Geshe Chekhawa (or Chekawa Yeshe Dorje) (1102–1176) was a prolific

Kadampa 300px, Tibetan Portrait of Atiśa The Kadam school () of Tibetan Buddhism was an 11th century Buddhist tradition founded by the great Bengali master Atiśa (982-1054) and his students like Dromtön (1005–1064), a Tibetan Buddhist lay master. ...

Buddhist meditation master who was the author of the celebrated root text ''Training the Mind in Seven Points'', which is an explanation of Buddha's instructions on training the mind or

Lojong Lojong (, 'mind training') is a contemplative practice in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition which makes use of various lists of aphorisms or slogans which are used for contemplative practice. The practice involves refining and purifying one's motiva ...

in Tibetan. These teachings reveal how sincere Buddhist practitioners can transform adverse conditions into the path to enlightenment, principally, by developing their own compassion. Before Chekhawa Yeshe Dorje's root text this special set of teachings given by Buddha were secret teachings only given to faithful disciples. Chekhawa Yeshe Dorje was born into a family that practiced the

Nyingma Nyingma (literally 'old school') is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also often referred to as ''Ngangyur'' (, ), "order of the ancient translations". The Nyingma school is founded on the first lineages and transl ...

tradition of

Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...

. However, as is common in all the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, he also sought teachings from other traditions. He received teachings from

Rechungpa Rechung Dorje Drakpa (, 1083/4-1161), known as Rechungpa, was one of the two most important students of the 11th century yogi and poet Milarepa and founder of the Rechung Kagyu subtradition of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. (The other studen ...

(one of

Milarepa's Jetsun Milarepa (, 1028/40–1111/23) was a Tibetan siddha, who was famously known as a murderer when he was a young man, before turning to Buddhism and becoming a highly accomplished Buddhist disciple. He is generally considered one of Tibet's ...

main disciples) and later from

Geshes. After reading the text ''Eight Verses of Training the Mind'' by

Geshe Langri Tangpa Geshe Langri Thangpa (གླང་རི་ཐང་པ། ; wylie: glang ri thang pa) (1054–1123) is an important figure in the lineage of the Kadampa and Gelug schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Phenpo, as Dorje Senge (རྡོ་ར� ...

he immediately set out to Lhasa in search of Langri Tangpa. When he arrived in Lhasa, he discovered that Geshe Langri Tangpa had died. So he searched for his disciples and found Geshe Sharawa who was one of his main disciples. When Chekawa Yeshe Dorje met Sharawa, he asked him "How important is the practice of accepting defeat and offering the victory to others?" Sharawa replied, "If you want to attain enlightenment, this practice is essential." Chekhawa Yeshe Dorje then requested full instructions on this practice and Sharawa said "If you stay with me for several years I will teach you." Chekhawa Yeshe Dorje stayed with Sharawa for 12 years until he mastered the practice of training the mind. He had to face many different kinds of ordeals: all sorts of difficulties, criticism, hardships, and abuse. And the teaching was so effective, and his perseverance in its practice so intense, that he completely eradicated any self-grasping and self-cherishing. At this time in Tibet,

leprosy Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damag ...

was very common in Tibet, because doctors were unable to cure it. When Chekhawa Yeshe Dorje encountered lepers, he developed heartfelt compassion for them and wished to help them. He gave them teachings on training the mind, especially the teachings on

Tonglen Tonglen (, or tonglen) is Tibetan for 'giving and taking' (or sending and receiving), and refers to a meditation practice found in Tibetan Buddhism. Tong means "giving or sending", and len means "receiving or taking". Tonglen is also known as exc ...

or taking and giving. Through these practices many lepers were able to cure themselves. After overhearing Chekhawa Yeshe Dorje's teaching to lepers on training the mind, his brother who strongly disliked Dharma teachings even began to put them into practice and receive great benefit from them. As a result of these successes, Chekhawa Yeshe Dorje decided not to keep these teachings secret any longer and he composed ''Training the Mind in Seven Points''. This is one of the essential root texts of the

tradition and was the basis for Je Tsongkhapa's text Sunrays of Training the Mind, which is regarded as one of the most authoritative commentaries on training the mind. Chekhawa Yeshe Dorje's conclusion of ''Training the Mind in Seven Points'' is as follows: Because of my many wishes,
Having endured suffering and a bad reputation,
I received the instructions for controlling self-grasping.
Now, if I die, I have no regrets.''

