By Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche
Establishing Pure Motivation
At the beginning of each day, for each meditation session and ideally before everything you do, establish pure motivation. Begin by thinking of the person or people you would like to benefit, and consider their lives-the difficulties and suffering they face. Then imagine all those who find themselves in similar circumstances. Continue to expand your compassion until it embraces all beings, each of whom suffers at various times to a greater or lesser degree, and all of whom seek only to find stable happiness and fulfillment. Formulate the aspiration to bring all to a state of unceasing happiness, establish this as the purpose of whatever you are doing. Pray to the object of your faith-God, Buddha, Jesus,Tara,or whoever embodies your highest ideals of limitless wisdom, compassion, and ability to benefit-that by the blessings of that exalted being and through your own efforts, temporary and ultimate benefit may be accomplished for all beings.
Mirror of the Mind
Begin by establishing pure motivation-the intention to practice this meditation in order to bring temporary and ultimate benefit to all beings. Then observe your mind while you imagine an emotionally charged interaction, either positive or negative. Notice the ways in which you judge the other person's words or conduct. Do your thoughts, feelings, words, and actions stem from self-centeredness? Do you place your own needs and desires first? If so, reestablish pure motivation. Continue to watch your mind as if looking into a mirror. Is desire, aversion, pride, jealousy, or ignorance present?
Now try this during actual conversations, beginning with situations that don't elicit strong emotions. As your skill increases, you will natuarally start applying this method in more and more interactions.
Just Like Me
Developing a view of the equalness of all beings requires repeated contemplation. It is not something that happens on the surface of the mind. We can have a nice theory of equalness, but that will not necessarily alter the way we actually relate to other people.
It may be helpful to start by visualizating one person you are biased against. Say to yourself, "This person-just like me-wants to be happy, doesn't want to suffer, yet out of ignorance is working at cross-purposes to that very goal." The actions you have judged so harshly result from misguided efforts to find fulfillment or end suffering. How many times have you done the same thing?
Now expand the visualization to incude everyone who behaves like this person. Remember that, like you, they all want to find happiness and avoid suffering. Unaware of what actually creates happiness and suffering, they are sowing seeds of future misery.
Finally, expand the scope of your meitation until it includes all beings.
Taken from the book, Change of Heart: The Bodhisattva Peace Training of Chagdud Tulku
Compiled and edited by Lama Shenpen Drolma
Compiled and edited by Lama Shenpen Drolma
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