Each of the eight verses of this thought-transformation text
highlights a different way in which we can transform our thoughts
from being uncompassionate and self-centered, to being more
compassionate and concerned about others. This is because the
main obstacle to developing compassion is
self-centeredness, also called "the self-cherishing attitude". It is the
self-cherishing attitude that makes us think: "me first; my needs and wishes are more important
than those of others." Cherishing ourselves more than others
we behave uncompassionately. For example, there may be an elderly
woman who lives alone in your neighborhood. You are aware that she
is lonely, has few visitors and finds it difficult to get around or
do things for herself because of poor health. You may think about
visiting her and offering your help, but you never actually get
around to doing that because you think: "Oh, if I spend time talking with her or doing
things for her, I'll have less time to do the things I want to do."
Sounds familiar? If so, it is not surprising, because the
self-cherishing attitude is something that each of us has.
We can overcome selfishness and become more caring and
compassionate. It is just a question of gradually
training our mind, learning to transform our thoughts so that we
are less concerned with me -- what I want, what I need,
what makes me happy -- and more concerned about others -- what they
want and need, what makes them happy. The Eight Verses explains how to do
this.
There are several ways of using this text. You could simply read
through it from time to time, pausing to reflect on the meaning of
each verse and how it could apply to your life. Better still, you
could memorize it, so that the verses become part of your
mindstream. This way, when you find yourself in a difficult
situation, the verses may suddenly come to mind, as if giving you
advice on how to handle the situation.
There is also a way of using the Eight Verses as part of a daily
meditation practice. To do this, think of, or visualize, the Buddha
or Avalokitesvara (Kuan Yin) in front of you, and read or recite
the verses while praying for blessings and inspiration to be able
to put the meaning of each verse into practice in your daily life.
The practice of thought transformation, and of compassion itself,
is truly challenging. Initially we may feel incapable of practicing
the Eight Verses. But do not be discouraged! Merely reading through
them can give us inspiration, and if we are willing to invest time
and energy in the practice of training our mind, we will definitely
experience a transformation.
