The Root Text of the Seven Points of Mind Training

The Root Text of the

Seven Points of Mind Training

The Seven Points of Mind

Training in the Mahayana

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I. Preliminaries: A Basis for Dharma Practice

1. First, train in the preliminaries

II. The Main Practice, Training in Bodhichitta

A. Ultimate Bodhichitta

2. Regard all phenomena as dreams.

3. Investigate the nature of unborn awareness.

4. Even the antidote is released in its ground.

5. Rest within the all-basis, the essential nature.

6. In post-meditation, regard all beings as illusions.

B. Relative Bodhichitta

7. Alternately practice sending and taking; these two should ride the breath.

8. Three objects, three poisons, and three roots of virtue.

9. In all your activities, train with these words.

10. Begin the sequence of sending and taking with yourself.

III. Transforming Adverse Conditions into the

Path of Awakening

11. When the world is filled with negativity, transform adverse conditions into the path of awakening.

A. Relative Bodhichitta

12. Drive all blame into one.

13. Be grateful to everyone and everything.

B. Ultimate Bodhichitta

14. Seeing delusive appearances as the four kayas is the unexcelled protection emptiness gives.

C. Special Practices

15. The best method entails four practices.

16. Whatever you meet, instantly join it with meditation.

IV. Blending Mind with the Practice throughout Your Life

A. What to Do during Your Daily Life

17. Practice the five powers, the condensed heart instructions.

B. What To Do at Death

18. The Mahayana instructions for transferring consciousness at death are the five powers; the way you behave matters.

V. How to Evaluate Your Mind Training

19. All the Buddha’s dharma converges on a single point.

20. Of the two witnesses, attend to the principal one.

21. At all times, rely only on a joyful mind.

22. If you can practice even when distracted, you are well trained.

VI. The Commitments of Mind Training

23. Always train in the three basic principles.

24. Change your attitude and be natural.

25. Don’t speak ill of others’ shortcomings.

26. Don’t ponder the affairs of others.

27. Work with the stronger afflictions first.

28. Send away any hope for results.

29. Avoid poisonous food.

30. Don’t be so constant.

31. Don’t get riled by critical remarks.

32. Don’t lie in ambush.

33. Don’t strike at weak points.

34. Don’t transfer a dzo’s burden onto an ox.

35. Don’t aim to be the fastest.

36. Don’t act with a twist.

37. Don’t turn gods into demons.

38. Don’t seek others’ pain as the limbs of your happiness.

VII. Guidelines for Mind Training

39. All practices should be done with one intention.

40. One practice corrects everything.

41. At the start and finish, an activity to be done.

42. Whichever of the two occurs, be patient.

43. Maintain these two, even at the risk of your life.

44. Train in the three difficult points.

45. Take up the three main causes.

46. Pay attention that these three things do not diminish.

47. Keep the three inseparable.

48. Train impartially in all areas; deep, pervasive, and constant training is crucial.

49. Always meditate on what aggravates you.

50. Don’t be swayed by outer circumstances.

51. This time practice is central.

52. Don’t make mistakes.

53. Don’t fluctuate.

54. Train with your whole heart.

55. Free yourself through examination and analysis.

56. Don’t make a big deal about it.

57. Don’t let being irritated tie you up.

58. Don’t overreact.

59. Don’t expect a standing ovation.

This essential elixir of instruction,

Transforming the five kinds of degeneration

Into the path of awakening,

Is a transmission from Serlingpa.

Having awakened the karmic energy of previous training

I was moved by deep devotion;

Therefore, ignoring suffering and criticism,

I sought out instruction on how to subdue ego-fixation.

Now when I die, I’ll have no regret.

These concluding verses are from Geshe Chekawa Yeshe Dorje, who wrote this text.

