The texts in Essential Mind Training present the flowering of an important spiritual culture dedicated to the perfection of the human heart by cultivating the altruistic intention.

In their birthplace of Tibet, these spiritual writings have inspired, nurtured, and transformed the hearts of millions of individuals across generations.

Even though the first mind training texts emerged nearly a millennium ago, the simple yet profound teachings presented in them have retained their appeal and poignancy.

There is no denying that, if put into practice, the insights of mind training can exert powerful impact in our day-to-day lives. What can be more powerful in defusing the intensity of anger toward someone than imagining that person to be as vulnerable as a defenseless child? Who can deny the power of countering jealousy or joy in another’s suffering than reflecting in the following manner?

As for suffering, I do not wish even the slightest;

as for happiness I am never satisfied;

in this there is no difference between others and me.

May I be blessed to take joy in others’ happiness.

This stanza from Paṇchen Losang Chögyen’s famed Guru Puja (seventeenth century) encapsulates a key teaching of the mind training tradition, where a profound recognition of the fundamental equality of self and others with respect to the basic drive to find happiness and avoid suffering becomes the basis for generating genuine compassion for all beings.

Today, as our world becomes ever more complex, with the consequence of making even our everyday lives a source of stress and constant challenge, I believe that these practical insights of Tibetan mind training can bring great benefit to many.

In my own life, during now more than two decades living in the West amid all the complexities of modern existence, I have come to appreciate more deeply the value of the Tibetan mind training teaching.

Confronted with the common question of how to maintain a healthy balance between parenthood, marriage, and work, and, more specifically, having to deal with the critical challenge of how to stay sane and rooted against all the social and cultural forces pulling us in so many directions, I have found the clear and poignant wisdom of lojong, especially the advice on maintaining a joyful state of mind, a tremendous source of personal inspiration and strength.

So by making these Tibetan mind training teachings available for a general audience, it is my sincere hope and wish that many readers will be able to share in the wonderful insights of the mind training teachings and experience their profound rewards.

Source: Thupten Jinpa. Translated, edited, and introduced by Thupten Jinpa. Essential Mind Training: Tibetan Wisdom for Daily Life. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications, 2011.

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