"Lojong Tsigyema" ( The 8 Verses that Transform the Mind)
Also known as Lojong – The 8 Verses for Training the Mind. His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave teachings on the 8 verses in May 2006 in São Paulo. His Holiness says – “This text was composed by Geshe Langri Tangpa (1054-1123), a very unusual bodhisattva.
- With the determination to achieve
The supreme good for the benefit of all sentient beings,
More precious than a magical wish-fulfilling jewel,
I will learn to cherish and cherish them in the highest degree...Here, we are asking: “May I be able to see beings as a precious jewel, as they are the object through which I can attain omniscience; therefore, may I be able to cherish and cherish them.”
- Whenever I am in the company of other people, I will learn
To think of myself as the most insignificant among them,
And, with all due respect, consider them supreme,
From the bottom of mine heart.“With all due respect to regard them as supreme” means not seeing them as an object of pity, which we look down on, but rather seeing them as an elevated object. Take, for example, insects: they are inferior to us because they do not know the right things to adopt or discard, whereas we do know these things as we realize the destructive nature of negative emotions. Although this is the situation, we can also see the facts from another point of view. Although we are aware of the destructive nature of negative emotions, we allow ourselves to be under their influence and, in that sense, we are inferior to insects.
- In all my actions, I will learn to examine my mind
And whenever a negative emotion arises,
Putting myself and others at risk,
I will firmly face it her and avoid her.When we propose such a practice, the only thing that stands in the way is the negativities present in our mental stream; already spirits and others that such represent no obstacle. Thus, we must not have an attitude of laziness and passivity in the face of the enemy within; rather, we must be alert and active, countering negativities immediately.
- I will cherish those beings who have a perverse nature
And those who weigh heavily negatively and suffering,
As if I had found a precious treasure,
br />Very hard to find.These lines emphasize the transformation of our thoughts towards sentient beings who carry strong negativities. Generally speaking, it is more difficult to have compassion for people afflicted by suffering and the like, when their nature and personality are very perverse. In fact, these people should be seen as the supreme object of our compassion. Our attitude, when we come across people like that, should be that of someone who has found a treasure.
- When others, out of envy, mistreat me,
Or insult and slander,
I will learn to accept defeat,
And to them to offer the victory.Generally speaking, whenever others, unjustifiably, do something wrong in relation to our person, it is lawful to retaliate, within a mundane point of view. However, the practitioner of mind transformation techniques must always offer victory to others.
- When someone I've helped with great hope
Hurts or hurts me, even for no reason,
I will learn to see that other person
As an excellent spirit guide.Normally, we expect the sentient beings we have helped so much to repay our kindness; that is our expectation. On the contrary, however, we should think: "If this person hurts me instead of repaying my kindness, may I not retaliate but rather reflect on his kindness and be able to see him as a special guide."</ span>
- In short, I will learn to offer everyone, without exception,
All help and happiness, by direct and indirect means,
And to take over me, in secrecy,
All the ills and sufferings of those who were my mothers.The verse says: “In short, may I be able to offer all the good qualities I possess to all sentient beings,” — this is the practice of generosity — and further: “May I be able, in secrecy, to take over me all their ills and sufferings, in this life and in future lives.” These words are linked to the process of inhalation and exhalation.
So far, the verses have dealt with practice at the level of conventional bodhicitta. The techniques for cultivating conventional bodhicitta should not be influenced by attitudes like, “If I do the practice of giving and receiving, I will be in better health, and the like,” as they denote the influence of worldly considerations. Our attitude should not be: "If I do a practice like this, people will respect me and consider me a good practitioner." In short, our practice of these techniques must not be influenced by any worldly motivation. - I will learn to keep these practices
Free from the blemishes of the eight worldly concerns*,
And by understanding all phenomena as illusory,
I will be freed from the bondage of attachment.These lines speak of the practice of ultimate bodhicitta. When we talk about antidotes against the eight worldly attitudes, there are many levels. The real antidote capable of overcoming the influence of worldly attitudes is the realization that phenomena are devoid of intrinsic nature. Phenomena, all of them, have no existence of their own—they are like illusions. Although they appear to our eyes as endowed with true existence, they have no reality. “By understanding their relative nature, may I be free from the chains of attachment.”
*The eight mundane concerns are:
- Liking to be praised / Not liking to be criticized
- Liking to be happy / Not liking to be unhappy
- Liking to win / Disliking to lose
- Wishing to be famous / Not like being ignored
External links (Portuguese reference):
Link with text commented by: S.S. o Dalai Lama: Oito Versos que Transformam a Mente
Oito versos que transformam a mente - Dalai Lama (Luz da Serra)