Shantideva Engaging in Bodhisattva Behavior Eng Tib & Version Padmakara

! #0# Engaging in Bodhisattva Behavior - Shantideva

With Tibetan and English translation

English translation made by Alexandre Berzin (font in normal mode),

and by the Padmakara Translation Group (font in italic mode).

Bodhisattvacharyavatara

2

Table of content

1. !e Bene"ts of Bodhichitta - !e Excellence of Bodhichitta 32. Openly Admitting Previous Negative Acts - Confession 103. Gaining Hold of a Bodhichitta Aim - Taking hold of Bodhichitta 224. Taking Care (about Bodhichitta) - Carefulness 285. Safeguarding with Alertness - Vigilant introspection 376. Showing Patience - Patience 567. Joyful Perseverance - Diligence 798. Far-Reaching Mental Stability - Meditative concentration 939. Far-Reaching Discriminating Awareness - Wisdom 12510. Dedication 155

Engaging in Bodhisattva Behavior - Shantideva - postface168

Translation Method for Resolving Discrepancies between Tibetan and Sanskrit169

Acknowledgements (Berzin edition)171

Appendix 1 (from Padmakara edition)172

!e Life of Shantideva 172Historical Note

174


Equalizing Self and Other175


Exchanging Self and Other178

!e Exchange of Self and Other 178!e Practice of Envy from the Point of View of Someone Less Well O# (Stanzas 141146) 178!e Practice of Jealous Rivalry from the Point of View of an Equal (Stanzas 147150) 179!e Practice of Pride from the Point of View of Someone Better-O# (Stanzas 151154) 180

Notes182

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1. !e Bene"ts of Bodhichitta - 3

1. The Benefits of Bodhichitta - The Excellence of Bodhichitta! 9; >@ ; #0 9#F I;K FF KIP PQ# (1) Respectfully, I prostrate to the Blissfully Gone (Buddhas) endowed with Dharmakaya,As well as to their (bodhisattva) o#spring and to everyone worthy of prostration.Let me explain (how to) engage in the Blissfully Gone o#springs' code, Which I've compiled and condensed in accord with Buddhas' words.

Homage'to'all'Buddhas'and'Bodhisattvas.1.'To'those'who'go'in'bliss,1'the'dharmakya2'they'possess,'and'all'their'heirs,3'To'all'those'worthy'of'respect,'I'reverently'bow.'According'to'the'scriptures,'I'shall'now'in'brief'describeThe'practice'of'the'Bodhisattva'discipline.

R#Q PU F WFX(2) I've nothing to say here that's not come before, And I lack any skill in the crafting of verse;Yet, though I lack even the thought to help others, I've composed this to familiarize my mind.

2.'Here'I'shall'say'nothing'that'has'not'been'said'before,And'in'the'art'of'prosody'I'have'no'skill.I'therefore'have'no'thought'that'this'might'be'of'beneCit'to'others;'I'wrote'it'only'to'habituate'my'mind.

WF I[ ;[I ^[ (3) For, due to acquaintance with what is constructive, !e force of my belief may increase for a moment,even just through these (words). And if others, equal to myself in fortune, happen to see them, Perhaps they might "nd them meaningful (too).

3.'My'faith'will'thus'be'strengthened'for'a'little'while,'That'I'might'grow'accustomed'to'this'virtuous'way.'But'others'who'now'chance'upon'my'words'May'proCit'also,'equal'to'myself'in'fortune.

#_ bc[ c F#[ (4) Having gained this (body with) respites and enrichments, so hard to "nd, Which can ful"ll the wishes of (every) being, If, in this (lifetime), I don't actualize its bene"ts, When later will a perfect endowment with one come?

4.'So'hard'to'Cind'the'ease'and'wealth4'Whereby'the'aims'of'beings'may'be'gained.'If'now'I'fail'to'turn'it'to'my'proCit,'How'could'such'a'chance'be'mine'again?

ef g[;h^e 99 ijk# (5) Just as a $ash of lightening on a dark, cloudy night, For an instant, brightly illuminates all;So, in this world, through the might of the Buddhas, A positive attitude rarely and brie$y appears.



5.'Just'as'on'a'dark'night'black'with'clouds,'The'sudden'lightning'glares'and'all'is'clearly'shown,'Likewise'rarely,'through'the'Buddhas'power,'Virtuous'thoughts'rise,'brief'and'transient,'in'the'world.

ei P^ m# [[ (6) !us, constructive (behavior) is constantly weak, While negative forces are extremely strong, and most unbearable. Except for a full bodhichitta aim, Can anything else constructive outshine it?

6.'Virtue,'thus,'is'weak;'and'always'Evil'is'of'great'and'overwhelming'strength.'Except'for'perfect'bodhichitta,What'other'virtue'is'there'that'can'lay'it'low.

; oI bpoI (7) !e Kings of the Sages, having thoroughly re$ected for many eons, Have seen this very (mind) to be of (best) help, For by it, limitless masses of beings Will quickly and easily attain Supreme Bliss.

7.'For'many'aeons'deeply'pondering,'The'mighty'Sages5'saw'its'beneCits,'Whereby'unnumbered'multitudes'Are'brought'with'ease'to'supreme'joy.

j# KPR9r 9r0I (8) !ose who wish to destroy the hundreds of su#erings of compulsive existence, !ose who wish to dispel the sorrow of limited beings, And those who wish to enjoy the hundreds of states of much happiness, Will never give up the bodhichitta aim.

8.'Those'who'wish'to'crush'the'many'sorrows'of'existence,'Who'wish'to'quell'the'pain'of'living'beings,'Who'wish'to'have'experience'of'a'myriad'joys'Should'never'turn'away'from'bodhichitta.

#i# #b[; sPo oIKQ# itF#[ (9) !e moment miserable beings bound in the prison Of uncontrollably recurring samsara develop a bodhichitta aim, !ey're called spiritual o#spring of the Blissfully Gone, And become "gures to be honored by the gods of this world, as well as by men.

9.'Should'bodhichitta'come'to'birth'In'those'who'suffer,'chained'in'prisons'of'sasra,'In'that'instant'they'are'called'the'children'of'the'Blissful'One,'Revered'by'all'the'world,'by'gods'and'humankind.

[Xoe j9; u ##i (10) Like the supreme creation of a gold-making elixir, !is unclean body, having been taken, will be transformed Into the priceless gem of a Triumphant One's body. So, "rmly gain hold of what's known as bodhichitta.

10.'For'like'the'supreme'substance'of'the'alchemists,'It'takes'our'impure'Clesh'and'makes'of'itThe'body'of'a'Buddha,'jewel'beyond'all'price.'Such'is'bodhichitta.'Let'us'grasp'it'Cirmly!

kj i kwo #i



(11) Since the immeasurable mind of the sole Navigator for wandering beings Has (seen) its precious worth upon examining fully; Please, anyone wishing to be parted from the plights of wandering beings: Gain hold, truly "rmly, of (this) gem, bodhichitta.

11.'Since'the'boundless'wisdom'of'the'only'guide'of'beings'Perfectly'examined'and'perceived'its'priceless'worth,'Those'who'wish'to'leave'this'state'of'wandering'Should'hold'well'to'this'precious'bodhichitta.

wb[ #Ixi w#[ (12) Everything else that's constructive resembles the plantain tree: Having given birth to its fruit, it's depleted. But the tree of bodhichitta forever bears fruit And, never depleted, it grows ever more.

12.'All'other'virtues,'like'the'plantain'tree,'Produce'their'fruit,'but'then'their'force'is'spent.'Alone'the'marvelous'tree'of'bodhichitta'Constantly'bears'fruit'and'grows'unceasingly.

P# ^e ^Ic[ oI^ (13) Even if they've committed extremely unbearable negative acts, Why don't the caring rely on that Which, when relied on, will instantly free them, Like relying on a hero when greatly afraid.

13.'As'though'they'pass'through'perils'guarded'by'a'hero,'Even'those'weighed'down'with'dreadful'wickedness'Will'instantly'be'freed'through'having'bodhichitta.'Why'do'those'who'fear'their'sins'not'have'recourse'to'it?

Po ;K# #jy (14) Like the time-ending "res, it burns o# with certainty, In an instant, enormous negative karmic force. With wisdom, the Guardian Maitreya has explained Its fathomless bene"ts to Sudhana.

14.'Just'as'by'the'Cire'that'will'destroy'the'world,'Great'sins'are'surely'and'at'once'consumed'by'it.'Its'beneCits'are'thus'unbounded'As'the'Wise'and'Loving'Lord6'explained'to'Sudhana.

#P o#^ #z # (15) Bodhichitta is to be known, in brief, As having two aspects: A bodhichitta aim that aspires to enlightenmentAnd a bodhichitta that's engaged with (attaining) enlightenment.

15.'Bodhichitta,'the'awakened'mind,'Is'known'in'brief'to'have'two'aspects:'First,'aspiring,'bodhichitta'in'intention;'Then'active'bodhichitta,'practical'engagement.

kk #wee I #w# (16) As is understood by the distinction Between aspiring to go and (actually) going, So the learned understand the distinction Between these two to be as if stages.

16.'As'corresponding'to'the'wish'to'go'And'then'to'setting'out,'The'wise'should'understand'respectively'The'difference'that'divides'these'two.



#z w# e 9# (17) Although great fruits arise, even in recurring samsara, From an aspiring bodhichitta aim, Positive force doesn't accrue without interruption As it does with an engaged bodhichitta aim.

17.'From'bodhichitta'in'intention'Great'results'arise'for'those'still'turning'in'the'wheel'of'life;'Yet'merit'does'not'rise'from'it'in'ceaseless'streams'As'is'the'case'with'active'bodhichitta.

^ kF yI j[ (18) As soon as someone perfectly gains hold Of that mind, with the thought Never to turn back from totally liberating In"nite realms of limited beings,

18.'For'when,'with'irreversible'intent,'The'mind'embraces'bodhichitta,'Willing'to'set'free'the'endless'multitudes'of'beings,'In'that'instant,'from'that'moment'on,

^ [I 9 # (19) From that time onward, Whether asleep or even not caring, A profusion of positive force gushes forth, Without interruption, equal to space.

19.'A'great'and'unremitting'stream,'A'strength'of'wholesome'merit,'Even'during'sleep'and'inattention,'Rises'equal'to'the'vastness'of'the'sky.

I [F I (20) For the sake of limited beings admiring modest (aims), !e !usly Gone (Buddha) himself Has proclaimed that this is correct In !e Sutra Subahu Requested.

20.'This'the'Tathgata,7'In'the'stra'Subhu'requested,8'Said'with'reasoned'argumentFor'those'inclined'to'lesser'paths.

oI} ~ y y[ (21) If having a thought to be of help, Even thinking, "May I relieve limited beings Merely of headaches," Comes to have fathomless positive force,

21.'If'with'kindly'generosity'One'merely'has'the'wish'to'soothe'The'aching'heads'of'other'beings,'Such'merit'knows'no'bounds.

cz (22) What need to mention the wish to relieve Each and every limited being of fathomless miseries, And the wish to help each and every limited being To actualize fathomless good qualities.

