METHODS TO GENERATE BODHICITTA...

The '4 Point Mind Training' is based on cultivating four realisations: 1. Equanimity: One can cultivate the realisation that all sentient beings are equal in wanting happiness and not wanting suffering. Beings cannot really be divided into friends, enemies or strangers because friends may turn into enemies, enemies may become friends, and strangers may become friends or enemies. 2. Faults of self-cherishing: a consequence of karma is that self-cherishing is the only cause of my problems. 3. Good qualities of cherishing others: a consequence of karma is that cherishing others is the cause of all happiness. 4. Ex- changing self & others: being intelligently selfish, by continually trying to put oneself in the place of others, and then acting. The '7 Point Mind Training' is based on cultivation in 7 steps: 1. Equanimity. 2. All sentient beings have been or, at least, could have been my mother as I have lived innumerable lives. 3. Remember the kindness of your mother in this life, all she did for you, the problems she went through to take care of you. 4. Would it be great if I could repay her and all previous mothers' kindness. 5. Generate great love: may all mother sentient beings have happiness and the causes for happiness. 6. Generate great compassion: may all mother sentient beings be free from suffering and the causes for suffering. 7. I should give up all self-cherishing and egoism, and work to bring them happiness and release them from their suffering: therefore, may I become an omniscient Buddha, as he is the perfect doctor to cure the suffering of all mother sentient beings.
In the Tibetan tradition, the following verses are often recited to direct the mind towards generating Bodhicitta:
With a wish to free all beings I shall always go for refuge to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, until I reach full Enlightenment. Enthused by wisdom and compassion, today in the Buddhas' presence I generate the Mind for Full Awakening for the benefit of all sentient beings. As long as space remains, as long as sentient beings re- main, until then, may I too remain and dispel the miseries of the world.