Eight Verses of Training the Mind

Geshe Langri Tangpa

Eight Verses of Training the Mind (Tib. བློ་སྦྱོང་ཚིགས་རྐང་བརྒྱད་མ་, Wyl. blo sbyong tshigs rkang brgyad ma) — a famous text on lojong by Geshe Langri Tangpa.

Translation

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tibetan Commentaries

• Dge bshes 'Chad ka ba, blo sbyong tshigs rkang brgyad ma lo rgyus dang bcas pa
• Thu’u bkan Blo bzang chos kyi nyi ma, Blo sbyong tshigs brgyad ma’i khrid yig gces ‘dzin gdon ‘joms byangs sems chu rgyun

Translations & Contemporary Commentaries

• Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. In Dragpa, Chökyi. Uniting Wisdom and Compassion. Translated by Heidi I. Köppl (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2004)
• Dalai Lama. The Union of Bliss and Emptiness (Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 1988)
• Dalai Lama, His Holiness. Transforming the Mind (London: Thorsons, 2000)
• Dalai Lama, His Holiness. The Heart of Compassion: A Practical Approach to a Meaningful Life (Lotus Press, 2002), Chapter 23
• Dalai Lama, His Holiness and Rajiv Mehrotra. In My Own Words: An Introduction to My Teachings and Philosophy (Hay House, 2008), Chapter 8
• Dalai Lama, Lighting the Way (Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 2005)
• Dalai Lama, His Holiness. Kindness, Clarity and Insight (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 2006)
• Jinpa, Thupten. Mind Training: The Great Collection (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2006): contains translations of the root text and Geshe Chekawa's commentary
• Geshe Rabten, Gonsar Tenzin Khedup and Lobsang Kalden. In His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Four Essential Buddhist Commentaries (Dharamsala: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1982)
• Sermey Khensur Lobsang Tharchin, The Essence of Mahayana Lojong Practice: An Oral Commentary to Geshe Langri Tangpa's Mind Training in Eight Verses. Mahayana Sutra & Tantra Pr., 1997
• Sonam Rinchen, Geshe. Eight Verses for Training the Mind. Translated by Ruth Sonam (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 2001, revised 2006)
• Tashi Tsering, Geshe. The Awakening Mind: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2008)
• Thurman, Robert A. F.. Essential Tibetan Buddhism. Harper Collins. 1995
• Tsultrim Gyaltsen, Geshe. Compassion: The Key to Great Awakening (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1997)

Oral Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Ling Choktrul Rinpoche, Paris Rigpa centre, Levallois, 12th October 2005
• Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 11th December 2005

External Links

• Eight Verses of Training the Mind
• Greater than a Wish-Fulfilling Jewel: on the translation of the first of the Eight Verses
• Teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at dalailama.com
• Commentary on the Eight Verses of Thought Transformation by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Dharamsala, India, 1981. The Archive of the FPMT
• Translation and Commentaries at Berzin Archives