THE FIRST POINT: Preparing for Practice
- First train in the preliminaries.
THE SECOND POINT: Practicing Wisdom and Compassion
- Regard all phenomena as a dream.
- Examine the unborn nature of mind.
- Self-liberate even the antidote and free yourself from the findings of the meditation.
- Rest in the nature of alaya.
- In postmeditation, view everything as an illusion.
- Train in taking and sending. These two should ride the breath.
- Three objects, three poisons, three roots.
- Cultivate a compassionate attitude by enlisting the slogans.
- Begin the sequence with yourself.
THE THIRD POINT: Transforming Adversity
Relative
- Turn all mishaps into the path to enlightenment.
- Drive all blame into one.
- Be grateful to everyone.
Ultimate
- See confusion as the four kayas. The protection of emptiness is unsurpassable.
- Four applications are the best of methods.
- To bring the unexpected obstacles to the path, prepare by training now.
THE FOURTH POINT: The Essence of Practice in Life and at Death
- Train in the five forces.
- The instructions for how to die properly are the five forces.
THE FIFTH POINT: Evaluating the Practice
- All dharmas agree at one point.
- Rely on the better of two witnesses.
- Always be sustained by cheerfulness.
- You are well trained if you can practice even when distracted.
THE SIXTH POINT: Discipline
- Practice the three basic principles.
- Change your attitude but remain natural.
- Do not talk about weak points.
- Do not ponder others’ faults.
- Work on your greatest defilement first.
- Give up hoping for results.
- Refrain from poisonous food.
- Forsake ridicule and cutting remarks.
- Do not wait in ambush.
- Do not strike at the sore point.
- Do not transfer the ox’s load to the cow.
- Do not try to be the fastest.
- Do not act with twisted motives.
- Do not make gods into demons.
- Do not seek another’s pain as the instrument of your happiness.
THE SEVENTH POINT: Guidelines
- All activities should be done with the intention of helping others.
- Correct all wrongs with one intention.
- Two activities, at the beginning and at the end.
- Whichever of the two occurs, be patient.
- Observe these two even at the risk of the loss of your life.
- Train in the three difficulties.
- Take up the three essential factors.
- Do not allow three things to weaken.
- Keep the three inseparable.
- Train in all areas, without partiality. Do this pervasively.
- Meditate on subjects which provoke you.
- Do not be swayed by external circumstances.
- Practice the important points now.
- Do not misapprehend.
- Be firm. Train wholeheartedly.
- Free yourself by examining and investigating.
- Do not indulge in self-pity.
- Do not be jealous or irritable.
- Do not be temperamental.
- Do not expect applause.
From Mind Training by Ringu Tulku.
More background, information and commentary on the slogans of the Seven Points of Mind Training may be found in The Great Path of Awakening by Jamgon Kongtrul, Training the Mind by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and Start Where You Are by Pema Chodron.