Translated by Michele Martin

Lord Buddha Shakyamuni Sadhana

 

Lord Buddha Shakyamuni Sadhana

Prepare for this meditation by focusing your attention on the breath to calm the mind. Then bring the attention to the suffering that all sentient beings undergo: the sufferings of heat and cold; hunger and thirst. Just as I experience many sufferings, remember that all mother sentient beings experience suffering at least equal to--if not greater than--my own. I determine to undertake this practice in order to awaken my own buddha-nature, quickly attain enlightenment, and lead all other sentient beings to that same state of permanent, lasting happiness.

Visualization of Buddha as refuge

In the space before me, at the level of my forehead, I visualize a jewel-encrusted, golden throne. Each corner is supported by two snow lions; the embodiment of bodhisattvas. On a fully opened lotus; on disks of sun and moon cushions sits Buddha Shakyamuni. Buddha's body is made of golden light. Seated in the "full vajra" or lotus posture, He is dressed in the robes of a monk. His face is serene and beautiful; each hair on his head is individually curled to the right; his ear lobes are long; and his eyes are slightly opened. His left hand rests in his lap in the meditation pose, holding a begging bowl filled with nectar. The palm of his right hand rests on his right knee and his fingers touch the moon disk upon which he sits; this symbolizes his great control over anger, attachment and ignorance.


Taking Refuge

From my heart, I recite the refuge prayer and visualize that streams of golden-white light radiate from the Buddha's body in all directions, blessing me and all sentient beings. I imagine also that I am surrounded in space by all sentient beings in human form; I imagine that I lead all these sentient beings in reciting the refuge:

In order to obtain perfect enlightenment, I vow from now on to go for refuge to the Guru and three precious gems, and not abandon sentient beings. I will practice the six perfections. (3x)


Requests and Inspiration

From my heart, I generate the request to the Buddha that he grant me inspiration to follow the path to full enlightenment; on behalf of all living beings trapped in samsara. Rays of light stream from the Buddha. This light enters my body and quickly removes all negativities, obscurations and hindrances, freeing me to progress quickly on the path. This light flows not only to me, but to all living beings in space around me. They all receive inspiration and blessings. Repeat the mantra many times.
OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI YE SOHA


The Blessing of Body, Speech and Mind

I imagine that rays of light stream from the crown of Buddha's head to my crown; this light purifies the negativities of my body and removes the hindrances to attaining the enlightened body of a Buddha.
OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI YE SOHA

Rays of light then stream from the Buddha's throat to mine, purifying the negativities of my speech and removing hindrances to attaining the enlightened speech that communicates clearly to all sentient beings, regardless of their level or capacity.
OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI YE SOHA

Finally, rays of light emanate from the Buddha's heart and enter my own heart center. This light purifies the negativities of my mind and removes hindrances to the awakened, omniscient mind.
OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI YE SOHA

Imagine that these light rays flow to all sentient beings, helping them to quickly reach a state of supreme awareness. I maintain this visualization for as long as I can, reciting the mantra while the light continues to stream from the Buddha to me and all sentient beings. Imagine that nectar accompanies the light and nourishes me completely.


Absorption

The Buddha’s throne is absorbed into the lotus, the lotus into the moon, the cushions into the Buddha. Buddha now comes to the crown of my head, dissolves into brilliant, white light and enters into my body through the crown, filling my body with brilliant light. I feel great bliss and joy as my body, speech, and mind are completely transformed. I hold this feeling for as long as I can, experiencing the removal of all hindrances and obstructions.

From this state, imagine in the space where I am sitting, arising from emptiness, that I am seated in the same aspect as the Buddha before. I visualize and feel that I have attained the enlightened compassion and wisdom of buddhahood.

At my heart appear sun and moon disks. At the center of the moon disk, standing upright, is the syllable MUM. Surrounding this are the syllables of Shakyamuni Buddha's name mantra:
OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI YE SOHA

Streams of light flow from the MUM and mantra at my heart center to all sentient beings, completely removing their hindrances, obstructions, wrong views, delusions and traces of ignorance; thereby transforming them into the form of the Buddha as well. I meditate in this way for as long as possible, reciting the mantra quietly to myself.


