Bodhicitta

The term Bodhicitta is often translated as ‘Compassion’, but actually it is more – it is the mind of a Buddha…

“Uuuuriel”, Bernadette was calling me through the breakfast room of the retreat house at the end of the world, while searching for a cup to prepare her second coffee after breakfast. “Uriel, in the Buddhist texts, I always read about the importance of Bodhicitta, but what is it?”

“Well”, I replied, “first of all, there are two different forms of Bodhicitta – relative and absolute Bodhicitta”.

The term Bodhicitta is often translated as ‘Compassion’, but actually it is more – it is the mind of a Buddha. There is a so called ‘relative Bodhicitta’ which you train, when you are doing the practice. In a Tantric practice for example, you transform yourself in a Yidam like Chenrezig or Green Tara, then out of the heart comes immeasurable light with the best wishes for all living beings. First you may concentrate on your friends and family. Later the practice will be more like the rays of the sun. More and more the lights will go out in every direction, touching impartial the mind of all living beings, no matter how small or big they are. This is what we call relative Bodhicitta.

“And what is then absolute Bodhicitta, what does this mean?”, Bernadette was asking me, while pressing the button on the coffee machine to underline the importance of her question.

“The difference between relative and absolute Bodhicitta is, that for the absolute Bodhicitta, no discursive mind is acting.”, I answered trying to be louder than the humming coffee machine.

There is no thought of doing a practice, no will of helping others. It is beyond the mind and therefore happens without it. You cannot enter into this state by willing it. You just do your practice and relax, and that state will show by itself after a time. This is the real result of the practice. Since then, real Buddhism begins. But you need a teacher for a good progress, as there will be some bigger or smaller rocks on the way.

“And why are there so many different practices and rituals and all this?”, Bernadette was asking me. She grabbed the vegetable oat milk and started to open the bottle in a very elaborate way. “Well”, I answered, “you have different practices because people are just different.”

But to develop the absolute Bodhicitta is most important. Of course, you can perform complicated rituals, banging the drum, lighting incense, ringing the bell and walk with an important face in front of other practicioners. Or you talk to the otherworld of the spirits. Or you sit for hours on your cushion and punish yourself, every time a discursive thought is arising in your mind. But without Bodhicitta, this is mainly to entertain yourself. You should be clear about that. There is no liberation coming out of it.

“I am not sure, if I understood everything”, Bernadette was laughing while presenting me her nicely prepared coffee. “Maybe it’s too complicated for me…or too easy. Not clear. But one thing is for sure – I will liberate now this coffee!”.