Understanding the Four Thoughts

The following is an excerpt from a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo called “Relationship with the Lama in Vajrayana”

In the beginning of every Buddhist teaching, , before one actually begins any of the deeper practices, there is one practice that is called the Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind.

The idea is to think of the mind as having the potential, like the earth, to raise the flower of enlightenment. Any field that you look at, unless it’s been poisoned in some way, has the potential to grow within it the crop of your choice – in this case, the crop of enlightenment. But before you actually begin to grow that crop, you have to cultivate the earth. You have to plow it and water it and fertilize it. You have to take care of it. The mind is very much like that. Even though it has the potential for enlightenment, because of our dualistic thinking, and because from time-out-of-mind until this point, we have been involved with the delusion of ego as being the central factor, and with the survival idea that is associated with that, we haven’t had time to really adopt the idea of enlightenment as being the primary focus. And therefore, we haven’t had time to prepare our minds for that idea.

You may consider that this is true for you even though it isn’t pleasant to think about. It isn’t pleasant to think that we’ve spent so much time only on survival. But it’s probably true. And you’re not the only person on the earth for whom this is true. It’s true for so many of us that it’s normal.

You might try to determine whether or not that is true for you personally, and you might be able to honestly and sincerely look back on your life and see that it is true. But if you can’t do that, then you might think of this as evidential. You might think whether, first of all, you have found a path that you are certain leads to supreme enlightenment. And the way you can ascertain that is by looking around and seeing whether in the past, or even in the present, it has produced, and continues to produce, enlightenment that is visible, predictable and reportable.

If you have found such a path, then are you able to maintain that path with diligence? That means, are you able to maintain that path in such a way that you don’t get that on-again-off-again cyclic involvement that so many people in meditation do? Are you able to remain firm? When you find this path, and it becomes a central focus in your life, in times of both joy and fear, is this path always the answer to your problems? But most of all, you should look to see whether you are certain enough about this path to have it be your source of refuge. Is it the thing you turn to? And do you consistently practice it everyday? If all these factors have been met, then your mind has been turned.

For 99.9% of the human beings on this earth, not only have they not found a path that always leads to supreme enlightenment, but once they do find it, they’re on-again-off-again. And even when they’re on-again, their true source of refuge seems to be the ordinary human addictions that we all have like material goods, or trying to find things in an ordinary way that make you feel up like mood manipulation, relationships, physical safety. These things are our addictions, and these are what we consider to be our sources of refuge.

So for 99.9% of all the people on the earth, the Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind are extraordinarily useful. And even a dyed-in-the-wool Buddhist, a person who has taken ordination, who has been a practicing Buddhist all their lives, and whose first teaching was the Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, still even for that person, I personally recommend that they practice the Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind continually, from now until the end of this incarnation. Maybe having it be the last thing you think of before you die.

Copyright © Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo.  All rights reserved

 

Chenrezig in the Six Realms

Download the Chenrezig in the Six Realms practice

The following is the practice of Chenrezig or Avalokitesvara Appearing in the Six Realms

From the Nam Chö Treasure Revelations of Terton Migyur Dorje

TSIG DUN SOL DEB  – Immutable Seven Line Prayer

 

HUNG                ORGYEN YÜL GYI NUB JANG TSHAM

HUNG                On the Northwest border of the country of Urgyen

PEMA  GESAR  DONG  PO  LA

In the pollen heart of a lotus,

YA  TSHEN  CHOG  GI  NGÖ  DRUB  NYE

Marvelous in the perfection of your attainment,

PEMA  JUNG  NE  ZHE  SU  DRAG

You are known as the Lotus Born

KHOR  DU  KHANDRO  MANG  PÖ  KOR

And are surrounded by your circle of many Dakinis.

KHYED  KYI  JE  SU  DAG  DRUB  KYI

Following you, I will practice.

JIN  GYI  LOB  CHIR  SHEG  SU  SÖL

I pray that you will come to confer your blessings.

GURU  PEMA  SIDDHI  HUNG

(Repeat three times)

RANG  NYID  THUG  JE  CHEN  PO  NI

Experience self-nature as Avalokitesvara,

KAR  PO  SHAL  CHIG  CHAG  SHI  PA

White in color, with one face and four arms;

THAL  JAR  TRENG  WA  PEMA  DZIN

With palms pressed together, holding a mala and lotus,

KHIL  DRUNG  RAT  NA  DAR   GYI   GYEN

In full lotus posture, adorned with jewels and silks,

PEMA  DA  WAI  DEN  LA  SHUG

Seated upon a lotus and moon seat.

