Upon Arising and When Lying Down to Sleep
This is a method to help generate and maintain Bodhicitta apart from a formal ceremony or service. The method itself works best if it is developed into a daily practice rather than being employed “now and then”. It is rooted in the Seven Points of Mind Training or lojong which is a system that is closely related to the Six Perfections (six paramitas). The main focus or point of the method is to begin each day, right off the bat, with generating Bodhicitta and likewise ending the day doing the same. Actually, it’s not really ending the day but more like beginning sleep with Bodhicitta. Thus our daily activities and our time of sleep are both ‘sandwiched’ by the generation and thoughts of compassion and well-being for all sentient beings. There is nothing complicated about the method. In fact, it is very simple and straightforward.
Here is the method:
When one arises from sleep in the morning, before anything is spoken out loud and before one begins to think of the myriad of things that need to be done throughout the day, the following statement should be made:
“May all my efforts and activities of body, speech, and mind be for the benefit of all sentient beings. May all my activities go towards the fulfillment of my desire, that all sentient beings have happiness and its causes; may they never have suffering or its causes; may they continuously dwell in joy that transcends suffering; and may they all dwell in equal love for both near and far.”
At the end of one’s day, just before lying down to sleep, one should make the following statement:
“May I have restful and refreshing sleep in order to be of benefit to all sentient beings. May I continue to practice even in the dream realm for the benefit of all sentient beings, fulfilling the wish that all sentient beings have happiness and its causes; may they never have suffering or its causes; may they continuously dwell in joy that transcends suffering; and may they all dwell in equal love for both near and far.”
This method is not meant to “replace” daily practice and meditations. Its purpose is to help keep the Bodhicitta principle at the forethought of the mind. Starting and ending every day with the attitude of compassion and loving-kindness (karuna and maitri) will begin to influence everything else that one does throughout the day and night.
