Final precepts, daily conduct · Verse 36 of 37
Verse 36: In everything, watch the mind, benefit others
Verse 36 of The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas, the fourteenth-century Tibetan poem by Gyalse Tokme Zangpo (1295–1369). It belongs to the section on final precepts, daily conduct.
In brief, wherever you are and whatever you do, always examine the state of your mind. Act to accomplish the purpose of others through constant mindfulness and awareness. This is the way of a bodhisattva.
In short, no matter what one might be doing,
By examining always the status of one's mind,
With continuous mindfulness and alertness,
To bring about the good of others—this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
In short, in everything you do,
Know what is happening in your mind.
By being constantly present and aware
You bring about what helps others — this is the practice of a bodhisattva.
A facilitator's reading across the commentaries
Every teacher reads "in short" literally — this verse is the text. Atisha's company/alone rule (AB), KS's name-address device, and HHDL's identity-based self-talk are three concrete forms of the same continuous practice. A natural closing-session verse to send the group home with.
GR Garchen Rinpoche · HHDL H.H. the Dalai Lama · AB Dr. Alexander Berzin · KTGR Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche · KS Khenpo Sodargye · TC Ven. Thubten Chodron · KM Ken McLeod
What the teachers say
Garchen Rinpoche Drikung Kagyu
In all four activities — walking, staying, sitting, sleeping — watch the mind; "we must daily cleanse from our mind thoughts of hatred and jealousy." Treats the verse as the compressed recap of the whole path's daily conduct: think everyone good, speak well to everyone, treat each person met as your parent.
Full commentary: 37practices.info (37practices.info serves this as one long page; find the verse by number.)
H.H. the Dalai Lama Gelug
Constant mindfulness means "nothing in us is secret, everything is known." Scripts a self-address for the moment a harmful impulse arises — born in the Land of Snows, guided by precious gurus, to act badly with all these opportunities "is deceiving the gurus and bodhisattvas." Ends on his servant theme: be "nothing more than a servant of other sentient beings."
Full commentary: 37practices.info (37practices.info serves this as one long page; find the verse by number.)
Dr. Alexander Berzin Gelug
The practical summary of the path: continuous self-monitoring in every activity and place. "Mindfulness holds on to discipline, love, compassion, and bodhichitta"; alertness is the alarm. Cites Atisha: watch your speech in company, watch your mind alone.
Full commentary: studybuddhism.com
Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche Karma Kagyu
The umbrella verse synthesizing all preceding practices — monastery or city, monastic or householder. The examination must reach motivation itself: even altruistic deeds checked for hidden pride or subtle self-interest.
Full commentary: dharmaebooks.org (Free ebook, trans. Suzanne Schefczyk.)
Khenpo Sodargye Nyingma, Larung Gar
The homely device: address yourself by name — "Michael, what are you doing now? What is in your mind?" All twelve categories of the Tripitaka reduce to protecting the mind, examining the mind, benefiting others. If intention is purely altruistic, "perfection will naturally arise," wherever you live. Quote: "Everyone wants happiness, but the true way to reach perfect happiness yourself is to bring happiness to others" (Patrul Rinpoche).
Full commentary: khenposodargye.org (Free ebook PDF.)
Ven. Thubten Chodron Sravasti Abbey, Gelug
Winter Retreat vv29–37 talk.
Full commentary: thubtenchodron.org
Ken McLeod Shambhala / independent
Talk 12: moment-to-moment awareness of inner experience is the condition for genuinely helpful action toward others. Tricycle v36 (video/subscriber).
Full commentary: unfetteredmind.org (Tricycle's per-verse written commentary is behind a subscriber paywall.)
Further reading: Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, The Heart of Compassion (Shambhala). A purchased book — no text is reproduced here.