Tibetan Book of Everyday Wisdom

[Nicholas Weeks]

A few verses from Drom the close Tibetan lay disciple of Indian bodhisattva Atisha:

4 Know what you’re doing when you take on helping someone;
minimize your frustration and exaggerating the credit due you.
Whatever you do and however you do it,
let everything you do conform to the people in question.

5 No matter how many good qualities you have,
minimize your contempt and disdain for others.
No matter how much you desire riches for yourself,
minimize covetousness for others’ wealth.

6 You may be skilled in achieving your goals,
but minimize transgressing the common laws of the land.
You may have some wealth saved up,
but minimize flaunting it when among many others.

7 Even if everyone holds you up as an authority,
minimize your prideful egotistic thoughts.
Even if you are better than everyone else,
eliminate the slightest pride in your superiority.

8 Even if others beg you to be their spiritual teacher,
minimize looking down on anyone, be they learned or lowly.
Even if there is no one higher or more important than you,
be happy to mix with those beneath you.

This book came out in 2018 with much wisdom, but not of the unfathomable sort.

 

[Cino]

When did Drom and Atisha live?

 

[Nicholas Weeks]

When did Drom and Atisha live?

Dromtonpa (1005–64) -- Atisha died in 1054.

Here are the contents of the book:

1. A Garland of Essential Advice on Societal Values
Dromtonpa (1005–64)

2. A Jewel Treasury of Wise Sayings
Sakya Paṇḍita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182–1251)

3. A Commentary on “A Jewel Treasury of Wise Sayings”
Rinchen Pal (thirteenth century)

4. Ganden Wise Sayings: A Bouquet of White Lotuses
Paṇchen Sonam Drakpa (1478–1554)

5. Rays of Sunlight: A Commentary on “Ganden Wise Sayings”
Yangchen Gawai Lodro (1740–1827)

6. A Pearl Garland of Advice
Fifth Dalai Lama (1617–82)

7. A Treatise on Trees
Gungthang Tenpai Dronme (1762–1823)

8. A Treatise on Water
Gungthang Tenpai Dronme

9. A Treatise on Wind
Kyilsur Losang Jinpa (b. 1821)

10. A Treatise on Earth
Paṇchen Chokyi Nyima (1883–1937)

11. Khache Phalu’s Advice
Anonymous

 

[Nicholas Weeks]

A few maxims from Sakya Pandita (d. 1251):

Chapter 1. An Examination of the Wise

1 The wise possess a trove of good qualities
because they amass precious wise sayings.
The great ocean is a treasury full of water
because all rivers flow into it.

2 Among those who have knowledge and those who do not,
it is the wise who know what to do and what to avoid.
Iron filings that are mixed with dust
are identified when extracted by a magnet.

3 A wise person understands good advice,
but a fool’s mind is not like that.
Owls will go blind
when the sun’s rays shine.

4 Those with wisdom can eliminate their faults,
but the foolish cannot do so.
A garuḍa can kill poisonous snakes,
but a crow cannot do so.

 

[Nicholas Weeks]

4. Ganden Wise Sayings:
A Bouquet of White Lotuses
by Paṇchen Sönam Drakpa

Homage to the Bhagavān, master of the two systems of norms.

1 After respectfully bowing to the feet of Lord of Sages
who knows the two systems of norms exactly as they are,
I will briefly set forth some wise sayings
differentiating the wise and the foolish.
2 Those said to be wise are those who know
the ways of the world or of Dharma.
Just as there are said to be two types of the wise,
the foolish are also explained to be of two types.
3 The first type of wise person will be meritorious in this life;
the second will be meritorious in this and future lives.
The two types of fools are explained as
ruining this and their future lives, respectively.
4 Thus the difference between the wise and the foolish
is like the difference between Mount Meru and a dust mote,
like the difference between the ocean and a puddle,
and between the sky and the palm of your hand.
5 In front of the wise a wise person is attractive,
because his good qualities are seen as they are.
Look how a priceless jewel is held to be beautiful
when a top merchant holds it in his hands.