My dear friends,

The ninth precept under the seventh point in Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points is:

What are the Three?

This precept, which can also be translated as "Act without the three being separated," refers to body, speech, and mind. These three aspects of a person are to be maintained inseparable from virtuous or wholesome actions. This means that whatever we do, say, or think should be infused with a positive, beneficial intention and directed toward the cultivation of Bodhicitta, the Awakening Mind of love, compassion and wisdom.

From What Are They to Be Maintained Inseparable?

Body, speech, and mind are to be maintained inseparable from:

• Bodhicitta (the mind of awakening): The intention to attain enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings.
• Loving-kindness and Compassion: The heartfelt wish for others to be happy and free from suffering.
• Awareness of Emptiness (Shunyata): The wisdom realizing the true nature of all phenomena, which are empty of inherent existence and dependent on causes and conditions.

How Is This to Be Done?

This is accomplished through the cultivation of mindfulness and conscientiousness in all aspects of life:

• Body: Engage in actions that are beneficial, compassionate, and non-harmful. This includes helping others, performing acts of generosity, and refraining from harmful actions like violence or deceit.
• Speech: Speak truthfully, kindly, and constructively. Speech should be used to support others, spread the Way, and avoid gossip, slander, or harsh words.
• Mind: Maintain a pure motivation rooted in bodhicitta. Ensure that your thoughts are aligned with the intention to benefit all beings and cultivate wisdom. Guard against negative mental states like anger, jealousy, or selfishness.

Why Is This to Be Done?

Maintaining the three inseparables ensures that all aspects of your being—body, speech, and mind—are harmonized and directed towards the path of awakening. This practice:

• Creates Holistic Virtue: When body, speech, and mind are aligned with virtue, it creates a powerful and integrated force for good in the world. Every action becomes an opportunity for spiritual growth and the benefit of others.
• Purifies Negative Karma: By consistently engaging in virtuous actions, speech, and thoughts, one purifies past negative karma and creates positive potential (merit) for future spiritual progress.
• Cultivates Bodhicitta: This alignment nurtures the development of bodhicitta, which is essential for the path of the Bodhisattva. By ensuring that all actions, speech, and thoughts are infused with the intention to benefit others, one continually strengthens this altruistic motivation.
• Prepares for Enlightenment: Ultimately, this practice prepares the practitioner for enlightenment, where body, speech, and mind naturally and effortlessly express compassion and wisdom for the benefit of all beings.

By maintaining body, speech, and mind inseparable from virtuous actions, you create a seamless integration of your practice into every aspect of your life, ensuring that the path to awakening is followed in all circumstances.