arousing the aspiration for enlightenment; resolving to attain Buddhahood
Buddhist term (yojijukugo) for the initial resolve to seek enlightenment and embrace the Buddhist path. Often used in Mahayana contexts.
Arousing the aspiration for enlightenment is one of the fundamental practices of Mahayana Buddhism.
菩提心 is the mind of enlightenment itself, while 発菩提心 refers to the act of generating or awakening that mind.
From 発 (to arouse, to generate) + 菩提心 (bodhicitta, the mind of enlightenment). A Sino-Japanese Buddhist term corresponding to Sanskrit bodhicittotpāda.