If you walk with bodhicitta, every step becomes the cause of the highest happiness, peerless enlightenment, for all sentient beings. Walk with strong awareness, thinking, ‘‘Each sentient being, each person, each insect, is the source of all my past, present and future happiness.’’ This is called remembering sentient beings’ ‘‘extensive’’ kindness. Reflecting on the four ways that all sentient beings have been kind to you as mother—giving you your precious human body, protecting you from harm, providing you with enjoyments and making sure that you receive a good education—is called awareness of their ‘‘numberless’’ kindness. As you walk with this awareness, whenever you see another sentient being, try to feel that being’s kindness in particular. Whenever you practice these recollections, the conclusion that you should reach is the wish to free them from suffering and bring them all happiness; the wish to lead them all to enlightenment.
From the moment you leave home, practice mindfulness, keeping bodhicitta constantly in mind by thinking continuously, ‘‘The purpose of my life is to free all sentient beings from suffering and bring them happiness.’’ Think like this with everybody you see—on the road, in shops, restaurants and cars, anybody you pass on foot and animals and insects everywhere. Walking back, again maintain constant awareness of bodhicitta until you get home.
This is the secret to enjoying life, to living a happy life in a meaningful way without allowing your ego to cheat you.