All too often, though, even so-called Buddhists misunderstand bodhichitta and reduce it to little more than compassionate loving-kindness. Love, compassion and wanting to make people happy are very popular ideals these days and are often promoted as bodhichitta’s most important features. We forget that without bodhichitta there would be no mahayana or vajrayana Buddhism, and that the most crucial aspect of both these yanas is the wisdom of understanding shunyata (emptiness). Without wisdom, compassion alone is not “bodhichitta,” and vice versa; both qualities are essential.

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Further quotes from the book Not for Happiness:

• To reject your aggression is a weakness
• Where does low self-esteem come from
• Adapting the Dharma
• Dealing with Emotions
• As they truly are
• Altruism bolsters self-confidence
• The signs of progress
• Just space
• Life is a stream of sensory illusions
• What is merit
• Avoid being distracted
• Absolutely nothing genuinely works
• Self Trapped
• Remain alone and practise the dharma
• Not designed to cheer you up
• Sign of a mature practitioner
• No end to samsara’s sufferings
• Intention to benefit all sentient beings
• Wishing happiness for those who have hurt you
• Filtered perception