken self-cherishing and strengthen bodhicitta.

Study Mahayana Buddhist teachings: The sources emphasize the importance of studying Mahayana scriptures and commentaries that explain bodhicitta in detail, such as Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara. By familiarizing oneself with the teachings on bodhicitta, its nature, and the methods to cultivate it, one can gain a deeper understanding and thereby strengthen their own bodhicitta.

Make aspiring and engaging bodhicitta vows: The sources describe how bodhicitta is both a prayer and a commitment to attain enlightenment for the sake of others. It is like making a vow to live ethically within a society; it provides a framework for progressing on the path to enlightenment. Formally generating the aspiration to practice bodhicitta and then later engaging in that practice when ready are two key aspects of generating bodhicitta.

Practice the Six Perfections: The sources explain that bodhisattvas progress toward enlightenment by practicing the six perfections: generosity, morality, patience, perseverance, concentration, and wisdom. These practices, motivated by bodhicitta, function like armour, protecting the bodhisattva from setbacks on the path to enlightenment.

Meditate on emptiness: According to the sources, the ultimate nature of bodhicitta is emptiness - the understanding that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence. By meditating on emptiness, one realizes that the thought of enlightenment itself is not a fixed entity, but rather a manifestation of the mind's inherent potential for wisdom and compassion.

Practice the seven-limbed practice:
This involves prostrations, offerings, confession, rejoicing in good, requesting teachings, requesting the teacher not to die, and dedication of merit. These practices help to purify the mind and accumulate merit, which are considered to be supportive conditions for generating bodhicitta.
The sources state that bodhicitta is the foundation of the Mahayana Buddhist path. By cultivating bodhicitta, you can transform your mind, your actions, and ultimately contribute to the enlightenment of all beings.

Sources: Vast as the Heavens, Deep as the Sea by Khunu Rinpoche

Vast as the Heavens, Deep as the Sea by Khulu Rinpoche. Discussed and summarized by Google's AI notebookLM, in a digestible podcast format.

NotebookLM is an open access tool.

A coktail of dharma sources summarized by Google's Ai notebookLM. Compiled and edited to mesmerize sentient beings in a relatively esthetically pleasing way.

Vipassyana, graduated path, Padmasambhava.

no-one or god

If you want to rule the street, be 99% love and 1% violence.

- some mafia guy on Instagram

Why don't you like my freidday meme? I spent quite some time getting it just riecht

Thanks kings 🙏

🇺🇸🇮🇷🇮🇱⚡️- "Israel surrenders to Iran, accepts returning to living as exiles in hope of redemption" - Yedioth Ahronoth, citing US officials.

I made this up, but how should this end? What do you hope for?

Why do you have more patience dealing with ordinary beings and outsiders than you have with the siblings of your own Sangha?

Because your bodhicitta has been reduced to a mere ego display of shallow appearance.

Watch yourselves.

Seriously. Like, super seriously. Real shit.

All suffering, like real suffering, is caused by self-cherishing. This self is an illusion sustained by grasping to intellectual fabrications of what is, but in reality is not.

All happiness originates from being of benefit to others. Being a source of bliss and joy. Taking a genuine interest for others and rejoicing in their well-being. Happiness is only truly experienced when enjoyed together.

Really relating to this, reflecting on it in your own life.

Seeing the source of suffering. This lie called the self. There is no fear of death. You would rather die than cause the suffering of others. Because causing suffering and feeding the self is the same. Your suffering and the suffering of others were never apart.
Understanding and relating are the same. Relate and experience.

What is death anyway? When the self dies upon disillusionment, when seen.

No magic, no complicated philosophical models, or ultra spiritual cosmology. Real shit. This moment. Now.

Wealth, renown, pleasure.
Poverty, infamy, pain.

What high price we pay for loneliness.

But, the most wondrous event would be if man could relinquish all the stains and defilements of the untamed mind and progress toward achieving real mental peace and satisfaction when he reaches the moon.

Man went all the way to the moon and asked her for lasting happiness. The moon answered. I have traveled for many thousands and thousands of years in search of what you speak. I have looked for it all over earth realm. But just as you, Man. Every year brings me further away from here. Either deeper into space, or higher onto heaven.

I only vote for people I know.

As Nagarjuna states, “All the dogmatists have been terrified by the lion’s roar of shunyata. Wherever they may reside, shunyata lies in wait.” Collectively, these insights offer a holistic approach to exploring the infinite possibilities inherent in the truth of emptiness.

I'm not Buddhist. That is a term reserved for those who judge me. I'm an unuttered name on a screen, a nothing. I just meditate.