In this episode, Geshe Tashi continues his commentary on Maitreya’s Prayer of Love, which, spoken by Lord Buddha, is taken from the Mahayana Sutras.  Geshe Tashi is also using a commentary by Chone Jetsun Drakpa Shedrup.

Geshe Tashi gives us a detailed recap of last episode’s verses, including the definition of bochicitta in Tibetan and English, and what that means for us practically.  He further explains that this text takes the Seven Limbed Prayer or Seven Practices as a framework, while at the same time explaining the Six Perfections.  The first two verses correspond with the first of the Seven Practices – prostrations.  “What is a prostration?” Geshe Tashi asks us.  A prostration to the Buddha grows out of understanding the qualities of the Buddha and developing respect.  From respect, the actual prostration will come.  Otherwise, Geshe la says, making a prostration is just habit, just culture, and not useful.

Verse 3 brings us to purification, a way to psychologically cleanse our system, the third of these Seven Practices.  Once again Geshe la highlights the importance of using the Four Powers in our mental hygiene:

1.     The Foundation – Refuge, bodhicitta or compassion

2.     Regret – acknowledging our unwholesome behaviours and the certain results that will follow

3.     The remedy, or antidote

4.     Determination, the resolve not to do it again

Verse 4 looks at the wholesome results of our practices and daily actions, our beneficial habits and understandings, and how to maximise these and offer them to others.  Here we are advised to make skilful dedications, setting our intentions so that our good work and its results become the causes or seeds for omniscience – a fully awakened mind that has the quality of being inexhaustible.  Within this verse we can find another two of the Seven Practices, offering (2) and dedication (7).

Apologies for the delay in getting this up for you.  We are very happy to let you know, however, that Geshe Tashi is now looking much further ahead with his online teaching schedule.  Except for a likely break over the summer, he has let us know that we will be receiving regular weekly teachings from him into the foreseeable future.  Thank you for visiting this blog, watching the videos and for your wonderful comments, you have all helped make this happen. 

With best wishes as ever,

Your Admin Team

Maitreya’s Prayer of Love (Verses 3 & 4)

Jampai Monlam

Controlled by negative habits,

In the sight of the Buddha

I have often given harm to others.

I shall confess these actions

Yet from the beneficial actions of my body, speech, and mind

I pray that the merit generating the seeds of omniscience may never be exhausted.

May I further accomplish this accumulation of merit

By performance of the three actions (of body, speech, and mind.)

FPMT, translator unknown

https://foundationsofbuddhistthought.org/

https://geshetashi.org/

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering taught in London for over 25 years and is currently Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery in Karnataka State, India.