万般靠不住，唯依菩提心

There are two levels of bodhicitta: relative and absolute bodhicitta. What we have discussed so far falls under relative bodhicitta. Absolute bodhicitta is realization of emptiness being the ultimate nature of all phenomena. Relative and absolute bodhicitta encompass the whole of Mahayana teachings; they are the quintessence of Mahayana Buddhism. Without bodhicitta, it would be impossible to practice Mahayana Buddhism. That is how vital bodhicitta is.

菩提心可分为两种：世俗菩提心和胜义菩提心。前面所讲是世俗菩提心，胜义菩提心就是证悟空性的智慧。胜义菩提心和世俗菩提心，已经涵盖了所有的大乘佛法，是大乘佛教的精髓。所以，没有菩提心，就没有办法修持大乘佛法，菩提心是非常重要的。

Genuine bodhicitta of a bodhisattva refers to the aspiration to give others whatever is needed unselfishly and unconditionally, which in hard times is a particularly difficult thing to do. When times are easy and lives comfortable, it may not be too difficult to make a wish now and then during meditation: “I vow to attain Buddhahood for the liberation of all sentient beings. It is for this purpose that I meditate and undergo spiritual training.”But bodhicitta aroused in this kind of condition is an unstable one.

大乘菩萨真正的菩提心，是指毫无自私地奉献、毫无条件地付出。尤其在遇到困难艰辛之时，能保持这种精神是极难的。平时我们在顺意安适之时，于修法打坐之中，偶尔生起“我为度化一切众生而发誓成佛，为了获得佛的果位，所以打坐、修行”的念头也许不是很难，但这种菩提心是不稳定的。

Only with repeated practices can we generate bodhicitta that is genuine and firm.

只有反反复复地修炼，才会生起真实、稳固的菩提心。

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Bodhicitta gives us the chance of going on the path of liberation. It is in essence the ultimate，true refuge. No matter who and what we are, everyone should have a refuge. What then should we take as our refuge? We all know that taking refuge in money, fame, or status is unreliable. How about our relatives, friends, or co-workers? Relatives and good friends can help us with some problems of this life, but they are completely powerless when it comes to solving the question of life and death. There is an analogy in the scriptures, “Two people, not knowing how to swim, are drowning at the same time; neither can save the other.” Likewise，relatives and friends, being ordinary people like us, are themselves entangled in the endless cycle of death and rebirth. How can they help us when they are helpless themselves? Hence, they are not reliable refuge either. What about taking refuge in some social organizations? Not viable either. The fact is, on the issue of breaking the cycle of death and rebirth and gaining liberation thence, no one can help us. The only refuge worthy of trust is the path to enlightenment, especially its key element, bodhicitta .

只有依靠菩提心，才有希望走上大乘佛法的解脱道，这是真正的依处。无论是谁，都应该有一个依处。那么，我们应该把什么作为自己的依处呢？每个人都知道，以金钱、名誉和地位为依处是靠不住的。亲人、朋友、同事可以作为依处吗？亲眷好友可以帮我们解决一些现世的生活问题，但是，在了脱生死的难题上，他们却无能为力。佛经里将此比喻为：两个不懂水性的人同时溺水，是谁也救不了谁的。同样，亲友和自己同是凡夫，同在生死轮回中流转，他们连自己都不能自救，又怎么能拯救我们呢？所以，把他们作为依处也是靠不住的。那么，以一些社会团体等为依处，是否靠得住呢？答案也是否定的。在解决生老病死、从轮回获得解脱的问题上，谁也帮不了我们。唯一值得我们依靠的就是解脱道，特别是菩提心。