My dear friends,

The thirteenth precept in Point 2 of Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points states:

Three Poisons and Three Objects

1. Attachment targets pleasant objects.
2. Aversion targets unpleasant objects.
3. Ignorance targets neutral objects.

These three poisons are the root delusions that lead to suffering and cyclic existence (samsara). They cause us to react with clinging, aversion, or indifference to the experiences we encounter.

Three Sources of Virtue

1. Love is the antidote to attachment, transforming the grasping for or clinging to pleasure for oneself into a wish for happiness and well-being for all.
2. Compassion is the antidote to aversion, transforming fear and hatred into the wish that all may be free of these causes of suffering.
3. Wisdom is the antidote to ignorance, transforming it into the wish that all may have the wisdom that enables them to abide in equanimity.

These three of the four immeasurables (Brahmaviharas) transform the poisons into virtuous states that lead to liberation and enlightenment. (We'll deal with the fourth immeasurable – joy – under Point 5.)

Tonglen Practice

Tonglen, as we have seen, is a practice where one breathes in the suffering and negativity of oneself and others (taking), and breathes out love, compassion, and positive qualities (giving). Here's how tonglen aligns with the transformation of the three poisons:

1. Attachment ⇒ Love: When we encounter something pleasant and feel attachment, in tonglen we breathe in the desire and craving associated with attachment. Recognizing the suffering this attachment causes, we transform it by breathing out love and kindness, wishing happiness and contentment for ourselves and others. This practice helps us let go of clinging and cultivate a genuine wish for the happiness of others.
2. Aversion ⇒ Compassion: >When we encounter something unpleasant and feel aversion, in tonglen we breathe in the pain and suffering associated with aversion. Acknowledging this suffering, we transform it by breathing out compassion and a sincere wish for the relief of suffering. This practice helps us develop empathy and a compassionate response to the suffering of ourselves and others, countering the habit of pushing away what we dislike.
3. Ignorance ⇒ Wisdom: When we encounter something neutral and feel ignorance or indifference, in tonglen we breathe in the confusion and lack of understanding. Recognizing the obscurations of ignorance, we transform it by breathing out wisdom and clarity. This practice helps us see the true nature of phenomena and develop a wise and understanding approach to life, overcoming the dullness and confusion that ignorance brings.

In the practice of tonglen, we directly confront the three poisons by taking them into our hearts with the intention of transforming them into their corresponding virtues. This is a profound method of purification and transformation. By doing so:

• We develop Bodhicitta (the mind of enlightenment) : Our practice is motivated by the wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, which is the essence of bodhicitta.
• We cultivate the immeasurables: Love, compassion, and wisdom grow stronger within us as we repeatedly transform negativity into positive qualities.
• We break down the barriers of self-cherishing and self-grasping: Tonglen helps us to expand our sense of self to include all beings, dissolving the ego's tight grip and fostering a sense of interconnectedness.

This precept teaches us to recognize the three poisons and their targets, and to cultivate the three sources of virtue as antidotes. Tonglen is a practical and powerful method to implement this teaching, as it allows us to transform our deluded reactions into enlightened responses, thereby progressing on the path of the Bodhisattva.