The Seven Point Mind Training

All of Buddha's teachings, directly or indirectly, are intended for training one's mind. The actual practice of mind training can be traced back to the Buddha through the two bodhisattvas, Maitreya and Manjushri, who passed on their knowledge to such great Indian masters as Nagarjuna. From Nagarjuna the practice was passed down to the Indian saint Atisha, who later instructed the holy masters of Tibet.

Up until Geshe Chekawa's time, mind training had remained a secret lineage and was not taught openly. After several years he began teaching the practice of mind training to individuals with leprosy and their results were miraculous. Hearing of this, people came from far and wide to receive his instructions. When he saw the benefits that they received from the practice, he decided that it was no longer appropriate to keep the instructions secret and composed the Seven Point Mind Training text.

What first drew Geshe Chekawa to the practice of mind training was a verse composed by Geshe Langri Tangpa in his Eight Verses for Training the Mind that aspired to accept defeat and offer victory to others.