Manjushri's Innermost Secret by Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin

Author:Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wisdom Publications

An Extensive Explanation of How to Meditate on Equalizing and Exchanging Self with Others according to the Seven-Point Mind Training

I will not be able to compose a detailed presentation of each of the seven points because I am concerned that this text would become too verbose, yet I will give a concise explanation by combining the root verses of these oral instructions without corrupting their essential meaning. This instruction of mind training relies upon the oral instructions of Protector Manjushri that he bestowed upon Shantideva by making a comparative study of the meaning of numerous Mahayana sutras, such as the Avatamsaka Sutra and so forth, that directly reveal the methods for meditating on equalizing self and others. It was [to receive] these oral instructions that Glorious Atisha crossed the ocean in a ship to meet Serlingpa, from whom he received numerous teachings. For twelve long years he received teachings from Serlingpa, which entered and filled the vase of his mind. After traveling to Tibet, [Atisha] bestowed these teachings upon Drom Rinpoche in secret, which became renowned as the “Concealed Dharma of the Forefather.” Geshe Chekawa191 propagated these teachings widely by composing an outline to these seven topics and spread them far and wide as the famed Seven-Point Mind Training.

As for these seven points, they are (1) an explanation of the preliminaries as a foundation, (2) training in the two bodhichittas as the actual practice, (3) transforming unfavorable conditions into the path to enlightenment, (4) an explanation of integrating the practices into a single lifetime, (5) the measure of having trained the mind, (6) the commitments of mind training, and (7) the precepts of training the mind.

An explanation of the preliminaries as a foundation: For this you contemplate the difficulty of obtaining a human life of leisure and endowments, death and impermanence, the cause and effect of karma, and the faults of samsara. These are renowned as the “four preliminary Dharmas.” These have already been explained in the sections on the beings of the small and middling scope.

Training in the two bodhichittas as the actual practice: In many of the previous mind-training texts meditating on the ultimate bodhichitta is presented as a preliminary, after which the way to meditate on the conventional bodhichitta is taught, which is in accordance with the teachings of the Ornament of the Middle Way.192 Although it is acceptable for those few persons of the Mahayana lineage with sharp faculties to meditate on the view of emptiness as a preliminary, and then subsequently meditate on the conventional bodhichitta, if the disciples of this day and age meditate on the view of emptiness without already having a stable foundation in the method aspect, it will prove to be difficult and dangerous and it will not strike the essential point. In the Lamp for the Path Jowo Atisha proclaimed:

Whoever is governed by their familiarization with

Skillful means should then meditate on emptiness.

The Root Verses of Mind Training states:

Teach the secret once they attain stability.

Thus, this is stating that you should first become stable in skillful means and then meditate on the fundamental nature of reality.

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