Universal Compassion ''Universal Compassion: Inspiring Solutions for Difficult Times'', Tharpa Publications (4th. ed., 2002) is a commentary to Geshe Chekhawa's ''Training the Mind in Seven Points'' by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, a Buddhist teacher and author in the West. ...

: Inspiring Solutions for Difficult Times'' by

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (; 19 July 1931 – 17 September 2022) was a Buddhist monk, meditation teacher, scholar, and author. He was the founder and spiritual director of the New Kadampa Tradition-International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU), a ...

page 155,

Tharpa Publications Tharpa Publications (Sanskrit for "liberation" and pronounced "Tar-pa") is a New York-based "major international and multilingual publisher of Buddhist books" by the Buddhist author and scholar Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. These include basic Buddhist me ...

(4th. ed., 2002)

Root Verses

Root Verses Of The Seven Point Mind Training
by Geshe Chekawa (1102–1176)

Homage to Great Compassion.

These instructions are the essence of the nectar.
They have been passed down from Serlingpa.
They are like a diamond, the sun, and a medicinal tree.
Understand the purpose and so forth of these texts.
When the five degenerations are flourishing, transform
them into the path to enlightenment.

''One: Preliminary Supporting Dharma Practices''
Initially, train in the preliminaries.

''Two: Training The Mind In The Path To Enlightenment
''Training in relative bodhicitta''
Put all the blame on the one.
Meditate on everyone as kind.
Train alternately in the two, taking and giving.
Begin taking with yourself.
Mount the two upon the breath.
There are three objects, three poisons, and three roots of virtue.
These, in brief, are the instructions for the post-meditation period.
Be mindful in order to admonish yourself.
Train yourself with the verses during all activities. ''Training in ultimate bodhicitta''
Having attained stability, be shown the secret.
Consider phenomena to be like a dream.
Analyze the nature of ungenerated awareness.
Even the antidote itself is naturally free.
Focus on the nature of the basis of all, the entity of the path.
Between sessions be an illusionist.

''Three: Bringing Unfavorable Conditions Into The Path To Enlightenment''
When the vessel and its contents are filled with negativities,
Transform these unfavorable conditions into the path to enlightenment.
Immediately apply whatever you meet to meditation.
Possess the four preparations, the supreme method.

''Four: Integrating The Practices In A Single Lifetime''
In brief, the essence of the instructions is to apply the five forces.
The Great Vehicle instructions on transference
are those very five forces; cherish this behavior.

''Five: The Measure Of A Trained Mind''
Combine all the Dharma into one intention.
Of the two witnesses, rely on the primary one.
Always rely on mental happiness alone.
The measure of being trained is to no longer regress.
To be trained is to possess the five signs of greatness.
You are trained when able even if distracted.

''Six: The Commitments Of Mind Training''
1. Constantly train in the three general points.
2. Change your attitude, but remain natural.
3. Do not mention thers’impaired limbs.
4. Do not think about others’ affairs.
5. Initially, purify whatever affliction is the strongest.
6. Give up all hope of reward.
7. Avoid poisoned food.
8. Do not hold a grudge.
9. Do not respond to malicious talk.
10. Do not lie in ambush.
11. Do not strike to the core.
12. Do not put the load of a dzo on an ox.
13. Do not aim to win the race.
14. Do not use perverse means.
15. Do not turn a god into a demon.
16. Do not seek thers’suffering as a means to your own happiness.

''Seven: Advice Regarding Mind Training''
1. Perform all yogas with the one.
2. Apply the one to all perverse oppressors.
3. Do the two activities, one at the beginning and one at the end.
4. Be patient whichever of the two occurs.
5. Guard the two at the risk of your life.
6. Train in the three difficult ones.
7. Obtain the three principal causes.
8. Cultivate the three without deterioration.
9. Possess the three without separation.
10. Train in purity and impartiality with respect to objects.
11. Cherish all of the encompassing and profound trainings.
12. Meditate constantly on the special cases.
13. Do not look for other conditions.
14. Practice the most important right now.
15. Avoid the distorted understandings.
16. Do not be erratic.
17. Train continuously.
18. Attain liberation with the two, investigation and analysis.
19. Do not boast.
20. Refrain from retaliating.
21. Do not act impetuously.
22. Do not wish for gratitude.

References

External links

Seven-talk series by Dhammadinna based o
Geshe Chekhawa
Atisha and Langri Tangpa
Samye Institute library page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chekhawa, Geshe 1102 births 1176 deaths Buddhist meditation