In order to practice Buddhism, you have to first know about the mind. Even if you are a nonbeliever you can try to improve or train the mind, provided you have knowledge of it. Any normal human being, for that matter, can practice training the mind and this will eventually prove to be very useful.

Essentially, this is what the Eight Verses are about. They teach us how to deal with our negative emotions and subsequently improve or transform our mind. As a practitioner, you must pay heed to your mind to constantly try and control it. You should try to eliminate all negative emotions and develop positive ones-infinitely-particularly in the practice of Buddhism, since some people say that Buddhism is the science of the mind.

Everyone wants happiness; nobody wants to suffer. Many problems around us are a mental projection of certain negative or unpleasant things. If we analyze our own mental attitude, we may find it quite unbearable. Therefore, a well-balanced mind is very useful and we should try and have a stable mental state.

Everybody wants a healthy body and nobody wants to be sick. I, for one, don't like falling ill but very often I get a cold-especially when I visit Buddh Gaya. Almost every time I am there, the blessing is so great that I always get flu! But the fact remains that everybody wants good health, and one of the important means for attaining it is a stable mind.

Mental training is crucial for good health. Good health and stability of the mind signify a good and happier life and a sound future. Although a person may be in a hostile environment, if one's mental attitude is firm and stable, the hostility will not be a cause for much disturbance. Without inner mental stability, or the right mental attitude, one cannot be happy, calm or at peace, even if one is surrounded by the best of friends or the best facilities. This is why training the mind is imperative and should not be considered a religious matter. Some technique or method for training the mind should be a part of everyone's daily life. The mind is colorless, formless and difficult to identify. Yet, it is powerful. Sometimes it seems difficult to check, change and control. I think much depends on time, will, determination and wisdom. If we have determination and wisdom-wisdom implying knowledge-the point, then, is how to train the mind. Eventually, with the passage of time, our mind can change and improve. For example, of my parents, my mother was extraordinarily gentle and had a lot of patience, whereas my father was very short-tempered. In the early part of my life, I was much closer to my father, and thus more prone to anger. During the latter part of my life I was closer to my mother and therefore much calmer. I learned from both of them. Traditionally, Tibetans believe that the people who come from the Amdo area are more short-tempered and straightforward. Since I belong to that area, I have a good excuse for my anger!

You can train your mind by analyzing the shortcomings of anger as well as from other people's experiences. It is also useful to look at history. Whenever I examine human tragedy, I find that in most cases it is the result of human behavior-negative emotions such as anger, hatred, jealousy and extreme greed. All good things that are constructive, happier human experiences, are mostly motivated by respect for others' rights and concern for others' well-being-compassion, love and kindness.

A very thorough investigation of past human experiences and events, and one's daily practice, is imperative to bring about change and improvement. We human beings are similar in our desires. This is why training the mind is important.

The Eight Verses explain the importance of altruism, and how to preserve it when we come across difficult situations in our daily life. For human beings as well as animals, the foundation of society is affection or love. During the period when we are in our mothers' wombs, the mother's mental stability and calmness are very important for the development of the unborn child. Also, the first few weeks after birth are a crucial period for development of the brain. During that period it is extremely important to have the mother's physical touch. This shows that the physical condition itself needs the warmth and affection of others. The human baby's first act after birth is sucking milk. Giving or receiving milk certainly does not stem from hatred or negative feelings. Although at that time the baby's mind is not clear and does not have a clear idea of its mother, a bond or feeling of closeness is definitely established. However, if the mother's mind has anger or some negative feelings toward the child, the milk may not flow. It is deep affection and a feeling of intimacy toward the baby that allows the milk to flow properly. And turning to the mother for milk is our first act as human beings.

Over the next few months and years we are heavily dependent on others, mainly our parents or guardians. Without their kindness and responsibility, the child cannot survive. As students, we find that if a teacher is affectionate or close to us, then the lessons as well as the teacher leave a lasting impression on us.

From time to time we need to visit doctors even if we don't want to. Although the doctor may be highly qualified, if the doctor's face is stiff and bereft of a smile, we feel slightly uncomfortable. If the doctor shows genuine concern about our health and is affectionate, we feel comfortable.

When we get older, we depend heavily once again on the affection and kindness of others. This is human nature. Since human beings are social creatures, we depend heavily on one another in order to survive.

Even small animals and insects like bees and ants possess some kind of social instinct. They have a great sense of responsibility and work together in tandem. If we look at bees, we find that they work on the basis of cooperation even though they have no religion, constitution or laws. Their natural form and way of life demand that they work together; otherwise, they cannot survive. Humans claim to be superior beings but we are, in fact, sometimes inferior to these small insects. Our basic situation demands that we live together, and, hence, we work together. It is a natural law but sometimes we act in quite the contrary manner.

According to Buddhism, plants have no mind or consciousness. As a Buddhist monk, I say they have no consciousness, but I don't know, it's difficult to tell. I think we need to investigate further. Some people say that plants have some kind of feeling or cognitive power. Even without consciousness or mind, their very existence is based on the cooperation of each particle and cell. Each particle has a special duty or role and all the particles work together to allow the plant to survive and develop. Similarly, the function and existence of the world, the planet itself, even the universe, depend on cooperation.

Different parts of the human body work together, allowing us to function effectively. Our existence and survival depend on the cooperation and coordination of these parts. Take, for instance, the human family. In the absence of cooperation...