Thu, 18 Jun 2009
Mind Training Class
Lama Phurbu Tashi has started teaching a class on the Seven Points of Mind Training, a well known text from the Kadampa tradition. I've put my short notes from Tuesday night's class below. I've also promised to take over running the Gampopa Center web site from Karen, who confesses she is web challenged. So sooner or later most of this stuff will go there, but for now it's going on this blog. Wednesday we had a good turnout for the meditation, six people, to show you how ridiculously small the group is. After Wednesday's meeting I decided to give up caffeine and now the withdrawal headache is kicking in, so I think I'll cut this short and go to bed.
Dromtonpa had several disciples from Kham. After receiving teachings they returned to Kham. One day a pilgrimage from Kham visited Dromtonpa.
Dromtonpa asked, "How is my first disciple doing?"
The pilgrim replied, "He's teaching many disciples."
Dromtonpa said, "That's wonderful. Then Dromtonpa asked, "How's my second disciple doing?"
"He's building many monasteries and stupas."
Dromtopa replied, "that's also wonderful. And how is my third disciple doing?"
The pilgrim replied, "He's gone into solitary retreat."
Dromtonpa replied, "That's wonderful too. So, how's my fourth disciple doing?"
The pilgrim replied, "He has problems. He cries all day long with his robe over his head."
Dromptonpa exclaimed, "That's extraordinary!" He was crying out of compassion for sentient beings.
The Seven Points of Mind Training comes from the Kadampa tradition, but is practiced by all traditions. We are studying from Jamgon Kongtul's commentary. Jamgon Kongtrul was a great Ris med master. The seven points are not taken directly from Buddha's teaching. It comes from Atisha, who condensed the essence of the Buddha's teaching into Mind Training. Geshe Chekawa composed the seven points of mind training. The first point concerns the preliminary practices. Guru yoga is explained as a preliminary practice to each period of pactice. I have explained the importance of devotion before. Absolute truth is beyond conception and only can be realized through devotion and the blessing of the masters. Visualize the form of Chenrezig, who is in essence this is all the gurus of the lineage. Repeat the lineage prayer, the Dorje Chng Chungma. Recite the short prayer to the guru many times, then see the guru dissolving through your crown and passing into your heart.
Meditate on the four common preliminaries until they become a part of your being The common preliminary practices are the same in chagchen, dzogchen, and lam rim. They are precious human birth,impermanence, karma and its result, and the suffering of samsara. Many people want to practice all the high practices and don't think much of the basics. But the main practice of the Kadampa masters was the seven branch prayer, which comes from Samantabhadra's aspiration prayer.
The benefits of mind training can be seen right away. It can be practiced all the time, on the job, travelling, or whenever.
