Homage to the sovereign who has accomplished all
purposes and who is the glorious auspicious jewel swiftly
endowing others with great happiness.
1
First, train in the preliminaries.
For the main practice, train alternately in giving and taking.
There are three objects, three poisons, and three roots of virtue—
this, in brief, is the instruction for subsequent practice.
2
Commence the sequence of taking from your own self.
Place the two astride your breath.
In brief, this is the distilled essence of instruction:
In all actions, train by means of the words.
3
Relate whatever you can to meditation right now.
When both are present, take them all.
Train constantly toward the chosen objects.
4
Banish all blames to the single source.
Toward all beings contemplate their great kindness.
Train in the three difficult challenges.
There are two tasks—one at the start and one at the end.
5
Contemplate the three that are free of degeneration.
Train constantly in the three general points.
Transform your attitudes but remain as you are.
Adopt the three principal conditions.
Train in the five powers.
6
The intent of all teachings converges on a single point.
Of the two witnesses uphold the principal one.24
Cultivate constantly the joyful mind alone;
if this can be done even when distracted, you are trained.
i. Do not torment with malicious banter.
ii. Do not boast of your good deeds.
iii. Do not be ill-tempered.
iv. Do not be boisterous.
v. Do not be fickle.
vi. Do not lie in ambush.
vii. Do not place the load of a dzo onto an ox.
viii. Do not sprint to win a race.
ix. Do not maintain inappropriate loyalty.
x. Do not be sporadic.
xi. Do not abuse this practice.
xii. Be released through the two: investigation and close analysis.
xiii. Train with decisiveness.
xiv. Be endowed with the three inseparable factors.
7
Accomplish all yogas through a single means.
If relapsed, meditate on it as the very remedy.
Whichever of the two arises, bear them both;
Do not speak of the defects [of others].
8
Do not dwell on others’ shortcomings.
Do not turn the gods into demons.
Do not seek misery as a means to happiness.
Do not depend on other conditions.
xv. Recognize what is primary.
xvi. Forsake all expectations of reward.
xvii. Discard poisonous food.
xviii. Do not strike at the heart.
9
This proliferation of the five degenerations
Is transformed into the path of enlightenment.
When stability is attained, reveal the secret.
10
This distilled essence of pith instructions
Stems from the lineage of most sublime masters.
These are the root lines.