Dedication

May my capacity for compassion be infinite. I dedicate these efforts to complete and total enlightenment so that I may be of benefit to all sentient beings. May it be so!


Sarva Manglam

 

 

Brain Exercise Meditation

The 6 Step Brain Exercise Meditation

Step #1

Sit cross-legged in a quiet, peaceful place. According to the Hindu religion, the cross-legged pose awakens ‘kundalini’ – dormant energy in the body.

Step #2

Close your eyes and focus on your existing thoughts. Your goal is not to change them or make them simpler; all you’re trying to do is pay attention to them. Pay attention to how your thoughts jump from one topic to another. Do this for five minutes.

Step #3

That wild, crazy flow you’re observing? Buddhists refer to that as the ‘monkey mind.’ In this step, you’re going to try and shift focus to your ‘ox mind.’ The ‘ox mind’ is aware of the chaos around it but it simply contemplates life.

Step #4

As you notice yourself toying with the idea of your ‘ox mind,’ ask your brain to slow down. Don’t try to force it; just ask:

“Try imagining your inner ox walking unhurriedly down a country road. This mental picture should help you pacify your inner ape. Don’t expect it to fall asleep at once. Apes are naturally restless! Nevertheless, you’ll soon notice your inner ape become more placid, and less prone to hustle and bustle.”

When you feel like your ‘ox mind’ has taken over, move onto the next step.

Step #5

Continue concentrating on your ‘ox mind.’ You should feel your breathing slowing down. You’ll become aware of the sensations in your body such as the flow of air. As you open your eyes, the world should appear much different than when you first shut it out. The objects around you should appear just as your thoughts – not requiring change.

Step #6

Keep practicing this. With time, you’ll become in tune with yourself and your time spent meditating will fly right by. Ideally, this should become an instinct. Whenever you’re faced with a problem you can’t seem to solve, practice Meditation.

Medicine Buddha Sadhana

Medicine Buddha Sadhana

Visualization

About four inches above the crown of my head is a lotus flower. In the center of the lotus is a white moon disk and seated on the moon disk is my root Guru the dharmakaya essence of all the buddhas in the form of the Medicine Buddha. He is blue in color and his body radiates blue light. His right hand, in the mudra of granting sublime realizations, rests on his right knee and holds the stem of the arura plant between thumb and first finger. His left hand is in the mudra of concentration and holds a lapis lazuli bowl filled with nectar. He is seated in the full vajra position and is wearing the triple robes of dharma . He has all the signs and qualities of a buddha.

Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta

I go for refuge until I am enlightened.

To the Buddha, the Dharma, and the supreme assembly.

By my practice of giving and other perfections,

May I become a buddha in order to benefit all sentient beings. (3x)

The Four Immeasurable Thoughts

May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.

May all sentient beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.

May all sentient beings never be separated from the happiness that is without suffering.

May all sentient beings abide in equanimity, free from both attachment and hatred, holding some close and others distant.

Cultivating Special Bodhichitta

Especially for the benefit of all sentient beings, I will quickly, very quickly, attain the precious state of perfect and complete buddhahood. For this reason I will practice the yoga method of Guru Medicine Buddha.

Seven-Limb Prayer

I prostrate to Guru Medicine Buddha.

Each and every offering, including those actually performed and those mentally transformed, I present to you.

I confess all non-virtuous actions accumulated since beginningless time.

I rejoice in the virtues of both ordinary and noble beings.

As our guide I request you, O Buddha, to please abide well and turn the wheel of Dharma until samsara ends.

All virtues, both my own and those of others, I dedicate to the ripening of the two bodhichittas and the attainment of buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings.

Mandala offering

This ground, anointed with perfume, strewn with flowers,

Adorned with Mount Meru, four continents, the sun and the moon.

I imagine this as a buddhafield and offer it.

May all living beings enjoy this pure land!

IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRYATAYAMI

Prayers of Request

I beseech you, Bhagavan Medicine Guru – whose sky-colored holy body of lapis lazuli signifies omniscient wisdom and compassion as vast as limitless space – please grant me your blessings.

