The Seven Points of Mind Trainings
Point One: The Preliminaries, Which Are a Basis for Dharma Practice
1 . First, train in the preliminaries.
Point Two: The Main Practice, Which Is Training in Bodhichitta
2 . Regard all dharmas as dreams.
3 . Examine the nature of unborn awareness.
4 . Self-liberate even the antidote.
5 . Rest in the nature of alaya, the essence.
6 . In postmeditation, be a child of illusion.
7 . Sending and taking should be practiced alternately. These two should ride the breath.
8 . Three objects, three poisons, and three seeds of virtue.
9 . In all activities, train with slogans.
10 . Begin the sequence of sending and taking with yourself.
Point Three: Transformation of Bad Circumstances into the Path of Enlightenment
11 . When the world is filled with evil, transform all mishaps into the path of Bodhi.
12 . Drive all blames into one.
14 . Seeing confusion as the four kayas is unsurpassable shunyata protection.
15 . Four practices are the best of methods.
16 . Whatever you meet unexpectedly, join with meditation.
Point Four: Showing the Utilization of Practice in One’s Whole Life
17 . Practice the five strengths, The condensed heart instructions.
18 . The Mahayana instructions for ejection of consciousness at death Is the five strengths: how you conduct yourself is important.
Point Five: Evaluation of Mind Training
19 . All of the dharma agrees at one point.
20 . Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one.
21 . Always maintain only a joyful mind.
22 . If you can practice even when distracted, you are well trained.
Point Six: Disciplines of Mind Training
23 . Always abide by the three basic principles.
24 . Change your attitude, but remain natural.
25 . Don’t talk about injured limbs.
26 . Don’t ponder others.
27 . Work with the greatest defilements first.
28 . Abandon any hope of fruition.
29 . Abandon poisonous food.
30 . Don’t be so predictable.
31 . Don’t malign others.
32 . Don’t wait in ambush.
33 . Don’t bring things to a painful point.
34 . Don’t transfer the ox’s load to the cow.
35 . Don’t try to be the fastest.
36 . Don’t act with a twist.
37 . Don’t make gods into demons.
38 . Don’t seek others’ pain as the limbs of your own happiness.
Point Seven: Guidelines of Mind Training
39 . All activities should be done with one intention.
40 . Correct all wrongs with one intention.
41 . Two activities: one at the beginning, one at the end.
42 . Whichever of the two occurs, be patient.
43 . Observe these two, even at the risk of your life.
44 . Train in the three difficulties
45 . Take on the three principal causes.
46 . Pay heed that the three never wane.
47 . Keep the three inseparable.
48 . Train without bias in all areas.
49 . It is crucial always to do this pervasively and wholeheartedly. Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment.
50 . Don’t be swayed by external circumstances.
51 . This time, practice the main points.
52 . Don’t misinterpret.
53 . Don’t vacillate.
54 . Train wholeheartedly.
55 . Liberate yourself by examining and analyzing.
56 . Don’t wallow in self-‐pity.
57 . Don’t be jealous.
58 . Don’t be frivolous.
59 . Don’t expect applause.
~By Geshe Chekawa Yeshe Dorje
http://ippc2.orst.edu/slogans/
Commentary on the Seven Points of Mind Training
by Gyalse Tokme Zangpo