We wander from time immemorial
In this vast ocean of suffering of the three realms of samsara
Through not knowing our own minds.
This misunderstanding is due to our obscurations;
Those obscurations come from not having been able to acquire merit and wisdom;
That ignorance comes from lack of faith;
And that lack of faith, from not having death in mind.Now that you are frightened by the sufferings of samsara,
Geshe Potowa – from: Mathieu Ricard, On the Path to Enlightenment
You want to attain liberation and the omniscience of buddhahood;
To do that you must know your own mind.
To know it, you must purify your obscurations,
And for that, acquire merit and wisdom.
To acquire those two things, faith is essential,
And genuine faith will not appear
Without having death in mind.
When you really think about death,
Nothing but the Dharma will seem useful to you,
You will not feel the slightest attraction to the perfections of the world.