OM  MANI  PEME  HUNG

 

LHA  YI  JIG  TEN  WANG  CHUG  KAR

The white colored Avalokitesvara, (Jigten Wangchuk) of the

Gods’ Realm,

SHAL  CHIG  CHAG  SHI  THAL  JYAR  DANG

Has one face and four arms, with palms pressed together.

PI  WANG  PEMA  DA  WAI  TENG

Seated upon a lotus and moon, holding a Vina.

KYIL  MO  TRUNG  GI  SHUG  PAR  SAM

Think that he rests in the full lotus posture.

OM  OM  SOHA

LHA  MIN  JIG  TEN  WANG  CHUG  JANG

The green-colored Avalokitesvara (Jigten Wangchuk) of the Titan Realm,

SHAL  CHIG  CHAG  SHI  THAL  JYAR  DANG

Has one face and four arms, with palms pressed together.

GO  TSÖN  PEMA  DA  WAI  DEN

Seated upon a lotus and moon, holding armor and a sword.

KYIL  MO  TRUNG  GI  SHUG  PAR  SAM

Think that he rests in the full lotus posture.

OM  MA  SOHA

MI  YI  JIG  TEN  WANG  CHUG  TRA

The multi-colored Avalokitesvara (Jigten Wangchuk) of the Human Realm,

SHAL  CHIG  CHAG  SHI  THAL  JYAR  DANG

Has one face and four arms, with palms pressed together.

TRENG  WA  PEMA  DA  WAI  TENG

Seated upon a lotus and moon, holding a mala.

KYIL  MO  TRUNG  GI  SHUG  PAR  SAM

Think that he rests in the full lotus posture.

OM  NI  SOHA

DÜD  DROI  JIG  TEN  WANG  CHÜD  DÜD

The smoke-colored Avalokitesvara (Jigten Wangchuk) of the Animal Realm,

SHAL  CHIG  CHAG  CHI  THAL  JYAR  DANG

Has one face and four arms, with palms pressed together.

PO  TI  PEMA  DA  WAI  TENG

Seated upon a lotus and moon, holding a scripture.

KYIL  MO  TRUNG  GI  SHUG  PAR  SAM

Think that he is seated in the full lotus posture.

OM  PED  SOHA

YI  DAG  JIG  TEN  WANG  CHUG  MAR

The red Avalokitesvara(Jigten Wangchuk) of the Hungry Spirit Realm,

SHAL  CHIG  CHAG  SHI  THAL  JYAR  DANG

Has one face and four arms, with palms pressed together.

DROM  BU  PEMA  DA  WAI  TENG

Seated upon a lotus and moon, holding a treasure receptacle.

KYIL  MO  TRUNG  GI  SHUG  PAR  SAM

Think that he rests in the full lotus posture.

OM  ME  SOHA

NYAL  WAI  JIG  TEN  WANG  CHUG  NAG

The black Avalokitsvara (Jigten Wangchuk) of the Hell Realm,

SHAL  CHIG  CHAG  SHI  THAL  JYAR  DANG

Has one face and four arms, with palms pressed together,

ME  CHU  PEMA  CHAG  NA  DZIN

Holding fire, water, and a lotus.

KYIL  MO  TRUNG  GI  SHUG  PAR  SAM

Think that he is seated in the full lotus posture.

OM  HUNG  SOHA

DE  TAR  THUG JE  CHEN PO   DÜN  GYI  TSO  WOI  THUG  KAR  DA  WAI

DEN  LA  HRI  LA  YI  GE  DRUG  GI  KOR  WA        KHOR  DRUG  GI  THUG

KAR  OM  SOG  YIG  DRU  RE  RE  LA  YI  DRUG  GI  KOR  WAR  GYUR

 

Thus, of the seven Avalokitesvaras, in the heart of the central one, is a moon seat upon which is a HRIH, surrounded by the six syllables. In the heart of the six surrounding Avalokitesvaras, are the respective seed syllables of each one, such as OM, and so on, also surrounded by the six syllables of the mantra.

OM  AH  HUNG  HRIH     OM  MANI  PEME  HUNG

The Praise

HRIH SANG  NGEN  NYI  MED  THUG  JE  CHEN  PÖ  SHING

HRIH   In the Realm of Avalokitesvara, where good and bad are non-dual,

MED  SHIN  NANG  WA  GYU  MA  TA  BÜ  TSUL

Likewise appearances are understood to be illusionary in nature.

