Book excerpt: The Resolve for Bodhi (bodhicitta), the aspiration to reach full Awakening for the sake of all living beings, is a core element of Mahayana Buddhism. This short text by Master Xing An (d. 1734) who lived in Hangzhou, provides instructions on the Resolve for Bodhi that fit well into the Chinese cultural context, while staying true to the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism. Mainly written for a monastic audience, the text provides an intriguing glimpse into the Buddhism of the Qing Dynasty, which is yet to receive much scholarly attention. At the same time, the text and its modern commentary by Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua also speak to the people of the twenty-first century, asking what makes our lives worth living. (Based on audio recordings of lectures given by Master Hua at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah, California, in 1979, and at Gold Mountain Monastery in San Francisco in 1985)