Eight Verses Gatha

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  • Dan
    Member
    • Jun 2018
    • 30

    Eight Verses Gatha

    I found this last night on the Dalai Lama's website.
    https://www.dalailama.com/teachings/...-enlightenment (retrieved 6/19/2019)
    I though that repeating these verses in the morning would be a useful (though unattainable,) gatha by which to frame my business interactions during the work day. I thought the two pieces together formed a nice synopsis of the Bodhisattva way, and its more uplifting than reading the evening news. I hope I attached a pdf of the verses if you want to download them.

    Eight Verses for Training the Mind

    Daiai Lama

    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.

    Whenever I interact with someone,
    May I view myself as the lowest amongst all,
    And, from the depths of my heart,
    Respectfully hold others as superior.

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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.

    In brief, may I offer benefit and joy
    To all my mothers, both directly and indirectly,
    May I quietly take upon myself
    All the hurts and pains of my mothers.

    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.

    Generating the Mind for Enlightenment

    Dalai Lama

    With a wish to free all beings
    I shall always go to refuge
    To the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
    Until I reach full enlightenment.

    Enthused by wisdom and compassion,
    today in the Buddha’s presence
    I generate the Mind for Full Awakening
    for the benefit of all sentient beings.

    As long as space endures,
    As long as sentient beings remain,
    Until then may I too remain
    And dispel the miseries of the world.


    Dan Sat/lah
    Attached Files
  • Kokuu
    Treeleaf Priest
    • Nov 2012
    • 6844

    #2
    Hi Dan!

    I very much like these verses too, and they are part of a Tibetan Buddhist system of practice known as lojong (mind training) and originally composed by the Tibetan teacher Geshe Langri Thangpa (1054–1123). Lojong training essentially uses everything we encounter as a chance to practice and build up compassion and understanding.

    Our monthly Tonglen Practice Circle comes from this tradition and Zen teacher Norman Fischer has written about a similar training poem, the seven points of mind training, in his wonderful book Training in Compassion.

    In my opinion, although these methods and verses are not traditionally part of the Zen way, they can certainly be helpful additions to our practice.

    Gassho
    Kokuu
    -sattoday-

    Comment

    • Shonin Risa Bear
      Member
      • Apr 2019
      • 923

      #3
      Thank you both; this is very helpful. _()_

      gassho
      doyu sat today
      Visiting priest: use salt

      Comment

      • Kendrick
        Member
        • May 2019
        • 250

        #4
        Thank you for posting and sharing these, Dan. This is definitely something I needed to see this week.

        Gassho
        Kendrick
        Sat

        Comment

        • Ryudo
          Member
          • Nov 2015
          • 424

          #5

          Thank you Dan, for helping me start my day with the right mind.

          Gassho/SatToday
          流道
          Ryū Dou

          Comment

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