NANG  SHIN  DAG  PA  SHEN  DZIN  MED  PAI  NGANG

Within a state of pure perception, void of compulsory attachment,

CHAG  DANG  RANG  DROL DAG  PA  RAB JYAM  SHING

Is the pure expansive realm of self-liberation attachment and aversion.

THUG  JE  CHEN  POI  SHING  LA  CHAG  TSAL  TÖD

I prostrate and render praise to the Realm of Avalokitesvara.

OM AH HUNG HRIH OM MANI PEME HUNG

HRIH NANG  TONG  NYI  MED  THUG  JE  CHEN  PÖ  KU

HRIH   The Body of Avalokitesvara is the indivisibility of appearance and emptiness.

TONG  SHIN  NANG  WA  CHU  DA  TA  BÜ  TSUL

The empty nature of appearance like the reflection of the moon of water.

NANG  SHIN  TONG  PA  GYA  TSO  CHEN  PÖ  NGANG

Within this great ocean of the empty nature of appearance,

NANG  TONG  RANG  DROL  DAG  PA  RAB  JYAM  KU

Is the pure expansive Body of self-liberated empty appearances.

THUG  JE  CHEN  PÖ  KU  LA  CHAG  TSAL  TÖD

I prostrate and render praise to the Body of Avalokitesvara.

OM AH HUNG HRIH      OM MANI PEME HUNG

HRIH   DRAG TONG JÖD  MED  THUG JE  CHEN  PÖ  SUNG

HRIH   The Speech of Avalokitesvara is the inexpressible empty nature of sound,

TONG  SHIN  DRAG  PA  DRAG  CHA  TA  BÜ  TSUL

Naturally empty like the sound of an echo.

DRAG  PA  SHIN  TONG  JÖD  DU  MED  PAI  NGANG

Within the inexpressible empty nature of sound,

DRAG TONG  RANG  DROL DAG  PA  RAB JYAM  SUNG

Is the pure expansive Speech of self-liberated empty sound.

THUG  JE  CHEN  PÖ  SUNG  LA  CHAG  TSAL  TÖD

I prostrate and render praise to the Speech of Avalokitesvara.

OM AH HUNG HRIH      OM MANI PEME HUNG

HRIH   SAL  TONG  DZIN  MED  THUG  JE  CHEN  PÖ  THUG

HRIH   The Mind of Avalokitesvara is ungrasping clarity and emptiness,

TONG  SHIN  SAL  WA  JA  TSÖN  TA  BÜ  TSUL

Empty and luminous like the colors of a rainbow.

SAL  SHIN  TONG  PA  NAM  KHA  TA  BÜ  NGANG

Within clear emptiness, similar to the sky,

SAL  TONG  RANG  DROL  DAG  PA  RAB  JYAM  THUG

Is the pure expansive Mind of self-liberating clarity and emptiness.

THUG  JE  CHEN  PÖ  THUG  LA  CHAG  TSAL  TÖD

I prostrate and render praise to the Mind of Avalokitesvara.

OM AH HUNG HRIH     OM MANI PEME HUNG

HRIH   CHAG  SEG  SA  SHI  THUG  JE  CHEN  PÖ  SHING

HRIH   In the realm of Avalokitesvara, the foundation of the earth is molten lava;

AH  WA  LANG  GO  THUG  JE  CHEN  PÖ  KU

Avalokitesvara’s Body is the ox-headed Shinje.

SÖD  SÖD  GYOB  GYOB  YI  GE  DRUG  PAI  DRA

Kill, kill, strike, strike, with the sound of the six syllables;

DA  DUNG  RAL  DRI  NA  TSOG  CHÖD  PAI  DZE

Wielding various offering materials such as a spear, sword and arrow.

DE  DUG  RANG  DROL  DAG  PA  RAB  JYAM  LONG

In the pure great expanse of self-liberation of happiness and suffering,

NANG  SID  THUG  JE  CHEN  PO  LA  CHAG  TSAL  TÖD

I prostrate and render praise to the Avalokitesvara of phenomenal existence.

OM AH HUNG HRIH     OM MANI PEMA HUNG

 

This is a terma revelation by Terton Migyur Dorje

 

Dedication Prayer

By this effort, may all sentient beings be free of suffering.

May their minds be filled with the nectar of virtue.

In this way, may all causes resulting in suffering be extinguished,

And only the light of compassion shine throughout all realms.

– Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo

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