Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c8.s2.t2.21

c8.s2.t2.21

These accounts depict the wavering mind of a person who is endeavouring to develop Bodhicitta. It is by the actual development of Bodhicitta¹ that a person gets rid of his pṛthagjanahood and becomes an Ārya or the Elect to proceed along the stream of sanctification.² Bodhicitta, in short, means the vow or aspiration of a being to become a Buddha and obtain all the qualities and powers of a Buddha. The Bodhicaryāvatāra divides it into two parts, Bodhipraṇidhicitta and Bodhiprasthānacitta. The former is simply an aspiration to become a Buddha for saving worldly beings from misery without seriously thinking of the duties of making the highest gifts, and such other virtues. The latter refers to the resolution to observe the Bodhisattva-saṃvaras (disciplines) and to strive for the acquisition of merits. The former is compared to a traveller who is thinking of going to another country, while the latter to one who has actually set out on his journey in order to reach the destination.³ As soon as one develops bodhicitta, he is entitled to perform the duties connected with the first Bhūmi.⁴