— Lama Tsultrim Yeshe
A. Bodhicitta
Bodhicitta means both the awake mind and the mind that aspires to awaken.
BODHI means awake. CITTA means mind.
Here are some quotes (in bold type) from the White Tara practice by Jamgon Kongtrul:
I will develop bodhichitta in order to perfectly accomplish the benefit of myself and others.
The aspiration to develop bodhicitta and then, through listening and hearing, contemplation and practice, traveling the path.
Having developed the mind of perfect enlightenment, I will take care of all beings.
I will follow the beautiful, perfect conduct of the Bodhisattva.
I will act like a bodhisattva and continually work for the benefit of all beings to establish them in temporary and ultimate happiness.
May I attain Buddhahood so that I can benefit all beings.
The pith aspiration to engender bodhicitta.
B. Absolute and Relative Bodhicitta
Here is a quote (in bold type) from The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion through Training the Mind by Traleg Rinpoche:
“Absolute bodhicitta is our authentic and original state of being. There is an open, empty, clear, spacious and luminous clarity of mind that is beyond concepts, ideas or sensations.”
Absolute Bodhicitta: union of the sphere of phenomena and primordial wisdom.
Synonyms: Buddha nature, natural state, emptiness, the nature of mind, ordinary mind, ground of being.
“You could define absolute bodhicitta as wisdom mind (buddha nature) and relative bodhicitta as the cultivation of a compassionate heart.”
Relative bodhicitta is awakening so you can help others awaken. Its two aspects are aspiration and engagement. First you aspire to awakening, then you do what is necessary to bring it about, both in formal practice and throughout your daily life.
Compassionate heart is skillful means and a wisdom that is free of egocentric concerns.
Temporary benefit is reducing and eliminating temporary suffering of beings.
Ultimate benefit is leading beings to Buddhahood which is free of suffering.