8 Verses For Training the Mind

Transcription

1 8 Verses For Training the Mind -- Geshe Langri Tangpa (AD ) 1. With a determination to achieve the highest aim For the benefit of all sentient beings Which surpasses even the wish-fulfilling gem, May I hold them dear at all times. 2. Whenever I interact with someone, May I view myself as the lowest amongst all, And, from the very depths of my heart, Respectfully hold others as superior. 3. In all my deeds may I probe into my mind, And as soon as mental and emotional afflictions arise- As they endanger myself and others- May I strongly confront them and avert them. 4. When I see beings of unpleasant character Oppressed by strong negativity and suffering, May I hold them dear-for they are rare to find- As if I have discovered a jewel treasure! 5. When others, out of jealousy Treat me wrongly with abuse, slander, and scorn, May I take upon myself the defeat And offer to others the victory. 6. When someone whom I have helped, Or in whom I have placed great hopes, Mistreats me in extremely hurtful ways, May I regard him still as my precious teacher. 7. In brief, may I offer benefit and joy To all my mothers, both directly and indirectly, May I quietly take upon myself All hurts and pains of my mothers. 8. May all this remain undefiled By the stains of the eight mundane concerns; And may I, recognizing all things as illusion, Devoid of clinging, be released from bondage. -- translation Geshe Thupten Jinpa

2 Eight Verses for Training the Mind by Langri Thangpa With a determination to accomplish The highest welfare for all sentient beings Who surpass even a wish-granting jewel I will learn to hold them supremely dear. Whenever I associate with others I will learn To think of myself as the lowest among all And respectfully hold others to be supreme From the very depths of my heart. In all actions I will learn to search into my mind And as soon as an afflictive emotion arises Endangering myself and others Will firmly face and avert it. I will learn to cherish beings of bad nature And those oppressed by strong sins and suffering As if I had found a precious Treasure very difficult to find. When others out of jealousy treat me badly With abuse, slander, and so on, I will learn to take on all loss, And offer victory to them. When one whom I have benefited with great hope Unreasonably hurts me very badly, I will learn to view that person As an excellent spiritual guide. In short, I will learn to offer to everyone without exception All help and happiness directly and indirectly And respectfully take upon myself All harm and suffering of my mothers. I will learn to keep all these practices Undefiled by the stains of the eight worldly conceptions And by understanding all phenomena as like illusions Be released from the bondage of attachment. -- translation Khandro Net

3 8 Verses For Training the Mind By Geshe Langri Thangpa 1. By thinking of all sentient beings As more precious than a wish-fulfilling jewel For accomplishing the highest aim, I will always hold them dear. 2. Whenever I m in the company of others, I will regard myself as the lowest among all, And from the depths of my heart Cherish others as supreme. 3. In my every action, I will watch my mind, And the moment destructive emotions arise, I will confront them strongly and avert them, Since they will hurt both me and others. 4. Whenever I see ill-natured people, Or those overwhelmed by heavy misdeeds or suffering, I will cherish them as something rare, As though I d found a priceless treasure. 5. Whenever someone out of envy Does me wrong by attacking or belittling me, I will take defeat upon myself, And give the victory to others. 6. Even when someone I have helped, Or in whom I have placed great hopes Mistreats me very unjustly, I will view that person as a true spiritual teacher. 7. In brief, directly or indirectly, I will offer help and happiness to all my mothers, And secretly take upon myself All their hurt and suffering. 8. I will learn to keep all these practices Untainted by thoughts of the eight worldly concerns. May I recognize all things as like illusions, And, without attachment, gain freedom from bondage. -- translation Lotsawahouse.org

4 The Eight Verses of Training the Mind By Geshe Langri Tangpa (AD ) With the intention to attain The ultimate, supreme goal That surpasses even the wishe granting jewel, May I constantly cherish all living beings. Whenever I associate with others, May I view myself as the lowest of all; And with a perfect intention, May I cherish others as supreme. Examining my mental continuum throughout all my actions, As soon as a delusion develops Whereby I or others would act in appropriately, May I firmly face it and avert it. Whenever I see unfortunate beings Oppressed by evil and violent suffering, May I cherish them as if I had found A rare and precious treasure. Even if someone I have helped And of whom I had great hopes Nevertheless harms me without any reason, May I see him as my holy Spiritual Guide. When others our of jealousy Harm me or insult me, May I take defeat upon myself And offer them the victory. In short, may I directly and indirectly Offer help and happiness to all my mothers, And secretly take upon myself All their harm and suffering. Furthermore, through all these method practices, Together with a mind undefiled by stains of conceptions of the eight extremes And that sees all phenomena as illusory, May I be released from the bondage of mistaken appearance and conception. -- translation Tharpa Publications

5 Mind Training in Eight Verses Langri Tangpa Dorjé Sengé ( ) Each sentient being is to me More valuable than a magic gem. Because my aim is the highest good, I will always treasure them. No matter where, no matter who, In no way am I better, I deem. As for others, in my heart I hold them humbly in high esteem. Whatever I m doing, I check inside. As soon as any reactions arise That threaten others or threaten me, I dispel them at once, unequivocally. When I see someone bad or evil, His wicked life weighing him down, Being so rare, I treasure him As if a priceless gem I d found. When scorn and insult become my lot, Expressions of some jealousy, I alone accept defeat And award the other victory. Whenever someone I have helped, For whom I had great hopes and plans, Betrays me without cause or ground, I honor him as a teacher I ve found. To sum up, one way or another, Joy and good to my mothers I send. Their pain and struggles, again and again, Known only to me I take right in. All these, then, I will not degrade With aims based on the eight concerns. Knowing experience is a magic spell, I don t attach the chains let go. -- translation Ken McLeod