LONGCHEN NYINGTIK PR LONGCHEN NYINGTIK PR LONGCHEN NYINGTIK PR LONGCHEN NYINGTIK PRACTICE MANUAL ACTICE MANUAL ACTICE MANUAL ACTICE

MANUAL
ADVICE ON HOW TO PRA ADVICE ON HOW TO PRA ADVICE ON HOW TO PRA ADVICE ON HOW TO PRACTICE CTICE CTICE CTICE
by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche
Based on Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo`s
Short Preliminary Practice
Edited by Chanel Grubner
2004 by Khyentse Eoundation
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A AA ACK CK CK CKNOWLEDGEMENT NOWLEDGEMENT NOWLEDGEMENT NOWLEDGEMENT
This Longchenpa Nyingtik Practice Manual is the second publication to be produced by Khyentse
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Table OI Contents Table OI Contents Table OI Contents Table OI Contents
A AA ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CKNOWLEDGEMENT CKNOWLEDGEMENT CKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................. .. . II II II II
E EE EOREWORD OREWORD OREWORD OREWORD ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................ ................ ................ ................ 5 55 5
I II INTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................... ........... ........... ........... 6 66 6
S SS SOME OME OME OME C CC CRUCIAL RUCIAL RUCIAL RUCIAL A AA ASPECTS TO SPECTS TO SPECTS TO SPECTS TO B BB BEGIN THE EGIN THE EGIN THE EGIN THE N NN NG GG GO OO ONDRO NDRO NDRO NDRO................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................................... ..................... ..................... ..................... 7 77 7
The Structure of the Ngndro The Structure of the Ngndro The Structure of the Ngndro The Structure of the Ngndro................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... .......... 8 88 8
Distinguishing the Theory from Distinguishing the Theory from Distinguishing the Theory from Distinguishing the Theory from the the the the Pith Instructions Pith Instructions Pith Instructions Pith Instructions................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................... ....... ....... ....... 9 99 9
Three Pith Instructions to Start the Ngndro Three Pith Instructions to Start the Ngndro Three Pith Instructions to Start the Ngndro Three Pith Instructions to Start the Ngndro ................................ ................................ ................................ .................................................. .................. .................. ..................10 10 10 10
The Theory of Jisualisation The Theory of Jisualisation The Theory of Jisualisation The Theory of Jisualisation ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................... ........... ........... ...........12 12 12 12
The Three Wholesomenesss The Three Wholesomenesss The Three Wholesomenesss The Three Wholesomenesss ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... ..........13 13 13 13
T TT THE HE HE HE S SS SPECIAL PECIAL PECIAL PECIAL P PP PRELIMINARIES RELIMINARIES RELIMINARIES RELIMINARIES ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................... ..... ..... .....15 15 15 15
R RR REFUGE EFUGE EFUGE EFUGE................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................ ................ ................ ................17 17 17 17
Differing Levels of Fear Differing Levels of Fear Differing Levels of Fear Differing Levels of Fear................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................. ................. ................. .................17 17 17 17
Without Knowing the Essential Theory, Refuge Is Theistic Without Knowing the Essential Theory, Refuge Is Theistic Without Knowing the Essential Theory, Refuge Is Theistic Without Knowing the Essential Theory, Refuge Is Theistic.............................. .............................. .............................. ..............................18 18 18 18
Knowing the Dirt Is Washable Knowing the Dirt Is Washable Knowing the Dirt Is Washable Knowing the Dirt Is Washable ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................... ....... ....... .......18 18 18 18
Separating the Pith Instructions from the Theory Separating the Pith Instructions from the Theory Separating the Pith Instructions from the Theory Separating the Pith Instructions from the Theory................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................ ............ ............ ............19 19 19 19
The Theory of Why the Guru Is So Important The Theory of Why the Guru Is So Important The Theory of Why the Guru Is So Important The Theory of Why the Guru Is So Important................................ ................................ ................................ .................................................. .................. .................. ..................19 19 19 19
Instructions for Prostrations and Why We Count Instructions for Prostrations and Why We Count Instructions for Prostrations and Why We Count Instructions for Prostrations and Why We Count ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................ ............ ............ ............21 21 21 21
Inseparability with the Obfect of Refuge Inseparability with the Obfect of Refuge Inseparability with the Obfect of Refuge Inseparability with the Obfect of Refuge................................ ................................ ................................ ......................................................... ......................... ......................... .........................22 22 22 22
An Exampl An Exampl An Exampl An Example Practice Session of the Refuge e Practice Session of the Refuge e Practice Session of the Refuge e Practice Session of the Refuge ................................ ................................ ................................ .................................................... .................... .................... ....................23 23 23 23
Like Space Dissolving into Space Like Space Dissolving into Space Like Space Dissolving into Space Like Space Dissolving into Space................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................... ... ... ...23 23 23 23
The Concept of The Concept of The Concept of The Concept of D DD Dkini kini kini kini ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................... ................... ................... ...................25 25 25 25
Different Terms to Describe the Buddha Nature Different Terms to Describe the Buddha Nature Different Terms to Describe the Buddha Nature Different Terms to Describe the Buddha Nature ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................. ............. ............. .............25 25 25 25
The Eight Worldly Dharmas The Eight Worldly Dharmas The Eight Worldly Dharmas The Eight Worldly Dharmas ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... ..........25 25 25 25
Translating the Dharma Translating the Dharma Translating the Dharma Translating the Dharma................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................. ................. ................. .................26 26 26 26
Bringing Forth the Inspiration Bringing Forth the Inspiration Bringing Forth the Inspiration Bringing Forth the Inspiration................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................... ....... ....... .......28 28 28 28
The Jalue of Individual Practice The Jalue of Individual Practice The Jalue of Individual Practice The Jalue of Individual Practice................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .................................... .... .... ....28 28 28 28
N NN Ng gg gndros of the Same Tradition ndros of the Same Tradition ndros of the Same Tradition ndros of the Same Tradition................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................... ..... ..... .....29 29 29 29
Practice for the Sake of Enlightenment Practice for the Sake of Enlightenment Practice for the Sake of Enlightenment Practice for the Sake of Enlightenment................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................................... ........................... ........................... ...........................30 30 30 30
Take the Highest Jiew While Applying the Subtlest Action Take the Highest Jiew While Applying the Subtlest Action Take the Highest Jiew While Applying the Subtlest Action Take the Highest Jiew While Applying the Subtlest Action.............................. .............................. .............................. ..............................30 30 30 30
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B BB BODHICITTA ODHICITTA ODHICITTA ODHICITTA. . . . ONE OF THE MAIN FOUN ONE OF THE MAIN FOUN ONE OF THE MAIN FOUN ONE OF THE MAIN FOUNDATIONS DATIONS DATIONS DATIONS................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................................... .......................... .......................... ..........................34 34 34 34
Having a Complete Picture of Bodhicitta Having a Complete Picture of Bodhicitta Having a Complete Picture of Bodhicitta Having a Complete Picture of Bodhicitta ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................................... ....................... ....................... .......................34 34 34 34
Two Aspects of Relative Bodhicitta. Aspiring and Entering Two Aspects of Relative Bodhicitta. Aspiring and Entering Two Aspects of Relative Bodhicitta. Aspiring and Entering Two Aspects of Relative Bodhicitta. Aspiring and Entering ............................ ............................ ............................ ............................36 36 36 36
Bringing the Different Aspects of Bodhicitta Together Bringing the Different Aspects of Bodhicitta Together Bringing the Different Aspects of Bodhicitta Together Bringing the Different Aspects of Bodhicitta Together ................................ ................................ ................................ .................................... .... .... ....37 37 37 37
The Highest Gift The Highest Gift The Highest Gift The Highest Gift ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................ ............................ ............................ ............................37 37 37 37
The Bodhisattva Concept The Bodhisattva Concept The Bodhisattva Concept The Bodhisattva Concept ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................... ............... ............... ...............38 38 38 38
The Jiew or the Action, Which Is Higher? The Jiew or the Action, Which Is Higher? The Jiew or the Action, Which Is Higher? The Jiew or the Action, Which Is Higher?................................ ................................ ................................ ...................................................... ...................... ...................... ......................39 39 39 39
Methods of Generating Aspiration Bodhicitta Methods of Generating Aspiration Bodhicitta Methods of Generating Aspiration Bodhicitta Methods of Generating Aspiration Bodhicitta................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................. ................. ................. .................40 40 40 40
The Four Immeasurables The Four Immeasurables The Four Immeasurables The Four Immeasurables ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................... ............... ............... ...............40 40 40 40
An Antidote to the Ego An Antidote to the Ego An Antidote to the Ego An Antidote to the Ego................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................... ................... ................... ...................41 41 41 41
Just Do It and You Will Get the Gist of It Just Do It and You Will Get the Gist of It Just Do It and You Will Get the Gist of It Just Do It and You Will Get the Gist of It ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................................... ....................... ....................... .......................41 41 41 41
Your Imagination Itself Is a Jisualisation Your Imagination Itself Is a Jisualisation Your Imagination Itself Is a Jisualisation Your Imagination Itself Is a Jisualisation................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................................... ....................... ....................... .......................42 42 42 42
Some Rules of Jisualisation Some Rules of Jisualisation Some Rules of Jisualisation Some Rules of Jisualisation ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................... ........... ........... ...........42 42 42 42
The Benefit of Uncertainty The Benefit of Uncertainty The Benefit of Uncertainty The Benefit of Uncertainty ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................. ............. ............. .............44 44 44 44
Admitting as Opposed to Pretending Admitting as Opposed to Pretending Admitting as Opposed to Pretending Admitting as Opposed to Pretending ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................................................. .............................. .............................. ..............................44 44 44 44
Problems Are Also Compounded Phenomena Problems Are Also Compounded Phenomena Problems Are Also Compounded Phenomena Problems Are Also Compounded Phenomena................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................. ................. ................. .................45 45 45 45
Bodhisattvas Determination. Never Giving Up Bodhisattvas Determination. Never Giving Up Bodhisattvas Determination. Never Giving Up Bodhisattvas Determination. Never Giving Up................................ ................................ ................................ .............................................. .............. .............. ..............45 45 45 45
Dedications Can Be Done at Anytime Dedications Can Be Done at Anytime Dedications Can Be Done at Anytime Dedications Can Be Done at Anytime................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................. ............................. ............................. .............................47 47 47 47
A Sign of the Dharma Entering Our Minds A Sign of the Dharma Entering Our Minds A Sign of the Dharma Entering Our Minds A Sign of the Dharma Entering Our Minds................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................................... ..................... ..................... .....................47 47 47 47
Mahsukha. a Result of Renunciation Mind Mahsukha. a Result of Renunciation Mind Mahsukha. a Result of Renunciation Mind Mahsukha. a Result of Renunciation Mind ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................... ................... ................... ...................48 48 48 48
Our Karma Makes Us Interpret Our Karma Makes Us Interpret Our Karma Makes Us Interpret Our Karma Makes Us Interpret................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ...................................... ...... ...... ......48 48 48 48
The Jafrayna Method of Taming the Mind The Jafrayna Method of Taming the Mind The Jafrayna Method of Taming the Mind The Jafrayna Method of Taming the Mind ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................... ................... ................... ...................50 50 50 50
Giving Attachment No Place to Live Giving Attachment No Place to Live Giving Attachment No Place to Live Giving Attachment No Place to Live................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................... ............................... ............................... ...............................51 51 51 51
Pure Perception. a Thorn to Remove a Thorn Pure Perception. a Thorn to Remove a Thorn Pure Perception. a Thorn to Remove a Thorn Pure Perception. a Thorn to Remove a Thorn ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................ ................ ................ ................52 52 52 52
Not Becoming a Jictim of Your Own Compassion Not Becoming a Jictim of Your Own Compassion Not Becoming a Jictim of Your Own Compassion Not Becoming a Jictim of Your Own Compassion ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... ..........53 53 53 53
J JJ JAJRASATTJA AJRASATTJA AJRASATTJA AJRASATTJA................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ......................................... ......... ......... .........54 54 54 54
Understanding the Dharma from All Angles Understanding the Dharma from All Angles Understanding the Dharma from All Angles Understanding the Dharma from All Angles................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................... ................... ................... ...................54 54 54 54
Renunciat Renunciat Renunciat Renunciation Mind. Knowing It Is a Dream ion Mind. Knowing It Is a Dream ion Mind. Knowing It Is a Dream ion Mind. Knowing It Is a Dream................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................... ................... ................... ...................55 55 55 55
Cleansing This Jessel. Body, Speech and Mind Cleansing This Jessel. Body, Speech and Mind Cleansing This Jessel. Body, Speech and Mind Cleansing This Jessel. Body, Speech and Mind................................ ................................ ................................ .............................................. .............. .............. ..............56 56 56 56
Think of Jafrasattva as a Practice of Uncovering Think of Jafrasattva as a Practice of Uncovering Think of Jafrasattva as a Practice of Uncovering Think of Jafrasattva as a Practice of Uncovering the Buddha Nature the Buddha Nature the Buddha Nature the Buddha Nature............. ............. ............. .............57 57 57 57
Guru. a Reflection of Devotion and Merit Guru. a Reflection of Devotion and Merit Guru. a Reflection of Devotion and Merit Guru. a Reflection of Devotion and Merit ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................................................... ...................... ...................... ......................57 57 57 57
Different Aspirations but One Essence Different Aspirations but One Essence Different Aspirations but One Essence Different Aspirations but One Essence ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................................... ........................... ........................... ...........................58 58 58 58
Jafrasattva. the Unity of Wisdom and Compassion Jafrasattva. the Unity of Wisdom and Compassion Jafrasattva. the Unity of Wisdom and Compassion Jafrasattva. the Unity of Wisdom and Compassion ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................ ........ ........ ........58 58 58 58
Bodily Defilements. Obscuration of Ndi Bodily Defilements. Obscuration of Ndi Bodily Defilements. Obscuration of Ndi Bodily Defilements. Obscuration of Ndi................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................................... ....................... ....................... .......................59 59 59 59
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Be Be Be Being Creative and Flexible with the Jisualisation ing Creative and Flexible with the Jisualisation ing Creative and Flexible with the Jisualisation ing Creative and Flexible with the Jisualisation................................ ................................ ................................ ......................................... ......... ......... .........59 59 59 59
Speech Defilements. Obscuration of Prna Speech Defilements. Obscuration of Prna Speech Defilements. Obscuration of Prna Speech Defilements. Obscuration of Prna ................................ ................................ ................................ .................................................... .................... .................... ....................60 60 60 60
Mind Defilements. Obscuration of Bin Mind Defilements. Obscuration of Bin Mind Defilements. Obscuration of Bin Mind Defilements. Obscuration of Bindu du du du ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................................... ....................... ....................... .......................61 61 61 61
T TT Talking about t alking about t alking about t alking about the Fourth Defilement and Defilements in General he Fourth Defilement and Defilements in General he Fourth Defilement and Defilements in General he Fourth Defilement and Defilements in General ................... ................... ................... ...................62 62 62 62
Dissolving Jafrasattva. Watching the Inseparability Dissolving Jafrasattva. Watching the Inseparability Dissolving Jafrasattva. Watching the Inseparability Dissolving Jafrasattva. Watching the Inseparability ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................................... ...... ...... ......62 62 62 62
Jafrasattva Related Questions Jafrasattva Related Questions Jafrasattva Related Questions Jafrasattva Related Questions ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................... ....... ....... .......63 63 63 63
Exposing Deeds of the Past, Present and Future Exposing Deeds of the Past, Present and Future Exposing Deeds of the Past, Present and Future Exposing Deeds of the Past, Present and Future ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................ ............ ............ ............64 64 64 64
Dissolving Pride and Jealousy Dissolving Pride and Jealousy Dissolving Pride and Jealousy Dissolving Pride and Jealousy ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................... ....... ....... .......65 65 65 65
No Place to Hide No Place to Hide No Place to Hide No Place to Hide a Big Relief a Big Relief a Big Relief a Big Relief................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ...................................... ...... ...... ......65 65 65 65
Some Aspects of Prna, Ndi, and Bindu Some Aspects of Prna, Ndi, and Bindu Some Aspects of Prna, Ndi, and Bindu Some Aspects of Prna, Ndi, and Bindu ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................................... ....................... ....................... .......................66 66 66 66
Entering Jafrayna Completely Entering Jafrayna Completely Entering Jafrayna Completely Entering Jafrayna Completely ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................... ..... ..... .....66 66 66 66
Insertions Are Printed Separately, Out of Respect to the Original Author Insertions Are Printed Separately, Out of Respect to the Original Author Insertions Are Printed Separately, Out of Respect to the Original Author Insertions Are Printed Separately, Out of Respect to the Original Author ....... ....... ....... .......67 67 67 67
An Outline of the Ngndro Practice An Outline of the Ngndro Practice An Outline of the Ngndro Practice An Outline of the Ngndro Practice ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................... ............................... ............................... ...............................67 67 67 67
M MM MA AA AND ND ND NDALA ALA ALA ALA O OO OFFERING FFERING FFERING FFERING ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................. ............................. ............................. .............................69 69 69 69
Merit Is an Ability Merit Is an Ability Merit Is an Ability Merit Is an Ability................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................................... .......................... .......................... ..........................69 69 69 69
Obstacles as a Good Sign Obstacles as a Good Sign Obstacles as a Good Sign Obstacles as a Good Sign ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .............................................. .............. .............. ..............70 70 70 70
The Meaning of Mandala Offering The Meaning of Mandala Offering The Meaning of Mandala Offering The Meaning of Mandala Offering ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................................................. .............................. .............................. ..............................70 70 70 70
Being Creative with the Offeri Being Creative with the Offeri Being Creative with the Offeri Being Creative with the Offering Substance ng Substance ng Substance ng Substance................................ ................................ ................................ .................................................... .................... .................... ....................71 71 71 71
Mandala Offering in Retreats Mandala Offering in Retreats Mandala Offering in Retreats Mandala Offering in Retreats ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................ ........ ........ ........71 71 71 71
Why We Count Why We Count Why We Count Why We Count................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................... ............................... ............................... ...............................72 72 72 72
Doing Doing Doing Doing Things with and without a Purpose Things with and without a Purpose Things with and without a Purpose Things with and without a Purpose................................ ................................ ................................ ...................................................... ...................... ...................... ......................72 72 72 72
How to Do the Mandala Practice How to Do the Mandala Practice How to Do the Mandala Practice How to Do the Mandala Practice ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .................................. .. .. ..73 73 73 73
Mount Meru, the Planets, the Sun and the Moon Mount Meru, the Planets, the Sun and the Moon Mount Meru, the Planets, the Sun and the Moon Mount Meru, the Planets, the Sun and the Moon a Concept of a Concept of a Concept of a Concept of the Universe the Universe the Universe the Universe . .. .75 75 75 75
Some Advice on How to Treat Texts Some Advice on How to Treat Texts Some Advice on How to Treat Texts Some Advice on How to Treat Texts ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................... ............................... ............................... ...............................76 76 76 76
Talking about Resistance and Habit Talking about Resistance and Habit Talking about Resistance and Habit Talking about Resistance and Habit ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................... ............................... ............................... ...............................76 76 76 76
Everything You Offer Is Also Your Perception Everything You Offer Is Also Your Perception Everything You Offer Is Also Your Perception Everything You Offer Is Also Your Perception................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................ ................ ................ ................77 77 77 77
Aiming for a Higher Attitude Aiming for a Higher Attitude Aiming for a Higher Attitude Aiming for a Higher Attitude................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... ..........78 78 78 78
K KK KUS US US US LI LI LI LI P PP PRACTICE RACTICE RACTICE RACTICE ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .................................. .. .. ..79 79 79 79
Conquering the Four Mras Conquering the Four Mras Conquering the Four Mras Conquering the Four Mras ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... ..........80 80 80 80
The Offering Feast. a Wish The Offering Feast. a Wish The Offering Feast. a Wish The Offering Feast. a Wish- -- -Fulfilling Nectar Fulfilling Nectar Fulfilling Nectar Fulfilling Nectar ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................. ................. ................. .................81 81 81 81
Sett Sett Sett Settling the Score and Clearing Karmic Debts ling the Score and Clearing Karmic Debts ling the Score and Clearing Karmic Debts ling the Score and Clearing Karmic Debts................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................ ................ ................ ................81 81 81 81
The Host, the Guests and the Feast Become Inseparable The Host, the Guests and the Feast Become Inseparable The Host, the Guests and the Feast Become Inseparable The Host, the Guests and the Feast Become Inseparable ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................82 82 82 82
Clarification on Kusli Practic Clarification on Kusli Practic Clarification on Kusli Practic Clarification on Kusli Practice ee e................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................... ..... ..... .....82 82 82 82
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G GG GURU URU URU URU Y YY YOGA OGA OGA OGA ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... ..........84 84 84 84
Taking the Guru Not Only as Teacher but as the Path Taking the Guru Not Only as Teacher but as the Path Taking the Guru Not Only as Teacher but as the Path Taking the Guru Not Only as Teacher but as the Path ................................ ................................ ................................ .................................... .... .... ....84 84 84 84
Dislocating This Well Dislocating This Well Dislocating This Well Dislocating This Well- -- -Crafted Samsaric Life Crafted Samsaric Life Crafted Samsaric Life Crafted Samsaric Life................................ ................................ ................................ .................................................. .................. .................. ..................84 84 84 84
Patrl Rinpoche and Nyoshl Lungtok Patrl Rinpoche and Nyoshl Lungtok Patrl Rinpoche and Nyoshl Lungtok Patrl Rinpoche and Nyoshl Lungtok ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................................... ........................... ........................... ...........................85 85 85 85
The Experience of Great Spontaneity The Experience of Great Spontaneity The Experience of Great Spontaneity The Experience of Great Spontaneity ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................. ............................. ............................. .............................85 85 85 85
Jafrayna Methods Are so Fitting for This Era Jafrayna Methods Are so Fitting for This Era Jafrayna Methods Are so Fitting for This Era Jafrayna Methods Are so Fitting for This Era................................ ................................ ................................ .............................................. .............. .............. ..............86 86 86 86
Rest in the Nature of the Mind Rest in the Nature of the Mind Rest in the Nature of the Mind Rest in the Nature of the Mind ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................... ..... ..... .....87 87 87 87
Two Ways of Recognising the Mind Two Ways of Recognising the Mind Two Ways of Recognising the Mind Two Ways of Recognising the Mind................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................88 88 88 88
Two Ways of Accumulating Merit Two Ways of Accumulating Merit Two Ways of Accumulating Merit Two Ways of Accumulating Merit................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................... ... ... ...88 88 88 88
Outer, Inner and Secret Guru Outer, Inner and Secret Guru Outer, Inner and Secret Guru Outer, Inner and Secret Guru................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ......................................... ......... ......... .........89 89 89 89
The Outer Guru as a Bridge The Outer Guru as a Bridge The Outer Guru as a Bridge The Outer Guru as a Bridge................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................... ........... ........... ...........89 89 89 89
Our Feeling Uncomfortable with a Too Perfect Being Our Feeling Uncomfortable with a Too Perfect Being Our Feeling Uncomfortable with a Too Perfect Being Our Feeling Uncomfortable with a Too Perfect Being ................................ ................................ ................................ .................................... .... .... ....90 90 90 90
A Ma A Ma A Ma A Masters Great Display of Compassion sters Great Display of Compassion sters Great Display of Compassion sters Great Display of Compassion................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................................... ....................... ....................... .......................91 91 91 91
The Guru Lineage as a Staircase The Guru Lineage as a Staircase The Guru Lineage as a Staircase The Guru Lineage as a Staircase ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................... ... ... ...91 91 91 91
Somewhere Between Fabrication and Not Faking It Somewhere Between Fabrication and Not Faking It Somewhere Between Fabrication and Not Faking It Somewhere Between Fabrication and Not Faking It ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................... ....... ....... .......91 91 91 91
Dualistic Perception Is a Construction of Our Minds Dualistic Perception Is a Construction of Our Minds Dualistic Perception Is a Construction of Our Minds Dualistic Perception Is a Construction of Our Minds ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................... ..... ..... .....92 92 92 92
Devotion As Trust in Cause, Condition and Effect Devotion As Trust in Cause, Condition and Effect Devotion As Trust in Cause, Condition and Effect Devotion As Trust in Cause, Condition and Effect ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... ..........92 92 92 92
Everything Is Emptiness Everything Is Emptiness Everything Is Emptiness Everything Is Emptiness................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................. ................. ................. .................93 93 93 93
Guru Yoga Related Questions Guru Yoga Related Questions Guru Yoga Related Questions Guru Yoga Related Questions ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................ ........ ........ ........94 94 94 94
Examining Both the Guru and Our Own Agenda Examining Both the Guru and Our Own Agenda Examining Both the Guru and Our Own Agenda Examining Both the Guru and Our Own Agenda ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................ ............ ............ ............95 95 95 95
Examining the Path Examining the Path Examining the Path Examining the Path ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................................... ....................... ....................... .......................96 96 96 96
Genuine Humility Genuine Humility Genuine Humility Genuine Humility ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................................... .......................... .......................... ..........................96 96 96 96
A Wanderers Attitude A Wanderers Attitude A Wanderers Attitude A Wanderers Attitude ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................... ................... ................... ...................97 97 97 97
Guru Yoga Jisualisation Guru Yoga Jisualisation Guru Yoga Jisualisation Guru Yoga Jisualisation................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................ ................ ................ ................98 98 98 98
Guru Yoga. the Most Essential Practice in the Tantra Guru Yoga. the Most Essential Practice in the Tantra Guru Yoga. the Most Essential Practice in the Tantra Guru Yoga. the Most Essential Practice in the Tantra................................ ................................ ................................ .................................... .... .... ....99 99 99 99
The Secret and the Inner Guru The Secret and the Inner Guru The Secret and the Inner Guru The Secret and the Inner Guru................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................... ..... ..... .....100 100 100 100
Sooner or Later, This Patch Is Going to Fall Off Sooner or Later, This Patch Is Going to Fall Off Sooner or Later, This Patch Is Going to Fall Off Sooner or Later, This Patch Is Going to Fall Off................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................ ........ ........ ........102 102 102 102
The Experience of Nyam The Experience of Nyam The Experience of Nyam The Experience of Nyam................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................ ............ ............ ............102 102 102 102
Giving Our Buddha Nature a Chance to Manifest Giving Our Buddha Nature a Chance to Manifest Giving Our Buddha Nature a Chance to Manifest Giving Our Buddha Nature a Chance to Manifest ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................ ........ ........ ........103 103 103 103
Mingling Your Mind with the Gurus Mind Mingling Your Mind with the Gurus Mind Mingling Your Mind with the Gurus Mind Mingling Your Mind with the Gurus Mind................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................... ................... ................... ...................103 103 103 103
Being Patient and Not Expecting the Result Being Patient and Not Expecting the Result Being Patient and Not Expecting the Result Being Patient and Not Expecting the Result................................ ................................ ................................ .................................................. .................. .................. ..................104 104 104 104
Praying to the Guru Praying to the Guru Praying to the Guru Praying to the Guru................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................................... ..................... ..................... .....................104 104 104 104
How Do We Take the Guru as the Path? How Do We Take the Guru as the Path? How Do We Take the Guru as the Path? How Do We Take the Guru as the Path? ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................................................... ...................... ...................... ......................106 106 106 106
Emptiness. the Example of the Mirage Emptiness. the Example of the Mirage Emptiness. the Example of the Mirage Emptiness. the Example of the Mirage ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................................................... ......................... ......................... .........................106 106 106 106
Persevering with One Path Persevering with One Path Persevering with One Path Persevering with One Path ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... ..........107 107 107 107
v
A AA ABISHEKA BISHEKA BISHEKA BISHEKA & & & & THE THE THE THE F FF FOUR OUR OUR OUR E EE EMPOWERMENTS MPOWERMENTS MPOWERMENTS MPOWERMENTS ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................... ............................... ............................... ...............................108 108 108 108
IN THE IN THE IN THE IN THE G GG GURU URU URU URU Y YY YOGA OGA OGA OGA ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .............................................................. .............................. .............................. ..............................108 108 108 108
Devotion Generated Out of Seeking Enlightenment Devotion Generated Out of Seeking Enlightenment Devotion Generated Out of Seeking Enlightenment Devotion Generated Out of Seeking Enlightenment ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................................... ...... ...... ......108 108 108 108
The Meaning of Abisheka The Meaning of Abisheka The Meaning of Abisheka The Meaning of Abisheka................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................. ............. ............. .............109 109 109 109
Using Water as a Tantric Substance Using Water as a Tantric Substance Using Water as a Tantric Substance Using Water as a Tantric Substance................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................. ............................. ............................. .............................110 110 110 110
Twenty Twenty Twenty Twenty- -- -five Substances five Substances five Substances five Substances Coming from the Cow Coming from the Cow Coming from the Cow Coming from the Cow ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................... ........... ........... ...........111 111 111 111
Initiation of the Child Entering the Mandala Initiation of the Child Entering the Mandala Initiation of the Child Entering the Mandala Initiation of the Child Entering the Mandala ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................. ............. ............. .............112 112 112 112
The Self The Self The Self The Self- -- -initiation of the Guru Yoga initiation of the Guru Yoga initiation of the Guru Yoga initiation of the Guru Yoga................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................. ............................. ............................. .............................113 113 113 113
Open Open Open Opening ing ing ing the Door of the Developing Meditation the Door of the Developing Meditation the Door of the Developing Meditation the Door of the Developing Meditation ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... ..........113 113 113 113
The Second Initiation Opens the Door of the Completion Meditation The Second Initiation Opens the Door of the Completion Meditation The Second Initiation Opens the Door of the Completion Meditation The Second Initiation Opens the Door of the Completion Meditation ............ ............ ............ ............114 114 114 114
Developing and Completion Stages Developing and Completion Stages Developing and Completion Stages Developing and Completion Stages................................ ................................ ................................ .............................................................. .............................. .............................. ..............................114 114 114 114
Opening the Door Opening the Door Opening the Door Opening the Door for for for for Trekch Trekch Trekch Trekch ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ...................................... ...... ...... ......114 114 114 114
The Fourth Initiation Disp The Fourth Initiation Disp The Fourth Initiation Disp The Fourth Initiation Dispels any Remaining Residue of Defilement els any Remaining Residue of Defilement els any Remaining Residue of Defilement els any Remaining Residue of Defilement ............. ............. ............. .............115 115 115 115
Clarification on Points of Practice Clarification on Points of Practice Clarification on Points of Practice Clarification on Points of Practice................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................... ............................... ............................... ...............................115 115 115 115
Explaining the Four Kyas Explaining the Four Kyas Explaining the Four Kyas Explaining the Four Kyas ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................... .......... .......... ..........116 116 116 116
Doing a Tsok Offering as a Ngndro Practitioner Doing a Tsok Offering as a Ngndro Practitioner Doing a Tsok Offering as a Ngndro Practitioner Doing a Tsok Offering as a Ngndro Practitioner ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................ ........ ........ ........118 118 118 118
General Questions Relating to Ngndro General Questions Relating to Ngndro General Questions Relating to Ngndro General Questions Relating to Ngndro................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................................... ....................... ....................... .......................122 122 122 122
Samaya Is Like Fencing Samaya Is Like Fencing Samaya Is Like Fencing Samaya Is Like Fencing................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................... ............... ............... ...............124 124 124 124
Jafra Hell. a Symbolic Term for Impure Jision Jafra Hell. a Symbolic Term for Impure Jision Jafra Hell. a Symbolic Term for Impure Jision Jafra Hell. a Symbolic Term for Impure Jision................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................ ............ ............ ............126 126 126 126
P PP PRACTICE IN RACTICE IN RACTICE IN RACTICE IN D DD DAILY AILY AILY AILY L LL LIEE IEE IEE IEE ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................ ............ ............ ............128 128 128 128
P PP PRACTICE RACTICE RACTICE RACTICE D DD DOES OES OES OES N NN NOT OT OT OT N NN NECESSARILY ECESSARILY ECESSARILY ECESSARILY M MM MEAN EAN EAN EAN S SS SITTING ITTING ITTING ITTING................................ ................................ ................................ .................................................. .................. .................. ..................129 129 129 129
How to Let the Dharma Penetrate How to Let the Dharma Penetrate How to Let the Dharma Penetrate How to Let the Dharma Penetrate................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................129 129 129 129
What I What I What I What It Means to Say. Dharma Bearing Fruit t Means to Say. Dharma Bearing Fruit t Means to Say. Dharma Bearing Fruit t Means to Say. Dharma Bearing Fruit ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................................. .............. .............. ..............130 130 130 130
Dharma Attitudes. a Race Against Time and the Genuine Heart of Sadness Dharma Attitudes. a Race Against Time and the Genuine Heart of Sadness Dharma Attitudes. a Race Against Time and the Genuine Heart of Sadness Dharma Attitudes. a Race Against Time and the Genuine Heart of Sadness
................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................... ................... ................... ...................132 132 132 132
Complaints S Complaints S Complaints S Complaints Show Our Lack of Understanding of Cause, Condition and Effect how Our Lack of Understanding of Cause, Condition and Effect how Our Lack of Understanding of Cause, Condition and Effect how Our Lack of Understanding of Cause, Condition and Effect
................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................... ................... ................... ...................132 132 132 132
Dharma Is No Therapy Dharma Is No Therapy Dharma Is No Therapy Dharma Is No Therapy - -- - Dharma Stirs Up Your Life Dharma Stirs Up Your Life Dharma Stirs Up Your Life Dharma Stirs Up Your Life................................ ................................ ................................ .................................... .... .... ....133 133 133 133
The Ultimate C The Ultimate C The Ultimate C The Ultimate Cra:iness. Going Beyond All Conceptions ra:iness. Going Beyond All Conceptions ra:iness. Going Beyond All Conceptions ra:iness. Going Beyond All Conceptions............................... ............................... ............................... ...............................133 133 133 133
Always Remember the Three Wholesomenesss Always Remember the Three Wholesomenesss Always Remember the Three Wholesomenesss Always Remember the Three Wholesomenesss ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................ ............ ............ ............134 134 134 134
Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................................... ..................... ..................... .....................135 135 135 135
The Srvakayna Method. Meditation upon Impermanence and Ugliness The Srvakayna Method. Meditation upon Impermanence and Ugliness The Srvakayna Method. Meditation upon Impermanence and Ugliness The Srvakayna Method. Meditation upon Impermanence and Ugliness ..... ..... ..... .....135 135 135 135
The Mahyna. the Aspiration The Mahyna. the Aspiration The Mahyna. the Aspiration The Mahyna. the Aspiration................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ..................................... ..... ..... .....136 136 136 136
The Jafrayna. Not Fabricating, Just Watching The Jafrayna. Not Fabricating, Just Watching The Jafrayna. Not Fabricating, Just Watching The Jafrayna. Not Fabricating, Just Watching................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................... ........... ........... ...........137 137 137 137
vi
Practicing All Three Points Together Practicing All Three Points Together Practicing All Three Points Together Practicing All Three Points Together ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................................... ........................... ........................... ...........................138 138 138 138
Further Pi Further Pi Further Pi Further Pith Instructions of Jamgn Kongtrul Rinpoche th Instructions of Jamgn Kongtrul Rinpoche th Instructions of Jamgn Kongtrul Rinpoche th Instructions of Jamgn Kongtrul Rinpoche............................... ............................... ............................... ...............................138 138 138 138
Karmic Connection to a Particular Practice Karmic Connection to a Particular Practice Karmic Connection to a Particular Practice Karmic Connection to a Particular Practice ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................ ................ ................ ................140 140 140 140
Dream Yoga Dream Yoga Dream Yoga Dream Yoga ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................140 140 140 140
Group Practice should inspire Individual Practice Group Practice should inspire Individual Practice Group Practice should inspire Individual Practice Group Practice should inspire Individual Practice................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................... ....... ....... .......141 141 141 141
Communicating Is Not a Life and Death Matter Communicating Is Not a Life and Death Matter Communicating Is Not a Life and Death Matter Communicating Is Not a Life and Death Matter ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................... ........... ........... ...........141 141 141 141
The Two Obscurations The Two Obscurations The Two Obscurations The Two Obscurations ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................. ................. ................. .................142 142 142 142
Ego Is Like a Cat and Our Insecurity Is the Tail Ego Is Like a Cat and Our Insecurity Is the Tail Ego Is Like a Cat and Our Insecurity Is the Tail Ego Is Like a Cat and Our Insecurity Is the Tail ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................... ........... ........... ...........143 143 143 143
Chandrakirtis Seven Chariots Method Chandrakirtis Seven Chariots Method Chandrakirtis Seven Chariots Method Chandrakirtis Seven Chariots Method ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................................................ ........................ ........................ ........................143 143 143 143
Jarious Questions on Practice in Daily Life Jarious Questions on Practice in Daily Life Jarious Questions on Practice in Daily Life Jarious Questions on Practice in Daily Life................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................. ................. ................. .................144 144 144 144
S SS SHAMATHA AND HAMATHA AND HAMATHA AND HAMATHA AND J JJ JIPASHYAN IPASHYAN IPASHYAN IPASHYAN . .. . A D A D A D A DOORWAY TO OORWAY TO OORWAY TO OORWAY TO K KK KNOWING NOWING NOWING NOWING T TT THIS HIS HIS HIS U UU UNFABRICATED NFABRICATED NFABRICATED NFABRICATED S S S STATE TATE TATE TATE
................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ .......................................................... .......................... .......................... ..........................149 149 149 149
The Eye and Tgal The Eye and Tgal The Eye and Tgal The Eye and Tgal................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ....................................................... ....................... ....................... .......................149 149 149 149
The Four Mindfulnesss The Four Mindfulnesss The Four Mindfulnesss The Four Mindfulnesss ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................... ............... ............... ...............150 150 150 150
Jipashyan Triggers an Understanding of Emptiness Jipashyan Triggers an Understanding of Emptiness Jipashyan Triggers an Understanding of Emptiness Jipashyan Triggers an Understanding of Emptiness................................ ................................ ................................ ................................... ... ... ...151 151 151 151
Mindfulness Itself Is a Strong Discipline Mindfulness Itself Is a Strong Discipline Mindfulness Itself Is a Strong Discipline Mindfulness Itself Is a Strong Discipline ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................................................... ...................... ...................... ......................151 151 151 151
Appendix I: Appendix I: Appendix I: Appendix I: The Abbreviated The Abbreviated The Abbreviated The Abbreviated Practice oI the Preliminaries Practice oI the Preliminaries Practice oI the Preliminaries Practice oI the Preliminaries................................ ................................ ................................ .................................. .. .. ..153 153 153 153
Appendix II: Appendix II: Appendix II: Appendix II: An Outline oI the Ng An Outline oI the Ng An Outline oI the Ng An Outline oI the Ng ndro ndro ndro ndro................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................................. ............................. ............................. .............................154 154 154 154
Appendix III: Appendix III: Appendix III: Appendix III: Diagram oI the Seven Point Mandala Diagram oI the Seven Point Mandala Diagram oI the Seven Point Mandala Diagram oI the Seven Point Mandala ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................ ............ ............ ............155 155 155 155
Appendix IV: Appendix IV: Appendix IV: Appendix IV: Diagram oI the 37 Point Mandala Diagram oI the 37 Point Mandala Diagram oI the 37 Point Mandala Diagram oI the 37 Point Mandala ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................. ................. ................. .................156 156 156 156
I II INDEX NDEX NDEX NDEX................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................. ................. ................. .................157 157 157 157
Endnotes Endnotes Endnotes Endnotes ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ............................................ ............ ............ ............162 162 162 162
Foreword Foreword Foreword Foreword
This small, insigniIicant book is in reality the product oI the collection oI a lot oI
blabbering. But somehow, due to the karmic debt that a sizeable number oI sentient beings
have with me, they happen to have interpreted this blabbering as a teaching. Whatever the
case, the gathering place Ior the discussions contained within these ensuing pages was
mainly Silz, Germany, during August oI 2001.
At the beginning oI the Bodhicharyvatra, the great Shntideva aspired that
through the writing oI that text, beneIit might be brought to beings like himselI. Likewise,
iI there happen to be, and no doubt there are, many conIused beings like myselI, who by
encountering this text receive beneIit, then I will take this as a source oI merit Ior myselI.
Eventually may this also be a cause oI merit Ior others.
The physical existence oI this text is mainly due to the relentless hard work oI
Chanel Grubner. OI course, readers must take notice that this is not meant to be a complete
and Iinished work and thus, there may be many mistakes both in meaning and wording.
While one should not hoist the banner oI intellectual pride and jump to critical conclusions,
with good motivation and intention to help the buddhadharma, any comments are very
much welcome.
D:ongsar J. Khyentse Rinpoche D:ongsar J. Khyentse Rinpoche D:ongsar J. Khyentse Rinpoche D:ongsar J. Khyentse Rinpoche
Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction
Eirst and Ioremost, I would like to thank Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche Ior the opportunity
to study and contemplate these precious, proIound teachings more deeply. Personally, I am
entirely grateIul to have been able to muddle through and edit this book. I can compare it
to being handed this beautiIully cut diamond and being asked to polish it. To begin with, it
turned out to be much like creating smudges on a diamond, and the more I rubbed away,
the more smudges there were. But thankIully, a diamond is simply a diamond.
This teaching is based on the short preliminary practices oI the Longchen Nyingtik
and is essentially derived Irom transcripts oI teachings given during an eight-day retreat in
Germany. The text oI Khyentse Wangpo`s short preliminary practice in Tibetan, phonetic
Tibetan and English translation, along with associated liturgies and commentary by Dilgo
Khyentse Rinpoche may be Iound in 'The Excellent Path to Enlightenment (translated by
the Padmakara Translation Group, published by Snow Lion, 1996). One other important
companion text is Patrul Rinpoche`s classic commentary on the Longchen Nyingtik
Ngndro: the Kunzang Lama`i Shelung`, also known as The Words oI My PerIect
Teacher` (translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, published in 1994).
In the process oI bringing these retreat teachings into book Iorm, as much as
possible, the attempt has been made not to detract Irom Rinpoche`s unique style and
manner oI communicating. At the same time, the contents have undergone various changes
both in wording and structure. To enhance the overall Ilow Ior the reader, the original
sequence has been somewhat reorganized, and many oI the questions have been regrouped
into particular heading sections. On the whole, the headings themselves, which are
hyperlinked in the electronic version oI this document, aim to highlight some oI the more
important points rather than categorize according to subject. Also, those broader
discussions, not so directly related to this practice, have been largely omitted since
Rinpoche has expressed that the main purpose is to provide students and practitioners with
a kind oI manual Ior ngndro practice.
Throughout the text there is regular usage oI Sanskrit and Tibetan terms, mostly
with diacritical marks added. Rather than make all transliterated terms into italics, most oI
the less common terms have been italicized. Eor instance, terms such as duhkha and dkini
are in italics, whereas the more Irequently cited Sanskrit and Tibetan terms such as
nirmnakya` and ngndro` haven't been italicized and nor have personal names.
Eor any errors or inconsistencies I take sole responsibility and regret that owing to
my own conIusion, there is likely room Ior improvement. Since this compilation is meant
to be an ongoing project, comments and suggestions will certainly be much appreciated.
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to Doris Wolter who transcribed and edited several oI the transcripts and
also provided invaluable support in those crucial early stages. It was also Doris who
suggested and contributed to the headings in their current mode. Thanks also, to all who
transcribed the teachings, and especially to Arne, Ior all his thoroughness. There are many
others who have contributed in numerous ways; but in particular, the editor would like to
thank Claudia, Steve, Suzanne, Maree, Derek, Douglas, Cynthia, Daniel and last but not
least, Kelly, who has kindly provided the artwork and the drawings oI the mandalas.
Chanel Grubner, editor Chanel Grubner, editor Chanel Grubner, editor Chanel Grubner, editor
S SS SOME OME OME OME C CC CRUCIAL RUCIAL RUCIAL RUCIAL A AA ASPECTS TO SPECTS TO SPECTS TO SPECTS TO B BB BEGIN THE EGIN THE EGIN THE EGIN THE N NN NG GG G NDRO NDRO NDRO NDRO
s we all know, the Buddha`s teachings aim to liberate us Irom all kinds oI
delusion, and that is what we call enlightenment. Now when we speak oI
liberation, we are not only trying to be released Irom temporal delusion, but
also Irom the very root oI delusion, so that delusion will never again occur. And in using
this term delusion` not only does it reIer to some oI the more gross delusion it also
includes the subtlest oI delusion, as well. Some oI the aspects we consider to be path, or
that we treasure as wisdom, or some oI the things we think oI as virtuous are eventually
the very things that also need to be puriIied.
To enable us to release ourselves Irom all the delusion, the Buddha taught numerous
diIIerent methods. Traditionally, the teachings speak oI more than 84,000 methods. Each
is intended to meet the needs oI diIIerent kinds oI sentient beings, with varying kinds oI
motivation and determination. There are those who are determined to completely renounce
themselves Irom samsra and that is their main aim. Because oI this, the Buddha taught the
whole srvaka vehicle.
