Eight Verses of Training the Mind

1. With a determination to accomplish
   The highest welfare for all sentient beings
   Who surpass even a wish-granting jewel
   I will learn to hold them supremely dear.
2. Whenever I associate with others I will learn
   To think of myself as the lowest among all,
   And respectfully hold others to be supreme
   Form the very depths of my heart.
3. In all actions I will learn to search into my mind
   And as soon as an afflictive emotion arises
   Endangering myself and othrs
   Will firmly face and avert it.
4. I will learn to cherish beings of a bad nature
   And those pressed by strong sins and sufferings
   As if I had found a precious
   Treasure very difficult to find.
5. When others out of jealousy
   Treat me badly
   With abuse, slander and so on
   I will learn to take all loss
   And offer the victory to them.
6. When one whom I have benefitted with great hope
   Unreasonably hurts me very badly
   I will learn to view that person
   As an excellent spiritual guide.
7. In short, I will learn to offer to everyone without exception
   All help and happiness directly and indirectly
   And respectfully take upon myself
   All harm and suffering of my mothers.
8. I will learn to keep all these practices
   Undefiled by the stains of the eight worldly conceptions
   And by understanding all phenomena as illusions
   Be released from the bondage of attachment.