The Bodhi Mind

What is the the Bodhi Mind? Bodhi is a Sanskrit word meaning "the Way of enlightenment". The Bodhi mind is the principal true mind, the unconfused mind. The confused mind is is the mind that creates misdeeds and so is not the mind of the Way of Enlightenment. Therefore, we must realize this path and know if it is an easy or difficult one to travel. Only when we truly recognized the path will we be able to be Enlightened.

And also, the Bodhi Mind is the law that has to be followed whether we are moving or still, awake or asleep. The law is the precepts, To simplify this, the law is "To refrain from all evil and practice all good." Now, "To refrain from all evil" is to follow the five precepts. They are to abstain from killing, stealing,telling lies,sexual misconducts and taking intoxicants. "To practice all good" means to act on the ten good deeds. Our body, mouth and mind are capable of ten evil deeds. The body commits the evil deeds of killing,stealing,and sexual misconduct, the mouth utters loose speech, false speech, harsh speech; and the mind can be greedy, angry and stupid. Therefore, if one can abstain from doing the ten evil deeds, one is practicing the ten good deeds.

Our body is capable of three evil deeds: killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. Of course many people know that killing living beings is wrong, but they still commit it. Stealing here is defined as taking things that are not given. People are fully aware that stealing is bad and yet they still do it. People commit sexual misconduct as they crave the false pleasures of the flesh. These people are so blinded by these false pleasures that they forget about true happiness. Not being able to recognise what's real, they go after what's false.

Our mind has three evils: greed, anger and stupidity. Greed means being insatiably greedy. Here's a verse that describes our insatiable greed:-

Everyday we're busy just to fill our stomach.
After our stomachs are filled we want to be clad.
When we have sufficient food and clothing,
We want to have a high rise and a beautiful wife.
After obtaining a beautiful wife and a charming mistress,
We need a ship and a plane so we can go places.
Once the ship and the plane are in our possession,
We still need to have an official post so we won't be bullied.
The fifth and fourth ranks are petty officials;
The third and second ranks are still too low.
After making it to the first rank - the prime minister,
We want to ascend the throne to be the emperor.
Once we ascend the throne and sit in the imperial court,
We wish to become an immortal and play a game of chess.

There are two kinds of people in this world: one who has the greed for fame, and the other for profit. Those who are greedy for fame come up with the various schemes to maximize their reputation while those who are greedy for profit crack their brains to think of methods to make more money.

The mind also has the poison of anger. A person with a big temper always seems to have smoke coming from his head; he looks furious and ready to explode. This is a cause of lack of virtue. A real noble person does not have any temper. Even if he has one, he is able to subdue it and keep is body and mind calm.

The three poisons of greed, anger and delusions are inter connected. All human sufferings comes from greed and desire. When we have greed or desire, we seek them. When we see something nice, we want it for ourselves. If we cannot get it, we get angry. Once we are angry, our mind becomes confused and stupid. These three poisons are the source of all sufferings. If you want to get rid of sufferings, you must cut off the three poisons of greed, anger and stupidity.

Our mind can commit four offenses: loose speech,false speech,harsh speech and divisive speech. Loose speech refers to sarcastic remarks and indecent talk that causes people to have false or unclean thoughts. False speech are lies. Harsh speech means scolding people so viciously that they can't take it. Divisive speech means spreading gossip and causing discord among people, like a two-headed snake.

If we can turn the ten evil deeds into the ten wholesome deeds and carefully observe them without transgression, then that is upholding the precepts. The Bodhi mind is the precepts. These precepts guide us to enlightenment. The Bodhi mind refers to the wholesome seeds inbred in every person's mind. If we forget the Bodhi's mind, our good roots will be cut off. The absence of delusion is the Bodhi Mind. We should carefully train and develop the wholesome seeds of Bodhi and walk on the path to Buddhahood.

Talk given on 18/6/1997
Extract from Words of Wisdom - Beginning Buddhism
A series by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua