The Resolve to Become a Buddha

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*{{i|I. Introductory Remarks|169}}
*{{i|I. Introductory Remarks|169}}
2. The Two Bodhicittotpada Traditions..................................................................... 170
*{{i|2. The Two ''Bodhicittotpāda'' Traditions|170}}
3. Tibetan Assessments of the Two Bodhicittotpada Traditions............................... 172
*{{i|3. Tibetan Assessments of the Two ''Bodhicittotpāda'' Traditions|172}}
4. The Names of the Two Bodhicittotpada Traditions............................................... 173
*{{i|4. The Names of the Two ''Bodhicittotpāda'' Traditions|173}}
5. The Two Bodhicittotpada Traditions: The Basis of the Distinctions .................... 175
*{{i|5. The Two ''Bodhicittotpāda'' Traditions: The Basis of the Distinctions|175}}
6. The Two Bodhicittotpada Traditions: Personal Authorities ................................. 175
*{{i|6. The Two ''Bodhicittotpāda'' Traditions: Personal Authorities|175}}
7. The Two Bodhicittotpada Traditions: Scriptural Authorities................................ 176
*{{i|7. The Two ''Bodhicittotpāda'' Traditions: Scriptural Authorities|176}}
8. The Historical Background of the Bodhicittotpada RituaL.................................. 177
*{{i|8. The Historical Background of the ''Bodhicittotpāda'' Ritual|177}}
9. What Is Actually Generated by the Ritual?............................................................ 180
*{{i|9. What Is Actually Generated by the Ritual?|180}}
10. The Optionality of an Officiant in the Two Traditions.................................. ........ 181
*{{i|10. The Optionality of an Officiant in the Two Traditions|181}}
11. Qualifications for Officiants in the Two Traditions............................................... 182
*{{i|11. Qualifications for Officiants in the Two Traditions|182}}
12. The Eligibility of Candidates in the Two Traditions.............................................. 183
*{{i|12. The Eligibility of Candidates in the Two Traditions|183}}
13. The Preparatory Procedures of the Bodhicittotpada Ritual................................... 186
*{{i|13. The Preparatory Procedures of the ''Bodhicittotpāda'' Ritual|186}}
14. The Main Procedures of the Bodhicittotpada RituaL.......................................... 187
*{{i|14. The Main Procedures of the ''Bodhicittotpāda'' Ritual|187}}
15. The Concluding Procedures of the Bodhicittotpada Ritual................................... 188
*{{i|15. The Concluding Procedures of the ''Bodhicittotpāda'' Ritual|188}}
16. Observances and Offences in the Two Traditions................................................. 188
*{{i|16. Observances and Offences in the Two Traditions|188}}
(a) The Cardinal Transgressions in the Mafijusn-Nagiirjuna Tradition............ 189
**{{i|(a) The Cardinal Transgressions in the Mañjuśrī-Nāgārjuna Tradition|189}}
(b) The Cardinal Transgressions in the Maitreya-Asailga Tradition.................. 191
**{{i|(b) The Cardinal Transgressions in the Maitreya-Asaṅga Tradition|191}}
(c) The Minor Offences in the Two Traditions.................................................. 192
**{{i|(c) The Minor Offences in the Two Traditions|192}}
17. Reestablishing a Broken Vow in the Two Traditions............................................ 193
*{{i|17. Reestablishing a Broken Vow in the Two Traditions|193}}
18. Concluding Remarks.............................................................................................. 194
*{{i|18. Concluding Remarks|194}}
Chapter Seven: A Typology of Bodhicitta
1. Introductory Remarks............................................................................................. 195
2. An Overview of the Five Types of Bodhicitta........................................................ 196
3. Ethico-Spiritual Bodhicitta..................................................................................... 197
4. Gnoseological Bodhicitta....................................................................................... 198
(a) What Gnoseologicai Bodhicitta Is................................................................. 198
(b) Some Synonyms of Gnoseological Bodhicitta.............................................. 198
(c) Some Salient Features of Gnoseological Bodhicitta..................................... 199
(d) Who Possesses Gnoseological Bodhicitta?.................................................. 201
(e) Gnosis as Abiding in the Body...... ..... ................. ........ ......... ...... ................... 202


(f) The Three Modes of Emergence Open to Gnosis......................................... 204
*'''Chapter Seven: A Typology of ''Bodhicitta'' '''
5. Ontological Bodhicitta........................................................................................... 205
(a) The Conception of Ontological Bodhicitta................................................... 206
(b) An Outcome of a Philosophical Quest? ...... ........ ..... ......... ..... ........... ........... 211
(c) Synonyms and Near Synonyms of Ontological Bodhicitta........................... 214
(d) Two Distinct Perceptions of Ontological Bodhicitta.;.................................. 216
(e) Some Salient Features of Ontological Bodhicitta......................................... 217
6. Psycho-Physiological Bodhicitta............................................................................ 217
(a) What is Psycho-Physiological Bodhicitta?.................................................. 218
(b) Some Salient Features of Psycho-Physiological Bodhicitta......................... 220
( c) Probable Motives for the Conception of Psycho-Physiological Bodhicitta.. 220
(d) The Problems of Physicality and Sexuality in Buddhism............................. 221
(e) Psycho-Physiological Bodhicitta in Yogic Practices.................................... 223
7. SemeiologicalBodhicitta....................................................................................... 225
(a) General Features of Bodhicitta Symbolism.................................................. 225
(b) Putting Symbolism in a Buddhist Philosophical Context... ....... ........ ........... 226
(c) Three Kinds of Semeiological Bodhicitta: Visual, Verbal, and VisionaL.. 227
(d) Vajrayana Symbolism and Literalism..... ............ ... ... ....... ... ...... ... ....... .......... 231
8. A Concluding Assessment of the Five Types of Bodhicitta.................................. 232
Chapter Eight: Traditional Classifications of Bodhicitta
1. Introductory Remarks....... ..... .... ........... .... ...... .......... ........... .... ........... ........ ... ....... ... 235
2. Bodhicitta as a Fusion of SunyatiilPrajfzii and KarUlJiiIUpiiya............................... 235
(a) The Term SunyatiikarUlJiigarbha.................................................................. 236
(b) The Term SunyatiikarUlJiibhinna................................................................... 238
(c) The Importance of Upiiya and Prajfzii ...................................................... ,.... 239
(d) Tension between the Two Poles of Emptiness and Compassion.................. 243
(e) Union of Emptiness and Compassion: A Tibetan Controversy.................... 245
(f) Three Positions on the Fusion of SunyatiilPrajfzii and KarUlJiiIUpiiya........ 245
3. SubclassifYing Bodhicitta into Praflidhicitta and Prasthiinacitta........................... 246
(a) The Locus Classicus of the Classification..................................................... 246
(b) The Possible Historical Development of the Subclassification.... ... ..... ........ 248
(c) The Pervasiveness of the Classification........................................................ 248
(d) Distinctions, Interpretations, and Controversies........................................... 249
4. SubclassifYing Bodhicitta into Conventional and Absolute................................... 251
(a) Two Strands of the Conventional-Absolute Classification........................... 252
(b) Textual Sources of the Conventional-Absolute Classification..................... 253
(c) The Relative Chronology of the Conventional-Absolute Classification....... 255
(d) Two Different Perceptions of Conventional and Absolute Bodhicitta......... 256
(e) Can Absolute Bodhicitta be Generated Ritually? A Tibetan Controversy.... 258
5. Leading to the Goal and Not Leading to the Goa1................................................. 261
6. A Stable One and an Unstable One........................................................................ 262
7. Twofold Classifications of Cittotpiida in the ViniscayasarrzgrahalJf..................... 263
(a) Samiidiinasiirrzketika and Dharmatiipratilambhika....................................... 263
(b) The One That Is Uncertain and the One That Is Certain. .... .... .... ... ........... .... 264
(c) The One That Is Impure and the One That Is Pure...... .... .............. ........ ... .... 264
(d) The One That Is Weak and the One That Is Strong...................................... 265
(e) The One That Has Yielded the Ultimate Result and the One
That Has Not yet........................................................................................... 265
8. Undistinguished and Distinguished Cittotpiida...................................................... 266
9. The One Characterised by Karuflii and the One Characterised by Prajfzii............ 266


10. Ongoing and Non-Ongoing Cittotpiida............................................... ................... 267
*{{i|1. Introductory Remarks|195}}
11. A Threefold Classification: King-like, Boatman-like, and Herdsman-like.......... 267
*{{i|2. An Overview of the Five Types of ''Bodhicitta''|196}}
(a) Some Indian Precursors of the Classification... ..... .... .... ......... ...... ..... .... ....... 268
*{{i|3. Ethico-Spiritual ''Bodhicitta''|197}}
(b) Assessments by Some Tibetan Scholars ................................. ,..................... 269
*{{i|4. Gnoseological ''Bodhicitta''|198}}
12. A Fourfold Classification....................................................................................... 271
**{{i|(a) What Gnoseologicai ''Bodhicitta'' Is|198}}
13. SubclassifYing Bodhicitta into Ten Types.............................................................. 273
**{{i|(b) Some Synonyms of Gnoseological ''Bodhicitta''|198}}
14. Twenty-Two Kinds of Cittotpiida.......................................................................... 273
**{{i|(c) Some Salient Features of Gnoseological ''Bodhicitta''|199}}
(a) Sources of the Twenty-Two Kinds of Cittotpada......................................... 273
**{{i|(d) Who Possesses Gnoseological ''Bodhicitta''?|201}}
(b) A Historical Sketch...... ........... ........ ......... ......... ....... ..... ............... ........ ......... 274
**{{i|(e) Gnosis as Abiding in the Body|202}}
15. Concluding Remarks.............................................................................................. 275
**{{i|(f) The Three Modes of Emergence Open to Gnosis|204}}
Chapter Nine: Causes and Conditions pertaining to Bodhicitta
*{{i|5. Ontological ''Bodhicitta''|205}}
1. Introductory Remarks.............................................................................................. 277
**{{i|(a) The Conception of Ontological ''Bodhicitta''|206}}
2. Causes and Conditions pertaining to Bodhicitta in the Sutra Sources.................... 277
**{{i|(b) An Outcome of a Philosophical Quest?|211}}
3. Causes and Conditions pertaining to Bodhicitta in the Bodhisattvabhumi............ 279
**{{i|(c) Synonyms and Near Synonyms of Ontological ''Bodhicitta''|214}}
4. Causes and Conditions pertaining to Bodhicitta in the MahayanasutraZa7}'lki'ira... 283
**{{i|(d) Two Distinct Perceptions of Ontological ''Bodhicitta''|216}}
5. Causes and Conditions pertaining to Bodhicitta as Discussed Elsewhere.. ........... 284
**{{i|(e) Some Salient Features of Ontological ''Bodhicitta''|217}}
6. Compassion as the Root Cause of Bodhicitta........................................................ 285
*{{i|6. Psycho-Physiological ''Bodhicitta''|217}}
7. Concluding Remarks.............................................................................................. 289
**{{i|(a) What is Psycho-Physiological ''Bodhicitta''?|218}}
Chapter Ten: The Mahayana Observances and the Maintenance ofBodhicitta
**{{i|(b) Some Salient Features of Psycho-Physiological ''Bodhicitta''|220}}
1. Introductory Remarks.............................................................................................. 291
**{{i|(c) Probable Motives for the Conception of Psycho-Physiological ''Bodhicitta''|220}}
2. The Model of the Four Cardinal Transgressions (miiZapatti).................................. 292
