Je Tsong Khapa
Lobsang Drakpa
(1357-1419)
“The cooperative conditions for the production of the path in your mind are (1) the accumulation of the collections, which are favorable conditions, and (2) the purification of your mind from obscurations, which are unfavorable conditions. If you lack these cooperative conditions, it is extremely difficult to produce the path, even if you take pains to sustain the meditations that are the substantial causes of the path. Now you must purify your mind with the seven branches of worship…. You accumulate the collections of merit and sublime wisdom – the favorable conditions – through performing the five branches of obeisance, offering, rejoicing, imploring, and supplication. Through confession you clear away the obscurations, which are the unfavorable conditions. Cultivating delight in the virtue you have done—which is part of rejoicing—will also increase your virtue. You may have few virtues as a result of accumulation, purification, and increase, but you will expand them enormously through dedication. Although virtuous effects may arise temporarily and then dissipate, through dedication they will never dissipate.”
From The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment: The Lam Rim Chen Mo by Tsong Khapa. Translated by the Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee. Snow Lion/Shambhala Publications.