1     I bow in great reverence to all past, present and

        Future Victors, to their Doctrine and Communities.

        I shall light a Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment,

        At the request of my good disciple Byang-chub-'od.
 

2     In that they are Inferior or Mediocre or Superior,

        Persons should be understood as three:

        The characteristics of each are very clear, and

        I shall note how they differ from one another.
 

3     One who by every means he finds,

        Seeks by the pleasure of samsara,

        And cares but for himself alone, that one

        Is known as the Inferior Person.
 

4     One who puts life's pleasures behind

        And turns himself from deeds of sin,

        Yet cares only about his own peace,

        That person should be called Mediocre.
 

5     One who wholly seeks a complete end

        To the entire suffering of others because

        Their suffering belongs to his own [conscious] stream,

        That person is a Superior.
 

6     For those pure beings whose desire

        Is the highest of Enlightenments,

        I shall explain the right means

        Which were taught me by my Gurus.
 

7     Facing a painted image of the Perfect Buddha,

        Or in front of holy reliquaries and the like,

        Give worship with flowers and incense

        And whatever objects may be at hand.
 

8     Then with the Sevenfold Worship expressed

        In the Deeds of Samantabhadra,

        And a mind that does not turn back until

        The Heart of Enlightenment is reached,
 

9     With great faith in the Three Jewels,

        Bending knee to the ground,

        And folding the hands [275a]

        First take the Three Refuges thrice.
 

10     Then, because the Thought of Love for

        All creatures is the prerequisite,

        One looks out on all the world,

        Suffering in death, transmigration,

        And rebirth in the three bad destinies:

To Verses 11-20 

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