**{{i|(d) The Problems of Physicality and Sexuality in Buddhism|221}}
3. Pledges and the Maintenance of Bodhicitta in the Kriyatantras............................. 295
**{{i|(e) Psycho-Physiological ''Bodhicitta'' in Yogic Practices|223}}
(a) The Vairocanabhisa7}'lbodhitantra................................................................ 296
*{{i|7. Semeiological ''Bodhicitta''|225}}
(b) The Guhyatantra........................................................................................... 298
**{{i|(a) General Features of ''Bodhicitta'' Symbolism|225}}
(c) The Susiddhikaratantra................................................................................. 300
**{{i|(b) Putting Symbolism in a Buddhist Philosophical Context|226}}
(d) The Subahupariprcchatantra........................................................................ 303
**{{i|(c) Three Kinds of Semeiological ''Bodhicitta'': Visual, Verbal, and Visional|227}}
4. Pledges and Maintenance of Bodhicitta in the Yogatantras.................................. 305
**{{i|(d) Vajrayāna Symbolism and Literalism|231}}
(a) The Durgatiparisodhanatantra..................................................................... 305
*{{i|8. A Concluding Assessment of the Five Types of ''Bodhicitta''|232}}
(b) The Vajrasikharatantra................................................................................. 307
(c) The Srfparamiidyatantra.......... ........... .... ...... ............ ..... ............................... 310
(d) The Tattvasa7}'lgrahasutra.................................................................. ........... 312
5. Pledges and the Maintenance of Bodhicitta in the Mahayoga System.................. 313
(a) The Buddhasamayogatantra ......................... ,............................................... 319
(b) The Kr$/Jayamaritantra and Guhyasamajabhi$ekavidhi............................... 320
(c) The GuhyendutiZakatantra............................................................................ 328
(d) The *Guhyagarbhatantra.............................................................................. 329
(e) Padmasambhava's Categories of Pledges..................................................... 329
6. All Mahayana Precepts Relating to the Maintenance of Bodhicitta...................... 330
7. Concluding Remarks.............................................................................................. 331
Chapter Eleven: The Relapse and Restoration of Bodhicitta
1. Introductory Remarks............................................................................................. 333
2. Impairment to or Loss of Bodhicitta...................................................................... 334
3. Causes of the Partial or Total Breach of Vows...................................................... 337
4. Causes of Impairment to or Loss of Bodhicitta...................................................... 338
5. The Abandonment of Bodhicitta as the Severest Transgression............................ 346
6. The Types of Setbacks ...................... ;.................................................................... 348


