Clearing the Mind
Part One
The Do’s of Clearing the Mind by Geshe Chekawa
I’ve been delving into compassion practice in preparation for the fall practice period. This led me to stumble into the teachings of Geshe Chekawa, a 12th Century Tibetan Boddhisattva. The root text is entitled Training the Mind in Seven Points. There are several translations of which I am going to share a very accessible version offered by Joe Loizzo in his book Sustainable Happiness. The italics is Checkhawa, followed by Loizzo’s clarification.
Practice All Yogas as One: The Art of Compassionate Openness
Subdue All Resistance with One Art: Practice Giving and Taking
At the Start and End of Each Day, Practice Both the Two Actions: Motivation and Dedication
Tolerate Both Good and Bad, Whatever Comes: Maintain Equanimity
Guard Both These and Your Other Vows as Your Life: Maintain Commitment
Master The Three Hardest Challenges: Expose, Reduce and Eliminate Blocks
Nurture the Three Principal Roots: Affirmation, Dedication, and Preparation
Practice Three Kinds of Relentlessness: Trust, Effort and Wisdom
Become Triply Inseperable from the Practice: In Body, Speech, and Mind
Practice Perfect Impartiality Towards Objects: of Desire, Aversion, Indifference
It is Vital to Learn Profoundly and All-Inclusively: Be Thorough and Rigorous
Meditate Constantly on Special Cases: Intimates, Enemies, the Disagreeable
Don’t Depend on External Conditions: Cultivate Unconditional Care
Take Up the Principle Practice Right Now: Practice the Urgency of Now
Don’t Be Wrong-Headed: Avoid Debasing the Contemplative Life
Don’t be Erratic: Practice Patiently and Consistently
Learn Decisively: Make Your Learning and Practice Count
Break Free with Both Investigation and Analysis: Complete Your Self-Analysis
Don’t Boast About Practice: Work with Relentless Humility
Don’t Be Temperamental: Break Your Addiction to Drama
Don’t Expect Thanks: Trust Your Inner Leader
It’s not uncommon for buddhists to make lists and this is even more true in the Vajrayana tradition. The practice here is to review this list regularly. Notice any resonance with one or two of these precepts. Write it or them in your daily journal. Review and reflect on this in your life.
Having positive prompts for intentions as well as reflecting on this is a powerful tool for developing compassion for all beings!
Translation by Joe Loizzo, Sustainable Happiness, 2012