Training the Mind

This Post will be added to over the next few weeks with corresponding verses found within the Pali Canon and other reflections on the individual verses.

In Buddhism training the mind is very important and as it says in the Dhammapada all that we are arises in the mind, so it makes sense that the mind is trained. I’m not going to ramble on about a form of meditation or Sutra but I am going to talk about the Eight Verses for Training the Mind (EV).

The EV are as the title says eight verses which were composed by Geshe Langri Thangpa (1054-1123)but this text belongs to the Tibetan Buddhist school of thought called Lojong which literally means “Training the Mind” or “Transforming the Mind” and is considered quite important that almost all Buddhist writers from Tibet have made a commentary on it which as far as I can see are all primarily the same with possibly one or two differences which are mainly minor although there is one verse which is or can be interpreted differently.

So here is my condensed commentary on The Eight Verses For Training The Mind.

VERSE 1
By thinking of all sentient beings
As even better than the wish-granting gem,
For actualizing the highest aim,
I will constantly practice holding them dear. 

The first verse is saying what the motivation is enlightenment not for oneself but to benefit others always, which as a goal is good but it implies something more to me, it implies attachment to that goal but if you don’t have attachment you already see things as they are not as you want them to be so it could be that this is verse rather than meaning attachment to the goal for those we have attachment for, but rather an aim to help in an altruistic fashion everyone despite how we feel about them?

VERSE2
Whenever I come into another’s company,
I will practice seeing myself as lower than anyone else,
And from the very depths of my heart,
May I respectfully hold others more highly than myself. 

Verse 2 is all about training in humility not having lofty ideas about yourself or others and not viewing others as lower than oneself, but the way it is worded in English anyway seems to me to be a cure for arrogance by using the opposite of surrendering oneself as a servant.

VERSE 3
Whatever I am doing, I will closely examine my mind,
And as soon as a disturbing emotion, or negative state arises,
Since these endanger myself and others,
May I firmly confront and avert them.

Verse three is keeping watch a reminder about where actions stem from (the mind) so it is better to watch the mind and stop thoughts and feelings that could cause either ourselves or others harm.

VERSE 4
Whenever I meet ill-natured beings,
Or those overpowered by negativities pain, or problems,
May I cherish and care for them as if I had found
A precious treasure difficult to find. 

Verse four is telling us that how to turn an enemy into a friend not with like but with love as it says in the Dhammapada Verse five "Hate does not cease to exist because of more hate, friendliness causes its end, this is an old truth."

VERSE 5
Whenever others, due to jealousy,
Mistreat me with abuse, slander and scorn, or in other unjust ways,
I will take the loss upon myself,
And give the victory to them.

Verse five can be interpreted two ways as literal with let people walk over us or using wisdom we see an argument can not be won or a person could be hurt if they loose so it is better for us to accept the defeat and walk away rather than the other person loosing and get hurt, as the ego can be hard to let go of at times and this is what the verse is on about, two people arguing one with ego and the other not.

VERSE 6
Even when someone I have helped,
Or in whom I have placed great expectations,
Were to harm me very badly,
may I see him as an admirable friend.

Verse six tells us how to develop patience by seeing even our enemies as Dhamma teachers.

VERSE 7
In brief, may I offer both directly and indirectly all help, 
Happiness and benefit to all beings, my mothers, 
And may I secretly take upon myself 
All of their harmful actions, pain and suffering.

Here it talks about helping others directly which can be face to face, or over the phone nowadays, but also indirectly which doesn't mean we give money to a charity but our actions have a rippling effect such as if I am nice to you and make you smile you are more likely to be nice to another, and taking on others harmful actions is not walking away from someone just because they are angry but trying to help them so that the next person they meet, meets a nicer person, although it could mean loving kindness meditation also.

VERSE 8
I will learn to keep all these practices,
Undefiled by the stains of the eight worldly concerns (gain/loss, pleasure/pain, praise/blame, fame/dishonour),
May I recognize the illusory nature of all existing things,
May I transcend the bondage of attachment and mistaken views of reality.

Here is the hope or wish that (like I said in the first verse) what we do is done from an unattached motivation to help even those who show us disdain, and what is done is done no matter what reaction we receive.

I hope this will be useful in your daily practice, as no matter what the tradition one follows there is a common thread running throughout the core of Buddhist traditions only certain emphases and expression may be slightly different.

At the end of the day I may be right, I may be wrong, but I share this hoping I am one or the other.