Lojong Slogans in Sanskrit

Here is my personal “freestyle” adaptation of the 59 Lojong Slogans of Geshe Chekhawa.

The tibetan source text can be found here.

महायान चित्तशोधन सप्तकम् - Mahāyāna-cittashodhana-saptakam

Point One: The Preliminaries (पूर्वगमेषु शिक्षेत्)

Slogan 1: Train in the preliminaries (The Four Reminders)

Devanagari: आदौ पूर्वगमेषु शिक्षेत्।

1. दुर्लभ सम्पदः - Precious Life: Awareness of the preciousness of human life.
2. मनुष्यत्वं, इन्द्रियसामर्थ्यम्, देशकालप्रत्ययजीवनानुकूल्यम्,
3. बुद्धागमनम्, धर्मोपदेशावस्थानम्, संघपारम्पर्यम्, बुद्धवचने श्रद्धा
4. सर्वसंस्कारानित्यता: संस्कारा सर्वे च दुःखा अनित्या । - Impermanence: Awareness that life ends; death comes for everyone.
5. कुशलाकुशलकर्मफलविपाकनिश्चयत्वम् - Karma: Recall that every action, virtuous or not, has a result.
6. संसारदोषानुस्मृतिः - Ego & Suffering: Awareness of the disadvantages of samsara.

Point Two: The Main Practice (मुख्याभ्यासः)

Absolute Bodhicitta (परमार्थबोधिसत्त्वचित्त)

• Slogan 2: सर्वधर्मान् स्वप्नवत् पश्य। Regard all dharmas as dreams; experiences are passing memories.
• Slogan 3: अजातविद्यास्वभावं परीक्षस्व। Examine the nature of unborn awareness.
• Slogan 4: प्रतिपक्षमपि स्वस्थाने मोचय। Self-liberate even the antidote.
• Slogan 5: स्वरूपम् आलये स्थापय। Rest in the nature of alaya (the essence, the present moment).
• Slogan 6: अन्तराले मायावी भव। In post-meditation, be a child of illusion.

Relative Bodhicitta (संवृतिबोधिसत्त्वचित्त)

• Slogans 7-10: स्वतः प्रारभ्य, प्राणापान-समारूढ-दानस्वीकारैः त्रिवस्तु-त्रिविष-त्रिकुशलमूलानि सर्वचर्यासु शिक्षेत्। Begin the sequence of sending and taking with yourself. Practice sending and taking alternately on the breath. Work with the three objects, three poisons, and three roots of virtue. In all activities, train with slogans.

Point Three: Transforming Adversity into the Path of Enlightenment (प्रतिकूलप्रत्यय-बोधिसत्त्वमार्ग-परिवर्तनम्)

Slogans 11-13:

सर्वदोषान् एकस्मिन् निर्दिश्य सर्वेषु महाकरुणां भावयित्वा पापपूर्णसंसारे बोधिमार्गे परिणमयेत्। Banish all blames into one. Be grateful to everyone. When the world is filled with evil, transform all mishaps into the path of bodhi.

Ultimate Bodhicitta Protection

• Slogan 14: मायारूपाणां चतुष्कायत्वभावनाजा शून्यतानुत्तरो रक्षकः। Seeing confusion as the four kayas is unsurpassable Śūnyatā protection.

Best of Methods & Action

• Slogan 15: परमोपायश्चतुष्प्रकारः । पुण्यसंभार-पापविशोधन-विघ्नबलिदान-धर्मपालप्रार्थनाः। Four practices are the best of methods: Accumulating merit, purifying negative actions, offering to harmful influences, and offering to the Dharma protectors.
• Slogan 16: यद्यदकस्मादापतति तद् ध्याने योजयेत्। Whatever you encounter unexpectedly, join it with meditation.

Point Four: Practice in One’s Whole Life (आजीवाभ्यासः)

Slogans 17-18:

संक्षेपत उपदेशहृदयसारः — आजीवे मरणकाले च पञ्चबलानां प्रयोगः। छन्द-शुक्लबीज-अभ्यास-विदूषण-प्रणिधानानि॥ The condensed heart instructions are the five strengths: intention, white seed, habituation, revulsion, and aspiration. Apply these in daily life and at the moment of death.

Point Five: Evaluation of Mind Training (चित्तशोधन प्रमाणम्)

Measuring Progress

• Slogan 19: सर्वे धर्मा एकार्थाः — अहङ्कारनिवृत्ति All dharma agrees at one point: lessening self-absorption.
• Slogan 20: साक्षिद्वये स्वात्मानमेव प्रधानं Of the two witnesses (others and yourself), hold the principal one (yourself).
• Slogan 21: सततं मुदितमेव चित्तं धारय Always maintain only a joyful mind.
• Slogan 22: विक्षेपेऽपि सामर्थ्ये सति प्रवीणासि If you can practice even when distracted, you are well trained.

