An excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo from the Vow of Love series
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Having understood that all sentient beings are suffering, and having cultivated in your mind the aspiration of Bodhicitta, you should make fervent wishing prayers, constant wishing prayers. My teachers have told me that time and again great Bodhisattvas have been born in India and Tibet and their practice was not that extensive. They were not very educated in their practice; they were very simple people. But they were known in their previous incarnation for the heart-felt wishing prayers that they made. Because of the depth to which they desired to benefit beings, and through the force of their prayers alone, they were reborn in a form in which they could benefit a great many beings. So those prayers are exquisite.
Wishing prayers are important. They should be done in the morning and they should be done in the evening. They should be done every moment that you can be mindful of them. Make fervent prayers in your mind and your heart that you will, in this lifetime, benefit many beings and end their suffering. And that in all future lifetimes you will be reborn in a form in which you can benefit beings so that they might achieve enlightenment and have their suffering ended. Make prayers to cultivate in yourself that mind of enlightenment and to cultivate in yourself the pure intention to achieve enlightenment in order to benefit beings. That is the aspirational Bodhicitta, or practice of compassion.
© Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo
