Therefore we understand that all our experiences of happiness and suffering originate in our own mind. Enlightenment is when all of that is cleared away and when the sense of a self is purified. So on the ultimate level, within the real nature of the mind there is no division between self and other. And on the relative level, as long as we do perceive self and other, the practice of altruism is most important. Because when altruism arises, self-grasping diminishes just like an ice-block melting.
It is said that the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha are all subsumed in the practice of bodhicitta. So whatever practice we do, it is really all about bodhicitta. The Buddha did teach different levels of the path of Pratimoksha, the Bodhisattvas and the Vajrayana. He taught the independence on the different mental capacities of the individuals; higher, middling and lower. Today the empowerment belongs to the Vajrayana of the secret mantra and it is meant for those who possess a higher mental capacity so they can understand karma, cause and effect.
It is said that the Vajrayana is rich in skillful means and requires the least difficulty in practice. So this is the essence of the Vajrayana teachings. The Buddha had perfected the paramita of wisdom and the Vajrayana secret mantra is really taught for those with a higher level of wisdom or insight. What is this perfection of wisdom? We can recite the heart sutra and so on but what the perfection of wisdom really is, is to realize the true nature of the mind. Milarepa had said ‘aside from realizing the true nature of the mind, there is no other perfection of wisdom than that.” 🕊️🌿