Main Page | Recent changes | Edit this page | Page history

Printable version | #REDIRECT [[Thelemapedia:Disclaimers]]

Not logged in
Log in | Help
 

Bodhicitta

From Thelemapedia

In Buddhist thought, bodhicitta (Ch. 菩提心, pudixin, Jp. bodaishin) is the motivation of a bodhisattva. Etymologically, this is the combination of the words Bodhi or enlightenment, and Citta - mind, and is sometime translated as mind of enlightenment.

Bodhicitta is invariably taught to be selfless determination, as the purpose of enlightenment is not for ones-self, but for the benefit of all beings.

According to the teachings of Shantideva and his followers, there are two flavours of Bodhicitta, which represent.

  1. The desire for enlightenment - similar to wishing to travel to India.
  2. Practicing for enlightenment - similar to actually travelling to India.

Moreover, traditions such as Vajrayana establish that there are two more pervasive flavours of Bodhicitta. These are:

  1. Relative Bodhicitta - the practice for enlightenment based on compassion for all (as above)
  2. Absolute Bodhicitta - the practice for enlightenment based upon the wisdom of the emptiness of madhyamaka.

References


Retrieved from "http://thelemapedia.org/index.php/Bodhicitta"

This page has been accessed 7605 times. This page was last modified 03:35, 10 Mar 2005. Content is available under GNU Free Documentation License 1.2.


[Main Page]
Main Page
Recent changes
Random page
Current events

Edit this page
Discuss this page
Page history
What links here
Related changes

Special pages
Bug reports