”The Supreme Conduct is Disharmony with the World”: Lojong Mind-Training | Jetsuma Tenzin Palmo Q&A

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

00:22 Welcome

00:40 Biography of Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

01:58 The Background of Atisha’s Lojong

03:58 Atisha’s First Verse and Jetsunma’s Dream of the Prison of Samsara

09:50 Viewing Atisha’s Lojong Training as “Precepts”

11:55 The Glimpse of the Mind and the Divine Resonance of the First Verse – Is this equivalent to Theravada Stream Entry?

14:14 Advice for anyone who thinks Stream Entry or the Glimpse of the True Nature of the Heart is beyond them

16:38 Are there glimpses before this utterly life-transforming deep glimpse that may be Stream Entry?

18:53 The Second Verse – Taming the Mind: What is the requisite effort for achieving Samatha? Retreats, approaches…

22:44 The Second Verse – Altruism: And the Theravada Firebrand – working for one’s own benefit versus working for the benefit of others

25:32 The Ninth Verse – Supreme Generosity: Who has embodied this most in your life?

28:05 The Sixth Verse – The Supreme Conduct is Being in Disharmony with the World! How does one do this in a healthy manner?

30:12 Living in Partnership with a Non-Dhamma Person – How to navigate beautifully and with a compassionate heart

32:16 The Seventh Verse – The Continual Decrease of Disturbing Emotions: Is it feasible to never, ever be sad?

34:19 Verses Fifteen and Sixteen – Hidden Flaws: Meeting your root teacher for the first time – What gave you confidence?

38:22 The Fourth Refuge/Jewel in Tibetan Buddhism – The Guru: How necessary, safe, or feasible is it?

42:27 Bridging the Theravada Concept of Nibbana and the Mahayana Concept of Bodhicitta

46:24 The Twelfth Verse – Supreme Effort is “Letting Go” of Activity vs. Engaged Buddhism

49:08 Jetsunma’s Comment on Atisha’s Lojong: “The Ego is Happy to Be Miserable…”

50:05 The Goal to Save All Beings – Skillful Means or Beyond Language, in the Bodhicitta?

53:06 Words of Guidance for Ajahns Nisabho and Kovilo

55:33 Invitation to Himachal Pradesh and to Seattle

56:13 Outro

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo about "Atisha's Lojong Root Verses on Training the Mind", delving into these powerful teachings as tools towards breaking free from the prison of saṃsara, and realizing ultimate Awakening.

To support the nun's community Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo founded and guides, along with her other initiatives, please visit https://dgli.org/tsunma-projects/

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's Biography: https://tenzinpalmo.com/

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**Atisha's Lojong Root Verses on Training the Mind**

The Supreme understanding is to realize the meaning of selflessness

The Supreme spiritual discipline is to tame ones own mind

The Supreme great quality is altruism

The Supreme oral instruction is to observe the mind at all times

The Supreme remedy is to know that nothing has self nature

The Supreme conduct is to be in disharmony with the world

The Supreme accomplishment is a continuos decrease of disturbing emotions

The Supreme sign of accomplishment is a continuos decrease of wishes and wants

The Supreme generosity is non attachment

The Supreme ethical conduct is to pacify one’s mind

The Supreme patience is to take the lowest place

The Supreme effort is letting go of activity

The Supreme concentration is not altering the mind.

The Supreme wisdom is to not grasp onto anything as the self

The Supreme spiritual teacher is the one who exposes our hidden flaws and

The Supreme instruction is the one that help us to strike at those flaws

The Supreme companions are mindfulness and alertness

The Supreme inspiration is enemies, hindrances, disease and suffering

The Supreme method is to be natural

The Supreme way of benefiting is to help others enter the Dharma

The Supreme benefit is a mind that turns toward the Dharma

You can listen to a series of Jetsuma Tenzin Palmo's talks on the verses here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS38s8prqQU