7. The Restorability of Bodhicitta ...................................... : ....... ;............................... 351
*'''Chapter Eight: Traditional Classifications of ''Bodhicitta'' '''
8. Retaking and Restoring Bodhicitta........................................................................ 352
 
9. The Four Strengths................................................................................................. 355
*{{i|1. Introductory Remarks|235}}
10. Concluding Remarks.............................................................................................. 356
*{{i|2. ''Bodhicitta'' as a Fusion of ''Śūnyatā''/''Prajñā'' and ''Karūṇā''/ ''Upāya''|235}}
Appendix A: A Critical Edition of the Sanskrit Text of Bodliisattvabhumi 1.2
**{{i|(a) The Term ''Śūnyatākarūṇāgarbha''|236}}
1. Introduction............................................................................................................ 357
**{{i|(b) The Term ''Śūnyatākarūṇābhinna''|238}}
(a) Extant Manuscripts, Critical Editions, and
**{{i|(c) The Importance of ''Upāya'' and ''Prajñā''|239}}
Other Related Studies on the Bodhisattvabhumi.......................................... 357
**{{i|(d) Tension between the Two Poles of Emptiness and Compassion|243}}
(b) A Brief Description of the Extant Manuscripts and Editions....................... 362
**{{i|(e) Union of Emptiness and Compassion: A Tibetan Controversy|245}}
(c) Some Observations as to the Stemmatic Relation of the MSS..................... 365
**{{i|(f) Three Positions on the Fusion of ''Śūnyatā''/''Prajñā'' and  ''Karūṇā''/ ''Upāya''|245}}
(d) Method and Abbreviations Employed in the Critical
*{{i|3. Subclassifying ''Bodhicitta'' into ''Praṇidhicitta'' and ''Prasthānacitta''|246}}
Edition of the Sanskrit Text.......................................................................... 366
**{{i|(a) The Locus Classicus of the Classification|246}}
2. The Text. ............................................................................................................... " 368
**{{i|(b) The Possible Historical Development of the Subclassification|248}}
Appendix B: A Critical Edition of the Tibetan Text of Bodhisattvabhumi 1.2
**{{i|(c) The Pervasiveness of the Classification|248}}
1. Introduction........................................ ................ ........................... ......................... 379
**{{i|(d) Distinctions, Interpretations, and Controversies|249}}
2. The Text................................................................................................................. 382
*{{i|4. Subclassifying ''Bodhicitta'' into Conventional and Absolute|251}}
Abbreviations and Bibliography
**{{i|(a) Two Strands of the Conventional-Absolute Classification|252}}
1. Journals, Collections, Reference Books, Series, and Other Abbreviations............ 391
**{{i|(b) Textual Sources of the Conventional-Absolute Classification|253}}
2. Indian Sources........................................................................................................ 393
**{{i|(c) The Relative Chronology of the Conventional-Absolute Classification|255}}
3. Tibetan Sources...................................................................................................... 404
**{{i|(d) Two Different Perceptions of Conventional and Absolute ''Bodhicitta''|256}}
4. Secondary Sources................................................................................................. 411
**{{i|(e) Can Absolute ''Bodhicitta'' be Generated Ritually? A Tibetan Controversy|258}}
Index............................................................................................................................... 431
*{{i|5. Leading to the Goal and Not Leading to the Goal|261}}
*{{i|6. A Stable One and an Unstable One|262}}
*{{i|7. Twofold Classifications of ''Cittotpāda'' in the ''Viniścayasaṃgrahaṇī''|263}}
**{{i|(a) ''Samādānasāṃketika'' and ''Dharmatāpratilambhika''|263}}
**{{i|(b) The One That Is Uncertain and the One That Is Certain|264}}
**{{i|(c) The One That Is Impure and the One That Is Pure|264}}
**{{i|(d) The One That Is Weak and the One That Is Strong|265}}
**{{i|(e) The One That Has Yielded the Ultimate Result and the One That Has<br>Not yet|265}}
*{{i|8. Undistinguished and Distinguished ''Cittotpāda''|266}}
*{{i|9. The One Characterised by ''Karuṇā'' and the One Characterised by ''Prajñā''|266}}
*{{i|10. Ongoing and Non-Ongoing ''Cittotpāda''|267}}
*{{i|11. A Threefold Classification: King-like, Boatman-like, and Herdsman-like|267}}
**{{i|(a) Some Indian Precursors of the Classification|268}}
**{{i|(b) Assessments by Some Tibetan Scholars|269}}
*{{i|12. A Fourfold Classification|271}}
*{{i|13. Subclassifying ''Bodhicitta'' into Ten Types|273}}
*{{i|14. Twenty-Two Kinds of ''Cittotpāda''|273}}
**{{i|(a) Sources of the Twenty-Two Kinds of ''Cittotpāda''|273}}
**{{i|(b) A Historical Sketch|274}}
*{{i|15. Concluding Remarks|275}}
 
*'''Chapter Nine: Causes and Conditions pertaining to ''Bodhicitta'' '''
 
