This is the first day of Paramita Week

All practices of giving take place in view of an ideal, a mental model of admirable beings who demonstrate what a life of generosity would be like. Buddhists call this mental model the “thought of enlightenment” (bodhicitta). In the most general sense, this is an initial idea, hope, or sense that superior forms of human life are possible and that “I” can gradually transform myself toward these freer forms of life. As soon as this ideal is firmly in mind to the point that it begins to influence and change what one desires, then the discipline is already under way. To begin the process, one works toward habituating oneself in the performance of certain actions, both mental and physical. Images of the goal – generosity at the most mature level imaginable – serve to provide reasons to act and motivation to undergo the discipline of practice.