1
And then, there are certain types oI sentient beings who have an
even greater kind oI determination. Not only do they have the resolve oI escaping Irom
samsra but there is also the determination oI not dwelling in nirvna. In other words,
there is the determination to escape Irom all kinds oI extremes not only Ior oneselI but Ior
the sake oI all sentient beings. Eor these beings, Buddha taught the greater vehicle,
generally known as the mahyna. In either case, whether it is the greater or the lesser
vehicle, each oI the methods, and both these paths liberate us Irom delusion.
Escape or liberation Irom delusion is diIIicult, because oI our many strong habits.
These habitual patterns are something we have developed over countless liIetimes, over so
many years. So one could say that the buddhadharma is a systematic method oI peeling
back the layers oI these habitual patterns. It is as though the habitual patterns are a skin
and through our study and practice we begin to peel oII this skin. Each time we peel oII
one layer oI skin we discover an inner skin, and think oI it as the real Iruit. Soon enough,
however, we realise that it is yet another skin, and then we peel oII that layer. But this is
quite diIIicult because we have the tendency to get stuck with the inner layer oI skin,
thinking that it must be the Iruit. We do not immediately comprehend that this is but a
more stubborn and subtle delusion. Eor this, we need mind training.
Both in the mahyna and in the srvakayna, there is a complete structure oI mind
training. Within the srvaka tradition, one`s training oI the mind is based on disciplining
the body, speech, and mind. This is accomplished through the whole vinaya structure,
Irom shaving the head, wearing robes, and basically renouncing the worldly liIe
physically. In the mahyna, we try to tame or train our mind, with even more vigorous
methods. Besides contemplating on renouncing worldly liIe, we also try to train our minds
to understand the general situation and the varying stages oI other sentient beings. In other
words we practise compassion and generate the so-called bodhicitta mind so as to
enlighten all sentient beings.
This practice Ialls within the mahyna path. Again, because oI diIIering
determination, two categories oI methods are Iound: there is the mahyna that teaches the
cause as the path, and the mahyna that practices the result as the path. With this ngndro
you are practicing within the second category, which is to take the result as the path. This
is also known as the vajrayna path. On this path, we train our mind not only through the
renunciation oI worldly liIe, and by generating compassion and bodhicitta, but also, we try
A
Some Crucial Aspects to Begin the Ngndro
8
to train our mind by transIorming impure experiences into pure vision. That is the Iorte oI
the vajrayna; there is a specialness about it because oI this diIIerence in attitude.
The vajrayna way oI looking at the world is quite diIIerent. A prtimoksa attitude
2
is to see this samsaric world as something impure, and this is what they call the 'Truth oI
SuIIering. So in Iollowing this to its logical conclusion, the world is something to be
gotten rid oI and something to escape Irom. That is the srvaka attitude. In the mahyna,
samsra is also thought to be imperIect, but instead oI trying to escape, the aim is to
practice compassion and bodhicitta. In the vajrayna, we try to understand the reality
impure phenomena is also pure and has been pure all along. This is what we try to
contemplate.
UnIortunately the term ngndro` has misled a lot oI people. Literally translated, it
actually holds the meaning oI preliminary practice.` So somehow, we have developed the
idea, 'It is something not as important or that 'it is not the main practice. We think it is
something required` beIore you actually do the real thing` or the main course.` That is
sad because as your study deepens, you will realise that apart Irom the whole ngndro
practice, you will not Iind anything more distinctive in the vajrayna. Still, I can
understand why in the past, the lamas have mainly identiIied the ngndro as a preliminary
practice; not only does it tend to encourage practitioners, but also it is sort oI structured
that way.
Anyhow, as I go through and explain the practice oI ngndro, rather than going
much into the technical side, I`d like to convey more oI the crucial points. As Ior the
visualisations and other technical details, you can always Iind instructions in the great
commentaries, such as the 'Words oI my PerIect Teacher. Alternatively, you can even
receive tips Irom other students on how to do prostrations and things like that.
The Structure of the Ng The Structure of the Ng The Structure of the Ng The Structure of the Ng ndro ndro ndro ndro
There is reIuge, then there is bodhicitta and Iollowing on Irom this, there are the three
exclusive vajrayna practices. ReIuge is the Iirst preliminary. ReIuge diverts you Irom the
wrong path to the right path, and in this way, it is actually a prtimoksa practice. Then
within the right path, we have the greater path and the lesser path, although oI course, both
are right path. In order to encourage practitioners to practice the greater path we have
bodhicitta, which is the embodiment oI the entire mahyna path. And when using
methods such as visualisation, substance and mantra, which are methods not Iound in the
srvakayna and the mahyna traditions, we are then talking oI the vajrayna. There is
the Vajrasattva mantra recitation and the mandala oIIering where we use substance as a
support to practice. Then Iinally, in order to dismantle this cocoon oI delusion, we have
the most proIound path oI guru yoga. So these three, Vajrasattva, mandala oIIering and
guru yoga are essential to the vajrayna path. Thus, all three vehicles are contained within
the ngndro: reIuge as a prtimoksa practice, bodhicitta as a mahyna practice and the
rest as a vajrayna practice.
Ngndro practice is not a kindergarten practice it is actually a main practice. As
Patrl Rinpoche said, 'In many diIIerent ways, ngndro is much more important than the
main practice, because it is a Ioundation. Being with some oI the great masters such as
His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche, I know this to be true Irom
my own experience. One would think iI this were only a preliminary, or prerequisite
practice, then we would not Iind great masters practicing ngndro; surely, such a great
master as Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche would not need to practice Nyingtik Ngndro, but I
Some Crucial Aspects to Begin the Ngndro
9
have seen this with my own eyes; even towards the end oI their lives, I Iound them
practising ngndro. This alone should indicate why ngndro practice is so necessary.
Distinguishing the Theory from Distinguishing the Theory from Distinguishing the Theory from Distinguishing the Theory from the the the the Pith Pith Pith Pith Instructions Instructions Instructions Instructions
In the study and the practice oI Buddhism, you may have noticed the Iact that we tend to
Iind two terms. There is what we reIer to as the actual theory,` which in the mahyna is
stra or shstra and there are also the pith instructions. Similarly in the vajrayna we have
tantric texts such as the Klachakra, Chakrasamvara or Hevajra and then, we also have
what we call pith instructions. While there is quite a big diIIerence between theory and
pith instructions, at the same time, they also have to complement each other a lot.
It is quite strange, but I have noticed that both in the East and in the West, when
studying the mahyna, people tend to Iall too much on the theory side. Many people seem
to put more emphasis on the theory and Iorget about the mahyna pith instructions. This
even happens with madhyamika texts such as the Bodhicharyvatra, which is maybe
more oI a pith instruction in any case. In the vajrayna, it is the other way around. I have
been to many dharma centers, and have met a great number oI dharma students who seem
to value the pith instructions, and yet they have completely Iorgotten the tantric texts, and
the study oI the tantra. Yet the theory and the pith instructions are equally pertinent.
Especially iI you seriously want to pursue the path oI the mahyna or the vajrayna, this
is something you should really keep in mind.
The distinctions between the theory and the pith instructions are straightIorward. To
use the analogy oI learning to drive, there is a driving manual that comes with the car,
which is something you can read Irom the Iirst to the last page. This manual is
synonymous with the tantric texts and that is what we call theory. That part is very
important. So the text itselI is very logical, and rational. But as Ior the pith instructions,
these are quite Ilexible, and at times, quite dramatic and outrageous.
Suppose there are IiIty people wanting to learn how to drive, each with diIIerent
kinds oI paranoia and with diIIerent physical abilities. Perhaps some are unable to use their
right Ioot properly, or have some other kind oI irregularity. Each person has his or her own
unique and distinctive kind oI physical and mental condition. Now oI course, when
teaching someone to drive, the text itselI, the driving manual is standard, and Ior that
matter, it is the same car. So I would give you the same materials. Some oI the instructions
such as iI you steer to the right, the car goes to the right` are also standard. Eor the non-
standard instructions, it all depends individually, on things like how much time you have.
Some oI you may not care how Iast you learn. Others may really want to learn intensively,
within three days Ior instance.
Sometimes I might have to teach something that appears to have absolutely nothing
to do with the text. I might say, 'Drink a cup oI coIIee Iirst, beIore you drive. The context
could simply be that you have not woken up properly yet. The text will never say, 'You
have to drink a cup oI coIIee beIore driving. That is only my own judgment: This student
needs to wake up a little so they should Iirst drink a cup oI coIIee. This is what we call pith
instructions. They are very versatile, colourIul, unorthodox, and sometimes not so logical,
just like when the Zen masters say, 'What is the sound oI one hand clapping? It is a
question that seems completely ridiculous, but depending on when, where and with whom
you are using such a method, it works, individually.
Which category does the ngndro teaching Iall into? Is it theory or is it pith
instructions? Maybe Ior some oI you it will come as a surprise but it is actually mainly pith
instructions. It is not theory. Eor instance, both the whole practice oI prostrations and the
Some Crucial Aspects to Begin the Ngndro
10
mandala oIIering are pith instructions. II you want to know the theory behind this, you
have to study something like the Guhyagarbha Tantra` or a similar kind oI text. What
I`m saying is please, at least, have the aspiration that one day you can go and study why
you have to do such and such a practice. By learning tantric texts like the Guhyagarbha,
you will then know why prostration works or does not work.
It is oI even more importance that we learn how to interpret the theory. To return to
our example oI learning to drive, I am sure there must be some mention in the car manual
oI what you need to be cautious about. Probably on the Iirst page it says: 'Exercise
caution. Don`t drink and drive, and remember to be alert. The theory is like that; it is not
completely spelled out. You simply have to be careIul when you drive. That is all the
theory can say. In eIIect, be careIul` is open to a lot oI interpretation. DiIIerent people
need to be careIul in diIIerent ways. With this in mind, you will relate to why doing one-
hundred-thousand prostrations works Ior some, and yet Ior someone like Milarepa it
wasn`t necessary, because he was building a nine-storey house. Or why, Ior some students,
the lama might say, 'There is no need to do prostrations, because that person might be
doing something else like conIirming the lama`s Ilight tickets. Otherwise, there is the
danger oI thinking that certain things are almost mandatory and that as a vajrayna student
one has to Iollow the Tibetan way oI doing prostrations. In other words, you would have
developed the misunderstanding that every driver needs to drink a cup oI coIIee beIore
they drive.
On the Iirst page oI the manual, having read that one has to be careIul when driving,
it is very important to learn how to interpret that. Maybe Ior someone like you it means,
'drink a cup oI coIIee then perhaps Ior someone else, drinking coIIee might make them
nervous, or agitated, so maybe a sip oI margarita is better to relax them! It is totally the
opposite!
Again, please keep in mind that most oI the vajrayna rituals, and all the methods
such as mandala oIIering, and especially guru yoga are pith instructions. Also, you should
know that there are many diIIerent layers oI pith instructions. Certain pith instructions are
more generic in nature, such as 'do one-hundred-thousand prostrations, and then there are
exclusive pith instructions given to diIIerent individuals.
So as I am explaining, I will be reIerring to both the theory and some oI the pith
instructions. I`ll try hard to be as loyal as possible to the actual text, the ngndro, and the
whole vajrayna concept. When I give the pith instructions, most oI the time I will be
repeating what I have heard Irom my teachers, because in practice, I rely on their pith
instructions. That is to say, I have not so much experience since I have not done so much
practice. However, with the little practice that I have done, I have managed to gain some
obscured experiences. Based on some oI this understanding, I will also give instructions.
Three Pith Instructions to Start the Three Pith Instructions to Start the Three Pith Instructions to Start the Three Pith Instructions to Start the Ngndro Ngndro Ngndro Ngndro
This pith instruction I have heard Irom my masters and it also comes a little Irom my own
experience. As stated in many oI the teachings and as I have heard numerous times Irom
my masters, every time we begin practicing, it helps not to plunge into the practice right
away. This especially applies, iI you are a very busy person, with only Iive minutes Ior
your daily Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro or whatever practices you might be doing. Even
ordinarily, we have this constant train oI thoughts. But suppose you had been quarrelling
with your Iiancee just beIore the practice. More than likely, there will be this chain oI
thoughts oI what to say to your partner, and these thoughts will be coming one aIter
another. You then see that it is time Ior your ngndro practice. II you start your practice
Some Crucial Aspects to Begin the Ngndro
11
right away, it is not going to go so well. To instead, just Ior a Iew moments, put a stop to
this chain oI thoughts, I have Iound this to be very, very useIul. There are actually
countless methods on how to stop the chain oI thoughts. But Ior me, beIore I practice I just
sit Ior a while and every time the thoughts come along, I try to stop that by bringing in the
notion oI renunciation mind, over and over again.
I think oI how I am now Iorty years old and iI I lived to be eighty that would be
quite a long time. In this dangerous, unhealthy world, to live until eighty years oI age is
quite an achievement, and yet out oI eighty, halI is already gone. So all I have is the other
halI and iI I continue to live in this way, this next Iorty years is going to go just like that.`
Things are like that. I think oI what Guru Rinpoche has said and how 'Out oI this Iorty
years remaining, I am going to sleep the equivalent oI twenty years, because halI the time
we are sleeping. So now there are only twelve hours a day that could actually be termed
living. Out oI these twelve hours, judging Irom my own attachment, let`s say I watch at
least one movie a day. That ends up taking at least a Iew hours, which leaves perhaps ten
hours out oI the day. Anyhow, when you go and watch a movie, you have to wait until it
starts. That is quite sad, because we are waiting Ior something totally ridiculous to happen.
Sometimes we wait Ior quite a long time, perhaps up to IiIteen minutes during the
advertisements. Then eating oI course, especially iI you go to a Erench restaurant with a
six or seven course meal, that`s really going to take up so much time. And at least every
other day we will gossip. So now we have maybe Iive hours or so leIt. Out oI Iorty years
that means eight years remaining but most oI that will go into paranoia, anxiety, and so
Iorth. There is very little actual time Ior practice.
So anyway, this should give you an idea oI how to stop the chain oI thoughts. Try
not to immediately throw yourselI into the practice; instead you just watch yourselI, and
watch your liIe. Watch what you are doing. II you are doing say ten minutes oI practice
every day, Ior at least two to three minutes oI that time, you should do what we call
stopping the chain oI thoughts. In doing this, we aim to transIorm the mind. We do so by
invoking the renunciation mind, by thinking in terms oI 'I am dying. I am coming closer
to death and so Iorth. It really helps.
Among the various traditional methods to transIorm our ordinary perception, one
very good one is what we call clearing the stale air.` AIter doing several minutes oI
stopping the chain oI thoughts, you sit straight and breathe in quite strongly. You then
block your right nostril as you breathe out Irom the leIt. On the out breath, you can use
incredible vajrayna methods, such as visualising that all your passion, and desire in the
Iorm oI dark red light goes out, in the same instance. Then you breathe in Irom the same
nostril, and iI you want to elaborate on this, you can think that all the buddha`s and
bodhisattvas wisdom and compassion dissolves into you, in the Iorm oI light. Then block
the leIt nostril and as you breathe out, think that all your aggression in the Iorm oI dark
colour Ilows out. Again breathe in and out Irom both nostrils, and this time, think that all
your ignorance in the Iorm oI dark light, comes out in a kind oI dark cloud.
I would not linger too much on the details oI the visualisations. Just think that
whatever you are visualising is happening. On this, there is one Iurther pith instruction.
When you do a visualisation, do not linger on one Iorm, by questioning: what kind oI
white light, or to what diameter is the light? The whole purpose oI the vajrayna
visualisation is to occupy the ordinary thoughts with extraordinary thoughts and that is the
vital aspect here. II you rely too much on one detail, you are opening the door Ior more
obstacles. As soon as you think it is Iine, don`t linger on it, just immediately go on to the
next step oI the visualisation. That is one very common pith instruction.
Some Crucial Aspects to Begin the Ngndro
12
There is another aspect to clearing the stale air. In the vajrayna, we Iind these terms
prna, ndi, and bindu, which are terms that are not even Iound in the srvakayna and the
mahyna tradition, let alone the meaning. It is in the vajrayna, that there is a complete
path to achieve enlightenment in this very ordinary body. In the srvakayna and the
mahyna, in order to achieve enlightenment you have to actually get rid oI this body.
Only then do you reach the parinirvna. So ordinarily, this prna, or the wind, is like a
blind horse, and our mind is the handicapped rider. Thus, when beginning your practice by
clearing the stale prna, it has properly created this inner atmosphere. And, I think, it is a
good one to use. That is one method.
The next is not a must, but I would suggest doing it. Suppose you are practising at
home, what you do is completely convince yourselI that the place where you are is not just
home in Germany` or wherever you happen to be. This place is not this house or this
apartment`; it is a pure realm. Truly that is so important. Especially since the vajrayna is a
path that transIorms impure vision into pure vision.
When we say impure vision` this is not in the sense that there is something dirty,
like you might Iind in Kathmandu. It has nothing to do with that. It is impure because we
think in the way oI 'a ceiling is only a ceiling and a Iloor is only a Iloor. We are stuck
with these notions. It is impure in that we think, 'One thousand people won`t possibly Iit
into my bedroom. It is impure in that we think, 'This can`t be used as a bedroom. There
are all these dualistic distinctions, where we imagine that such and such can be used only
Ior a certain purpose, or is too white, too dark, too hot, too cold, and the like. Likewise,
when we say the buddha realm` we are not talking about something you might see in
some science Iiction Iilm, and nor is it some kind oI really happy heaven. We are talking
about a realm oI non-dualism. But this in itselI is diIIicult to understand right now. This
realm oI non-dualism, how does it appear? Eor the beginners, since this is Longchen
Nyingtik Ngndro and since Guru Rinpoche seems to be the main Iigure, we can visualise
this realm as the Copper Coloured Mountain. OI course, that does not mean the ceilings
and walls are made oI copper and all oI that. Basically, what we are doing is getting rid oI
this ordinary perception that we have. Even by thinking, 'This is not what I think it is that
alone will change ordinary perception. So that is the third oI the three pith instructions to
start the ngndro.
The Theory of Jisualisation The Theory of Jisualisation The Theory of Jisualisation The Theory of Jisualisation
Here, I will bring in the theory a little, because it is necessary. When you think, 'This is
not truly existing in the way I see it, Irom an ordinary point oI view that is being kind oI
crazy or irrational. Yet Irom the theoretical point oI view oI the vajrayna, it is correct
because everything you see is your own perception. What you see is not what it is. It is
only your perception. II there are several people looking at the same girl, one person may
be thinking, 'That girl is beautiIul and then, another person may think the very same girl
is ugly. What they see is not what she is. Based on that theory, when we look at this
house` and think hot, cold, white, black or whatever, we know all oI this is only what we
see, and is not what it is. So you see the theory and the instructions always come together,
and complement each other. Eor now, the only way to practice this is through transIorming
our ordinary perception.
When it comes to the visualisations, quite a Iew people tend to have problems. I
have actually noticed this and think it is because Tibetan teachers like myselI who come to
teach, assume the whole world has to process things in the same way that Tibetans do. We
teach you how the Buddha looks in accordance with the Tibetan way, adorned with certain
Some Crucial Aspects to Begin the Ngndro
13
ornaments and so on and so Iorth. In reality however, a pith instruction is like a doctor`s
advice to their patient. It is a piece oI personal advice, and depending on the nature oI the
patient, there is a suitable diagnoses and prescription given. It would not be right were a
doctor to tell all their patients exactly the same thing. That would indicate that the doctor
was not well equipped. So in all likelihood, iI you begin to understand the theory in a little
bit more depth, you will also become quite comIortable with the visualisations.
The main purpose oI doing the visualisation is to puriIy this impure vision, the
ordinary perception. So in that case, what is pure perception? It is not to say we have to
see things just as they are painted in the Tibetan thangkas. Eor many people pure
perception should be somewhat similar to how Tibetan thangkas appear. Yet that is not
right, and is not at all the point. In Iact, iI you manage to transIorm everything so that it
duplicates the thangka, it will only have become even worse. In the paintings, they don`t
blink their eyes, have no backs, are Ilat, Irozen, and their clouds don`t move. The whole
point is to destroy this impure perception. Anyway, personally Ior me, the Tibetan
paintings, and pictures have no real vibrancy.
So what do we mean by impure perception? Impure perception at the moment is
basically everything that we see, perceive, and label. This is not because something is
wrong out there, and that`s why everything is impure. Instead, it is because at the moment,
our being is covered either by desire, jealousy, pride, ignorance, or aggression. So
whenever we perceive something it is always through these Iive emotions. When looking
at a person, we may look atthem through the Iilter oI passion, and thereIore, will see them
as very desirable. Looking at another person, and seeing them through the lens oI
aggression, will cause us to see them as very ugly and hideous. When perceiving others
through our own insecurity, we make judgements, reIer, and compare, so that we Iinish up
either trying to deIend or boost our pride, which is a result that is stemming Irom
ignorance. The list goes on and on. All the diIIerent perceptions we have are only arising
Irom our very own minds and are coming through these emotions. So that is why
everything we experience always ends up being some kind oI a disappointment.
Regardless oI whether it is Ielt in a big or a small way doesn`t really matter, the point is
there is always a little bit oI disappointment. This is what we are trying to puriIy.
It is all a matter oI training the mind. In the prtimoksa tradition they train their
minds by disciplining the body, and speech through shaving the head, by begging alms,
by wearing saIIron robes, and by reIraining Irom all kinds oI worldly activities, such as
getting married and all oI that. In the mahyna, on top oI that they train their minds by
meditating on compassion, bodhicitta and so Iorth. In the vajrayna, over and above these
two, we try to transIorm the impure vision into something pure. How do we learn to do
that? It is through doing the ngndro, step by step. So our very Iirst step is to stop the
chain oI thoughts. We then clear the stale air through doing a little bit oI visualisation, and
bring in the notion that the very place where we are is no longer an ordinary place.
Already we have begun transIorming the impure vision.
The Three Wholesomenesss The Three Wholesomenesss The Three Wholesomenesss The Three Wholesomenesss
The next three points are what Patrl Rinpoche taught as the three wholesomeness`s. In
whatever you do, and in whatever dharma practice you might be doing, always begin with
this motivation oI beneIiting all sentient beings. Now when we say beneIiting, this not
only reIers to ordinary help, such as giving Iood or ordinary assistance, it is also the wish
to enlighten all sentient beings. The Iirst wholesomeness is so important, because without
Some Crucial Aspects to Begin the Ngndro
14
that our practice will become selI-oriented, and will be just another act oI selIishness. So
always have this mind oI 'I shall practice Ior the sake oI all sentient beings.
Even with a simple act oI lighting a lamp, always begin with the bodhicitta. When
you light a lamp simply to make the room beautiIul that represents a very ordinary,
worldly kind oI thinking. II, in lighting the lamp, you do so to accumulate merit and think
that your doing so will destroy samsra this is then a prtimoksa attitude. Then again, iI
you light the lamp and think, 'With this merit may all sentient beings achieve
enlightenment that is the mahyna attitude. On top oI that, iI you think: 'This light is not
an ordinary light. It is a wisdom light that illuminates all sentient beings. To have the
aspiration, 'As the light shines, everything becomes the mandala that is a tantric
attitude.
In the midst oI perIorming any good deeds, or even as you are practising the
Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro, you should also remember, 'All this is only an interpretation
oI my mind. This second wholesomeness is actually what we call the practice oI non-
duality. You need to repeatedly convince yourselI: 'My mind is doing this. I am just
imagining this. None oI this is truly existing. Let`s say you are doing prostrations. Under
the very act oI doing them, we then think: 'This is me, I think, and Ieel that I` am doing
prostrations. I` Ieel that I` am having some sort oI pain, but in effect, this is my mind.
All this is basically just mind. The beneIit oI thinking in such a way is incredible since you
will not cling to your dharma deeds. This is also a direct antidote to your pride and your
ego. And as much as the dharma is supposed to be an antidote to our ego, it can also build
up the ego through our having this idea oI being a good dharma practitioner. While
practicing, we should always try to recognise, 'This is only my mind.
You might then question, 'II it is only my mind, does that mean there is no merit?
Even the notion there is merit,` or there is no merit` is only an interpretation oI our mind.
Then, Ior the last point, at the end oI the practice we always dedicate the merit.
Again, even the merit we have accumulated is not kept Ior ourselves. We dedicate the
merit Ior the sake oI all sentient beings. So these are the three points we call the three
wholesomeness`s.` This introduces some oI the crucial aspects to begin the ngndro
practice.
The Special Preliminaries The Special Preliminaries The Special Preliminaries The Special Preliminaries
R RR REEUGE EEUGE EEUGE EEUGE
ext, is the explanation oI the reIuge. Now the longer length Longchen
Nyingtik Ngndro was composed by the great Jigme Lingpa and edited by
Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. In this long length version, just aIter chanting
Lama khyeno.,` there is a 'Calling oI the Guru. It is so beautiIul. Not only are you
calling the guru, but you will see, there are also these parts where it reveals the weakness`s
oI a dharma practitioner. It is so valuable to read and comprehend that. You might think it
is a cultural diIIerence, but I have been thinking about this a lot, and actually, it is not.
Certainly, in the West, people are used to encouragement, and are accustomed to hearing
things like: 'You are doing well. You should do more oI that. Keep up with this. In
Eastern cultures there is more critical reIlection: 'You are not doing this so well, and so
on. And with Buddhism originating Irom India, you might think, perhaps this critical
reIlection is an inIluence coming Irom Eastern culture, but this is not the case. Indeed, the
whole purpose oI the dharma is to dismantle this protective system oI the ego. So Ior this
very reason, every word oI the dharma, and each and every dharma method must go
against the ego.
By reciting such liturgies as the 'Calling oI the Guru by Jigme Lingpa, and iI you
read and contemplate on the stanzas, it will at least poke some holes in the ego. And this
poking a Iew holes in the ego`s cocoon is what we call 'the dawn oI a dharma
practitioner. Though most oI us, including myselI, are not really dharma practitioners
we are dharma students. We are interested and inspired by dharma, and the dharma makes
sense at times, although not all the time, oI course. But to be a practitioner oI the dharma is
entirely diIIerent Irom this. A practitioner is someone who has seen the Iutility aspect oI
the eight worldly dharmas, or is at least attempting to give them up. That is really, really,
really diIIicult. But having said this, it is not unachievable. I have deIinitely seen it being
achieved among Westerners. With only 30 40 years oI history in the West, the dharma is
quite new, so Ior me, it is quite a surprise. Yet Ior many oI us, already the dharma is
poking some holes in these eight worldly dharmas.
Differing Levels of Fear Differing Levels of Fear Differing Levels of Fear Differing Levels of Fear
There is one immediate motivation that prompts us to take reIuge. In the ordinary theistic
way oI taking reIuge, that trigger is most oIten a Iear one that is usually very mundane
and related to loss and gain in this liIe. Something like, iI you Iear getting wet you take
reIuge to a raincoat or an umbrella. Slightly better than this, is the prtimoksa attitude to
practice, which is triggered by Iear oI samsra. There is a Iear oI going to hell, hence one
takes reIuge to god or even Buddha, and then prays Ior the release oI heaven, or something
oI a similar nature. Surprisingly, although we think we are vajrayna orientated, many oI
us actually take a srvaka approach. Very Iew oI us are practicing the vajrayna. Then
again, iI we have a prtimoksa attitude, we should think ourselves lucky. Srvakans are
very high in the scheme oI things. Their attitude is so sophisticated because at least they
are completely revolted by samsra. Are we? I don`t think so. On the contrary, we are in
love with samsra. In this sense, srvakans are extremely precious. Their primary Iear is
being caught in samsra and dwelling in it.
N
Refuge
18
The Iarmers are IearIul that perhaps there will not be timely or suIIicient rainIall. So
out oI Iear, they go along to the Tibetan temple and pray to the Buddha Ior rain. In the
srvaka tradition, whether or not there is an abundant rainIall is not the main concern.
Samsra is their main Iear; samsra is bad. Then, Ior the bodhisattva, there is a higher Iear:
aside Irom Iearing samsra, they are also aIraid oI nirvna. In the vajrayna, there is an
even more sophisticated Iear. Not only is there Iear oI samsra and nirvna, they are also
aIraid oI impure perception. They know, as long as you have this, the root oI extreme
duality will never be dismantled. It is Ior this reason, that we take reIuge in the Buddha,
dharma, and the sangha. So depending on the varying levels oI Iear, there are diIIerent
ways oI taking reIuge. Eor the Iarmer, Buddha is the creator oI rain or you could say, the
guardian against hail. That is what they pray Ior. It is the Iarmer`s way oI taking reIuge
and it is a very obscured kind oI reIuge. Eor the srvakan, Buddha is a tutor, who will
coach them on how to escape Irom samsra. Although this is much better than a theistic
approach, still, it is a lesser approach.
Without Knowing the Essential Theory, Without Knowing the Essential Theory, Without Knowing the Essential Theory, Without Knowing the Essential Theory, Refuge Refuge Refuge Refuge Is Thei Is Thei Is Thei Is Theistic stic stic stic
In the mahyna and the vajrayna, the reIuge is more advanced. OI course, we say similar
things when reciting the reIuge liturgy: 'I take reIuge to the Buddha, dharma, and the
sangha, or in the case oI the Longchen Nyingtik, 'I take reIuge to prna, ndi, and
bindu or 'I take reIuge to the guru, deva, and the dkini; I take reIuge to the dharmakya,
sambhogakya, and the nirmnakya. It doesn`t matter how you take reIuge, the most
essential part oI the theory oI reIuge exists both within the mahyna and especially, in the
vajrayna. When we say, I take reIuge to the Buddha, the ultimate meaning is 'I accept
that I can be enlightened and that I have the buddha nature. This is very important to
understand. Without knowing the essential theory, iI you just Iollow the pith instructions,
you may be just like one oI the many vajrayna practitioners who think the Buddha is
there,` and then prays. It is very theistic. II taking reIuge in this way, there is not such a
big distinction to be made between Christianity and Buddhism. AIter all, apart Irom the
name diIIerentiation oI Buddha and Jesus Christ, what is the diIIerence? It is like treating
the Buddha as a god. This is why you need to know the theory oI reIuge. When we say, 'I
take reIuge to the Buddha, we mean, 'I accept that I can be the Buddha, that 'I am
Buddha, actually. Well, there is a diIIerence. 'I can be Buddha` is the mahyna attitude.
'I am Buddha is the vajrayna attitude. This example is one I have given many times, Ior
it is important.
Knowing the Dirt Knowing the Dirt Knowing the Dirt Knowing the Dirt I II Is Washable s Washable s Washable s Washable
Take Ior example the act oI washing a cup. Although we say we are washing the cup, what
is in Iact being washed, is the dirt. The pith instructions coming Irom your mother are, 'Go
and wash the cup. No mother or Iather would go so Iar as to explain in detail, 'The dirt
and the cup are diIIerent, but go ahead and wash the dirt. They would never say this.
Otherwise, there would be too much conversation and it would be too conIusing. So the
pith instructions are simple. Then, what you need to understand Irom the theory side is:
'You are not washing the cup. You are actually washing the dirt. II you managed to truly
wash the cup, the cup would disappear. This tells us so much. It tells us the cup and the
dirt are two separate entities. It also tells us the dirt is washable and that the dirt itselI is
not the cup. That is the quintessence oI the reIuge.
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II you don`t have an insight into the quintessential reIuge, you will have no
conIidence in taking reIuge to the Buddha. Eor example, when a mother, who happens to
have housekeeping experience, tells her son or daughter to wash a cup, this mother has
conIidence. She knows the dirt and the cup are separate entities. That is why a mother or
Iather has this conIidence to say, 'Go and wash the cup. Likewise at the vajrayna and
mahyna level, the theory tells us we are the Buddha, and the buddha nature is within us.
This dirt that we have is only temporal. Accepting and knowing that is the quintessence oI
the reIuge. That is the theory oI reIuge.
Separating the Pith Instructions from the Theory Separating the Pith Instructions from the Theory Separating the Pith Instructions from the Theory Separating the Pith Instructions from the Theory
So what is the pith instruction? It is the washing machine, or the dishwasher, made by
Blaupunkt, or Sanyo. Some say German-made is better, but Ior someone in India, this
might not apply, because iI the machine were to break, Iinding the parts to Iix it could be a
bit oI an ordeal.
The pith instructions vary. Eor the srvakan the pith instruction is: take reIuge to the
Buddha as a tutor. In the mahyna, it is very similar, yet we also have this view, 'I can be
the Buddha. There is also a diIIerent kind oI Iear. Not only is there Iear oI samsra, there
is also Iear oI nirvna. In the vajrayna, the pith instruction is 'You visualise the guru.
Now, do you visualise the guru in the way that he or she appears to you? In Iact, most pith
instructions tell us we should visualise the guru as a buddha or as Guru Rinpoche.
Basically, we are advised to visualise the guru, in some kind oI an unordinary Iorm, not in
an ordinary Iorm. OI course, we then visualise the guru surrounded by all the retinue:
dkas, dkinis, buddhas, and bodhisattvas. All oI the objects oI the reIuge tree, this is what
you visualise in Iront oI you.
The Theory of The Theory of The Theory of The Theory of W WW Why the Guru hy the Guru hy the Guru hy the Guru I II Is s s s S SS So Important o Important o Important o Important
With the theory and the pith instructions, I will explain so as to make it easier to
distinguish between the two. So once again, let us shiIt back to the theory. Now the
question is why do we visualise the guru as a buddha or in some kind oI other Iorm? And
also, why do we visualise the guru, why not Shakyamuni Buddha? Eirst oI all, we have a
hard time relating the buddha nature with ordinary human beings, and secondly, Ior us to
see the guru as a buddha is very diIIicult. The guru yawns, and basically, he does
everything that we conceive oI as ordinary. He sometimes seems to be quite ignorant, or
quite spaced out, and at times, does things that are absolutely irrational. Then at other
times, we think he is okay. We think he is sort oI intuitive, and so on and so Iorth.
On this question, I will quote Irom Jamyang Khyentse Chkyi Lodr, Irom his
explanation oI the guru yoga. In the mahyna and the vajrayna, we believe the buddha
nature is maniIesting all the time. However, when not reIined by merit, this maniIestation
is usually expressed as pride, jealousy, anger, aggression, or passion. On the other hand,
when accompanied by merit, it is visible as devotion, compassion, love, understanding,
and tolerance. This devotion (our perception) is like a reIlection, and it is also through this
devotional door that we are able to see someone worthy to Iollow: someone whom we call
'guru. This is entirely a production oI the merit accompanying your buddha nature.
Why are there these human gurus who were born and died at such and such a time?
There is a very good theory on this. It is said, 'Even though countless buddhas and
bodhisattvas have come and gone, most oI us lack the merit to meet them. You wouldn`t
have suIIicient merit to see them as buddhas and bodhisattvas, even iI you encountered
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them. Take the example oI Devadatta, who was a cousin oI the Buddha. He was travelling
and living with Shakyamuni Buddha all oI his liIe, yet didn`t gain one good thing out oI
his cousin, because he was constantly so jealous oI the Buddha.
What you shouldn`t Iorget is the guru is an expression oI your devotion and merit.
By now, as a reIlection oI this merit and devotion, you see this being as someone worthy,
and wholesome. At the same time, the guru is also someone who pokes holes in your pride
and your ego. AIter all, this is our objective, isn`t it? At least, as a dharma practitioner you
are supposed to want this to happen. Wanting to keep your ego intact while going ahead
and asking a guru to destroy the ego is not only painIul it is also criminal. Eor that matter,
this just won`t work. Thus, in the reIuge, we are essentially saying, 'Erom now, until
attaining enlightenment not only will I destroy surIace delusions, I will go right to the root,
and completely uproot this delusion. And what is the root oI delusion? It is the ego. You
then ask a person to do this, and this person happens to be the guru. Actually, this is why
in the Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro it is said: 'The guru is equal to the Buddha in quality,
and yet his kindness surpasses the buddhas oI the three times.
So many buddhas have come and gone, yet you have neither met them, nor have
they talked to you, or at least, you have not understood. But this guru this buddha has
talked to you, upset you, disappointed you, hurt your pride, and all. And since that is what
you need, there you have it. Theoretically, this is why the guru is so important.
There is one more point to add to this. BeIore we questioned why we have to
visualise the guru as Guru Rinpoche. We think in terms oI 'Shouldn`t I just visualise him
the way he is? Having seen and walked with him, it is much easier Ior me to think oI him,
as I have seen him with my own eyes. Yet in my entire liIe, I have never once laid eyes on
Guru Rinpoche. The only thing I can reIer to are these Tibetan paintings and statues. Why
make things more diIIicult? There is a very important theory Ior this. Eirst oI all, the
whole purpose oI the vajrayna is to transIorm the impure vision into pure perception. To
think oI the guru in the way you have seen or experienced is your own impure perception.
It is an impure perception that we need to be rid oI right away. II you can`t immediately
destroy the impure perception oI ceiling is ceiling,` wall is wall` and Iloor is Iloor` that
is Iine. What is more important is discarding the impure perception oI the guru. This is
Iirst and Ioremost. It is all your own interpretation that he yawns, sleeps, has ordinary
thoughts, or acts strangely. That is your perception. That needs to be transIormed.
Again, I will quote Irom Jamyang Khyentse Chkyi Lodr, who said, 'II you treat
the guru as an ordinary person, and then pray to him, you will have a corresponding
result. So iI you think oI the guru as a good, compassionate man that is as much blessing
as you will have. II you think oI the guru as an arhat, you will have the equivalent result
and blessing. II you think the guru is a great bodhisattva on the Iirst or tenth bhmi that is
the kind oI blessing you will receive. Similarly, by thinking 'the guru is the Buddha you
will receive enormous blessings corresponding to that kind oI attitude. So it all depends on
your own attitude, and keep in mind that in any case, it is all your own perception. Really,
you should try to understand this aspect oI guru devotion, because there have been so
many misunderstandings, both around devotion and the guru-disciple relationship in
general.
Nowadays, many in the West have begun to think in the way oI, 'this whole guru
system is a bit like a dictatorship. Also, in the East, where we tend to Iind societies which
are oIten very ConIuciust in their way oI thinking, there is always this notion that the
leader is always right. Even iI the leader says, 'this wall is black, when it is actually
white, all the subjects, and the whole social group will have to agree the wall is black. II
you look at China, this kind oI thing is still going on. Whatever Jiang Zemin says goes
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with how many millions oI Chinese. At least in the West, with someone like President
Bush, he can say something and the whole oI America just laughs at him. But in China it is
the other way around whatever the boss says is right.
The guru concept is beyond dictatorship. It goes beyond 'what the leader says is
always right. Guru is totally diIIerent Irom this notion, and by understanding the theory it
should really clear away many doubts. There is one very important reason that clariIies
this. Please make a mental note, highlight it, print it in your book in bold, and keep it
constantly in your head. Within the entire vafrayna, Within the entire vafrayna, Within the entire vafrayna, Within the entire vafrayna, you you you you will never, ever see a guru yoga will never, ever see a guru yoga will never, ever see a guru yoga will never, ever see a guru yoga
practice without practice without practice without practice without the the the the guru disso guru disso guru disso guru dissolving into you. lving into you. lving into you. lving into you.
II you were to Iind such a practice, I can conIidently say it would either be wrong, or
it would be a text taught by a phoney teacher. Never would there be a practice not
requiring the merging oI you and the guru. This tells you that guru is beyond this concept
oI dictatorship and the ConIuciust idea oI worshipping the leader. When you worship the
leader, the leader is always the leader. It is they that are better or the big guy while you are
always secondary.
In the vajrayna, the whole purpose oI the guru yoga, the whole purpose oI the guru
devotion practice is to recognise that your mind is the Buddha. Your mind is the ultimate
guru. And to reach that understanding, we have the outer guru. We have the dissolution,
and there is this merging oI your mind and the guru`s mind. There is no ultimate dictator
up there` directing your everyday liIe. This is absolutely not the right way to understand
it. The most quintessential thing one needs to Iinally realize is, 'your mind is the Buddha.
That is the theory. Thus, the guru who actually comes about as a reIlection oI your
devotion is unquestionably important. I have never denied this. Paying homage and respect
to whatever your qualiIied master has said is very crucial. Nonetheless, please don`t Iorget
the theory.
Instructions for Prostrations Instructions for Prostrations Instructions for Prostrations Instructions for Prostrations a aa and nd nd nd W WW Why hy hy hy W WW We e e e Count Count Count Count
Visualise the objects oI reIuge right in Iront oI you. II unable to be so elaborate, you
visualise the guru in the Iorm oI Guru Rinpoche or Vajradhara and simply do that as best
as you can. There is really no need to dwell too much on the details oI the visualisations.
Just have conIidence and think that he is there, surrounded by all the buddhas and
bodhisattvas. You are in Iront oI the object oI reIuge doing prostrations.
Prostrations are an immediate means oI taking reIuge and also a method oI
destroying pride. As a gesture oI surrender, and as an expression oI the intent to totally
give up and expose our pride, we throw ourselves at the Ieet oI the guru. To symbolise
this, we prostrate, placing the Iive points oI our body our Iorehead, hands, and knees
down on the Iloor. That is the theory.
To return to the pith instructions, generally speaking, there is a tradition oI doing
one-hundred-thousand prostrations. It is actually quite important to have this target. Yet
some people argue that keeping track oI the amount doesn`t matter. The Iact is our minds
are very strange. Whenever it suits, we manage to bring in this non-duality theory oI
'counting doesn`t matter, but it is only because there is this resistance to doing it.
Counting does matter. Eor us, since we are ordinary human beings, it encourages and
disciplines us. Doing one-hundred-thousand or two-hundred-thousand prostrations is
necessary. So Ior those physically able, and Ior those who have the time, you should do it.
What I will say is: your pace in completing this is relatively unimportant. Einishing one-
hundred-thousand prostrations Iaster than someone else does not necessarily mean you
will achieve enlightenment sooner. It is more in the attitude, and in your motivation.
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Personally, I would say you should do one-hundred-thousand prostrations. II you were to
do one-hundred-IiIty prostrations a day, which usually takes about halI an hour at most,
then within three years you will Iinish one-hundred-thousand prostrations quite
comIortably.
Eor many oI us, being quite worldly people, iI we only think about the merit and our
practice, the motivation Ior doing prostrations does not come that readily. We might
encourage ourselves by thinking, 'well, I should do prostrations because it is good Ior the
health. I certainly do not discourage these kinds oI thoughts. Basically, in this time and
age anything that takes you towards the practice oI dharma is quite important. Doing
prostrations saves money since you don`t have to go to the gym. It accumulates merit and
muscles. So at the very least, have this kind oI motivation. And while doing the
prostrations, aIter every twenty-Iive or even aIter every ten prostrations, you should
regenerate this motivation oI 'I want to do this Ior the sake oI sentient beings. At the
same time, think that the guru is there. So then, by regularly bringing in the bodhicitta
mind, you are also taking care oI the merit side oI things.
As you take reIuge, visualise your Iriends, Iamily, and countless sentient beings all
around you. Eor those you Iind annoying, visualise that these people are right in Iront oI
you. They are also doing prostrations. This is a very mahyna attitude. Not only do you
take reIuge, all sentient beings also take reIuge along with you. Then, towards the end, iI
you are accumulating prostrations and want to end the session, you dissolve the objects oI
reIuge into you. Otherwise, iI you are doing the ngndro as your daily practice, what
Iollows next is the bodhicitta. In this case, you do not need to dissolve the reIuge objects.
You can let them just remain, since when practicing the bodhicitta there should be a
witness oI bodhicitta anyhow. As you are Iinishing your session, think that all the objects
oI reIuge dissolve into light, and come towards you, dissolving into you. Or iI you wish,
the reIuge objects don`t even have to dissolve into light. You can imagine that they come
towards you slowly and then dissolve into you.
| || |Student Student Student Student| || |: :: : When we prostrate and take reIuge, how do we count?
|Rinpoche |Rinpoche |Rinpoche |Rinpoche| || |: :: : Count the prostrations. Upon Iinishing the prostrations, you will have
completed roughly two-hundred-thousand repetitions oI the verse. You count whatever is
the most diIIicult.
Inseparability with the Obfect of Refuge Inseparability with the Obfect of Refuge Inseparability with the Obfect of Refuge Inseparability with the Obfect of Refuge
Many people have the idea that as the object oI reIuge dissolves into us, somehow we are
like a big bag, and along comes this object, something like an apple being put inside the
bag. That is not a good way to think. II you are like a bag, and the reIuge object is like an
apple, it is not really a true dissolution. The reason being you still see the apple and bag as
separate. Many people dissolve in such a way. They think to themselves, 'I am an
ordinary, worthless, useless, ugly, stupid sentient being, and now, the guru and the
buddhas come and sit somewhere inside oI this. It is not like that. To better understand
the concept oI dissolution, take the example oI a broken pot. Say we have this pot. Both
inside the pot, there is space, and outside the pot, there is space. II you break the pot, the
space inside, and the space outside, then becomes inseparable. You cannot really tell
which is which. You cannot say this` or that` make up the space oI the pot. It is
impossible to distinguish between the two. Likewise during the dissolution, you and the
object oI reIuge become inseparable. Understanding in this way is so important.
