Four links

Four links (Wyl. ‘brel ba bzhi)

Khenpo Ngakchung says:

To think “May beings be free from the attachment and the aversion in their minds, at all times and in every situation!” is to make the link with aspiration (smon pa)

To think “If only they could be free!” is the link with intention ('dun pa)

To think “I’ll be the one to take on the responsibility for making them free!” is the link with commitment (dam bca' ba)

Once you have these three links, then to pray to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha makes the fourth link.

You need to contemplate these four, over and over again.

Alak Zenkar Rinpoche explains that the three or four links are usually associated with dedicating merit to sentient beings. Patrul Rinpoche’s tradition usually has these four links.