Bodhicitta has been characterised as kindness, compassion, and the wish to release all beings from suffering. This is correct but does not convey the complete picture. Bodhicitta also involves freeing beings from the causes of suffering. Everyone wants to be free from suffering, but does everyone want to be free from happiness? Probably not, but from the bodhicitta point of view happiness is also problematic, because happiness is a fabricated condition and cannot be trusted or relied upon. A bodhisattva wishes to free sentient beings from all phenomena: this is what makes bodhicitta unique. Bodhicitta is more accurately characterised as the union of wisdom and skilful means, with the aspiration of awakening all beings to the truth.

Onsite Translation: Chinese and French

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Artwork by Alicja Żmigrodzka