Point
Two – The Actual Practice (Cultivating Bodhicitta)
I have a theory about why 12 Step groups have been so prolific
and enduring since Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith founded the first one in
1935. They use a two-pronged method – an approach of the heart and mind. Group
members are themselves addicts or alcoholics; they understand intimately the
suffering of one another even though each person might be very different in a
variety of other ways. Having walked in each other’s shoes, there are no labels
of sinner or saint. Yet this common bond and the empathy it invokes isn’t
enough to transform the problem. A rational approach is needed to see the truth
behind the delusion. The actual chaos caused by one’s actions is observed, and
the realization dawns that the sought-for comfort never materialized on a permanent
basis. The solution of trading self-centeredness for a life built on honesty
and kindness soon becomes clear.
Likewise, lojong practice employs two types of bodhicitta*: absolute and relative. Slogans
two through six involve absolute bodhicitta, or the way we work with the mind.
They help cultivate a relaxed, open state of awareness that enables us to see
reality with clarity. These slogans encourage us to view life from a larger
perspective, which allows us to be present without being reactive. Slogans
seven through ten cover relative bodhicitta, or how we relate to others via the
virtues of kindness and benevolence. These slogans aid us in developing a
generous heart, not to pat ourselves on the back, but to pull us out of a
self-absorbed orbit. Through the insights of absolute bodhicitta, tenderness
arises that in turn inspires the lovingkindness of relative bodhicitta.
*awakened mind/heart
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