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So you remain in that state as much as you can. In Iact, in the vajrayna, this is
considered to be the essential practice. ThereIore, iI you have the time, you should once
again, do the Iront visualisation and again dissolve it, watching that dissolution over and
over again. Just watch that state oI oneness between selI and the object oI reIuge over and
over again. What does it do? This is a bit like throwing in the Iishing rod with the bait so
as to hook the wisdom. You can see the appearing oI this wisdom and there is a
considerable amount oI non-duality there. Why is this? Remember, there you were
thinking oI yourselI as a pathetic ignorant sentient being, and all oI a sudden the object oI
reIuge is there, this wholesome, great, beautiIul buddha. Now you and the object oI reIuge
have become inseparable. Watching that state will deIinitely bring the inner wisdom.
An Example Practice Session of the Refuge An Example Practice Session of the Refuge An Example Practice Session of the Refuge An Example Practice Session of the Refuge
In doing the practice, the Iirst thing in the morning is just to sit and stop the chain oI
thoughts. You can continue to sit Ior as long as you like, and when you are ready, you then
do the clearing oI stale air. It is done in three sets, which ends up being nine exhalations.
AIter that you do the prayers, and recite the reIuge, three times. Actually, you should
memorize the reIuge liturgy, because when doing the prostrations, you are supposed to be
simultaneously reciting the reIuge.
AIter stopping the chain oI thoughts, we then invoke renunciation mind. We do so
by reIlecting on impermanence, the precious human body, the Iutility oI this liIe, and the
essence-less aspect oI the eight worldly dharmas. Essentially, we are contemplating the
Iutility aspect, and the never-ending cycle oI all these samsaric engagements that we have.
Next, we clear the stale air.
AIter that, we transIorm the ordinary place where we are into a pure realm. To assist
in doing this, we invoke Guru Rinpoche and recite the Seven Line Prayer, three times.
Again, remain Ior a while, and sit straight.
There are many ways to do this. You can recite the verses out loud or do it silently.
II you like, instead oI reciting it, you can contemplate and meditate on the meaning.
Visualise the object oI reIuge in Iront oI you, with the guru in the Iorm oI Guru
Rinpoche, surrounded by all the retinue. There are buddhas, bodhisattvas, srvakas, deities
such as, Chakrasamvara and Vajrakumra, as well as dkinis, and dharmaplas. You are
in Iront oI the object oI reIuge, along with all sentient beings. As you take reIuge, think:
From now until enlightenment.
I take refuge in the Buddha, dharma, and the sangha.
I take refuge in the three roots, the guru, deva and dkini.
I take refuge in the three essences, prna, ndi, and bindu.
While reciting this, bring to mind the theory oI reIuge, knowing that the guru, and
the object oI reIuge are an expression oI your buddha nature. There, in the presence oI the
objects oI reIuge, think that you are taking the vow to enlighten all sentient beings.
Thinking in this way, recite the reIuge and the bodhicitta. Lastly, visualise that the object
oI reIuge dissolves into you and remain in that state, as much as you can.
Like Like Like Like Space Dissolving into Space Space Dissolving into Space Space Dissolving into Space Space Dissolving into Space
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : Normally, aIter the reIuge, I dissolve all the reIuge objects into me and then
dissolve all the sentient beings that were in Iront oI the reIuge tree with me. Is that correct?
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|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That is good. II you want, you can think that the objects oI reIuge dissolve
into you and all sentient beings. No longer are there any ignorant sentient beings - all the
sentient beings have become buddhas and have dissolved into you. There is no longer any
you` existing apart Irom them` as an independent entity. There is no them` in the sense
oI the sentient beings and the buddhas. It is like space dissolving into space.
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : Is the notion oI visualising and dissolving, the same as the concept oI the
developing meditation?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, actually, there is already a little bit oI developing and completion
meditation. But the developing meditation is more on the outer level, and until the guru
yoga, it is not really a practice oI developing yourselI. In the longer version oI the
Longchen Nyingtik, during the guru yoga, you have to develop yourselI as Vajrayogin but
you don`t do this in the shorter version.
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : I was wondering about the importance oI doing the practice in order, or iI we
can do sections at a time?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: II you are doing this ngndro as a daily practice, yes, this is the order. Also, it
is generally the same order iI you are doing the accumulations oI one-hundred-thousand
prostrations, and so Iorth. What tends to happen is whatever part oI the practice you are up
to, that is where you spend more time accumulating. So once you have Iinished one-
hundred-thousand prostrations and are Iocusing on Vajrasattva, then you would do the
reIuge or bodhicitta three times and go on to the Vajrasattva, concentrating more on that.
Once you have completed Vajrasattva, you would then do seven times oI that mantra and
then concentrate on the mandala. That`s how it works.
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : Aren`t there two sections in the ngndro where you need to prostrate?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Now you are talking about the long length version. II doing the long length
Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro, not only do you prostrate during the reIuge, but also during
the guru yoga. AIter the reIuge, bodhicitta, Vajrasattva, and the mandala, you come to the
guru yoga. Within the guru yoga, in addition to the Seven Line Prayer, there is something
we call the Seven Limb Prayer. Traditionally, as you recite the Seven Limb Prayer, you
should do another one-hundred-thousand prostrations. It is something you can do. Mind
you, one-hundred-thousand prostrations may sound diIIicult, but Ior most oI us, it is not
really.
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : What does Copper Coloured Mountain mean?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It reIers to the colour oI the heart, which is also red. It is supposed to be the
heart, and this again is a symbolic term Ior the buddha nature.
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: : : : In practicing loving kindness, I have always thought oI this as the seed oI
bodhicitta.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, loving kindness is a sort oI seed, but until there is a mind to enlighten all
sentient beings, it is not bodhicitta.
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : The third jewel in the object oI reIuge has always been very obscured Ior me. I
don`t understand what sangha is.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Sangha is the reIuge companion. On what basis don`t you understand? Do you
mean in the ultimate sense?
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : Well, the sangha doesn`t seem to be enlightened.
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|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: In the mahyna sense oI the term, the sangha are enlightened beings, but then
again, the sangha is also more like a companion. Buddha is like a tutor, or a coach, and
dharma is the path. The sangha is the supporter, someone who supports. When you say
sangha, what exactly are you reIerring to?
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : I am not sure.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, I don`t know how much we qualiIy as the object oI reIuge. I guess we
do, since we are Iollowers on the path. But the sangha we are reIerring to in this particular
reIuge liturgy are actually those who possess the qualities oI the bodhisattvas.
The Concept of The Concept of The Concept of The Concept of D DD Dki ki ki kin nn ni i i i
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : And the dkinis?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: The concept oI dkini is very complex. Prna, which is the wind, movement,
energy, or activity is the dkini. So the wind is the outer Iorm, or the outer expression oI
the dkini. Ordinarily, when talking about the dkini, we always seem to have in mind a
beautiIul lady. I guess that is a Iairly limited understanding oI the dkini. In Iact, the
dkini is the activity aspect oI the buddha nature. The purity aspect is the ndi, which are
the veins or channels. And the essence aspect oI the buddha nature is bindu, which is guru.
In other words, guru, deva and dkini are one essence, three aspects. But this is something
you will come to learn slowly so there is no need to worry.
In the ngndro, there is a tendency to brieIly mention words like this. Later on down
the track, in the more elaborate teachings, and when you receive teachings on the
developing meditation, then you will understand. Anyhow, it is good to put these terms in
your head so that you get used to them. OI course, this is not the only purpose, since in the
Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro you are also taking reIuge to prna, ndi, and bindu.
Different Terms to Describe the Buddha Nature Different Terms to Describe the Buddha Nature Different Terms to Describe the Buddha Nature Different Terms to Describe the Buddha Nature
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : In the bodhicitta verse, there is the term selI-existing awareness.` Is this buddha
nature?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, it is buddha nature. There are all these diIIerent terms Ior the buddha
nature. It is as though each term is a slightly diIIerent language, yet this is very necessary,
and eventually, you will get to know them. In Iact, selI-existing awareness` is one term
we use when the guru introduces the nature oI the mind. It is when we are establishing the
view that we mainly reIer to the buddha nature. In other words, the term buddha nature is
more oI a theoretical language. When talking more on the result level, we tend to use the
term dharmakya. Then with the pith instructions, we use terms like rigpa, and selI-
existing wisdom, etc. Eor diIIerent occasions, there are diIIerent terms. Similarly, even Ior
everyday objects such as spoon` Ior instance, within certain circumstances, we might also
use diIIerent terminology. Normally, we would say, 'bring me the spoon, however, Ior a
student at a science institute, there would be all this diIIerent naming sequence, with
diIIerent atoms, and metals, instead oI simply using the reIerence oI spoon.`
The Eight Worldly Dharmas The Eight Worldly Dharmas The Eight Worldly Dharmas The Eight Worldly Dharmas
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : What are the eight worldy dharmas?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: The eight worldly dharmas are: wanting to be praised, not wanting to be
criticised, wanting to be happy, not wanting to be unhappy, wanting to gain, not wanting to
lose, wanting to be Iamous, not wanting to be ignored.
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Translating the Dharma Translating the Dharma Translating the Dharma Translating the Dharma
| || |S SS Student| tudent| tudent| tudent|: :: : How important is language? What is the diIIerence between doing the practice
in our own language as opposed to doing the practice in Tibetan?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: So Iar, in western languages, generally, translation is still undergoing a
process oI development. Take Ior instance the translation oI Sanskrit, and this word
tathgatagarbha,` which, when translated into Tibetan is deshek nyingpo.` Now with
this, no matter whether you go along to the Sakyapas, Nyingmapas, Kagyupas, or
Gelugpas, all Tibetans speak the same language. In the West, within the scope oI English
translation at the present time, some may call it, buddha nature,` some call it, buddha
within,` and others call it, basic human goodness.` The translators Irom the West are still
in the process oI developing the terms. Not only with the texts, but also with Buddhist
literature in general, or with anything that is translated, there is always this kind oI
drawback.
Tibetan dharma comes Irom India. Indeed, when you hear oI the Tibetan scholar
Gedun Chophel criticising the Tibetan versions Ior not always being correct, it is quite
Irightening. Just imagine how much you can lose, since English is like a third-hand
translation. So when it comes to the question oI doing it in English, or Tibetan, or
translating it into your own language, basically, it is up to you individually. Practice has to
hit your heart. It has to inspire you.
Having said that, let`s not Iorget that Buddhism is not a theistic religion. Evoking
the emotion is deIinitely not the only purpose to Buddhist practice. In Iact, this aspect oI
the practice is not anything like going to church and singing hymns. When you read
Buddhist chants, not only should it penetrate your emotion, and bring up devotion or
inspiration, it should also destroy the ego. To achieve this, usually, you need to understand
the meaning oI what you are chanting. OI course, you could always say it in Tibetan and
read along in your own language to Iollow the meaning. I guess this works Ior some
people. And actually, iI you were to go along to some oI the older Tibetan lamas, they
would say you should chant in Tibetan. You might even be taught Tibetan, and be told to
visualise in Tibetan right down to the heart syllable, the six syllables. Some oI the more
orthodox, more traditional Tibetans would say this. Even with the younger generation, we
hear a similar thing, but surprisingly, I oppose some oI their reasons, having been more or
less based on habit.
Among the lamas, these methods have been practiced Ior hundreds oI years, which
is why it is said we should practice in this way. But a number oI others have put Iorward
some very good reasoning, and I have something to add to this. Since Buddhism has
decided to blossom in the West, and since this is through the prayers, aspirations and
karmic deeds oI people like yourselves, you should really develop the courage to integrate
Buddhism within your culture. It is your children who are going to be Iirst generation
Buddhists. OI course, Buddhism and culture will always have certain diIIerences, but to
develop Buddhism within your system, culture, and language is quite important. Otherwise,
there is the necessity oI learning another language and culture in order to get into it.
Language is quite important, since it really determines the meaning. Right now, in
this age, we can sort oI get by with these poor translations into English, German, and
Erench, or whatever language it might be. Even so, we should still work hard. Please,
study Tibetan, or, iI it happens to be your second language, study English, so as to better
use the language. Also, you should try to be lyrical. There are many great writers around
the world, like Herman Hesse, Ior instance. There is this use oI such beautiIul language,
Irom German writers, and also Irom many other great writers. Just think oI the possibilities
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in terms oI translating. There are not only sdhanas such as the Longchen Nyingtik, but
also, there are the stras, with many volumes, as well as the shstras, with many more
volumes. All this needs to be translated into each diIIerent language.
What amazes me is the sheer volume oI work that the Tibetan translators managed
to accomplish during the Sixth and Seventh centuries. In this day and age, with computers,
email, and websites, everything is so simple. In the past, simply to get to India, Tibetans
had to walk six or seven months, only to Iind a totally diIIerent climate, Iood, and culture
upon arriving. They nonetheless put so much attention into their eIIorts.
So Ior this generation oI Buddhists, it is a kind oI crucial turning point in the West.
We should try and translate the dharma into our own languages, and should deIinitely try
to relate the words properly. This is my own judgment in a way, but I think that relying
only on Tibetan is very short sighted. When I teach in the West, sometimes we talk Ior
hours about one word, and I have never Ielt it to be a waste oI time. I Ieel it is good to
discuss this kind oI thing. Take Ior instance, the term duhkha,` which is a Sanskrit word.
At the moment, it is translated as suIIering. Samsra has suIIering. Now, what is suIIering
in the German language?
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: :: : Leiden. It means pain, grieI, or sadness.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Pain, grieI, sadness. You see, this is why we need to discuss the words. The
term duhkha is so rich in meaning. It has the connotation oI uncertainty` and not
knowing` or even: oI never being sure what will happen next.` There is the implication oI
impermanence, and the knowing that everything is going to change. The only certainty is
things are are are are going to change. And besides that, it also has a connotation oI pain, as with
something unbearable, and as with something unwanted. So when we say things like: one
must abandon` or escape` the suIIering oI samsra, we always tend to be looking down at
a minor suIIering. The suIIering we are generally reIerring to is something like the pain oI
a headache, or the grieI oI depression. It is something we don`t see as part oI the
impermanence. We are not looking at the uncertainty aspect. II you truly have a Ieel Ior
this word, you should know how to apply it to a very ordinary situation. Like when you are
having a delicious ice cream, which is quite an enjoyable moment, even at such a time,
you can reIlect how that too, is duhkha. You realise it is uncertain, and changeable. And
who knows? Perhaps this ice cream is going to make one sick, or perhaps, it is going to be
the sole cause oI one`s death.
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: :: : When chanting in languages other than Tibetan, there is no magic at all. There is
no real rhythm, or any kind oI symphony.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : In Chinese Buddhism there is the saying, 'A Ioreign monk always reads the
stra better.
Many people like Tibetan culture, but personally, when it comes to the painting and
the music, Ior instance, I cannot stand Tibetan art, and I don`t like Tibetan songs. What I
do like is Indian music. And even though I do not understand one word oI what they are
saying, I also like European operas. It is just the rhythm and the emotion that makes an
impression on me. I Iind Tibetan music to be quite boring. In this sense, we are the same. I
also Iind other cultures more interesting, but that`s just the way things go.
Anyhow, when it comes to practicing in a group, in some instances we might meet
up perhaps once a year, and then we are given this text that we are not so Iamiliar with. So
I would suggest sticking with one chanting style. It takes time to learn a rhythm, so it
becomes a choice oI more practice` or getting the rhythm.` Why dedicate so much time
on choir class? There is this perIectly good, monotone style that is still being utilised, both
by the Tibetans, and also by those practicing Japanese Zen.
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But in choosing the language that you want to chant in, it is really up to you,
especially iI you are practicing individually. There are two things you might want to
consider: do you want emotion or do you want to penetrate your mind stream with the
meaning? I think it is good to opt Ior the second oI the two.
Bringing Bringing Bringing Bringing F FF Forth the Inspiration orth the Inspiration orth the Inspiration orth the Inspiration
We don`t have that much inspiration. OI course, I don`t blame you. Even I, myselI,
although I am rolling around in the dharma all the time, still I Iorget about practicing the
dharma. Still I Iorget that I am getting closer and closer to death. So Ior you guys, who are
tending to babies, have a job to do, or some sort oI appointment to keep, you have a much
harder go oI it. But even so, when there is time, we don`t have the inspiration, and nor do
we put that much attention into having it. We wouldn`t even give it the same degree oI
energy that we might put into watching a Iootball game, Ior instance. And many people
say to me: 'I am so lazy! Rinpoche, what should I do? OI course, there is a general
antidote Ior this situation. To read dharma books, and listen to the stories oI the great
masters oI the past, will certainly inspire you. Reading something like 'Milarepa`s Songs
really does bring Iorth some inspiration. But eventually, aIter a while, because your mind
is so clever, you will know how to escape Irom that also. I have read songs composed by
Milarepa many times, and on many occasions, it has worked. DeIinitely, you should read
such works as 'Milarepa`s Songs and the 'Words oI my PerIect Teacher. There are so
many beautiIul books, which can inspire us. Do what will inspire you. What I am saying
is, you can`t solely rely on this. II you rely only on these methods, aIter a while, you will
become so jaded, and this is how we end up becoming callous. How do you say this in
German?
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: :: : Hornhaut |in German, this translates as horned, or thick skin|.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : We have become such a hornhaut. II the Buddha Shakyamuni himselI had
decided to spend time with you Ior one whole month, Ior the Iirst week, it would be quite
inspiring. He would inspire you. But perhaps aIter one week, he would start to get on your
nerves. I have a Ieeling about this. Eor instance, we might end up thinking, 'He is too
perIect or 'he doesn`t make any mistakes, and that alone will get under your skin. Every
time you look at him, he is perIect. And then, in our stupidity as ordinary human beings,
we always Iinish up comparing: 'He is so good. How come I am not like him? We have
this habit oI comparing and oI wanting to be good. Eor this kind oI problem, Ior this
laziness, and Ior loss oI inspiration, again we take reIuge to the Buddha, dharma, and
sangha. We say, 'Please, protect me Irom the menace oI laziness, and the loss oI
inspiration. Then, iI it helps, you can also light incense or candles. Bringing Iorth the
inspiration is really quite necessary. So this is a basic pith instruction and advice, on how
to practice the reIuge.
The Jalu The Jalu The Jalu The Jalue of Individual Practice e of Individual Practice e of Individual Practice e of Individual Practice
II you are doing the ngndro as your practice, you should really do it individually, because
in a group, especially where the group is being led, you don`t learn so much. Now in doing
it individually, you will tend to have a lot oI questions, and a lot oI doubts. Having said
this, not all doubts need answering. You should know that the doubt is here Irom now until
enlightenment. Anyhow, knowing how to practice the dharma thoroughly and then
practicing is just as unlikely as having a complete understanding oI how to drive, and then
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driving. By the time you really know how to drive, you have already been driving Ior
some time. It is not that you Iirst learn how to practice the dharma and then practice.
So try to practice individually and don`t rely too much on group practice. You
should be able to practice without the teacher, and without the sangha.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But what iI there`s a lot oI delusion going on? Shouldn`t I ask other people who
are more experienced Ior direction?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, oI course. But what I`m saying is, don`t rely too much on the sangha and
the teacher to practice.
Ng Ng Ng Ngndros ndros ndros ndros of the Same Tradition of the Same Tradition of the Same Tradition of the Same Tradition
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: :: : What`s the diIIerence between the Dudjom Tersar and this ngndro?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : On the whole, they are the same. The Longchen Nyingtik is like the mother oI
all Nyingma ngndros. OI course, the words are really diIIerent. But the Dudjom Tersar
has reIuge; it has bodhicitta; it has Vajrasattva; it has mandala and it has the guru yoga. In
any case, it is oI the same tradition; it is oI the Guru Rinpoche and d:ogpa chenpo tradition.
Whether you choose to do the long, or short version oI the Longchen Nyingtik, all
depends on how much time you have. This short version is made Ior busy people. II you
decide to do a Longchen Nyingtik retreat, then at times, you should also do the long
version, because it includes many teachings. There is much more inIormation. The shorter
it becomes, oI course, the easier it is to do, but then the inIormation also gets reduced
down too.
It is excellent that the long version oI Longchen Nyingtik has been translated into
German. It is really beautiIul, and the 'Calling the Guru part is especially poetic. This is
one oI the stanzas:
To have little remorse, lack the richness of faith,
To be bound by the lasso of desire and attachment, be prone to coarse
behaviour.
Not to have qualms about what is unvirtuous and evil, but to actively engage
in it,
To violate ones vows and to break ones samaya
Are the eight unfortunate conditions of an unfavourable mind.
When these conditions contrary to dharma, befall us.
O guru, turn our minds to the dharma.
Do not let us lose our way,
O kind guru, inseparable from the omniscient lords.
3
I would suggest doing the long version at times. Alternatively, iI you want, you can
do the short version, and then insert parts Irom the long version, such as the 'Calling the
Guru.
Each lama has a slightly diIIerent ngndro. As to which one you choose, it is totally
up to you and your intention. You might want to practice the Dudjom lineage in the Iuture.
Or iI you want to practice the trekch and tgal based on Yeshe Tsogyal, there is Yeshe
Tsogyal`s "Khandro Thugtik." And Ior those wanting to practice the Khyentse lineage, in
something like "Chetsn Nyingtik," there is also a trekch and tgal practice. OI course,
these two practices are slightly diIIerent, but they do not conIlict. In the Chetsn Nyingtik,
Vajrasattva is actually red and instead oI nectar, Vajrasattva sends you Iire which burns
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and cleanses you. I would suggest the Dudjom Tersar ngndro Ior some oI you, especially
Ior those Iollowing the Rigpa curriculum. This short version, I would also recommend, as
it is compact, yet also good. In any case, I can assure you that there is no conIlict. All
being Iollowers oI Longchenpa and Jigme Lingpa, how could there be?
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: :: : II you have a diIIerent version oI the S even Line Prayer that you`re already used
to saying, is it alright to continue with that one?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : That doesn`t matter.
Practice for the Practice for the Practice for the Practice for the S SS Sake of Enlightenment ake of Enlightenment ake of Enlightenment ake of Enlightenment
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: : : : I think you said beIore that we should not strive to become good people. This is
irritating Ior me because now I am hearing it`s more about our determination.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: : : : Actually, these two aspects Iit together very well. What I am saying is one
should practice the dharma Ior the sake oI enlightenment. Especially in the mahyna, our
aim should be to become enlightened, not only Ior oneselI, but also Ior the sake oI all
sentient beings. Becoming a kind, or good human being in the ordinary sense, like some
kind oI philanthropist, is not our intention. Nor are we aiming to win some kind oI a prize;
enlightenment is the prize.
Take Take Take Take the Highest Jiew the Highest Jiew the Highest Jiew the Highest Jiew While Applying While Applying While Applying While Applying the Subtlest Action the Subtlest Action the Subtlest Action the Subtlest Action
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: :: : But somehow our actions are to be hnayna and should be very strict, yet our
view should be unlimited?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : We should be very strict with our actions, but on the view, one should adopt a
vajrayna-like view. When we say something like, 'Who cares about being good and bad,
we are talking about the view. It is this attachment to being perIect that we really have to
get rid oI. I am not saying we should Iorget about being good or that we should not care
about being bad. I am saying you should go beyond that. It shouldn`t be our aim to be
good and nor should we have this Iear oI being bad. This is very related to the view. Our
actions should always be very subtle. So you practice the dharma as much as possible, as
perIectly as you possibly can.
The more classic way oI putting this is 'Take the outer Iorm as the hnayna, the
inner mind as the mahyna and then secretly, practice the vajrayna. How can you do all
oI this at once? You should always take the highest view and apply it to the subtlest action.
The subtlest, in this case, being a srvaka-like action. Many oI the prtimoksa actions to
reIrain Irom harming, such as not eating meat, or not drinking alcohol, are very
wholesome actions. II people look at you and see your actions are wholesome, they Ieel
inspired by you. So you apply that action, but always have the vajrayna view. What you
also need to keep in mind is one should not get carried away by the action. In other words,
the action should not take over the view and visa versa. Apart Irom the three non-virtuous
deeds oI the mind, iI oI beneIit to sentient beings, all other actions are allowed and
encouraged.
On top oI not harming sentient beings, and helping them, Ior the vajrayna
practitioner, there is also a responsibility to be genuine. Sometimes you try to act in a good
way and behave nicely, but then, the very act oI inspiring people becomes stiIled. By
placing so much emphasis into being an inspiration, you end up getting carried away by
the action. You, the practitioner, then become contrived. In Iact, the act oI inspiring, then
gets tainted by one oI the eight worldly dharmas, such as wanting praise and not wanting
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to be criticised. That is where the mahyna and especially, vajrayna practitioners pursue
this genuineness and are as natural as possible.
So always apply the highest view while using all kinds oI actions, including those
that may be considered to be the lowest actions. Were you to apply only the highest view
and the highest methods, you would be turIed out and turned away. You simply would not
be able to get through to anyone. You are a bodhisattva, and have to be able to eIIectively
communicate with people, just as Shakyamuni Buddha was able to in his time.
Nowadays, many people in the West have this idea that the Buddha was unIair to
women, since in the prtimoksa teachings, he is reputed to have spoken lowly oI women.
But in Iact, this is a very good example oI the Buddha having applied the highest view and
the subtlest action. What you have to realise is the Buddha was in India two thousand Iive
hundred years ago. India has long had this Brahmanic, Hindu-dominated culture. Then
there is this strong cast system, with high cast, low cast, and untouchables. Also, at the
time the Buddha appeared, there was this strong cultural background oI hierarchy between
men and women.
As a matter oI Iact, the Buddha is considered to be one oI the greatest reIormists. It
was like a time oI revolution, with much to reIorm. To make these reIorms acceptable to
the public, deconstructing the view oI an ultimate, truly existing, permanent creator, and
reIuting the notion oI cast system, happened to be outwardly more important than the man
and woman issue. Eurthermore, iI one can establish the view oI non-duality, then the
male/Iemale issue, which is another immense duality, is included automatically. Were he
to have gone against all oI these issues at the same time, nobody would have wanted to
listen.
There is another thing to add here. Among the three vehicles, the Buddha`s highest
teaching is the vajrayna and it is in the vajrayna that he went beyond saying men and
women are equal. What he actually said was, 'Women are more important. This is
something completely Iorgotten and ignored. Now in the vajrayna, one oI the most
important points is the samaya. There are Iourteen root samayas, which are like the
Iourteen most crucial things that a vajrayna practitioner must heed. The last one is,
'Women are the nature oI wisdom. II you ignore this, you are breaking the vajrayna
vow. And just to give a brieI idea oI the other Iourteen, it is also breaking a vow, 'II you
don`t hold the bodhicitta or iI you think your body is ordinary, and things like this.
You see how skilIul the Buddha was. Think about it. II you were a psychologist,
how would you talk to your patients? Let`s say your patient has this strong liking Ior
coIIee. Would you, as a skilIul, compassionate psychologist go and say, 'No, don`t drink
coIIee. Would you say that? Surely, you would say, 'Okay, maybe decaIIeinated; how
about that? You have to slowly work through this cloud oI thought. And then, Iinally in
the end, you say, 'CoIIee is bad Ior you. This is exactly what the Buddha did, although
many Western Buddhists seem to miss this point.
It`s easy Ior the Erench, the English and the Germans to come up and say, 'He is
being unequal. But what we are talking about is a society in existence two thousand Iive
hundred years ago. In particular, a Hindu society, one entirely dominated by Hindus Ior
Iive thousand years. Within this society, there were those, such as the ordinary
untouchables` who were even prohibited Irom standing up at certain places and locations.
Were they to do so, the sun would have made their shadow Iall in a particular way to the
ground. AIter that it would be considered an obscured place.`
Even today, men in society dominate more than women. It`s very unequal. It is very
unIortunate but this is the human mind. Societies have always looked down on women.
Then in America, we Iind one oI the biggest organised groups oI women, Iighting Ior
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women`s rights and liberation, but despite all this, it is the only country that has yet to
produce even one woman with a really high status. The highest status that has maniIested
Ior a woman is secretary oI state. In Asia, in a region thought to look down on and even
abuse women, in some oI these countries, women actually have such high positions. Sri
Lanka, Ior instance, was the Iirst country to elect a Iemale prime minister. So iI you are
asking me whether the world has been more or less Iair to women, the answer would have
to be no.
In actual Iact, sometimes this so-called democracy can be so dangerous. Take Ior
instance sexual orientation. Just because most human beings are straight, it does not Iollow
that we should look down on homosexuals. But we do. This happens so much. Prejudice is
always there. Eor my part, I think oI myselI as being quite liberal about sexual orientation.
I have really sat and meditated and questioned myselI, 'Do I have prejudice towards
homosexuals? I Iound that I could conIirm, actually, I don`t have any prejudice. But then
recently, a gay person asked me a question related to doing the Chakrasamvara practice.
Now Chakrasamvara has a Iemale consort, Vajrayogin, and so he asked, is it okay to
visualize his consort as a male instead? I had to think Ior a Iew days. And then, I was
amazed at how prejudiced I am, not to have the ability to answer, 'Yes, you can. I didn`t
have that sort oI conIidence. OI course, I always have this Buddhist training Ioremost in
my mind, which is honestly not an excuse, I must say. I told him that the whole Buddhist
concept oI consort has got nothing to do with a male organ or a Iemale organ. It`s got to do
with the union oI emptiness and appearance. Erom the Buddhist point oI view, when we
reIer to a deity, we are talking about appearance and emptiness. Emptiness represents the
space, and wisdom represents the appearance.
Looking back to the origin oI the vajrayna, historically it was taught to King
Indrabodhi, who made the request: 'I want to have my queens, my elephants, and my
palace. I don`t want to give any oI this up. I want to be king. You are the Buddha; surely,
you must know a method to enlighten me without abandoning this. You are omniscient.
You must have the power to teach me the way. It was then that the Buddha taught the
vajrayna Ior the Iirst time.
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: : : : How could he become a student when he had no pure motivation?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Well, this is a symbolic history. He must have had pure motivation. AIter all,
he really wanted to achieve enlightenment. At the same time, he didn`t want to give up all
the worldly pleasures. And as the Buddha said, 'It is not these worldly pleasure objects
that are binding you it is your attachment. He then taught the Guhyasamfa Tantra, the
very Iirst tantra ever taught. AIter receiving teachings on the Guhyasamfa Tantra, not
only was Indrabodhi, the king beneIited, but also the entire kingdom. They all achieved
enlightenment. It is written down in history. Erom the soldiers to queens to the kings, the
whole kingdom became empty. As a matter oI Iact, it is this very place that is called
Uddiyna.` And, we actually, reIer to this place when reciting the prayer: 'In the
northwest of the land of Uddiyna. Or as recited in Tibetan, 'Hung, Orgyen yul
gyi, .
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: :: : But iI the Buddha had come to Erance in the Middle Ages and said, 'There is no
God, they would have burned him on the stake right away.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Exactly, that`s the very reason that getting rid oI the real problem is so
important to the Buddha. Women and men can wait the two thousand Iive hundred years.
The issue oI God is the biggest problem, because it is your ego up there. Nobody would
have listened. Just as there are some people, who are really, very good at criticising so that
nobody listens. Being very skilIul is entirely necessary. And when teaching the vajrayna,
Refuge
33
he did say, women are very important. Again, this is something that the Western Buddhists,
especially Iemale Buddhists, seem to have missed.
Eirst oI all, there is the general audience, which consists oI thousands oI people.
When talking to the general audience, you can`t reveal too much, only what is suitable.
The Buddha taught the mahyna to a speciIic audience. Eor a very speciIic audience the
Buddha taught the vajrayna. So it is saIe to say, since the more speciIic teachings need to
be taught in a diIIerent manner, these teachings are taught more selectively. Obviously, it
is quite diIIicult Ior the general audience to believe that the Buddha taught this speciIic
teaching.` AIter all, it was done in their absence. As a result, there is some kind oI dispute
around this. Even today, iI you go to Sri Lanka or Thailand, they think that Tibetan
Buddhism is Hinduism, not Buddhism.
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: :: : Rinpoche, in the srvaka tradition wasn`t it said that women can`t achieve
enlightenment.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes. In the srvakayna, they have that understanding. They say that in a
women`s body you can`t achieve enlightenment. That`s what I am saying; the Buddha said
that Ior the general vehicle.
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: :: : But I believe iI I could attain enlightenment in this liIetime as a woman, it`s not
because I am a woman, it`s not that.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Now, you are talking about the vajrayna. In that case, it`s possible, and is
agreed. Buddha approves oI that and Buddha supports you in that. No problem.
B BB BODHICITTA ODHICITTA ODHICITTA ODHICITTA: : : : ONE OE THE MAIN EOUN ONE OE THE MAIN EOUN ONE OE THE MAIN EOUN ONE OE THE MAIN EOUNDATIONS DATIONS DATIONS DATIONS
n the short liturgy oI the Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro, the reIuge and the
bodhicitta are in one sloka or stanza. However, please be aware that the
bodhicittais actually one oI the main Ioundations. Usually, when we reIer to
the Iour Ioundations,` reIuge is counted as the Iirst, and bodhicitta as the second, and
then, as the third and the Iourth, there is the Vajrasattva, and the mandala oIIering. When
we talk about the Iive Ioundations, we add the guru yoga.
It is important to think about the bodhicitta it is so essential. Older practising
Buddhists may consider themselves less at risk oI being distracted towards the wrong
view. We think we are quite seasoned Buddhists, unlikely to ever get attracted by a wrong
view or path. Many oI us think in this way, but this is where we have to be careIul. We
might not obviously go against the Buddha or the buddhadharma, yet Ialling into the
wrong view and getting attracted by the wrong path is quite easy and there are a number oI
reasons Ior this. Eirst oI all, most oI us take a very theistic approach, and owing to the
habit oI being theistic over many liIe times, this also causes an eternalistic approach. So
we see Buddhists, who are actually eternalists. And then, there is also the nihilistic
approach, especially among those who believe they have understood a little oI emptiness.
The problem is they also have the wrong view. Although appearing to be Buddhist, they
are actually more like nihilistic atheists. They may think oI themselves as Buddhists and
may not consciously go against the Buddha and his words, but still, it is a wrong path.
There are also a number oI more obvious issues that we should be cautious about,
especially in the vajrayna and within Tibetan Buddhism in general. This being a
degenerated time, there are many phoney teachers and I have noticed many oI us are
getting distracted by these colourIul methods. Despite their utilising oI many colourIul
methods, there are certain teachings that neglect to teach the ground oI view. There is not
even a basic view as the ground, but not having realised this, there is belieI in it as a
genuine path. II you have Iallen into such a path you have been trapped by the wrong path.
We may Ieel that we are seasoned Buddhists, but Ialling onto the wrong path is a danger
that lies in every moment oI every day.
Having a Complete Picture of Bodhicitta Having a Complete Picture of Bodhicitta Having a Complete Picture of Bodhicitta Having a Complete Picture of Bodhicitta
Assuming that we have managed to divert our attention Irom the wrong path and are
Iollowing the right path, then within that there is a lesser, greater, and greatest path. In
order to enhance the determination oI dwelling not only on the right path, but also on the
greater path, we practice the bodhicitta. We are now talking about the mahyna path,
which is a path oI dwelling neither in samsra or nirvna. The quintessence oI the
mahyna path is the bodhicitta so it is a much, much greater path. Eor many oI us, we
have a vague idea the mahyna concept oI bodhicitta has something to do with kindness,
tolerance, and some sort oI humanitarianism, such as with providing a certain social
service. Although quite good, this understanding is really not good enough, as it is but one
small aspect oI bodhicitta. II your understanding oI the absolute bodhicitta is limited to the
notion oI kindness, compassion, tolerance, humanitarian charity work, or even the sacriIice
oI your own liIe Ior the sake oI others, you still do not have a complete picture oI the
I
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
35
bodhicitta. And to have a complete picture, one should not Iorget that there is a relative
and an ultimate bodhicitta.
OI course, at an inter-religious conIerence, we have little choice but to speak
diplomatically and say: 'Christians talk about love and compassion. Judaism talks about
love and compassion. We Buddhists talk about love and compassion. All religions talk
about love and compassion and thereIore, we all have the same goal, but diIIerent routes.
This is what inter-religious conIerences are Ior. I am not trying to be chauvinistic. What I
am saying is Buddhist compassion and the mahyna concept oI compassion does not stop
there. There is something Iurther that is behind this compassion. II you don`t have that, the
Buddhist compassion, love and tolerance are exactly the same as Christian compassion,
Christian love and Christian tolerance. It can be the same as the very love, compassion and
tolerance that makes you co-dependent and eventually backIires on you. The tolerance or
compassion that does not have this something more` really victimises you in the end. You
need a complete picture oI the bodhicitta. And when we talk about the complete picture oI
bodhicitta` we are reIerring to the ultimate bodhicitta.
What is ultimate bodhicitta? It is an understanding oI emptiness. It is emptiness in
union with compassion. Christianity doesn`t talk about this, and nor does Judaism or
Hinduism talk about this. Actually, this is an aspect that we touched upon brieIly when
talking about the three wholesomeness`s. You always begin your practice with this good
motivation: wishing to enlighten all sentient beings, and then one should realise that
whatever you do is your own idea and is your own minds manifestation. So already, we
are approaching emptiness the non-duality.
II missing the non-duality, our every act will lead to a disappointment. So how Iar
do you go, iI you are a therapist trying to help an alcoholic or drug addict? II this person
has somehow decided to become a drug addict Ior the next Iive thousand liIetimes, as a
bodhisattva, you must have the determination to be reborn wherever they are going to be
reborn. You need this kind oI determination. You might, Ior instance, aspire to be reborn
at the proper time and place nearby him or her. Say Ior example, you are a bodhisattva,
and have been trying to help this drug addict Ior over two thousand liIetimes. Now,
somewhere in an obscure place, this 2421
st
rebirth is going to happen and although you
need only appear Ior halI a day, in order to do that you have to actually be reborn there. It
is almost a waste oI a complete whole liIe, just Ior halI an hour or halI a day, but as a
bodhisattva you must do it. That is what we call the strength and quality oI relative
compassion. But now we come to the real quintessence oI bodhicitta.
Why does a bodhisattva have this degree oI compassion? Why can`t they give up?
Where is the real base oI this conIidence coming Irom? It is because the bodhisattva
realizes the notion oI drug addict, problem, healing,` and being healed,` all these
notions around doctor and healer are all in the bodhisattvas mind. The bodhisattva
knows that none oI this exists out there` somewhere, externally and truly. Based on this
wisdom, the bodhisattva can develop compassion.
This helps a lot. My own experience is much like being a IireIly in Iront oI the sun.
Even so, when I try to help people, and things don`t work according to plan, I say to
myselI, 'Why is there Irustration? In the Iirst place, I have set up and personally imputed
a certain goal, which is oI my own interpretation. In helping a person, I imagine that he or
she should reach a certain level but this is entirely my own idea. AIter becoming just so
obsessed with the idea oI success, when the person is not there, I might lose hope and
conIidence in this person. Sometimes we do realise, 'all this is something I imputed, but
most oI the time, we don`t. Thinking: 'This is how it should be. This is real success, and
not realising it has to do with our own interpretation, this is where we go blind. But when
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
36
you are helping, iI you know this so called your help,` and success as you help` or
Iailure as you help` is all in your own mind, you don`t get worn out. You don`t become
tired because you realise that all this` is your mind`s doing. So this is a very general and
somewhat gross example oI the ultimate bodhicitta. II you have this picture oI bodhicitta,
you have complete bodhicitta.
To reiterate, ultimate bodhicitta is an understanding oI emptiness. Only then is there
a complete picture oI the bodhicitta. Most oI the time however, it is this aspect that is
missing. When we talk about bodhicitta, usually we make reIerence to something simple,
such as a kind compassionate heart, but that`s not it. This is something many people have.
It does not necessarily make you a bodhisattva. OI course, this is not to deny there are
very kind and very, very compassionate people. There are such people, and these people
may even sacriIice their lives Ior others, but still, they may not be bodhisattvas. In Iact,
there is a danger they are acting out oI their obsession and could end up being victimised
by their goal-orientated mind. When too obsessed with a goal, there are a lot oI other side
eIIects, such as thinking, 'this is how it should work. With this kind oI approach, when
things do not work out, a bodhisattva can lose hope and determination and may even stop
being a bodhisattva. But having said this, it does not mean a bodhisattva should just do
things aimlessly.
Eor a bodhisattva, having an understanding oI emptiness is not to say, whenever
something hasn`t worked out they would then think, 'oh, this is emptiness, and stop
there. This is not what we mean. As bodhisattva`s we still carry on. Especially iI you are a
beginner bodhisattva, you carry on in accordance with the instructions, such as those Iound
in the Bodhicharyvatra, as much as possible. Having this determination is part and
parcel oI the relative bodhicitta. So as you can see, the relative bodhicitta and the ultimate
bodhicitta always have to be brought together. In Iact, they are one with two diIIerent
aspects.
Two Two Two Two Aspects of Relative Bodhicitta Aspects of Relative Bodhicitta Aspects of Relative Bodhicitta Aspects of Relative Bodhicitta. Aspiring and Entering . Aspiring and Entering . Aspiring and Entering . Aspiring and Entering
Relative bodhicitta itselI also has two aspects: one being the aspiration and the other we
reIer to as the entering,` or the action.` The active part oI the bodhicitta is to carry out
some kind oI act, like generosity, discipline, or basically, all oI the six pramits. The
aspiring part oI the bodhicitta is practising or generating the motivation. It is the wish or
the aspiration.
It might seem as though the aspiration bodhicitta is quite lowly, with the entering`
bodhicitta as the higher and the ultimate` bodhicitta as the highest. But it is not like this.
Each is equally ranked. In Iact, Jigme Lingpa said, Ior beginners like us, it`s obvious that
ultimate bodhicitta is only possible at an intellectual level.
Most oI the time, in that moment when we think about emptiness, we are creating
something totally the opposite oI what emptiness actually is. But at least we have some
kind oI intellectual understanding, which is already good. Even the entering bodhicitta is
diIIicult, Ior many beginners. Eor instance, within the six pramits, generosity is
probably the easiest to practise but how much can we practise this? We are not spiritually
and worldly endowed with wealth. We cannot Ieed and teach everyone and nor are we
equipped with a tool Ior all situations. Maybe once in a while, we can throw some coins at
the beggars. To really be able to completely engage in the entering bodhicitta is diIIicult.
Can you imagine cutting oII your own limbs and Ieeding a hungry tiger, as has been done
by the great bodhisattvas oI the past?
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
37
Jigme Lingpa said, Ior beginners like us, one must Iirst learn and practise the
aspiring bodhicitta. This we can do. This is something we can really practise. We can
easily generate the aspiration, 'I wish I were a king, and then, while imagining ourselves
as king, when all the beggars come to us, we give them everything. There are all kinds oI
aspirations we can make such as, 'May all sentient beings have everything they need.
And it might be that as you are reading this, you start to think: 'That is just a wish.
Wishing is well and good but we`re not really doing anything. To despise aspiration in
this way is unwise, because the wishing or aspiring aspect is a very important training.
Why is it that we are unable to perIorm the active bodhicitta and the higher bodhicitta?
There is no strong determination, because our aspiration bodhicitta is very weak. We have
so little aspiration that it would seem, the only aspiration we do have is when reciting the
prayers.
Eor us, wishing to enlighten all sentient beings, and wishing Ior everyone`s
happiness this is something we can practise. So during the bodhicitta practice, we place
greater emphasis on the aspiring` bodhicitta. We aspire so that we are also able to carry
out the entering` and the ultimate` bodhicitta.
Bringing the Different Aspects Bringing the Different Aspects Bringing the Different Aspects Bringing the Different Aspects of Bodhicitt of Bodhicitt of Bodhicitt of Bodhicitta aa a Together Together Together Together
In eIIect, as you recite the bodhicitta liturgy, you can do all three together with your mind.
To think, 'May all sentient beings be happy, is the aspiring bodhicitta. Then, Ior the sake
oI all sentient beings, you are actually doing prostrations. And in a way, having sacriIiced
at least Iive minutes oI your precious time to recite the prayers or halI an hour, one hour,
or eight days this is the beginning oI the entering bodhicitta. You are sacriIicing time
and practicing generosity. You are sitting up straight, and iI doing so even brieIly, what is
happening? At least you are not harming anyone. Imagine the whole world and all oI
humanity sitting straight everyday Ior Iive minutes. II this were to happen, IiIty per cent oI
worldly problems would disappear, just through sitting. So the sitting itselI is a discipline,
as is cutting the chain oI thoughts. Then, by transIorming our surroundings into a pure
realm, all oI this is samdhi. Thus, you can call this entering` bodhicitta. Towards the end
oI the bodhicitta and the reIuge, you dissolve the guru into you, or in other words, you and
the guru become inseparable. Eor however long it lasts, be it a Iew moments, minutes, or
hours, you are watching the inseparability oI guru`s mind and your mind. You just watch.
