Kyabje Yongzin
Trijang Rinpoche
(1901-1981)
“The observed objects of compassion are sentient beings who suffer due to any of the three kinds of suffering. Its aspect is the thought: “If only they were free from these sufferings,” “May they be free from them,” and “I will free them from them.” The sequence of the meditations is to meditate on compassion for your friends and relatives first, then for neutral persons, then for your enemies, and then for all the sentient beings of the ten directions…. The measure of the arising of compassion is: if compassion toward all sentient beings naturally arises to the extent that it arises in a mother when the child she loves with all her heart suffers, it is said to be fully-qualified great compassion.”
From The Medium Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment by Je Tsong Khapa. As translated in: “Middle Length Lam-Rim with Trijang Rinpoche’s Additional Outlines” by Lama Tsongkhapa (and Trijang Rinpoche). Translated by Philip Quarcoo. Unpublished DRAFT translation (May 2012) by FPMT, Inc. Download the PDF here.