Toh 44-22Chapter 22: The Merit of First Developing the Mind Set on Enlightenment
Pāli / Sanskrit:byang sems dang po bskyed pa'i bsod nams phung po le'u/
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Commentary on Chapter 22: The Merit of First Arousing Bodhicitta
Context
This Chapter 22 belongs to the scriptures of the Northern Transmission canon, within the Kangyur, the collection of scriptures taught by Buddha Shakyamuni. In the Tibetan Mahayana tradition, the scripture focuses on the most fundamental aspect of bodhisattva practice: the arising of bodhicitta (byang chub sems in Tibetan).
Bodhicitta is the aspiration for enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, regarded as the foundation of the entire bodhisattva path. Unlike other chapters that focus on practice or lofty philosophy, this chapter particularly emphasizes the value of the merit of the very act of arousing bodhicitta for the first time. This is a decisive moment, when a practitioner abandons the mind that seeks only personal liberation and turns the mind toward enlightenment for the sake of all beings.
Main Content
According to the Tibetan Mahayana tradition, arousing bodhicitta for the first time brings immeasurable merit, far surpassing other virtuous actions. The scripture teaches that ascetic practitioners, arhats of the Lesser Vehicle, or even pratyekabuddhas, though they may practice deeply, if they do not arouse bodhicitta, their merit does not equal even half the merit of a Mahayana practitioner who first gives rise to the mind for the benefit of sentient beings.
What is the profound reason? Because bodhicitta contains within it the will for spiritual transformation in order to liberate not only oneself but all countless sentient beings. When a practitioner gives rise to this mind, all their subsequent actions, from reciting scripture and meditating to making offerings and practicing generosity, are transformed into a subtle force for universal enlightenment. Each thought, each breath, is absorbed into the endless stream of this vow.
The scripture also points out that this merit does not depend on the practitioner’s level of practice or capacity.
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