22.'No'need'to'speak,'then,'of'the'wish'To'drive'away'the'endless'pain'Of'each'and'every'living'being,'Bringing'them'unbounded'excellence.



tKoI (23) Who has such an altruistic mind as this? Do even fathers? Do even mothers? Do even gods and sages? Does even Brahma have it?

23.'Could'our'father'or'our'mother'Ever'have'so'generous'a'wish?'Do'the'very'gods,'the'ihis,9'even'Brahm10'Harbor'such'benevolence'as'this?

R [b (24) If those limited beings, even in their dreams, Have never before dreamt of such a mind (Even) for their own sakes, How would it have arisen for the sakes of others?

24.'For'in'the'past'they'never,'Even'in'their'dreams,'Wished'something'like'this'even'for'themselves.'How'could'they'do'so'for'anothers'sake?

# I R (25) !is extraordinary jewel of the mind - A mind for the sake of limited beings, which in others Doesn't arise for even their own sakes - Crystallizes as something of unprecedented wonder.

25.'This'aim'to'bring'the'beneCit'of'beings,'A'beneCit'that'others'wish'not'even'for'themselves,'This'noble,'jewellike'state'of'mind'Arises'truly'wondrous,'never'seen'before.

k[9 PRX[ I e[ (26) How can the positive force of a jewel-like mind, Which is the cause of happiness for all wandering beings And the elixir for the su#erings of limited beings, Be something whose measure can be taken?

26.'This'paingdispelling'draft,'This'cause'of'joy'for'those'who'wander'through'the'world,11'This'precious'attitude,'this'jewel'of'mindHow'shall'we'calculate'its'merit?

[I 9 I Xz (27) If merely a thought to be of help is more especially noble !an making o#erings to the Buddhas,What need to mention striving for the sake of the happiness Of all limited beings without exception?

27.'If'the'simple'thought'to'be'of'help'to'others'Exceeds'in'worth'the'worship'of'the'Buddhas,'What'need'is'there'to'speak'of'actual'deeds'That'bring'about'the'weal'and'beneCit'of'beings?

PRI PR9 I ke (28) Although having the mind that wishes to shun su#ering, !ey rush headlong into su#ering itself.Although wishing for happiness, yet out of naivety, !ey destroy their own happiness as if it were a foe.

28.'For'beings'long'to'free'themselves'from'misery,'But'misery'itself'they'follow'and'pursue.They'long'for'joy,'but'in'their'ignorance'Destroy'it,'as'they'would'their'foe.



PRy [ PR# (29) For those who are destitute of happiness And who have many su#erings, It satis"es them with all happiness, Cuts o# all su#ering,

29.'But'those'who'Cill'with'bliss'All'beings'destitute'of'joy,'Who'cut'all'pain'and'suffering'away'From'those'weighed'down'with'misery,

I# I (30) And eliminates even their naivety. Where is there anything comparably constructive as that? Where is there even such a friend as that? Where is there even such a force as positive as that?

30.'Who'drive'away'the'darkness'of'their'ignorance'What'virtue'could'be'matched'with'theirs?What'friend'could'be'compared'to'them?'What'merit'is'there'similar'to'this?

y R # #z (31) If some consider as worthy of praise Even someone who's paid back for helping, What need to mention a bodhisattva Who does good without seeking (anything in return)?

31.'If'someone'who'returns'a'favor'Is'deserving'of'some'praise,Why'need'we'speak'of'Bodhisattvas,'Those'who'do'good'even'unsolicited?

kU ;U# _Fk# #b (32) People honor as someone who acts constructively Someone who only brie$y gives merely a morsel of meager food In a demeaning manner to a few wandering beings, Satiating them for half a day.

32.'People'praise'as'virtuous'donors'Those'who'with'contempt'support'A'few'with'plain'and'ordinary'food:'A'moments'gift'that'feeds'for'only'half'a'day.

k Ij m# iUez (33) What need to mention someone who constantly looks to give, For an eternity of time, the peerless bliss of the Blissfully Gone (Buddhas) To endless numbers of limited beings, Ful"lling the wishes of all their minds?

33.'What'need'is'there'to'speak'of'those'Who'long'bestow'on'countless'multitudes'The'peerless'joy'of'blissful'Buddhahood,'The'ultimate'fulCillment'of'their'hopes?

9KU b# bk; [ (34) !e Sage has said that if someone generates negative thoughts Toward a philanthropist o#spring of the Triumphant like that, !at person will remain in a joyless realm for as many eons As the number of negative thoughts that were spent.

34.'All'those'who'harbor'evil'in'their'minds'Against'such'lords'of'generosity,'the'Buddhas'heirs,'Will'stay'in'hell,'the'mighty'Sage'has'said,'For'ages'equal'to'the'moments'of'their'malice.



# wt 9KoI P# (35) However, if someone has an extremely clear-minded (belief in such persons), Its fruits will multiply far more than that. For even in the most acute situations, Triumphant's o#spring never will generate anything negative. Rather, their positive actions naturally increase.

35.'But'joyous'and'devoted'thoughts'Will'yield'abundant'fruits'in'greater'strength.'Even'in'great'trouble,'Bodhisattvas'Never'bring'forth'wrong;'their'virtues'naturally'increase.

I b;F #Iw #b #0 #I#^ (36) I prostrate to the bodies of those in whom !e sacred state of mind, the gem, has arisen.I take safe direction from those sources of bliss Who join to bliss even those who harm them.

36.'To'them'in'whom'this'precious'jewel'of'mind'Is'bornto'them'I'bow!I'go'for'refuge'to'those'springs'of'happiness'Who'bring'their'very'enemies'to'perfect'bliss.


2. Confession - 10

2. Openly Admitting Previous Negative Acts - Confession #F o 9K 9o (1) To gain hold of that precious mind, I o#er sincerely to you, the !usly Gone (Buddhas), To the stainless Rare Gem of the hallowed Dharma, And to you, the o#spring of the Buddhas, with oceans of good qualities:

1.'To'the'Buddhas,'those'thus'gone,'And'to'the'sacred'Dharma,'spotless'and'supremely'rare,'And'to'the'Buddhas'offspring,'oceans'of'good'qualities,'That'I'might'gain'this'precious'attitude,'I'make'a'perfect'offering.12

w~ z[o i~ (2) Whatever $owers and fruits there are And whatever manners of medicine there are, Whatever jewels there are in this world And whatever pure pleasing waters there are,

2.'I'offer'every'fruit'and'Clower,'Every'kind'of'healing'draft,'And'all'the'precious'gems'the'world'contains,'With'all'pure'waters'of'refreshment;

F x9f w (3) Mountains of precious minerals and likewise Forests and secluded delightful places, Trees adorned and bedecked with blossoms, And trees whose branches are laden with all sorts of excellent fruit;

3.'Every'mountain'wrought'of'precious'jewels,'All'sweet'and'lonely'forest'groves,'The'trees'of'paradise'adorned'with'blossom,'Trees'with'branches'bowed'with'perfect'fruit;

ti o 9o (4) And from the realms of divine beings and others, fragrances, Incense, wish-granting trees, jewel shrubs, An assortment of wild-growing crops, And ornamentals as well, "t to be o#ered,

4.'The'perfumed'fragrance'of'divine'and'other'realms,'All'incense,'wishing'trees,'and'trees'of'gems,All'crops'that'grow'without'the'tillers'care,'And'every'sumptuous'object'worthy'to'be'offered;

m9 ;~y #I (5) Lakes and pools adorned with lotus And with swans possessing a bewitching cry, Everything that's without an owner To the far reaches of the in"nite sphere of space -

5.'Lakes'and'meres'adorned'with'lotuses,'Delightful'with'the'sweetgvoiced'cries'of'waterbirds,'And'everything'unclaimed'and'free'Extending'to'the'margins'of'the'boundless'sky.

jjbI Ko QoI X


2. Confession - 11

(6) Taking them to mind, I o#er them fully To you, the Sages, Foremost of Beings, together with your spiritual o#spring. Hallowed objects for o#erings, having great compassion, !ink kindly of me and accept these (tokens) of mine.

6.'I'hold'them'all'before'my'mind,'and'to'the'mighty'Sage,'the'greatest'of'our'kind,'And'to'his'heirs,'I'make'a'perfect'offering.'Sublime'recipients,'compassionate'lords,'O'think'of'me'with'love;'accept'these'gifts'of'mine!

y [ I (7) Lacking in positive karmic force, I'm extremely impoverished And have nothing else that is precious to o#er. !erefore, Guardians whose thoughts are for the welfare of others, Accept them by the power of your concern for my sake.

7.'For,'destitute'of'merit,'I'am'very'poor;'I'have'no'other'wealth.'And'so,'protectors,'You'whose'wise'intentions'are'for'others'good,'In'your'great'power,'receive'them'for'my'sake.

9Ko [ o I[ (8) All my bodies I o#er for eternity To you, the Triumphant and to your spiritual o#spring. Supreme Beings, please fully accept me. Respectfully, I shall serve as your attendant.

8.'Enlightened'ones'and'all'your'Bodhisattva'heirs,'I'offer'you'my'body'throughout'all'my'lives.'Supreme'courageous'ones'accept'me'totally.'For'with'devotion'I'will'be'your'slave.

I K[ R[P[ P[ (9) Completely under your care and thus unafraid Of compulsive existence, I shall bene"t limited beings.I shall perfectly transcend my previous negative karmic force And henceforth, never commit further negative acts.

9.'For'if'you'will'accept'me,'I'will'be'Undaunted'by'sasra'and'will'act'for'beings'sake.'Ill'leave'behind'the'evils'of'my'past,'And'ever'after'turn'my'face'from'them.

I [^ y jw (10) To bathing chambers, exquisitely sweet scented, With crystal $oors, transparent and polished to a shine, Having beautiful pillars, glowing with gems, And crowned with canopies, radiant with pearls,

10.'A'bathing'chamber'excellently'fragrant,'With'even'Cloors'of'crystal,'radiant'and'clear,'And'graceful'pillars'shimmering'with'gems,'All'hung'about'with'gleaming'canopies'of'pearls

Ko I g ; (11) I invite you, !usly Gone (Buddhas) and your spiritual o#spring, And shower your bodies, over and again, from many jeweled vases Filled to the brim with scented water and delightful things, To the accompaniment of song and music.

11.'There'the'blissful'Buddhas'and'their'heirs'Ill'bathe'with'many'a'precious'vase,'Abrim'with'water'fragrant'and'delightful,'All'to'frequent'strains'of'melody'and'song.


2. Confession - 12

; W;F u (12) I (now) dry your bodies with incomparable cloths, Clean and well-anointed with scent, And then present you hallowed beings With most fragrant robes correctly dyed to color.

12.'With'cloths'of'unexampled'quality,'With'spotless,'perfumed'towels'I'will'dry'them,'And'offer'splendid'scented'clothes,'Wellgdyed'and'of'surpassing'excellence.

Kh 99r # iF9[ (13) I adorn with excellent garments, "ne and smooth, And with hundreds of the choicest pieces of jewelry, this and that, You, the Aryas Samantabhadra, Manjushri, Lokeshvara and all the rest.

