“Bodhicitta”
“Mahayana
Buddhism talks about bodhicitta, which means ‘awakened heart’ or ‘courageous
heart.’ Bodhicitta has the qualities of gentleness, precision, and openness, being
able just to let go and open up…These days the world really needs people who
are willing to let their hearts, their bodhicitta, ripen.”
Pema
Chodron (The Wisdom of No Escape, p. 58-59; Shambala, 1991)
I have
a friend, Dejuana. I’ve mentioned before that she can make up songs on the fly—they
just come to her in the moment. Her parents, who live in Meridian, MS, are now in
their 90’s and doing pretty well. Dejuana is a retired radiation therapist, and
the ultimate extrovert. She just loves people and will talk to anyone, anywhere.
Lately, we’ve all been extremely worried about the Delta variant of Covid since
only 32% of Alabamians are vaccinated. Those of us with what my grandmother
would call “walkin’ around sense” have gone back to wearing masks, even though
we are vaccinated. We want to protect ourselves and others, like Dejuana’s mom
and dad, who are vulnerable. Well, one day this week, Dejuana was shopping at
Costco, and everyone she passed who wore a mask, she thanked. “Thank you for
wearing a mask,” she said to each and every one. When she got to the parking
lot, a woman was loading groceries into her car and Dejuana stopped to thank her
for wearing a mask. The woman was appreciative, so Dejuana asked if she had an
N-95 mask, and the woman didn’t. Dejuana went to her car and got one from the
box she keeps there and gave it to the woman—a stranger. This is an example of
what it means to have a bodhicitta—a ripening heart. It’s not the big things
but the small ones that anyone can do that make a difference.
Ripening
your bodhicitta is not only good for the world, but for yourself. It helps us
to see things clearly, to give without judgement, and to know that whatever we
have to give was first a gift to us—it is not of us, but through us. People with
“awakened hearts” are simply happier, and their “happiness radiates out, giving
others the space to connect with their own joy, intelligence, clarity and
warmth.” (Chodron) Most of us have experienced both suffering and happiness
at some point in our lives. Spreading suffering is not something we care to do,
which leaves only the spreading of joy. Isn’t it good to know that all it takes
is one small act of kindness? Dejuana knows that, and now, so do you!
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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