Herein is contained a teaching conferred by Serlingpa on Atisha to help him subdue the barbarian borderlands. The guardian and teacher Serlingpa said to Master Atisha, “Son, to subdue the barbarian borderlands, you will need the following teachings:"
1. Level out all [false] conceptions;
Carry forth the force of all antidotes;
Concentrate all aspirations into one;
And seek the path where all paths converge —
2. These are the four enlightened factors, the antidotes.
They are vital if you are to tame barbarian borderlands;
And they are essential, too, in the age of degeneration
To bear up amid the misguided ways of negative companions.
3. Adverse conditions are your spiritual teacher;
Demons and possessor spirits, the Buddha's emanations.
Sickness is a broom for negative karma and defilements;
And sufferings are displays of the dharmadhatu, ultimate reality's expanse —
4. These are the four thoroughly afflicted factors;
They are vital if you are to tame the barbarian borderlands;
And they are essential, too, in the era of degeneration,
To bear up amid the misguided ways of negative companions.
5. This training is the great counterbalance to happiness;
And the great successor to misery;
It is a charm that attracts misfortunes;
And a wish capping the useless ones.
6. These are the four antidotes to misguided ways;
They are vital if you are to tame the barbarian borderlands;
And they are essential, too, in the age of degeneration,
To bear up amid the misguided ways of negative companions.
7. “Self” is the root of negative karma;
It is to be discarded decisively.
"Other” is a source of enlightenment;
It is to be embraced enthusiastically —
8. These two teachings draw the remedies to a close;
They are vital if you are to tame the barbarian borderlands;
And they are essential, too, in the age of degeneration,
To bear up amid the misguided ways of negative companions.
9. Cast away decisively, let go with ease;
Dismantle thoroughly, and let be with gentleness —
These are the four aspects of the sealing of emptiness;
They are vital if you are to tame the barbarian borderlands.
10. They are essential, too, in the age of degeneration,
To bear up amid the misguided ways of negative companions.
If you engage in the practices in this way,
Beings will not be fettered but will attain freedom.
Thus it was taught.