13.'With'different'garments,'light'and'supple,'And'a'hundred'beautiful'adornments,'I'will'grace'sublime'Samantabhadra,13'Majughoha,'Lokeshvara,'and'their'kin.

^y oI[; U##e #[ (14) With the best colognes whose fragrant vapors Rise to all the myriad worlds, I anoint the bodies Of all you Kings of the Sages, who shine with light, Like sluiced, re"ned, and polished gold.

14.'And'with'a'sumptuous'fragrance'which'Pervades'a'thousand'million'worlds,'I'will'anoint'the'bodies'of'the'mighty'Sages,'Gleaming'bright'like'burnished'gold'reCined'and'cleansed.

roI (15) To you, the Kings of the Sages, foremost objects for o#erings, I present lovely $owers, such as mandarava, lotus, and water lily, With sweet fragrance, each of them (loose) and also Delicately strung together and exquisite in garlands.

15.'I'place'before'the'mighty'Sages,'perfect'objects'of'my'worship,'Glorious'Clowers'like'lotus'and'mandrav,'The'utpala,'and'other'fragrant'blossoms,'Worked'and'twined'in'lovely'scented'garlands.

r foI h toI[ (16) I o#er you, as well, masses of clouds from the burning of !e choicest incense, stealing the mind, whose fragrant aroma pervades (everywhere). I o#er you also a celestial feast With a wide array of dishes, delicacies, and nectars to drink.

16.'I'will'offer'swelling'clouds'of'frankincense,'Whose'ambient'perfume'ravishes'the'mind,'And'various'foods'and'every'kind'of'drink,'All'delicacies'worthy'of'the'gods.

[ coI[ ^I# k[ (17) I o#er you lamps of precious metals as well, Arranged in rows on lotuses of gold. On swept ground, sprinkled with scented water, I scatter beautiful $ower petals

17.'I'will'offer'precious'lamps'Arranged'in'rows'on'lotuses'of'gold,'A'carpet'of'sweet'Clowers'scattering'Upon'the'level,'incensegsprinkled'ground.


2. Confession - 13

w^#y 9F 9[I Q[ (18) And o#er to you, with a nature of compassion, Immeasurable palaces, enchanting with arias of praise, Draped with dangling ornaments of pearls and gems, beautiful and sparkling, Beyond fathom, becoming an adornment of space.

18.'To'those'whose'very'nature'is'compassion'I'will'give'vast'palaces,'resounding'with'fair'praise,'All'decked'with'precious'pearls'and'beauteous'pendant'gems,'Gleaming'jewels'that'deck'the'amplitude'of'space.

[ 9[o9 #ePc io[ (19) Eternally, I o#er to you Kings of the Sages Stunning jeweled parasols with golden handles, !eir rims adorned with exquisite types of decoration, With an elegant shape, erect and gorgeous to behold.

19.'Fair'and'precious'parasols'adorned'with'golden'shafts,'All'bordered'round'with'hems'of'precious'jewels,'Upright,'wellgproportioned,'pleasing'to'the'eye,'Again,'all'this'I'give'to'all'the'Buddhas.

#~y PR# fo[ (20) And, in addition to this, may clouds bursting with the music Of a symphony of o#ering (instruments) And beautiful celestial musicians each take their place, Alleviating the su#ering of limited beings.

20.'May'a'host'of'other'offerings,'And'clouds'of'ravishing'sweet'melody'That'solaces'the'pain'of'living'beings'Arise'and'constantly'abide.

io; 9 (21) May they shower, without interruption, A rain of jewels, $owers, and so forth On all you Rare Supreme Gems of the hallowed Dharma, And on your stupa monuments and Buddha images.

21.'May'rains'of'Clowers'and'every'precious'gem'Fall'down'in'an'unceasing'stream'Upon'the'Jewels'of'Sacred'Dharma,14'Images'and'all'supports'for'offering.

e# 9o Ko (22) Just as Manjushri and others Have made o#erings to you, the Triumphant, So do I, too, make o#erings to you, my !usly Gone Guardians, And to your spiritual o#spring.

22.'Just'as'Majughoha'and'the'like'Made'offering'to'all'the'Conquerors,'I'do'likewise'to'all'the'Buddhas'our'protectors,'And'to'all'their'Bodhisattva'children.

9o ^#9^ ^#~f #[ (23) I o#er praises to you Oceans of Good Qualities, With melodious eulogies and a sea of tongues. May clouds of harmonies of melodious Eulogies to you amass with certainty all around.

23.'To'these'vast'oceans'of'good'qualities'I'offer'praise,'a'sea'of'airs'and'harmonies.'May'clouds'of'tuneful'eulogy'Ascend'unceasingly'before'them.


2. Confession - 14

9 I [k~I F (24) I prostrate to all you Buddhas who have graced the three times, To the Dharma and to you, the Highest Assembly, Bowing down with bodies as numerous As all the atoms of the world.

24.'To'Buddhas'of'the'past,'the'present,'and'all'future'time,'And'to'the'Dharma'and'Sublime'Assembly,'With'bodies'many'as'the'grains'of'dust'Upon'the'earth,'I'will'prostrate'and'bow.15

#Io ioF F (25) I prostrate to you bases for the bodhichitta aim And to your stupa monuments. I prostrate to you abbots and likewise to you (ordaining) masters, And to you supreme (upholders of ) tamed behavior.

25.'To'shrines'and'all'supports'Of'bodhichitta'I'bow'down;To'abbots'who'transmit'the'vows,'to'every'learned'master,'And'to'all'sublime'practitioners'of'Dharma.

#~I 9ob # b (26) Till I reach the heart of a puri"ed state, I take safe direction from you Buddhas. Likewise, I take safe direction from the Dharma And from you, the Assembly of bodhisattvas.

26.'Until'the'essence'of'enlightenment'is'reached,'I'go'for'refuge'to'the'Buddhas.'Also'I'take'refuge'in'the'Dharma'And'in'all'the'host'of'Bodhisattvas.

Fo m9# Qo U (27) With palms pressed together, I beseech You Buddhas and bodhisattvas Residing in every direction, Possessing great compassion:

27.'To'perfect'Buddhas'and'to'Bodhisattvas,'In'all'directions'where'they'may'reside,'To'them'who'are'the'sovereigns'of'great'mercy,'I'press'my'palms'together,'praying'thus:

y P[ [ (28) !roughout my beginningless samsaric existence, In this and other lives, I've unwittingly committed negative acts Or caused others to commit (them), and further,

28.'In'this'and'all'my'other'lives,'While'turning'in'the'round'without'beginning,'Blindly'I'have'brought'forth'evil,'And'incited'others'to'commit'the'same.

Q[ [ (29) Oppressed by the confusion of naivety, I've rejoiced (in them) - whatever I've done, I see them as mistakes and openly admit (them) To you, my Guardians, from the depths of my heart.

29.'Deceived'and'overmastered'by'my'ignorance,'I'have'taken'pleasure'in'such'sin,16'And'seeing'now'the'blame'of'it,'O'great'protectors,'I'confess'it'earnestly!


2. Confession - 15

j W I[ (30) Whatever harmful actions of body, speech and mind I've committed out of disturbing emotionToward you !ree Supreme Gems, my fathers, my mothers, My spiritual mentors or others,

30.'Whatever'I'have'done'against'the'Triple'Gem,'Against'my'parents,'teachers,'and'the'rest,'Through'force'of'my'deCilements,'In'my'body,'speech,'and'mind,

b PP [ o (31) And whatever extremely unbearable base actions I've done - I, who am full of negative force!at gives rise to faults through many wrong actions - I openly admit all of them to you Spiritual Leaders.

31.'All'the'evil'I,'a'sinner,'have'committed,'All'the'wicked'deeds'that'cling'to'me,'The'frightful'things'that'I'contrived'I'openly'declare'to'you,'the'teachers'of'the'world.

P# R[ e [b (32) But, I may be snatched from my life Before cleansing myself of my negative forces of karma. Just as (then I may fall to a horrible rebirth), I beseech you for safe direction To free myself de"nitely from that, with the swiftest of means.

32.'It'may'be'that'my'death'will'come'to'me'Before'my'evil'has'been'cleansed.'How'then'can'I'be'freed'from'it?'I'pray'you,'quickly'grant'me'your'protection!

i ##P [I gi (33) Whether or not I've done (puri"cation), Since this Lord of Death, who can't be trusted, never will wait, Everyone, whether sick or not, (dies) all of a sudden. My life can't be trusted.

33.'We'cannot'trust'the'wanton'Lord'of'Death.'The'task'complete'or'still'to'do,'he'will'not'wait.In'health'or'sickness,'therefore,'none'of'us'can'trust'Our'Cleeting,'momentary'lives.

e [F Poh# (34) Leaving all behind, I'll depart. But not having realized this,I've committed all sorts of negative acts For the sake of my friends and my foes.

34.'And'we'must'pass'away,'forsaking'all.'But'I,'devoid'of'understanding,'Have,'for'sake'of'friend'and'foe'alike,'Provoked'and'brought'about'so'many'wrongs.

oI[ oI[ I[^ [ (35) My foes will vanish; My friends also will vanish; I too shall vanish; Likewise, all will vanish.

35.'But'all'my'foes'will'cease'to'be,'And'all'my'friends'will'cease'to'be,And'I'will'also'cease'to'be,'And'likewise'everything'will'cease'to'be.


2. Confession - 16

0 [ [ (36) Just like the experiences in a dream, Anything I enjoyWill become an object of memory; Everything that's passed, I won't see (again).

36.'All'that'I'possess'and'useIs'like'the'Cleeting'vision'of'a'dream.'It'fades'into'the'realms'of'memory,'And'fading,'will'be'seen'no'more.

#P (37) Even within this brief lifetime itself, Many friends and foes have passed. But whatever unbearable (fruits) there are From the negative acts I've committed for their sake (still) lie ahead.

37.'And'even'in'the'brief'course'of'this'present'life,'So'many'friends'and'foes'have'passed'away,'Because'of'whom,'the'evils'I'have'done'Still'lie,'unbearable,'before'me.

eg i[ P Po# (38) !rough not having realized !at, all of a sudden, I (can die) like this,I've committed negative acts of so many sorts Out of naivety, desire, and anger.

38.'The'thought'came'never'to'my'mind'That'I'too'am'a'brief'and'passing'thing.'And'so,'through'hatred,'lust,'and'ignorance,'I'have'committed'many'sins.

P i[ h e[ (39) Day and night, without a stop, !is life is always getting shorter -No extension ever comes from the side; Why should someone like me not die?

39.'Never'halting'night'or'day,'My'life'drains'constantly'away,And'from'no'other'source'does'increase'come.'How'can'there'not'be'death'for'such'as'me?

[;I K [ (40) While lying in bed, Even if I'm surrounded by all my relatives and friends, I alone shall experience!e feelings of my life being severed.

40.'There'Ill'be,'prostrate'upon'my'bed,'And'all'around,'my'family'and'friends.'But'I'alone'shall'be'the'one'to'feel'The'cutting'of'the'thread'of'life.

Q [ b ^ (41) When seized by the messengers of the Lord of Death, What help are relatives? What help are friends?Only my positive karmic force will provide me a safe direction then, But I've never relied on just that.