You watch and watch without any Iabrication. This is a way oI meditating on the ultimate
bodhicitta.Thus you have three bodhicitta in one end.
The Highest Gift The Highest Gift The Highest Gift The Highest Gift
In generating the mind oI bodhicitta, we really have to train our minds. Eor this, the
relative bodhicitta is virtually the most crucial oI all. Now what is the bodhicitta mind?
Certainly, it is not simply a matter oI thinking, 'Those poor men need help. Compared to
the bodhicitta, the humanitarian mind is oI a much lower class. Bodhicitta is literally the
wish to enlighten all sentient beings.
Dismantling the delusion oI sentient beings is the best giIt you could ever give.
What better giIt could you oIIer? Make sentient beings see their own true natures. Make
them see this endless net oI delusion. What could be better than seeing sentient beings
released Irom this endless cocoon that they themselves have Iormed? This is not a mere
mind oI wanting to sort oI help someone` with a temporal problem.
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
38
During big public gatherings, on many occasions I have been asked why Buddhists
are not doing things to contribute in the same way that Christians do. Why are there no
Buddhist Hospitals, or Buddhist hospices? II answering in public, I would say, 'Because
Buddhists are lazy, and being lazy and selIish, Buddhists only talk about compassion.
Indeed, this is partially true. And then, in a more inner group, I would say: 'We should
really rejoice Ior those Christians, Muslims and Hindus. But even that we don`t do. Then,
iI speaking to a smaller, more selective group, I might explain in the Iollowing way.
Suppose there is this religious group building thousands oI childcare Iacilities or
hospices. Again, this is a big generalisation, because perhaps among them there is a
bodhisattva as a Muslim, a Christian or Hindu. But let`s say that although these religious
workers are doing a lot oI caring work, there is no wish to enlighten sentient beings. Their
main aim is to provide Iood and education. Now imagine there is one hermit living
somewhere in the mountains oI the Himalayas who is doing none oI this. In Iact, within
close range oI him, there are a lot oI babies dying, yet outwardly he is doing nothing about
this. Inwardly however, he is actually meditating, 'May all sentient beings be enlightened
and he continues to do this every day. I would say, purely because oI the enlightenment
aspect, this person is worthier oI homage than the Iirst group. Why? Because it is so
diIIicult to truly and genuinely wish enlightenment Ior others. It is much easier to give
people Iood and educate them.
Most oI us don`t really appreciate this Iact. We have never beIore genuinely wished
Ior someone else to achieve enlightenment. Likewise, iI someone were to come over and
say to us: 'Here you go, you have a ticket Ior enlightenment. There is only one ticket. I
don`t think we would even think about giving it to someone else! We`d grab it and go Ior
it. Enlightenment is such a valuable thing.
Actually, it`s much too large a subject, so let`s not take enlightenment as an
example. Instead, let`s say someone comes along with a potion or Iormula, which
promises you clairvoyance or omniscience. We would drink it ourselves, not even sharing
halI oI it with others. Just think how oIten there is jealousy when someone is a better
practitioner. How oIten do we get jealous when someone receives a better or a higher
teaching than we do? II you have genuine bodhicitta, you should be happy, shouldn`t you?
AIter all, isn`t that what you wished Ior? Their getting enlightenment means your wish is
at last coming true. With their receiving higher teachings, or becoming better practitioners,
this means that at last your aspiration is being realized! But instead, we Ieel jealous or we
Ieel envious. Some oI us are sort oI okay` dharma practitioners, so we don`t really Ieel
jealous, or envious, but still, we have this Ieeling oI 'I am being leIt behind. Who cares?
II you are a genuine bodhisattva you shouldn`t care about these things.
The Bodhisattva Concept The Bodhisattva Concept The Bodhisattva Concept The Bodhisattva Concept
There are three kinds oI bodhisattva: the king-like` bodhisattva, the shepherd-like`
bodhisattva and the boatman-like` bodhisattva. Among these, the most popular is the
shepherd-like bodhisattva. The king-like bodhisattva is a bodhisattva who wishes to
become enlightened Iirst, and then enlighten others. The boatman-like bodhisattva is
someone who wants to bring sentient beings across together. The shepherd-like
bodhisattva wishes to enlighten all sentient beings Iirst, and then, iI necessary, get
enlightened themselves. The third kind oI bodhisattva is the one we should be aspiring
towards.
Enlightenment is a wish to enlighten all sentient beings. Wishing to give that
wisdom is such a mighty oIIering. Just read the Bodhicharyvatra by Shntideva, or out
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
39
oI the ten chapters, at least read the Iirst eight chapters. II you don`t have that much time,
at the very least, read the Iirst three chapters. Within, there are some oI the most beautiIul
stanzas explaining why the bodhicitta is essential. And the bodhicitta is not merely a mind
which is sort oI kind, compassionate and humanitarian. It is much more than that. You can
be compassionate, loving and tolerant and yet still have ego. Bodhicitta is a complete
antidote Ior the ego. This is why it is so special.
Basically, iI a social worker has this notion oI destroying the ego, you are talking
about a social worker doing social work with bodhicitta. But let`s say a social worker is
doing a lot oI work to heal temporal pain, but has no bodhicitta. Then there is this man in a
cave, doing nothing, or at least, he is not helping in the physical sense. All he does is
aspiration bodhicitta. Strictly speaking, our man in the cave is more worthy oI homage.
Though oI course, Ior the general audience this is not easy to accept because the general
audience does not understand the value oI enlightenment. Shntideva has actually taught
on this, in the Iirst chapter where he says:
Could our fathers or our mothers
Ever have so generous a wish?
Do the very gods, the rishis, even Brahm
Harbor such benevolence as this?
4
II there is someone healing your pain, which is temporal, while another is not doing
much temporal healing, but is genuinely planning on helping you permanently, it is that
person you need to appreciate more.
|Student| |Student| |Student| |Student|: But many people are more ready to accept this temporal help, aren`t they?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: Oh yes, oI course, this is what I am saying, the general audience wants all the
pain relieI and the painkillers; they cannot understand.
The Jiew or the Action, Which The Jiew or the Action, Which The Jiew or the Action, Which The Jiew or the Action, Which I II Is Higher? s Higher? s Higher? s Higher?
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: But doing social work will destroy the ego kind oI automatically, won`t it?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Not necessarily. It can also create a lot oI ego. In Iact, Ior many social
workers, not only have they not destroyed their egos, but also they have ended up abusing
much oI the Iunds being collected. It is a question oI 'which has the greater value, the
view or the action? I am saying the view has to be valued more.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Isn`t the motivation more important than the action?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes, but the motivation is usually triggered by the view. Depending on what
view you have, you then have the corresponding motivation.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Aren`t the motivation and the view almost completely the same?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes, but this depends on the view. Not many people have the right view.
Likewise, we think oI Muslim terrorists as terrorists and identiIy them as such, but they
consider themselves to be some kind oI social worker. They believe they have good reason
to think oI themselves as holy humanitarians. Actually, I cannot entirely reject their
reasons, simply due to their not being accepted by a massive legal system. This world is
oIten unIair. Each oI us harbors a multitude oI ideas, and yet these are our own views.
Who knows what is really happening? Bombarded with all this news oI violence in the
Middle East, once while I was in retreat, these newspaper reports really stirred up my
emotion. But one can`t really respond in this way. It`s better to wish enlightenment Ior
both the victims and the oppressors.
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
40
Methods of Generating Methods of Generating Methods of Generating Methods of Generating Aspiration Bodhicitta Aspiration Bodhicitta Aspiration Bodhicitta Aspiration Bodhicitta
Now to generate the bodhicitta, two popular methods are: tonglen and what we call the
Iour immeasurable thoughts.` In the short liturgy oI the Longchen Nyingtik, the bodhicitta
is brieI and condensed so there is no mention oI these practices. While it`s not as though
you are missing something or have made a mistake by not practicing them, iI you have
time, I would suggest you do both.
Quite well known and practiced by many, tonglen meditation is one great method oI
generating aspiration bodhicitta. As with some oI the other meditations, tonglen can also
be combined with a breathing exercise. On the out-breath, without any partiality, you give
happiness, virtue, and all kinds oI valuable things to each and every sentient being. And
then, while breathing in, you absorb the pain, suIIering, problems, obscurations, and non-
virtues oI all sentient beings, not just one or two, but that oI every being. That`s aspiration
bodhicitta and as a beginner bodhisattva, this is all we can do. Yet this is not to say
aspiration bodhicitta is something simple. II you want to become courageous enough to cut
oII your limbs and give them to a hungry tiger, you have to Iirst begin by tuning your
motivation. Tonglen meditation is one very powerIul method oI tuning motivation.
The Four Immeasurables The Four Immeasurables The Four Immeasurables The Four Immeasurables
What we reIer to as the Iour immeasurable thoughts` is also another very popular method.
I actually try to combine tonglen with the Iour immeasurables. With the Iirst immeasurable
thought think, 'May all sentient beings be happy, right now, this very moment. Let`s say
somewhere, this instant someone is having a problem, or perhaps there is some sort oI very
strong depression. As the Iirst immeasurable thought is loving kindness, we think, 'May
all sentient beings, have happiness. We imagine that someone, somewhere, gets what he
or she wants. At this very moment, they are recieving their wish, and they are Iree oI what
they were IearIul oI. We also think, 'May they have the cause oI happiness. Meditate
and think, 'May all sentient beings at this very moment have compassion and love. In
addition to this, we think, 'May sentient beings reIrain Irom killing, stealing, lying and all
kinds oI negative emotions, because these are the causes oI unhappiness. Hence the Iirst
immeasurable thought is 'May sentient beings have happiness and the cause oI
happiness. Thus, this diIIers Irom the ordinary humanitarian sense oI giving, because we
are giving happiness and also the cause oI happiness.
The second immeasurable thought is, 'May all sentient beings be Iree Irom
suIIering. Suppose a number oI people are suIIering Irom depression, we think: 'May
they be Iree Irom that depression. May they also be Iree Irom the causes oI suIIering: the
emotions, and all these non-virtuous thoughts and actions. May they be Ireed oI suIIering
in this very moment. So you have given happiness, and the causes oI happiness, and have
also managed to separate them Irom unhappiness: Irom suIIering and the causes oI
suIIering.
Now they have joy. You then meditate on the third immeasurable thought, which is
'May they remain in this joy Iorever.
The Iourth is: 'May all sentient beings be Iree Irom hope and Iear. May all sentient
beings be Iree Irom passion and aggression. May there be no notion oI relative, and no
notion oI enemy, may they all be neutral. Being neither aggressive towards enemies, nor
attached towards Iriends, may all become equal. You then remain with that.
One should really aim to better understand the beneIits and purpose oI compassion
and bodhicitta. Please read, 'The Words oI my PerIect Teacher, especially the section
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
41
where Patrl Rinpoche sings the praises oI compassion and bodhicitta. The bodhicitta is
the cream oI the dharma. And there are some very good pith instructions given by Patrl
Rinpoche to arouse the bodhicitta within our minds. It is a shame that although we
Buddhists talk about the greatness oI bodhicitta and compassion a lot, we don`t always
manage to put it into practice. So in every situation, one should try to develop kindness.
AIter all, kindness is the key to love, compassion and the bodhicitta. Without the
bodhicitta, every practice you do will become an addition to the ego.
An Antidote to the Ego An Antidote to the Ego An Antidote to the Ego An Antidote to the Ego
At the moment, the idea oI applying the emptiness is too complicated to really enter our
heads. Instead, Ior now, as a dharma practitioner, the best antidote to our ego is the
bodhicitta. It is this mind wishing to enlighten all sentient beings and oI course, that
includes each and every being. II you have really developed this notion oI wishing to
enlighten all sentient beings, to consciously wish someone unhappiness is almost
impossible. You are aiming Ior the highest happiness, and even where sentient beings
receive only a small happiness, still you rejoice. Now you see why this is an antidote Ior
your ego. The practice oI bodhicitta, just as the Kadampas have repeatedly told us is
always cultivating a manner or attitude oI giving gain to others and adopting loss to
oneselI.
Some people might tend to assume, 'It could cause a loss oI conIidence within
myselI. Yet the bodhisattva attitude oI giving gain and happiness to others, and not
minding when loss or unpleasantness Ialls upon oneselI is not at all an attitude oI low selI-
esteem. In Iact, it`s just the opposite. You are actually creating conIidence. What does it
mean to have low selI-esteem? It means having a very, very high ego, which is why there
is low selI-esteem in the Iirst place. There is so much ego, and it is ego that is always
wanting to be good and worthy. Eeeling that your ego is not good is what we call low selI-
esteem. With the bodhisattva attitude however, you give all good to others and are not
bothered iI the bad comes to you. Basically, there is no reIerential point. In this way, it is
conIidence that grows, while low selI-esteem never gets a chance to occur. So don`t be
aIraid oI applying the bodhicitta again and again.
During the practice itselI, when coming towards the end oI the session, mix your
being with the guru`s and watch that moment. II thoughts come, just watch the thoughts. II
you get distracted, as a beginner, immediately visualise the guru up there again, and merge
again, watching that inseparability again and again. When I say watch, I am not asking you
to recall the past mind, nor to plan and watch the Iuture mind. I am talking about watching
this very moment mind. But in order to do that, the key is to Iirst dissolve the guru into
you and then just watch that moment.
Just Do Just Do Just Do Just Do I II It and t and t and t and Y YY You ou ou ou Will Will Will Will Get Get Get Get the Gist of the Gist of the Gist of the Gist of I II It tt t
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: I`m sure this applies to everyone, but I still have a real problem letting deities
and gurus come into me. The way I see it, what you are really visualising is your potential
and power. Have you got any tips?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Really, the tip is: just do it. You just have to do it and aIter a while, you will
get the gist oI it. Sometimes certain pith instructions are exactly like this, 'Just do it. We
can go on talking about the breaks, gears, steering and clutch Iorever. But somehow,
sometime, you just have to drive, don`t you? You just turn on the ignition, press the gas
and go. You just have to do it. That is the pith instruction. It might sound like it just won`t
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
42
work right now. Eor a year or two, you might even go through a period where, in
dissolving the guru into you, it will be more like putting an apple into your bag. But that`s
the only way. Then, aIter a while, it will become more like inserting a glass oI water into
your bag. It stains a bit and yet, you also understand the bag. Then you will already have
gotten the gist oI this thing. AIter some time, you will come to realise it is like breaking a
glass pot and then trying to Iind the two separate spaces. So right now, this is the only
practical tip that works since we cannot help thinking oI the guru or the Buddha, as an
independent separate entity Irom our selI. We only know intellectually, 'this is my
perception.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: But isn`t it just realising that you are the energy?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes, but even in saying that you are still interpreting, aren`t you?
Your Your Your Your Imagination Itself Imagination Itself Imagination Itself Imagination Itself I II Is a Jisualisation s a Jisualisation s a Jisualisation s a Jisualisation
Everything is an interpretation. This is not only the base oI Buddhist philosophy it is also
the very reason why visualisation works. When you reIer to yourselI as, Louise,` although
you don`t call it a visualisation actually it is. Similarly, in looking at your Iriend,
Lucinda,` Ior example, this is also a visualisation. Eor what you see is all stemming Irom
your own imagination. Your Lucinda and my Lucinda are diIIerent. It is on this basis the
visualisation works. It is a wonderIul method.
Many people think oI visualisation as a Tibetan thing. Since very Iew teachers have
put the eIIort into explaining the theory, this is kind oI understandable. But as much as
there is the assumption that visualisation is a very cultural and theistic method, it`s not
really. It is just that the method always seems to get emphasized, and we are told to:
'visualise this, visualise that, visualise him as a guru Rinpoche. Why it works, or why we
should do it in a certain way, never ends up getting explained. This is why we have such
diIIiculty.
It is also on this basis that I was saying earlier, to visualise Guru Rinpoche as we see
him painted in a Tibetan thangka is pretty much a waste oI time. Even iI everyone were to
use the same Tibetan thangka, as soon as each person looks at it, they have their own idea.
Your idea is only your idea. What is more, your idea is probably not even close to what the
original painter had in mind. So as you visualise Guru Rinpoche or any other deity, you
might as well be a little bit bold in your visualising. Guru Rinpoche is a superior, sublime
being, and in our ordinary minds, we think a sublime being has to look good. Our ordinary
mind thinks in such a way and that is Iine.
The question is what exactly can be termed, good looking?` Again, you have a
certain interpretation oI good looking, and I have another interpretation. So you had better
make use oI your own interpretation. Surely, there is no need to learn my interpretation.
And even as I talk about this, it is you and your mind listening. You might think you have
understood good looking as I see it, but actually you have not. It is only your hearing oI
this and you will end up having your own idea.
Some Rules of Some Rules of Some Rules of Some Rules of J JJ Jisualisation isualisation isualisation isualisation
Visualisation is really based on personal interpretation. Given this Iact, your next question
might be, 'When visualising Guru Rinpoche, since I like walkmans, digital cameras, and
video cameras, is it okay iI I visualise my Guru holding a digital camera instead oI a vajra,
and a lap top computer instead oI a kapla? Now it is here that we would have a bit oI a
dispute. You are not really encouraged to do that. Not until a qualiIied master a tertn
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
43
and contemporary treasure discoverer invokes a teaching where Guru Rinpoche is
holding a digital camera in his right hand and a laptop in his leIt hand, and is giving you
that transmission. Only then would you visualise in such a way. It is not out oI
convenience that we place a vajra in his hand, nor is it because it looks beautiIul. In Iact,
there is a lot oI symbolism involved. Why does he have even one Iace? Why not two?
Why does he have a vajra in his hand? Why does he have a kapla in his hand? Each
aspect has it`s own signiIicance, which is something that should always be kept intact.
You must have all the right attributes.
Now as Ior how he really looks, iI you were to search the entire works oI Tibetan
Buddhism, you still wouldn`t Iind anything saying, 'This is exactly how Guru Rinpoche
looks. Interestingly enough, there is a photograph oI Guru Rinpoche, which says: 'It
looks like me. However, there are also a number oI statues reported to be close likenesses
oI Guru Rinpoche and they all look diIIerent.
There is one Iurther rule oI visualisation. Not only should the visualisation be live,
vibrant and clear, but also, it should always be sealed with the idea oI non-duality. During
ngndro teachings this is something not generally emphasised, as it comes more when
receiving the teachings on actual sdhana practice. Anyhow, to brieIly give some idea,
there are visualisations oI Guru Rinpoche seated in his palace and instructions are given on
how to get into this non-duality business. The palace oI Guru Rinpoche is said to be as big
as Mount Meru, or as big as this whole universe, and yet Guru Rinpoche is as small as a
sesame seed. Even so, you neither Iind it to be an inconvenience, nor is it unaesthetic. The
container is neither too big nor are the contents too small. It is not as though there is too
vast a gap between the sesame seed and Guru Rinpoche. There is no such problem. Then,
Ior that very visualisation, and within that same state oI meditation, you can also visualise
the palace to be as small as a sesame seed, and Guru Rinpoche to be as big as the whole
universe. Yet Guru Rinpoche is actually inside this small sesame seed-likepalace and the
palace is covering Guru Rinpoche. And all oI this is an exercise in non-duality.
Visualisation needs to have these kinds oI characteristics. OI course, iI you really wanted
to you could practise by just thinking, 'I am Guru Rinpoche, and perhaps there is still
some blessing. But it is kind oI similar to simply thinking, 'I am someone else. In this
case, you could always just think you are Tony Blair!
Right now during the ngndro you do not visualise yourselI as a deity. You`re still a
practitioner, in your ordinary Iorm and this is why it`s a preliminary practice.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: I thought I read that instead oI Guru dissolving into us we dissolve into Guru
Rinpoche.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: Oh, that`s Iine. The Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro does that. Your dissolving
into him or him dissolving into you, it really doesn`t make much diIIerence. You should
do both. Actually, alternating in this way would be good, because it goes against the Iixed
thinking that dissolve` always means him coming to us.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Could you say something about merging your mind with the teacher`s? I Ieel
like I can`t do this very well.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : There is a whole method oI visualisation to help with this kind oI Ieeling. You
visualise the guru, the teacher, in Iront oI you in the Iorm oI Guru Rinpoche. To enhance
the atmosphere and make you understand the true nature oI your mind, the guru is not in
his ordinary Iorm. II the guru is visualised as an ordinary being, then it`s an ordinary
approach. So this is why we make him special.
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
44
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: The energy oI Guru Rinpoche is actually something timeless, isn`t it? It can
come Irom within and disappear, or does it stay? It seems when we practice the energy can
come and go.
|Rinp |Rinp |Rinp |Rinpoche| oche| oche| oche|: :: : OI course, all the time. Doesn`t it?
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Yes, it does. I wondered iI it should stay?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Ideally it should stay, but it doesn`t, does it?
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: When I do the practice, I try to ask that bodhicitta Iirst comes into me, so that I
can then transIer it out. You see, last year I lost my husband and house and Ielt so sad.
During meditation practice I was trying to let go oI all this. The husband and the house at
the seaside, I removed everything and suddenly I Ielt really aIraid. It was not easy. I also
Ielt angry about the Iact that I was the one who was there grasping on to shadows. When I
visualise that he and his new wiIe are in Iront oI me, I repeatedly have to struggle.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : How long have you been a Buddhist?
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Since 1985.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : So you have been around Ior some time. Do you seriously want to practice?
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: I think I do.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : It looks like everything is going well. And I`m not joking in saying this. You
really have to just go through it this way. AIter all, this guy has been your husband so
many times in your past lives and will be again in Iuture lives, as long as you carry on as a
samsric being that is. And this other wiIe, perhaps even she has been your wiIe over so
many liIetimes.
The Benef The Benef The Benef The Benefit of Uncertainty it of Uncertainty it of Uncertainty it of Uncertainty
OI course, practically speaking, it is very diIIicult to accept. This I know. But I have to tell
you honestly, this is the time to practice. It is diIIicult. But iI you try to Iind an easier path,
your path will linger, and only become longer. Just do it. I know it`s very hard, but pray to
the objects oI reIuge. Ask them to protect you Irom losing determination. Ask them to
protect you Irom noticing what your husband and his new girl are doing. Ask them to
protect you Irom this burning desire oI wanting to know what they are doing moment by
moment. I`d admire you iI you really kept this up. In this kind oI situation, there is so
much beneIit, iI you can apply yourselI. Eor instance, the next time something happens, it
will not shatter you. It is hard though. I will not say, 'Ah, that`s easy. No, it`s not easy.
But iI you are seriously wanting to practice the dharma and have a guru who is not a
coward like myselI, then this guru should not pat your shoulder and say, 'It`s going to be
alright. He should not say that. Instead he should say, 'We don`t know. He should say,
'Maybe it`s going to come right and maybe not. It`s completely uncertain. Just at the
moment you think in terms oI: 'I give up. He`s with someone else, and I`ve lost my
house. But he might come back. And that`s even more dangerous, isn`t it?
Admitting as Admitting as Admitting as Admitting as O OO Opposed to Pretending pposed to Pretending pposed to Pretending pposed to Pretending
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Suddenly I`m here at this place and I have to include them in the bodhicitta
practice. And my question is do you know a trick to make it easier?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Well, you were just saying that you try to Iorget. But I think you`re pretending
to yourselI that you`re okay, and assuming that you have Iorgotten. Actually your husband
and his new wiIe are still very much on your mind. When you`re doing prostrations,
they`re in Iront oI you doing prostrations and when doing bodhicitta and giving to them, it
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
45
hurts you, because you still haven`t given them up. So I would say, don`t think so much
about giving them up. Admit that you have not really managed to do this yet. Just keep on
giving them happiness, and taking in their suIIering. II you really want to practice the
dharma, it is now that you have a perIect opportunity to do so. Things are very uncertain.
And you might think: 'This is the end oI the relationship. I`ve had so many boyIriends but
now I`m getting old. This must surely be my last. Perhaps, you are mistaken, who knows?
Even aIter turning sixty, you might still go out and Iind another man. There`s one thing
you don`t have to worry about the trap never ends! II not this, there will always be
something else.
Problems Problems Problems Problems A AA Are re re re A AA Also Compounded lso Compounded lso Compounded lso Compounded P PP Phenomena henomena henomena henomena
Right now, you and I have a distant relationship, and that`s why it`s easy Ior me to convey
it this way. II you and I were to become closer Iriends, I would not be able to talk like this.
I would rather pat your shoulder and say: 'Don`t worry. Everything`s going to go all right.
I`ll pray Ior you. So it`s better to keep our relationship at this distance. I will then answer
you as honestly as I can. The good news is this situation happening in your liIe is a
compounded phenomena. So what does that mean? It`s impermanent. At the most, it might
last three years. That`s not so long, actually. How many years did you stay with him?
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Seventeen.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: : : : Against three years! Knowing you, I think it will only last a year. Just give it
one more year. People oIten like to say, 'Time will heal. In Iact, it is not that time is
healing the problem; it`s just that problems are compounded phenomena. They are
impermanent. When people are not aware oI this, there is the idea time is healing the
problem.
Bodhisattva Bodhisattva Bodhisattva Bodhisattva s Determination. Never Giving s Determination. Never Giving s Determination. Never Giving s Determination. Never Giving Up Up Up Up
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: What about the bodhisattva reincarnating to help a drug addict? AIter having
helped this person Ior two thousand years, they are still not Iree, so how helpIul is this?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : What makes you think this timespan oI two thousand years makes him Iall
into the category oI not being helpIul? Time is meaningless to the bodhisattva. Taking two
minutes to enlighten certain sentient beings would be considered late Ior some
bodhisattvas. Their master would scold them with, 'You took two minutes? How could
you? Eor other bodhisattvas, even iI it takes two million years, their master will say,
'good. That`s how strong your determination should be.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: How helpIul is this?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Are you saying all bodhisattvas must manage to help sentient beings within a
year?
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Yes. He`s not very skilIul. It`s like you`re saying it doesn`t matter iI it takes
eons.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : No, that`s not it. Anyhow, what makes you think it`s not skilIul? Being quick
does not necessarily translate as skilIul. There are some sentient beings that take time.
DeIinitely. In any case, as you know, bodhisattvas are not really buddhas; bodhisattvas are
practitioners.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: How can you enlighten other beings iI you`re not yourselI enlightened?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : You can always give the path and the directions.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: That`s like relative bodhicitta, then?
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
46
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes. There are actually several questions within your question, so let`s just go
one by one. The immediate question is 'How can a bodhisattva, who is not an enlightened
being, help to enlighten others? Eirst oI all, when talking about a Iinal or absolute
enlightenment, oI course, bodhisattvas have not reached that level. However, even on the
Iirst-bhmi, the bodhisattva has abandoned samsra and will no longer go to samsra. As
Ior bodhisattvas like us, Ior many oI us, we are still on the path oI accumulation, or
perhaps not even there. Nonetheless, we can still help because we have inIormation that
we can share. Eor instance, iI someone has given you a map to go to Paris, you can share
this map with others, can`t you? That is considered help. Not only sharing, but also just
giving things to others this is the bodhisattva path. And as Ior the other question, it was
about the timespan oI two thousand years?
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: It didn`t look very helpIul to me. Because, two thousand lives Irom now he`s
still on drugs.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Well, when mentioning the two thousand liIetimes, I was using this as a
metaphor. Why would I use such a metaphor? It clearly illustrates the determination oI a
bodhisattva. II this were an ordinary social worker helping a drug addict, they would not
last that long. They would give up. Yet a bodhisattva has such great determination, even iI
they had to work two million liIetimes, let alone two thousand, they would not give up.
That`s what you seem to have missed. Secondly, what makes you think that a bodhisattva
is ineIIicient Ior taking this length oI time? Suppose a patient is so stubborn, with such a
strong addiction that it simply takes two thousand liIetimes. In Iact, one would think we
should admire them Ior not giving up. Even looking at it Irom an ordinary point oI view,
one could still ask, 'Is being quick really more eIIicient? It sounds like you have been
dwelling too much in the modern world oI painkillers and quick relieI methods.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Well, it`s just a question oI seeing someone suIIering. You want it to stop right
away. You don`t want to see it go on Ior two thousand liIetimes, do you?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : No. But iI you are unable to put a stop to it, you just can`t. Based on your
logic one might as well just put a bullet in their head. That would take care oI it in one
second.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Is it possible that buddhas or bodhisattvas are limited in being able to help and
enlighten beings?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : II they are buddhas, no. A buddha has the power to do everything. But we are
talking about bodhisattvas: beginner bodhisattvas like us, or maybe slightly better ones.
We don`t have that kind oI patience. You have proven this point very well. You said, 'why
let him suIIer two thousand hours, let`s just give him something to make him sleep. It`s
like the decision oI whether to let dogs suIIer or whether to choose euthanasia. Certain
people might come along and say, 'Something is wrong with my dog`s tail. Is it okay, to
jab him with an injection and put him to sleep? It`s a very diIIicult question. To a
bodhisattva, it would be like taking the easy way out.
| || |Student Student Student Student|: |: |: |: Recently while on holiday, I noticed there was so much suIIering. You`re trying
to have the idea you want to become an enlightened human being, and want everyone to
become enlightened and happy. Well it`s my perception really, but all I could see was a lot
oI suIIering, even though people were supposed to be out on a nice holiday. The mental
suIIering oI not being present in the moment, not being able to appreciate what`s there,
and constantly having a thought that must be chased oII. Emotional suIIering because
you`re not on the beach with the perIect man or with the perIect woman.
|Rinpoc |Rinpoc |Rinpoc |Rinpoche| he| he| he|: :: : You should keep that awareness. That`s good.
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
47
|S |S |S |Student tudent tudent tudent|: |: |: |: The thing is I Iind it to be quite tortuous, because we want everyone to be
enlightened, and it`s just not happening. What I mean is, it`s sad.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: Yes, but that`s exactly what I was saying earlier. You need the ultimate
bodhicitta. AIter all, your saying, 'They are suIIering is also your judgement. You have
to bring these two together, the relative bodhicitta and ultimate bodhicitta.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: How do you do that?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : By doing the bodhicitta.
Dedication Dedication Dedication Dedications ss s Can Can Can Can B BB Be e e e Done Done Done Done at at at at Anytime Anytime Anytime Anytime
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Sometimes aIter the reIuge and the prostrations, I do not dedicate the merit,
because I want to continue doing prostrations in the evening aIter work.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : You can dedicate the merit right away. It does not mean that is the end oI the
session. We can dedicate at anytime. Even aIter every prostration you can dedicate. The
dedication is kind oI like a way oI registering.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I don`t know why it happens. I lose concentration and suddenly, out oI
Irustration, I start to become angry.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes, you`re too impatient.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Yes, deIinitely.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : There`s no such thing as knowing how to practice and then practising. As you
practice, you have to learn how to practice, and by the time you know it very well, by then,
you have already attained some realisation. So don`t be aIraid oI making mistakes.
Anyway, it`s just a kind oI IorgetIulness and is more oI an obscuration than a mistake.
You can even dedicate the merit you may have Iorgotten to dedicate in all your past lives.
You can say: 'I dedicate this merit I have just accumulated, which I know, have seen, and
can observe. I also dedicate all the merit oI the past which I have not known, and all the
merit oI the Iuture which I may generate. All oI this can also be dedicated.
A Sign of the Dharma Entering A Sign of the Dharma Entering A Sign of the Dharma Entering A Sign of the Dharma Entering O OO Our Minds ur Minds ur Minds ur Minds
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: BeIore I thought I wouldn`t Iall into the category oI a theistic thinker, but now I
Ieel that maybe in the visualisation I do put the deity outside oI myselI.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : That is an improvement. I`m glad that you have progressed. Remember that
practising dharma is like peeling oII a skin. Now your theistic skin is about to be peeled
oII. At Iirst, you have no choice but to practice in a theistic way. But already, a non-
theistic mentality has been planted in your head and this attitude will continue to grow.
Then another layer oI skin will be peeled oII. This conIusion is good. You know, oI the
many doubts that come up, not every doubt is bad. Certain doubts are none other than what
we normally cherish as discriminating mind. Being critical can be helpIul, especially
where you Iind Iault with your own ego`s interpretation. It is a sign oI the dharma entering
your mind. We don`t oIten adopt a critical attitude oI our own ego`s interpretation. Instead
we think, 'Ior sure it`s like that. When the dharma is beginning to seep into our heads,
we start Ieeling very critical about what we think and that`s a good sign. But don`t dwell
on it. Try to go Iorward; try to go Iurther.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: There is all this pain. I was wondering iI it`s just energy or iI it`s just an
interpretation oI the ego. I don`t understand what pain is.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: Pain is when ego gets something that ego does not wish to get. That`s pain.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: II the ego didn`t interpret it as pain, what would it be?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Pleasure. Eor some people, kinky sex is pleasure.
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
48
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But what about emotional pain?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : It`s the same, although Ior some, emotional pain is what they call renunciation
mind.
Mah Mah Mah Mah sukha. a Result of Renunciation sukha. a Result of Renunciation sukha. a Result of Renunciation sukha. a Result of Renunciation M MM Mind ind ind ind
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is renunciation mind still pain?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Renunciation mind has nothing to do with getting rid oI pain itselI.
Renunciation mind is getting rid oI the cause oI pain.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: So to experience something as pain is an interpretation oI the ego, but what is it,
iI we stop interpreting it as pain? What does it become?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : That`s a very good question. I hope it is not an accidental good question. II
you stop interpreting something as pain, then that is called mahsukha, or the great bliss. II
you apply this method and stop interpreting things as pain, you also stop interpreting
certain things as a pleasure.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: That`s diIIerent Irom the renunciation mind?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : That is a result. It is caused by the renunciation mind. Basically, as long as
you still Ieel pain, you are interpreting. The pain is actually caused by your interpretation.
Eor instance, iI a light bulb were to Iall on your head, you would have pain, right? But it
would be even more painIul were someone to deliberately hit you on the head. This is the
power oI interpretation. It is always like this. Why is it painIul? It`s because you interpret
this aggression and ask, 'Why did he do this to me? There is always interpretation. That`s
what is meant by, 'It`s your perception. So these are good questions, because they are
leading towards the ground oI Buddhism, which is, 'Everything is mind and all is but
mind`s interpretation. This is why Buddhists are only interested in taming, or training the
mind.
Our Karma Our Karma Our Karma Our Karma M MM Makes akes akes akes U UU Us Interpret s Interpret s Interpret s Interpret
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Then is pain always a karma ripening?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Karma is actually a mind`s action. Karma is what makes you interpret. In
having good karma, a phenomenon considered painIul by another, could be interpreted by
you as pleasurable, or at least it wouldn`t bother you.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Do you think it`s better iI a situation just doesn`t bother you? II it Ielt neutral to
you?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : No. Again, it depends on diIIerent karma. Let`s say there`s a serious crisis
taking place. Everyone is suIIering over the conIlict, and all and sundry are Iighting
against each other. Say you have this certain karma Irom a past liIe, which keeps you Irom
getting involved in the problem. Such karma is a kind oI lower karma. II you have better
karma, you may be Iollowing what`s happening, and yet not really be bothered by it. So
it`s a slightly better karma. To have really good karma, there is the ability to transIorm the
conIlict into something more useIul. This is even better. There are so many diIIerent levels
oI karmic interpretation and so many subtleties in every moment with each sentient being.
Now, the Buddha is an all accomplished being. So it is believed even iI not a single
being were remaining on this earth, and the Buddha were to beg alms, all he need do is
hold his begging bowl out into empty space, and there would be gods ready to oIIer
whatever he wished. But on one particular occasion, because the Buddha Shakyamuni
wanted to teach the monks something about the interpretation oI mind, he went along to
Kosala. He and Ananda and all the monks continued going up and down Ior some time,
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
49
and still no-one had oIIered a thing. Einally, the king`s men in charge oI the stables oIIered
the horse`s leItovers to the monks and the Buddha. The monks Ielt disgusted, yet not being
allowed to eat aIter midday, they had no choice but to eat these oIIerings. So they ate, and
the Buddha also ate, and all the monks Ielt really bad. They Ielt sick and revolted. Then
the Buddha asked, 'Isn`t the lunch delicious? And then oI course, the monks complained
saying, 'It`s terrible. Then the Buddha said, 'Why don`t you try this? Amazingly,
although it was the very same thing, when the monks tried the leItovers Irom the Buddha`s
bowl, it was like eating gourmet Iood oI the god realms. This is what it`s like. DiIIerent
beings have diIIerent karma. The Buddha was teaching karmic interpretation.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: II you have something to puriIy and you concentrate on that, how can you tell
when a certain karma is Iinished? Or can you never tell?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : II there are not too many karmas, you can. But right now, it`s not so possible.
It`s like when you hold a Ilaming torch, iI you twirl the torch in a circular motion, it
appears there is a ring oI Iire. In actual Iact, there is no ring as such, since it`s all just the
one Iire. It`s all an illusion. Eor the time being, because there is a continuous string oI so
many karmas, you will not really be able to tell, but as the karma becomes less and less,
you will begin to see big gaps between the karmas.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Has it something to do with the guilt stops or emotional .
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes, oI course.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I always wanted to know the diIIerence between the Western and the Eastern
mind. Since everything is our own perception, do Western people see the same wrathIul
deities in the bardo? Or do we see what we Iind threatening, as in horror Iilms?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Westerners see what they interpret as scary. As a matter oI Iact, Tibetans have
never really known how to paint horror. Even though Tibetan descriptions oI the herukas
are quite Irightening, this tends to be a limited aspect within the thangkas. Also, whatever
is being depicted is made more beautiIul. Honestly, just imagine a heruka with a garland oI
IiIty-one wet human heads and a garland oI a hundred dried human heads. This is really
quite scary. Even Hollywood hasn`t managed such a portrayal. Images oI Dracula are not
that scary. They have only Iour Iangs, whereas in the Tibetan description oI the wrathIul
deities, we hear oI a mouth in the stomach, and stuII like that.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What about a Westerner having a vision, this is also perception?
|Rinpoch |Rinpoch |Rinpoch |Rinpoche| e| e| e|: :: : Yes. We need not talk about the diIIerences between Westerners and
Easterners, even when it comes to you and me it will be diIIerent. This is why we talk
about prna, ndi, and bindu. It depends on the individual person`s perception. But the
standard is the same. You have Iive emotions, two oI which include aggression and
jealousy and I have these too. All the emotions can be categorised into these Iive. It is not
as though some people have something more or extra, such as a set oI diIIerent emotions
that can`t really be pinpointed. This is why there are Iive buddha Iamilies. Then, to
elaborate this Iurther, there are the IiIty-eight wrathIul and Iorty-two peaceIul deities. It is
related to the expression oI the inner emotions. These Iigures have nothing to do with a
Tibetan count. It`s all based on one`s own prna, ndi, and bindu.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I`m surprised about the Iive emotions, there`s Iear, and Iear is such an obstacle.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Eear is deIinitely included within the Iive emotions. OI course, we have to
generalise. II you want to categorise like that, then Iive is not enough. Eive million is not
enough.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But Iear is constantly an obstacle Irom birth until death.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Among the Iive emotions is something called ignorance and within ignorance
every other emotion is included, even the other Iour emotions. OI course, Buddhists talk
about hope and Iear all the time. But hope and Iear are aspects oI ignorance. We have to
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
50
generalise like this, or else it`s just endless. Otherwise, we would have to write a whole set
oI Buddhist texts Ior each person, Ior all the diIIerent kinds oI Iear. Some beings have
Iear-Iear,` some have hope-Iear` and others have Iear-hope.` There are others who have
jealousy-oriented Iear, aggression-oriented Iear, and some have pride-oriented Iear. There
are so many diIIerent versions oI Iear and hope, but all oI these we can include within
ignorance. Why does Iear exist? It is because oI ignorance; it is because you don`t know
what`s there. That`s why you have Iear. Pride is also a kind oI Iear. Jealousy is also Iear.
Passion is Iear. Aggression is also Iear. They are all related. It`s not as though you have
just one and don`t have the others. We have to generalise a little. It`s like gauging a
direction and asking, 'Where is East? You Iigure out where it is but when you head there,
you still Iind South and West. It`s not as though, iI you continue to go eastwards, the East
is all you Iind. It`s not like that you Iind other directions, too.
The Jafrayna Method of Taming the Mind The Jafrayna Method of Taming the Mind The Jafrayna Method of Taming the Mind The Jafrayna Method of Taming the Mind
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: As we try to transIorm our surroundings into a pure realm, do I imagine all
beings become buddhas?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes. Or, you can think oI all the males as dkas, and all the Iemales as
dkinis. This is the highest Iorm oI mind training.
'Avoid perIorming non-virtuous actions. PerIorm virtuous actions. Tame your mind.
These are the words oI the Buddha. So this transIorming the ordinary into a pure realm is
also the vajrayna method oI taming the mind.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I`m struggling with the idea oI a pure realm based on non-dualism. Has this
something to do with vipashyan and sitting and doing shamatha?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : No. The pure realm has more to do with knowing. In Buddhism, two oI the
most Irequently heard terms are the relative truth` and the ultimate truth.` To put this into
simple, ordinary language, you should know that every time you are hearing, tasting,
Ieeling, thinking and looking at something, there are always two aspects. Within each and
every phenomenon there is always: how it appears and how it is.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is it all according to your perception?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Well, there are two aspects. II you`re looking at a bottle, to you, it appears as a
bottle. That`s one aspect oI that phenomena. And then, there is another aspect oI the
phenomena that has nothing to do with how it appears, but has to do with what it is.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is this how it`s made?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes, the what it is` aspect has more to do with reality. Let`s say you are
looking at a man. Since you are a woman, let us say you are looking at a man, and thinking,
'he`s good, and he`s beautiIul. What is that? That is just how it appears to you, but in
reality, he could be another Jack-the-Ripper. That`s an example oI how it is and how it
appears. This always happens, all around us everywhere. That`s the logic oI relative truth
and ultimate truth. We look at each other, and everything seems to be like this` or that,`
but actually it`s all our own mind`s interpretation. That`s just how it appears. To even say,
'He appears to be a nice guy, automatically you`re indicating there must be something
behind how he appears. What is it? It is the ultimate truth. Now Ior ordinary beings like
ourselves, we usually think how it appears is actually the way it is. You look at the man
and think, 'He`s very beautiIul, and you also think, 'that`s the reality. That`s why you
get this clinging and attachment, because you think, the way it appears to you` is how it
is.`
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
51
This is how we driIt apart in samsra. We regard the world as an ordinary realm and
think, 'I`m ordinary, but this is only how it appears. We are trying to change this by
inserting, how it is. During the practice we are trying to learn to transIorm this ordinary
realm into a more pure realm. II I can think this is an ordinary realm, which is how it
appears, then why shouldn`t I be able to change that aspect into something more pure?
This logic is a little bit complicated, but it`s very, very important.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Rinpoche, iI it`s hard to imagine a pure realm at Iirst, can I just meditate on the
idea that the Iloor, the walls and everything is not as I think it is?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Exactly. What one thinks oI the world is not what it is.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: So, this is more than just imagining the world is very nice and clean? It`s more
than dismantling.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes. It`s the view. But as a method, and with the pith instructions, the lamas
would say you should still try to visualise a beautiIul land. Somehow it works because you
then learn the ability to transIorm.
Giving Attachment Giving Attachment Giving Attachment Giving Attachment N NN No Place to Live o Place to Live o Place to Live o Place to Live
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is that the tantric aspect?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : It`s like how you can look at a man whom you love and play with your
thoughts. One minute, you can think, 'He`s bad, and actually see him as bad. The next
minute you think, 'He is good. So you play with this. As you play with this constantly,
the attachment has no place to live. You`re always transIorming him all the time; it`s like a
rainbow. It looks beautiIul and yet it has no essence. That`s how you diminish your
attachment. It`s a wonderIul method. This is the view. Hold this view and still Iollow the
pith instructions coming Irom the great gurus. You visualise the ground oI the pure realm
as soIt and yielding. II you were to place your Ieet there, it would give a little. It has that
cushion-like quality, a bit like a soIa seat. There are many beautiIul descriptions. II you
read the second chapter oI Shntideva`s Bodhicharyvatra or the mahyna`s stra
Alankara Ior instance, there are descriptions oI the wish IulIilling trees and even the
sounds made by their branches as they are blown by the wind.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: It sounds drug induced, something like being on acid or mescaline or taking
magic mushrooms.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : It is a bit like that. You are trying to dismantle the present perception. It`s very
important. mahyna has the same view, but they don`t have that method.
The vajrayna method is to transIorm this ordinary realm. Eor example, as I`ve said,
we visualise the ground oI the pure realm as soIt and yielding, like a soIa seat oI rainbow
colours. As the branches oI the wish-IulIilling tree are rustled by the wind, the branches
give oII the sound, (Rinpoche chants) 'All compounded things are impermanent, all
compounded things are impermanent. Another gust oI wind brings with it, (Rinpoche
chants) 'All emotions are pain. Then a bird with rainbow wings comes, and instead oI
chirping, it says, (Rinpoche chants) 'All compounded things are impermanent. It is not
my making things up, all this is actually in the description oI the Sukhvati. There is also
water possessing eight diIIerent qualities, and elephants with six legs, and six tusks. There
are all kinds oI things, such as a lotus as big as a celestial mansion, where you can sleep or
take a bath. II you want to know more, read the Amitbha Stra. In the Amitbha realm, in
the Pure Realm Sect - there`s actually even one school in China, that`s called the Pure
Realm Sect - all they ever do is think about the pure realm.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is there anything like the truth? II it`s all my perception and it`s conditioned by
society, I want to know what is true.
