Eight Verses of Training the Mind

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

Sogyal Rinpoche, Hombroich, May 2001
Sogyal Rinpoche, San Francisco, June 2001
Sogyal Rinpoche, Geneva, June 2005
Ling Choktrul Rinpoche, Paris Rigpa centre, Levallois, 12 October 2005
Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 11 December 2005
Sogyal Rinpoche, Kirchheim, January 2006
Sogyal Rinpoche, London, January 2006
Sogyal Rinpoche, San Diego, 29 November-2 December 2012
Sogyal Rinpoche, Sydney, 29 March-1 April 2013
Alak Zenkar Rinpoche, Haileybury Retreat, UK, 8 April 2013
Sogyal Rinpoche, Myall Lakes, Australia, 21 & 24 January 2015
Ling Choktrul Rinpoche, Sydney Rigpa centre, Australia, 27 April 2016

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