Last night, I was watching a DVD of some videotaped lectures by Robert Thurman, the head of Tibet House in New York, and a professor Indo-Tibetan Studies and Buddhism at Columbia University in New York City:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Thurman
I got these DVDs (one of Dr. Thurman speaking on Buddhism, and another of him speaking on Tibet) a couple of years ago, because my mentor in life, Mavis, loves everything Tibetan and I thought it would be a fun treat for her to watch the lectures:
At any event, at one point, Professor Thurman was talking about the idea of Bodhicitta, or the Mind of Enlightenment (in Sanskrit,"Bodhi" means "Enlightened", and "Citta" means "Mind"). That is, the desire to become a Buddha for the sake of the happiness of all beings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhicitta
Thurman described Bodhicitta as "falling in love with the universe", or falling in love with all beings. He used the example of being in love, and how, if you are in love, you want only the best for your beloved. The best school, the best food, the best home, the greatest happiness. And then, when we fall in love with all beings (or develop the "mind of enlightenment") we want the best for all of them. That is our motivation for Buddhist practice, for driving on the road to Buddhahood. The happiness and joy of all beings everywhere.
What a wonderful idea this was for me to think about this morning while I was chanting. I sent out a "love letter to the universe" through my daimoku, and it felt wonderful!
Hoping you all have a fabulous weekend. You, too, can fall in love with all beings!
Be enlightened, be happy, be cool.
Byrd in LA
Posted by wahzoh at May 17, 2008 12:39 PMThis is a wonderful post.
(Please excuse my odd english, I usually speak in spanish).
I Never found anything on bodhicitta during my more than three decades of practice in the NS-SG. The first time I knew that concept was studying the Tibetan Buddhism on my own. And I think it's one of the most wonderful doctrines in Buddhism, particularly the Mahayana.
And yes, to improve bodhicitta became the best and biggest motivation in my practice. At last I could say goodbye forever and absolutely to practice by things. (The "odd" practice by money, cars, better job, apartment, things, etc... I think it was a misunderstood of Bonno soku Bodai).
Never before have I felt better than when I've chanted Daimoku by compassion to all sentient beings in the universe.
I am sorry so much if I seems to be talking about a very personal aspect of my practice, but it is very rare to listen a SG member talking about something similar. It has never happened before to me.
In truth, how wonderful!
Bests,
NMMHRGK!
Posted by: Gnomegang at May 17, 2008 04:06 PMHi Byrd,
What a great post. I was thinking along the same
line last night during my Gongyo service. Lately,
along with other more tangible causes that I can
find, I've been offering the special prayers for
those with illness and directing them to the people in Burma and China.
My prayers are visualizations of big winds of compassion that
blow on sails of ships with food, medicine
and search equiptment. The winds are also aimed at the fear
that keeps Burma closed to help.
Also, the Odaimoku concerning a woman who literally hates the ground I
walk on has been "working" for me. I noticed that she feeds the birds.
Sometimes developing the mind of Bodhisattva is
easier than others. But the fact that I found a
some respect for someone full of hate
toward me is one of the most encouraging results of
my practice lately. Take care, Patty