My dear friends,
The seventh precept under the sixth point in Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points is:
The "food" that nourishes spiritual growth on the Bodhisattva path is the learning and practice of the precepts, which can be poisoned by self-grasping ignorance (atmagraha-avidya) and an attitude of self-importance.
- Self-grasping ignorance is the deep-seated belief in an independent,
inherent self that is detached from and independent of others, poisoning our spiritual
growth by:
- Creating attachment and aversion: Self-grasping leads to a dualistic mindset where one is constantly distinguishing between self and others, creating attachment to what benefits the self and aversion to what does not. This disrupts the equanimity essential for spiritual growth.
- Blocking Bodhicitta: The "Awakening Mind" of love, compassion and wisdom relies on seeing the interconnectedness of all beings. Self-grasping creates a barrier to this understanding, making it difficult to genuinely care for others’ well-being.
- Fostering delusion and suffering: Atmagraha-avidya is the root of the Three Poisons. These delusions cloud judgment and hinder the ability to see reality as it is, obstructing wisdom and insight.
- Self-importance is the inflated sense of one's own value and
capabilities, often leading to arrogance and a sense of superiority over others. It
poisons spiritual practice by:
- Breeding Arrogance and Pride: A sense of self-importance fosters arrogance and pride, which are antithetical to the humility needed on the spiritual path. This arrogance can alienate others and prevent genuine spiritual community and support.
- Hindering Learning and Growth: Believing oneself to be superior can close the mind to new teachings and insights. Spiritual growth requires openness and a willingness to learn, qualities that self-importance undermines.
- Distorting Motivation: Self-importance can distort the motivation for spiritual practice, making it more about gaining recognition, power, or status rather than genuine self-improvement and the desire to help others.
The Antidote to Self-Grasping and Self-Importance
The antidote to the poisons of self-grasping ignorance and self-importance, as prescribed in the second verse of Geshe Langri Tangpa's Eight Verses for Training the Mind, can be profoundly transformative. The verse states:
I will practice regarding myself as least of all
And from the very depths of my heart
I will regard others as supreme.
This teaching directs us to counteract the ego-driven tendencies that arise from self-grasping and self-importance through the practices of:
- Humility: Practicing humility means acknowledging that our own importance is not greater than that of others. It involves letting go of the egoistic belief that we are inherently superior or more deserving. Humility opens the heart to genuinely appreciate and value the qualities and needs of others.
- Esteeming Others: From the depths of our hearts, we recognize the intrinsic worth of all beings. This perspective aligns with the Bodhisattva ideal of cherishing others' well-being as much as our own. It fosters an attitude of respect, love, and compassion towards others, seeing their happiness and suffering as significant as our own.
From a Christian Viewpoint
The advice given by Geshe Langri Tangpa is in essence identical with the teachings of the Apostle Paul:
but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
- Philippians 2:4-8
- Selflessness and Altruism: Paul advises us to look beyond our own interests and focus on the interests of others. This echoes the Bodhisattva's commitment to the welfare of all beings, putting their needs above one's own.
- Humility of Christ: The mind of Christ, characterized by humility and self-emptying, mirrors the Bodhisattva's practice of regarding oneself as the least. Christ's humility, despite his divine nature, serves as an ultimate example of selflessness and compassion.
- Obedience and Sacrifice: Jesus' obedience to the point of death on the cross exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of others. This profound act of love and humility is the essence of bodhicitta—the mind of love, compassion, and wisdom dedicated to the liberation of all beings.
In both teachings, the central theme is the cultivation of a heart that prioritizes others' well-being over one's own egoistic desires. This mindset is the antidote to the poisons of self-grasping and self-importance. By practicing humility and esteeming others, we align ourselves with the Bodhisattva's path and the example set by Christ, embodying the true essence of bodhicitta.
This approach not only nourishes our spiritual growth but also transforms our interactions with others, creating a ripple effect of compassion and selflessness in the world. The "mind that was in Christ Jesus" is indeed bodhicitta—the awakened heart and mind that seeks to alleviate the suffering of all beings through selfless love, compassion and wisdom.