Today I asked one of my friends, “Do you think I could live a monastic life?” After a short discussion about leaving a city-dependent life and other things, he then asked if my goal of doing that was to go to Heaven. I then explained very briefly the differences and goals of the Mahayana and Theravada traditions.
In Theravada, monastic life is usually more strict than monastic life in Mahayana. The goal of the Theravadans is to attain Arahatship; to become an Arahat, liberated from all suffering and ending their cycle of Samsara (rebirth). In Mahayana the goal is to become a Bodhisattva. “One who follows the Mahayana is a Bodhisattva, or truly aspires to be a Bodhisattva… A Bodhisattva is one who has generated the “Awaking Mind” (Bodhicitta), that astonishingly rare but totally transformative intention to work solely for the benefit of others right up to Buddhahood, the full development of one’s own potential” (from the book The Bodhicaryãvatãra by Crosby and Skilton).
To add more information, from the same book, “With a characteristically Buddhist love of classification, Sãntideva refers in general to two types of Awakening Mind (I. 15-16). The one, termed ‘the Mind resolved on Awakening,’ is like someone really wishing to go on a journey, really wishing from the depths of one’s heart to follow the path of a Bodhisattva. The ‘Mind proceeding towards Awakening’ is actually embarking on the long and difficult path of insight and alturism, the Mahãyãna journey. Thus one who truly wishes to be an active and altruistic Bodhisattva can also be said to have the Awakening Mind – to be a Bodhisattba – albeit in a derived and lesser sense.”
Some argue that it takes attaining Bodhicitta to become a Bodhisattva, while others say that just by following Mahayana and accepting the Bodhisattva Vows you can be a Bodhisattva. Regardless, Bodhisattvas don’t announce they’re Bodhisattvas – in doing so, it might be believed that they’re after fame or recognition, which is a huge no-no! Only Buddhas can recognize other Buddhas, and the same with Bodhisattvas. Basically, it takes one to know one!
Anyway, back to my discussion with the friend – As I was explaining what a Bodhisattva is, Bodhisattvas intentionally delay their own Enlightenment in order to Enlighten all sentient beings from Samsara by practicing the Six Paramitas (Perfections). So they continue to live in Samsara until everyone else is out of Samsara and then they can finally enter into Enlightenment themselves.
Regardless of what anyone says or believes who can or can’t be a Bodhisattva, Mahayana encourages everyone to become a Bodhisattva and take the Bodhisattva Vows. Becoming a Bodhisattva should be everyone’s goal who practices Mahayana. You don’t have to be a monk or nun to be a Bodhisattva. You can be a corporate executive, a stay-at-home mom, or a homeless person and be a Bodhisattva as ling as you follow the 18 major vows and and forty-six minor vows of the Bodhisattvas.
Smile and be well!