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May I generate this pure thought of awakening, | May I generate this pure thought of awakening, | ||
The unmistaken seed of buddhahood. (v. 6)<ref>See Patrul Rinpoche, "Bskal mang gong nas sogs," in Gsung 'bum o rgyan 'jigs med chos kyi dbang po (Chengdu: Si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang, 2003), 8: 356, http://purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW24829_B101CB.</ref> | The unmistaken seed of buddhahood. (v. 6)<ref>See Patrul Rinpoche, "Bskal mang gong nas sogs," in Gsung 'bum o rgyan 'jigs med chos kyi dbang po (Chengdu: Si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang, 2003), 8: 356, http://purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW24829_B101CB.</ref> | ||
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In the beginning, a practitioner must cultivate the mind (''cittotpāda'') of awakening through a concerted effort by taking the bodhisattva vow repeatedly, engaging in the various contemplative techniques, receiving teachings on bodhicitta and bodhisattva practices, and utilizing other methods. Gradually, one would become accustomed to thinking of bodhicitta, which would also become stronger and constant. When bodhicitta naturally arises without effort, a person is said to have formally become a bodhisattva. Thus, Jigme Lingpa said: | |||
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|quote-text=It is more important to have the supreme mind naturally arise than to consciously cultivate it.<ref>Jigme Lingpa, ''Yon tan rin po che'i mdzod kyi rgya cher 'grel pa bden gnyis shing rta rgyu mtshan nyid kyi theg pa'i skor'', in Gsung 'bum 'jigs med gling pa (Gangtok, Sikkim: Sonam T. Kazi, 1970–75), 1: 246b, purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW1KG10193_E90C9C.</ref> | |||
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However, a beginner must make a contrived effort to generate bodhicitta, firstly by cultivating the aspiring bodhicitta and then by engaging in the practice of engaged bodhicitta. Śantideva presents the distinction between the two in the following verses from his text ''The Way of the Bodhisattva'' (''Bodhicaryāvatāra'', abbrev. BCA): | |||
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|quote-text=Bodhicitta, the awakened mind, | |||
Is known in brief to have two aspects: | |||
First, aspiring, bodhicitta in intention; | |||
Then active bodhichitta, practical engagement. (1.15) | |||
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|quote-text=As corresponding to the wish to go | |||
And then to setting out, | |||
The wise should understand respectively | |||
The difference that divides these two. (1.16)<ref>See Helena Blankleder and Wulstan Fletcher (Padmakara Translation Group), trans., ''The Way of the Bodhisattva: A Translation of the Bodhicharyāvatāra'', by Śāntideva, rev. ed. (Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2006), 33.</ref> | |||
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