41.'And'when'the'heralds'of'the'Deadly'King17'have'gripped'me,'What'help'to'me'will'be'my'friends'and'kin?'For'then'lifes'virtue'is'my'one'defense,'And'this,'alas,'is'what'I'shrugged'away.


2. Confession - 17

i Pc (42) O Guardians! Not (really) caring, I didn't know (!ere'd be) such terror as this,And so, for the sake of this impermanent life, I've caused so much negative karmic force to build up.

42.'O'protectors!'I,'so'little'heeding,'Hardly'guessed'at'horror'such'as'this'And'all'for'this'brief,'transient'existence,'I'have'done'so'many'evil'things.

b w[ ;X R[h (43) If someone even just being led to where His limbs will be lopped o# today is so terri"ed that, With dry mouth, sunken eyes, and worse, He appears trans"gured from before,

43.'The'day'they'take'him'to'the'scaffold,'Where'they'will'tear'off'his'limbs,A'man'is'changed,'transCigured'by'his'fear:'His'mouth'is'dry,'his'eyes'start'from'his'brow.

Qe [[ I[ z (44) What need to mention the tremendous torment When grabbed by the macabre physical formsOf the sinister messengers of the Lord of Death And fallen into a "t of great panic.

44.'No'need'to'say'how'stricken'I'shall'be'When'overcome'and'sick'with'dreadful'fear,'Im'seized'by'forms'so'horrible'to'see,'The'frightful'servants'of'the'Lord'of'Death.

b#[ wk Fb# (45) "Who can show me a safe and sound direction Out of this monstrous horror?" Staring with terri"ed, bulging eyes I'll search the four quarters for anyone (who can show me) safe direction out.

45.'Who'can'give'me'safe'protection'From'this'horror,'from'this'frightful'dread?'And'then'Ill'search'the'four'directions,'Seeking'help,'with'panicgstricken'eyes.


2. Confession - 18

Fb [ b e# (46) (And then,) seeing no one in the four quarters who can give safe direction, I'll become "lled with total despair from that. If no one having safe direction is there in that place, What can I do at that time?

46.'But'in'those'four'directions'no'protection'shall'I'Cind.'And'I'shall'sink'into'despairing'woe.No'refuge'will'there'be'for'me;'At'such'a'time,'what'shall'I'do?

9k kbX ^ b (47) !erefore, from this very day, I take safe direction From you, the Triumphant, you Guardians of those who wander, Who strove to become safe directions for wandering beings And who can remove all my fears with your stupendous forces.

47.'Thus,'from'this'day'forward'I'take'refuge'In'the'Buddhas,'guardians'of'beings,Who'labor'to'protect'all'wanderers,'Those'mighty'ones'who'scatter'every'fear.

# b (48) Likewise, I purely take safe direction From the Dharma you've realized,Which abolishes the fears of recurring samsara, And also from you, the Assembly of bodhisattvas.

48.'And'in'the'Dharma'they'have'realized'in'their'hearts,'Which'drives'away'the'terrors'of'sasra,And'in'all'the'host'of'Bodhisattvas'Likewise'I'will'perfectly'take'refuge.

o #I [ (49) Totally panicked with anguish, To you, Samantabhadra, I o#er myself; And, of my own accord, I make to you, Manjughosha, an o#ering of my body.

49.'Gripped'by'dread,'beside'myself'with'anguish,'To'Samantabhadra'I'will'give'myself;My'body'I'myself'will'give'To'Majughoha,'gentle'and'melodious.

Q0 0 Pyb (50) To you as well, Guardian Avalokiteshvara, Who are undeceiving in acting with compassion, I cry out for help in a wail of torment: "Pray, give safe direction to me who has (such) a negative karmic force!"

50.'To'him'whose'deeds'of'mercy'never'fail,'My'lord'Avalokita,I'cry'out'from'depths'of'misery,'Protect'me'now'an'evildoer!

~ ~ Q b~ (51) From Akashagarbha, Kshitigarbha,And all you Guardians with great compassion, I seek safe direction and, from my heart, Cry out for help.

51.'Now'to'the'noble'one,'Ao kshagarbha,'And'to'Khitigarbha,'from'my'heart'I'call.18To'all'protectors,'great,'compassionate,'I'cry'to'them'in'search'of'refuge.


2. Confession - 19

Q Po F## Qb (52) I take safe direction from you, the One with a Vajra: Upon your sight, all malevolent beings, Such as the messengers of the Lord of Death, Flee in panic to the four quarters (of the world).

52.'To'Vajrapai'I'shall'Cly,'For'at'the'sight'of'himAll'vengeful'things'like'Yamas'host'Escape'in'terror'to'the'four'directions.

RI bI (53) Previously, I've transgressed your advice, But seeing now these horribly frightening things,I take safe direction from you, and by this, May I purge myself quickly of these fearful things.

53.'Formerly'your'words'I'have'transgressed,'But'having'seen'these'terrors'all'around,'I'come'to'you'for'refuge'praying:'Swiftly'drive'away'my'fear!

I z# 9 Iiz (54) If even when scared by a common illness, I have to act in accord with a doctor's advice,What need to mention when perpetually a%icted By diseases, like desire, (that produce) hundreds of injuries.

54.'For'if,'alarmed'by'common'ailments,'I'must'implement'the'doctors'words,What'need'to'speak'of'when'Im'constantly'brought'low'By'ills'like'lust'and'faults'a'hundredfold?

Ig # z Fo_ (55) If just one of these can bring all the people Living in this Southern Continent to ruin,And if no other medicine to cure them Is to be found in any direction,

55.'And'if,'by'one'of'these'alone,'The'dwellers'in'the'world'are'all'thrown'down,'And'if'no'other'remedy'exists,No'other'healing'elsewhere'to'be'found

z # e# z (56) !en the urge not to act in accord with the advice Of the Omniscient Physicians concerning that, Which can remove every painful disease, Is something to be rebuked as extremely naive.

56.'Than'words'of'the'allgknowing'doctor,'Which'uproot'our'every'ill,The'thought'to'turn'on'him'deaf'ears'Is'abject'and'contemptible'stupidity.

# ^t z (57) If I need to be careful At a small and ordinary cli#, What need to mention at the cli# over which I can fallFor thousands of leagues for a long duration (in the joyless realms).

57.'Along'a'small'and'ordinary'cliff'If'I'must'pick'my'way'with'special'care,What'need'to'speak'of'that'longglasting'chasm'Plunging'to'the'depths'a'thousand'leagues?


2. Confession - 20

[ [ (58) It's incorrect (for me) to sit at ease, !inking, "I won't die just today,"For without a doubt that time will come When I shall be no more.

58.'Today,'at'least,'I'shall'not'die.'So'rash'to'lull'myself'with'words'like'these!'My'dissolution'and'my'hour'of'death'Will'come'to'me,'of'this'there'is'no'doubt.

# e[ [ e (59) Who can give me a state of no fear? How can I be freed with certainty from this? If I shall doubtlessly vanish, How can I sit with my mind at ease?

59.'Who'can'give'me'fearlessness,'What'sure'escape'is'there'from'this?'Its'certain'that'Im'going'to'die,'So'how'can'I'relax,'my'mind'at'ease?

P^ t j# (60) What I've experienced in the past has disappeared, And because of my clingingTo whatever extra I have beyond that, I've been acting contrary to my mentors' advice.

60.'Of'lifes'experience,'all'seasons'past,'Whats'left'to'me,'what'now'remains?'By'clinging'to'what'now'is'here'no'more,'My'teachers'precepts'I'have'disobeyed.

o k (61) Having abandoned this lifetime And likewise my relatives and friends,If alone I must wander in an uncertain direction, What use with all of my friends and foes?

61.'And'when'this'life'is'left'behind,'And'with'it'all'my'kith'and'kin,I'must'set'out'on'strange'paths'all'alone:'Why'make'so'much'of'all'my'friends'and'foes?19

PR# e i (62) "From destructive actions comes (nothing but) su#ering; How can I be liberated de"nitely from that?" It's proper for me to think, day and night, Constantly only about that.

62.'How'instead'can'I'make'sure'To'rid'myself'of'evil,'only'cause'of'sorrow?'This'should'be'my'one'concern,My'only'thought'both'night'and'day.

P [o (63) Out of naivety or (simply) not knowing, Whatever I've done that "ts into beingEither naturally disgraceful Or a negative act proscribed (by you Buddhas),

63.'The'wrongs'that'I'have'done'Through'ignorant'stupidity:All'actions'evil'by'their'nature20'And'transgressions'of'the'precepts,


2. Confession - 21

p0R UPRI F [ (64) I openly admit all of them Directly before the eyes of you Guardians,Prostrating over and again, with palms pressed together And a mind dreading su#ering.

64.'Fearing'all'the'pains'to'come'I'join'my'palms'and'ceaselessly'prostrate,'And'everything'I'will'confessDirectly'in'the'sight'of'my'protectors.

oIP [ #0 P^ (65) Spiritual Leaders, in (light of my) taking my negative acts As having been misdeeds, I beseech you: Since this was not wholesome, I shall never do them again.

65.'I'pray'you,'guides'and'guardians'of'the'world,'To'take'me'as'I'am,'a'sinful'man.And'all'these'actions,'evil'as'they'are,'I'promise'I'will'never'do'again.


3. Gaining Hold of a Bodhichitta Aim - 22

3. Gaining Hold of a Bodhichitta Aim - Taking hold of Bodhichitta [ PRp PR Q (1) With pleasure, I rejoice in the positive actions !at relieve the su#erings of the worse rebirth states For all limited beings and that place these, who su#er, In better rebirth states.

1.'With'joy'I'celebrate'the'virtue'that'relieves'all'beings'From'the'sorrows'of'the'states'of'loss,21Exulting'in'the'happy'states'enjoyed'By'those'who'yet'are'suffering.22

#9[ Q PR (2) I rejoice in that build up of positive (force) !at became the causes for the (arhats') puri"ed state;I rejoice in the de"nite freedom of (these) embodied beings From the miseries of uncontrollable rebirth.

2.'I'revel'in'the'stores'of'virtue,'Cause'of'gaining'the'enlightened'state,'And'celebrate'the'freedom'wonBy'living'beings'from'the'round'of'pain.

boI# 9K(3) I rejoice in the puri"ed state of the Guardian (Buddhas) And also in the levels of mind of their spiritual o#spring;

3.'And'in'the'Buddhahood'of'the'protectors'I'delightAnd'in'the'grounds'of'realization23'of'the'Buddhas'heirs.

b9 Q (4) And with pleasure, I rejoice in the ocean of positive force From their having developed bodhichitta aims To bring every limited being joy And in their deeds that have aided limited beings.

4.'Their'enlightened'attitude,'an'ocean'of'great'good,'That'seeks'to'place'all'beings'in'the'state'of'bliss,'And'every'action'for'the'beneCit'of'beings:'Such'is'my'delight'and'joy.

Fo[9 U PR Ic (5) With palms pressed together, I beseech !e Buddhas of all directions: Please shine Dharma's lamp for limited beings Su#ering and groping in darkness.

