From “Bodhisattvacharyavatara” (A Guide to the Boddhisattava’s Way of Life)
By: Shantideva
Chapter 8 “Meditation” herein abridged with editorial subheadings.
H.H The Dalai Lama, “To strengthen our practice, it is necessary to develop one-pointed concentration of the mind…. Lack of concentration prevents us from keeping our minds focused on the object of meditation… In brief, meditation is a way for training and transforming the mind.”
Calm abiding
1: I should place my mind in concentration:
For the person who’s mind is distracted
Dwells between fangs of disturbing conceptions.
2,3: Through solitude of body and mind
No distractions will occur:
I should forsake the worldly life,
And completely discard distorted conceptions.
I should entirely forsake attachments and cravings
For this is the way of the wise.
4: Having understood that disturbing conceptions are completely overcome
By superior insight endowed with calm abiding,
First of all, I should search for calm abiding,
This is achieved through the genuine joy of those unattached to worldly life.
82,83: The objects of desire will certainly perish,
[Wherein enlightenment] is attained
With just one millionth of the difficulty
Involved in continually exhausting myself
For the sake of what is not great.
85: Having in this way developed disillusionment with desire,
Generate joy for solitude.
Devoid of disputes and disturbing conceptions.
87: Having abandoned the pain of clinging and guarding (possessions)
Abide, independent, free of care.
Equanimity (Awaking Mind)
89: Having in such ways as these
Thought about the excellence of solitude,
Completely pacify distorted conceptions
And meditate on the Awaking Mind.
90: Make an effort
To mediate upon the equality between self and others.
Intent on protecting all beings
As all are equal in (wanting) pleasure and (not wanting) pain.
110: Just as one protects themself
From unpleasant things however small,
In the same way act toward others
With a compassionate and caring mind.
120: Thus whoever wishes to quickly afford protection
To both self and other beings
Should practice the holy secret:
The exchanging of self for others.
129: Whatever joy there is in this world
All comes from desiring others to be happy,
And whatever suffering there is in the world
All come from selfish desires.
165: In brief, for the sake of all living creatures,
May all harms
I have selfishly caused to others
Descend upon myself.
Renunciation
178: In the end this body will turn to dust;
Why do I grasp this unbearable
And unclean form as “I”?
184: Therefore, in order to benefit all beings
I shall give up this body without any attachment.
Although it may have many faults,
I should look after it while experiencing (the results of my previous) actions.
186: Just like the compassionate Children of the Conqueror,
I shall patiently accept what I must do;
For if I do not make a constant effort day and night,
When will misery ever come to an end?
187: Therefore, in order to dispel the obstructions,
I shall withdraw my mind from mistaken ways
And constantly place it in equipoise
Upon the perfect object.