How to Attain Buddhist Bodhicitta

The Buddhist concept, bodhicitta, is a key element for successful dharma practice, which means practicing the Buddha's teachings. Bodhicitta is known as the Wish Fulfilling Jewel, and is deep compassion that is engaged in helping all sentient beings cease suffering and the causes of suffering. Bodhicitta is the Buddha's teachings manifested in the hearts and actions of people in the phenomenal world.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• The wish to attain Buddhahood for the sake of all beings
• Tibetan Buddhist teacher

Attaining Bodhicitta

1. 

   Practice to attain the two levels of Bodhicitta. Meditation and prayer are pathways to all Bodhicitta realization. The first level of Bodhicitta is the aspirational level, which includes inner desire and one's pledge to help all beings attain release from suffering.

2. 

   Perform engaged bodhicitta, which is to take action that leads one toward Buddhahood and to refrain from actions that may prevent you from attaining Buddhahood.

3. 

   Take the bodhisattva vow, in which one vows not to attain enlightenment until all beings cease suffering. The bodhisattva vow entails the avoidance of 18 actions that cause an essential corruption of bodhicitta and a promise to never participate in 46 types of harmful behavior.

4. 

   Practice the methods to generate bodhicitta. The first method is four point mind training, which is to realize that all beings equally deserve to be liberated from suffering and its causes. Four point mind training means that you acknowledge that your suffering is cause by self-cherishing, and by cultivating the habit of cherishing others and putting yourself in others' places.

5. 

   Practice the second method to generate bodhicitta, the seven point mind training. All beings are equal and may have been your mothers in previous lives. Recall your mother's kindness and sacrifices and cultivate the desire to repay her kindness. Express love for all mothers in all beings, and wish for their release from suffering. Release self-cherishing to free all mothers and to attain Buddhahood.

6. 

   Practice the six perfections. Give away all you have, mentally practice giving and study the Buddha's teachings with courage. Practice ethics, patience, joy, concentration and wisdom.

7. 

   Practice every day. Devote five minutes when you rise and remember that all beings want love and happiness, that we are all connected. Practice breathing for five minutes. Breathe in and cherish yourself; then breathe out and cherish others. All day offer your cherishing thoughts to everyone, no matter what.

Tips & Warnings

• Every aspect of bodhicitta relies upon daily Buddhist practice, which includes meditation and prayer

Resources

• What is Bodhicitta?
• Compassion and Bodhicitta
• Middle Path is Based on Bodhicitta
• Bodhicitta, the Perfection of Dharma
• Awakening the Buddha Within Us (includes Audio)