Bodhicitta in the Sanskrit refers to the mind (citta) that is awakened (bodhi) which is the basic goal of Zen and of Buddhism in general. Seeing this mind is no easy task since we are always deluding ourselves into believing that our everyday mind can easily converge with this bodhi mind. Well, the truth of the matter is that it cannot.
Another way of looking at bodhi mind, which one day we hope to awaken to, is to think of it as our natural mind which is inborn and timeless but more, importantly, has never left us.
Unfortunately, it is only revealed to us when we set aside all mental activity 無念 at once. It alone remains even in the face of death. It is also what Bodhisattvas samadhi. The more they go to it as Bodhisattvas the more they grow into Buddhas.
In reaching this goal, the individual has to first accept the hard fact that they are not there yet, even though they would like to believe that they are getting close. They first have to train to become open to the unknown and the unexpected which is a way the mind that is bodhi comes to us. To prejudge what the mind of bodhi is, is to make a huge barrier. One has to be like a farmer. He can only do so much such as planting the seeds. The rain will come on its own.
"it is only revealed to us when we set aside all mental activity"
Setting aside all mental activity happens every night in deep sleep even to icchantikas!
Unfortunately though it is not recognized!
Analysis is as important as intuition, the two are like the left wing and the right wing.
Posted by: Vyartha | February 02, 2019 at 08:19 AM