Glossary of Spiritual and Religious Words

B

Bodhichitta

(Sanskrit; often spelled bodhicitta, but pronounced bodee-cheeta) Literally, Bodhi means enlightenment or wisdom. Chitta means mind. The synthesis, bodhichitta means the enlightened mind or the mind of wisdom. This term has many levels of application.

1) In an introductory form, it is used to describe the altruistic intention to attain enlightenment for the benefit of suffering beings.

2) In Mahayana teachings it is an elevated state of awareness (prajna) which directly perceives Emptiness.

3) In Tantra it refers to the seminal fluids of the body. The Tibetan version, byan-sems, can be translated either as “enlightenment mind” or “semen.”

4) Samael Aun Weor often expresses the synthesis of the term, which combines all these meanings.

"The Bodhichitta is the awakened and developed superlative Consciousness of the Being. The Bodhichitta emerges in the aspirant who sacrifices himself for his fellowmen, long before the Mercurial bodies have been created... It is necessary for the Bodhichitta, which means the auric embryo, the awakened consciousness, to fall into the Illuminated Void." - Samael Aun Weor, The Pistis Sophia Unveiled

"Obviously, before the Bodhisattva is born, the Bodhichitta must be formed within ourselves. Furthermore, it is important to clarify the necessity of disintegrating the ego, the “I,” in order for the Bodhichitta to emerge. The Bodhichitta is formed with the merits of love and supreme sacrifice for our fellowmen. The Bodhisattva is formed within the environment and psychological atmosphere of the Bodhichitta." - Samael Aun Weor, The Pistis Sophia Unveiled

"The one who does not possess the Bodhichitta, even when he has created the superior existential bodies of the being, is still unconscious and absurd." - Samael Aun Weor, The Pistis Sophia Unveiled