I beseech you, compassionate Medicine Guru – who hold in your right hand the king of medicines symbolizing your vow to help all pitiful sentient beings plagued by the 424 diseases – please grant me your blessings.

I beseech you, compassionate Medicine Guru – who hold in your left hand a bowl of nectar symbolizing your vow to give the glorious undying nectar of the Dharma that eliminates the degenerations of sickness, old age, and death – please grant me your blessings.

Visualization

Above the crown of Guru Medicine Buddha is a wish-granting jewel, which is in essence my Guru.

Above that is the Buddha Delightful King of Clear Knowing (Ngön khyen gyäl po), whose body is coral red in color, his right hand in the mudra of bestowing sublime realiza- tions and his left hand in the mudra of concentration.

Above him is the Buddha Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma (Chö drag gya tso yang), with a dark pink-colored body, his right hand in the mudra of bestowing sublime realizations and his left hand in the mudra of concentration.

Above him is the Buddha Supreme Glory Free from Sorrow (Nya ngän me chog), light pink in color with both hands in the mudra of concentration.

Above him is the Buddha Stainless Excellent Gold (Ser zang dri me), gold in color, his right hand in the mudra of expounding the Dharma and his left hand in the mudra of concen- tration.

Above him is the Buddha King of Melodious Sound, Brilliant Radiance of Skill, Adorned with Jewels, Moon, and Lotus (Rin chen da wa dang pä ma rab tu gyän pa kyä pa zi ji dra yang gyi gyäl po), yel- low in color with his right hand in the mudra of expounding the Dhar- ma and his left hand in the mudra of concentration.

Above him is the Buddha Renowned Glorious King of Excellent Signs (Tshän leg yang drag), gold in color with his right hand in the mudra of expounding the Dharma and his left hand in the mudra of concentration.

Requests to the Medicine Buddhas

Repeat each verse seven times. After the seventh recitation as you repeat “May your vow to benefit... “ the Medicine Buddha to whom the request is made absorbs into the one below.

To you, Buddha Renowned Glorious King of Excellent Signs, fully realized destroyer of all defilements, fully accomplished buddha having fully realized the absolute truth of all phenomena, I prostrate, go for refuge, and make offerings. May your vow to benefit all sentient beings now ripen for myself and others. (7x)

To you, Buddha King of Melodious Sound, Brilliant Radiance of Skill, Adorned with Jewels, Moon, and Lotus, fully realized destroyer of all defilements, fully accom- plished buddha who has fully realized the absolute truth of all phenomena, I prostrate, go for refuge, and make offerings. May your vow to benefit all sentient beings now ripen for myself and others. (7x)

To you, Buddha Stainless Excellent Gold, Great Jewel Who Accomplishes All Vows, fully realized destroyer of all defilements, fully accomplished buddha who has fully realized the absolute truth of all phenomena, I prostrate, go for refuge, and make offerings. May your vow to benefit all sentient beings now ripen for myself and others. (7x)

To you, Buddha Supreme Glory Free from Sorrow, fully realized destroyer of all defilements, fully accomplished buddha who has fully realized the absolute truth of all phenomena, I prostrate, go for refuge, and make offerings. May your vow to ben- efit all sentient beings now ripen for myself and others. (7x)

To you, Buddha Melodious Ocean of Pro- claimed Dharma, fully realized destroyer of all defilements, fully accomplished buddha who has fully realized the absolute truth of all phenomena, I prostrate, go for refuge, and make offerings. May your vow to ben- efit all sentient beings now ripen for myself and others. (7x)

To you, Buddha Delightful King of Clear Knowing, Supreme Wisdom of an Ocean of Dharma, fully realized destroyer of all defilements, fully accomplished buddha who has fully realized the absolute truth of all phenomena, I prostrate, go for refuge, and make offerings. May your vow to benefit all sentient beings now ripen for myself and others. (7x)

