Eight Verses on Training the Mind by Geshe Lang-ri Tang-pa Translated by Jeffrey Hopkins With the determination to accomplish The highest welfare of all sentient beings, Who surpass even a wish-granting jewel, I will learn to hold them supremely dear. Whenever I associate with others I will learn To think of myself as the lowest amongst all And respectfully hold others to be supreme From the very depths of my heart. In all actions I will learn to search into my mind And as soon as a disturbing emotion arises Endangering myself and others, I will firmly face and avert it. I will learn to cherish ill-natured beings And those oppressed by strong misdeeds and sufferings As if I had found a precious Treasure difficult to find. 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. When the one whom I had benefited with great hope Unreasonably hurts me very badly, I will learn to view that person As an excellent spiritual guide. 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. I will learn to keep all these practices Undefiled by the stains of the eight worldly concerns, And by understanding all phenomena as like illusions, Be released from the bondage of attachment.