Whoops! I must correct what I wrote on January 1.
I wrote that post from the top of my head and just stumbled across Buddha's quote like this:
The word manifests the deed.
The deed develops into habit.
The habit hardens into character.
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.
I like this way better. Especially the last line which basically is speaking about bodhicitta.
Bodhicitta has many meanings but simply put it is about having an awakened heart. The motivation to watch our thoughts with care, love and concern for all beings is the practice. It is the aspiration to care for oneself and others unconditionally. Much like a mother's love. There are two types of bodhicitta according to the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism.
Relative bodhicitta is where the practitioner works for the good of all beings as if it where his/her own. Absolute bodhicitta relates to wisdom, openess and spaciousness. The aspiration is loosening the ego and becoming free from attachments of self and the acceptance of life as it is. So according to Wikipedia, the term bodhicitta, in its most complete sense, would combine both:
*The arising of spontaneous and limitless compassion for all sentient beings and
*The falling away of the attachment to the illusion of an inheirently existant self.
What an aspiration! This could take years or many lifetimes. One thing I know is that if you start right now, little by little, love drop by love drop, practice in this moment, moment by moment, breath by breath, relaxing with life as it is, be in your own naked awareness, you will connect deeply with your own intrinsic nature. It is your true nature to love and be loving. All else is an illusion. So go ahead notice your thoughts, connect with your heart and Make Love Big.
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