Two Dimensions of a Bodhisattva
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies February 20, 2024 Douglas Duckworth 1 citation
A bodhisattva, the ideal of Mahayana Buddhism, can be understood through two complementary dimensions. One is a "top-down" approach: contemplative practices that unveil a pure, already-present nature by removing obscurations. The other is a "bottom-up" approach: directed training and discipline that breaks the cycle of suffering by turning the mind away from habitual, destructive patterns toward spontaneous and skillful responses. The paper argues these orientations are not opposed but complementary aspects of a bodhisattva's practice.