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The Eight Verses on the Training of the Mind by Geshe Langri Thangpa (Translated by Geshe Rabten, Gonasar Tenzin Khedup and Lobsang Kalden. Printed in Four Essential Buddhist Commentaries* by His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1982.) With the determination of accomplishing the highest welfare for all sentient beings, who excel even the wish granting gem (Cintamani), may I at all times hold them dear! Whenever I associate with someone may I think myself the lowest among all and hold the other supreme in the depth of my heart! In all actions may I search into my mind, and as soon as Klesa arises, endangering myself and others, may I firmly face and avert it! When I see beings of wicked nature, pressed by violent sin and affliction, may I hold these rare ones dear as if I had found a precious treasure! When others out of envy treat me badly with abuse, slander and the like, may I suffer the defeat and offer the victory to others! When the one, whom I have benefited with great hope, hurts me very badly, may I behold him as my supreme Guru! In short may I, directly and indirectly, offer benefit and happiness to all my mothers; may I secretly take upon myself the harm and suffering of mothers! May all this remain undefiled by the stains of keeping in view the Eight Worldly Principles* may I by perceiving all Dharmas as illusive unattached be delivered from the bondage of Samasara! *In addition to the commentary on The Eight Versesthis book contains His Holiness commentary on the Song of the Four Mindfulnesses by the Seventh Dalai Lama. Recently, Glenn Mullin gave a series of teachings on this text at Loseling in Atlanta. The other two essential Buddhist texts in this book are: The Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices by Thogmey Zangpo and The Three Principal Aspects of the Path by Je Tsong-Khapa. *Eight Worldly Concerns: pleasure/pain, gain/loss, praise/blame, fame/ignominy. |
