Enlightenment is the liberation from suffering by finding meaning within

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" Enlightenment . . . it is the liberation from suffering . . .

and of the potential spark of Illumination within us. The discovery

of this spark is the beginning of the Bodhisattva-Path, which

achieves the liberation from suffering and from the fetters of

egohood not by a negation of life, but by service to our fellow-

beings, while striving towards Perfect Enlightenment. Therefore it

is said in Santideva's immortal work 'The Path towards

Enlightenment' (Bodhicaryavatara):

 

He who wants to avoid the hundredfold pain of existence,

Who wants to still the suffering of sentient beings,

Who wants to enjoy the hundredfold happiness [of the spirit],

Such a one must never abandon the Thought of Enlightenment.

As soon as the thought of Enlightenment takes root in him,

The miserable one who is fettered by passions to the prison of

existence becomes immediately a son of the Buddhas.

He becomes worthy of veneration in the world of men and of gods.

As soon as this thought has taken possession of this unclean body it

transforms it into the precious gem of a Buddha's body.

Therefore, take hold of this elixir, which causes this wonderful

transformation, and which is called the Thought of Enlightenment.   

 

Bodhi-citta is here the spark of that deeper consciousness, which in

the process of enlightenment is converted from a latent into an

active all-penetrating and radiating force. Before this awakening

has taken place, our existence is a senseless running about in

circles; and since we cannot find any meaning within ourselves, the

world around us appears equally meaningless. "                 

                      

Lama Anagarika Govinda, Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism