An accessible, inspiring book on one of the most important topics in Tibetan Buddhism--bodhichitta, or compassion--written by one of its renowned masters who has an international following of thousands.
Bodhichitta is a Sanskrit word meaning "the mind of enlightenment" or "the awakening mind--the mind that wishes to achieve enlightenment in order to lead all other beings into that same state. It is the attitude of the bodhisattva, of the person who makes the compassionate vow to save others from suffering. In this book, the renowned teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche shows us how to achieve it.
First, Lama Zopa gives a clear and comprehensive explanation of bodhichitta, its benefits, and its importance to the path. Then, he walks us through the two main methods for achieving bodhichitta: the seven points of cause and effect, and equalizing and exchanging self and others. Finally, the book closes with meditation instructions to guide and strengthen our practice.
Readers will find Bodhichitta to be a comprehensive guide to this core Buddhist principle, one rich in both accessible philosophical explanation and concrete advice for practitioners.
Bodhichitta: Practice for a Meaningful Life, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 322 pp., $21.95
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is one of the most internationally renowned masters of Tibetan Buddhism, working and teaching ceaselessly on almost every continent. He is the spiritual director and cofounder of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international network of Buddhist projects, including monasteries in six countries and meditation centers in over thirty; health and nutrition clinics, and clinics specializing in the treatment of leprosy and polio; as well as hospices, schools, publishing activities, and prison outreach projects worldwide.
Editor's Preface ix
Introduction 1
What Is Bodhichitta? 3
The Importance of Bodhichitta 7
The Route to Bodhichitta 9
Part I The Supreme Medicine
1. Bodhichitta Is the Gateway to the Mahayana 15
Bodhichitta and the Whole Buddhist Path 17
Bodhichitta within the Three Principal Aspects of the Path 24
2. Bodhichitta Is the Real Meaning of Life 33
The Bodhichitta Motivation 35
The Essence of the Perfect Human Rebirth 49
3. The Ten Benefits of Bodhichitta 67
1. Bodhichitta Is the Sole Gateway to the Mahayana 68
2. We Gain the Name "Child of the Buddhas" 71
3. We Outshine the Arhats 73
4. We Become a Supreme Object of Offering 75
5. We Accumulate Enormous Merit 78
6. We Rapidly Purify Negative Karma 83
7. We Accomplish Whatever We Wish 89
8. We Are Not Bothered by Hindrances 93
9. We Quickly Complete the Path 94
10. We Become a Source of Happiness for Others 98
Part II Developing Bodhichitta
4. An Overview of the Ways to Develop Bodhichitta 103
The Two Main Methods for Developing Bodhichitta 103
Types of Bodhichitta 104
Equanimity 107
5. The Seven Points of Cause and Effect 117
1. Recognizing That All Sentient Beings Have Been Our Mother 118
2. Recalling the Kindness of Those Beings 121
3. Resolving to Repay That Kindness 136
4. Developing Loving-Kindness 139
5. Developing Compassion 143
6. Attaining the Special Attitude 159
7. Bodhichitta 162
6. Equalizing and Exchanging Self and Others 167
The Six Relative Reasons That Self and Others Are Equal 168
The Three Ultimate Reasons That Self and Others Are Equal 181
The Faults of Self-Cherishing 184
The Need to Destroy Self-Cherishing 197
The Benefits of Cherishing Others 202
Exchanging Ourselves with Others 205
Conclusion: Becoming a Servant to All Beings 217
Appendices: Bodhichitta Meditations
1. The Equanimity Meditation 223
2. The Mahayana Equilibrium Meditation 231
3. The Seven Points of Cause and Effect Meditation 237
4. A Tonglen Meditation 247
5. A Meditation on Universal Responsibility 253
Glossary 257
Notes 285
Bibliography 291
Index 297
About the Author 319