*{{i|1. Introductory Remarks|277}}
*{{i|2. Causes and Conditions pertaining to ''Bodhicitta'' in the ''Sūtra'' Sources|277}}
*{{i|3. Causes and Conditions pertaining to ''Bodhicitta'' in the ''Bodhisattvabhūmi''|279}}
*{{i|4. Causes and Conditions pertaining to ''Bodhicitta'' in the ''Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra''|283}}
*{{i|5. Causes and Conditions pertaining to ''Bodhicitta'' as Discussed Elsewhere|284}}
*{{i|6. Compassion as the Root Cause of ''Bodhicitta''|285}}
*{{i|7. Concluding Remarks|289}}
 
*'''Chapter Ten: The Mahāyāna Observances and the Maintenance of ''Bodhicitta'' '''
 
*{{i|1. Introductory Remarks|291}}
*{{i|2. The Model of the Four Cardinal Transgressions (''mūlāpatti'')|292}}
*{{i|3. Pledges and the Maintenance of ''Bodhicitta'' in the ''Kriyātantras''|295}}
**{{i|(a) The ''Vairocanābhisaṃbodhitantra''|296}}
**{{i|(b) The ''Guhyatantra''|298}}
**{{i|(c) The ''Susiddhikaratantra''|300}}
**{{i|(d) The ''Subāhuparipṛcchātantra''|303}}
*{{i|4. Pledges and Maintenance of ''Bodhicitta'' in the ''Yogatantras''|305}}
**{{i|(a) The ''Durgatipariśodhanatantra''|305}}
**{{i|(b) The ''Vajraśikharatantra''|307}}
**{{i|(c) The ''Śrīparamādyatantra''|310}}
**{{i|(d) The ''Tattvasaṃgrahasūtra''|312}}
*{{i|(5. Pledges and the Maintenance of ''Bodhicitta'' in the ''Mahāyoga'' System|313}}
**{{i|(a) The ''Buddhasamāyogatantra''|319}}
**{{i|(b) The ''Kṛṣṇayamāritantra'' and ''Guhyasamājābhiṣekavidhi''|320}}
**{{i|(c) The ''Guhyendutilakatantra''|328}}
**{{i|(d) The *''Guhyagarbhatantra''|329}}
**{{i|(e) Padmasambhava's Categories of Pledges|329}}
*{{i|6. All Mahāyāna Precepts Relating to the Maintenance of ''Bodhicitta''|330}}
*{{i|7. Concluding Remarks|331}}
 
*'''Chapter Eleven: The Relapse and Restoration of ''Bodhicitta'' '''
 
*{{i|1. Introductory Remarks|333}}
*{{i|2. Impairment to or Loss of ''Bodhicitta''|334}}
*{{i|3. Causes of the Partial or Total Breach of Vows|337}}
*{{i|4. Causes of Impairment to or Loss of ''Bodhicitta''|338}}
*{{i|5. The Abandonment of ''Bodhicitta'' as the Severest Transgression|346}}
*{{i|6. The Types of Setbacks|348}}
*{{i|7. The Restorability of ''Bodhicitta''|351}}
*{{i|8. Retaking and Restoring ''Bodhicitta''|352}}
*{{i|9. The Four Strengths|355}}
*{{i|10. Concluding Remarks|356}}
 
*'''Appendix A: A Critical Edition of the Sanskrit Text of ''Bodhisattvabhūmi'' 1.2'''
 
*{{i|1. Introduction|357}}
**{{i|(a) Extant Manuscripts, Critical Editions, and Other Related Studies on the ''Bodhisattvabhūmi''|357}}
**{{i|(b) A Brief Description of the Extant Manuscripts and Editions|362}}
**{{i|(c) Some Observations as to the Stemmatic Relation of the MSS|365}}
**{{i|(d) Method and Abbreviations Employed in the Critical Edition of the<br>Sanskrit Text|366}}
*{{i|2. The Text|368}}
 
