By Geshe Chekawa Yeshe Dorje (1102-1176)
First: Presentation of the preliminaries, the basis
First, train in the preliminaries.
Second: Training in the two bodhicittas, the main practice
Regard all phenomena as dreams.
Examine the nature of birthless awareness.
Let even the antidote be freed in its own place.
The essence (of the path) is settling in the ālaya state.
In between sessions, be a child of magical illusion.
Train in taking and sending alternately.
Mount these two on your breath.
The three objects, three poisons and three roots of virtue.
In all activities, train by means of the words.
As for the progressive order of taking, start with oneself.
Third: Taking adversities onto the path of awakening.
When the world and its inhabitants are filled with harmful actions, transform adversities into the path of awakening.
Drive all blames into one.
Meditate on the great kindness of everyone.
Meditating on confused appearances as the four kāyas is the unsurpassable protection of emptiness.
The best of methods is the four practices.
Whatever unexpected turns up, relate it to your meditation.
Fourth: A lifetime’s practice in summary
Briefly stated, applying the five strengths is the quintessential pith instructions.
The mahāyāna instructions for transference are the same five strengths – practicing them is important.
Fifth: The measure of having trained the mind.
All Dharmas converge on a single point.
Of the two witnesses, uphold the principal one.
Continuously maintain only a peaceful mind.
When one can do this even when distracted, then one’s proficient.
Sixth: The commitments of mind-training
Train always in the three basic points.
Change your attitude but remain as you are.
Don’t expose others’ weak limbs.
Don’t dwell on others’ affairs.
Overcome the stronger kleśas first.
Give up hoping for results.
Give up poisoned food.
Don’t be so predictable.
Don’t retaliate with the agitation of hurtful speech.
Don’t lie in ambush.
Don’t strike at weak points.
Don’t transfer a dzo’s burden onto an ox.
Don’t focus on winning.
Don’t misuse this as a magical rite.
Don’t turn gods into demons.
Don’t make others’ suffering the means of your happiness.
Seventh: The guidelines for mind-training
Do all practices in a singular way.
Counter all errors and oppressions in a singular way.
At the start and at the end, two things to be done.
Whichever of the two occurs, bear it.
Defend the two even at the risk of one’s life.
Train in the three difficulties.
Adopt the three essential causes.
Cultivate the three that must remain unwaning.
Keep the three inseparables.
Train in all areas impartially, it is vital that this be deep and all-pervasive.
Always meditate on those that have been set apart.
Don’t rely on external conditions.
Now, practice the main points.
Don’t misconstrue.
Don’t vacillate.
Train wholeheartedly.
Find freedom through discernment and analysis.
Don’t make a big deal.
Don’t be bound by irritation.
Don’t be ill-tempered.
Don’t expect rewards.
This quintessential elixir of instructions,
Which transmutes the five degenerations
Into the path of awakening
Was transmitted by the sage of Suvarṇadvīpa.
Having been roused by the karma of past training,
And feeling intense inspiration,
I ignored suffering and censure,
And sought out these instructions for taming ego-fixation.
Even if I die, I shall have no regrets.