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LEAD ARTICLE | EASTERN HORIZON 5

Geshe Palden Drakpa was born in the Tehor region of Kham, Eastern Tibet
and became a monk of Drepung Loseling Monastery while in his early teens.
He excelled in his studies, and eventually was awarded the Geshe Lharam, the
highest academic degree offered in the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism after
his exodus to India. He served as scholar-in-residence at Tibet House in New
Delhi; has represented Tibetan Buddhist scholarships in the bi-annual Mind and
Life Conferences held at the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala; and has
also served as Visiting Professor at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. He
currently lives at the re-constructed Drepung Loseling Monastery in Karnataka
state in South India, where he continues to teach and guide thousands of
students in their studies and practice. Author of many books and articles, Geshe
Palden Drakpa is regarded as one of the greatest living masters of both the
Buddhist Madhyamaka tradition and the science of mind.

loving-kindness is similarly a deeply-felt natural wish i.e. the great compassion observing the unobservable
for all sentient beings to be everlastingly adorned with [devoid of reference]. Thus, this distinction can also
joy and happiness. The only difference between the two be understood respectively as follows: the first is an
qualities is that while one aspires for the shortcomings attitude that merely wishes all sentient beings to be
and faults to be done away with, the other aspires for free from the dukkha of saṃsāra, whereas the second
prosperity and wellbeing to be met with. is an attitude that wishes sentient beings to [also] be
free from the dukkha that occurs due to the distortion
As for the different forms they come in, great of seeing impermanent things as permanent. The last
compassion is presented in three forms: a compassion is an attitude that wishes sentient beings to [also] be
observing [just] the sentient beings, a compassion free from the dukkha that occurs due to the distortion
observing their impermanence [as well], and finally, a of seeing non-inherently existing things as inherently
compassion observing their [intrinsically] unobservable existing. The same criteria of classification is applicable
[nature as well]. The distinction among them is made on to loving-kindness.
the basis of whether [an individual’s] great compassion
is directly informed by an insight into the impermanent Let’s now look at the causes giving birth to them. If
nature of things, or an insight into the absence of you wonder what might be the main unique causes
inherent existence nature of phenomena, or none of giving birth to great compassion, it is (1) the recognition
the above two. [An individual’s] great compassion of all sentient beings as [having been] one’s mother,
that is not directly informed by either of the above father, or benefactors (anyone who’s shown us the
insights is the first type of great compassion, i.e. the kindness of having benefited us in some way); (2)
great compassion observing [just] sentient beings. A remembrance of their kindness as mothers, fathers
great compassion, though not directly informed by an or benefactors, (3) the mind aspiring to repay their
insight into the absence of inherent existence of things, kindness, and (4) cherishing love [that sees all sentient
but is nonetheless directly informed by an insight beings as pleasing no matter what]. Since [according
into the impermanent nature of things is the second to Buddhist world view,] there is no beginning to our
type of great compassion, i.e. the great compassion births, i.e. all sentient beings excluding none, there
observing impermanence [has transience as its object]. is not a single sentient being that has not been one’s
[An individual’s] great compassion that is directly mother similar to the one from this life. When they
informed by an insight into the absence of inherent were our mothers, to the extent they were capable of
existence of things is the third type of great compassion, providing, they always cared for us with all benefits,