*'''Appendix B: A Critical Edition of the Tibetan Text of ''Bodhisattvabhūmi'' 1.2'''
 
*{{i|1. Introduction|379}}
*{{i|2. The Text|382}}
 
*'''Abbreviations and Bibliography'''
 
*{{i|1. Journals, Collections, Reference Books, Series, and Other Abbreviations|391}}
*{{i|2. Indian Sources|393}}
*{{i|3. Tibetan Sources|404}}
*{{i|4. Secondary Sources|411}}
 
*{{i|'''Index'''|431}}
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Latest revision as of 15:00, 10 August 2020

The Resolve to Become a Buddha
Book
Book

Becoming a buddha ('Awakened One') under the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) was undoubtedly the most significant event in the career of the historical Buddha, and may be considered the starting point of Buddhism. According to both Mahāyāna ('Greater Vehicle') and Hīnayāna ('Lesser Vehicle') or non-Mahāyāna, the historical Buddha had sometime in the distant past resolved to become a buddha, thereby launching out on the career of a bodhisattva, that is, a sentient being who strives to attain the highest state of awakening. A major distinction between non-Mahāyāna and Mahāyāna, however, is that for the former the status of being a bodhisattva or buddha is confined to the historical Buddha (or a few others like him), while the ultimate soteriological goal of a disciple is Arhatship (that is, the final state of a saint who has attained release from the cycle of birth and death) primarily for oneself. For the latter, by contrast, even an ordinary sentient being is capable of undertaking the long and arduous career of a bodhisattva by generating bodhicitta and finally becoming a buddha (just like the historical Buddha himself), primarily for the sake of many other sentient beings. In sum, a person who possesses or has generated bodhicitta is considered to be a bodhisattva, and the form of Buddhism concerned with the theory and practice of a bodhisattva is known as Mahāyāna. The idea of bodhicitta in the sense of the resolve to become a buddha is hence the bedrock of Mahāyāna, and is what distinguishes a bodhisattva from a śrāvaka, Mahāyāna from non-Mahāyāna. It is presupposed by all forms of Mahāyāna Buddhism including Vajrayāna ('Diamond Vehicle'), or tantric Mahāyāna.
      Multiple internal and external factors must have contributed to the formation and further development of the concept of bodhicitta. The psychological need of the Buddhists to make up in one way or another for the demise of the historical Buddha may have been one of the principal internal factors that contributed to the formation of the idea of the resolve to become a buddha. Such an idea would not have lacked the doctrinal justification or legitimisation that it needed, for the non-Mahāyāna sources seem to abound in doctrinal elements that could easily be used to underpin the concept of bodhicitta. In its early phase of development, the idea of generating bodhicitta probably meant only the initial resolve to become a buddha, a momentous decision made by an aspirant seeking Buddhahood (buddhatva). This was seen as an indispensable but not necessarily a sufficient condition for the attainment of Buddhahood. However, gradually the idea came to encompass the entire theory and practice of a bodhisattva and to be considered not only a necessary but in fact a sufficient condition for such an attainment. In the course of time, even the true reality that a bodhisattva or buddha experiences as a spiritual event, the meditative insight or gnosis by means of which the true reality is experienced, and all conceivable resources or means—be they psycho-physiological, visual, verbal, or visional impulses that could be employed for becoming a buddha—came to be regarded as bodhicitta. It is this idea as found explicated in Indian and Tibetan Mahāyāna Buddhism that the present study seeks to examine. (Wangchuk, introductory remarks, 21–22)

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Citation Wangchuk, Dorji. The Resolve to Become a Buddha: A Study of the Bodhicitta Concept in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. Studia Philologica Buddhica Monograph Series 23. Tokyo: International Institute for Buddhist Studies, 2007. https://dorjipenjore.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/the-resolve-to-become-a-buddha-a-study-of-the-bodhicitta-concept-in-indo-tibetan-buddhism.pdf.