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LEAD ARTICLE | EASTERN HORIZON 7

That is the stage when it is no longer dependent on any Now, the modes of cultivating compassion and loving-
efforts; rather it arises naturally and spontaneously. kindness. In the case of cultivating clarity of the object
That’s how the scriptures explain [the process]. of meditation such as with selflessness, one primarily
resorts to placement meditation. However, in the case
Now, the supportive reasoning [for the possibility of engaging in meditation which involves augmenting
of developing them infinitely]. If you wonder what the strength of an attitude such as in the context of
supporting rationale one might have for training in meditating on compassion, one primarily resorts to
them to the point of spontaneity and naturalness, analytical meditation. That, too, in contexts such as this,
Acharya Shantideva says the following in his one engages in repeated reasoning along the line of how
Bodhicaryāvatāra: all sentient beings have served as one’s kind parents for
Not becoming easier upon practice, innumerable times, etc.
There is no such thing anywhere.
Finally, as for the steps of familiarization to be
Likewise, the great sage-logician, Acharya Dharmakirti undertaken. In the case of beginners, they have to first
says in his Pramāṇavārttika: begin cultivating compassion and loving-kindness to
Compassion and others that one generates in mind their parents, relatives, friends, etc. that have been
through training kind to them, generating the heartfelt attitude wishing
Will eventually develop to a natural, spontaneous level. them to be free from all shortcomings and faults, and
wishing them to be adorned with all prosperities and
So, the rationale behind the possibility of generating well-being. Next, they should move on to strangers in
genuine compassion and loving-kindness through the immediate neighborhood, those who have neither
training in the above way is as per the elaborate benefitted nor harmed oneself. Thereafter, gradually
reasoning captured in the context of deliberations such move on to one’s enemies who have done small,
as the above. To summarize this whole concept in a middling, and great harm to oneself. Finally, direct
syllogism form is as follows: one’s focus on all sentient beings of the three realms
who are swept away by their afflictions and karmic
Subject: Consider the contrived compassion [or loving- actions, and wish them, from the depth of one’s hearts,
kindness] that wishes all sentient beings to be free to be free from all shortcomings and faults, and to be
from sufferings [or wishes them to be adorned with adorned with all prosperities and well-being. This way,
happiness]; try to familiarize oneself with the means of generating
great compassion and great loving-kindness towards all
Predicate: It is possible to develop it to a natural, sentient beings.
spontaneous level if one persists in familiarizing with it
through the proper conditions; With sincere prayers that we may be successful in
generating such genuine attitudes of compassion and
Reason: Because it is a quality or property of mind loving-kindness towards all sentient beings.
which possesses a stable basis and has the tendency
of not requiring to depend on repeated efforts on the Written by Geshe Palden Drakpa on August 03, 2011.
already familiarized aspects.
Translated from its Tibetan original into English by Geshe

Example: Like the mental quality of attachment. Dadul Namgyal with editing assistance from Martha
Thus, the veritableness of the above claim is established Leslie Baker in March 2019. EH
through valid reasoning such as the above.