5.'And'so'I'join'my'hands'and'pray'The'Buddhas'who'reside'in'every'quarter:Kindle'now'the'Dharmas'light'For'those'who'grope,'bewildered,'in'the'dark'of'pain!

9 U ky ;k (6) With palms pressed together, I beseech !e Triumphant who would pass beyond sorrow:I beg you, remain for countless eons So as not to leave in their blindness these wandering beings.

6.'I'join'my'hands'beseeching'the'enlightened'ones'Who'wish'to'pass'into'nirva:Do'not'leave'us'wandering'in'blindness,Stay'among'us'for'unnumbered'ages!



e# I PR (7) By whatever positive force I've built up !rough all of these that I've done like that, May I remove every su#eringOf all limited beings.

7.'Through'these'actions'now'performed24'And'all'the'virtues'I'have'gained,May'all'the'pain'of'every'living'being'Be'wholly'scattered'and'destroyed!

kK [[ zz # (8) So long as wandering beings fall sick, May I serve as the medicine,!e doctors and their nurse, Until they've been cured of their illness.

8.'For'all'those'ailing'in'the'world,'Until'their'every'sickness'has'been'healed,'May'I'myself'become'for'themThe'doctor,'nurse,'the'medicine'itself.

;[^ ; ; ;[ (9) May I eliminate the pain of hunger and thirst With a shower of food and drink;And, in the times of the middle eons of famine, May I myself change into food and drink.

9.'Raining'down'a'Clood'of'food'and'drink,'May'I'dispel'the'ills'of'thirst'and'famine.And'in'the'aeons'marked'by'scarcity'and'want,25'May'I'myself'appear'as'drink'and'sustenance.

[ #h [ (10) For limited beings, destitute and poor, May I become a treasure that never runs out And remain in their presence As a variety of sorts of useful things.

10.'For'sentient'beings,'poor'and'destitute,'May'I'become'a'treasure'evergplentiful,'And'lie'before'them'closely'in'their'reach,'A'varied'source'of'all'that'they'might'need.

0 I [cF # (11) To ful"l the aims of all limited beings, I give, without sense of a loss, My body and likewise my pleasures,And all my positive forces of the three times.

11.'My'body,'thus,'and'all'my'goods'besides,'And'all'my'merits'gained'and'to'be'gained,'I'give'them'all'and'do'not'count'the'cost,'To'bring'about'the'beneCit'of'beings.

jc o (12) Giving everything away (brings) release with nirvana, And my mind is (aimed) for realising nirvana. As giving away all comes together (with death), It's best to give (now) to limited beings.

12.'Nirva'is'attained'by'giving'all,'Nirva'is'the'object'of'my'striving;And'all'must'be'surrendered'in'a'single'instant,'Therefore'it'is'best'to'give'it'all'to'others.



#[ iz # (13) Having given this body to all those with limited bodies To do with as they like,It's up to them to do what they want: Let them kill it, revile it, always beat it, or whatever.

13.'This'body'I'have'now'resigned'To'serve'the'pleasure'of'all'living'beings.'Let'them'ever'kill,'despise,'and'beat'it,'Using'it'according'to'their'wish.

X# 9#I #[ # (14) Let them toy with my body,Make it into a source of ridicule or a joke. Having given away this body of mine, For what should I hold it dear?

14.'And'though'they'treat'it'like'a'toy,Or'make'of'it'the'butt'of'every'mockery,'My'body'has'been'given'up'to'them.'Why'should'I'make'so'much'of'it?

[ # [ (15) Let them do whatever to (my) body, So long as it doesn't cause them harm; But may anything focused on me Never turn out to be meaningless.

15.'And'so'let'beings'do'to'me'Whatever'does'not'bring'them'injury.'Whenever'they'may'think'of'me,Let'this'not'fail'to'bring'them'beneCit.

# i k9[ (16) If anyone, having focused on me, Develops an angry or negative mind, May that always turn into a causeFor ful"lling all of his or her aims.

16.'And'if'in'my'regard'they'have'A'thought'of'anger'or'respect,May'these'states'always'be'the'cause'Whereby'their'good'and'wishes'are'fulCilled.

# F #;y[ (17) And may everyone who speaks badly of me, Or does something else that's of harm,Or likewise hurls ridicule at me, Become someone with the fortune for a puri"ed state.

17.'All'those'who'slight'me'to'my'face'Or'do'to'me'some'other'evil,'Even'if'they'blame'or'slander'me,May'they'attain'the'fortune'of'enlightenment!

oI oI oIk [ (18) May I be a guardian for those with no guardian, A path"nder for those who are on the road, And a boat, a ship, and a bridge For those who would cross.

18.'May'I'be'a'guard'for'those'who'are'protectorless,'A'guide'for'those'who'journey'on'the'road.For'those'who'wish'to'cross'the'water,'May'I'be'a'boat,'a'raft,'a'bridge.



gg w [w[ (19) May I be an island for those seeking an island, A lamp for those desiring a lamp,A bed for everyone wishing a bed, And a servant for every embodied being who would want a servant.

19.'May'I'be'an'isle'for'those'who'yearn'for'land,'A'lamp'for'those'who'long'for'light;For'all'who'need'a'resting'place,'a'bed;'For'those'who'need'a'servant,'may'I'be'their'slave.

Rkz [ oI[ (20) May I be a wish-granting gem, a vase of excellence, Mantras of pure awareness, magni"cent medicine, Wish-granting trees, and cows of plenty For embodied beings.

20.'May'I'be'the'wishing'jewel,'the'vase'of'wealth,'A'word'of'power'and'the'supreme'healing,'May'I'be'the'tree'of'miracles,'For'every'being'the'abundant'cow.

# i o (21) And eternally, like earth and so on - !e great elements - and space,May I serve, in a plenitude of forms, as the basis for life For fathomless numbers of limited beings.

21.'Just'like'the'earth'and'space'itself'And'all'the'other'mighty'elements,For'boundless'multitudes'of'beings'May'I'always'be'the'ground'of'life,'the'source'of'varied'sustenance.

o 9 (22) And till they pass to nirvana, May I serve, as well, in all ways,As the causes for life in the realms Of limited beings till the ends of space.

22.'Thus'for'everything'that'lives,'As'far'as'are'the'limits'of'the'sky,May'I'be'constantly'their'source'of'livelihood'Until'they'pass'beyond'all'sorrow.

eR[I #b # e (23) Just as the Blissfully Gone (Buddhas) of the past Have generated a bodhichitta aim,!en lived by the stages Of bodhisattva training;

23.'Just'as'all'the'Buddhas'of'the'past'Have'brought'forth'the'awakened'mind,'And'in'the'precepts'of'the'Bodhisattvas'Stepgbygstep'abode'and'trained,

k #b[ [ (24) So, too, do I generate a bodhichitta aim To help those who wander,And shall train in the stages Of bodhisattva training.

24.'Likewise,'for'the'beneCit'of'beings,'I'will'bring'to'birth'the'awakened'mind,'And'in'those'precepts,'stepgbygstep,'I'will'abide'and'train'myself.



ejy # I9#F e^ (25) Purely gaining hold, like this, Of bodhichitta with (this) sound state of mind, Afterwards, as well, to enhance it further, Celebrate (that) mind in this way:

25.'Those'who'thus'with'clear'intelligence'Take'hold'of'the'awakened'mind'with'bright'and'lucid'joy,'That'they'may'now'increase'what'they'have'gained,'Should'lift'their'hearts'with'praises'such'as'these:

w K 9b 9K[ (26) Now my life's become fruitful, For having wonderfully attained a human existence, Today I've awakened my Buddha-nature And now have become a Buddha's spiritual child.

26.'Today'my'life'has'given'fruit.'This'human'state'has'now'been'well'assumed.'Today'I'take'my'birth'in'Buddhas'line,'And'have'become'the'Buddhas'child'and'heir.

I X b _[e# (27) Now, in whatever way possible, I shall undertake actions that accord with its traits, And never de"le this impeccable nature !at lacks any fault.

27.'In'every'way,'then,'I'will'undertake'Activities'beCitting'such'a'rank.And'I'will'do'no'act'to'mar'Or'compromise'this'high'and'faultless'lineage.

F e_e e^ #b (28) Just like a blind man Finding a gem in a pile of trash, Likewise, it's come about by some force!at within me has developed a bodhichitta aim.

28.'For'I'am'like'a'blind'man'who'has'found'A'precious'gem'inside'a'heap'of'dust.For'so'it'is,'by'some'strange'chance,'That'bodhichitta'has'been'born'in'me.

k# XI k (29) It's the supreme nectar, indeed, for defeating !e Lord of Death of wandering beings;It's the inexhaustible treasure as well For dispelling the poverty of those who roam.

29.'This'is'the'supreme'draft'of'immortality'That'slays'the'Lord'of'Death,'the'slaughterer'of'beings,'The'rich'unfailing'treasuregmine'To'heal'the'poverty'of'wanderers.

k# z[I K kpx (30) It is the best medicine, too, that brings to full rest !e diseases of those who are passing through;It's the tree that shelters all wandering beings, Roaming and exhausted on the roads of their compulsive lives.

30.'It'is'the'sovereign'remedy'That'perfectly'allays'all'maladies.It'is'the'tree'that'gives'relief'To'those'who'wander'wearily'the'pathways'of'existence.



kk c#0^ k I (31) It's the public bridge for freeing All wandering beings from the worse rebirth states; It's the risen mind-moon for dispelling the fever Of the disturbing emotions of those who roam.

31.'It'is'the'universal'bridge'that'saves'All'wandering'beings'from'the'states'of'loss,'The'rising'moon'of'the'enlightened'mind'That'soothes'the'sorrows'born'of'the'afClictions.

k # K [F (32) It's the magni"cent sun for clearing away !e mist of not knowing of wandering beings;It's the fresh froth of butter that rises to the top From the churning of the milk of the sacred Dharma.

32.'It'is'the'mighty'sun'that'utterly'dispels'The'misty'ignorance'of'wandering'beings,'The'creamy'butter,'rich'and'full,'Thats'churned'from'milk'of'holy'teaching.

kkK9 00 k# (33) For wandering beings roaming, as guests, on the roads of compulsive existence, Wishing to enjoy a share of bliss, !is is the best for setting (them) with bliss, Satisfying the entirety of beings (who'll come) as guests.

33.'Living'beings!'Wayfarers'upon'lifes'paths,'Who'wish'to'taste'the'riches'of'contentment,'Here'before'you'is'the'supreme'bliss.'Here,'O'ceaseless'travelers,'is'your'fulCillment!

bI 0Rk k[ tt[ #0 #I#^ (34) Today, before the eyes of all sources of direction, I've summoned as guests (all) wandering beingsFor bliss up to the state of a Blissfully Gone (Buddha). Gods, anti-gods, and so on, take joy!

34.'And'so,'today,'within'the'sight'of'all'protectors,'I'summon'beings,'calling'them'to'Buddhahood.'And,'till'that'state'is'reached,'to'every'earthly'joy!'May'gods'and'demigods'and'all'the'rest'rejoice!


