Mind Training in Poetic Expression

Homage to Guru Mañjughoṣa!

1. Homage to the Victor and his spiritual children.
   May all sentient beings that fill the world become happy.
   To that end, we’ll ponder poetic expressions of bodhisattva ways.
   We’ll joyously celebrate the victor’s Dharma.
   
2. To the buzzing swarms of fellow humans:
   Generate motivation rooted in the mystique of faith.
   Apply wisdom filled with open, robust insights.
   It is time to clean up the filth of negativities.
   
3. Because karma rules so forcefully,
   If negativities are not effaced quickly,
   We are powerless to choose even the happiness we know of
   Or to shun even the misery we face.
   
4. Most beings suffer from most of their actions.
   Even following the exalted teachings, some exalted disciples,
   Such as the elder, Ārya¹ Kubja,² and others,
   Had to face the pain of the law of karma.
   
5. Karma manifests—whether as increase or decrease of misery or joy,
   Whether one may be inspired or not by the Sugatas³ of the three times,
   Whether it is felt or not by innumerable beings,
   Whether one is connected or not with limitless others.
   
6. Recognizing the certainty of karmic consequences,
   From now on, determine to choose good actions over bad.
   From today on, avoid harmful deeds,
   From tonight on, engage in positive actions.
   
7. Right and wrong actions are functions of kind and unkind motivations.
   If motivations are kind, so are stages and paths.
   If motivations are unkind, so are stages and paths.
   So, it all depends on motivation.
   
8. Holding harsh thoughts of jealous rivalry with peers;
   Harboring attachment, hatred, and bias based on heredity;
   Don’t these only cause more harm to oneself?
   Reflect well on this time and again, oh learned ones.
   
9. There are those who mislead others into counter-dharmas,
   Where the trivial lures of attachment and craving
   Lead to suffering as the mind steadily sinks deeper.
   Look at the degree to which Devadatta⁴ was hateful and attached.
   
10. Instead, strive sincerely to generate kind thoughts.
    If thoughts are positive, a precious human life endowed with freedom is meaningful.
    If thoughts are negative, that same precious life is meaningless.
    Ensure that your thoughts are virtuous, oh friends.
    
11. Approach the scriptures’ words and meaning with a virtuous mind.
    First, study and contemplate to discern the meanings.
    Subsequently, having discerned and absorbed these,
    Meditate in solitary retreats, so a fuller meaning may be gleaned.
    
12. Thereafter, generate the mind meant only to benefit others
    By thinking of the kindness that they have imparted
    All those numerous times when they were our parents.
    Utilize every means to assist others, in order to profit all.
    
13. Acknowledging and striving to repay kindness
    Will benefit ourselves and others, both now and later.
    One who answers the kindness of others with offense
    Must be considered inferior even to beasts.
    
14. Oh fellow beings, follow the path of our teacher, the Buddha,
    Who, like a mother for her only child,
    Harbored a loving heart for all beings of degenerate times
    And taught the precious Dharma to all.
    
15. Born of inspiration, the mind that helps others is beautiful.
    The beauty of this mind in turn helps others.
    Thinking of the help gives reason to share the teaching.
    Sharing what is reasonable helps minds in need.
    
16. Train in kind-hearted perspectives—harmful thoughts will gradually diminish.
    Practice concentration—afflictive and cognitive obscurations will weaken.
    Cultivate compassion—virtues will naturally and automatically increase.
    Implement antidotes—afflictions will be overcome then and there.
    
17. Even foes have helped us, as relatives have harmed us.
    Against whom do we bear grudges, and whom do we not?
    When considered well, we find that everyone has been our parent or other kin.
    In short, reject hateful thoughts and adopt virtuous ones.
    
18. Do not hold on to hatred in your heart but grow kindness there.
    Meditate on what one has studied and strive to tame the mind.
    Shun meaningless worldly engagements; instead pursue meaning.
    If one somehow still insists on courting the world,
    Dharma and counter-dharma are determined by one’s state of mind.
    One can still transform [worldly] commotion into Dharma.
    
19. Remind yourself of this counsel:
    Right results in right. Wrong results in wrong.
    Thus, helpfulness brings happiness, and harmfulness suffering.
    Treat all as you would your teachers, parents, and other kin.
    
20. A little help towards others helps yourself.
    A little harm towards others harms yourself.
    A mean mind that torches the orchard of another’s joy
    Is a ditch collecting filth of cruel deeds and obscurations.
    Leave such senselessness far behind.
    
21. Generate respect for all practitioners.
    Cultivate love for all sentient beings.
    Pray that everyone you encounter has happiness.
    Imagine everything pervaded with joy.
    
22. Analyzing the teachings that engender joy and happiness,
    Employing the poetics that enhance the beauty of this text,
    The Dharma is joyfully celebrated here
    With the intent to steep faithful minds in its message.
    
23. This root text is written in simple poetic form.
    Its content is drawn from reliable sources and the insights of sages.
    Look at the words—the verses are intended to be enjoyed.
    Look at the meanings—ways of practicing Dharma are on display.
    
24. All teachings from the splendid texts are condensed here,
    Presented in these words so that fellow humans can see for themselves:
    With correct understanding and conviction, one progresses well.
    With intelligence, one may comprehend the words, but practice is the key.
    
25. Some compose with worthless, knotted words.
    Others present foolish and irrelevant babble.
    In this Land of Snows, Lobsang Drakpa
    Is the one who composes in clear, poetic meter.
    
26. From the towering clouds of inspiring, virtuous minds,
    Brightened by the lightning flashes of benevolent thoughts,
    A jewel-like rain of sublime joy and happiness flows.
    May all delight in the glory of happiness, here and hereafter.
    
27. May all—myself and countless other beings—
    Lay a stable base for realization of the teachings.
    May we secure all immeasurable benevolence and joy.
    May we attain the supreme and sublime accomplishment.

Written by the glorious Tsongkhapa, Lobsang Drakpa, in the main assembly hall of the Central Tshal complex.

Notes

1. 
   ārya (Pali. ariya). A title used for someone who has directly, nonconceptually realized the emptiness of inherent existence, and thus has transcended the first two of the five paths to culmination of a spiritual awakening. ↩︎
2. 
   Literally, the name means “a short person with a curving spine.” A certain monk of the Buddha’s order whose vile deeds committed against his mother in a previous life ripened into a series of hell births. Finally attaining a human birth, he had a curved spine and went hungry, compelling him to drink ash-gruel just before passing away, even though he had already attained arhatship. ↩︎
3. 
   An epithet of the buddhas meaning “one who has gone to bliss”, transcending all types of sufferings and obscurations. This epithet is often used in the scriptures to refer to Buddha Śākyamuni. So the reference here is to the Buddhas of the past, present, and future. ↩︎
4. 
   Devadatta was a cousin and brother-in-law of Gautama Siddhārtha, the Buddha. Devadatta eventually joined the order of the Buddha’s ordained disciples. Despite that, he remained an archrival of the Buddha till his very last day, always at loggerheads with the Buddha and competing against him. ↩︎