Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points is a revered text in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, encapsulating teachings aimed at transforming the mind. The opening lines of this text set the tone for the spiritual journey ahead.

We begin with an invocation of auspiciousness, recognizing the universal force of compassion that underlies all spiritual practice. This homage is not merely a formality but an essential reminder of the source of all true transformation: great compassion, which is both the seed and the fruit of the Bodhisattva path. In both Buddhist and Christian traditions, compassion is the living heart of the spiritual journey, manifesting as the Holy Spirit in Christianity and as Bodhicitta in Buddhism. It is this great compassion that we honor and call upon as we embark on the journey of lojong, or mind training.

Here, Geshe Chekawa acknowledges the lineage through which these teachings have flowed, tracing back to the revered master Serlingpa of Sumatra. The term "nectar" is rich in symbolism across both Eastern and Western mythologies. In the East, nectar (amrita) is the divine sustenance that grants immortality to the gods, much like the ambrosia of the gods in Western mythology. This nectar represents the deathless wisdom of the Dharma, which, when assimilated, confers liberation and eternal peace upon the practitioner. Just as nectar sustains the gods, the teachings of lojong sustain and nourish our spiritual growth, providing the antidote to overcome the Three Poisons of ignorance, attachment, and aversion.

A Diamond, the Sun, and the Healing Tree
ChatGPT-4o/DALL-E3, 2024-06-01

Geshe Chekawa uses three powerful metaphors to illustrate the nature and potency of lojong teachings:

• The Diamond: A diamond, renowned for its clarity and indestructibility, symbolizes the unassailable and multifaceted wisdom of the lojong teachings. Each facet of a diamond, when struck by sunlight, sparkles with a unique brilliance, much like the various aspects of mind training that, when illuminated by the light of Dharma, reveal their unique and transformative insights, presenting numerous perspectives for purifying the mind and heart.
• The Sun: The sun, a universal symbol of enlightenment and clarity, represents the illuminating power of the Dharma. A single ray of sunlight can dispel the darkness in an entire room, just as a single insight from the lojong teachings can dispel the ignorance and confusion in our minds. The sun’s light is impartial and boundless, shining equally on all beings, just as the wisdom of the Dharma is accessible to anyone who seeks it with an open heart and mind.
• The Healing Tree: In many traditions, trees are seen as sources of life and healing. The healing tree, whose leaves, bark, and roots all possess curative properties, symbolizes the comprehensive and holistic nature of the lojong teachings. Every part of the tree offers a remedy, just as every part of the lojong practice addresses different aspects of our suffering and ignorance. This tree grows steadily and surely, providing shade and healing to all who seek refuge under its branches, much like the lojong teachings that offer healing and protection to all practitioners.

In these opening lines, Geshe Chekawa encapsulates the essence of the Seven-Point Thought Transformation: a lineage of wisdom likened to nectar, a teaching as multifaceted and pure as a diamond, as illuminating as the sun, and as healing as the sacred tree. May the nectar of wisdom infuse our lives, the light of Dharma illuminate our minds, and the healing power of compassion transform our hearts.^(*)

(*) A remarkably similar hymn of praise for the Torah ("Law", "teachings", "precepts"), followed by an exhortation to spiritual development, can be found in Psalm 19:7-14.