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'''Four thoughts''' (Tib. ''lodok namshyi''; ''blo ldog rnam bzhi'') - these are the four contemplations that turn the mind away from [[samsara]], namely the difficulty of finding the [[eight freedoms|freedoms]] and [[ten advantages|advantages]] and the [[impermanence]] of life, which turn the mind away from the concerns of this life. Reflections on the defects of [[samsara]] and on action ([[karma]]: cause and effect) turn the mind away from our attitudes and conduct with respect to future lives.  
'''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>
 
==Oral Teachings Given to the [[About Rigpa|Rigpa]] Sangha==
*[[Sogyal Rinpoche]], [[Myall Lakes]], Australia, 22 January 2013
*[[Yangthang Rinpoche]], [[Lerab Ling]], France, 17 August 2013
*[[Khandro Rinpoche]], Lerab Ling, France, 14 July 2018
 
==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]


[[Category:Key Terms]]
[[Category:Key Terms]]
[[Category:Prayers and Practices]]
[[Category:Enumerations]]
[[Category:Enumerations]]
[[Category:Prayers and Practices]]
[[Category:04-Four]]

Latest revision as of 13:09, 23 July 2018

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:

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

dal jor di ni shintu nyé par ka
This free and well-favoured human form is difficult to obtain.

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

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

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

—from the Bodhicharyavatara.


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

dro wé kyé chi gar la ta dang tsung
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
A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky,

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

—from the Lalitavistara Sutra[1]


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

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

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

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

—from the Rajavavadaka Sutra[2]


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

mi dang lha dang ngen song nam sum po
Men, gods, animals, hungry ghosts and hell-beings

dro wa nga po dak tu mi khé khor
Foolishly go round,

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

—from the Lalitavistara Sutra[3]

Alternative Terms/Translations

  • four reminders

References

Oral Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

Further Reading

  • Khandro Rinpoche, This Precious Life: Tibetan Buddhist Teachings on the Path to Enlightenment (Shambhala Publications, 2003)

External Links