▁R in po che ▁describes ▁three ▁degrees ▁of ▁bod h ic it ta : ▁The ▁way ▁of ▁the ▁King , ▁who ▁primarily ▁see ks ▁his ▁own ▁benefit ▁but ▁who ▁recogn izes ▁that ▁his ▁benefit ▁depends ▁cru cially ▁on ▁that ▁of ▁his ▁kingdom ▁and ▁his ▁subjects . ▁The ▁path ▁of ▁the ▁boat man , ▁who ▁fer ries ▁his ▁passengers ▁across ▁the ▁river ▁and ▁simultaneously , ▁of ▁course , ▁fer ries ▁himself ▁as ▁well , ▁and ▁finally ▁that ▁of ▁the ▁she ph erd , ▁who ▁makes ▁sure ▁that ▁all ▁his ▁sheep ▁arrive ▁safely ▁ahead ▁of ▁him ▁and ▁places ▁their ▁w elf are ▁above ▁his ▁own . ▁The ▁last , ▁the ▁way ▁of ▁the ▁she ph erd , ▁is ▁according ▁to ▁Pat r ul ▁R in po che ▁the ▁best ▁and ▁highest ▁way . ▁ ▁Orig ins ▁and ▁development ▁ ▁Early ▁Mah ā y ā na ▁Paul ▁Williams ▁describes ▁bod h ic it ta ▁in ▁Tib et an ▁Buddh ism , ▁referring ▁to ▁early ▁Mah ā y ā na ▁works , ▁as ▁a ▁bod his att va ▁mind ▁state ▁to ▁carry ▁out ▁actions : ▁ ▁Late ▁Mah ā y ā na ▁texts ▁Among ▁the ▁most ▁important ▁later ▁Tib et an ▁Buddh ism ▁source ▁texts ▁on ▁bod h ic it ta ▁are : ▁▁ ▁Ś ā nt ide va ' s ▁A ▁Guide ▁to ▁the ▁Bod his att va ' s ▁Way ▁Of ▁Life ▁( c . ▁ 7 0 0 ▁CE ), ▁ ▁Th og me ▁Z ang po ' s ▁Th irty - Se ven