“Bodhichitta is a Sanskrit word that means ‘noble or awakened heart.’ It is said to be present in all beings. Just as butter is inherent in milk and oil is inherent in a sesame seed, this soft spot is inherent in you and me.” The American Buddhist nun Pema Chodron once wrote in one of her works.
What this implies is that we all have this ‘magical power’. But what exactly is Bodhichitta? It is basically our inherent power to heal. The world may seem unkind and chaotic at times and we have all felt vulnerable at certain stages of our lives, but the Bodhichitta remains unchanged. It is always pristine. It represents a possibility, a chance (or second chance) everyone of us have when things get tough.
All we really need to do is to acknowledge that Bodhichitta is present in all of us and tap into it when we need to. It’s also a symbol of positivity, there is always light at the end of a dark tunnel. It’s a great reminder that we all have the potential to heal and come out of a difficult situation. It’s also reassuring to get inspiration from great teachers like Pema Chodron and other Buddhist teachers.
Bodhichitta, the awakened heart that we all possess is a great resource we can all access. We just need to acknowledge it, feel it and learn to tap into it when we need it. It’s like a magical power. When the world seems selfish and unkind, remember Bodhichitta is always there for us.