Point Six: Disciplines of Mind Training (चित्तशोधनसमयः)

Specific Vows and Commitments

• Slogan 23: त्रीणि सामान्यानि सततं शिक्षेत् — प्रतिज्ञां नातिक्रमेत् । विकटाचारं नाचरेत् । पक्षपातं न कुर्यात् । Always abide by the three general points (don’t break promises, don’t engage in outrageous behavior, don’t be partial).
• Slogan 24: मनोभावं परिवर्तयापि सहजस्वभावे तिष्ठ। Change your attitude, but remain natural.
• Slogans 25-26, 35, 38: परदोषान् न कथयेत् न चिन्तयेत् । परदुःखेन न तुष्येत्। न स्पर्धेत । Don’t talk about injured limbs. Don’t ponder others’ weaknesses. Don’t seek others’ pain. Don’t compete.
• Slogans 27-29: प्रथमतः महान्तं क्लेशं शोधयेत्। विषान्नं परित्यजेत् (स्वार्थकर्माणि)। फलाशां त्यजेत् । Work with the greatest defilements first. Abandon poisonous food (self-cherishing actions). Abandon any hope of fruition.
• Slogans 30-31: जडवृत्तौ न तिष्ठेत् — दीर्घवैरं अकुशलवृत्तिं च न धारयेत् Don’t be predictable (holding long grudges). Don’t fly off into bad play.
• Slogans 31, 36, 37: वेगेन न प्रतिकुर्यात्। कपटलीलां न कुर्यात्। देवान् असुरी न कुर्यात्। Don’t react impulsively. Don’t act with a twist. Don’t turn gods into demons.
• Slogans 32-34: छिद्रप्रेक्षी न तिष्ठेत्। मर्मणि न पीडयेत् । स्वदोषं स्वभारं परेषु नारोपयेत्। Don’t wait in ambush for flaws. Don’t bring things to a painful point. Don’t transfer the ox’s load to the cow (don’t shift faults).

Point Seven: Guidelines of Mind Training (चित्तशोधन-मार्गदर्शिका)

Integrating Practice Into Daily Life

• Slogan 39: एकसंकल्पेन सर्वकार्याणि—परोपकाराय। All activities should be done with one intention: to benefit others.
• Slogan 40: एकाभ्यासेन सर्वविपर्यय-शमनानि—प्राणापान-दानस्वीकारैः। Correct all wrongs with one intention: through the practice of Tonglen on the breath.
• Slogan 41: आद्यन्तयोः कृत्यद्वयम्—परोपकारसंकल्पः पुण्यफलसमर्पणम्। Two activities: a beneficial intention at the beginning, and dedicating the merit at the end.
• Slogan 42: सुख-दुःखयोः क्षन्तव्यम्। Whichever occurs (happiness or suffering), be patient.
• Slogan 43: समय-शिक्षयोः प्राणैरपि रक्षेत्। Observe these two (commitments and mind training) even at the risk of your life.
• Slogan 44: त्रिषु दुष्करेषु शिक्षणम्—क्लेशाभिज्ञाने तत्प्रतिपक्षभावने तद्धारणायां च। Train in the three difficulties: recognizing defilements, applying the remedy, and maintaining it.
• Slogan 45: त्रिमुख्यहेतूपादानम्—सद्गुरुमेलनं धर्मप्रतिपत्तिरनुकूलसामग्री च। Take on the three principal causes: gathering with a true guru, practicing dharma, and having favorable conditions.
• Slogan 46: त्र्यक्षयभावनम्—गुरुश्रद्धा धर्मोत्साहः सदाचार शिक्षणस्थैर्यं च। Pay heed that the three never wane: devotion to guru, enthusiasm for dharma, and stable conduct.
• Slogan 47: त्रयाणां मनसा वाचा कर्मणा च सामरस्यम्। Keep the three inseparable: harmony of body, speech, and mind.
• Slogans 48, 54: सर्वत्र निरन्तरं हृदयपूर्वकं च निष्पक्षं शिक्षेत् ॥ Train wholeheartedly without bias everywhere and constantly.
• Slogan 49: यद्यद्विद्वेषयति तत्र शिक्षणं समाचरेत् ॥ Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment.
• Slogan 50: बाह्यप्रत्ययैः स्थिरो भवेत् ॥ Don’t be swayed by external circumstances.
• Slogan 51: मुख्येषु शिक्षेत्—परोपकार-धर्म-करुणासु। Practice the main points: others before self, dharma, and compassion.
• Slogan 52: विपर्ययं न कुर्यात्। Don’t misinterpret.
• Slogan 53: अभ्यासे चञ्चलो न भवेत्। Don’t vacillate in practice.
• Slogan 55: परीक्ष्य विश्लेष्य च मुच्येत—स्वचित्तमवगच्छेत्। Liberate yourself by examining and analyzing: know your own mind.
• Slogan 56: स्वशोके न निमज्जेत्। Don’t wallow in self-pity.
• Slogan 57: ईर्ष्यां न कुर्यात्। Don’t be jealous.
• Slogan 58: न चपलं त्यजेत्। Don’t be frivolous. (Don’t act for merely a short while.)
• Slogan 59: प्रशंसां न कांक्षेत्। Don’t expect applause.