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
52
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : That`s a good question. The truth is: as much as what we see with our
ordinary perception is not true, even the pure realm is not true.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But relatively?
Pure Perception. a Thorn to Remove a Thorn Pure Perception. a Thorn to Remove a Thorn Pure Perception. a Thorn to Remove a Thorn Pure Perception. a Thorn to Remove a Thorn
|Rinpo |Rinpo |Rinpo |Rinpoche| che| che| che|: :: : No, even that is not true. This is why there is the completion meditation.` In
the completion meditation everything dissolves. Right now, pure perception is used as a
thorn to take out another thorn in your palm. That`s all. It`s very important.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I Iind it diIIicult to see jewels on a tree.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : This is only an example. But you should just stick with that. AIter all, we have
to come up with some kind oI example. Right now you might think that leaves are
beautiIul, but the mind is very Iickle. One day you`ll change and will think that leaves are
too small. Anyhow, even jewels such as diamonds, are only pieces oI stone.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: It`s coal.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : It`s worse than a stone then, isn`t it? But the human mind has made it into
something precious and every year many lives are being destroyed because oI that.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I don`t seem to identiIy with the beauty oI what you`ve explained. Eor me, it`s
as though I`m really allowed to relax absolutely. Is this wrong?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : That`s Iine. I don`t know you very well, but there are certain types oI
practitioners who are not what we call Iorm-oriented. Eor them, there is another complete
method, which is: just relaxing and watching this momentary mind. This alone does so
much, as this alone transIorms. That is, iI you know how to watch, because again, it`s easy
to say 'watch your mind but you can get distracted. So in general, with the developing
meditation, which includes this visualisation, we are talking about a gradual path.
Especially when explaining in a group, it`s as though I`m a driving coach, with a whole lot
oI people wanting to learn how to drive. I can only give a gradual path. I can`t give you
personal instructions. But suppose you are Iormless oriented, iI so, I might have to tell you
to do something else, like vipashyan, Ior instance. Or the Iour-mindIulness`s, which is
also Iound in the Iour Ioundations.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What about the notion that liIe is wonderIul? The world is precious without me
manuIacturing it. Is this wrong?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Well I can`t really say it`s wrong, but the thing is what do you mean by
wonderIul? II wonderIul` is an interpretation that is romanticising liIe, then you`re not
getting the Iirst noble truth. The Iirst noble truth is: Know the suffering.` LiIe is Iull oI
suIIering, because everything is a compounded phenomena. There is uncertainty, ageing,
and dismantling all the time. What is so wonderIul?
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: It`s uncertain, with all this suIIering aspect, but at the same time liIe is
Iunctioning in a wonderIul way. Eor example, things grow.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Things grow, yet the moment things grow, they are also growing towards their
exhaustion. What happens is, we tend to deny the exhaustion part. This is why we need to
apply such methods as stopping the chain oI thoughts` and bringing the renunciation
mind.` Just how many oI us actually think about death at all and then iI we do, how oIten
do we do this? I plan, I work, and dwell in this world, as iI I`m going to live Ior a thousand
years! HalI our lives were gone a long time ago, or probably even more than halI, yet still
we don`t really realise this. So you have to bring in more renunciation mind. Some might
think our notion oI liIe is very pessimistic, but Buddhists think oI it as being realistic. You
really have to choose. And actually, Buddhists think that being realistic will lead into
being optimistic.
Bodhicitta. One of the Main Foundations
53
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: In generating the pure realm, iI one somehow experiences that the aura oI Guru
Rinpoche is really present, isn`t that suIIicient?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes. And that`s why we are bringing in Guru Rinpoche to change the realm.
This is a good question. But aIter having said this, I have a little bit oI a problem with the
term aura.`
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: It`s just a word. I don`t know exactly what it means.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Okay. As long as you trust this aura, that`s Iine.
Not Becoming a Jictim of Your Own Compassion Not Becoming a Jictim of Your Own Compassion Not Becoming a Jictim of Your Own Compassion Not Becoming a Jictim of Your Own Compassion
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: To generate bodhicitta, why is it necessary to have an understanding oI
emptiness?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Actually, let me ask some oI the others. I want to know people`s general
understanding oI this. Why is emptiness important, in order to understand and have
complete bodhicitta?
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Because otherwise you`re goal-oriented.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Okay, that` s good. Someone else?
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche said bodhicitta has two Iaces, one is compassion and
the other is emptiness. You understand the suIIering oI another person and see it, but you
have the certainty the pain is also empty. Eor this reason, you have something to convey, a
hope to convey.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : You have the certainty that pain is not permanent. Pain is not truly existent.
Yes, that will do. II you think oI the pain as truly existent, then your compassion will
backIire on you. You will become a victim oI your own compassion.
V VV VAJRASATTVA AJRASATTVA AJRASATTVA AJRASATTVA
o we now begin the explanation oI Vajrasattva. But beIore that, as is required
in the tradition, I should remind you that the essence oI the practice, not only
oI the Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro but oI any ngndro is training the mind.
Generally speaking, this term training the mind,` reIers to turning this rigid mind into
something more Ilexible.
Now iI we were to ask the question, 'How come our mind is rigid? Then oI course,
Buddhists would give various answers, corresponding to the three vehicles. Our mind is
rigid, because we surrender too much to the emotions, and not only to the emotions, but
also to the objects oI the emotions: hope and Iear. Almost everything we think and Ieel, or
Ior that matter, almost everything interpreted through this mind is based on hope or Iear.
ThereIore, Ior this reason, our minds are always bound by one or the other oI the emotions,
such as, jealousy, pride, passion, aggression, or ignorance. Constantly, Ior so long, have
we operated in this way, and this is why, rather than having control over our minds, the
emotions and the objects oI the emotions, instead control our minds. This is what we mean
by rigid mind. It is this rigid mind we are trying to train or to tame.
There is actually an assortment oI similar terms: train` tame` or recognise`
which are either applied at diIIerent stages or used separately within the diIIerent vehicles.
Eor instance, prtimoksa methods preIer to use such words as tame.` This wild, rigid
mind needs to be tamed. The mahyna would whereas use the term train.` Rather than
simply taming, we instead train this wild, rigid mind, so that it can be useIul. And in the
vajrayna, because oI the greater view and greater determination, we are going beyond
taming` or training` and thus, we talk about recognising` the mind. So you see, each oI
the three vehicles has a slightly diIIerent approach. Yet this slight variation in approach is
actually quite a big leap and makes a considerable diIIerence.
Anyway, Ior now, and Ior the sake oI easier communication, let`s reIer to all that we
are doing as training the mind.` In doing so, the Iirst and most important step is to
recognise the Iutility oI samsra. It is knowing the Iutility oI this worldly liIe, and
reIlecting on this again and again. As long as you place some value in this worldly liIe,
there is always going to be a loophole in your dharma practice. We must really manage to
recognise this samsaric liIe as Iutile, and truly invoke this kind oI mind.
Understanding th Understanding th Understanding th Understanding the Dharma from e Dharma from e Dharma from e Dharma from A AA All Angles ll Angles ll Angles ll Angles
It is a tradition to hear the preliminary thoughts over and over again. I`ve noticed it is
something we have to hear oIten. The dharma is just so vast, yet still there is merit in
listening to these teachings again and again, because it brings to mind the Iutility aspect oI
samsra. Now, in the study oI Buddhism, we talk about three kinds oI wisdom there is
the wisdom coming Irom hearing, the wisdom coming Irom contemplation, and the
wisdom coming Irom meditation. Hearing the dharma over and over again in Tibetan
that is what we mean in saying "thos bsam sgom gsum." The Iirst part oI the term thos`
means listening and hearing and yet, it also contains the meaning oI study.
5
Actually, I`ve noticed how Ior many people, there is somewhat oI a lack, either in
terms oI reading up on or listening to the dharma. Erom some oI the questions that arise it
is apparent that things are oIten taken quite literally. Yet the ability to understand both the
S
Jafrasattva
55
dharma and the terms Irom all angles is quite important. Even as I speak oI the importance
oI understanding the Iutility aspect oI samsra, I know there will be some who
immediately think: 'Oh, I know this. It is very true. My Iamily liIe is useless and my job is
pointless I want to get out oI this. Some oI you actually try to get out or even abandon
these things. But what you haven`t understood is, that itselI can be a samsaric thought. It
can be I`m not saying it is. It could be that you just want to have a long rest. You`re tired
oI your present Iamily situation, tired with this phase oI liIe and the dharma happens to
provide an excuse. Renunciation happens to be just the pretext to create another Iorm oI
liIe. II you have understood renunciation in this way, you have either misinterpreted or
have not managed to interpret it completely.
Renunciation Mi Renunciation Mi Renunciation Mi Renunciation Mind. Knowing nd. Knowing nd. Knowing nd. Knowing I II It t t t I II Is a Dream s a Dream s a Dream s a Dream
It`s like this. Suppose we are having a dream, and suppose our dream is a bad one.
Instantly, there is the attitude oI not wanting to have this bad dream but that in itselI, is not
renunciation mind. You just don`t want to be having a bad dream; you want to have a good
dream. Renunciation mind is our knowing that it is a dream. That`s it period, Iull stop.
We don`t need to talk about whether something is good or bad. II it is bad, it is a dream; iI
it is good, it is a dream and to know that is renunciation mind. Sometimes it`s tough, so
Iutilely tough, then at other times, it`s kind oI nice. It`s Iutilely nice. We need to know that
samsaric liIe is Iutile. That`s what we call renunciation mind. When we have pain, it`s
easy Ior us to say: 'Samsra, it`s terrible but we don`t say this when we are happy. When
you know, no matter what happens in your liIe, whether it happens to be good or bad;
when you recognize 'This is essenceless, this is changeable, and this is impermanent, it is
then that you`re beginning to become a dharma practitioner, a spiritual person. Regardless
oI whether it is a good or a bad dream, as long as you know it is a dream, you will have no
Iear oI waking up. Through knowing it`s a dream, you are ready to give up bad or good
equally.
In one stra the Buddha said: II a young girl dreams oI a boy coming into her liIe,
she is happy. But within the same dream, iI the boy meets with an accident and dies,
suddenly she is very unhappy. Then, upon awakening, she realises her happiness over
meeting the boy, and her unhappiness over the boy`s death were both an elaborate dream.
The key point here is: through hearing and studying the teachings again and again, it
really helps us to see the dharma Irom every angle, not just in a one sided way. Otherwise,
our understanding is always Irom our side, or is based on how we like to see things. And
as vajrayna students, we tend to believe that we obey our guru, but it is a very dangerous
thing to verbalize. Even including myselI, I don`t think we obey the guru at all. It`s
premature to believe we do whatever our guru says. We don`t. In Iact iI the guru says
something, we always interpret Iirst and then obey that. At any rate, this kind oI thing is
quite tough, so one should really keep it in mind.
It`s okay iI you are not about to Iinish one-hundred-thousand prostrations. It`s
acceptable not Iinishing your Vajrasattva in time. As long as you know and on a daily
basis try to get used to this notion that everything you have, and aim Ior is Iutile, and then
still go ahead with it. Really, you should go ahead with things, because until the dream is
Iinished, you have to dream. Why? Because right now, you simply don`t have the power to
wake up, and until the dream, or story has ended, you`ll have to go through it. By knowing
it`s a dream, it will not bother you. Not knowing it is a dream, it bothers you, tempts you,
traps you, and it really binds you.
Jafrasattva
56
Right now, what makes us a beginner? Even though we intellectually know 'this is a
dream in that instant oI realising it, we still don`t know how to wake up Irom it. Yet Ior
ordinary people walking about in Paris or Munich at this very moment, there is not even
the intellectual understanding: 'This is a dream. As a rule, they honestly think: 'This is
real, this is it, this is terribly important. In contrast, we are somewhat more Iortunate,
since we know intellectually, or at least, we have heard 'this is a dream. But then, in what
sense are we practitioners? It`s a bit like being on a battleIield, surrounded by our enemies,
with both our hands and legs chopped oII, so that we are even unable to Iight with the
enemy. Your tongues being cut out, you are unable to even verbally abuse the enemy. You
can`t run away, because your legs are chopped oII. You have nothing to do but just you
know watch. Even that is a much better outcome than what those people walking about
in Paris or Munich experience. Surrounded by the enemy, they are cheated, trapped,
constantly bothered by the enemy, and yet, they don`t even know the enemy. In doing
whatever the enemy says, as a result, they continually get deIeated. The enemies abuse
them relentlessly, but Ior us, at least our enemies are a little aIraid oI us. Although unable
to do anything much, the enemy knows that we know they are the enemy. So it`s very
important that we develop this illusiory notion. We should have this attitude oI seeing
things Irom all diIIerent angles. II you can really develop this, as Patrl Rinpoche said, the
dawn oI the dharma practitioner will come.
Cleansing Cleansing Cleansing Cleansing T TT This Jessel. B his Jessel. B his Jessel. B his Jessel. Body, Speech and Mind ody, Speech and Mind ody, Speech and Mind ody, Speech and Mind
Now, when we talk about Vajrasattva, there is the aspect oI cleansing. We have diverted
our attention Irom the wrong to the right path by doing reIuge. We have dwelled on the
greater path, and diverted our attention Irom the lesser path to the greater path by
practising bodhicitta. We have laid the two Ioundations. Eor the next Ioundation, the
dharma is like the nectar to be poured into this vessel and so, we cleanse this vessel we
cleanse this body, speech, and mind.
In the vajrayna, even the body is the vessel. But in the mahyna and the
srvakayna tradition, the body is not really the vessel, only the mind is the vessel. It is
this mind that needs to be tamed, or trained. The body, on the other hand, is like a servant.
As Shntideva said in the Bodhicharyvatra:
Slaves unsuitable for work
Are not rewarded with supplies and clothing.
This body, though you pamper it, will leave you
Why exhuast yourself with such great labor?
So pay this body due renumeration,
But then be sure to make it work for you.
But do not lavish everything
On what will not bring perfect benefit.
6
We give this servant some wages, without giving too much and likewise, we are
advised to treat this slave as a master would. II pampered, the slave will only take you
over. In the vajrayna however, the body is not a slave; it is very much a vessel and thus,
even the body needs to be cleansed.
Jafrasattva
57
Think of Jafrasattva as a Practice of Uncovering the Buddha Nature Think of Jafrasattva as a Practice of Uncovering the Buddha Nature Think of Jafrasattva as a Practice of Uncovering the Buddha Nature Think of Jafrasattva as a Practice of Uncovering the Buddha Nature
This brings us to the subject oI bad karma or rather, the obscurations, and deIilements that
need to be puriIied. The moment we hear oI Vajrasattva, somehow there is this bell ringing
in our head, telling us it`s something to do with puriIication and cleansing. Since we use
words like cleansing,` this immediately implies there is some dirt to be Iound. Yet in
communicating between student and teacher, there is no other human language to convey
this in a better way; we have little choice but to use words like cleansing, puriIication, dirt,
deIilement and so Iorth. The real problem is when we practice Vajrasattva or talk about
cleansing the deIilements, it seems to bring along a lot oI paranoia. It`s almost as though
we have the attitude oI not wanting to open that can oI worms. We are unwilling to talk
about our dirt, or our deIilements. We just don`t want to be reminded. In Iact, we`d much
rather talk about our goodness instead.
I think this kind oI attitude comes out oI a certain misunderstanding. It is one that is
present both in the East and the West, and is probably due to a particular religious or
cultural upbringing. Whatever the case might be, the right attitude is this: when puriIying
the deIilements, we are talking about uncovering the buddha nature. II there were no
buddha nature, there would be no sense in puriIying these deIilements. This is quite an
important point. When you puriIy, instead oI getting so worked up with: 'Oh I`m bad.
This is terrible; this is dirty. I`ve so much anger, I`ve so much jealousy; this needs to be
washed. Instead oI putting so much emphasis into such thoughts, how about putting an
equal amount, iI not more into: 'I need to do uncovering. Think oI this practice as an
uncovering oI the buddha nature. All too oIten, people Iorget about the uncovering aspect,
which is why there is an unwillingness to even talk about the dirt.
It`s like washing a cup. The cup is dirty, or stained by coIIee and the like but as we
wash it, there`s this hidden desire to see the cup clean. This is what Iorces us on. As you
sink the dirty cup into warm soapy water, and clean away with a soIt sponge, there is
considerable enjoyment. Especially when you know it`s becoming cleaner and cleaner. II
it is Iorever going to remain a dirty cup with no aspect oI uncovering, it`s really painIul.
And the pain itselI stems Irom the idea that in spite oI your trying Irom morning to night to
do otherwise, not even one bit oI dirt gets lessened. So I would suggest you really
concentrate on the uncovering business. AIter all, that is the real purpose. Buddhism, and
particularly the vajrayna, has nothing against the dirt. Nor does the vajrayna have
anything against the emotions and all oI that. We want to know the inner aspect, and this is
the rationale behind the uncovering.
Guru. a Reflection of Devotion and Merit Guru. a Reflection of Devotion and Merit Guru. a Reflection of Devotion and Merit Guru. a Reflection of Devotion and Merit
To practice Vajrasattva, you are still in an ordinary Iorm, and on the top oI your head is
your guru. Who is your guru? Guru is a reIlection oI your devotion accompanied by merit,
and devotion itselI is a maniIestation oI buddha nature accompanied by merit. Without
merit, you do not recognise the guru.
Take the example oI Devadatta and Buddha. Devadatta was the Buddha`s cousin,
and they stayed together Ior a long time. Yet, since this man Devadatta was unable to see
even one good quality in the Buddha, he thereIore did not receive anything. Eor him the
Buddha was just an ordinary cousin towards whom he had sibling rivalry, or in this case,
cousinly rivalry. So merit plays an important role. OI course, devotion itselI is a kind oI
merit, too. Where does the devotion or merit come Irom? Buddha nature. Basically, we`re
talking about your own nature that is the guru.
Jafrasattva
58
Different Aspirations but Different Aspirations but Different Aspirations but Different Aspirations but O OO One Essence ne Essence ne Essence ne Essence
During the reIuge, the emphasis is protection. You are protected Irom samsra, nirvna,
impure vision, Irom hale, storm, rain, bad health, lack oI devotion, lack oI inspiration and
so on and so Iorth. Since there is this purpose oI protecting, we thereIore visualise our
guru in the Iorm oI Guru Rinpoche. Somehow, in our dualistic minds, Guru Rinpoche is
known and accepted as a great protector. Now this time, during the Vajrasattva practice,
the guru has a diIIerent purpose.
The Iull power oI protection is there as well, but in our mind Vajrasattva is
recognised more as one who does the puriIying. It`s a bit like the diIIerent roles that your
mother takes in liIe. Your mother is a daughter to her mother, and serves the purpose oI
being a daughter; your mother is also a wiIe Ior her husband, your Iather, and she serves
the purpose oI a wiIe. Then your mother is a cleaner, when she goes and cleans
somebody`s house. DiIIerent people have diIIerent perceptions oI the same person.
Likewise all the buddhas and bodhisattvas are one essence, but in our dualistic minds:
name, colour, and appearance make a diIIerence. Strictly speaking, you could visualise
Guru Rinpoche on top oI your head and chant the Vajrasattva mantra or the Guru
Rinpoche mantra and still do the entire cleansing bit. I guess that is almost easier.
Somehow, in the vajrayna there are so many incredible methods and Vajrasattva is
known to be the supreme practice oI puriIication.
Having the power to puriIy is something that is historically linked to the buddha
Vajrasattva. As a bodhisattva, he aspired that upon becoming a buddha, his name alone
would be able to puriIy even the worst deIilements oI sentient beings. This is altogether a
diIIerent subject, but aspiration is quite important. Buddha`s have diIIerent aspirations.
Shakyamuni Buddha had the aspiration to be reborn in this human realm, at a time when a
human beings` liIespan is neither too short, nor too long. And Ior instance, out oI the
thousand buddha`s appearing in this eon, only Iour teach the vajrayna; the rest don`t. This
is also aspiration.
Jafrasattva. the Unity of Wisdom and Compassion Jafrasattva. the Unity of Wisdom and Compassion Jafrasattva. the Unity of Wisdom and Compassion Jafrasattva. the Unity of Wisdom and Compassion
So we visualise Guru Vajrasattva on top oI our head. Again, I repeat, the nature oI
your mind is the unity oI wisdom and compassion. You visualise Vajrasattva as white in
colour, adorned with all the sambhogakya ornaments. Embracing the consort and holding
a vajra at the heart level, he`s holding a bell with his leIt hand resting on his leIt thigh. In
the centre oI his heart visualise a small moon disc, in the centre oI which there is the letter
HM. Think that this letter HM not only the letter HM, but also Vajrasattva are the
embodiment oI all the buddhas, especially oI the buddha`s mind. Then supplicate to
Vajrasattva, saying:
Guru Jafrasattva, protect me, bless me,
Purify all my defilements of the past, present and future.
Then you chant the hundred seed syllable mantra. As you chant the mantra, Iirst
think that Irom this letter HM in the centre oI his heart comes a lot oI diIIerent light,
which travels to the ten directions oI the buddha Iield. Erom this light comes all kinds oI
diIIerent oIIering substances: Ilowers, incense, bathhouses, mansions, gardens, peacocks,
elephants, or whatever oIIering substance you can imagine. OI course, it is basically all
your interpretation. These oIIering substances travel to the buddhas and bodhisattvas oI the
Jafrasattva
59
ten directions, beIore returning back to you. This time the light brings the blessings oI all
the buddhas and bodhisattvas, and these blessings, all dissolve into the letter HM. Then,
nectar in the Iorm oI light or alternatively, since it`s related to cleansing, you can imagine
that a liquid, mercury-like or milk-like substance begins to Ilow Irom this letter HM.
During this sequence, you are still chanting the Vajrasattva mantra. The nectar completely
Iills Vajrasattva`s body, travelling through his secret place, and goes inside the consort`s
body, also completely Iilling her body. Nectar continues to Ilow non-stop Irom the letter
HM, until it starts to overIlow Irom each and every pore oI both Vajrasattva and the
consort. The nectar cascades like a waterIall, especially Irom their secret place, and
dissolves through your head, slowly beginning to Iill up to your Iorehead.
Bodily Defilements. Obscu Bodily Defilements. Obscu Bodily Defilements. Obscu Bodily Defilements. Obscuration of Ndi ration of Ndi ration of Ndi ration of Ndi
As the nectar continues to Iill up to your Iorehead, it pushes down all the sickness,
obscurations, deIilements, and bad energies. It pushes these downwards, until all this
comes down Irom your anus, Irom your secret place, and Irom your toes. Now these
deIilements are mainly related to the physical acts. In other words, it is bad karma that is
related to the physical, such as your actually killing someone in a past liIe, or other acts
like stealing, or sexual misconduct. Then again, it also includes physical sickness, such as
headaches, or a stomachache, Ior instance. All oI this is what we call deIilement oI the
ndi` and the ndis themselves are actually the chakras and the channels inside your body.
Obscuration or deIilement oI the ndi can be caused by doing all kinds oI odd things
like killing people, or even by eating strange Ioods, mixing with obscured beings, or
staying in an obscured place, Ior example. Due to having done this kind oI thing, your
channels and chakras are blocked, and have become very rusty. All this needs to be
cleansed, just in the same way that it is necessary to have a strong powder or liquid to put
into the toilet, like bleach or Domestos. Especially as a vajrayna practitioner, you should
concentrate more on cleansing the chakras and channels. Though this time, I`m using a
slightly diIIerent explanation, which is not one that is usually given in many ngndro
teachings.
Being Creative and Flexible with the Jisualisation Being Creative and Flexible with the Jisualisation Being Creative and Flexible with the Jisualisation Being Creative and Flexible with the Jisualisation
The nectar continues to overIlow non-stop Irom the letter HM. With the visualisation,
keep in mind that one should also be quite creative and Ilexible. What I do is: think that
even my body begins to change as the nectar reaches my Iorehead, my body is white
Irom the top oI the head up to the Iorehead and the rest is a little bit dark. So even our
body coloration changes. II it helps, you can do that. It is just enhancing the power oI
visualisation. As Ior the details oI the visualisations, do not expect to do all this in one
session, but then again, iI you are able to do so, why not? Erom time to time, iI you can,
you should try to do it in one session, or even with one round oI the ml, the rosary.
But suppose you are doing a Vajrasattva retreat or are at the stage oI accumulating
one-hundred-thousand Vajrasattva recitations; in this case, you can alternate. Eor instance,
Ior one day you could just chant the mantra oI Vajrasattva, and simply concentrate on
Vajrasattva`s Iorm above your head. That is already very good. The next day, just Iocus
more on the letter HM in his heart centre while letting the rest remain a little bit
unIocused. Then the Iollowing day, you concentrate on the Ilowing oI the nectar, and so
you can alternate this way, as well. And then, on the Iourth day, you do all three. II you
have a lot oI time, you could visualise the nectar Ilowing up to the Iorehead Ior an
Jafrasattva
60
extended period oI time, Ior instance, Ior one month. Then during the second month, the
nectar Ilows up to the throat. Then again on the other hand, you could do halI an hour to
the Iorehead, and another halI hour to the throat, so that way it`s two hours, completely.
Alternatively, you could try IiIteen minutes, Iive minutes, or two minutes oI this it is
entirely up to you, so please, be Ilexible. Really, it is not necessary to ask questions about
this kind oI thing. All these minor details can be endless: 'How should the nectar travel?
Through which channel should it go? Through the right channel or the leIt channel? I Ieel
like answering with, 'Well, maybe it should travel with the train.
Also, iI you have time, though the main abisheka comes during the guru yoga, since
we are puriIying the bodily deIilements, and the obscurations oI the nd, then at the end
you can also think that you are receiving the vase abisheka. As the nectar Ilows to the
throat, think you are receiving the secret empowerment, and then as the nectar reaches the
heart, you can think you are receiving the third and the Iourth empowerments, the wisdom
initiation and the word intiation.
Speech Defilements. Obscuration of Prna Speech Defilements. Obscuration of Prna Speech Defilements. Obscuration of Prna Speech Defilements. Obscuration of Prna
OI course, the nectar Ilowing up to the throat is to puriIy all the deIilements, but mainly it
is to puriIy the speech deIilements. This includes all the deIilements related to the speech:
such as lying, cheating, using harsh words, gossiping, and making mistakes when you
recite mantras by missing or adding extra words or by not having the perIect
pronunciation. It is also Ior speech related bad energy and disorders, such as when no
matter what you say, people tend to misunderstand. Eor instance, iI you say right` people
think you said leIt.` Or it might be that whatever you say, even when you say something
with a good heart, still it annoys people. Your words and commands are not powerIul
enough. They are not seductive enough, or perhaps they are too seductive so much so
that it is annoying.
It is especially important that vajrayna students cleanse and deal with problems oI
the prna. And when we say prna, we are talking about the winds; it is the stale air, or
rather, the stale wind that we cleanse. There are so many obscurations that have damaged
our prna. We may have collected these obscurations by breathing bad air, smoking
hashish, smoking cigars, drinking alcohol, or Ior instance, by slandering vajrayna
masters, saying impure things about the pure, or even by smelling the wrong incense. Each
and every day there must be so many obscurations that we are inhaling, and all oI this
needs to be cleansed. Now again, in order to develop the visualisation more strongly, as
these things Ilow downwards, you can visualise most oI the deIilements coming out in the
Iorm oI black liquids, Irom your anus and your secret place, or Irom your toes. You can
then think that most oI the disease is in the Iorm oI pus and blood, while most oI the bad
energy is in the Iorm oI all kinds oI beings. Eor instance, visualise that the bad energy oI
the prna and ndi is in the Iorm oI butterIlies, scorpions, and various other insects and
animals. You imagine that these creatures look part you and part animal; you might
perhaps visualise dogs that have your hands and your Ieet, and Ileas or Irogs that have
your lips and so Iorth. Anyhow, it is bad energy coming out, so they all look hideous, or
dirty, however you choose to elaborate on this.
To brieIly recap, there are many ways in which you can be creative with the
visualisation. It is possible to go step by step Irom the top oI the chakra, to the Iorehead
level, and then the throat and so on, which is one way. Then again, iI you preIer, you can
also choose to complete the visualisation all in one go. Yet another way is to perhaps on
one day simply visualise that Vajrasattva`s nectar overIlows, dissolves into you, and
Jafrasattva
61
washes down all the dirt, pus, and blood and you receive only the vase initiation. This
puriIies the body deIilement and the obscuration oI ndi. Then on the next day, you puriIy
the prna. So it is up to you. Also, it is really not that important, but iI it somehow bothers
you or iI you are wondering about where this dirt goes, you can imagine that it dissolves
into the earth. Or you can even think that it all disappears into emptiness.
Mind Defilements. Obscuration of Bindu Mind Defilements. Obscuration of Bindu Mind Defilements. Obscuration of Bindu Mind Defilements. Obscuration of Bindu
As you keep on chanting the Vajrasattva mantra, the nectar then comes down to the heart
level. This time it cleanses all the deIilements relating to the mind. This includes bad
karma created by mind such as jealousy, competitiveness, aggression, selIishness, pride, or
covetousness. Then there are things like wishing to harm others, having the wrong view, or
extreme views such as believing in killing human beings in order to go to heaven. We
must have done this kind oI thing a lot in our past lives, and the stain must still be there.
So there are all these diseases related to the mind, like depression, anxiety, nervousness,
insecurity, or being overly excited, overly amused, never amused, never anxious, never
nervous, or over-nervous. There are just so many things: mind disease, even lack oI
devotion, lack oI inspiration, and this ridiculous endless sadness. And I think, bulimia that
is also a kind oI mind disease. Then there is this craziness, this being ambitious and
wanting to become the best, having this desire to get enlightenment Iaster than anyone else
and stuII like that. We have so many deIilements. As a vajrayna practitioner, on this
third level, you are trying more to cleanse the deIilements oI bindu.
We reIer to bindu as the drop bodhicitta. At this point, to Iurther explain the
concept oI bindu is quite diIIicult, and maybe a little bit untimely. I can only describe
some oI the outer things. Anyway, it is very much mind related, since bindu is like the
domain oI the mind. It is also the most essential aspect; it is tikle.
7
Now in the tantric
practice, as you keep it as simple as possible, and as unIabricated as possible, the energy
between Iemale and male, the bliss becomes very intense and very vast. But human beings
complicate this tremendously, and tend to Iabricate this more and more. I can give you one
good example. I may be wrong, but I think it is because people run out oI ideas. Really, I
think Ior human beings at this time, in this age, the problem is that many people need to be
turned on. Their problem is being turned on or turned oII, just like this oddity oI needing
to be aroused via chains and whips. This, I think, is a bindu problem. The reason I`m
saying, perhaps I`m right perhaps I`m wrong is that most oI the ancient texts were written
beIore the chain and whip problem. But in such a situation, you are obscuring your bindu
so much that in order to invoke a certain experience, you have to do all kinds oI gross
things. Who knows? Within the next twenty years or so, maybe there will be a need Ior
chain saws in order to be turned on.
|S |S |S |Student tudent tudent tudent| || |: :: : Rinpoche, is it the bindu that travels up the central channel?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: Yes. That`s the visualisation bit. And then lastly the nectar travels all the way
unto the toes, completely Iilling your body. It puriIies all the remaining deIilements iI
there is any remaining residue that is. So this includes body, speech, and mind: ndi,
prna, and bindu, altogether. At this stage, especially iI you are a vajrayna practitioner,
what you are trying to do is puriIy the laya. Basically, you are trying to puriIy this so-
called mind, because as soon as you puriIy the mind, that is when the wisdom appears.
Jafrasattva
62
T TT Talking about t alking about t alking about t alking about the Fourth Defilement and Defilements in General he Fourth Defilement and Defilements in General he Fourth Defilement and Defilements in General he Fourth Defilement and Defilements in General
Understanding the Iourth deIilement is somewhat complicated. That is to say, when we
spoke oI the Iirst and second deIilements there were speciIic examples given such as
killing, which is bad karma related to the body, and telling lies, which is the deIilement
related to prna. Then there is wrong view, Ior the deIilement related to the mind. But
when it comes to obscurations related to the Iourth deIilement it`s very diIIicult to explain.
The reason being that in order to understand, you have to be Iamiliar with dzogchen.
Anyway, Ior now, what we are trying to do is puriIy anything that is contrived, or anything
that is Iabricated.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I`m just wondering what sexual deIilements actually are. Is it like sleeping with
somebody`s husband?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : What you are talking about is sexual misconduct. That`s sort oI the body
deIilement. It is diIIerent to the example I gave on whips and chains when talking about
bindu deIilements. As I was explaining earlier, bindu deIilement is obscuring your inner
energy by just not simpliIying it.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: And sexual misconduct?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : There are diIIerent kinds oI sexual misconduct. Take Ior instance, someone
under the upsik.
8
There are certain things you must not do iI you have taken an upsik
vow or even iI you are married and have taken a vow. Now, I don`t know exactly what
kind oI vow you take in the West but there is a general sort oI acceptance that when you
are married to someone, you are only going to have sex with this person. Isn`t this how it
is in the West, too? So, iI you`re doing it with someone else, then basically, you are lying,
aren`t you? You`re cheating someone; it is something like that. Then again, this is a very
outer one. Some oI the upsiks take a certain vow not to undertake sexual activities at a
certain time, so they must abstain within that period oI time. Also, it would be sexual
misconduct iI they were to do it in Iront oI a stupa, or a statue oI a buddha. Then there are
other things like rape, Ior instance, which is obviously sexual misconduct. It seems that
what you want to talk about is abuse, or more speciIically, sexual abuse?
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Yeah. It`s a little bit conIusing Ior me.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Actually, there`s a long list oI actions relating to sexual misconduct. Though it
is mainly directed at men, in the abhidharma there are even things like when a man has
sex with a woman, neglecting to put a soIt cushion or something like that underneath them
is also considered sexual misconduct. That`s also very cultural, you know. Maybe
nowadays, women would scoII at a soIt cushion; perhaps, instead they would want a bed
oI nails.
Also iI a woman has taken a vow, like Ior instance a nun, then iI a man were to have
sex with this woman the man would be guilty oI sexual misconduct. OI course, Ior the
woman, iI she were doing it willingly, not only would she have the bad karma oI sexual
misconduct, even worse, she would also have the bad karma oI breaking the vow.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is this the Iourth deIilement?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : No, it is more related to the Iirst one, bodily deIilements.

Dissolving Dissolving Dissolving Dissolving Jafrasattva. Jafrasattva. Jafrasattva. Jafrasattva. Watching the Inseparability Watching the Inseparability Watching the Inseparability Watching the Inseparability
Towards the end, we dissolve guru Vajrasattva into us, and actually, this is something you
can do again and again. This is something very unique to Buddhism. You do not leave the
deity up there` as something pure, while you are leIt remaining as something impure. At
Jafrasattva
63
the end oI the practice, so as to understand you are also a buddha and to know that right
Irom the beginning, right Irom the primordial state you have always been so, you always
mix the two. In order to make you realise this inseparability: you dissolve into each other
again and again. Likewise during each session or even iI you just Ieel like doing it,
whenever you Iinish one rosary you can dissolve Vajrasattva and then, as you continue,
you can re-visualize Vajrasattva all over again. It`s really good to do that. Then at the end,
Vajrasattva melts into you.
Lastly, just beIore you end the session, you supplicate to Vajrasattva saying:
Oh, protector Jafrasattva' I am an ignorant being,
I have violated all kinds of samayas.
Protect me, guru Jafrasattva'
You are the Jafra holder.
You are a compassionate being.
To you, the supreme leader, I take refuge'
To you, I confess and expose all downfalls, misdeeds and the samaya
breakages of body, speech and mind' Please dispel and purify the
obscurations and defilements that are covering my buddha nature at this
very moment'
AIter having said that Vajrasattva dissolves into you, and as a result you then
become Vajrasattva. In this state you remain and you should watch this inseparability oI
you and Vajrasattva, over and over again. You then chant, OM VAJRASATTVA HM. This
time you are Vajrasattva.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: We Iinish the Vajrasattva as Vajrasattva. There is no dissolution aIter that?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : No. Just remain in the state oI Vajrasattva.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Then you go on with the mandala oIIering as Vajrasattva?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes. You don`t have to really worry about dissolving that. Automatically, it
will be dissolved. II you are lucky, it might stay Ior halI a second.
Jafrasattva Related Questions Jafrasattva Related Questions Jafrasattva Related Questions Jafrasattva Related Questions
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I would like to know iI this puriIying practice could also be done with Guru
Rinpoche`s image?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes, you can do that. On the Iace oI things, you could even chant the Vajra
Guru mantra instead oI the Vajrasattva mantra. But bear in mind that visualising a
particular deity, with particular attributes, is a vajrayna method. It`s also what we call
"tendrel" that oI interdependent reality. We have developed so much oI this dualistic
mind that we naturally think oI: Majushr Ior wisdom, Avalokiteshvara Ior compassion,
Jambhala Ior wealth, and the Medicine Buddha Ior health, and so Iorth. Likewise, we have
a certain trust in Vajrasattva as somehow being more special in the act oI puriIying. Due to
our having this dualistic mind, we have the dualistic path. That`s how it works.
Nevertheless, it`s good to know that guru Vajrasattva and guru Padmasambhava are not
diIIerent. Keep this in your head and use both methods. Why not? The more methods, the
better it is.
Jafrasattva
64
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: When I visualise Vajrasattva how should I visualise the body? Is it empty like a
vase or is it like a person`s body, somehow Iull with something?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : It is as a reIlection, like a reIlection oI the moon in a lake.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But iI I visualise like that it`s so empty and liIeless.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Very good. That`s good. At the moment, you have to get used to it. At Iirst,
it`s a bit empty, but slowly, slowly that empty` will become more alive. It is just a
reIlection. Take a look at your reIlection in the mirror. You move, it moves. It is like that:
breathing.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: When chanting the short Vajrasattva mantra, isn`t there rainbow light...
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : That`s in the longer version. In this shorter version, as you chant OM
VAJRASATTVA HM, now that you have been cleansed, you remain in the conIidence oI
being Vajrasattva.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Visualising with the consort?
|Rinpoch |Rinpoch |Rinpoch |Rinpoche| e| e| e|: :: : Yes. With the consort, oI course.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: There are so many possibilities Ior us to Iall down. Is there some sort oI security
to stop that?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : There is the Vajrasattva, the bodhicitta, and the reIuge.
Exposing Exposing Exposing Exposing D DD Deeds of the Past, Present eeds of the Past, Present eeds of the Past, Present eeds of the Past, Present and Future and Future and Future and Future
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: You said something about past lives` deIilements?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : In actual Iact, when we talk about deIilements and obscurations or obstacles
iI you like not only does it encompass past lives, we should also include Iuture lives.
Even those deIilements you have not yet collected are taken into account.
As such, there is no need to be aware oI all the deIilements we have collected in the
past. It is said iI you were to collect all the tears shed in your past lives, out oI your
aggression, jealousy, or out oI your passion it would amount to a thousand times more
than the Iour oceans put together. It is almost endless and it is not necessary. What you can
do is expose whatever deIilements oI the past you can remember. Basically, Vajrasattva
puriIication is very much to do with exposing your pride, and not allowing yourselI to hide
it. You are revealing everything in Iront oI the buddha Vajrasattva. When you think about
it, there`s almost no point oI exposing your pride to someone who is not omniscient
because there is always a chance there will be something they don`t know. II that is the
case, there is still a possibility that you can hide certain things. But with the buddha
Vajrasattva, he knows everything, whether you hide things or not. So this is what we call
"tengyi thob" the power oI the object oI puriIication.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Sometimes during the Vajrasattva, I Ieel like I haven`t done anything wrong.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : There are all the past and the Iuture mistakes. There are also those things that
you don`t remember in your past liIe, as well as those things that you may Iorget in the
Iuture.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: It seems I have Iorgotten everything, or that I don`t want to remember, because I
cannot imagine anything.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : That`s possible. It is like the great master Ngrjuna, who was a great
philosopher and a saint. There was this king who was born at the same time as Ngrjuna,
although to a diIIerent Iamily. A great master blessed them both together, saying that as
they were born together they would both die at the same time. Now, Ngrjuna had a long
Jafrasattva
65
liIe, so the king was also destined to live Ior a long time. But the king`s son, the crown
prince, was getting old, and realised that he would never have the chance to become king.
In Iact, the prince, who would likely die beIore his Iather, asked his mother, 'My Iather is
not going to die until Ngrjuna dies, what can I do, iI I want to be king? Then his mother
answered him, 'Why not go to Ngrjuna and ask him to give you his head? So the
prince went and asked Ior his head, and Ngrjuna said, 'It`s time now that I die, so
please, be my guest, cut it and take it. Yet no matter how many times the prince waved
his kniIe, it was like waving it in thin air. There was no blood, nothing; it was like
Ngrjuna couldn`t die. 'I don`t think it`s going to work like this, said Ngrjuna. 'Why
don`t you cut a small blade oI grass and hit the back oI my neck with it, he said to the
prince. 'In my previous liIe as a grass seller I killed an insect that I had Iorgotten to
dedicate my merit to this I remember today, and I want to pay this karmic debt. The
prince Iollowed these instructions, and this time Ngrjuna`s head Iell. So you see, there
are countless things we may have Iorgotten, small insects and things like that.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I can just assume I have done all kinds oI things?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: : : : Yes, and that`s why in the Vajrasattva practice you always have this act oI
puriIying all the past, present and Iuture bad deeds.
Dissolving Prid Dissolving Prid Dissolving Prid Dissolving Pride and Jealousy e and Jealousy e and Jealousy e and Jealousy
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What is the best method to dissolve jealousy and pride?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : There are many diIIerent methods. II you are a beginner, the single best
method Ior dissolving pride is to expose it. In a more general sense, the best method oI
dissolving jealousy is to rejoice.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Exposing the pride in what way? Can you explain that? It sounds very
interesting.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Exposing the pride means to let it get somewhat hurt by someone else, there is
a little bit oI that. Basically, when you are exposing your pride, you are not deIending it.
To start with, as you communicate with people, you can make the eIIort to use the words
iI` and but` much less. Usually, we deIend our pride a lot. In most cases, we deIend it by
always trying to bring in an interpretation. That`s what I mean when I say try not to use
iI` and but.`

N NN No oo o Place Place Place Place to Hide to Hide to Hide to Hide a a a a Big Relief Big Relief Big Relief Big Relief
Why should we visualize the guru as Vajrasattva? You see, iI you visualize the guru as an
ordinary human being and then try to conIess, there is always a tendency to think: 'I can
expose this and this, but not that. Because he doesn`t know. Your ordinary guru has
demonstrated on many occasions that he doesn`t know oI things you have done. There is
always this small comIort; the reassuring thought that he doesn`t know. Right now, having
strong guru devotion, and thinking oI the guru as the Buddha is quite diIIicult. Just take a
look at our minds! There are certain things we do in Iront oI our Lama, and then,
culturally, or out oI politeness, there are other things we try not to do. There is always this
thinking that some things in particular should be done without him knowing. This is why
we visualize the guru in the Iorm oI the buddha Vajrasattva, who knows everything: back,
Iront, past, present, Iuture basically, there is nowhere to hide. So expose everything, it`s
a big relieI. It`s really a big relieI!
Jafrasattva
66
Some Aspects of Some Aspects of Some Aspects of Some Aspects of Prna Prna Prna Prna, , , , Ndi Ndi Ndi Ndi, and , and , and , and B BB Bindu indu indu indu
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is the appearance oI deity coming Irom bindu?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes, and it is also Irom prna and ndi, as well. Bindu is basically mind. It is
just as I have been explaining: all the deities are mind`s perception.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I was just wondering why it seems that practising works better in some
environments than in others. Has that something to do with bindu?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : It can be related to bindu, but most oI the time, it`s just our Iickle minds
making this distinction. I will have to take the liberty to tell you that you and I have not
reached that level oI judging a place based on an interpretation oI bindu. Right now, our
minds are very Iickle. Sometimes you like a certain place, and it inspires, and yet with that
same place, iI you stay too long, it bores you. Having said this, Ior now, you must still try
to choose whatever kind oI place inspires you. As you practise more and more, one day
this kind oI habit, this Iickle mind will just go. Then you will search Ior the bindu
interpretation oI the right place, and according to the classic tantric texts that is usually
what they call the 'eight great charnel grounds.
9
So then, you have to go to a cemetery,
especially to one oI the eight cemeteries. There, under a tree, in the charnel ground,
wearing a tiger skin skirt, holding a kapla and having this indiIIerence between relatives
and enemies, indiIIerence between Iood and shit, you will practise. Then your bindu will
Ilow. At that time, you will know how to have intercourse between emptiness and
appearance. When you understand how to have intercourse between appearance and
emptiness, you will have no burden oI Ioreplay and no anxiety over having or not having a
climax.
