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'''Four thoughts''' (Tib. བློ་ལྡོག་རྣམ་བཞི, ''lodok nam shyi''; [[Wyl.]] ''blo ldog rnam bzhi'') — these are the four contemplations that turn the mind away from [[samsara]], namely: 
*1) the difficulty of finding the [[eight freedoms|freedoms]] and [[ten advantages|advantages]], and 
*2) the [[impermanence]] of life, 
which turn the mind away from the concerns of ''this life''; 

and the reflections on 
*3) the defects of [[samsara]], and on 
*4) action ([[karma]]: cause and effect), 
which turn the mind away from our attitudes and conduct with respect to ''future lives''. 

==Brief Version of the Four Thoughts from the [[Ngöndro]] Practice== 
[[Image:LL waterfall.JPG|frame|]]
'''dal  jor  di  ni  shintu  nyé  par  ka'''<br>
This free and well-favoured human form is difficult to obtain.

'''kye  wü  dön  drup  top  par  gyur  wa  la'''<br>
Now that you have the chance to realize the full human potential,

'''gal  té  di  la  pen  pa  ma  drup  na'''<br>
If you don’t make good use of this opportunity,

'''chi  di  yang  dak  jor  war  ga  la  gyur'''<br>
How could you possibly expect to have such a chance again?

—from the [[Bodhicharyavatara]].


'''si  sum  mi  tak  tön  ké  trin  dang  dra'''<br>
This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds.

'''dro  wé  kyé  chi  gar  la  ta  dang  tsung'''<br>
To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movement of a dance.

'''kyé  wü  tsé  dro  nam  khé  lok  dra  té'''<br>
A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky,

'''ri  zar  bab  chu  shyin  du  nyur  gyok  dro'''<br>
Rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain.

—from the [[Lalitavistara Sutra]]<ref>[[Quotations: Lalitavistara Sutra, Existence, as Transient as Autumn Clouds]]</ref>


'''dü  kyi  nyen  né  gyal  po  dro  gyur  na'''<br>
When his time has come, even a king has to die,

'''long  chö  dza  dang  nyen  shé  je  mi  drang'''<br>
And neither his friends nor his wealth can follow him.

'''kyé  wu  dak  ni  gar  né  gar  dro  yang'''<br>
So for us—wherever we stay, wherever we go—

'''lé  ni  drip  ma  shyin  du  jé  su  drang'''<br>
Karma follows us like a shadow.

—from the [[Sutra of Instructions to the King|Rajavavadaka Sutra]]<ref>[[Quotations: Sutra of Instructions to the King]]</ref>


'''se  si  ma  rik  wang  gi  kyé  wo  nam''' <br>
Because of craving, attachment and ignorance,

'''mi  dang  lha  dang  ngen  song  nam  sum  po'''<br>
[[human beings|Men]], [[gods]], [[animals]], [[hungry ghost]]s and [[hell beings|hell-beings]]

'''dro  wa  nga  po  dak  tu  mi  khé  khor'''<br>
Foolishly go round,

'''per  na  dza  khen  khor  lo  khor  wa  shyin'''<br>
Like the turning of a potter’s wheel.

—from the [[Lalitavistara Sutra]]<ref>[[Quotations: Lalitavistara Sutra, Foolishly Go Round, Like the Potter's Wheel]]</ref>

==Alternative Terms/Translations==
*four reminders

==References==
<small><references/></small>

==Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha==
*[[Sogyal Rinpoche]], [[Myall Lakes]], Australia, 22 January 2013

==Further Reading==
*[[Khandro Rinpoche]], ''This Precious Life: Tibetan Buddhist Teachings on the Path to Enlightenment'' (Shambhala Publications, 2003) 

==External Links==
*[http://learning.tergar.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Rinpoche_The-Four-Thoughts.pdf A Teaching Given by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on 'The Four Noble Truths and the Four Thoughts']
*[http://all-otr.org/public-talks/18-reasons-to-be-cheerful Looking at the four thoughts on the bright: Reasons to be Cheerful by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche]

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[[Category:Prayers and Practices]]
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[[Category:04-Four]]