To you, Buddha Medicine Guru, King of La- pis Light, fully realized destroyer of all de- filements, fully accomplished buddha who has fully realized the absolute truth of all phenomena, I prostrate, go for refuge, and make offerings. May your vow to benefit all sentient beings now ripen for myself and others. (7x)

Visualization

Granting your request, from the heart and holy body of the King of Medicine, Guru Medicine Buddha, infinite rays of white light pour down completely filling your body from head to toe. They purify all your diseases and afflictions due to spirits and their causes, all your negative karma and mental obscurations. In the nature of light, your body becomes as clean and clear as crystal. The light rays pour down twice more, each time filling your body with blissful clean clear light which you absorb. You are thereby transformed into the holy body of Guru Medicine Buddha. At your heart appears a lotus and moon disk. Standing at the center of the moon disk, is is the blue seed-syllable HUM surrounded by the syllables of the mantra. As you recite the mantra, visualize rays of light radiating out in all directions from the syllable at your heart. The light rays pervade the sentient beings of all six realms. Through your great love wishing them to have happiness, and through your great compassion wishing them to be free from all sufferings, they are purified of all diseases and afflictions due to spirits and their causes, all their negative karma and mental obscurations.

Mantra Recitation

OM NAMO BHAGAVATE BHAISHAJYE / GURU BAIDURYA / PRABHA RADJAYA / TATHAGATAYA / ARHATE SAMYAKSAM BUDDHAYA / TADYATHA / OM BHAISHAJYE BHAISHAJYE MAHA BHAISHAJYE [BHAISHAJYE ] / RAJA SAMUDGATE SVAHA

Short Mantra

TADYATHA / OM BHAISHAJYE BHAISHAJYE MAHABHAISHAJYE [BHAISHAJYE] / RAJA SAMUDGATE SVAHA

[Common pronunciation: TAYATA OM BHEKANDZYE BHEKANDZYE MAHA BHEKANDZYE [BHEKANDZYE] RADZA SAMUDGATE SOHA.]

Feel great joy and think: All sentient beings are transformed into the aspect of the Medicine Buddha Guru. How wonderful that I am now able to lead all sentient beings into the Medicine Buddha’s enlightenment.

Simplified Visualization

If you wish to do a shorter version instead, visualize Guru Medicine Buddha above the crown of your head and make the following prayer of request seven times:

The fully realized destroyer of all defilements, fully completed buddha having fully realized the absolute truth of all phenomena, Guru Medicine Buddha, King of Lapis Light, to you I prostrate, go for refuge, and make offerings. May your vow to benefit all sentient beings now ripen for myself and others. (7x)

As you recite the Medicine Buddha mantra, visualize as follows:

Purifying rays of light pour down from the Guru Medicine Buddha’s heart and holy body, eliminating your sicknesses and afflictions due to spirits, and their causes, all your negative karma and mental obscurations. Your body is completely filled with light and becomes clean-clear like crystal. Then the rays radiate out in all directions, purifying the sicknesses and afflictions of all mother sentient beings.

After the mantra recitation visualize as follows:

The Guru Medicine Buddha melts into light and absorbs into your heart. Your mind becomes completely one with the dharmakaya, the essence of all buddhas.

Dedication

Due to these merits, may I complete the ocean-like actions of the sons of the victorious ones. May I become the holy savior, refuge, and helper for sentient beings, who have repeatedly been kind to me in past lives.

By the virtues received from attempting this practice, may all living beings who see, hear, touch, or remember me even those who merely say my name in that very moment be released from their miseries and experience happiness forever.

As all sentient beings, infinite as space, are encompassed by Guru Medicine Buddha’s compassion, may I too become the guide for sentient beings existing throughout all ten directions of the universe.

Because of these virtues, may I quickly become Guru Medicine Buddha and lead each and every sentient being into his enlightened realm.

Note: Re-edited by Geshe Gedun Tharchin

 

 

Simple Meditation Guide

A Simple Meditation Guide
by Geshe Gedun Tharchin

A. Prerequisites

1) Dwelling in an appropriate environment favorable for meditation

2) Simplicity

3) Contentment

4) Completely giving up unnecessary activities

5) Peaceful

6) Completely getting rid of negative thoughts

B. Preparation

1) To clean the room and arrange the objects symbolizing the Perfection of body, speech and mind.

