Advise from Atisha’s heart

By Atisha

Preface: 'When Venerable Atisha came to Tibet he first went to Ngari, where he remained for two years giving many teachings to the disciples of Jangchub O. After two years had passed he decided to return to India, & Jangchub O requested him to give one last teaching before he left. Atisha replied that he had already given them all the advice they needed, but Jangchub O persisted in his requested & so Atisha accepted & gave the following advise.'

“How wonderful!

Friends, since you already have great knowledge & clear understanding, whereas I am of no importance & have little wisdom, it is not suitable for you to request advise from me. However because you dear friends, whom I cherish from my heart, have requested me, I shall give you this essential advice from my inferior & childish mind.

Friends, until you attain enlightenment the spiritual teacher is indispensable, therefore rely upon the holy spiritual guide.

Until you realise ultimate truth, listening is indispensable, therefore listen to the instructions of the spiritual guide.

Since you cannot become a Buddha merely by understanding Dharma, practice earnestly with understanding.

Avoid places that disturb your mind, & always remain where your virtues increase.

Until you attain stable realisations, worldly amusements are harmful, therefore abide in a place where there are no such distractions.

Avoid friends who cause you to increase delusions, & rely upon those who increase your virtue. This you should take to heart.

Since there is never a time when worldly activities come to an end, limit your activities.

Dedicate your virtues throughout the day & the night, & always watch your mind.

Because you have received advice, whenever you are not meditating always practice in accordance with what your spiritual guide says.

If you practice with great devotion, results will arise immediately, without your having to wait for a long time.

If from your heart you practice in accordance with Dharma, both food & resources will come naturally to hand.

Friends, the things you desire give no more satisfaction than drinking sea-water, therefore practice contentment.

Avoid all haughty, conceited, proud & arrogant minds, & remain peaceful & subdued.

Avoid activities that are said to be meritorious, but which in fact are obstacles to Dharma.

Profit & respect are nooses of the maras, so brush them aside like stones on the path.

Words of praise & fame serve only to beguile us, therefore blow them away as you would blow your nose.

Since the happiness, pleasure & friends you gather in this life last only for a moment, put them all behind you.

Since future lives last for a long time, gather up riches to provide for your future.

You will have to depart leaving everything behind, so do not be attached to anything.

Generate compassion for lowly beings, & especially avoid despising or humiliating them.

Have no hatred for enemies, & no attachment for friends.

Do not be jealous of other’s good qualities, but out of admiration adopt them yourself.

Do not look for faults in others, but look for faults in yourself, & purge them like bad blood.

Do not contemplate your own good qualities, but contemplate the good qualities of others, & respect everyone as a servant would.

See all living beings as your father or mother, & love them as if you were their child.

Always keep a smiling face & a loving mind, & speak truthfully without malice.

If you talk too much with little meaning you will make mistakes, therefore speak in moderation, only when necessary.

If you engage in many meaningless activities your virtuous activities will degenerate, therefore stop activities that are not spiritual.

It is completely meaningless to put effort into activities that have no essence.

If the things you desire do not come it is due to karma created long ago, therefore keep a happy & relaxed mind.

Beware, offending a holy being is worse than dying, therefore be honest & straightforward.

Since all the happiness & suffering of this life arise from previous actions, do not blame others.

All happiness comes from the blessings of your spiritual guide, therefore always repay his/her kindness.

Since you cannot tame the minds of others until you have tamed your own, begin by taming your own mind.

Since you will definitely have to depart without the wealth you have accumulated, do not accumulate negativity for the sake of wealth.

Distracting enjoyments have no essence, therefore sincerely practice giving.

Always keep pure moral discipline for it leads to beauty in this life & happiness hereafter.

Since hatred is rife in these impure times, don the armour of patience, free from anger.

You remain in samsara through the power of laziness, therefore ignite the fire of the effort of application.

Since this human life is wasted by indulging in distractions, now is the time to practice concentration.

Being under the influence of wrong views you do not realise the ultimate nature of things, therefore investigate correct meanings.

Friends, there is no happiness in this swamp of samsara, so move to the firm ground of liberation.

Meditate according to the advise of your spiritual guide & dry up the river of samsaric suffering.

You should consider this well because it is not just words from the mouth, but sincere advise from the heart.

If you practice like this you will delight me, & you will bring happiness to yourself & others.

I who am ignorant request you take this advise to heart."

(This is the advise that the holy being Venerable Atisha gave to Venerable Jangchub O)