The Secret Path of Mind Training

The Secret Path of Mind Training The main speaker of this session is Khenpo Sodargye This is a lecture given by Khenpo Sodargye on November 25, 2013, at National Taiwan University, with the theme "The Secret Path of Mind Training." Khenpo's core perspective is that the Six Pāramitās of Mahāyāna practice (generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, meditation, wisdom) constitute the path of mind training; when the mind changes, the world changes too. He develops his argument on six levels: First, the pāramitā of generosity—giving of wealth, giving of fearlessness, giving of Dharma; Ross Perot, from his mother's teaching to "help them a bit when we have the capacity," cultivated the habit of charitable giving and formed the life pattern for great accomplishment. Second, the pāramitā of discipline—with altruism as the highest principle, including refraining from harmful conduct, gathering virtuous dharmas, and benefiting sentient beings; a Taiwanese scholar said "Without restraint, there is no morality; without morality, there is no freedom or dignity." Third, the pāramitā of patience—enduring suffering, enduring harm, accepting profound truths; during the Cultural Revolution, when a woman had her head half-shaved, a Chan master passed her a note saying "This very moment is the time for practice," and she awakened and persevered. Fourth, the pāramitā of diligence—donning armor, right conduct, non-regression. Fifth, the pāramitā of meditation—a tofu seller sat for half an hour and remembered a debt from thirty years ago, illustrating meditation's value; worldly meditation calms the mind, while transcendent meditation aims for liberation. Sixth, the pāramitā of wisdom—the three wisdoms of hearing, contemplation, and meditation; Madhyamaka theory is the sharp tool for realizing ultimate reality, transcending religion. Khenpo emphasizes: mind is the master and prime mover of all change. 20131125