Solidifying
Bodhicitta
Cultivation
of bodhicitta, or the heartmind of enlightenment, happens in stages.
In the beginning it might be completely artificial, just saying the
prayers without meaning them because one doesn't yet feel it.
One doesn't get it in the beginning because one does not have much
understanding of reality but it changes with practice, like
everything does. Through efforts towards greater clarity and peace of
mind within oneself, even doing lip service of prayers of compassion
leads to accumulation of experiences which in turn brings about
transformation. Then we begin to say those prayers and thinking all
sentient beings with some care and concern, with some personal
involvement. Through reflection of one's and others' inner state*,
our world view begins to change and we actually begin to care for
others. It doesn't necessarily mean that we come to like people,
because people are not easy to like, but we become concerned where
the whole human operation is heading towards. We realize the value of
dharma for humans and all sentient beings and understand how deeply
screwed we all are. From there arises compassion and it is curious
that it does. It does because under all the bullshit and deceit,
shines basic goodness, (tib. kuntuzangpo). The truth of our
being is positive and life-affirming, not negative and life-denying.
So, after some time, we start feeling something, a bit compassionate.
Bodhicitta keeps growing like a sapling, getting bigger and bigger
year by year.
Something
that I have observed in my students who have opened all their bhumis,
who therefore have no need to search for knowing awareness or rigpa,
is that for many of them it takes a while after the shifts to display
compassion. Even when one has a direct and constant connection to the
buddha within, it apparently takes time for the dynamic aspect of it,
bodhicitta, to grow on the person. At one point I was
actually very worried about this because many students had opened
their bhumis but I wasn't seeing any initiative and action for the
existential wellfare of others. They just bathed in their own clarity
and bliss. I spent sleepless nights over this. I was stressed whether
I had created some sort of a perverted path that lead to clear
awareness but is not compassionate, for that'd be awful. Without
compassion, Open Heart would not be a path to great accomplishment,
that is, mahasiddhi or buddhahood. But then, to my great
relief, they became more active and started showing their concern.
Colour returned on my face!
 |
| Avalokiteshvara - Bodhisattva of Compassion. The name literally means "The Lord who hears the cries from below". |
When
I started practicing I didn't have all the toys and know-how my
students have, so my path was largely just relying on bodhicitta and
letting that lead me. Nevertheless, it appears that with or without
shifts in perception (bhumi openings), bodhicitta takes time to
develop. Stabilizing rigpa is one thing, something very meaningful to
any sentient being and on top of that, becoming one with bodhicitta
is another. It ensures correct direction of one's practice until full
enlightenment is attained. What does becoming one with bodhicitta
mean?
As
sentient beings we are tied to our self-centered views and thoughts.
From there we start loosening the knots of me, me, me and
begin to think in terms of us all, us all, us all. That can be
scary in the beginning. ”What do you mean 'taking the suffering of
others into my heart'!? Fuck that! No! I don't want that!” Despite
of initial self-based reactions such as panic, we come to see that it
works, if
we have had enough of confusion. Those
who are ready, i.e. have merit, take their practice like ancient
masters have, very seriously. This puts us inside a
machine of sorts that takes us beyond duration and location. By going
through our pain tirelessly like a warrior, we reach the other shore
that is beyond and better than all states and achievements. Para sam
gate bodhi svaha - gone completely beyond to reach natural
perfection.
In
this process, we become unified with compassion. Our mind starts
thinking in ways that are aligned with the very message of ”may all
beings be free” and ”I vow to liberate all sentient beings”.
Our mind becomes united with bodhicitta, which means that it becomes
the heartmind of enlightenment.
We become that and when we do, we embody the fully enlightened
potential we all have.
When
we take the Bodhisattva
Vow, it puts us into this engine that peels off the layers of
self-confusion bit by bit. This can be scary and unpleasant at times.
When the samsaric pus comes out, it hurts and stinks for a moment but
in the long run gets better.
That
we can exercise, contemplate, pray, chant, act and meditate on
bodhisattvic compassion is the greatest gift given by the buddha
within. I highly recommend receiving it. I am not aware of a better
way of solving internal and external conflicts, and since the world
is burning, this is the time when it is needed the most.
-Kim
Katami, 8th of August 2019
Open
Heart Sangha
See
also Playlist
of Bodhicitta workshops at YouTube.