Entering Jafrayna Completely Entering Jafrayna Completely Entering Jafrayna Completely Entering Jafrayna Completely
As I mentioned earlier, since the teachings on bindu are very high teachings I must speak
metaphorically. I am a bit worried that some people will take it very literally but I guess
you have to learn the metaphoric language. There is no direct language to teach these
things.
In a very metaphoric way, without going into much detail, all I can do is introduce a
Iew general things about bindu. II you want a more in depth understanding, practise this
ngndro Ior a year or two and then request teachings such as "Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo",
"The Light oI Wisdom" by both Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chokgyur Lingpa, or
"Guhyagarbha" or "Jafrakumra." There are all kinds oI ways to approach this.
But once you do that there is no way out. Then you will be like a snake in a tube.
You can either go up or down. Even during the initiation, they do the ritual eight times.
Eirst a vajra master will hold his vajra on your head and say: 'Erom now on I am your
heruka. Whatever I say, you should do, and you should never despise me. And iI you do,
there is only one place to go. And then, they let you go Ior a Iew days to think. The next
time you come back, he will give you a conch with some water in it. AIter pouring the
water, they let you drink Irom it and the vajra master says: 'May this drop oI water dwell
in your heart. By practising this, by keeping the pure vision, may it grow as nectar and
overIlow and enhance your bliss. But iI you ever break a samaya, may it become a blood
sucking scorpion, and throw you into the vajra hell. That`s the second command. As Ior
the third and the Iourth, at this point, I can`t even divulge these. Only aIter taking the
second command, are you allowed to hear the third and Iourth, which are really dangerous.
Jafrasattva
67
Actually nowadays, it`s quite easy to take an initiation. You know, you just go and
sit there, you read something, and the lama pours something over your head.
Insertions Are Printed Separately, Out of Respect to the Original Author Insertions Are Printed Separately, Out of Respect to the Original Author Insertions Are Printed Separately, Out of Respect to the Original Author Insertions Are Printed Separately, Out of Respect to the Original Author
Just to clariIy a Iew things, you might wonder why the texts are not printed in order. Why
are there pages printed separately like A, 1A and so on? This is a Tibetan tradition,
which is actually quite a good tradition. These pages are what we call insertions. Ideally,
out oI respect to the original author, wherever there is an insertion, it`s never printed as
part oI the text. This is why you will Irequently Iind that with the Tibetan sdhanas, or
pfs, the ritual liturgies are very, very conIusing. As the guru lineage grows, there is
always a little bit oI insertion here and there, and those parts are usually printed separately.
Within the pith instructions, the teacher is almost always allowed to shuIIle the
theory pages around, depending on the time and the situation. II I am teaching someone
how to drive, I don`t necessarily have to start with page one. I could be teaching Irom the
last page and then go back and Iorth. In Iact, not all this outline I am giving was invented
by me these are authentic methods with a guru lineage background. All too oIten
nowadays, people have the habit oI wanting to claim originality, saying things like: 'This
is my idea, copyrighted by me. Well, I would rather be a plagiarist than a thieI.
An O An O An O An Outli utli utli utline of the Ngndro Practice ne of the Ngndro Practice ne of the Ngndro Practice ne of the Ngndro Practice
This is an outline oI the practice up as Iar as the Vajrasattva practice.
10
OI course, it`s not
really part oI the actual text and outlining these points is only Ior your convenience. It is a
sort oI easy guide. II you try to look Ior a similar reIerence in some book, you will never
Iind it.
The Iirst oI these points is stopping the thoughts, and by this I mean bringing in the
renunciation mind. Like just beIore, I was thinking this beautiIul place that we are in
aIter Iive days we might never see it again in our lives. That`s the nature oI liIe. This
gathering that we have at this moment, aIter dispersing some oI us will not even exist in
this world. That`s the nature oI liIe. And some oI us might end up in a wheelchair or in a
hospital. I hope not! I pray not! But that`s how it is. Then again, some oI us, or more
likely, many oI us might just end up in the mental hospital.
The second point is to clear the stale air, and then we transIorm the atmosphere with
the invocation oI Guru Rinpoche. AIter that Ior the Iourth, we chant Lama khyeno.`
and then contemplate on the Iour thoughts` that turn the mind to the dharma. These are:
the precious human body, impermanence and the certainty oI death, the Iutility oI samsra
and the power oI karma. Eollowing on Irom that Ior the IiIth, we visualize the object oI
reIuge, while at the same time taking reIuge. In this case, since this is the short version oI
the Longchen Nyingtik, the reIuge is combined with the bodhicitta.
In Iact, we can mark some oI these points as optional. II you are catching a plane or
need to do a big weekly laundry, then you know which ones can be omitted. So in our
outline, tonglen and the Iour immeasurable thoughts correspond to points six and seven,
and you can put an asterisk beside these two to indicate optional. Even clearing the stale
air can be optional.
In this particular liturgy, we are also dissolving the witness oI bodhicitta. But in the
long version oI the ngndro, the object oI reIuge and the bodhicitta are separate. In that
case, we use the same visualisation object, one oI which we take reIuge to and then during
the bodhicitta, we imagine this same object as a witness.
Jafrasattva
68
Then, Ior the Vajrasattva part oI the practice there are Iive main steps, beginning
Iirstly with the visualization oI Vajrasattva while reciting the liturgy. AIter that we chant
the hundred syllable mantra with Iour sub-categories. Thirdly, we pray to Vajrasattva.
Then Vajrasattva dissolves into us. And lastly, you remain as Vajrasattva, while reciting
the six syllable mantra.
But any time there is any signiIicant doubt, please just look at the long length
Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro. Also as part oI the Iirst point, which is stopping the chain oI
thoughts` another option is to read the 'Calling oI the Guru oI the long version oI the
Longchen Nyingtik.
M MM MA AA AND ND ND NDALA ALA ALA ALA O OO OEEERING EEERING EEERING EEERING
he Iourth Ioundation practice is the mandala oIIering. In order to divert our
attention Irom the wrong view, we took reIuge. In order to divert our attention
Irom the lesser view, we practice bodhicitta. In order to cleanse our being,
which is this vessel we have the Vajrasattva practice. And among the many methods oI
puriIication, the Vajrasattva cleansing is the most supreme. This is because through the
method oI visualization, chanting mantras and so on, you are actually using your buddha
nature directly.
Now, the next thing is to become well equipped, and endowed with the right
apparatus. That`s what we mean by merit. It`s the equipment. It`s our tools. Let me ask,
what does merit mean Ior you?
|S |S |S |Student tudent tudent tudent| || |: :: : It`s coming Irom good deeds and gives you a little room to decide what to do.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : That will do. That`s acceptable.
M MM Merit Is an Ability erit Is an Ability erit Is an Ability erit Is an Ability
Merit is also ability and by this, we mean all kinds oI abilities. Though my words are not
like the great masters oI the past, such as those oI His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
at least, as stated by Patrl Rinpoche, remember the dog`s tooth. Now I am sure you
know the story oI the old lady and the dog`s tooth. It is because the old lady had the ability
to think oI the tooth as the Buddha`s tooth that there were relics. Likewise merit is an
incredible thing. I don`t have much experience, but the little that I have has really told me
a lot. Try reading the 'Words oI my PerIect Teacher once and then go and do one-
hundred-thousand mandala oIIerings. Not just doing it with limited motivation, but try
doing it, as best as you can. II you then read the 'Words oI my PerIect Teacher again,
never mind getting the gist oI certain chapters or even the entire book, your ability to
understand, or even to interpret each word, will become really diIIerent! You could even
try heading along to a teaching by that very same teacher, giving all those endless, boring,
repetitive teachings. AIter completing one-hundred or two-hundred-thousand mandala
oIIerings, go and listen again. AIter this, your ability to hear will be poles apart.
Alternatively, try doing a shamatha meditation and see how much you can really settle
your mind; observe what a wanderer you are! Then, do some mandala oIIerings and do the
meditation again. You will notice how the ability to remain and watch is really diIIerent.
Merit is an ability. Eor instance, when it comes to the word impermanent`: Ior now,
you only have the ability to interpret this word in terms oI death. Or as a gross
interpretation, impermanence` means the change oI seasons: Irom spring to summer,
summer to autumn, and autumn to winter. Yet aIter generating a little bit oI merit you will
manage to interpret the meaning oI impermanence` much more subtly. Let`s say you`re
Ieeling some kind oI happiness in your being right now. As the happiness arises, your
ability to interpret this impermanence` is already there; you are thereIore able to watch
the change, so that it actually becomes visible. When attending a teaching, whether it is
because oI my voice, this irritable voice, or due to the Iact you have heard these things so
oIten, most oI the time you are missing it, or are not even really listening. Your mind is
everywhere. That capacity oI listening intently is not there. Even iI you have the ability to
T
Mandala Offering
70
listen, you have no ability to hear. You are unable to interpret, or approach it Irom
diIIerent angles, and end up taking it literally most oI the time. So this happens.
Obstacles as a Good Sign Obstacles as a Good Sign Obstacles as a Good Sign Obstacles as a Good Sign
The lamas tell us: the dharma is so precious it is like a diamond to pierce through all
kinds oI dualistic nets, rocks, and Iences. We are like a destitute beggar, lacking in any
enterprising mind at all and suddenly this diamond has Iallen into our hands. We don`t
know what to do with it. In our ignorance, we might trade it Ior a piece oI hotdog. Then
it`s a big loss! Or someone might even steal it Irom you! These things happen, quite a lot.
Where there is precious dharma, there are also lots oI obstacles.
As I have said beIore, iI there are obstacles it is actually quite a good sign. It means
you are doing okay. The obstacles know it, which is why they have come. The obstacles
are there because you are worthy oI being obstructed. II you are not doing well, then you
are your own obstacle. Why go and bother you? But the Iact is many oI the obstacles are
quite strong! They can really disturb you. At such a time, you need the ability to be
oIIensive, to be deIensive, to manipulate the obstacles, cheat the obstacles, seduce the
obstacles, transIorm the obstacles, or the ability to ignore the obstacles. Actually, there are
so many ways! Then again, the ability to take the obstacles as a blessing that`s the
highest! So anyhow, in order to have that kind oI ability you need merit. There are
numerous, truly incredible ways oI accumulating merit yet Ior beginners like us, the most
proIound way oI accumulating merit is through the mandala oIIering.
The Meaning of The Meaning of The Meaning of The Meaning of Mandala Mandala Mandala Mandala Offering Offering Offering Offering
In Tibetan Ior mandala,` we say dkyil khor,` and dkyil` means dimension`: the whole
dimension or the whole circle, which includes basically everything. In this case, it is your
body, speech and mind, and particularly, your prna, ndi, and bindu, although Ior now,
we know oI these only on an intellectual level.
OI course, when making oIIerings, you want to oIIer something that is good. It is a
concept very much like giving someone a present. The very best, most precious thing that
you have is your prna, ndi, and bindu or the buddha nature. So in essence, what we are
trying to do is oIIer body, speech, and mind, or prna, bindu, and ndi, or the buddha
nature. We try to do this by thinking in terms oI all these realms; we think oI Mount Meru,
and the diIIerent planets as a kind oI container-mandala not as an ordinary realm, but as
a buddha realm. All this is very much related to transIorming the atmosphere, just as we
do right in the beginning oI the practice.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I have a question about oIIering. What does it really mean?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It is to oIIer, and to detach Irom your body, speech, and mind actually, but in
the Iorm oI more beautiIul things. What you are really oIIering is your body, speech, and
mind, prna, ndi, and bindu, your buddha nature. But how do we oIIer buddha nature?
It`s kind oI invisible at the moment. In order to train our mind, we give it some Iorm.
Actually, iI you want to practice dzogchen in the Iuture, or Ior that matter with any
kind oI practice to accumulate merit, it is good to oIIer lamps. OIIering has a lot to do with
interdependent reality, and in Iact, all these concepts oI oIIering are based on the Buddhist
philosophy oI interdependence. Eor instance, by oIIering a lamp, there is the auspicious
interdependent reasoning that understanding the true nature oI mind will be enhanced.
Since mind itselI is like a lamp, it knows everything and knows itselI. Just like a lamp,
Mandala Offering
71
mind illuminates everything and also illuminates itselI. So there is that auspicious link.
The lamas tell us that oIIering lamps is an auspicious thing to do. Whatever you have is
Iine; you can oIIer a lot oI butter lamps, candles or even electric light. You should try to
do this because it is really good.
Being Creative with the Offering Substa Being Creative with the Offering Substa Being Creative with the Offering Substa Being Creative with the Offering Substance nce nce nce
When it comes to the oIIering substance, again you should be quite creative. II the idea oI
Mount Meru, the southern planet, the eastern planet, or whatever, iI all this is really unable
to come to you easily, then, oIIer Ior instance a big mountain instead. Or oIIer Asia, South
America, North America, and Australia, adorned with all the beautiIul places, all the
national parks, beautiIul waterIalls and the wealth oI human beings. Include such things as
the Deutsche Bank, Iorests, human wealth, steel, and also the wealth oI gods, such as
carpets that can Ily, or parasols that can Ily. Then there is all the ngas` wealth, such as a
conch that can wage war, and a shell that can transIorm itselI into a domain, and into
palaces. You can oIIer wish-IulIilling trees and cows, or even beautiIul ladies. All this is
mentioned during the explanation on oIIering the thirty-seven heaps mandala in the
'Words oI my PerIect Teacher. Anyhow, you can elaborate on this as much as you want.
And in order to enhance your visualisation, you can make use oI diIIerent substances, such
as rice. Actually, rice is something used by Tibetans a lot. You can use rice a little bit and
also coins, copper, gold, and silver.
To do the mandala oIIering, you should have a mandala plate, and although a small
one is Iine, according to Deshung Rinpoche it should be oI a substantial size. It can be
made oI stone, sandalwood, copper, iron, steel or even gold iI you wish. It all depends on
how much you can aIIord. There are oIIering substances like sandalwood-powder, which
are readily available in the West, at least, much more so than in places like Bhutan or
Nepal. Compared to these places, you have so many things at your Iingertips, like dried
and Iresh Ilowers, Ior instance. Though in any case, all this is simply intended to enhance
the practice, and act as a concentration object. In Iact, each and every grain oI rice can be
visualized as those things just mentioned: the Deutsche Bank, palaces, bathhouses and so
on. And personally, it`s a very Indian thing but I always like to visualize bathhouses with
dancing girls or dancing boys to be politically correct. Eor that matter, iI you want, you
can even oIIer political correctness or Iootball pictures, video cameras, and all oI that.
Mandala Mandala Mandala Mandala O OO Offering in ffering in ffering in ffering in R RR Retreats etreats etreats etreats
Suppose you are doing a Longchen Nyingtik retreat, where you are intending to do one-
hundred-thousand mandala oIIerings in one go. Let`s say you have taken leave and are
aiming to Iinish in a month or two, which is quite good actually, since this is the tradition.
II this is the case, you will need two plates Ior your mandala. One oI the mandala plates is
placed on the shrine. Instead oI seven heaps, there are Iive heaps to represent the Iive
buddha Iamilies, and this Iive-heaped one is what you place on the shrine. It is going to be
used as the mandala in which your object oI oIIering dwells.
Now, you are beginning to accumulate merit. Never, during the reIuge, the
bodhicitta nor the Vajrasattva, did I ever mention that you need a shrine. OI course, it
depends on the situation. Were you doing a daily practice oI perhaps one-hundred-mandala
oIIerings and going to work in between, or iI you take a long break and then restart, in this
instance, it might be a little diIIicult to have a mandala on the shrine. But what I`m saying
is iI you are doing a long retreat, since it is accumulation-oI-merit time, one should really
Mandala Offering
72
have that object oI oIIering, along with all the seven oIIering bowls` and all the other
various oIIering substances.
Why We Why We Why We Why We C CC Count ount ount ount
By the way, once you start the prostrations, you should count whatever you do. Even iI
you were to only do ten prostrations a day, you should also write that down. Don`t give me
this hogwash, 'Nah, I hate counting. You should just count! Unless you happen to be one
oI these hidden buddhas, Ior us, as ignorant beings, we are usually driven by a target. It`s
good to count; I`m counting. I`m trying to Iinish at least three-hundred-thousand
prostrations in this liIetime. And because oI being either too busy or too lazy, I don`t have
much time to do them. So as I do prostrations, I pledge to myselI, 'II I do only twenty-
Iive, it doesn`t count, but iI I`ve done twenty-six or more, it`s in this computer!
(Rinpoche points to his notebook). As stated by Patrl Rinpoche: 'When practicing the
dharma, one should Iollow the example oI a horse being ridden hard by a rider.
Whenever a horse sees one or two leaves oI grass, they eat. There is very little time,
because their owner is whipping them constantly. They have to go on! So every time they
get a chance to eat, they eat. Eor them, there is no designated time Ior lunch or dinner.
That is how we should practice and each time we practice, we should accumulate.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I have a very ego compounded question. It`s like a sadness within me, but
somehow I`m not really interested in counting. I think to myselI: 'Why do I need to track
this progress? We all have the same job to do anyway.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s Iine. It depends on the person. You don`t have to count. It is Iair
enough iI you Ieel that counting does not necessarily encourage you. Don`t count. But the
Iact remains that counting is a major support Ior many oI us. Eor me, it is very much an
encouragement. OI course, the most superior method oI all is to do the practice until you
have a sign. But then again, it is a very dangerous thing to judge. AIter all, we mostly
interpret the signs incorrectly. Some people practise Ior one day and aIter hearing a crow
make a noise they think, 'ah, there`s a sign, and then they stop! Then there`s what we call
the indicator oI time, which is usually something like: 'I will practise until I die. It`s
good, but that`s second best, because there are still a lot oI loopholes there. You tend to
relax a little too much. Then the last method is to count. Now Ior many practitioners, what
they try to do is combine the second and the third, because it acts as a kind oI discipline. In
other words, they try to rely on the time aspect, as well as counting. When you think to
yourselI, 'I`m to Iinish one-hundred-thousand, you have a guideline. Without that target,
you might end up just doing whatever you like. On the other hand, Ior some people, a
target is completely unnecessary, because they would practise anyway. II that`s the kind oI
person you are, there is no need to count. There is not really any need.
Doing Doing Doing Doing T TT Things with and without a Purpose hings with and without a Purpose hings with and without a Purpose hings with and without a Purpose
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I have another question, that`s also about time. I know that in eight years, I will
be sixty. I have a little Iear that I`m not going to be able to complete this practice. I really
work a lot, so this is my Iirst holiday in years. And maybe I have ten years leIt to work. I
can do something that is eIIective.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: I see, you are talking about having a purpose or not. You should do both. It`s
quite important. This is something that I really like about Zen. It`s amazing, sometimes the
Zen style oI technique is that much more pristine and clear than that oI Tibetan Buddhism.
Mandala Offering
73
When the Japanese do things, they are always so small, short, and clear, and they make
their point. It`s like looking at the diIIerence between a Japanese samurai movie and a
Chinese Jackie Chan Iilm. When you watch a Jackie Chan Iilm, there are all these striking
actions and sound eIIects. It is like the hero not only has to kill the boss oI the gangster,
but just about everyone, right down to the dog. He even has to kill the pet dog oI the
gangster! The bloodshed and hair-raising Iights, these are a constant Ieature, so much so
that you almost don`t Ieel anything. With the Japanese samurai however, the hero is
escaping Irom almost everyone, and remains in hiding. Then all oI a sudden, when he
meets up with the real enemy, in just one go, this enemy is gone. Somehow when it comes
to the Japanese, I really like the way they express things. Even with Ilower arrangements,
there isn`t much complication, just one Ilower with some dry leaves surrounding it.
In Zen Buddhism, when you go to a Zen temple, the master will tell you to clean the
toilet. So you have to clean, but then, they will say to you, let me know when you Iinish.
When you go and tell the master, 'I have Iinished, aIter coming to take a look, the master
will say, 'yes, clean again! You might go back again, and again and within that one or
two hours, you end up cleaning the same toilet about twenty times. Should you ask the Zen
master why you have to continue when it`s already clean, they will say: 'I didn`t ask you
to clean because it was dirty. I`m asking you to fust clean. Sometimes you have to do
things without any purpose. I think that`s such a good idea it`s like a samurai sword. So I
think you should do both.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: II I give something away is it possible to then use my imagination and
immediately visualise the mandala plate? Would that be the same?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s Iine, but with the mandala, mainly it`s accumulating the merit through
oIIering your body, speech, and mind, it is not so much about the substance. When you
help people, or when you do your job, you can visualize that the people whom you are
working Ior are your gurus. That`s your mandala oIIering.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Yes, I even pay an educator, so you Ieel it`s good to see the money as rice?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well actually, it`s the other way round. We are supposed to see the rice as the
money and the wealth.
How to Do the How to Do the How to Do the How to Do the Mandala P Mandala P Mandala P Mandala Practice ractice ractice ractice
Let`s say you are doing a mandala retreat, in which case, you would have two mandala
plates, with the Iive-heaped one Ior the shrine. Now since this one on the shrine is going to
remain Ior a long time, you should mix the grains with some butter or something that glues
it together. OI course, you can change it once in a while. II your retreat were to take one
year Ior instance, then maybe it`s better to change it.
Now with the oIIering that you are making and visualising, Ior this, you should have
some saIIron water, or rose water is also Iine. There is no need to chant the Vajrasattva
mantra. Somehow, there has been a mixing oI tradition. Usually only certain traditions
chant the Vajrasattva mantra during this part, but in the West it has gotten all mixed up; it
seems that in every dharma centre, when cleaning the mandala plate, there is the habit oI
Iirst chanting the Vajrasattva mantra. I don`t know why. But iI you do this, it also doesn`t
do any harm.
As you clean the mandala plate you visualize and Iirst oI all, you simply use your
wrist, without adding water. II you really want a lot oI detail, you can think that you are
cleansing all these oIIering substances. And the real oIIering substances are our body,
speech, and mind; so in eIIect, you are cleaning your body, speech, and mind.
Mandala Offering
74
Think that the object oI oIIering is in Iront oI you: Guru Rinpoche, surrounded by all
the retinue. II you want to elaborate Iurther on this, there is a whole description oI the
reIuge tree in the long version oI the Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro. Guru Rinpoche is in
the centre and in Iront oI that are the buddhas, on the right the bodhisattvas, at the back the
dharma texts and so Iorth. So visualize the object oI oIIering. It`s one and the same object
but we name it diIIerently. During the reIuge we call it the object oI reIuge,` whereas with
the bodhicitta, we call it the witness oI the bodhicitta,` and now during the mandala
oIIering, we call it the object oI oIIering.`
At this point, you can sprinkle a little bit oI scented water you probably wouldn`t
do this all the time, otherwise it would take quite a while. Anyhow, as you splash water on
the plate, you should think: bodhicitta.` You are applying the bodhicitta. Meaning that
you are doing this mandala oIIering Ior the sake oI all sentient beings and Ior their
enlightenment. That is what bodhicitta is. Now in order to symbolise the proIundity oI this
vajrayna practice, and to go beyond the idea oI merely throwing rice over a plate or a
stone, you add what we call the moisture oI bodhicitta.` Practically speaking, it also helps
the rice to stick to the plate.
We then have the seven heaps, which is what we are accumulating.
11
Eirst, we do
one heap in the center, then there are two alternative ways to place the next heap. One is to
put it right in Iront oI you; the other way is to put it in Iront oI the central heap |Rinpoche
points towards the side facing away from him|. It`s up to you to choose whichever way
you Ieel is more convenient. I always put the second heap right in Iront oI me and then go
clockwise Irom that. The third |Rinpoche puts it left from the central heap| and then the
Iourth |away from him| and then the IiIth |right side of the plate| then the Sixth is in
between the middle and the leIt, while the Seventh is between the middle and the right.
So Ior those who like to put the second heap right in Iront oI you, what we call the
heap oI Jambudvipa` is then the third heap on your leIt. Jambudvipa is this planet, where
we now reside. Since the sun must rise at this earth, the Sixth should thereIore be next to
that |between the middle and the left|. II you are among those placing the second heap in
Iront oI the central heap |at the side away from you|, Ior you, Jambudvipa is at the 3 o`
clock-position |vice versa the other positions|. That`s your Jambudvipa. That`s why the
sun is next to that |between the middle and the right|. The sun and the moon are the Sixth
and the Seventh heap.
II you are doing the long length Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro, and want to do it in a
conventional way, it`s slightly diIIerent. The actual traditional method is to Iirst do Iive
heaps, and then three heaps, and then lastly you do one heap. But since most oI you are not
really doing that, I would stick with the seven heaps.`
In any case, that`s what you oIIer. Each time you Iinish, you do this |brushing off
the rice|, and that is counted as one. And you do one-hundred-thousand oI that. It is easy.
Eor me the Vajrasattva is the most diIIicult. II chanted properly, with the right
pronunciation, it seems as though you will just never Iinish. Doing prostrations and
mandala practice might sound and look diIIicult but actually they are not. Vajrasattva is
diIIicult as it really twists the tongue.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Could you say something about the mandala oIIering liturgy? There are two.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: There is one that ends with the mantra, (OM H HM GURU DEVA..) and
that is what you do. The one that begins with, The ground is purified....,` is the standard
short mandala oIIering that all the Buddhist schools do. I would say, do the Iirst one,
because that`s what you are doing, the Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro. At times, you can add
this standard short one, once or three times, iI you want. But more importantly, each time
Mandala Offering
75
you Iinish one-hundred-mandala oIIerings, or depending how you want to elaborate this,
perhaps every twenty-Iive times, you should do a thirty-seven heap mandala oIIering
once.
12
Eor me, aIter completing one-hundred, I then oIIer the thirty-seven heaps. The
diagram showing how to place the thirty-seven heaps is actually quite clear. All the same,
in trying to accumulate the mandala oIIerings, I don`t know how much time should be
spent scrutinizing the diagram, looking at the mandala and not getting it right. I would just
chant the long liturgy and simply place thirty-seven heaps on top oI each other.
As Ior the rings, these are a Tibetan invention; you can use them iI you like but they
are not crucial. Personally, I never use the rings. Their whole purpose is to make the
oIIering look good, there is really no other reason. It looks really beautiIul. So there are
certain things Tibetans do that have nothing to do with the dharma; it`s just cultural. But I
believe some oI you are more oI a Tibetologist than a Buddhist. CareIul though, aside
Irom the dharma, Tibetans tend to teach their garbage too, and are very well known Ior
that. They teach you how to be Tibetan, and might even teach you how to have Tibetan
emotions, as well.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Eor the thirty-seven heaps do you still go clockwise?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, it is always clockwise. It is the same concept as always. At the end oI the
session, you dissolve the object oI oIIering into you. You then remain in that state as much
as you can.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: In the long version, there is no mantra at the end oI the mandala oIIering.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: The short mandala oIIering has a mantra. In any case, mantra does not
necessarily need to be recited again and again. Actually, with some mantras you just recite
them once. The mantra oI the short mandala oIIering is a bit like part oI the liturgy; it is
not to be chanted over and over.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Can you explain what the mantra means?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It means something like, 'I oIIer these gems, these precious subtances, and
this wealth to you and the three sublime jewels.
Mount Meru, the Planets, the Sun and the Moon Mount Meru, the Planets, the Sun and the Moon Mount Meru, the Planets, the Sun and the Moon Mount Meru, the Planets, the Sun and the Moon a Concept of a Concept of a Concept of a Concept of the Universe the Universe the Universe the Universe
Each heap represents a planet, with the third heap representing the earth. Somehow our
mind thinks oI the sun as being much better than the moon. I guess, because it shines
during the daytime. So usually we try to put the sun, which is the Sixth heap, somewhere
next to the third heap. Eor that matter, you could even place it on top! And, I have one
thing to add here; usually I include an eighth heap, which represents everything. It is the
embodiment oI all the wealth oI the gods Irom the Deutsche Bank, to the Bois de
Bologne, Pigalle and so Iorth. You don`t have to do it. It`s my invention.
Then, as you Iinish the heaps you go like that, |Rinpoche turns the plate on its side|
clean it, and do it again.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What are the Iourth and the IiIth heaps?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: They represent the other planets, the eastern planet, and the southern planet;
|Rinpoche shows different ways of offering the rice.| Really, I would not get so hung up
with details or techniques! The main thing is the visualisation here. Also there is no need
to think too much, because here, we are touching on Buddhist cosmology, which I myselI
have some problem with anyway. What you should know is, all oI this is a concept oI the
universe.
Just brieIly, the central heap represents Mount Meru. It is said that Mount Meru is
made up oI Iour kinds oI jewels.
13
Square shaped at the base, it is in the centre oI the
ocean, with halI oI it above the ocean, and the other halI under the ocean. At the top is the
Mandala Offering
76
palace oI king Indra. Somewhere near the middle oI Mount Meru is the palace oI asura,
the demigods. To the eastern side oI Mount Meru is the planet Prvavideha and it is
believed that the people there have a diIIerent colour, shape and look. At the southern side
oI Mount Meru is Jambudvipa, which is this planet and oI course, we are Iamiliar with
how we look. As Ior the other planets, to the west is Aparagodniya, and in the north is
Uttarakuru. Actually, since each oI the large planets are accompanied by two other smaller
planets, there are so many other planets! But this is just to give some background and an
idea oI what the heaps represent.
Some A Some A Some A Some Advice on dvice on dvice on dvice on H HH How to ow to ow to ow to T TT Treat reat reat reat T TT Texts exts exts exts
Now Ior one piece oI advice: please try never to step over your oIIering substance or tread
on your dharma books, and make sure to wash you hands. Basically, you should try to
make your surroundings as clean as possible. All this might sound very Indian yet it`s
something really nice to do. I mean, iI you observe the Indians, and go along to a Ravi
Shankar concert, it`s just so touching: they would never tread on their instruments. They
pay homage to the instrument, and to do so is really Irom the heart. So even though these
texts may be photocopied and bound with all this plastic, it is still this path that will
liberate you. It is what is written in this text that`s going to release you Irom these
delusions. Putting some eIIort into not stepping on dharma books and not stepping over the
oIIering substance, that alone has so much merit. And that merit you dedicate again. You
dedicate by thinking: 'May all sentient beings be enlightened and 'may all dharma
practitioners never tread on their dharma books. It requires a bit oI conditioning, but it is
really good to do.
Talking about Talking about Talking about Talking about R RR Resistance and esistance and esistance and esistance and H HH Habit abit abit abit
|Stud |Stud |Stud |Student|: ent|: ent|: ent|: I`m a bit worried about the concept oI actually having to do so many
prostrations. I have a lot oI resistance to that. How can I get rid oI my resistance?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: AIter a while you will have no more resistance. With the Tibetan monks, they
love chanting and reading but skip the meditation a lot. II you go along to a monastery,
you will see the monks chanting but they never sit and meditate, which is a really bad
habit. All the lamas keep on saying it`s a bad habit, but somehow, this habit hasn`t been
broken. As Jigme Lingpa said:
Doing lots and lots of pfs is good,
Chanting prayers and mantras is good,
But it would be much better to do a retreat.
And then he goes on to say:
If you do lots of retreats thats good,
But to do a meditation even one as brief as five to ten minutes,
The time needed to drink a cup of tea that is much better.
He says. 'Even a meditation lasting as long as a cup oI tea is much better than
twenty years oI retreat. That really penetrates. Now since you are saying you want to get
rid oI this resistance towards prostrating so many thousands, and thousands oI times, what
you should do is meditate in between prostrations. So then, it is about being clear and
Mandala Offering
77
present. OI course, it takes a little while to get into it, but aIter a month or so, you will. II
you do meditation in that way, the time goes very quickly. Amazing! It is like reading a
good novel. II you do a clear and present meditation, you will not know how the time
went. Then again, until you are introduced to some oI the higher dzogchen meditations, iI
you don`t keep it up, you will lose it. So it`s a bit like exercise. But once you have been
introduced to the nature oI the mind and iI you get it, iI something clicks, you won`t lose
it. Then you will have experienced that taste oI meditation. You will just do it. You will
just keep on doing it.
I`ve seen this happening with many oI the older students, like with His Holiness
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche`s students. And there are some nuns, you should watch.
Sometimes in the restaurant aIter Iinishing dinner, an ordinary person would think they are
spaced out but actually they are not. They will do it Ior a Iew minutes, a Iew moments oI
just being in the present. Once getting a taste oI that you really like it and the world opens
up more and more. But it`s a new habit, so you have to get used to it.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Rinpoche, I was just wondering iI there`s any point in trying to remember one`s
previous lives or iI that`s just an ego trip.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You can iI it interests you.
|Studen |Studen |Studen |Student|: t|: t|: t|: How do you remember?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Think about events Irom yesterday and the day beIore yesterday and then...
Actually, there are some bodhisattva prayers that say, 'May I remember past lives. It can
aid in generating the renunciation mind.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What stops me Irom remembering?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, it`s the ability to remember that stops. That`s all. There are all sorts oI
distractions, oI course. You may have watched a good Iootball match in between. That
stops a lot oI memory Ior me.
Everything Everything Everything Everything Y YY You ou ou ou Offer Is Also Your Perception Offer Is Also Your Perception Offer Is Also Your Perception Offer Is Also Your Perception
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I Ieel it is very diIIicult to relate to oIIering the three bodies, the continents, the
sun and the moon. In what I am reciting and doing, I don`t see the connection really.
|Rinpoche |Rinpoche |Rinpoche |Rinpoche|: |: |: |: What do you mean?
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I don`t Ieel that I am oIIering something that belongs to me.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Your perception belongs to you.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Why can`t we just make three heaps!
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s also your perception. And it`s a very limited perception. Might as well
oIIer everything.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But what is the connection between the three bodies...
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Body, speech, and mind?
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Yes. And the continents, Mount Meru, the sun and the moon...
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: In essence, it is none other than your mind that imagines continents, wealth,
prosperity, and all oI that. But right now, Ior ordinary beings like us, iI asked to oIIer our
minds, how would we do that? So in order to help with this, we give it a certain Iorm. We
visualize Ilowers and all oI the other numerous oIIerings. There is really no contradiction,
because whenever you think oI Ilowers, it`s your mind that is creating your Ilower.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is it also a place where I can bring my conIession in? With all oI what I am
oIIering?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, you can even oIIer your compassion. Everything. I said mind. Now that
includes everything. Show me one object that is not your perception. Mount Meru, the
Mandala Offering
78
height, the length, the width, everything, the entire universe, all oI this is mind. We should
tell this to the physicists. The mandala is a very, very good study oI physics, and oI the big
bang theory. Basically, we are saying even the big bang is your mind. It is some
physicist`s mind; it`s their mind. This universe, the atmosphere, the stars, the moon,
planets and just everything, as long as your mind is there, it is your mind that is creating
all these distinctions. But Ior the most part, this is only intellectual knowledge.
As I have been saying right Irom the beginning, there is the theory and there are the
pith instructions. According to the theory, once you know everything is your mind your
mind is dharmakya, sambogakya, and nirmnakya as soon as you know that you are
Iinished, you are enlightened. To do that is diIIicult, so there are pith instructions.
Sometimes, when you go to drive a car, your coach might say, drink a cup oI tea, which
has got nothing much to do with driving. Nothing much at all. That is exactly the point. In
a sense we can say the rice, and the coins have nothing to do with enlightenment, but at the
same time, there is obviously a lot oI linkage. AIter all, when you think about it, who made
the coins precious in the Iirst place? It`s only our mind. Likewise with the banks, and the
jewels, it is also our mind that made these things precious. Through education and habit, it
is our mind that has been taught to believe: money is precious,` or gold is precious.` OI
course, I could understand iI you were coming more Irom the stance oI Mount Meru, and
so Iorth, is not part oI our culture, but that is not really what you are saying. So somehow,
with this, I think you should visualize the whole thing, the planets and all.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: There was a question oI giving away liIeless, abstract things like attachment
or...
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You can oIIer everything, body, speech, and mind.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But attachment is not a good thing.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It doesn`t matter. When you oIIer your mind it comes in a package. And aIter
all, the vajrayna teachings say: the basic essence oI attachment is discriminating wisdom.
The basic essence oI aggression is mirror-like wisdom. So there is nothing that is bad. I
would think it is good.
Aiming for a Higher Attitude Aiming for a Higher Attitude Aiming for a Higher Attitude Aiming for a Higher Attitude
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I just want to know iI is it possible to do the mandala oIIering with the wrong
attitude?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: As with everything, it is. As I mentioned beIore, there are three kinds oI
attitudes. The Iirst was the Iarmer like attitude, and we see an expression oI this in
Thailand, Bhutan, and India, when people pray to Buddha Ior a good rainIall. People take
reIuge to the Buddha Ior the sake oI getting an abundant rainIall and that is the wrong kind
oI attitude. Or at least, it is a very minuscule attitude.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What I mean is it seems to increase my attachment when I bring these things
into my mind. It seems I become even more passionate and attached to the beautiIul
things.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes. That`s exactly the Iarmer`s attitude.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: So the mandala oIIering isn`t exactly...
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No, it will give you some good results, but you should aim Ior a higher
attitude. At the very least, you should aim Ior a srvaka attitude.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: So you oIIer beautiIul objects, but don`t relish them. You really want to give
things away.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, to oIIer` means to give away.`
K KK KUS US US US LI LI LI LI P PP PRACTICE RACTICE RACTICE RACTICE
I you are doing the long version oI the Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro, there is a
section right aIter the mandala, which is reIerred to as kusli practice. It is both
a preparation Ior the guru yoga, as well as being a sort oI inner mandala oIIering.
So, iI you have the time, the kusli practice can be inserted right aIter the mandala.
The short ngndro composed by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo is, oI course, good but
it`s also so condensed. Normally, even the practitioner is visualised as a deity, but in this
short text, I believe there is actually no mention oI that. This is because, being so concise,
all these details are hidden. But iI you want to seriously practice guru yoga, it`s important
to also transIorm yourselI. During the reIuge and bodhicitta practice, you are an ordinary
person, and remain so also during the mandala and the Vajrasattva practice. But when it
comes to mixing your mind with the guru`s mind, what you are trying to do is mix this
ordinary person and this sublime person so that their minds meet.
Now presumably, you have already taken reIuge, have taken the bodhicitta vow,
have puriIied with the Vajrasattva mantra and have accumulated suIIicient merit through
the mandala oIIering. II you wish, as another Iorm oI accumulating merit, you can then do
the kusli practice. By this stage, you have become slightly more than ordinary, and in
order to represent that you transIorm yourselI into Vajrayogin or Krodhkl. Then, as a
dkini, you try to mix your mind with the guru`s. In eIIect, what you are trying to mix is
already that much more sublime. In Iact, the sole purpose oI the guru yoga is to catch onto
the nature oI mind, and thus, as an intermediary means, you are trying to become a vessel
oI the guru`s blessing. Basically, by visualising yourselI in a more sublime Iorm, somehow
there is this interdependent auspiciousness, which better succeeds in invoking the blessing.
In this Iorm, visualised as a Vajrayogin, as always, towards the end oI the session, either
you dissolve or alternatively, the lama dissolves into you.
You might well wonder, why in the guru yoga it is common practice to visualise
oneselI as a Iemale dkini. OI course, when we speak in terms oI transIorming ourselves
into the Ieminine, we are not really talking about gender. What we are reIerring to is the
emptiness and clarity aspect. The emptiness aspect is always symbolised by the Ieminine.
Whereas clarity, or what is also described as compassion or the method is always
symbolised by the male aspect. Although somewhat minor and technical in nature, it is
quite necessary to understand this kind oI detail.
II you are just doing the short sdhana, there is not so much mention oI visualising
oneselI as Vajrayogin. Right Irom the outset, we begin by trying to transIorm our
surroundings into a pure realm, yet we still haven`t changed ourselves. We are still
ordinary. But right beIore the guru yoga, it is good iI you can transIorm yourselI into
something other than an ordinary being. At least, what we are trying to do is transIorm into
something other than this name, Iorm, and identity. Now your immediate question might
be, into what are we transIorming? My ultimate answer is oI course, into something
beyond Iorm, colour, shape, identity, and as something beyond sex, gender, and
nationality. As a rule, this is something we can vaguely comprehend, only intellectually.
So when it comes to doing the practice, the pith instructions coming Irom the lamas, are to
visualise ourselves as Vajrayogin or Krodhkl. It is easy to see the logic to this.
Likewise, in visualising yourselI as Vajrayogin, rather than Mahkla or another deity Ior
instance, it also has it`s own purpose.
I
Kusli practice
80
So iI you have a little bit oI time, it is good to bring in the kusli practice. Eor those
doing the long version oI the Longchen Nyingtik, since the kusli practice is there, you
cannot really ignore it, but even iI you are using the short text oI this ngndro, it is also not
a bad idea. It is an excellent method oI accumulating merit, in Iact one oI the best, and is
much better than the outer practice oI mandala oIIering. The kusli practice is a tsok, a Iire
pf, and is also what we call paying the karmic debt,` like with a sur (smoke offering),
Ior instance. At the same time, it can also work to gradually create an atmosphere, and to
build a situation where one can more easily arise as Vajrayogin.
There is a reason why it is helping to build the situation. Right at the beginning oI
the kusli practice, as we say PHAT, at that point, you visualise a complete separation oI
your body and mind. So you are actually doing a phowa. Your consciousness ejects Irom
your body, and your body is leIt behind, there in Iront oI you, in a collapsed state. It`s
something similar to how this body becomes like a discarded empty bag aIter the soul is
gone. The body is not even moving. Your body is like a collapsed heap; there is no
blinking oI the eyes, no breathing and no movement. There is just this completely deadstill
body. At that moment, one should remain in the state oI non-grasping.
You see, right now there is so much grasping. There is grasping onto all kinds oI
things, Irom oils, to moisturizers, right down to body-scrub and so on.
Conquering the Four Mras Conquering the Four Mras Conquering the Four Mras Conquering the Four Mras
In Buddhism, we talk about something called the Iour mras, or the Iour demons. Eirst,
there is the mra, son oI god.` The second is the mra oI death.` Then, there is what we
call the mra oI the deIilements,` which is all the emotions. Lastly, there is the mra oI
the aggregates.`
Now the moment the body Ialls in a heap, you are up there, just as the consciousness,
no Iorm. Looking at your body, you see this completely alien, rotten, useless body, and
seeing it in this way is your understanding this body is not the most important thing.
Usually, whenever we have pride, it is developed through two Iactors: our mind and it also
arises in connection with our body. We have a body, and then we have this pride. So it is
actually the destruction oI pride. You can thereIore say this is a victory over the Iirst mra.
In other words, having no attachment to your body is the destruction oI the mra, son oI
god. The body is being dismantled, as though this body is gone. Yet the mind is still there
and is continuing. It is not like a lamp ending or a candle going out hence, the very Iact
the consciousness is still there is victory over death. And it is this victory over the mra oI
death that we also call Vajrayogin.
You now have another Iorm, as Vajrayogin, or as stated here in the Longchen
Nyingtik, you can also imagine yourselI transIormed into Krodhkl. Appearing as a black
woman, Krodhkl is beautiIul, and adorned with all the heruka ornaments. These heruka
ornaments include such attributes as crowns, and bracelets craIted out oI bones, along with
a tiger-skin skirt. She is holding a curved kniIe, which actually symbolizes the destruction
oI the third mra, the mra oI emotion.
Lastly, she has to destroy the mra oI the aggregates, so in order to do that, there is
this cutting action; somewhat like ProIessor Hannibal Lector, she slowly cuts the skull
away Irom this inanimate body. This is your scull, oI course. AIter this, she liIts this
kapla, the scullcup, with your hair intact. II it is blond, see it as blond, iI brunette, see it
as brunette, iI long, see it as long, iI dyed, it is dyed, and iI punk-style, it`s punk-style.
Then think, as soon as it is in your hand, it becomes as big as three worlds; it is so
enormous. In doing so, you are making this a practice oI non-duality.
Kusli practice
81
Instantly you also think, there is a tripod oI three human skulls, which actually
represents the three kyas the dharmakya, sambhogakya, and nirmnakya. You place
this kapla on top oI the tripod Iormation, and then return to cut the hands, the Iingers, the
skin, as well as slowly removing, the lungs, liver, and blood. Not a drop should be spilled,
as it is so precious. Right down to the lips, nose, and eyes: each oI these body parts, you
extract separately with the edge oI the curved kniIe, including the teeth, and everything.
You place it all inside this kapla. And then, with you as the dkini, standing next to the
kapla, you then think a great wisdom Iire blazes Iorth Irom beneath the hearth oI three
heads.