4. Taking Care (about Bodhichitta) - 28

4. Taking Care (about Bodhichitta) - Carefulness 9KIe #i i # (1) As a Triumphant Ones' o#spring, Having "rmly gained hold of bodhichitta like this, I'll strive never to transgress its training, Without ever wavering.

1.'The'children'of'the'Conqueror'who'thus'Have'Cirmly'grasped'this'bodhichitta,'Should'never'turn'aside'from'it,'Strive'never'to'transgress'its'disciplines.

X i #[I #i (2) For something undertaken all of a sudden Or something I didn't examine well,Even if I've given a promise about it, It's proper to examine, "Do it or give it up?"

2.'Whatever'was'begun'without'due'heed,'And'all'that'was'not'properly'conceived,'Although'a'promise'and'a'pledge'were'given,'It'is'right'to'reconsider:'Shall'I'act'or'not?

9oK i IIii (3) But how can I ever withdraw From what the Buddhas and their spiritual o#spring Have examined with great discriminating awareness And I, myself, have repeatedly examined as well?

3.'Yet'what'the'Buddhas'and'their'heirs'Have'scrutinized'in'their'great'wisdom,'I'myself'have'probed'and'scrutinized.'Why'should'I'now'procrastinate?

e Ic# k[ (4) If, having promised like this, I don't carry it through with my actions, !en, by deceiving every limited being, What will become of my rebirth states?

4.'For'if'I'bind'myself'with'promises'But'fail'to'carry'out'my'words'in'deed,'Then'every'being'will'have'been'betrayed.'What'destiny'must'lie'in'store'for'me?

IU# U# [ (5) If (Buddha) has said that once someone's made up his mind To give away even some small and trivial thing, And then doesn't (actually) give it away, He'll turn into a clutching ghost;

5.'If'in'the'teachings'it'is'said'That'those'who'in'their'thoughts'intendTo'give'a'small'and'paltry'thing'but'then'draw'back'Will'take'rebirth'as'hungry'spirits,



j k k# kk[ (6) !en, if I should deceive all wandering beings, After having sincerely invited themTo unsurpassable bliss, Will I go to a better rebirth state?

6.'How'can'I'expect'a'happy'destinyIf'from'my'heart'I'summon'Wandering'beings'to'the'highest'bliss,'But'then'deceive'and'fail'them?

# [^ (7) And how the karma works for someone Who gives up bodhichitta, yet attains liberation, Is beyond all thought:Only the Omniscient can understand.

7.'As'for'those'who,'losing'bodhichitta,'Lead'others'nonetheless'to'liberation,'Karmic'law'is'inconceivableAnd'only'understood'by'the'Omniscient.26

# e^ e#[ [ (8) For a bodhisattva, (however,) this is the heaviest From among (all) the downfalls;Because, if something should happen like that, It impairs the welfare of all limited beings.

8.'This'failure,'for'the'Bodhisattva,'Is'the'gravest'of'all'downfalls.For'should'it'ever'come'to'pass,'The'good'of'every'being'is'thrown'down.

; # [ k (9) And should anyone else cause an obstruction, For even an instant, to his positive acts,!ere'll be no end to his worse rebirth states, From impairing the welfare of limited beings.

9.'And'anyone'who,'for'a'single'instant,'Halts'the'merit'of'a'BodhisattvaWanders'endlessly'in'evil'states,'Because'the'welfare'of'all'beings'is'reduced.

[ } z (10) For if one's (state of rebirth) will worsen By destroying the joy of even a single, limited being, What need to mention destroying the bliss Of embodied beings as vast as all space?

10.'Destroy'a'single'beings'joy'And'you'will'work'the'ruin'of'yourself.'No'need'to'speak'of'bringing'lowThe'joy'of'beings'inCinite'as'space'itself!

ee^y #^y I# (11) !erefore, someone with the force from a downfall And the force from (developing) bodhichitta (again)Keeps bouncing down and up in samsara, For a long time obstructed in reaching any arya level of realized mind.

11.'And'those'who'circle'in'sasra,'Mixing'powerful'downfallsWith'the'power'of'bodhichitta'back'and'forth,'Will'long'be'hindered'from'the'Bodhisattva'grounds.



ee c# X# k[ (12) !erefore, with highest regard, I shall carry it through, Just as I've promised, becauseIf, from now on, I don't make an e#ort, I'll wander from lower to ever-lower states.

12.'And'so,'according'to'my'promise,I'will'act'attentively.'From'this'day'forth,'if'I'now'fail'to'strive,'Ill'fall'from'low'to'even'lower'states.

9k[I 0[ (13) Countless Buddhas, who have helped All limited beings, have already passed. Yet, I wasn't an object of their healing, Because of my mistakes.

13.'Striving'for'the'beneCit'of'all'that'lives,'Unnumbered'Buddhas'have'already'lived'and'passed'away.'But'I,'by'virtue'of'my'sins,'have'failed'To'come'within'the'compass'of'their'healing'works.27

# k [ (14) And if I still were to act like this, It would be the same, over and again: Worse rebirth states, sickness, death, Being dismembered and torn apart.

14.'And'this'will'always'be'my'lot'If'I'continue'to'behave'like'this,And'I'will'suffer'pains'and'bondage,'Wounds'and'laceration'in'the'lower'realms.

# e [ (15) If the advent of a !usly Gone (Buddha), And gaining embodiment as a human (with) belief in what's fact And the properly constructive instincts are so rare, When shall I attain them (again) like this?

15.'The'appearance'of'the'Buddhas'in'the'world,'True'faith'and'the'attainment'of'a'human'form,'An'aptitude'for'good:'all'these'are'rare.'When'will'they'come'to'me'again?

e I ;^ _ (16) Although on a day like today, I'm not sick, Have food, and haven't any injuries,Life is but for a moment and will let me down: !e body is like something on loan for an instant.

16.'Today,'indeed,'Im'hale'and'well,'I'have'enough'to'eat'and'I'am'not'in'danger.'But'this'life'is'Cleeting,'unreliable,'My'body'is'like'something'brieCly'lent.

0 I[ [ P (17) And with my behavior like this, I won't even attain a human body (again).And if I haven't attained (another) human body, I'll have only (my) negative karmic force and nothing constructive.

17.'And'yet'the'way'I'act'is'such'That'I'shall'not'regain'a'human'life!'And'losing'this,'my'precious'human'form,'My'evils'will'be'many,'virtues'none.28



0;y # PR # (18) If even when having the chance for constructive behavior, I do nothing constructive, then what course will I have When completely struck dumb by the su#erings In the worse rebirth states?

18.'Here'is'now'my'chance'for'wholesome'deeds,'But'if'I'fail'to'practice'virtue,What'will'be'my'lot,'what'shall'I'do,'Bewildered'by'the'sorrows'of'the'lower'realms?

I# PI ;#9 kpc[ (19) If, while not doing anything constructive, I continue to build up negative karmic force, !en for hundreds of millions of eons I won't even hear the words "better rebirth state."

19.'Never,'there,'performing'any'virtue,'Only'ever'piling'up'my'sins,And'for'a'hundred'million'ages,'Ill'not'even'hear'of'happy'destinies.29

Fy[ 9 ke (20) Because of just this, the Vanquishing Master has said Rebirth as a human is so di&cult to attain, Just as it is for a turtle to stick its neck through the hole In a yoke adrift on the vast sea.

20.'This'is'why'Lord'Buddha'has'declared'That'like'a'turtle'that'perchance'can'placeIts'head'within'a'yoke'adrift'upon'the'mighty'sea'This'human'birth'is'difCicult'to'Cind!

;#PI ;[ P kkz (21) If, by the negative force of committing (a heinous act) for an instant, I must spend an eon in a joyless realm of unrelenting pain, What need to mention not going to one of the better rebirth states Because of the negative force I've built up over beginningless samsara?

21.'If'through'the'evil'action'of'a'single'instant'I'must'spend'an'aeon'in'the'hell'of'Unrelenting'Pain,The'evils'in'sasra'stored'from'time'without'beginning'No'need'to'say'that'they'will'keep'me'from'the'states'of'bliss!

[ o[ e Pb (22) But just having experienced only that much, I shall still not get free, For while experiencing like this,I'll proli"cally create further negative force.

22.'And'mere'experience'of'such'pain'Does'not'result'in'being'freed'from'it.For'in'the'very'suffering'of'such'states,'More'evil'will'occur,'and'then'in'great'abundance.

_[ # (23) So if, having found a respite such as this, I don't make being constructive a habit, !ere's nothing more self-deceptive than this; !ere's nothing more stupid than this.

23.'Thus,'having'found'this'moment'of'reprieve,'If'I'now'fail'to'train'myself'in'virtue,What'greater'folly'could'there'ever'be?'How'more'could'I'betray'myself?



i FIu [I y[ (24) If, having understood this, I procrastinate stupidly still in the future, !en, when the hour for (my) dying will come, Enormous anguish will swell.

24.'If'having'understood'all'this,Im'stupidly'despondent'still,'Then'at'the'moment'of'my'death,'My'sorrows'will'be'black'indeed.

K[ [ [ (25) !en, if my body will burn for so long In the unbearable "res of a joyless realm,!ere can be no doubt that my mind will be tortured By the searing $ames of unendurable regret.

25.'And'when'my'body'burns'so'long'In'Cires'of'hell'so'unendurable,My'mind,'there'is'no'doubt,'will'also'be'tormented,'Burned'in'Cires'of'unendurable'regret.

_ e^_[ y F (26) Having found, somehow, a bene"cial Rebirth, so hard to "nd, If (now), while able to discriminate,I drag myself down once more to a joyless realm,

26.'For'its'as'if'by'chance'that'I'have'gained'This'state'so'hard'to'Cind,'wherein'to'help'myself.'If'now,'while'having'such'discernment,'I'am'once'again'consigned'to'hell,

RI# I (27) It amounts to not having had a mind while here, Like having been stupe"ed by a mantra spell.If I don't know what's causing me to be so stupid, Well, what is it there inside my (head)?

27.'I'am'as'if'benumbed'by'sorcery,As'if'reduced'to'total'mindlessness.'I'do'not'know'what'dulls'my'wits.'O'what'is'it'that'has'me'in'its'grip?

PKko e w# (28) Although enemies, such as anger and craving, Have neither legs nor arms,Are neither brave nor wise, How is it that they've made me like their slave?

28.'Anger,'lust,'these'enemies'of'mine,'Are'limbless'and'devoid'of'faculties.They'have'no'bravery,'no'cleverness;'How'then'have'they'reduced'me'to'such'slavery?

# z (29) For while squatting in my mind, At their pleasure, they gleefully cause me harm. To be patient and not become angry with them Is an inappropriate, pathetic place for patience.

29.'They'dwell'within'my'mind'And'at'their'pleasure'injure'me.All'this'I'suffer'meekly,'unresenting'Thus'my'abject'patience,'all'displaced!



tto kI I (30) Even if all the gods and anti-gods Were to rise up against me as enemies,!ey couldn't drag and feed me into the "res (Of a joyless realm) of unrelenting pain.

30.'If'all'the'gods'and'demigods'besides'Together'came'against'me'as'my'foes,They'would'be'powerless'to'throw'me'down'To'Cires'of'hell'of'Unrelenting'Pain.

