An Interview with HH17 Karmapa Thaye Dorje - #2
Menlo Park, California, USA, sept 2003

BT: Could you explain more about bodhicitta?
Karmapa: Bodhicitta is a Sanskrit word. In Tibetan we use the terms monpa sem khyed and jukpa sem khyed. Sem means mind and khyed means to generate, to generate the bodhicitta mind both in an intentional and actual way. Monpa sem khyed is the intentional practice of bodhicitta, and jukpa sem khyed is active bodhicitta.
First one has to see the samsaric world as suffering, then see that sentient beings are caught in this suffering. On the basis of this understanding, one then develops a commitment to remove suffering and give happiness instead. In Tibetan we call it jampa and nyinje. Jampa means to give happiness, and nyinje means to take away suffering. This is quite simple and basic. I think the English terms are "loving kindness" (jampa) and "compassion" (nyinje).
To give lasting happiness does not mean doing charity work but teaching the dharma and helping beings understand the meaning of the dharma, how to use it and how to practice it. Both intentional and active bodhicitta are necessary.
Bodhicitta is important when it comes to dharma activity. We have to help others as well as ourselves. By helping others we will gain more understanding, and by helping ourselves we will be able to help others more. It works both ways.

BT: What exactly is active Bodhicitta?
Karmapa: Aspiring or intentional bodhicitta is a commitment to reach the state of enlightenment, while active bodhicitta is to actually engage in the path to enlightenment. Active bodhicitta is courage. It is not just making wishes and then running away, but putting them into action, taking the situation into your hands and getting into it. Active bodhicitta involves the Six Paramitas (liberating actions).

BT: For example, when you give teachings or initiations, or when someone starts a Buddhist meditation center, is that active bodhicitta?
Karmapa: Active bodhicitta is a combination of both intention and action. Without an intention, what would one do? When building a center, giving teachings and initiations, or even meditating, we need the intention of doing it to help others, don't we?

BT: You are the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage. What is the Karma Kagyu lineage?
Karmapa: Ka in Tibetan means all the instructions, and gyu means the transmission that has been passed on from one realized master to the next. The transmission is pure, clear and without fault. The Karma Kagyu lineage comes from Tilopa and Naropa. Tilopa received the transmission directly from Dorje Chang and from the realized masters of the four directions of India. It was then passed to Marpa, Milarepa and down to Gampopa. Gampopa gave the transmission to his three main disciples, especially to the first Karmapa Dusum Kyenpa. They used to call the first Karmapa "Khampa Use." Khampa is a region in eastern Tibet, and use means gray hair.
Our Kamtsang Kagyu starts with the first Karmapa. Our main practices are the Six Yogas of Naropa and Mahamudra. Mahamudra is the Sanskrit term we use in the Kagyu school. In Tibetan it is Chag Gya Chenpo, and it is a specific teaching to our lineage of meditating directly on the nature of mind. Of course there are other terms for Mahamudra within the Nyingmapa and Gelugpa schools, like Tawa Chenpo, Uma Chenpo and Dzogpa Chenpo.