Working with the Six Lights

These coloured lights exercises are given to help us deal with the negative emotions that arise in our day to day lives. Many people experience difficulties because they fall under the power of negative emotions. Yet if we can identify these emotions, and gain insight into them, it will give us a means to understand and overcome them.

‘Understanding’ is a key word with regard to these exercises. For example, if we are under the influence of jealousy, we should realise how it does harm both to ourselves and to others, that it restricts our freedom, and does no good to anyone. This insight will then help us want to give it up. Noticing where we go wrong and acknowledging the negative influence it has on others will motivate us to root out jealousy and its causes, as well as those of other negative emotions.

This series of meditations and contemplations is derived from a commentary by the 15th Gyalwa Karmapa: Khachap Dorje, on prayers to Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion (Chenrezig in Tibetan). There is a published source for the original puja text on Chenrezig and the root commentary of Khachap Dorje:

Training in Compassion: Manuals On The Meditation of Avalokiteshvara 

Translator: Tyler Dewar

The practice instruction for Working with the Six Lights was given by Dr Akong Rinpoche and the development of this text was enhanced by advice from Ven. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche.