Atisha said:
Since you cannot become a Buddha merely by understanding Dharma, practice earnestly with understanding.
Dedicate your virtues throughout the day and the night, and always watch your mind.
If you practice with great devotion, results will arise immediately, without your having to wait for a long time.
If from your heart you practice in accordance with Dharma, both food and resources will come naturally to hand.
Friends, the things you desire give no more satisfaction than drinking sea water, therefore practice contentment.
Avoid all haughty, conceited, proud, and arrogant minds, and remain peaceful and subdued.
Generate compassion for lowly beings, and especially avoid despising or humiliating them.
Always keep a smiling face and a loving mind, and speak truthfully without malice.
Do not contemplate your own good qualities, but contemplate the good qualities of others, and respect everyone as a servant would.
See all living beings as your father or mother, and love them as if you were their child.
If the things you desire do not come it is due to karma created long ago, therefore keep a happy and relaxed mind.
Beware, offending a holy being is worse than dying, therefore be honest and straightforward.
Since all the happiness and suffering of this life arise from previous actions, do not blame others.
Since you cannot tame the minds of others until you have tamed your own, begin by taming your own mind.
Since this human life is wasted by indulging in distractions, now is the time to practice concentration.
Being under the influence of wrong views you do not realize the ultimate nature of things, therefore investigate correct meanings.
