bla ma'i mchog mtshang la rgol ba yin/

gdams ngag gi mchog mtshang thog tu 'bebs pa yin/

The best guru is one who attacks your hidden faults

The best instructions are the ones that target those faults.

mang po'i nang du ngag la brtag/ /

gcig pur 'dug na sems la brtag/ /

chung ngu 'bring dang mchog gyur ba'i/ /

skyes bu gsum du shes par bya/ /

You should know that beings are of three kinds--

Those of lesser, intermediate and supreme capacity.

Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, 2 ab

gang zhig thabs ni gang dag gis/ /

'khor ba'i bde ba tsam dag la/ /

rang nyid don du gnyer byed pa/ /

de ni skyes bu tha mar shes/ /

Those who strive by any means

To gain only the pleasures of samsara

For themselves alone--

Such people are called 'lesser' individuals.

Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, 3

srid pa'i bde la rgyab phyogs shing/ /

sdig pa'i las las ldog bdag nyid/ /

gang zhig rang zhi tsam don gnyer/ /

skyes bu de ni 'bring zhes bya/ /

Those who turn their backs on worldly pleasures,

And avoid any harmful actions,

Striving for peace for themselves alone--

Such individuals are said to be 'intermediate'.

Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, 4

rang rgyud gtogs pa'i sdug bsngal gyis/ /

gang zhig gzhan gyi sdug bsngal kun/ /

yang dag zad par kun 'dod/ /

skyes bu de ni mchog yin no/ /

Those who long to put a complete end

To all the sufferings of others

Through the sufferings of their own experience--

Individuals such as these are supreme.

Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, 5