Seven Points of Mind Training

Point 6 : Disciplines of Mind Training

23: Always abide by the three basic principles.

Point Six : Always abide by the three basic principles.

Commentary :

This slogan is a general description as to how we can practice the buddhadharma according to the three basic principles of hinayana, mahayana, and vajrayana. It is connected with a sense of keeping the discipline of all three yanas - hinayana mindfulness practice, mahayana benevolence, and vajrayana crazy wisdom - all at the same time.

We may begin to behave in a crazy style unfounded in any particular tradition and disregard the dignity of other traditions, disrupting whole social setups founded on such religious traditions. That is not supposed to happen. We can actually relieve ourselves from doing such frivolous things. Basing our spiritual practice on our own self-snugness and self-delight seems to be one of the most dangerous things of all. We have our trip together: our philosophy is worked out, our quotations are on time; we have our grammar and language already set up - but after all that, we don't want to give up our ego. We have some kind of ground to walk on, and we do not want to give up our most sacred and secret property. That becomes problematic; we are not actually following the journey properly. The text says that dharma should not be perverted on the basis of happiness, which in this case is any kind of confirmation existing within the dharmic realm.

The three basic principles are also described as : 1) keeping the two vows, 2) refraining from outrageous action, and 3) developing patience.

The first is keeping the promises you made when you took the refuge and bodhisattva vows, keeping them completely. This one is quite straightforward.

Number two is refraining from outrageous action. When you begin to practice lojong, you realize that you shouldn't have any consideration for yourself; therefore, you try to act in a self-sacrificing manner. But often your attempt to manifest selflessness becomes exhibitionism. You let yourself be thrown in jail or crucified on a cross. You manifest unselfish actions because of your convictions - your so-called convictions in your convictions - but your actions are still based on your idea of being a decent person. You might act on a whim or become very crazy, involving yourself in unselfish exhibitionism of all kinds, such as going on long fasts or lying down in the street in the name of bodhisattva practice. Many of our American friends have done just those things. However, that approach should be regarded as pure exhibitionism rather than as the accomplishment of bodhisattva action.

Number three is developing patience. Usually, there is extreme confusion about patience. That is to say, you can be patient with your friends but you cannot be patient with your enemies; you can be patient with people whom you are trying to cultivate or your particular proteges, but you cannot be patient with those who are outside of your protege-ism. That kind or extreme is actually a form of personality cult, the cult of yourself, which is not such a good idea. In fact, it has been said that it is absolutely not a good idea.

Through prajna you realize how much you are trying to become something. Having become somewhat accomplished in lojong practice and tonglen training, you may begin to feel that it is time for you to branch out and become a leader or a hero. But you should watch out for that. This is one of the basic points of conduct or discipline. It is connected with the paramita of prajna: because you begin to discriminate who you are, what you are, and what you are doing, you are constantly watchful of all of that.