^k rI ; (31) But those strong mighty enemies, my disturbing emotions, Can, in a moment, hurl me into them, which, When met, will cause not even the ashes Of the King of Mountains to remain.

31.'And'yet'the'mighty'Ciend'of'my'afClictions'Flings'me'in'an'instant'headlong'downTo'where'the'mighty'lord'of'mountains30'Would'be'burned,'its'very'ashes'all'consumed.

k e kIe (32) My disturbing emotions are long-standing enemies, Without a beginning or an end.No other enemy can be like that, For such a long time.

32.'O'my'enemy,'afClictive'passion,'Endless'and'beginningless'companion!'No'other'enemy'indeedIs'able'to'endure'so'long!

k^# # o^# FPR# (33) With all (the others), becoming close and serving (them) nicely Bring bene"t and happiness; But being close with my disturbing emotions (Only) harms me with even more pain.

33.'All'other'foes'that'I'appease'and'wait'upon'Will'show'me'favors,'give'me'every'aid,But'should'I'serve'my'dark'deCiled'emotions,'They'will'only'harm'me,'draw'me'down'to'grief.

e9k[ 9 ~ [ (34) !ese longtime, continuing enemies like this Are the sole causes for masses of harm to multiply wildly. How can I be joyful and not terri"ed in samsara, If I set a secure place (for them) in my heart?

34.'If'thus'my'ancient'and'unceasing'foes,'The'wellspring'only'of'my'growing'pain,'Can'lodge'so'safe'within'my'heart,'How'can'I'live'so'blithe'and'fearless'in'this'wheel'of'life?

[K #[ j (35) Where can I have happiness If, in a web of attachments within my mind,!ey lurk as guards of my samsara-prison, Becoming my murderers and butchers in joyless realms and the like?

35.'And'if'the'jail'guards'of'the'prisons'of'sasra,'The'butchers'and'tormentors'of'infernal'realms,'All'lurk'within'me'in'the'web'of'craving,'What'joy'can'ever'be'my'destiny?



eKk KX #[ 9o(36a) !erefore, I shall never give up my e#orts in this Until, directly myself, I de"nitely smash these enemies.(36b) Having become enraged at someone who caused them even some minor, occasional harm, !ose with full-blown pride won't sleep till they've smashed that (enemy).

36.'I'will'not'leave'the'Cight'until,'before'my'eyes,'These'enemies'of'mine'are'all'destroyed.For'if,'aroused'to'fury'by'the'merest'slight,'Incapable'of'sleep'until'the'scores'are'settled,

PR[ [ [PR kFF## (37) And if, while lined up in the height of battle against those with disturbing emotions, Who will come to su#er their natural deaths (anyway), !ose obsessed with vindictively smashing them will dismiss the pain of being struck by the weapons of arrows or spears And, till accomplishing their aims, will never run o# in the opposite direction;

37.'Proud'but'wretched'rivals,'destined'all'to'suffer'when'they'die,'Will'draw'the'battle'lines'and'do'their'best'to'win,'And'careless'of'the'pain'of'cut'and'thrust,'Will'stand'their'ground'refusing'to'give'way,

iPR[9[ kX PR9r9[I u[z (38) Is there need to mention that I mustn't lose heart and procrastinate, Even if I'm caused hundreds of su#erings When, now, I strive to de"nitely overcome my natural enemies (my disturbing emotions), Which are the continual source of all my su#erings?

38.'No'need'to'say'that'I'will'not'lose'heart,'Regardless'of'the'hardships'of'the'fray.From'this'day'forth'Ill'strive'to'crush'These'foes'whose'very'nature'is'to'bring'me'pain.

kK 9K# cFX[ PRF# (39) If wounds, without even some purpose, in$icted by enemies, Are held up like ornaments on the body, !en why are su#erings troublesome to me, Who impeccably strive to ful"ll the Great Purpose?

39.'The'wounds'inClicted'by'the'enemy'in'futile'wars'Are'Claunted'by'the'soldier'as'a'prize.So'in'the'high'endeavor,'for'so'great'a'thing,'Why'should'I'be'dismayed'by'hurt'or'injury?

k kFe (40) If "shermen, outcastes, peasants and the like, Even with the thought of merely their livelihoods, Endure such su#erings as heat and cold, Why aren't the likes of me patient for the sake of the happiness of wandering beings?

40.'When'Cishers,'butchers,'farmers,'and'the'like,'Intending'just'to'gain'their'livelihood,'Will'suffer'all'the'miseries'of'heat'and'cold,'Why,'for'beings'happiness,'should'those'like'me'not'bear'the'same?



F kc I ok (41) When I promised to liberate from their disturbing emotions Wandering beings in the ten directions As far as the ends of space, I myself was not freed yet from disturbing emotions,

41.'When'I'pledged'myself'to'free'from'their'afClictions'Beings'who'abide'in'every'region,Stretching'to'the'limits'of'the'sky,'I'was'myself'not'free'from'such'deCilements.

I e e iFy# (42) And didn't even realize the extent of my (being under their control); Wasn't it crazy to have spoken (like that)? But, as this is so, I shall never withdraw From destroying my disturbing emotions.

42.'To'speak'like'that,'not'knowing'my'capacity,'Were'these'not,'truly,'but'a'madmans'words?'More'reason'then'for'never'drawing'back'Abandoning'the'Cight'against'deCiled'afCliction.31

# f o # (43) To do this shall be my obsession: Holding a grudge, I shall meet them in battle! Disturbing emotions, in forms such as these, Are exclusively for destroying the disturbing emotions.

43.'This'shall'be'my'allgconsuming'passion.'Filled'with'rancor'I'will'wage'my'war!'DeCilement'of'this'kind'will'halt'deCilement'And'for'this'reason'it'shall'not'be'spurned.

K[ Ij o k# (44) Better for me to be burned to death Or have my head chopped o#:I shall never, in any circumstances, Bow to the enemy, (my) disturbing emotions.

44.'Better'if'I'perish'in'the'Cire,'Better'that'my'head'be'severed'from'my'body'Than'ever'I'should'serve'or'reverence'My'mortal'enemies,'deCiled'emotions.

kF iFy k (45) Common enemies, when driven o# from a country, Will settle and occupy other lands, And when they've recovered their strength, return once again; But the way of the enemy, my disturbing emotions, is not similar in this regard.

45.'Common'foes,'when'driven'from'the'state,'Retreat'and'base'themselves'in'other'lands,And'muster'all'their'strength'the'better'to'return.'But'enemy'afClictions'are'without'such'stratagems.

k[ #F jX (46) Pitiful disturbing emotions, when gotten rid of by wisdom's eye And kicked out of my mind, where will you go?Where will you live to come back to harm me? Weak-minded, it's fallen to my making no e#ort.

46.'Miserable'deCilements,'scattered'by'the'eye'of'wisdom!'Where'will'you'now'run,'when'driven'from'my'mind?'Whence'would'you'return'to'do'me'harm?'But'oh,'my'mind'is'feeble.'I'am'indolent!



o k# uF~FX^ o^# (47) If disturbing emotions don't live in sensory objects, in networks of sensory cells, in between (the two),Or somewhere other than that, then where can they live to harass all wandering beings (again)? !ey're like an illusion and, because of that, I shall get rid of the fear in my heart and devote myself resolutely to striving for wisdom. Why have I been torturing myself, for no real reason, in joyless realms and the like?

47.'DeCilements'are'not'in'the'object,'Nor'within'the'faculties,'nor'somewhere'in'between.'And'if'not'elsewhere,'where'is'their'abode,'Whence'they'inClict'their'havoc'on'the'world?'They'are'simple'mirages,'and'so'take'heart!Banish'all'your'fear'and'strive'to'know'their'nature.'Why'suffer'needlessly'the'pains'of'hell?

eo; c# zz #0 ^#^ (48) Having decisively thought like this, I shall strive to actualize the training, just as explained.Not listening to the doctor's instructions, How can a patient in need of a cure be healed by his medicines?

48.'This'is'how'I'should'reClect'and'labor,'That'I'might'apply'the'precepts'thus'set'forth.What'invalids'in'need'of'medicine'Ignored'their'doctors'words'and'gained'their'health?


5. Safeguarding with Alertness - 37

5. Safeguarding with Alertness - Vigilant introspection K cK^ K# K (1) With the wish to safeguard my training, I need to work hard and safeguard my mind; If I'm unable to safeguard my mind, I'll also be unable to safeguard my training.

1.'Those'who'wish'to'keep'the'trainings'Must'with'perfect'selfgpossession'guard'their'minds.'Without'this'guard'upon'the'mind,'The'trainings'cannot'be'preserved.

Ig #e g # (2) Left to run loose, the elephant of my mind can ravage me With (a joyless realm of ) unrelenting pain. Untamed, rutting elephants in this (world) Can't cause me such harm.

2.'Wandering'where'it'will,'the'elephant'of'mind,'Will'bring'us'down'to'torment'in'the'hell'of'Unrelenting'Pain.'No'worldly'beast,'however'wild'and'crazed,'Could'bring'upon'us'such'calamities.

Ig [ (3) But, if the elephant of my mind is "rmly bound By the rope of mindfulness on every side,All fears will vanish and everything constructive Will come into my hands.

3.'If,'with'mindfulness'rope,'The'elephant'of'mind'is'tethered'all'around,'Our'fears'will'come'to'nothing,Every'virtue'drop'into'our'hands.

^g ko K #Ko (4) Tigers, lions, elephants, bears, Snakes and all enemies,!e beings who are the guards in the joyless realms, Witches and likewise cannibals -

4.'Tigers,'lions,'elephants,'and'bears,'Snakes'and'every'hostile'foe,Those'who'guard'the'prisoners'in'hell,'Ghosts'and'ghouls'and'every'evil'wraith,

[ [ (5) !ey'll all be bound, by having bound !is mind alone;!ey'll all be tamed, by having tamed !is mind alone.

5.'By'simple'binding'of'this'mind'alone,'All'these'things'are'likewise'bound.'By'simple'taming'of'this'mind'alone,'All'these'things'are'likewise'tamed.



e PR # I^ (6) !e Speaker of the Perfect himself has shown !at, in this way, all fears,As well as immeasurable su#erings, Come from the mind.

6.'For'all'anxiety'and'fear,'And'pain'in'boundless'quantity,Their'source'and'wellspring'is'the'mind'itself,'As'He'who'spoke'the'truth'declared.

o # K# # (7) Who intentionally created All the weapons for the beings in the joyless realms? Who created the burning iron ground? Where did all the siren-maids come from?

7.'The'hellish'instruments'to'torture'living'beings'Who'invented'them'for'such'intent?Who'has'forged'this'burning'iron'ground;'Whence'have'all'these'demongwomen'sprung?32

I P ei (8) !e Sage has said that all such things as that Are (what come from) a mind having negative karmic force. !erefore, in the threefold world, !ere's nothing to fear except the mind.

8.'All'are'but'the'offspring'of'the'sinful'mind,'This'the'mighty'Sage'has'said.Throughout'the'triple'world33'therefore'There'is'no'greater'bane'than'mind'itself.

k UF kR beF (9) (After all,) if the perfection of giving were !at the poverty of wandering beings was all gone; !en how could the Guardians of old have perfected it, Since wandering beings have hunger still now?