2) To acquire offerings through appropraite means and arrange them beautifully.

C. Meditation posture

1) Sit in a full lotus or half lotus posture on a comfortable cushion.

2) The body should be straight and not bending forward or backwards, turn the attention inwards.

3) The shoulders should rest in their natural position.

4) The head should be in line with navel, neither leaning backward, forward nor either side.

5) The eyes should be neither wide open nor too far closed, and they should be softly looking on the tip of the nose.

6) The teeth and lips should rest in their natural state and tongue touched the upper palate.

7) The left hand placed on the palm of right hand and thumbs should be touched each other at the level of navel.

D. Nine times breathing practice of purification

3 times breathing in from the 
right nostril, then out from the left,

3 times breathing in from the left nostril and out from the 
right.

And 3 times from both nostrils breathing in and out.

E. Breathing practice for Mindfulness

1) Balancing the length of breathing in and out.

2) Mentally counting breathing in and out, from left to right nostril 7 times and vice verse 7 times. And again 7 times from left to right.

3) Inhalation and exhalation should not be noisy, forced or uneven; let it flows effortlessly and gently.

F. Setting up a proper intention

1) a) Taking refuge in Tri-Ratna

b) Generating Boddhicitta motivation

2) a) Immeasurable Compassion

b) Immeasurable Love

c) Immeasurable Joy

d) Immeasurable Equanimity

G. Seven branches purification practice

1) Humbly arranging alter and paying respect and homage to the Three Jewels and all sentient beings.

2) Generously doing offerings.

3) Gently developing remorse to negative actions committed.

4) Respectfully admiring positive deeds of others and oneself.

5) Honestly requesting to the merit fields to show the Dharma path.

6) Wholeheartedly praying to the merit fields for their omnipresence and protection.

7) Compassionately dedicating the merits for the benefits of all sentient beings.

H. Mandala offering

Offering one's body, speech and mind, and belongings and virtues of three times (past, present and future) and the universe to the merit fields and dedicating for the benefits of all sentient beings.

I. Invocation blessings

Calling upon Buddhas and Boddhisattvas and merit fields to bless one's own mind stream that transforming all worldly desires into Dharmic intentions. (One also recites mantras and prayers here)

J. Mental development practices

Lam Rim / Lo Jong

K. Single pointed concentration

To set up the Object for Concentration

Fixing the Mind on the Object

Tiding up the Mind to the Object by Mindfulness

Be guarded the Mind by Introspection

L. Samatha, Calm Abiding meditation

Five obstacles and Eight remedies:

1) Laziness                                                   1) Conviction

                                                                        2) Aspiration

                                                                        3) Perseverance

                                                                        4) Pliancy

2) Forgetfulness                                           5) Mindfulness

3) Mental dullness                                       6) Alertness

4) Mental excitement                                  7) Conscientiousness

5) Unnecessary application of antidotes 8) Correct Application

Nine stages of meditation, Six forces, Four required attentions:

1) Mental placement          1, hearing                            1, strictly evolved

2) Continuous placement  2, reflecting

3) Patched placement        3, mindfulness                     2, interrupting

4) Close placement                                                             3, un-interrupting

5) Taming                            4, vigilance

6) Pacification

7) Complete pacification   5, enthusiasm

8) One-pointed attention

9) Balance placement        6, thorough acquaintance  4, spontaneously

M. Vipasana, Special Insight meditation practices

The Four principles of Buddha-Dharma

a) All the composed phenomenas are nature of transient.

b) Any thing that involved with Selfish delusion becomes source of pain and burden.

c) All phenomenas are Empty of inherent existence and Self is devoid of Ego.

N. Dedication

Whatever merits have accumulated during the meditation may become the causes and conditions of happiness of all sentient beings and for their enlightenment.