Wish-Fulfilling Jewel

What I Read Every Morning

Every morning begins with light.
Sometimes sunlight, sometimes just the soft glow of the screen, or the memory of a candle I never lit.
But always light.
And always, this.

The Eight Verses of Training the Mind by Geshe Langri Thangpa.
They have followed me like a shadow I never feared.
They are more than words. They are my spine.
Let me share them with you, not to teach, but to show you the shape of the road I walk.

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1. By thinking of all sentient beings
As more precious than a wish-fulfilling jewel
For accomplishing the highest aim,
I will always hold them dear.

We forget this one first.
We build fortresses out of self-protection,
and call them boundaries.
But when I remember, really remember, that every person I meet is more precious than gold,
something in me softens.
And the day begins.

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2. Whenever I’m in the company of others,
I will regard myself as the lowest among all,
And from the depths of my heart
Cherish others as supreme.

This isn’t about shame.
It’s about humility with backbone.
In every room, I try to listen more than I speak.
Because someone else’s silence might just be holy.

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3. In my every action, I will watch my mind,
And the moment destructive emotions arise,
I will confront them strongly and avert them,
Since they will hurt both me and others.

Anger comes dressed as righteousness.
But I’ve learned: if I don’t meet it with honesty, it’ll steal my voice
and burn the bridge I needed tomorrow.
So I watch. And I breathe.

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4. Whenever I see ill-natured beings,
Or those overwhelmed by heavy misdeeds or suffering,
I will cherish them as something rare,
As though I’d found a priceless treasure.

We don’t throw away broken things in this practice.
We see the cracks.
We bless the cracks.
And we name them windows.

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5. Whenever someone out of envy
Does me wrong by attacking or belittling me,
I will take defeat upon myself,
And give the victory to others.

This is where the robe gets heavy.
But if I can wear it well,
I walk out lighter than the one who slung the stone.
It’s not about being weak,
it’s about being strong in the face of anger—in the face of fear.

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6. Even when someone I have helped,
Or in whom I have placed great hopes
Mistreats me very unjustly,
I will view that person as a true spiritual teacher.

Some of my best teachers never meant to be.
Still—they taught.
Still—I bowed.
Still—I learned.
It is only from those who challenge us that
we may truly learn.

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7. In brief, directly or indirectly,
I will offer help and happiness to all my mothers,
And secretly take upon myself
All their hurt and suffering.

This one breaks me every time.
It’s not about being a savior.
It’s about being willing.
Willing to carry sorrow without needing thanks.
Kindness that demands repayment is not kindness.
It is selfishness in disguise.

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8. I will learn to keep all these practices
Untainted by thoughts of the eight worldly concerns.
May I recognize all things as like illusions,
And, without attachment, gain freedom from bondage.

Fame, blame, gain, loss, praise, criticism, pleasure, pain.
The wheel spins.
But I sit.
And I try to remember: even the robe is illusion.
But the love I pour through it?
That’s real enough.

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If this spoke to you, sit with it a while.
Not every jewel sparkles. Some whisper.

Stay entangled, my friends.
—The Bathrobe Guy

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