[The following selections consists of the first part of the Song of My ...

speech, and not only certain parts of it. It is also the supreme entry point and path
which allows fortunate disciples to travel to freedom. Here our Lord bows down to all
the Spiritual Guides who inspired and driven by their exalted thoughts of love are
acting with skillful means in order to make this teaching clear to their disciples. He
bows down not only in his words, but with deep thoughts of respect.
Some people explain that the words "that eye which can see" refer to the Spiritual
Guide, but Je Tsongkapa's true intention was that the "eye" refer to the teaching
on the steps itself. This fact is made clear towards the ends of his Great Book on
the Steps of the Path.
IDENTIFICATION OF WHAT IS GOING TO BE EXPLAINED
Now I shall identify that which is actually going to be explained in three sections:
details of the lineage of the teaching, its special features, and its necessity.
Details of the Lineage
The details of the lineage are explained in this verse:
,'DZAM GLING MKHAS PA YONGS KYI GTZUG GI RGYAN, ,SNYAN PA'I
BA DAN 'GRO NA LHANG NGE BA, ,KLU SGRUB THOGS MED GNYIS LAS
RIM BZHIN DU, ,LEGS BRGYUD BYANG CHUB LAM GYI RIM PA NI,
(6)
These steps of the path
to enlightenment
progressively came down
Through an excellent lineage
from both Nagarjuna,
and Asanga—
Those jewels on the crowns
of all the great masters
of our world—
Whose brilliance shines
like a victory banner