The Precious Lamp In Praise of Bodhicitta by Khunu Rinpoche Tenzin Gyaltsen

2
The Lord who seeks to help
has arisen from the full moon [of Bodhicitta].
He is the guru of the world. In samsara
there really is no other to be found.

3
How could the trinkets of others’
apparently fine explanations
ever compete with the words of the one
whose meaning is like a wish-fulfilling gem?

4
Whoever has an honest mind, having investigated
the Buddha’s supreme doctrine through
the threefold analysis, seeing that it is
like a lotus pond, enters [into it] like a swan.

5
Who would not cleave to the refuge provided by
the Buddha, who has completed his own and others’ [aims],
and who possesses the eight special attributes
such as not being known by others and so on?

6
For whom is the holy Dharma not a refuge
characterized as it is by the two truths
and the eight special attributes
such as being inconceivable, non-dual and so on?

7
For whom is the Noble Assembly not a refuge
with its eight special attributes of freedom and realization
free as it is from the lesser obscurations of attachment and impediment
and with the inner realizations of how things are what there is?

8
I think that even were Sarasvati in my throat
it would be hard to find an example for the great wish-fulfilling
Bodhicitta tree that so easily accomplishes peoples’ desires
and flourishes in the ground of compassion, watered by love.

9
How could the intention to benefit [others]
on the part of a mother, father, sage, or even Brahma,
possibly extend to every living creature
in the manner of supreme Bodhicitta?

10
Just like the lotus among flowers
in Bodhicitta supreme among all virtuous thoughts.
Since having it brings temporary and lasting happiness
one should make every effort to generate it.

11
Since even knowledge of all aspects
has its origin in supreme Bodhicitta alone,
those who wish for freedom
should certainly make it their work.

12
If one investigates to find out what is the supreme method
for accomplishing the aims of oneself and others,
it comes down to Bodhicitta alone.
Being certain of this, develop it with joy.

13
The good that is Bodhicitta does not give fruit just once.
Until the knowledge of all aspects it does not finish, but gets even greater.
When knowledge of all aspects it does not finish, but gets even greater.
When knowledge of all aspects is reached, the rain of precious Dharma
from the form-body cloud nourishes the shoots of the good that people do.

14
Amongst knowledge, inner knowledge.
Amongst all jewels, the wish-fulfilling gem.
Amongst the fleet-footed, the stallion.
Amongst thoughts, Bodhicitta.

15
The sun, the moon, a lamp, a lightning flash-
they may illuminate, but they hardly clear away the inner murk.
This Bodhicitta is extolled by the holy as completely
extirpating the darkness of living beings.

16
Every benefit and joy originates
in this Bodhicitta of the Victor’s children.
There is no way that a wish-fulfilling gem
is going to be able to compete with it.

17
Once the plantain tree gives forth its fruit
it is incapable of bearing fruit again.
But even after bearing fruit, virtue influenced
by Bodhicitta increases without end.

18
Having gone to the base of the Parijataka tree
if you make a wish, your desired aim
will be fulfilled. So too Bodhicitta has the power
to fulfill the desired aims of living beings.

19
A tree, its branches, and the fully ripened fruit
are all dependent on the seend.
Every fine thing in samsara and nirvana
is contingent on Bodhicitta.

20
The holy ones explain that the sole Dharma to be embraced
from now until the knowledge of all aspects is reached
is Bodhicitta, the ground from which comes forth
a hundred thousand benefits and happiness.

21
Supreme Bodhicitta wishes to remove
every flaw from every living being and to
bring about limitless good qualities in each of them.
This is amazing even amongst the amazing!

22
If one wants to benefit everyone, one needs Bodhicitta.
If one wants to befriend everyone, one needs Bodhicitta.
If one wants to gain the confidence of all, one needs Bodhicita.
If one wants to be everyone’s spiritual friend, one needs Bodhicitta.

23
When those who wish to benefit the world
lovingly thought about living beings
[thinking] “what will be of benefit to beings?”
they saw it was this supreme Bodhicitta alone.

24
[The moon] with its cooling rays is unequaled
in eliminating fever; [the sun] the jewel of the sky
is unequaled in dispelling darkness;
Bodhicitta is unequaled in eradicating afflictions.

25
Bodhicitta is the moon of the mind.
Bodhicitta is the sun of the mind.
Bodhicitta is the jewel of the mind.
Bodhicitta is the nectar of the mind.

26
If you want to help yourself, generate supreme Bodhicitta
If you want to help others; generate supreme Bodhicitta
If you want to serve the doctrine, generate Bodhicitta
If you want the path to bliss, generate supreme Bodhicitta.

27
The mind that causes one to obtain unexcelled enlightenment
is water because it washes the stains of nonvirtue,
is a hand because it gathers virtue,
is a whip because it urges one to the holy Dharma.

28
The hundred light-rays of Bodhicitta [unlike the rays of sun]
do not cause the hundred-petalled white lotus to open,
do not cause the kumuda white water-lily to close,
do not cause the marsh to dry.

29
From now until the heart of enlightenment,
may I not be separated from Bodhicitta;
I supplicate the guru and the triple gem that
I might aspire for such and be blessed for such [to occur].

30
A tired traveler sweltering from the heat
is happy to find the leafy green shade of a tree.
A wanderer, worn out travelling the paths of samsara
is happy when precious Bodhicitta is born

31
The precious gem of Bodhicitta
does not discriminate between rich and poor,
does not differentiate between the wise and foolish;
it benefits equally the high and the low.

32
Bodhicitta, the seed of a Buddha,
causes one to engage through both thought and practice
in the benefit of the six kinds [of wandering beings]
without discriminating country, time, or occasion.

33
For raising your spirits when you are down,
for removing arrogance when you are flush,
there is no non-deceiving friend in the world
other than Bodhicitta.

…

356
Should there be any good from this little composition
that has taken supreme Bodhicitta as its point of departure,
I pray that Bodhicitta will be born in the mindstreams
of my mother [living beings] who are equal to space.