Eight Verses of Mind Training
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Bodhicharya Kent, Rinpoche was asked to give a teaching on Eight Verses of Mind Training by Geshe Langri Thangpa.
Video thanks to the Meridian Trust.
A SUMMARY
by Maggy Jones
Part 1
Rinpoche talks a little about the role of song and dance in culture and spirit. The importance of mind training. The prediction at Buddha’s birth that he would be either a great king or a great spiritual leader. He realised that a king could never relieve his subjects from suffering and chose the spiritual path. He identified 8 main problems. The solution was to transform your way of reacting, experiencing. He studied, fasted and meditated and finally achieved enlightenment – Buddhahood. He realised that people were all striving for happiness – but in the wrong way. Wisdom shows that we do not need to react with anger. Why do we have war? We don’t know of another way of reacting. We know we should not react like this but the habit is strong. Story of the most beautiful child – the one who is loved. With love ALL beings appear beautiful and can be loved. Pray that you can become like that. Do not wait for others; treat everyone with kindness regardless of how they treat you. Remember impermanence – everything passes. Q & A
Part 2
Rinpoche reminisces about Chinese invasion and brutality then the refurbishment and establishing a sense of community which Chinese efforts and propaganda had not broken. Tibetan people still treated as 2nd class citizens. People could see clearly that the dharma helps one to come through. Stories to illustrate this and the devotion to HH Dalai Lama. Further examples of repression in culture and education and not only Tibetan people.
The answer is always compassion. Turn your anger into compassionate action. Hate the issue not the person and hope the person changes. Train so that you can help them. Kindness can help both parties. If you lose you compassion, you are the loser – the anger has won. Remember the books are your teachers, but most important is your own wisdom mind. Do not do good for your own merit, do it because it is needed. Description of the prajna paramita. Q & A
Verses and Translation. https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Eight_Verses_of_Training_the_Mind
For more information, visit: https://bodhicharya-kent.org/
