“Bodhicitta is a purely mystical act of directing the totality of one’s being towards enlightenment. The arising of the love of enlightenment, what it represents: it represents your ongoing and ever growing relationship with the Truth. On one level it’s an ideal, but on another level, it’s very practical, and is directly applied.

We actively give rise to Bodhicitta, the concept of infinite light and enlightenment and love, which arises spontaneously within us. In other words we don’t have to visualize it, we don’t have to invent it or create it. It is known and understood to be already present, and by placing our attention in that place, it is drawn more and more forward and more forcefully into our waking state, our conscious attention.

In the face of the onslaught of any obstacles, you will need your capacity to raise Bodhicitta to not be defeated mentally. It’s one of the reasons a spiritual warrior can be a spiritual warrior; because when they are confronted by difficulties, they have a direct connection with the resources of enlightenment and truth that gives them the ability to stand strong. If you don’t have the connection with Bodhicitta, you’ll be steam rolled.”