Intelligent Heart: A Guide
to the Compassionate Life, A powerful practice for discovering
happiness by shifting the focus from yourself to others
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Foreword
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xi
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Acknowledgments
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xiii
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Editor's Introduction
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xvii
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Introduction
It All Started with Tonglen
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1
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Point One
THE PRELIMINARIES TEACH THE FOUNDATION OF DHARMA PRACTICE
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11
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1. First, train in the preliminaries.
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11
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Point Two
THE MAIN PRACTICE: TRAINING IN BODHICITTA
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23
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2. Consider all phenomena as a dream.
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24
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3. Examine the nature of unborn awareness.
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27
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4. The antidote in itself is liberated.
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28
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5. Rest in the nature of the alaya.
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28
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6. In post-meditation, be a child of illusion.
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29
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7. Practice giving and taking alternately. Mount
both upon the breath.
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30
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8. Three objects, three poisons, and three roots
of virtue.
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50
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9. In all conduct train with maxims.
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55
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10. Begin the sequence of taking with oneself.
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57
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Point
Three TRANSFORMING ADVERSITY INTO THE PATH OF ENLIGHTENMENT
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59
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11. When the world is full of
evil, transform misfortune into the path of awakening.
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59
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12. Realize all faults spring
from one source.
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60
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13. Meditate upon gratitude
toward all.
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64
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14. Meditate upon illusory
appearance as the four kayas. This is the unsurpassable protection of
emptiness.
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72
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15. The four practices are the
best of means.
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75
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16. Use whatever you face as a
practice immediately.
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80
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Point
Four AN EXPLANATION OF THE PRACTICES AS A WAY OF LIFE
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85
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17. The pith instructions
briefly summarized: apply the five strengths.
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85
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18. The Mahayana instructions
for the transference of consciousness are the five strengths. Conduct
is vital.
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93
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Point
Five MEASURES OF PROFICIENCY IN MIND TRAINING
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105
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19. All dharma agrees at a
single point.
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105
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20. Of the two witnesses, rely
on the main one.
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109
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21. Always maintain a joyful
attitude.
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110
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22. You have reached proficiency
if you can practice even while distracted.
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113
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Point
Six COMMITMENTS OF MIND TRAINING
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117
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23. Always train in the three
basic principles.
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119
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24. Transform your attitude and
remain natural.
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121
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25. Do not speak about the
downfalls of others.
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123
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26. Do not ponder others'
business.
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124
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27. Train with the strongest
emotions first.
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126
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28. Abandon any expectation of
fruition.
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130
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29. Abstain from toxic food.
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131
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30. Do not be a loyalist.
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132
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31. Do not be contentious.
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133
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32. Do not wait in ambush.
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134
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33. Do not pounce upon
vulnerability.
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135
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34. Do not transfer the dzo's
load onto the ox.
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136
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35. Do not be competitive.
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138
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36. Do not twist the practice.
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139
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37. Do not bring a god down to
the level of a demon.
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140
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38. Do not seek out others'
suffering as the limbs of your delight.
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141
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Point
Seven GUIDELINES FOR MIND TRAINING
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145
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39. Use one practice for
everything.
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145
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40. Use a single corrective for
everything.
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146
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41. Two things to do: one at the
beginning, one at the end.
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148
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42. Whichever of the two arises,
be patient.
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149
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43. Protect the two as dearly as
your life.
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152
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44. Train in the three
difficulties.
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153
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45. Take up the three principal
causes.
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155
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46. Practice to not let the
three degenerate.
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156
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47. Remain inseperable from the
three.
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157
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48. Practice impartially toward
everything. Deep and comprehensive mastery overall is essential.
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158
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49. Always meditate on whatever
is most challenging.
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159
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50. Do not rely on other factors.
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159
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51. Practice what is essential
now.
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160
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52. Do not dwell in
misunderstanding.
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161
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53. Do not be sporadic.
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164
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54. Train wholeheartedly.
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165
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55. Find liberation through both
reflection and analysis.
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165
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56. Do not feel the world owes
you.
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166
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57. Do not be reactive.
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166
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58. Do not be temperamental.
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167
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59. Do not self-aggrandize.
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168
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Conclusion
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169
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Appendix: The Seven Points of
Mahayana Mind Training
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171
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