The Offering Feast. a Wish The Offering Feast. a Wish The Offering Feast. a Wish The Offering Feast. a Wish- -- -Fulfilling Nectar Fulfilling Nectar Fulfilling Nectar Fulfilling Nectar
Then as you chant OM H HM, you think that this body, or rather, what is now your ex-
body, melts, and boils. Eor a more vivid image, the next time you are making a chicken or
beeI stew, take a look at the ingredients bubbling away in the pot and that should help. OI
course, that is Ior the Iirst part only, then aIter a while, you are supposed to visualise every
drop as having the power oI nectar. Each and every drop holds all the various pleasure
objects you can imagine, such as lakes, gardens, Iood, drink, and so Iorth. It is a wish
IulIilling nectar, thus, whatever the object oI oIIering wishes it to be, it becomes that. This
nectar is Iirst oIIered to the buddhas, bodhisattvas and especially to Guru Rinpoche, since
they are the VIPs. In this case, VIP means those who have destroyed the ego, so it includes
all those Irom arhats to the Buddha.
II you really want to elaborate this, you can even think oI it as a banquet party. Once
you start cooking, you then send out the invitation cards, usually in the Iorm oI light
coming Irom your heart. Eirst, oI course, there are the VIP cards to the Copper Coloured
Mountain, the Amitbha realm, and the Aksobhya realm, as well as to all kinds oI other
realms. All the guests promptly arrive with their limousines, looking elegant in their Iinest.
You can have red carpet, and all the trappings, whatever you wish. Next, you send Iorth
invitations to the six realms. Some oI the guests come riding on bicycles, some arrive
riding on a broomstick, while others have come via public transport or via hitchhiking.
They all take their seats.
The Iirst portion should be oIIered to the VIP`s. In return, you receive the common
and the uncommon attainments. The common attainments include such things as long liIe,
as well as Ireedom Irom obstacles and sickness. In Iact, this practice is really good to do
when you have sickness. Then there are the uncommon attainments such as love and
compassion, diligence, devotion, along with the power oI recognizing the mind.
Once the VIP`s have been taken care oI, you then give to the six realms. Each time
these beings drink, eat, lick, chew, swallow, or suck at these oIIerings, you visualise that
all their suIIering disappears. Not only that, in turn, love and compassion, bodhicitta and
devotion are nourished in their beings. ThereaIter, they themselves are able to help many
other sentient beings.
Settling the Score and Clearing Karmic Debts Settling the Score and Clearing Karmic Debts Settling the Score and Clearing Karmic Debts Settling the Score and Clearing Karmic Debts
There are also two special groups oI guests. One group oI these invitees includes all those
who have been bothering you, or those you think oI as your enemies. As you give them
this oIIering, it makes them Ieel that the score has been settled. The other special group is
made up oI those whom we have karmic debts with and these guests are the largest in
number.
Kusli practice
82
We have karmic debts with lots oI people. Like Ior instance, the space in which we
choose to sit might well place us directly in Iront oI someone, who has been desperately
trying to look through our big head. It could be that you are always blocking their view.
That`s a karmic debt.
Personally, I have a lot oI karmic debts. Each time I enter the room, people stand up
and that is a karmic debt. II I am an enlightened being, the more you rise to your Ieet, the
better. It is still good Ior you, even iI I am not an enlightened being, but Ior me, I would
have to think about returning the Iavour Ior roughly Iive hundred liIetimes. Whenever you
come into the room, I would have to rise to my Ieet. II there were IiIty people present in
the room, then that would be Iive hundred times IiIty. It would mean that Ior twenty Iive
thousand liIetimes, I would have to stand up Ior people like you. So we are paying all this
karmic debt.
The Host, the Guests and the Feast The Host, the Guests and the Feast The Host, the Guests and the Feast The Host, the Guests and the Feast B BB Become Inseparable ecome Inseparable ecome Inseparable ecome Inseparable
As the party draws to a close, Ioods and presents are distributed, until nothing remains.
But the special thing about this party is the guests don`t leave instead, they all dissolve
into you. OI course, as always, the buddhas and bodhisattvas dissolve into you, but what I
am saying is all the sentient beings also dissolve into you. So the host, the guests, and the
Ieast, all become inseparable. Knowing that all are just a creation oI your mind, remain in
that state Ior some time.
This is a kusli practice included in the Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro long version.
Doing this practice has so much blessing. Although it is said you can oIIer a mandala with
mere dust, the kusli was originally intended Ior practitioners who are quiet poor Ior
those unable to aIIord mandala plates, oIIerings, or all these special substances. As Patrl
Rinpoche points out, kusli literally means beggar,` which is why it is called poor
people`s practice. Erom the mundane point oI view, it is a practice made Ior less Iortunate
people, but Irom the dharma`s point oI view, it is a higher teaching. In the vajrayna, this
is good thing to understand: Ior those practices somehow maniIesting in an inIerior way,
the more outrageous, and the more there is usage oI controversial words, or methods, the
more this is considered to be the highest. It is always this way.
Moreover, as you can see, doing the kusli practice provides a very good transition.
Erom the ordinary state, you have become Vajrayogin and remain as Vajrayogin.
Leading on Irom this, you then construct the guru mandala, and having already
transIormed yourselI, it works so much better. So iI you want, in your short Longchen
Nyingtik sdhana you can bring in the kusli practice. There are two parts to it: one
involving the cutting, and the other is where you do the actual oIIering. What you
accumulate is six-hundred-thousand times oI OM H HM, which is quite easy to do.
Given that you have the time, it is probably a six-day job, or otherwise, iI you are going
more slowly, it takes about twelve days.
Clarification on Kus Clarification on Kus Clarification on Kus Clarification on Kus li Practice li Practice li Practice li Practice
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: You talked about Krodhkl as well as Vajrayogin, and I got conIused.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, Vajrayogin or Krodhkl whatever, it doesn`t matter. One is dark-blue
and the other is red. That`s the only diIIerence.
|Stude |Stude |Stude |Student|: nt|: nt|: nt|: Does the H HM need to be visualised within the body?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, the H dwells in the centre oI the chakra that is situated at the navel,
whereas the letter HM is located at the centre oI the crown chakra. Apart Irom being
Kusli practice
83
speciIic letters, H and HM are also representative oI a certain kind oI energy. When the
time comes that they are no longer Iunctioning at all, there is a joining together oI the two,
and they then sort oI explode that`s what we call death.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: The kusli practice, talks about these demons.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Which demons, the Iour demons? The Iour demons are actually a symbol oI
one`s own aggregates: the pride, the emotion, death and so on. We just reIer to these as a
kind oI devil, since they don`t bring anything good.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What about being possessed?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It is a game oI the mind. Your prna and ndi are just Iunctioning in a
diIIerent way. That`s why there is a so-called trance, and a so-called possession.
G GG GURU URU URU URU Y YY YOGA OGA OGA OGA
ow, we start with what we call the most proIound yoga, the guru yoga. At
present, as part oI the ngndro, you`re actually doing the outer guru yoga. In
order to do the inner and secret guru yoga, you have to receive the respective
initiations. BeIore that, you at least need to complete a little practice oI the outer guru.
Nowadays, since both the lamas and disciples seem to have limited time Ior dharma
practice, in this age, we tend to Iind all these guru practices being done within a short
period oI time. This might not be so advisable to do; Not unless you are what we call a
disciple oI superior Iaculties or happen to have encountered a guru who is a mahsiddha
himselI meaning that he is able to transIorm everything. OI course, it all depends. The
guru may not be that qualiIied` and the disciple may not have superior Iaculties` but iI at
least, there is genuine devotion, this kind oI short cut might work. But iI you are neither a
person with strong devotion, nor possess any oI these superior Iaculties, in the end, it will
be that much more rewarding to take a gradual approach. In Iact, as much Ior your own
saIety and comIort I would advise you to go step by step on your spiritual path.
Taking the Taking the Taking the Taking the G GG Guru N uru N uru N uru Not ot ot ot O OO Only as Teacher but nly as Teacher but nly as Teacher but nly as Teacher but as the as the as the as the P PP Path ath ath ath
The essential guru yoga is not a practice oI worshipping the guru. It is not a mundane,
ordinary practice oI taking the guru as a teacher, guide, or even as a dictator, who would
dictate your liIe, both spiritually and secularly. Guru, in the more proIound sense, has to be
taken as a path, not only as a teacher. In Tibetan, this is what we call "Lama lam khyer"
taking the guru as the path. It is something most essential. And, when I say guru,` I`m not
only talking about the outer guru, I`m also reIerring to the inner and secret guru as well.
Due to the karmic link between you and the guru, and due to the merit, which until now
has been wait-listed, once this merit ripens, oI course, anything can happen. That is a
purely a decision between you the individual being and the guru. Your guru might say
stop everything. Do something else. And that is the path you have to pursue. Basically, we
have to do whatever it takes to open this casket.
Dislocating Dislocating Dislocating Dislocating T TT This Well his Well his Well his Well- -- -Crafted Samsaric Life Crafted Samsaric Life Crafted Samsaric Life Crafted Samsaric Life
You see, it is as though there is this casket. (Rinpoche actually holds a casket in his hand.)
It`s a very well craIted casket, one created, and made by such a great carpenter that once
closed even the joints are almost invisible. Being unable to see the joints, it doesn`t even
begin to occur to us that it is openable. Owing to such Iine workmanship, this casket seems
to be entirely made oI one single piece oI wood. Our samsric liIe is exactly like this; it`s
so well craIted. Day by day, year by year, liIe aIter liIe, it has been careIully Iashioned by
our most experienced ego, which is the real carpenter. In our minds, even the notion there
might actually be joints to this casket, not to mention the idea that it is openable does not
occur to us at all. Nor do we stop and think, iI only we look careIully, we might actually
see the joint. Even that thought does not enter into our heads.
Now beIore going any Iurther, I should mention that there will tend to be a lot oI
metaphorical language Irom this point onwards. We are now talking about the most
proIound yoga. As much as I appear to be modern, deep down inside I`m still very
N
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conservative and a traditionalist, hence I like using this metaphorical language as it is
written in the texts. In any case, I`ll try to make it as understandable as possible.
So with this casket, once you locate the joint and manage to almost dislocate it, even
iI only a little, Irom then on the whole system gets disrupted. It cannot be properly joined
again. It is halI a step closer or perhaps even one step towards enlightenment. You still
have a casket, which is probably not entirely opened, but it is now sort oI disjointed and
thus inexpressible things can occur. II only you have the merit, devotion, and the pure
perception it can happen anytime, anywhere. It can be triggered by the most ridiculous oI
situations. Though oI course, it tends to be mainly through a remark, a comment, a gesture
or even a message Irom the guru.
Patrl Rinpoche Patrl Rinpoche Patrl Rinpoche Patrl Rinpoche and Nyoshl Lungtok and Nyoshl Lungtok and Nyoshl Lungtok and Nyoshl Lungtok
There are so many stories in relation to this. Eor instance, there is the story oI Patrl
Rinpoche and Nyoshl Lungtok. Eor many, many years Nyoshl Lungtok had practiced,
trying to understand the nature oI mind but nothing at all happened. Still, he never once
Ialtered in his strong peerless devotion towards the master. Every day all his dharma
brothers and sisters would get something, somehow managing to seemingly disjoin this
casket. But he was sort oI stuck. Now, in order to appreciate this story, you should know
that Nyoshl Lungtok was a great philosopher; being a Khenpo, and an abbot, he was
very, very learned in the philosophy oI mind. He had read thousands oI books and was a
great scholar. So it only goes to show that an intellectual understanding oI mind has
nothing to do with the nature oI the mind.
Now Patrl Rinpoche knew that Nyoshl Lungtok was going through this problem.
So Patrl Rinpoche approached him and asked, 'What`s wrong with you? And he said, 'I
cannot understand this nature oI the mind. Patrl Rinpoche then answered him by saying:
'Oh, that`s easy, the nature oI the mind is easy, why don`t you come along? I will show
you. So that night, Nyoshl Lungtok was led to some beautiIul grounds near Dzogchen
Monastery and Patrl Rinpoche told him, 'Okay, let`s lie down, Iacing upwards. At this
point, both the disciple and the master laid down. Then, Patrl Rinpoche said to Nyoshl
Lungtok: 'Look at the night sky. Can you see the stars? And Nyoshl Lungtok replied:
'Yes, I can see the stars. AIter this, there was a long pause beIore Patrl Rinpoche asked,
'Can you hear the dogs barking near the Dzogchen Monastery? His answer to this was,
'Yes, I can hear the dogs barking. And then, Patrl Rinpoche suddenly stood up and said:
'That`s it. I have Iinished. That`s the nature oI the mind.
The E The E The E The Experience of xperience of xperience of xperience of G GG Great reat reat reat S SS Spontaneity pontaneity pontaneity pontaneity
All those years he had studied and practiced, trying to discover the nature oI the mind. Yet
nothing had happened. Then on that night, there were these two comments the guru made,
and right aIter that, everything essentially stopped. A so-called door is no longer simply a
door; it can be a window. A so-called window is no longer merely a window; it can also be
a door. A so-called ceiling is no more a ceiling, or not necessarily only a ceiling; it can
simultaneously be a set oI steps, as well. A so-called man is not necessarily only a man; he
can be a woman, too. A so-called woman is not necessarily only a woman but also a child.
Basically, every worldly rational system gets disjointed. In Iact, Ior seven days the
experience was so intense, that he, Nyoshl Lungtok didn`t really know how to handle the
world properly. It was a totally new world, which is something we can only try to imagine.
Eor us, a door is a door, and when we want to go to the bathroom that`s the only way. We
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have all these kinds oI hang-ups, and Iixations. Eor us, a shirt is only meant Ior the top halI
oI our bodies. We would never try to put our Ieet inside this shirt oI ours. We are basically
always Iixated towards something or other. But Ior Nyoshl Lungtok, Ior seven days
everything stopped. Or to put it in another way: everything becomes anything. Anything is
everything. Nothing is solid. Man is woman; woman is man. Just all this Iixation towards
shape, colour, numbers, and ideas, all oI this stopped. Erom then on he had what we call:
the experience oI great spontaneity.
Although it is a great dzogchen term, it`s not really the time to talk about
spontaneity. Eor my part, I have read and have been along to listen to those people talking
about dzogchen, and the experience oI spontaneity. But the thing is, with many oI the
lamas, I do not have so much pure vision these days. I am especially very critical when it
comes to some oI the younger lamas. Honestly, to just look at some oI the lamas and
disciples intoxicated by the words spontaneity` and unIabricated` it is a little bit oI a
laughing matter. We don`t even know what spontaneity is. Eor us, it is something that is
somewhat more eIIortless, and that`s about it. Yet, when you come right down to it,
spontaneity means a lot. As we can gauge Irom this story oI Nyoshl Lungtok, when
everything stops, and once things are no longer Iixated that is spontaneity. One is no
longer stuck with an idea. But Ior us, at this point in time, there can only be inIerential
logic. It`s like our attempting to describe what lies behind a mountain. All we can do is
imagine by inIerence. By using some kind oI reIerence, we imagine how there must be
some trees, and some other cities. That`s about it. There is no direct cognition.
There is also another story set many years later, once Nyoshl Lungtok had become
a great master himselI. He had this disciple who was completely illiterate. His disciple had
never read any oI the great dzogchen texts, because he didn`t know how to read. The only
thing he really knew was how to chant OM H HM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HM.
OI course, there was also this strong devotion towards his master. AIter continuing to
practice year aIter year, still nothing happened, but oI course, his devotion was
unshakable. Still not having reached any kind oI experience, his guru Nyoshl Lungtok, in
Iact died, and yet, his devotion to the guru never wavered. Then one day, as he was
making tea, suddenly a spark oI Iire hit his hand, and, he had this sharp pain oI the Iire
burning his Ilesh. At that moment, he exclaimed out loud: 'ah tza tza (Rinpoche makes
a gesture). I have to do these sound eIIects and actions because that`s what Nyoshl
Khenpo did when he told me this story. I believe that there must be a sort oI lineage
blessing oI the gesture.
Anyway, at that very moment, as had been the case Ior Nyoshl Lungtok, again
everything stopped. Previously, he had always been very Iussy about tea, including
everything Irom the number oI tealeaves, right down to the exact temperature the water
should be heated and so Iorth. Ordinarily, we are just so Iixated and it is the Iixation,
which is doing all oI this. Yet Irom then on, it no longer mattered to him. Someone could
have put cow dung in his tea and he would have Ielt the same way; tea is tea. Everything
stopped Ior him. Still when we say everything stopped` at the same time, it also means
this was the start oI everything not stopping. It is as though once the ordinary world
stopped, the unordinary world began. But right now, Ior us to Iormulate a precise picture
oI this is diIIicult. It is something we can only talk about, and very vaguely imagine.
Jafrayna Jafrayna Jafrayna Jafrayna M MM Method ethod ethod ethods ss s Are Are Are Are so F so F so F so Fitting for This itting for This itting for This itting for This E EE Era ra ra ra
Such a great vajrayna method awaits us. It is something you neither Iind in the
srvakayna, nor so much in the mahyna, either. Though I must say, in Zen Buddhism,
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although I don`t have much experience, Zen masters seem to use this method quite a bit.
Eor instance, they will ask you ridiculous questions like, 'What is the sound oI one hand
clapping? The disciple then ponders this over and over until they get something. They
call it satori. I think it is something to do with the disjoining oI the casket, which is the
actual enlightenment. Yet enlightenment is not colourIul in the sense that we might
perceive it. When there is no longer any diIIerence between tealeaves and cow dung, isn`t
that the rainbow light? Isn`t that the experience oI heaven? Isn`t that the celestial mansion?
Isn`t that equivalent to the beautiIul goddesses and gods? What more can one ask? Surely
it is the supreme heaven. The vajrayna has great methods on this.
The Buddha himselI said, 'As times degenerate, the teachings and especially the
higher teachings will have an even greater eIIect. We may be going through this
experience oI degeneration, yet it is also an age where some oI the great methods such as
dzogchen, mahmudr, and the non-duality oI samsra and nirvna are actually working
more than ever beIore. Our negative emotions have reached to the highest level and people
do all kinds oI negative things to the highest degree. Yet this is also the age where the
teachings oI the Buddha, especially the great mahsandhi teachings, resonate with Iorce.
There is great vibrancy. Never beIore have these methods worked so eIIectively. Now that
is something quite encouraging.
So what we are trying to do is disjoin or break this casket. II not entirely, we should
at least make it a little disjointed so that it can no longer be locked again. That is also what
we call understanding the nature oI the mind.`
Rest in the Rest in the Rest in the Rest in the N NN Nature of the ature of the ature of the ature of the M MM Mind ind ind ind
Indeed, nowadays, how oIten do we hear the words, Rest in the nature oI the mind`?
Although easily enough said, it can be quite diIIicult. At Iirst it may seem simple enough,
aIter all, when we say rest in the nature oI mind,` there are just Iive or six words. Yet in
truth, these words are not really being understood. What do we mean by rest`? It is easy
Ior us to sort oI gaze at the sky and blankly declare, rest in the nature oI the mind.` Then
we sit there, basically wasting a precious two minutes out oI our precious human liIe, or
sometimes, perhaps even up to twenty minutes! It is the biggest waste oI time. What is
rest? Is it to do something like: plunge onto the bed and stretch your legs out? And what is
meant by in the`? Likewise, we surely don`t appreciate the term nature` in any real sense,
and deIinitely don`t comprehend what mind is. So in the end, we Iind that this term rest in
the nature oI mind` has almost no meaning at all.
Nonetheless, we see people going along to meditation centers and when the lama
says rest in the nature oI the mind,` most oI the students make some kind oI Iutile attempt
to do so. I can`t help but ask myselI, what are they doing? It is almost an embarrassment to
see this kind oI thing. But my belieI in karma has improved quite a lot. It`s a bit similar to
how leaders like Jiang Zemin, the Iormer President oI China, can announce something and
billions oI Chinese then believe whatever he has said. In our case, the guru will say, 'Rest
in the nature oI the mind, and somehow the disciple also buys it. Neither the disciple nor
the teacher has a clue what they are talking about, most oI the time.
But having said this, I should add that it is also just my being critical. It is also my
own scepticism and impure vision, oI course. Erom a diIIerent vantage point, it is
encouraging just to have heard the words, rest in the nature oI the mind.` Even iI recited
parrot-Iashion, as a charade, just to have this phrase alive and kicking in this world
shows we have so much merit. We, as dharma practitioners, and Iollowers oI the vajrayna
path, have so much merit.
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Now in relation to merit, Irom a mahyna level oI explanation, I`d like to share an
analogy given by His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. One time in Bodh Gaya he said
something incredible on this. He said, suppose there are these Iive hundred arhats coming
Irom the srvaka tradition, needing to go somewhere. Now remember that arhats are
enlightened beings; having destroyed the ego, they don`t have to go back to samsra any
longer. Anyhow, let us say that there is a chariot, but there is no horse to pull it. Should the
Buddha happen to be passing by, he might consider dragging the chariot with his toe, but
Ior all intents and purposes, these Iive hundred arhats wouldn`t have suIIicient merit to
allow the Buddha to do such a thing. And then His Holiness said, suppose there is also this
one ordinary human being, who has heard the word oI bodhicitta. Were this person to
suddenly get into the chariot, the Buddha would have to drag this chariot with his own
neck. There is so much merit.
So nowadays, during this degenerated time, it is really quite astonishing that we hear
such proIound words as rest in the nature oI the mind.` Even to have this phrase coming
Irom the lips oI masters Irom time to time, never mind entering your eardrums, this alone
is incredible. Regardless oI whether it remains in your heart a split second or not, just to
have heard that is already very, very Iortunate.
Tw Tw Tw Two o o o W WW Ways of ays of ays of ays of R RR Recogni ecogni ecogni ecognising sing sing sing the the the the M MM Mind ind ind ind
As I mentioned at the beginning, right the way through all the vehicles, and all the
teachings oI the Buddha, there is one main purpose and that is to train our minds. Now at
last, we have reached a level where we try to rest our mind in it`s nature, which is the
highest Iorm oI training. We aim to recognize the nature oI mind. Not only to recognize,
but also, our aim is to dwell in it, and by dwelling in the nature oI mind, thus be able to
maniIest Irom it. That`s what we`re trying to do. And to have a complete recognition oI
the mind is what we call nirvna. It is the disjoining oI this casket.
All along, the buddhas, bodhisattvas and the past mahsiddhas and gurus have
repeatedly told us that recognition oI mind is only possible via two means. The Iirst way is
through merit, and the second is through the blessing oI the guru. Without one or the other
oI these, even aIter years and years oI contemplation, let alone a detailed study oI Buddhist
philosophy, the nature oI mind will remain a mystery. Intellectual academic studies will
only serve to give you a vague idea. Rather than giving you the real picture, it`s more like
a picture oI a picture, or a hundredth-generation photocopy. The real picture comes when
you meditate. Or at least, recognition oI the real Iorm oI that picture, upon which you have
been meditating, comes as a result oI the meditation. Eor these very reasons, oI all the
methods, the two most important are the accumulation oI merit and the blessings oI the
guru.
Two Two Two Two W WW Ways ays ays ays of of of of A AA Accumulat ccumulat ccumulat ccumulating ing ing ing M MM Merit erit erit erit
The next question is 'How do we accumulate merit? In the vajrayna, once again, there
are only two ways: compassion towards sentient beings and devotion to the guru. The
latter oI the two, having devotion to the guru is that much more practical and Ieasible.
Compassion might come Ior one or two days, or one or two hours, but Ior ignorant beings
like ourselves, it is diIIicult to have this compassion towards sentient beings at all times.
To have devotion towards the guru, to a being, to this one person whom we have chosen or
Ior that matter towards one or two or three this is so much more Ieasible.
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Some say, 'One should have only one guru. But sometimes, what was initially
intended to be advice somehow becomes a tradition, which is not so good. It is only every
now and again that the lama will say, 'It is better to have one path and Iollow one guru.
This advice must be given to certain people. Eor instance, there are certain people who
tend to do a little bit more window-shopping than necessary. Likewise Ior certain people
who don`t have much time, Ior these people, perhaps it`s better to stick with one guru and
thus, the guru might tell them so. But some opportunists have used this advice as a means
oI campaigning. Then it becomes a kind oI political tool, where you tell your group oI
people, we had better Iollow only our guru, and our lineage. Well I can assure you with a
great deal oI conIidence, iI you can manage, you can Iollow as many gurus as you like.
Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo had one hundred and IiIty gurus; Jamgn Kongtrul Lodr
Thaye had almost a similar number and Chogyur Lingpa, the same. Jamyang Khyentse
Chkyi Lodr boasts more than seventy gurus. Even this very man, even though I have not
reached any realization or anything like that: recently, I was counting my gurus and
worked out that I have over twenty, at least. On the other hand, iI you wish to handle only
one guru that is also Iine. It is what used to be commonly done in India. The Indian
masters would have only one guru and only one deity practice. Having just one practice,
they would still manage to achieve attainments. In Iact, Atsha Dpankara criticized
Tibetans, by saying, 'In India, practitioners can achieve hundreds and thousands oI
attainments with one deity, whereas in Tibet, Tibetan practitioners end up getting
destroyed by the one hundred deities. So that is a bit oI a Tibetan habit.
Outer, Inner and Secret Outer, Inner and Secret Outer, Inner and Secret Outer, Inner and Secret G GG Guru uru uru uru
As part oI the method to accumulate merit, devotion towards the master and the teachings
seems to be quite crucial. What do we mean by devotion to the guru? To whom are we
having devotion? Well Iirst oI all, when we say, guru,` we should understand that there
are actually three levels: the outer, inner and secret guru.
As the great Sakyapa master Knchog Lhundrup, said:
The outer guru is the embodiment of all the buddhas, the one you can see
and communicate with, and is also the one you receive teachings or
instructions from. The inner guru is the nature of the mind. The secret guru
is the emptiness of all phenomena.
Eor this next quotation, I don`t know who originally said this, but it was quoted by
Deshung Rinpoche, one oI my Sakyapa masters. He said:
First we try to meditate that the outer guru is the Buddha. Secondly we see
the guru as the Buddha. Thirdly we see or recognise our own mind as the
Buddha.
That is the speciality oI vajrayna teachings. So now, we are talking about the outer,
inner, and secret guru being one. It is actually one and the same thing.
The The The The O OO Outer uter uter uter G GG Guru as uru as uru as uru as a a a a B BB Bridge ridge ridge ridge
The concept oI the outer guru is actually very vast. Yet as deluded beings, even to
comprehend the outer guru is somewhat ahead oI us. Likewise, Ior the moment, it`s also
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not so possible to recognize the inner and secret guru. It is only at the intellectual level that
we have some kind oI vague idea. To truly understand, what we need is a bridge, one that
extends between the inner and the secret guru and you. With you on this shore, and the
secret and inner guru on the other, there is a bridge or boat to take you across to the other
shore. Via this process, this thereby introduces you to the inner and the secret guru and
that bridge is the outer guru. It is this tangible, visible guru, whom you can share
experiences with that we reIer to as the outer guru.
The outer guru is entirely a maniIestation oI your devotion. Should you approach
this outer guru with your ordinary perception, naturally, this person will be just a normal
human being. They are simply someone who likes pizza with anchovy like you do, or
someone who likes strong coIIee which you don`t like. So there is that human aspect. He
is someone who yawns when tired, someone who gets angry when you make a mistake, or
to put it better, someone whom you think gets angry when you don`t do something right.
Not having come Irom your neighbourhood, he is also someone thought to be quite exotic,
the slightly more Ioreign the better. It is even more preIerable iI he is someone with a
diIIerent skin colour altogether. So we expect someone with these kinds oI qualities. This
is especially so, iI you are a person who happens to be quite gullible, or naive towards
colours, shapes and races be they Tibetan, Eastern, or otherwise.
O OO Our ur ur ur F FF Feeling eeling eeling eeling U UU Uncomfortable with a Too ncomfortable with a Too ncomfortable with a Too ncomfortable with a Too P PP Perfect erfect erfect erfect B BB Being eing eing eing
There is this necessity oI the guru being slightly more special than you. That`s what you
anticipate. He has to know the dharma. He`s more learned and has done more meditation.
He has greater intuition, a little clairvoyance, and omniscience, and has a certain measure
oI power to take care oI things. But Irom the guru`s point oI view, he can`t aIIord to be too
special. Suppose you have this guru and happen to invite him to a restaurant. What iI he
were to enter by means oI Iloating or Ilying? Or what iI he were able to order without
looking at the most elegant menu, and without going through the pretense oI not knowing
what wine to choose? II this were to happen, we wouldn`t like it one bit. When he is
completely omniscient and maniIesting in an enlightened way, we don`t like it, because we
preIer our gurus to be slightly human. OI course, we think he should be more special than
an ordinary human being but at the same time, we also hope that he is not too special.
Otherwise it becomes very annoying Ior us. There are certain things we do behind his back
and it`s comIorting to think he doesn`t know. Just imagine having a guru who knows oI
every single thing you do! What iI he knew all kinds oI things: Irom how many times you
masturbate during special Buddhist days, right down to what size underwear you wear, or
how many moles you have on the top oI your penis? It would be terrible. You don`t want
him to know all that. You don`t want him to have that kind oI knowledge. It would Ieel so
uncomIortable to be with this kind oI person.
When you have a too perIect being, sometimes it just Ieels uncomIortable. We`re a
bit like a thieI in a large prison complex where all the other prison cells are empty. You are
the only thieI in this world and you have been caught. You Ieel so bad, and very guilty, not
because you have stolen something but just because you are the only one. Suddenly the
prison door opens and in comes another thieI, and you Ieel much better. 'Ah, well I`m not
the only guilty guy. In a similar way, we think it`s good to have the guru making mistakes
sometimes. This is how complicated our human liIe and minds are.
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A AA A M MM Masters asters asters asters G GG Great reat reat reat D DD Display of isplay of isplay of isplay of C CC Compassion ompassion ompassion ompassion
Can you see why the guru is so kind? I`m not talking about gurus like myselI, oI course. I
don`t even have to pretend; I am like this. Yet when it comes to great masters like Dilgo
Khyentse Rinpoche, it was always amazing to watch him say, 'Oh, I didn`t know that. It
was astounding he actually got Ilu Irom time to time, or that he even got sleepy. We knew
that His Holiness hardly slept at night. He was just going day and night, but now and then,
during the pfs he would appear to be sleeping. It`s inspiring, because it is such an
immense display oI compassion. He wouldn`t really lie down, or stretch out his legs and
actually sleep and when we went to him in the middle oI the night, perhaps at two in the
morning, he was either meditating or writing something. It makes you Ieel so bad, 'Wow,
I shouldn`t go back and sleep. Indeed, sometimes during the daytime when he was dozing,
it would make us Ieel, it is okay to be sleepy. This kind oI mind, we have.
In any event, I`m still continuing on with introducing the outer guru. As you can see,
the guru yoga is going to take some time.
The The The The G GG Guru uru uru uru Lineage as a Staircase Lineage as a Staircase Lineage as a Staircase Lineage as a Staircase
Now earlier on during the mandala explanation, I was quoting Jigme Lingpa. He said,
'Even a meditation that is as short as the period we would normally need to drink a cup oI
tea: that will really penetrate your mind. But he then went on to say, 'Years oI meditation
is good but that is nothing compared to a momentary calling to mind oI the outer guru. So
as you see, in the vajrayna, the guru is really a big deal.
On this point, I will give another example Irom the perspective oI the guru lineage.
We can think oI the guru lineage as something similar to a set oI steps, or a staircase.
Usually, right at the top oI the guru lineage is the primordial buddha, the Adi Buddha
Samantabhadra Ior the Nyingmapas and Vajradhara Ior the Kagyupas, Gelugpas and
Sakyapas. So who is this blue guy? The primordial buddha is actually a symbol oI your
own mind; the nature oI your mind. The guru lineage is the staircase leading you towards
your own nature, and it is the very Iirst step that is most important. And that is your
immediate guru.
So the outer guru is like a boat, or a bridge, or as in this example, like a staircase
leading you to the other shore. When you Iinally reach the other shore, you will know that
the outer guru has all along been none other than your own mind, and is not other than this
emptiness aspect oI all phenomena. At that point, you will have no burden oI someone
watching over you. There will no longer be any burden oI someone breathing heavily
down your neck. No longer will there be any notion oI someone correcting or criticising
you or even dictating your liIe. You will then know that all this is your own mind. This is
what we are trying to achieve. Right now, on the path, this is what we call mixing the
guru`s mind and our mind.
Somewhere Somewhere Somewhere Somewhere B BB Between F etween F etween F etween Fabrication and Not abrication and Not abrication and Not abrication and Not F FF Faking I aking I aking I aking It tt t
At times, through lacking a proper understanding oI the guru notion, we think oI the guru
as a dictator. But in the end, what you need to know is: the outer guru is not an
independent, externally existing, or truly existing entity. The outer guru is not truly
independent Irom you. To think oI him as someone more sublime, the perIect being, or as
someone who is something you can never be, nor could ever even dream oI being is not
the right kind oI attitude to have. As Deshung Rinpoche said, in the Iinal outcome the
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whole purpose oI the guru yoga is to understand the nature oI the mind. This is really the
Iorte oI the vajrayna. In Deshung Rinpoche`s quotation, what did he say? The Iirst thing
he said was 'You should meditate on the guru as a buddha. What does that mean? That
means Iabricate; it means pretend, make believe, visualize. So the path is a little bit
contrived, and is slightly Iabricated or Iorced. All the same, this is necessary because right
now, we are merely Iumbling around the outside oI this casket. We have not yet Iound this
joint. In Iact, this casket has been so well created, we are not even aware there is a joint.
To us, it`s as though there is one single piece oI wood. We don`t yet know there are two
pieces oI wood joined together.
The eIIort oI actually thinking the guru is the Buddha this trying to visibly train
our minds to think, 'He is the Buddha, that is so important. Now the question is 'Are we
just Iaking it? No, and in Iact, there are many reasons Ior this. That is the beauty oI the
vajrayna. Eirst oI all, by his very nature, the outer guru is the Buddha, but Ior now, due to
our own delusion, to think in this way takes a bit oI discipline on our part. It requires some
eIIort to think that he has Iour arms rather than two arms, and he is green with extra eyes
and so on and so Iorth. Likewise, in the Longchen Nyingtik case, he`s Guru Rinpoche.
Even though all oI this is necessary as a path or as a method, in reality he is the Buddha.
His nature is the Buddha, so in that way, we are not Iaking it. That`s one reason.
Dualistic Dualistic Dualistic Dualistic P PP Perception I erception I erception I erception Is a Construction of s a Construction of s a Construction of s a Construction of Our Our Our Our M MM Mind ind ind inds ss s
The second reason is: not only does this apply to the guru it is also the same with every
perception that we have. Whenever we look at another and see something imperIect, the
imperIection is not out there somewhere` but rather, it is a creation oI your mind. Whether
you see someone as beautiIul, ugly, imperIect, or perIect, all this is simply created by your
mind. Erom a philosophical point oI view, all this dualistic perception is a complete
construction oI your mind. Obviously, this also applies to the guru. II you see the guru as
someone imperIect, as someone making mistakes, as someone who has too big a nose, as
someone too short, or too tall with all oI this, what one has to know and learn is: 'This is
my perception. That is how it appears to me. In reality, he is adorned with the thirty-two
major marks, and eighty minor marks. He is the Buddha. Thus, we contemplate in this way,
again and again, and try to visualise and meditate on him as the Buddha.
It will deIinitely puriIy much oI your deIilement to do this. As the deIilements
lessen, your perception, and your slant on things will also undergo change. Then you will
slowly come to see him as the Buddha. By then, you will already have reached the second
stage. Yet you still won`t think that is you since there is still this distinction he is the
Buddha. There is the notion oI 'I can see him as the Buddha because he` is thought oI
as a separate entity Irom you. So at this point, you are still on the second stage. Upon
reaching the third stage, even that diIIerentiation is no longer there. By then, you have
puriIied all the deIilements, so that there are absolutely none remaining. As a result, you
perceive things Irom an utterly diIIerent angle and thus, there is no longer any independent
external guru out there.` It is then that you see the nature oI the mind as the Buddha.
Again, this is the Iorte oI the vajrayna. I have merely gone and taken several diIIerent
approaches in explaining this.
Devotion As Devotion As Devotion As Devotion As T TT Trust in rust in rust in rust in C CC Cause, ause, ause, ause, C CC Condition and ondition and ondition and ondition and Effect Effect Effect Effect
The guru is also like a mirror. Why is it that one uses a mirror when putting lipstick on? It
is to see our own reIlection, and to be better able to apply the make up to our lips.
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Similarly, to actually see this inner buddha, which is none other than the true nature oI our
mind, we are using the outer guru as a mirror. As part oI this process, we try to always
keep this mirror clean in the Iorm oI practising devotion.
Now again, what is guru devotion? What is devotion? As Saraha said, 'It is trust in
cause, condition and eIIect. Such trust naturally occurs when you`re cooking an egg. To
put it another way, when you cook an egg there is devotion. The trust itselI comes Irom
trusting in cause, condition and eIIect. There need only be a certain amount oI water, heat,
and cooking time, and these Iactors combined will determine whether the egg will be
cooked or not. That is devotion. Devotion is not some kind oI make believe. It`s not like
placing an egg on a plate and leaving that plate on the table, all the while pretending the
egg will be cooked without water or heat. That is what we call idiot`s devotion.
Devotion is trust in cause, condition and eIIect. As can be inIerred by the example oI
cooking an egg, where there is a really good understanding oI karma, an awareness oI
devotion will increase simultaneously. II you lack a thorough understanding oI karma, you
might erroneously believe that the philosophy oI karma and devotion are opposites. You
say certain things like: 'Oh, it`s my karma. It`s his karma 'you can`t really do much,
it`s his karma. Understanding karma is somewhat diIIerent Irom the deIeatist argument oI,
'It`s his or her karma, so there is no point in having devotion.
Basically, iI there is a cause and condition and eIIect, then the egg can be cooked.
Now in this example, the egg is you, isn`t it? I`m not talking about the exterior, the shell
and all oI that, what I am reIerring to is the cookable aspect. The egg is not you an egg is
just an egg the cookable aspect is you, which means, iI simply leIt alone, nothing is
going to be cooked. But with the right cause, condition and eIIect you are cookable.
Actually, I think what we are saying here probably contradicts certain theories coming
Irom Christianity. Eor instance, were you to believe in original sin, Buddhists would say
you are not cookable. So it is really important to understand this changeable aspect. Indeed,
to accept the Iact, I`m cookable,` is something we also reIer to as the ultimate Iorm oI
taking reIuge.
Everything Is Everything Is Everything Is Everything Is E EE Emptiness mptiness mptiness mptiness
The Iact that we are cookable is quite signiIicant. II we were not cookable, devotion
wouldn`t work. Were we uncookable, nothing would work; we would be stuck. Yet in
reality, we are not stuck. AIter all, the sole reason an egg can be cooked is simply because
it`s cookable that is the cause. The conditions themselves are the water, and Iire, or in
our case, it is the renunciation mind. Not to mention, one-hundred-thousand prostrations,
one-hundred-thousand mandala oIIerings, compassion, devotion, all oI these Iactors also
constitute the conditions. Then as Ior the eIIect, it is the act oI being cooked. Now this is
where the egg comes in. Whether the egg is cooked or not, an egg is still an egg, isn`t it?
As the Buddha said, 'Whether the buddhas oI the past, present, and Iuture come or
not the nature oI phenomena will remain as it is. This is such a great quotation. It is not
as though aIter Shakyamuni Buddha came to this earth and taught, only then did
everything become emptiness. Everything has always been emptiness right Irom the very
start, regardless oI whether or not Shakyamuni Buddha had said, 'Everything is
emptiness. And on that note, we have completed chapter one oI the guru yoga teachings.
Erom here, there will be short introduction oI the inner and secret guru yoga.
Though at this stage, it is not possible to say so much on this, since Iirst oI all, there is the
outer guru yoga to Iinish. There will also be quite detailed teachings on the Iour abishekas,
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which are like the bones oI the guru yoga. Then Iollowing on Irom this we will discuss
mixing your mind and the guru`s mind, which is the marrow oI the guru yoga.
Guru Yoga Guru Yoga Guru Yoga Guru Yoga Related Questions Related Questions Related Questions Related Questions
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: When the guru`s mind and my mind are mixed, I am always asking what is it
that is mixed, because mind has no Iorm, no taste, or anything.
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : That is excellent, and that`s one skin, which you have already seen, so just
keep on practising that.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: So I always try to Iind something...
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yeah, that`s good.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I Iind it strange that the intention in the guru yoga is unity` and yet we need to
go through all this separating oI Iorm, colour, and shape. It seems so counterproductive
when you compare it to something like: a Ieeling in the heart.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: What do you mean by a Ieeling in the heart`?
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Having a strong connection and remembering the guru.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You see, the connection is not the only thing we are looking Ior. There is this
path where it looks as though the guru is another being, but then, the path itselI also
reminds us all the time that this is not the case. That`s the skilIul aspect oI the path. In Iact,
it is not the path`s Iault or the path`s doing that the guru is thought oI as a separate entity.
It is our minds. It is our very own habit. To unequivocally know the inseperability oI the
guru with one`s own being, would oI course, make the guru yoga unnecessary. On the
other hand, the very concept oI having a connection means there is another being to
connect with. So basically, you are still being bound by the notion oI a separate entity,
when you think in this way.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What iI we were to just remember the other being Ior producing that sensation
in our hearts, and then Ieeling some kind oI love or completeness?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: What do you mean? Can you clariIy that?
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: A strong Ieeling in the chest.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well it is true that these kinds oI Ieelings can come, but again, Ieelings are
also very Iickle. That is just another skin, which will peel oII. Whereas the inseparability
oI the guru and your being, once realised, is something that can never peel oII. It will
remain because that`s the real you. Then you see the secret and inner guru, and that`s you!
Eeelings are only temporal.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: In the long version, there`s a prayer, which begins: 'Jetsn Guru Rinpoche you
are the glorious embodiment... It says to recite that as many times as you can. Does this
mean one-hundred-thousand times?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No. Actually you can do that prayer as many times as you want. It is made up
oI two sections. I do it all the time just that Iirst bit.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: With the Vajra Guru mantra, can you do it anywhere? Does it have to be a
sitting practice?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That is a personal question. DiIIerent people will need diIIerent instructions.
Eor those roaming around the streets oI Kathmandu, smoking hashish and looking at a
halI-empty cup oI cappuccino the whole day, I would tell them, 'Sit and do ten-million,
or even more than that, 'do one-thousand-million while sitting. Then again, Ior someone
Irom London, New York, or Paris who is working hard, I would say, 'Yes, do it on the
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train, while you are waiting Ior the bus, and while the train or bus is moving. It depends
on how disciplined people are. That`s what the dharma is Ior.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: You said it`s possible to have more than just one guru. And I noticed there is a
verse in the Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro that says, 'From the root guru.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, there are many roots. That is to say a tree has many roots. Then again,
you can have one root guru and many branch gurus. There could be branch, Iruit, Ilower,
and leave gurus.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: In the 'Words oI my PerIect Teacher it says that you should really examine the
guru beIore choosing. And Irom what I currently understand, how you see the guru is
actually your own perception.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: There is no contradiction in that. In Iact, it really complements a lot. Basically,
you should always examine your own perception.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But what about the example oI the old lady, where she was able to take a dog`s
tooth as being the Buddha`s?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That is an instance oI having unshakable Iaith. Eor now, we don`t have that.
The old woman never thought Ior a moment perhaps the tooth was merely a dog`s tooth.
We don`t have that kind oI conviction. Instead, we have a tendency to swing back and
Iorth, sometimes thinking it`s a dog`s tooth, and then at other times, thinking it is the
Buddha`s tooth.
Examining Examining Examining Examining B BB Both the Guru and oth the Guru and oth the Guru and oth the Guru and O OO Our ur ur ur O OO Own Agenda wn Agenda wn Agenda wn Agenda
As long as the vajra master is qualiIied and has an authentic lineage blessing, guru
devotion works. But the problem is when we say qualiIied master` what do we mean by
that? Just as Jigme Lingpa said, 'It is so important to examine the guru. At the very least,
the guru must have compassion, and as a minimum, the guru must work Ior you, not Ior
himselI. So you examine the guru, but should also realise that by the time you know the
guru is qualiIied you are already quite good. Thus, as we can see, this path is quite
conIusing. And a qualiIied master is in Iact, very rare. Even during Jigme Lingpa`s time,
he was lamenting over the rarity oI qualiIied masters, and this was several hundred years
ago. Nowadays, this is an age supposedly very, very degenerated everyone also seems to
have his or her own personal agenda.
This catchphrase to have an agenda` is quite important when it comes to examining
the guru. Eor his part, the guru must be interested in your enlightenment. II you happen to
meet a person who can teach a little, maybe not so much, but a little bit, and iI this person
is genuinely interested in enlightening you, then you are quite saIe. On the other hand,
were you to encounter a guru very learned in stras, shstras, and mantras but not very
interested in your enlightenment that is a diIIerent story. II the guru`s interest in you is
mainly Ior the sake oI expanding disciple membership, Ior your wealth, looks, skill, or Ior
your energy to slave away Ior him then in that case, there is a considerable danger there.
