This can also be rendered by “initiation of…” because it means the mental event occurring when a living being, having been exposed to the teaching of the Buddha or of his magical emanations (e.g., Vimalakīrti), realizes simultaneously his own level of conditioned ignorance, i.e., that his habitual stream of consciousness is like sleep compared to that of one who has awakened from ignorance; the possibility of his own attainment of a higher state of consciousness; and the necessity of attaining it in order to liberate other living beings from their stupefaction. Having realized this possibility, he becomes inspired with the intense ambition to attain, and that is called the “conception of the spirit of enlightenment.” “Spirit” is preferred to “mind” because the mind of enlightenment should rather be the mind of the Buddha, and to “thought” because a “thought of enlightenment” can easily be produced without the initiation of any sort of new resolve or awareness. “Will” also serves very well here.

The altruistic resolve to achieve complete and perfect buddhahood for the sake of oneself and all sentient beings.

The setting of the mind on enlightenment for the sake of all beings, which marks the onset of the bodhisattva path and culminates in the actual attainment of buddhahood, distinguishes the bodhisattva path from that of the śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, who are both preoccupied with their own emancipation from cyclic existence.