Becoming a bodhisattva starts with generating bodhicitta—an unwavering aspiration to awaken for the sake of all beings. This spark of compassionate intention can light up even the darkest corners of the mind. It’s like signing up for the most meaningful volunteer gig imaginable: a lifelong promise to set everyone free from suffering.

Next comes taking the formal vow. In many Mahāyāna sanghas, aspiring bodhisattvas recite pledges before a teacher or community, pledging never to turn back until every single being attains liberation. Imagine raising a hand and declaring, “Count me in, no matter what.”

The real work unfolds through the Six (or Ten) Pāramitās—generosity, ethics, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom, sometimes joined by skillful means, vow, power and knowledge. Picture these as checkpoints in a marathon: generosity sheds self-centered baggage; ethics keeps each stride honest; patience wards off burnout; effort fuels perseverance; concentration sharpens focus; wisdom unravels illusion. At COP28, climate activists embodied this bodhisattva spirit, going the extra mile for future generations.

Specialized methods—like the lojong practice of exchanging self for others—turn compassion into concrete action. Merit and insight accumulate through meditation, study and service: perhaps mentoring newcomers via popular mindfulness apps that surged during the pandemic, or volunteering at local shelters.

Guidance from mentors—whether traditional lamas or modern teachers—keeps motivation fresh. Retreats provide space to deepen vows, while everyday life becomes the proving ground. The result is a heart so vast it embraces grieving refugees, endangered rainforests and bustling city streets alike. That expansive compassion and relentless dedication mark the true Mahāyāna bodhisattva: one who walks the path of awakening hand in hand with every being on the planet.