The attainment of aspirational Bodhicitta marks a significant step in the spiritual journey within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. Aspirational bodhicitta is the sincere wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. Once this aspiration is established, the practice of the six Paramitas ("perfections") becomes a crucial means to cultivate and deepen bodhicitta, leading towards the attainment of ultimate bodhicitta.
Generosity (Dāna): Practicing generosity helps in overcoming selfishness and attachment, key obstacles to spiritual growth. By giving selflessly — whether materially ("generosity of necessary things"), emotionally ("generosity of protection from fear"), or spiritually ("generosity of the spiritual path") — practitioners expand their capacity for compassion and empathy towards others. This aligns with the core intention of bodhicitta, which is the altruistic intention to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.
The thought to give all beings everything,
Together with the fruit of such a thought....
- Shantideva, Bodhisattvacharyavatara, V(10)
- Proverbs 19:17
Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me.
- Matthew 25:40 (KJV)
Ethical discipline (Śīla): Ethical conduct forms the foundation of a meaningful spiritual life. Observing precepts and engaging in morally upright actions fosters a stable and clear mind, crucial for deeper spiritual practices. Ethics in this context is not merely about following rules, but cultivating a way of being that is in harmony with compassion and wisdom.
to cultivate good,
and to cleanse one's mind,
This is the teaching of the Buddhas.
- Dhammapada, 183
but to do justice,
and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
- Micah 6:8
Patience (Kshanti): Patience is the antidote to anger and intolerance. It involves enduring difficult circumstances, and also tolerating the faults of others with compassion and understanding. This quality is essential for maintaining a mind of bodhicitta in the face of challenges and setbacks on the spiritual path.
Thus I should strive in various ways to meditate on patience.
- Shantideva, Bodhisattvacharyavatara, VI(2)
Effort (Virya - "Joyful Perseverance"): Enthusiastic effort or diligence is vital for progressing on the spiritual path. It means joyfully engaging in virtuous activities and practices that cultivate bodhicitta and wisdom. This paramita counters laziness and complacency, ensuring continuous growth and development.
Meditative Concentration (Dhyana): Concentration involves developing a focused and undistracted mind, necessary for deepening insight into the nature of reality. Through practices like meditation, one cultivates a mind capable of profound understanding and realization, essential for moving towards ultimate bodhicitta.
Wisdom (Prajna): Wisdom in the context of the paramitas refers to the deep understanding of the nature of reality, particularly the understanding of emptiness and interdependence. This wisdom allows one to see through the illusions of inherent existence, leading to liberation from suffering. The cultivation of wisdom is essential for transforming aspirational bodhicitta into ultimate bodhicitta, where the aspiration to benefit all beings is united with the direct realization of the ultimate nature of reality.
The practice of the six paramitas enriches and deepens the aspirational bodhicitta, transforming it gradually into ultimate bodhicitta — the direct, non-conceptual realization of the emptiness of all phenomena coupled with the compassionate wish to liberate all beings from suffering. This transformation is central to the Mahayana path and is essential for attaining full enlightenment or Buddhahood.