A Commentary on Attitude-Training Like the Rays of the Sun – His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

A Commentary on Attitude-Training Like the Rays of the Sun is an unpublished transcript by Namkapel of teachings given by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama to an audience with many new arrivals from Tibet in Dharamsala, India, May 9–15, 1985. Alexander Berzin has translated the text here Alexander Berzin. These teachings are mostly concerned with developing the awakening mind, the altruistic mind of enlightenment. They deal essentially with transforming mental attitudes. One special feature of the mind training teachings is the advice to transform adversity into advantage. So, not only do these instructions help open out towards other beings, but they also help transform whatever difficulties come our way into something valuable.

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A Commentary on Attitude-Training Like the Rays of the Sun

What is Attitude-Training in Tibetan Buddhism?

Attitude-training (often referred to as “mind training” or “lojong” in Tibetan) is a core practice in Tibetan Buddhism that focuses on cultivating a compassionate and altruistic mind. The primary goal of attitude-training is to transform one’s mind by developing bodhicitta, the altruistic intention to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Here are some key points about attitude-training in Tibetan Buddhism:

1. Textual Foundation: The primary textual foundation for attitude-training is the “Seven Point Mind Training,” attributed to the Tibetan master Chekawa Yeshe Dorje. This text provides concise instructions on how to practice lojong.
2. Slogans: The practice often involves meditating on 59 specific slogans that serve as reminders and guides for cultivating a compassionate attitude. These slogans are designed to challenge our usual self-centered thinking and to replace it with a more altruistic perspective.
3. Tonglen Practice: One of the central practices associated with attitude-training is tonglen, or “taking and sending.” In this meditation, practitioners visualize taking in the suffering of others with each inhalation and sending out happiness and relief with each exhalation.
4. Transforming Adverse Conditions: A significant aspect of attitude-training is the idea of using adverse conditions as a path to enlightenment. Instead of viewing problems or obstacles as hindrances, practitioners are taught to see them as opportunities for spiritual growth.
5. Two Types of Bodhicitta: The practice emphasizes the development of two types of bodhicitta: relative and ultimate. Relative bodhicitta involves cultivating love and compassion for all beings, while ultimate bodhicitta refers to the direct realization of the nature of reality.
6. Training in Ultimate and Relative Truths: Attitude-training also emphasizes the importance of understanding both the ultimate nature of reality (emptiness) and the relative truth of conventional phenomena. By understanding both, practitioners can navigate the world with compassion and wisdom.
7. Daily Life Integration: One of the strengths of attitude-training is its applicability to daily life. Practitioners are encouraged to integrate the teachings into every aspect of their lives, using every experience as an opportunity for mind training.

In summary, attitude-training in Tibetan Buddhism is a profound method for cultivating an altruistic heart and transforming one’s mind. Through a combination of meditation, contemplation, and daily life practices, practitioners aim to develop a compassionate and wise approach to life.