9.'If'transcendent'giving'is'To'dissipate'the'poverty'of'beings,In'what'waysince'the'poor'are'always'with'us'Have'former'Buddhas'practiced'it?

w bI UF e (10) !e perfection of giving is said to be !rough the mind that would give away to everyone All that is mine, together with its results; !us, it's the mind itself.

10.'Transcendent'giving,'so'the'teachings'say,'Consists'in'the'intention'to'bestow'on'every'being'All'one'owns,'together'with'the'fruits'of'such'a'gift.'It'is'indeed'a'matter'of'the'mind'itself.

[ F (11) Fish and the like, where could anyone take them (all) So that they won't be killed (ever again)? !e perfection of ethical discipline, it's explained, Is from gaining the mind to give up (such acts).

11.'Where'could'beings,'Cishes,'and'the'rest,'Be'placed'to'keep'them'safe'from'being'killed?'Deciding'to'refrain'from'every'harmful'act'Is'said'to'be'transcendent'discipline.



K [ k (12) Cruel beings are (everywhere) just as is space: It can't possibly come that I'll have destroyed them (all). But if I've destroyed this mind of anger alone, It's the same as my having destroyed all those foes.

12.'Harmful'beings'are'everywhere'like'space'itself.'Impossible'it'is'that'all'should'be'suppressed.'But'let'this'angry'mind'alone'be'overthrown,'And'its'as'though'all'foes'had'been'subdued.

^ ~ t[ ^ (13) Where could I possibly "nd the leather To cover with leather the whole surface of the earth? But with leather just on the soles of my shoes, It's the same as having covered the entire earth's surface.

13.'To'cover'all'the'earth'with'sheets'of'leather'Where'could'such'amounts'of'skin'be'found?'But'with'the'leather'soles'of'just'my'shoes'It'is'as'though'I'cover'all'the'earth!

F F F# o (14) Likewise, although it's impossible for me To ward o# external events;If I would ward o# my mind, What need to ward o# anything else?

14.'And'thus'the'outer'course'of'things'I'myself'cannot'restrain.But'let'me'just'restrain'my'mind,'And'what'is'left'to'be'restrained?

bw e w 0e (15) !e result of feeble (mental) application, Even when accompanied by speech and physical (acts), Is not like the result of developing an intense mind alone, Which would be Brahma states and beyond.

15.'A'clear'intent'can'fructify'And'bring'us'birth'in'such'as'Brahms'realm.'The'acts'of'body'and'of'speech'are'less'They'do'not'generate'a'like'result.

Q 0#I # (16) !e Knower of Reality has said !at recitation and all physically di&cult practices, Even if done for a very long time, will be meaningless, If done with a mind that's distracted elsewhere.

16.'Recitations'and'austerities,'Long'though'they'may'prove'to'be,If'practiced'with'distracted'mind,'Are'futile,'so'the'Knower'of'Reality'has'said.

I I PRI [ (17) And those who don't know the secret of the mind, !e paramount signi"cance of Dharma, Will wander about, pointlessly and miserably, Wishing to gain happiness and overcome su#ering.

17.'All'those'who'fail'to'understand'The'secret'of'the'mind,'the'greatest'of'all'things,'Although'they'wish'for'joy'and'sorrows'end,'Will'wander'to'no'purpose,'uselessly.



e K# K # (18) !is being so, I'll take hold of my mind And safeguard it well. If I've left out the taming behavior of safeguarding the mind, What use are the many (other) taming behaviors?

18.'Therefore'I'will'take'in'hand'And'well'protect'this'mind'of'mine.'What'use'to'me'are'many'disciplines,If'I'cant'guard'and'discipline'my'mind?

kk c# bI IiK (19) Just as I'd take great pains and be careful about a wound When standing in the midst of an unstable, wild crowd, So too, I shall safeguard, always, the wound of my mind, Since I'm living in the midst of di&cult people.

19.'When'in'wild,'unruly'crowds,'Im'careful'and'attentive'of'my'wounds;'Likewise,'when'in'evil'company,This'wound,'my'mind,'Ill'constantly'protect.

PR # P IeK (20) And if I'd be careful about a wound, Even from fearing the wound's hurting a little, !en why don't I safeguard the wound of my mind, From fear of being smashed by the crushing mountains (of a joyless realm)?

20.'For'if'I'carefully'protect'my'wounds'Because'I'fear'the'pain'of'minor'injuries,Why'should'I'not'protect'the'wound'that'is'my'mind,'For'fear'of'being'crushed'beneath'the'cliffs'of'hell?34

0# b I PXi[ (21) If I can remain like this in my behavior, !en whether I'm situated amidst di&cult people Or placed even in the midst of nubile young women, My stable restraint shall not fall apart.

21.'If'this'is'how'I'act'and'live,'Then'even'in'the'midst'of'evil'folk,Or'even'with'fair'women,'all'is'well.'My'steady'keeping'of'the'vows'will'not'decline.

_^ j j # (22) Better that my wealth, the respect I receive, My body and livelihood disappear!Better even that my other virtues decline, But I shall never let my mind degenerate!

22.'My'property,'my'honorall'can'freely'go,'My'body'and'my'livelihood'as'well.And'even'other'virtues'may'decline,'But'never'will'I'let'my'mind'regress.

Ko K eU (23) O you, who would wish to safeguard your minds, With palms pressed together, I tell you,Safeguard your mindfulness and alertness, With all e#ort.

23.'All'you'who'would'protect'your'minds,'Maintain'your'mindfulness'and'introspection;'Guard'them'both,'at'cost'of'life'and'limb,'I'join'my'hands,'beseeching'you.



I o o (24) People who are disturbed by sickness Are powerless over all their actions.!ose whose minds are disturbed by bewilderment Are likewise powerless over all their actions.

24.'Those'disabled'by'ill'health'Are'helpless,'powerless'to'act.The'mind,'when'likewise'cramped'by'ignorance,'Is'impotent'and'cannot'do'its'work.

y W g (25) Whatever has been heard, pondered and meditated upon By those whose minds are lacking alertness, Will not be retained in their memories, Just like water in a leaking vase.

25.'For'those'who'have'no'introspection,'Though'they'hear'the'teachings,'ponder'them,'or'meditate,'Like'water'seeping'from'a'leaking'jar,'Their'learning'will'not'settle'in'their'memories.

y Xt b e_[ (26) Many learned people, Even when having conviction and extraordinary e#ort, Become fouled with a downfall, Due to the mistake of lacking alertness.

26.'Many'are'endowed'with'joyful'diligence.'Theyre'learned'also'and'imbued'with'faith,But'through'the'fault'of'lacking'introspection,'They'will'not'escape'the'stain'of'sin'and'downfall.

Qw I rkk (27) !e thieves (that come in) from their lack of alertness Go on, after plundering their mindfulness, (To take,) as well, the positive karmic force they've built up, So that they go to a worse rebirth state, as if robbed by thieves.

27.'Lack'of'introspection'is'a'thief;'It'slinks'behind'when'mindfulness'abates.'And'all'the'merit'we'have'gathered'in'It'steals;'and'down'we'go'to'lower'realms.

g;#^ g_[r kpKI# (28) !is pack of thieves, the disturbing emotions, Searches for a chance (to break in);And, having found the chance, steals what's constructive, Destroying the life of a better rebirth state.

28.'DeCilements'are'a'band'of'robbers'Looking'for'their'chance'to'injure'us.They'steal'our'virtue,'when'their'moment'comes,'And'batter'out'the'lives'of'happy'destinies.

W kp # (29) !erefore, I shall never let mindfulness Be taken away from the gateway of my mind. Should it be gone, I'll recall the su#erings Of the worse rebirth states and closely reset it.

29.'Therefore'from'the'gateway'of'my'mind'My'mindfulness'shall'not'have'leave'to'stray.'And'if'it'wanders,'it'shall'be'recalled'By'thoughts'of'anguish'in'the'lower'worlds.



jk Q^ ;y# jb (30) !rough the instructions of the learned and dread, (Gained) from living together with spiritual mentors, Fortunate people, who would show (them) respect, Will easily develop their mindfulness.

30.'Through'fear,'and'by'the'counsels'of'their'abbots,'And'staying'ever'in'their'teachers'companyIn'those'endowed'with'fortune'and'devotion'Mindfulness'is'cultivated'easily.

9# y 0R i (31) "!e Buddhas and bodhisattvas are endowed With unobstructed vision, everywhere:I'm always standing Before the eyes of them all."

31.'The'Buddhas'and'the'Bodhisattvas'both'Possess'unclouded'vision,'seeing'everything:'All'lies'open'to'their'gaze,'And'likewise'I'am'always'in'their'presence.

e y 9Q # (32) Someone thinking like that, would take on, in this way, Moral self-dignity, respect and dread. !rough this, his close mindfulness of the Buddhas Would rise up, over and again.

32.'One'who'has'such'thoughts'as'these'Will'gain'devotion'and'a'sense'of'fear'and'shame.'For'such'a'one,'the'memory'of'Buddha'Rises'frequently'before'the'mind.

W K[ [ IF[ (33) When mindfulness is set at the gateway of the mind For the purpose of safeguarding,!en alertness will come, And even what's gone will come back again.

33.'When'mindfulness'is'stationed'as'a'sentinel,'A'guard'upon'the'threshold'of'the'mind,'Introspection'will'be'likewise'there,'Returning'when'forgotten'or'dispersed.

b# # (34) Whenever I've recognized that, at the start, !e way my mind's (motivated) has some fault, I shall remain, at those times, like a block of wood, Able to restrain myself.

34.'If'at'the'outset,'when'I'check'my'mind,'I'Cind'that'it'is'tainted'with'some'fault,'I'shall'be'still'and'selfgpossessed,'Unmoving'like'a'piece'of'wood.

e #^ i ^e# (35) I shall never look around Without any purpose, because of distraction. With a resolute mind, I shall always look with my eyes cast downwards.

35.'I'shall'never,'vacantly,'Allow'my'gaze'to'wander'all'around,'But'rather'with'a'focused'mindWill'always'go'with'eyes'cast'down.



ep Fe# h[ eQ (36) But, for the sake of relaxing my gaze, I'll look around now and then.And if someone appears in my "eld of vision, I shall look up and say, "Welcome."

36.'But'that'I'may'relax'my'gaze,'Ill'sometimes'raise'my'eyes'and'look'around.And'if'there'are'some'people'standing'in'my'sight,'Ill'look'at'them'and'greet'them'with'a'friendly'word.

iF Fe Fe 9IFe# (37) To check for dangers on the road and the like, I shall look over and again in the four directions. !en, after pausing, I shall turn round and look To see what's behind.

37.'And'yet,'to'spy'the'dangers'on'the'road,'Ill'scrutinize'the'four'directions'one'by'one.'And'when'I'stop'to'rest,'Ill'turn'around'And'look'behind'me,'back'along'my'way.

9i# k#^ e; 0# (38) !en having examined bot

Shantideva Engaging in Bodhisattva Behavior Eng Tib & Version Padmakara

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