Bodhichitta

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Buddha with the gesture of blessing and giving

In Buddhist teaching, bodhichitta ( skt. बोधिचित्त, IAST bodhicitta ; Chinese  菩提 心 , Pinyin pútí xīn , W.-G. p'u-t'I hsin ; Japanese bodai shin ; Tib. བྱང་ ཆུབ་ ཀྱི་ སེམས་ , Wylie byang chub kyi sems ; ' spirit of enlightenment') the pursuit of enlightenment ( Bodhi ). Bodhichitta is the selfless determination to achieve the goal of enlightenment not out of self-interest but for the benefit of all beings.

etymology

The word bodhichitta is composed of the words bodhi 'awakening', 'enlightenment' and citta 'mind', 'emotion', 'thought' and is therefore translated as 'enlightenment spirit' or 'spirit of enlightenment'.

Classifications of bodhicitta in Mahayana Buddhism

Bodhichitta is often grouped and differentiated.

Bodhichitta consists of two desires :

  1. primary: helping others,
  2. secondary: to achieve full enlightenment.

According to the activity , it is divided into:

  • wishing bodhichitta: the desire for enlightenment; Example: wanting to travel to India without actively doing it;
  • active bodhichitta: practicing the six perfections ( pāramitā ) with the goal of enlightenment; Example: To be on a trip to India.

In terms of its nature , it is divided into:

  • relative bodhichitta: a method aspect of Mahayana. The attitude to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, to free them from samsara ;
  • absolute bodhichitta: a wisdom aspect of Mahayana. It denotes the realization of emptiness ( Sanskrit : shunyata ), inseparable from all-embracing compassion and beyond dualistic ideas.

There is also a 22-fold subdivision according to the type and a triple subdivision according to the setting.

Mahayana Buddhism always has bodhichitta as the basis of teaching and practice. Bodhichitta is emphasized and extolled as the essence of Mahayana. It is said that the Mahayana belongs to everyone who has this attitude, no matter what tradition or religion he or she follows or whether he or she is a human, an animal or another living being.

In Vajrayana Buddhism, bodhichitta is the most important motivational factor for the practice. It is said that a practice is in vain if it is not based on bodhichitta.

See also

literature

  • Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen: Be a friend to everyone. The jewel-like lamp - praise of the spirit of enlightenment . Diamant-Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-9807572-6-9
  • Shantideva : Guide to Living as a Bodhisattva: Bodhicaryavatara . Angkor Verlag, 2005, ISBN 3-936018-34-0
  • Shantideva : Living in the spirit of enlightenment. The Bodhisattvacaryavatara . Theseus-Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-89620-225-1
  • Shantideva: Instructions on the Path to Bliss. Bodhisattvacaryavatara . OW Barth-Verlag, 2005, ISBN 3-502-61140-8
  • Dilgo Khyentse : The heart jewel of the enlightened . Theseus Verlag, Berlin 2002 (3rd edition), ISBN 3-89620-102-6
  • Anyen Rinpoche: The Union of Dzogchen and Bodhichitta . Snow-Lion-Publications, Ith.NY 2006, ISBN 1-55939-248-7
  • Pema Chödrön: No Time to Lose. A Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva . Shambala, Boston & London, 2007, ISBN 978-1-59030-424-2

Web links