What is the bodhisattva path?
Becoming a bodhisattva is a matter of opening our hearts, and that can be as simple as opening our eyes. When we open our eyes to the truth–that people are in pain at a very basic level–we feel a natural response. This response is called compassion. It’s called love. We want to help. Compassion and love have no limit, especially if we encourage their growth with the practice of stepping beyond ourselves. This is bodhisattva activity, which is endless, for as we practice this way, our courage and willingness to help others grow. Our mind and motivation only get bigger. The way we proceed on this path is with prajna, the inquisitive mind that sees the wisdom in each situation. We practice and study to sharpen this mind so that we can know what is appropriate action. Taking the appropriate action is a powerful tool: in one moment we can cross into the mind of enlightenment. What do we do in that one moment? We move from being self-centered to considering the other person. There are six
