My dear friends,

The second precept in Atiśa's "The Best" is:

This statement emphasizes the transformation of one's thoughts, attitude, and behavior through inner discipline rather than focusing merely on external rules or conditions.

1. Cultivation of Ethical Discipline (Shila)

• Self-Reflection and Ethical Conduct: Ethical discipline is foundational in taming the mindstream. It begins with constant self-reflection and a commitment to avoiding harmful actions. By being mindful of our actions, we create a sense of inner harmony that prevents the mind from being agitated by the negative consequences of harmful behavior. In Christian terms, this might parallel striving to live in accordance with Jesus' teachings on love and compassion, which involves loving one's neighbor and being mindful not to harm others.
• Guarding the Gates of the Senses: This means observing what enters our minds through sight, sound, taste, touch, and thoughts. Being mindful and selective about sensory input helps maintain mental clarity and stability, preventing the mind from becoming overwhelmed by unwholesome stimuli.

2. Training in Meditative Concentration (Dhyana)

• Mindfulness and Single-Pointed Focus: Meditation practices such as mindfulness (shamatha) are essential for calming and stabilizing the mind. In Buddhist practice, this involves focusing on a chosen object, such as the breath, and gently bringing the mind back whenever it wanders. This concentration calms the agitation of the mind and helps one develop mental discipline.
• Mind of Christ and Centering Prayer: In a Christian contemplative practice, taming the mind can be likened to Centering Prayer, which involves turning inward and letting go of attachments, striving to rest in God’s presence. It is similar to cultivating an awareness of the "Mind of Christ," which involves aligning one's thoughts with divine love and compassion.

3. Wisdom and Insight (Prajna)

• Recognizing Emptiness: In Buddhist teachings, wisdom refers to recognizing the emptiness (shunyata) of all phenomena—that is, understanding that everything lacks inherent existence and is interdependent. By seeing the empty nature of the ego and recognizing the impermanence of all things, attachment and aversion diminish, leading to a more stable and tamed mind. Insight meditation (vipashyana) is a key practice here, as it helps one discern the true nature of reality beyond appearances.
• Awakening Mind (Bodhicitta): Cultivating Bodhicitta—the Awakening Mind of love, compassion and wisdom—transforms the way we perceive others. It is about seeing all beings with compassion and understanding that all are interconnected. This practice in itself tames the mind by lessening self-centered thoughts and inclining the heart towards universal love, akin to practicing the love embodied by Jesus.

4. Transforming Adverse Conditions (Lojong)

• Mind Training in Adversity: Lojong teachings emphasize transforming adversities into the path. When faced with difficulties, instead of reacting with anger or fear, one uses those experiences to deepen their practice of patience, compassion, and detachment. By transforming adversities into opportunities for spiritual growth, the mind becomes resilient and less disturbed by external conditions.
• Forgiveness and Compassion: Christian teachings often focus on forgiveness as a means to tame the mind. Holding onto anger or resentment only agitates the mindstream, whereas forgiving others and oneself brings peace and freedom. This mirrors the lojong practice of "banishing the one object of every blame"—not placing blame externally but instead cultivating an attitude of humility and understanding.

5. Daily Practice of Bodhisattva Vows

• Commitment to Benefiting All Beings: Taking the Bodhisattva vow involves a daily commitment to benefit all sentient beings and to train one’s own mind for the sake of others. This commitment ensures that every thought and action is directed towards helping others rather than serving one’s self-interest, which is one of the most powerful ways to tame the self-centered tendencies of the mind.
• Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself: In Christian practice, the commitment to love one’s neighbor and care for others aligns directly with the bodhisattva path. By practicing unconditional love, similar to how Jesus lived, one gradually tames the egoic mind that divides and judges.

6. Cultivating the Four Immeasurables

• Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity: The four immeasurables are key tools in taming the mindstream. Practicing loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), joy (mudita), and equanimity (upekkha) helps counter the habitual patterns of craving, aversion, and ignorance. These qualities soften the heart and allow the mind to remain open and balanced.
• Prayer and Contemplation on Love: Christian practices that focus on the love of God and extending that love to all beings mirror this approach. By dwelling on God’s love and seeing all beings as part of God’s creation, the sense of separation that causes mental turbulence is reduced.

7. Application of the Five Forces

• The "Five Forces"—intention, familiarization, virtuous acts, rejection of hindrances, and aspiration—serve as a practical framework for daily life that helps tame the mindstream. These forces emphasize the deliberate cultivation of positive habits and the avoidance of those that lead to harm, ensuring a continual alignment of one’s actions with spiritual goals.

Summary

Taming the mindstream is an ongoing commitment to awareness, ethical conduct, meditation, and wisdom. It requires transforming habitual, self-centered thoughts into thoughts of compassion and service, seeing beyond the illusion of self, and being deeply mindful of every aspect of one's experience. Both the Buddhist and Christian paths emphasize an open-hearted devotion to truth, compassion, and love—qualities that naturally tame and transform the restless mind. Through the combination of meditation, ethical action, insight, and compassion, the mindstream is gradually calmed, redirected, and ultimately awakened.