These two problems Irom the teacher and the student, Ieed each other a lot. Eor
instance, iI a student comes along solely wanting the guru`s attention, and yet, the guru is
interested only in the enlightenment oI the student, again sometimes, the guru`s method
does not work. The guru might do something that will end up driving away a potential
practitioner, especially iI the guru is unskilled. It is an even sorrier story when the students
pursue the guru`s attention or some sort oI personal relationship, with no interest in the
actual enlightenment, while at the same time, the guru is merely interested in publicity,
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Iame, power, and money. In that category, it works, but it becomes very sad. It works
because they Ieed each other`s ego`s.
Undoubtedly, it would be that much simpler iI we could say, 'These are the
qualiIications oI the guru, and these are the steps you should Iollow. But what is really
required is a much deeper process oI reIlection, and we should especially rely on the
wisdom coming out oI hearing, contemplating and meditating. So to reiterate, it is really
good to hear and study the teachings over and over again. In particular, the Iirst oI the
three wisdoms, the wisdom Irom hearing is so important.
Examining the Path Examining the Path Examining the Path Examining the Path
Long beIore modern civilization celebrated Iree speech, the Buddha himselI stressed great
respect Ior reasoning, and emphasized that a path should be examined rather than Iollowed
blindly. Whilst it is important to examine the path and its authority, at the same time, we
must also watch out Ior the cultural baggage that accompanies it. Now, in relation to this, I
would like to share something that I recently experienced. You see in a sense, the world is
becoming much smaller and one thing that democracy does is to make things become
much more transparent. But oI course, this is not necessarily something that happens in a
good way. In Iact, there has been a lot oI criticism especially Irom the West, with regard to
some Tibetan lama`s behavior. There was recently this one lady in particular, who wrote
something on this subject. At Iirst glance you naturally Ieel deIensive, but aIter having
read it over, you see that there is some truth to what she is saying. She reports that Tibetan
lama`s oIten say to Western students, 'You Westerners are so materialistic. And she
responds by saying, 'Well, how about you guys? You come to the West, bring in the
money, then go back to Nepal or India, and buy the latest brand cars, and watches. It is
very true that this kind oI thing is happening. She is saying it occurs so much that spiritual
materialism has now reached to the highest level, even to the point where the dharma has
become something oI a commodity. To look at things Irom a very narrow perspective, one
might go so Iar as to say: iI some oI the high lama`s were to sell their silver and gold
teacup holders, it would surely Ieed Iive hundred children in Ethiopia Ior about a month.
Genuine Humility Genuine Humility Genuine Humility Genuine Humility
There is also a whole other side to this, we should try not to Iorget. What appears to us as
simplicity, humility, and humbleness, can instead be another Iorm oI hypocrisy. There are
some, not only lama`s but also laypeople as well, who are so paralyzed about losing their
image oI being simple and humble that it really becomes a major source oI suIIering. Erom
this point oI view, I admire some oI these people who simply do what they want to do;
those who just go ahead and wear Iour Rolex watches, one on each ankle, and one on each
arm. What I am saying is one should not come to a conclusion based on any old rational
system.
Personally, I come Irom a tradition, in which there are great examples such as His
Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, who Ior me is a great buddha. At times, when I reIlect
on him and his qualities, it is just amazing to even imagine that his Ieet truly touched this
earth. To think that at some time or other, he actually walked through the airport at such
and such a place. Once, Ior example, when we were all at ErankIurt airport waiting in the
transit lounge, the pilot and the airline staII all came over and asked us iI they could just
touch him his hand or his Ieet or something. Yet in spite oI his greatness, not even on
one occasion had he ever claimed that he was something special. He always, constantly
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said he was the most worthless. Eor me, that is the highest teaching because it is obvious
he is the greatest and yet he shunned all praise or recognition oI any sort. Usually, with
most oI us, whenever we happen to notice we have some sort oI worthy quality, we can`t
wait to show it oII.
A W A W A W A Wanderers Attitude anderers Attitude anderers Attitude anderers Attitude
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What is khatvnga ?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: The khatvnga is quite a beautiIul object, which looks kind oI like a walking
stick with three upward pointing prongs. An explanation oI the khatvnga is very diIIicult.
SuIIice to say, the kapla and the khatvnga are considered to be two oI the greatest
substances in the vajrayna, especially iI you are one oI the highest vajrayna
practitioners.
In a metaphorical sense, the khatvnga is also an attribute oI a wanderer. It
symbolises the practice oI a wanderer: a tantric practice whereby the world is always
looked on as a strange world, as though it were a place never beIore encountered. It is as iI,
it is your very Iirst time to visit this earth. In short, having the attitude oI a wanderer is also
similar to being someone with no Iood, no mat, no Lonely Planet book in your bag, let
alone credit-cards, or a mobile phone to call home with. And as tantric practitioners, it is
quite important that you always try to develop the attitude oI a wanderer in looking at the
world.
One very beautiIul story oI a well-known wanderer is that oI Thangtong Gyalpo.
Epitomizing what we reIer to in Tibetan as, "nyeme kyi nanfupa," he was a true wanderer.
No-one would ever know where he was, or what he was up to next. And not many dared
ask him any questions, since he would seemingly get so easily irritated. II you were to
meet him along the way, you couldn`t ask him, 'Where are you going? II you were to do
so, he would answer by saying: 'Can`t you see where I am going? I am going ahead. This
is all. Then you might venture to ask, 'Where did you come Irom? And he would say, 'I
came Irom behind. That`s it it`s the only answer he would have. Yet, his abrupt style oI
answering really had nothing to do with thinking oI it as an invasion oI privacy. He was in
Iact such a great compassionate being. Actually, he was the one to Iirst initiate the Tibetan
opera. It started out that everywhere he went he would build bridges and he built so many
in Tibet, in Bhutan, and all over the place. One day, aIter all his money had run out, he
asked the bridge builders to begin perIorming operas. It was so popular that many people
would come to watch and would toss money to the actors in appreciation. It was with this
money that the bridge building could begin again.
So in all respects, the practice oI a wanderer is a very proIound practice,
incorporating some really excellent methods. But iI you try and truly apply this practice
Ior just one hour, you will probably Iind it a little scary. Try looking at your husband or
wiIe and thinking, who is this? Go to the toilet and when you are urinating, suddenly just
stop and take a look at this. What is this? Really get into this notion oI being a wanderer. It
is as though you have literally reached a strange land. Who are these people? Where is this
country? CareIul though, to do this practice does not mean to become hippy-dippy. That
would only be Ialling into another type oI pattern, and within such a pattern there is still a
degree oI principle to hold onto. The quintessence oI the wanderers practice is to
constantly destroy all these principles and hang-ups, until there are no longer any
whatsoever remaining.
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Guru Yoga Jisualisation Guru Yoga Jisualisation Guru Yoga Jisualisation Guru Yoga Jisualisation
Now Ior the guru yoga visualisation, iI you are Iollowing on Irom the kusli practice,
simply remain in the conIidence oI being Vajrayogin. In the short sdhana however, the
guru yoga practice comes right aIter the mandala oIIering. So iI doing the short sdhana, it
would be best to remain seated and aIter a brieI pause, you instantly visualise yourselI as
Vajrayogin or Vajravrh. Now in the Longchen Nyingtik text, it mentions Vajrayogin,
red in colour,` but you can actually visualise either. Except Ior the Iact one is red and the
other is black, they are the same.
As you look around, think that the place where you are is transIormed into a pure
realm, none other than the Copper Coloured Mountain. Although more elaborate, this is
similar to what we reIerred to earlier as transIorming the atmosphere.`
In your right hand, you are holding a curved kniIe and in your leIt hand you are
holding a kapla, a skullcup. Semi-wrathIul, beautiIul, and slender, you have three eyes,
and are adorned with exquisite ornaments; tiger-skin skirt, bone ornaments and so Iorth.
14
Your stance is as though you had been walking and had suddenly stopped. It is as iI you
are about to take a step Iorward. Gazing skywards with your three eyes, you see a lotus oI
one-hundred-thousand petals, on the top oI which is a sun-disk and on top oI that is a
moon-disk.
Seated on the moon-disk is the root guru, lord oI the sangha, the embodiment oI all
the objects oI reIuge, the essence oI all the buddhas, and the leader oI all the bodhisattvas.
In essence, he is one`s own root guru, but in Iorm he is Padmkara, the Lotus-born. His
complexion is white, with a slight tinge oI red to his cheeks. By no means does he have an
old, wrinkled, ordinary sort oI Iorm; quite the opposite, he is young, majestic, vibrant, and
adorned with all the royal objects. He is sitting, in the manner oI a king with his right hand
holding a vajra, and his leIt hand holding a kapla. At his leIt shoulder, he is holding a
khatvnga, symbolizing his consort Mandrava. Though in this case, since it is the
ngndro we are doing, Mandrava is temporarily hidden as one oI his tools. Upon
completing the outer guru yoga, it is possible to begin the secret guru yoga, and it is at that
time that the Iorm oI Mandrava comes out.
You visualise that Guru Rinpoche is sitting amidst millions oI rainbow spheres oI
light. Within the biggest oI these spheres is Guru Rinpoche, and surrounding the space
around him are his twenty-Iive disciples, led at the IoreIront by King Trisong Detsen. In
the space above Guru Rinpoche are all the mahsiddhas oI the dzogchen lineage, such as
Vimalamitra, Jnastra, Sr Sinha, and Prahevajra, none other than Garab Dorje.
Wherever there is any remaining space, this space is Iilled with all kind oI deities oI the
diIIerent lineages, dkinis, and dharmaplas. Basically your entire surroundings,
especially the space in Iront oI you, are Iilled with the objects oI reIuge like a thick cloud.
As you behold the objects oI reIuge, bring in this notion that they are completely
clear and vivid, while at the same time knowing that not one oI them has anything oI an
externally, truly existent nature. It is like looking at a lake during a Iull moon, the
reIlection oI the moon is clear, vivid and very vibrant, yet you know it is just a reIlection.
Likewise, all the reIuge objects oI the guru yoga are seated beIore you like a reIlection oI
the moon on water. This is what you visualise. And then, giving rise to strong devotion
Irom the heart, you chant the Seven Line Prayer. AIter a while, you then chant, OM H
HM VAJRA GURU SIDDHI HM.
As a matter oI Iact, there is quite a tradition oI doing one-hundred-thousand
recitations oI the Seven Line Prayer. When it comes to the Vajra Guru mantra, it is one-
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hundred-thousand times one hundred, so it is actually ten million recitations. Though that
is quite easy. II you have the time, it tends to be a two month long job.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: When we are chanting the Vajra Guru mantra what are we actually doing?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Just concentrate on the mandala. With Guru Rinpoche sitting there in a sphere
oI light, you simply gaze at his Iace. When tired oI this, Iix your eyes downwards a little.
King Trisong Detsen is seated there like a great Majushr and at the same time, he is also
in the Iorm oI a Tibetan king. When you Iind yourselI becoming distracted, notice how
seated to the right, there is this beautiIul lady Yeshe Tsogyal. When you are tired with that,
next Iix your gaze on the translator Vairochana who is working away hard at translating
something. Somewhere there behind him is Gyalwe Chogyang. At the crown oI his head,
there is a horse head that is neighing. As it neighs the Iirst time around, the whole world
shakes. With the second neigh, the entire world dismantles, and on the third, in the absence
oI this impure world, everything actually becomes Hayagrva`s realm. Then there is Matok
Rinchen who is another oI the twenty-Iive disciples oI Guru Rinpoche. He is very hungry,
and since there is nothing else to eat he is eating rocks, and doing so very deliciously.
Somewhere next to him, there is Kichung Lotsar who is actually another translator. He is
young and quiet. Each time a bird Ilies past, he eIIortlessly catches it.
Above Guru Rinpoche is Vimalamitra seated in a cave, wearing a blue shirt.
Actually, this cave exists right this very minute on this earth, located in China at a place
reIerred to as Mount Wutai. Anyhow, right on the tip oI his nose is a letter A` and this is
the guru oI Guru Rinpoche. Erom this A streams Iorth a lot oI light. Then, similarly you
can turn your gaze to Sr Sinha, Jnastra, and so Iorth. Then there is Prahevajra, or in
Tibetan, Garab Dorje, he is the greatest oI the greatest. Seated above him, there is
Vajrasattva and Samantabhadra. So when you chant the vajra guru mantra, Ior now, you
concentrate in this way. Again, when you get bored with that just concentrate on the
khatvnga oI Guru Rinpoche. When that becomes tiring simply visualise Guru
Rinpoche`s vajra.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I`ve got this really dualistic mind. It is very rigid, as you know, and this is a
really silly question, but I have to ask it. When visualizing Guru Rinpoche, should I think
oI my teachers Iace or should I create the Iace?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Create? That`s what I`m saying, you don`t visualize him as your ordinary
teacher that you can see and Ieel.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: The other question is: during the reIuge, iI I want to visualize the Dalai Lama,
where should he be?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Rather than visualising him in an ordinary way as we see him, he should be
above Guru Rinpoche in the Iorm oI Avalokiteshvara. It`s better this way! Even when it
comes to the Dalai Lama, to visualise his ordinary Iorm still has this impure aspect. He is
aging, and he doesn`t speak Spanish; there are such limitations as these. What`s more,
even Avalokiteshvara, even in all his greatness, he is still but a teardrop oI Amitbha. Still
I guess it is understandable that we like the present Dalai Lama.
Guru Yoga. t Guru Yoga. t Guru Yoga. t Guru Yoga. the Most Essential Practice in the Tantra he Most Essential Practice in the Tantra he Most Essential Practice in the Tantra he Most Essential Practice in the Tantra
In the Vajrayna, Ior us to release ourselves Irom this endless delusion, or to put it another
way, to be able to crack open this casket, the key is to understand the nature oI the mind.
Eor this, there are only two choices, we either receive the blessings oI the guru or we
accumulate the merit. Likewise, by and large, there are two main ways in which we
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100
accumulate merit. One approach is to have impartial compassion towards sentient beings,
and the other is to have pure devotion towards the guru. So all oI this tells us that the guru
yoga is the most essential practice in the tantra.
Though in a very general sense the guru yoga is a practice oI devotion, the heart and
marrow to the practice is the mixing oI your mind and the guru`s mind. Not only does this
practice oI mixing extend to the mind, it also includes your entire being, as in your body,
speech, and mind: everything Irom your identity, Iorm, sound right down to your sense
oI taste. You are mixing the entire dimension oI your being with that oI the guru`s whole
being. In Iact, the term mixing` is misleading because it automatically indicates there are
two things to mix. Still, we have little choice but to make use oI this language. As
Samantabhadra said, 'In aiming to express some oI the highest truths, the words and
phrases oI human beings are simply not suIIicient.
The essence oI your mind is emptiness which is actually the very essence oI
everything. Within this vast phenomena, we may talk as though there are these two
separate entities but as I have mentioned many times, the outer guru is none other than a
reIlection oI your devotion. Thus as it were, it`s that much more than mixing. It is the
understanding oI there never having been a separate entity. Or in other words, what we
have to know is the two have never been apart. It`s also a plain Iact: the actual guru, the
inner and the secret guru are none other than the nature oI your mind. The path is such that
Ior beginners like us, we can`t help but have someone there as a model. We need this
person as a certain source oI inspiration, as an object oI reIuge and oIIering, or even as an
object to whom we can express our emotion.
Whining, complaining, supplicating, begging, and praying, is the only way we know
how to communicate. Yet honestly, it is okay to use such methods. In the vajrayna,
always remember that conIusion is accepted as path path is conIusion. Thus eventually,
path is something we also need to discard. OI course, to the outer guru, we try to oIIer our
devotion, admiration, and unchanging pure vision, until slowly step by step, we are ready
to try and mingle our being with this inner and secret guru. We then come to realise that
our inner and secret guru have never been apart Irom us: it is there all the time.
The Secret and the Inner Guru The Secret and the Inner Guru The Secret and the Inner Guru The Secret and the Inner Guru
There is this song by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche called the 'Song and the Dance oI
Pure Motivation. Each oI the Iive or six parts to this song is dedicated to a diIIerent guru.
Eirst, he dedicates the song to the Guru Amitbha who is symbolic oI the dharmakya.
Next, there is Avalokiteshvara Ior the sambhogakya and then, Guru Padmasambhava Ior
the nirmnakya. It is such a beautiIully written song. I don`t remember the song in its
entirety but just to quote some oI it:
I supplicate to the Guru Amitbha, the embodiment of the dharmakya.
Bless this fortunate being, now, in this instant.
May the essence of all things, which is none other than snyat, be
understood.
Then he goes on to say:
This emptiness aspect of mind isnt that you Amitbha?
This continuous display of emptiness isnt that Sukhvati?
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In Sanskrit, Sukhvati is Amitbha`s realm. This is the realm that people practicing
pure land wish to be reborn in.
In his song he also remarks:
This unobstructed display of emptiness,
Isnt that Sukhvati?
In knowing this, Amitbha dismantles, and Sukhvati disappears.
It is then that I realise the trap of this so-called prayer and yearning.
Then, in the last verse oI praise he announces:
But to even understand this much, comes from the blessing of my guru.
May you always remain in my heart.
It is not only a very beautiIul song, it also points out the inner and the secret guru
very thoroughly.
Thus I have very brieIly introduced the secret and inner guru. We can discuss how to
relate with the outer guru and can talk about Iorm, such as what to hold with the right hand
and the leIt hand and all oI that. Yet when it comes to the secret guru and the inner guru,
this is something that needs to be discovered. Though oI course, you are given a little
assistance through reading and maybe receiving teachings.
Doubtless to say, I should try my best not to reveal more than necessary. Nowadays,
many oI the lamas, like myselI, have this tendency to disclose too much on these things.
To be sure, one oI the great qualities oI the Buddha was that he never, ever taught simply
because he knew the subject that was never the reason. So you should not Ieel
discouraged or look down on yourselI. Really, it has got nothing to do with not being
qualiIied or anything like that. Broadly speaking, it is like this: iI it is my job to give you
assistance in discovering your inner and secret guru, then I must watch you I can only
watch you. That`s oI course, iI I`m good at this. I can only watch and see whether you are
getting sidetracked. Now when I say it is the only thing we can do, I`m not inventing or
exaggerating this in any way. To know more on this aspect, just read Rigdzin Jigme
Lingpa`s, 'Questions and Answers oI Meditation.
II I tell you something I have discovered, it will only create a concept in your head
unless I know exactly what I`m doing, which honestly speaking I don`t, since I`m still on
the path. It would then be this concept` you would be looking Ior, and that is not
enlightenment. II, aIter ten years oI your practicing, all you have discovered is Dzongsar
Khyentse`s concept, that is not such a big discovery, is it? But more importantly, I have
seen with my own eyes how practitioners get themselves trapped.
When we were young our group oI teachers would say, 'You know, you have to
study. We really studied hard. Compared to the young Rinpoches oI today, we can be
quite proud oI the amount oI Buddhist study accomplished. In this day and age, the young
Rinpoches have toys, they have Saturdays and Sundays, and even winter holidays, which
is something we couldn`t even have imagined. Nowadays, there is American political
correctness and this notion that children should not be beaten, but in our day, we got
beaten and we really got punished.
Back then, aIter having done this really intensive study, just as we were trying to
shut ourselves away to practice and meditate, then we would hear Irom the great lamas.
We would receive scoldings Irom masters like Nyoshl Khenpo or even His Holiness,
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although His Holiness never really scolded us, as such. Sometimes he would use very
skilIul sarcastic words. Day aIter day, he would just criticise, and he would laugh at the
very Iact that we had studied. He would point out how the study itselI had become the
main obstacle to our progress and would remind us that we ourselves had created this. He
would say: 'It is the books we have read, and the things we have heard Irom our teacher`s
mouths that have now created a concept in our heads.
To recapitulate, iI the student and the teacher have the patience, great care should be
taken with this. There is a certain danger Ior people like myselI, who love to demonstrate
their knowledge, and tell you all the amazing stuII. It`s like a kind oI talk show. It`s like a
situation oI whatever makes people inspired, or happy whatever people want to hear.
People like us, seem to enjoy talking about these things. What is less obvious is just how
much it is actually going to become the biggest obstacle to your practice. It is the truth,
and I`m telling you this Irom the bottom oI my heart.
Above all, even iI you understand that a certain piece oI inIormation is oI utmost
signiIicance, you should never get Iixated on it. There is this seemingly contradictory
element. We are told to take what the guru says very seriously, and thus, there is most
likely this clutter in your head oI, 'I have to do whatever the guru says. So, it is quite
conIlicting, isn`t it? We are told to obey the guru, and whatever he says is to be taken as
proIound and precious, but at the same time, you are now hearing don`t get Iixated on
this.` II you think oI the stras however, the logic is clear. Having read some oI the
mahyna or srvakayna stras, you would be aware that most begin with, 'Thus I have
heard. They never begin with, 'Thus Buddha said.
Sooner or Later, Sooner or Later, Sooner or Later, Sooner or Later, T TT This his his his Patch Patch Patch Patch I II Is s s s G GG Going to oing to oing to oing to F FF Fall all all all O OO Off ff ff ff
We have heard, 'You have to do whatever the guru says. There are also such remarks as,
'Whatever your master says should be taken seriously. And now, you hear, 'Whatever it
is you have heard, imagined, learned, or read, you should not have Iixation towards this.
What you need to realise is whenever you hear, read or contemplate on something you will
always have a certain understanding in your head. Yet whatever this understanding might
be, it is just a patch` and sooner or later this patch is going to Iall oII. In a way, it is all
right Ior you to have this Iixation because sooner or later it`s going to Iall oII. But you
should be aware that it`s going to prolong your path, a lot. I mean, how much time do we
have, perhaps twenty more years? Given that what you have understood is actually nothing
but a patch, are you prepared to spend another ten years believing it to be reality?
So always be prepared to peel oII this outer skin. As you come to see the inner one,
you might initially think, 'This is the real Iruit, but always be ready to accept that in Iact
it is only another skin. This is not only something to apply when hearing, contemplating or
reading, it is also even more relevant whenever you meditate. That`s the real meaning oI
the saying, 'experience is like a mist in the morning.
The Experience of The Experience of The Experience of The Experience of Nyam Nyam Nyam Nyam
Since the guru yoga is so much oI blessing it also stirs your mind. It can change your
mood, and can altogether stir up your liIe. So be prepared Ior such things. But more than
any oI this, it invokes nyam an experience. Well, experience might not really be the best
translation, but I guess it will do. There are three sets oI experience that come: sometimes
it is very blissIul and no matter what happens there is this Ieeling that you can accept
anything and everything. In the same way a saucer Iits a cup, it is as though everything Iits
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just right, and strangely enough, you Ieel as iI you could almost place a table on the cup.
Everything is acceptable and tolerable. Should you hear some news like, 'Right now
ErankIurt is upside down, the experience is almost like, 'Yeah, why not? So there`s this
complete acceptance and then physically, there is so much bliss that is one kind oI nyam.
Eor most oI us, it is not an experience we even go through but somehow, people actually
want this. The Iact that we long Ior nyam is so sad and pathetic.
Another kind oI nyam is the experience oI nonconceptualisation, which may go on
Ior a Iew minutes, hours and sometimes, even Ior days. You will have no thoughts, no
aggressions, no obvious passion, or judgemental mind, no comparison, and no insecurity,
yet everything is so vivid, and so present. That much is all I can say right now. I shouldn`t
say more, otherwise you will idealise this. You will again look Ior an experience as
described by Dzongsar Khyentse, and that`s where you are barking up the wrong tree. You
have to discover it Ior yourselI.
Then at times, there will be an experience oI clarity where everything is cystal clear.
It is as though you could tell how many leaves a tree has. Your intuition grows so you can
almost tell what is going on in someone else`s head and stuII like that. All oI these
experiences are what we call nyam.
Again, the great masters oI the past have told us nyam is like a mist, sooner or later
it is going to go it is not your Iinal destination. Let alone when it comes to nyam, Ior so
many oI us, to even have a good dream is something we aspire aIter. We should really be
prepared to give all this up. Especially when it comes to the secret guru, the emptiness, this
is something that can`t really be verbalized. So I may not be able to talk so much about the
inner and the secret guru, but there is some good news though. You have to discover this
with your selI-awareness, and you will!
Giving Giving Giving Giving O OO Ou uu ur Buddha Nature a Chance to Manifest r Buddha Nature a Chance to Manifest r Buddha Nature a Chance to Manifest r Buddha Nature a Chance to Manifest
This is the greatness oI your buddha nature, iI you only let it grow and give it a chance to
Iunction. Right now, your buddha nature doesn`t have much oI an opportunity to even
wiggle the toes, because you are invariably busy with something. You are constantly busy
with this and that, yet the buddha nature is nonetheless vibrant. Everything is intact, Irom
all the thirty-two major marks, to the eighty minor marks. As the masters oI the past have
said, 'We are like beggars, living in a shantytown. It is like being in a very poor
household where we have this really worn out old bed, in which we have been sleeping Ior
twenty years. All we have to do is dig perhaps two inches beneath the bed and we would
have a kilo oI diamonds. Preoccupied with our task oI begging, we are entirely oblivious
to its existence. This is how we are at the moment. And through the practice, we give our
buddha nature the opening to maniIest.
Mingling Mingling Mingling Mingling Y YY Your Mind with the Guru our Mind with the Guru our Mind with the Guru our Mind with the Guru s Mind s Mind s Mind s Mind
Just a bit oI practical advice here: uniting one`s being with the guru`s being is something
that can be done over and over again. When you visualise and as you`re chanting VAJRA
GURU PADMA SIDDHI HM, every ten, twenty or hundred mantras, you can have Guru
Rinpoche dissolve into you. More Irequently is good, so perhaps every ten or twenty
mantras, Guru Rinpoche dissolves into you so that you and Guru Rinpoche become one.
You should just watch that. Watch and then such and such` will happen the details oI
which I really shouldn`t convey.
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To simply watch the guru and yourselI being one, my goodness, the world that
opens with this key! It`s like a television with one thousand channels! It`s endless.
Needless to say, it also stirs up your liIe a little. AIter all, some oI these channels have
horror movies showing, don`t they? It`s a bit like that. As Jigme Lingpa said, 'Enough oI
this show we have watched over so many liIetimes. It is so boring breakIast, lunch and
dinner a job in between and this trivial changing oI husband and wiIe how many billions
oI times. All this eating oI one`s own children and parents as Iish, as prawns, sometimes
grilled or barbecued, sometimes shredded and stir Iried, enough is enough! Let`s watch the
other show, it is one that costs much less. So you watch your mind, and the key to doing
this is to mingle one`s own mind and the guru`s mind, again and again. This is so
important.
It`s a pity that in spite oI having this inIormation I don`t seem to do it oIten enough
but when I do it`s amazing. Sometimes Ior instance, when I am in London and I remember
to do this, I make a pledge. As I`m riding the escalator to catch the subway, I might
promise to myselI, 'I will mix my mind and the guru`s mind until the escalator reaches the
very end. It takes just a split second, or a Iew moments. Then oI course, you have to go
back to watching movies and all the many other important things to do. So always take
these little moments to mingle your mind with the guru`s mind and just watch that, Ior a
Iew minutes. It really has the eIIect oI everything becoming less oI a big deal. Mind you, it
should be done without expecting the result right away. Don`t be impatient remain
patient.
Being Patient and Being Patient and Being Patient and Being Patient and N NN Not ot ot ot Expecting Expecting Expecting Expecting the Result the Result the Result the Result
OI course, due to your habitual patterns, hang-ups, and distractions, in the beginning
nothing will happen. You shouldn`t complain. To do so would be something similar to
putting an egg on the table and then complaining because it`s not getting cooked. The egg
needs to be placed in water, and you must turn on the Ilame Ior at least a Iew minutes all
depending on the strength oI the Iire. Having barely put the egg inside the pot, or not even
having done that much, you have already started complaining that it`s not getting cooked!
This is what I call not understanding cause, condition and eIIect. OI all people, how can
you be griping? You guys go to the moon. You guys realise the world is round when
Tibetans still think it`s Ilat. Being so scientiIic oriented in culture, you should not
complain. AIter all, it is quite plain that science is very much a doctrine oI cause, condition
and eIIect. To some extent, you just have to divert that into a more inner world.
So always take cause, condition and eIIect into consideration. Indeed it may take
some time to see the eIIect, but what is perhaps ten years? When compared to the billions
and billions oI liIetimes spent without even having taken this egg out oI the carton, it is not
long at all. Now at long last, you at least know there is an egg that needs taking out, which
is already quite good. That`s already an improvement in simply having that inIormation
there is so much merit.
P PP Praying to the Guru raying to the Guru raying to the Guru raying to the Guru
II you want, besides being very patient, on top oI that you should pray. Prayer is good and
it works. This is almost like taking a theistic approach, except Ior the Iact, as a Buddhist,
there is this Iundamental view: the view oI emptiness. So this is yet another possibility in
answer to the question, what are you thinking when chanting, OM H HM VAJRA GURU
PADMA SIDDHA HM? As you chant the mantra, you can be making these prayers.
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And so, with the guru seated at the crown oI our head, we pray:
Bless me guru so that my mind enters the dharma and the dharma enters
my mind
Bless me so that my dharma wont meet with such a bumpy ride.
In other words, that is to say, 'May the dharma maniIest how it should.
Bless me so that the defilements of the path are cleared away.
Bless me so that all this confusion and delusion may arise as wisdom.
Bless me guru so that all this non-dharmic thought stops right this instant.
There are so many beautiIul prayers, such as these. When due to my strong habitual
patterns and karma oI the past, a hideous or bad motivation arises: 'Bless me me guru so
that it will not come to Iruition. Rather than wishing this and that be accomplished` as
we normally do, with this one, it is the opposite, as iI to say, may it not be accomplished.
Bless me so that love, compassion, and bodhicitta grow in my being.
Bless me so that relative and ultimate bodhicitta grow in my being.
Bless me so that genuine devotion grows in my being.
Bless me so that I will not lose inspiration.
Bless me so that the next distraction will not distract me, whatever it might
be.
Bless me so that I will not be overpowered by past karmic deeds or habits.
Bless me so that I will not be deceived by a seemingly good result.
When practicing the dharma, sometimes a result that appears on the Iace oI things to
be good can instead deceive us, by leading to our getting carried away.
Bless me so that I have good health, so as to be of benefit to many people.
Bless me so that whatever enters my mind, may eventually lead to the
dharma.
This last wish is a particularly beautiIul one. You are basically saying, 'Even though
my thoughts and actions appear to be very mundane and non-dharmic, bless me so that
these too, may eventually lead to something meaningIul.
It could be a thought that starts out, 'Oh, I want to go and have a pint oI a beer.
Perhaps, you are thinking oI an Irish Guinness or something similar and there is that strong
desire to pursue it. Although you might initially be led to a bar it could sort oI lead to
something completely unexpected. Perchance, you meet up with a stranger, end up
discussing the dharma a little, and then somehow this person becomes interested in
knowing more. One thing leads to another and you suggest, 'Why don`t you go to this
center, or that center. At the end oI the day, you have been instrumental in creating a
karmic link between this person and the dharma.
There are actually so many prayers we can make. You can think up as many prayers
as you want.
Bless me so that I have prosperity may I be spared having to go through
all this poverty.
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Bless me so that I am able to live a long life and by these means, may I
have the freedom to practice the dharma.
How How How How Do Do Do Do W WW We e e e Take Take Take Take the Guru as the Path? the Guru as the Path? the Guru as the Path? the Guru as the Path?
II these prayers become a little boring, visualise that you are beneath Guru Rinpoche, and
as you continue to chant OM H HM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHA HM, there is this
uninterrupted overIlowing oI nectar, which dissolves into you. The choices are beyond
measure. You can visualise Guru Rinpoche is seated on a lotus in your heart though this
is usually a method applied when retiring at night. II you have some sort oI obstacle, such
as a dispute in the Iamily, a depression or sadness, you can visualise Guru Rinpoche above
your shoulder, and think that he becomes very wrathIul, even to the point oI his Iangs
coming out a little. While seeing Guru Rinpoche in this wrathIul way, you imagine that
Iire and scorpions Ilow Iorth Irom his vajra and come toward you, your obstacles, and
obscurations. These scorpions snap at all the obstacles and swallow them up until each and
every obscuration is destroyed. There are just so many endless methods. Eor instance, iI
you Ieel as though you are coming closer to death you would visualise Guru Rinpoche in
an Amitbha like Iorm, red in colour, but still with these similar attributes. Although he is
holding the kapla in the Guru Rinpoche way, he`s none other than Amitbha. And at such
a time, you should try to transIer yourselI into his heart over and over again.
AIter a while, there is this tendency Ior boredom to set in. We are never just happy
with one channel, and always end up having to switch to the next one. So you switch and
on this one, Guru Rinpoche is everywhere, Iilling every inch oI space. As you continue to
chant OM H HM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHA HM, you look around in all
directions. Suppose that right in Iront oI me, I see six spheres oI light, in an instant these
spheres are eIIortlessly transIormed into six Guru Rinpoches. A blue banner appears
beIore me and within the blink oI an eye there is another Guru Rinpoche. Seeing below me
this multitude oI human beings, I transIorm them all into Guru Rinpoche. As I look more
closely I see a thermos, pen, pencil, watches, books, handkerchieI, diapers and Kleenex,
and all oI these are also transIormed into the Iorm oI Guru Rinpoche. Then I direct my
gaze outside, and trees, mountains, lakes, are also now all in the Iorm oI Guru Rinpoche.
Also, iI Ior example, you are Ieeling hot and suddenly, along comes this breeze to cool you
down, you should think oI this as a Guru Rinpoche maniIestation.
So to answer the question, 'How do we take the guru as the path? It is a matter oI
taking everything, to be none other than Guru Rinpoche whatever that might be. Even
should you hear the sound oI coughing, or Iarting, that sound is taken as Guru Rinpoche`s
voice, mainly in the Iorm oI mantra: OM H HM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHA HM.
That`s one way.
Emptiness. the Emptiness. the Emptiness. the Emptiness. the E EE Example of the Mirage xample of the Mirage xample of the Mirage xample of the Mirage
These methods might sound very theistic but there is a distinction to be made. Theistic-
minded religious people may talk in a similar way, but what is missing is the notion oI
mixing one`s mind with the guru`s mind. The real guru is your inner nature oI mind, which
is the emptiness aspect and this is what makes things diIIerent. When you have the view oI
emptiness as a base and then go ahead with applying these theistic methods, it works. Eor
those who can accept emptiness, Ior them, everything is possible.
It`s like the example oI the mirage. II you are in the desert, and see a mirage, iI you
know it is a mirage, it`s completely up to you how you take it. Whether you approach,
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escape or divert your path is oI little consequence, since each oI these acts will give you a
certain result. Once you know it is only a mirage, to approach is merely Ior the sake oI
doing so and not because you think there is any real water there. Similarly, to divert your
path is not due to the non-existence oI water, but simply because you know there is a
mirage there. The non-existence oI water and the mirage are diIIerent.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Could you say something about how the mirage and the non-existence oI water
are diIIerent Irom each other?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Non-existence means it has once existed and then it has become non-existent.
It`s the water in the mirage that we are talking oI here. The water in the mirage has never
existed: not as a mirage nor as water. It`s a total illusion.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: So is it the seeing, the actual view that becomes existent non-existent?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No, iI you see a mirage as a mirage then you are not wrong. It is when you see
the water oI the mirage` as water.
Persevering with Persevering with Persevering with Persevering with O OO One Path ne Path ne Path ne Path
Eor those without any particular practice, this ngndro is your practice. Unless your
personal teacher has designated you with a certain practice, I would urge you to keep on
doing this one. It is Iine to go along to all kinds oI teachings, but iI you want to go to
initiations, perhaps you had better ask whether doing page aIter page oI sdhanas is a
requirement. II the answer is Yes,` you should deIinitely think twice. You might even be
told, 'It`s not so much, but in reality, it all adds up to quite a lot. It depends on whether or
not you have the time. OI course, iI you have that kind oI leisure at your Iingertips, please
go ahead and do it our path is wonderIul. II receiving initiations, and collecting a lot oI
commitments makes you Ieel good, and you`re the type oI person who doesn`t particularly
Ieel guilty about not really keeping the commitments, then Iine!
Usually at Iirst, practitioners are eagerly Iollowing the path and then, aIter
proceeding along Ior some time, it becomes slightly boring. It is this human mind` that
always gets bored with the path. It is like having too much omelette. Now you want Iried
eggs, which is something reasonably new. There are also obstacles along the way as well.
And actually, what is happening is you`re getting closer to being a master oI this path. Just
as you are drawing near, you tend to get bored and then you want to change. Naturally
enough, a new practice is always somewhat inspiring Ior the Iirst Iew days, but what you
don`t realize is you`re only going back to square one. What you might gauge as an exciting
practice right now, will eventually also come to be boring. My suggestion is this: please
meet as many lamas, and hear as many dharma teachings as possible. Eor those who truly
want to pursue the path oI dzogpa chenpo, and the Longchen Nyingtik, it is especially
good to do this. It is also good to meet the same lineage people. But I would suggest you
do not allow yourselI to get distracted by all those attractive practices.`
Once you have Iinished the ngndro, I`m sure there are many masters you can go to
iI you want to receive the dzogchen teachings. Personally Ior me, I have had the best, so
I`m very spoiled.
A AA ABISHEKA BISHEKA BISHEKA BISHEKA & & & & THE THE THE THE E EE EOUR OUR OUR OUR E EE EMPOWERMENTS MPOWERMENTS MPOWERMENTS MPOWERMENTS
IN THE IN THE IN THE IN THE G GG GURU URU URU URU Y YY YOGA OGA OGA OGA
n the mahyna, the introduction oI the buddha nature is usually presented
through philosophical and contemplative analysis, in a thorough and gradual
manner. AIter having just a glimpse oI an idea, though not really having
discovered the buddha nature in any absolute sense, then what do we do? We try to
contemplate and practice so that we will discover it more Iully. Our main means oI doing
so is to engage in the six pramits, Ior three countless eons. In the vajrayna however,
there is a path, and method where one can practice these within just one session oI
practice. In Iact, in the vajrayna, the buddha nature is one oI the Iirst things to be
introduced. It comes via what we call the Iirst door oI the tantric path, that oI the abisheka.
It is because oI this contrast in method that the vajrayna way oI introducing the
buddha nature is quite diIIerent to that oI the mahyna. OI course, as we compare, one
should not have the attitude oI thinking in terms oI one or the other as somehow good or
bad. Nonetheless, there is quite a big distinction to be made here. Eor the mahyna
practitioner, the mind is the sole emphasis, but in the vajrayna it is not only mind that we
are concerned with but also our body, and speech as well. Thus through the abisheka, we
invoke the buddha nature, and the body, speech, and mind are all introduced as a
maniIestation oI our buddha nature. The abisheka is saying to us, 'You have that. OI
course, in order to express this we use diIIerent names like Tr, Majushr, and so Iorth.
Based on merit, which is created by your devotion, the buddha nature is mainly introduced
or discovered via the guru`s introduction. As Ior the result, that all depends on the receiver
oI the abisheka, the giver oI the abisheka, and their connection.
Devotion Generated Out of Seeking Enlightenment Devotion Generated Out of Seeking Enlightenment Devotion Generated Out of Seeking Enlightenment Devotion Generated Out of Seeking Enlightenment
Perhaps, the receiver oI the abisheka has immovable trust in the giver oI the initiation, and
the path itselI but then again, to have such devotion is altogether not easy. I have oIten
told practitioners, nuns and monks, whilst they may think there is devotion to their guru,
most oI the time it is more like admiration. It is comparable to seeing the guru as a party
leader: upon having decided you like your party leader, you then choose to vote Ior them.
Not only is that not devotion, it is actually something quite dangerous. Should the party
leader ignore you or do something slightly inane, even just once, the Iollowing year you
will not vote Ior him. Thus we Iind party leaders campaigning Irom town to town, giving
out bottles oI beer and other paraphernalia, not to mention oIIering a variety oI special
treatment.
Though I do think admiration and liking are necessary to begin with true devotion
to the guru is not simply a matter oI liking this person. Now the question is how do we go
beyond admiration and instead develop something akin to the real devotion? I think Iirstly,
the most important thing is your motivation. Your motivation should be Ior the sake oI
enlightenment. Eor a moment, let us Iorget about enlightening all sentient beings, at the
very least, you should have this motivation oI seeking your own enlightenment.
Having gone along to a restaurant, it naturally Iollows that a person with a strong
appetite would want to eat. Your motivation is straightIorward. As long as you get the
Iood, the rest is extraneous. It certainly doesn`t matter whether the Iont on the menu is in
italic or bold, because such detail is merely secondary. Yet Ior many oI us, when we
approach the guru our motivation is not really enlightenment-oriented. Sometimes,
I
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
109
perhaps once in a blue moon, we might have the right motivation and here, I`m also
including myselI by the way.
Why is it that so many students suIIer when the guru ignores them? It is because
your agenda is to have the guru`s unwavering attention on you. That is your motivation.
Your motivation was not Ior enlightenment. So the guru, this poor guru who has Iive
hundred students, will eventually have to direct his attention towards someone else and it
is then that you end up suIIering.
To have this motivation where you are interested in enlightenment is so important. II
such motivation is present, then IiIty per cent oI our problems are resolved, iI not ninety
per cent actually. You get what you need, which is the teaching or the instructions, and it
is Iarewell until next time unless he says to hang around.
Unless he says to hang around. It is here that we encounter a slight dilemma.
Interpreting an instruction is not always that easy. What is more, an instruction Irom the
guru is not something that should be taken in black and white terms. There is that whole
predicament oI not knowing how real it all is. We think the guru is testing us or that the
guru is doing such and such, Ior a given reason. But in many instances, the lion`s share oI
these gurus are quite oIten as passive and inert as a vegetable. In spite oI the Iact the guru
is not doing anything at all, the student is saying oh, oh,` he knows, oh, oh,` he is testing.
Thus they create their own paranoia. All too Irequently students think that I know, that I
am omniscient and all oI that. I have to conIess that on many occasions I have let them
think so. But sometimes I categorically reply, 'No, no, I didn`t know, I actually tell them
outright. But the more I say, 'I didn`t know, they just say, 'You are now being humble.
So it seems the guru is placed in a win-win situation.
There is in Iact, this entire network, which is quite diIIicult to maneuver. In the same
way that an ice skater really has to know how to slide and stop at the right time, one has to
be quite skilled in walking through this. Clearly, the main thing is your motivation, and Ior
the rest, you come to learn that as you progress along. It should be that you are seeking the
guru Ior the sake oI enlightenment, not Ior this person`s attention, inclusion or whatever.
So as I was saying, you enter through the door oI the abisheka. You have devotion
towards the initiation bestower, or at any rate, there is a devotion that is generated out oI
seeking enlightenment, iI not Ior everyone, at least Ior yourselI.
T TT The he he he M MM Meaning of Abisheka eaning of Abisheka eaning of Abisheka eaning of Abisheka
Abisheka` is actually a Sanskrit term. Now, especially when it comes to the nuances oI
each individual word, Sanskrit is an exceptionally rich language. Seeing as one word can
contain several levels oI meaning, we can end up with quite diIIerent interpretations.
That`s the beauty oI Sanskrit. Eor instance, with a word like candra,` it has at least three
alternative meanings. Candra can mean moon, yet it also has the meaning oI thieI, and
then again it also reIers to a rat or mouse. As a result, the poets can write poetry, and aIter
reading one sloka or stanza, three readers might interpret in entirely diIIerent ways, despite
having read the very same thing. In one way, you could read that the moon is peeping
through your window,` in another, the thieI is entering through the window,` while a more
literal interpretation might be a mouse is entering through the window.` So there is this
richness to the language.
There are two main meanings to the term abisheka. In Tibetan we say, torwa and
lugpa,` which can be translated respectively, as dismantling and pouring. Torwa reIers to
dismantling the ignorance, the wrap, the cocoon, or the shell. Lugpa, on the other hand,
either reIers to pouring the blessing, or pouring/discovering the buddha nature. In Iact,
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
110
when it comes to understanding the implied meaning oI the abisheka, these terms we use
can actually be somewhat misleading.
Especially with the term pouring,` and even when we use the expression receive an
initiation,` it can inadvertently lead us to think we are being given a certain power
previously not within our possession. It seems the initiation almost has this connotation oI
conIerring something, not unlike a knighting, Ior instance. Yet thinking in this way is Iar
Irom the true spirit oI the tantric initiation. What is being introduced through the intitation
is actually something within oneselI. It is just that now you recognise it. That very aspect
oI activating this recognition is what we reIer to as the initiation.
There are various kinds oI initiations with numerous subdivisions. Yet according to
the highest yoga tantra, there are Iour main types. ReIerred to as the Iour
empowerments,`
15
each one corresponds to one oI the Iour types oI deIilements to
dismantle. These Iour deIilements include Iirstly, the deIilement oI the ndi, which is in
relation to the veins, chakras, or channels. Then secondly there is the deIilement oI prna,
which coincides with the speech, or the wind-energy. The third is the deIilement oI bindu,
which is a deIilement oI mind. And then, lastly, there are two ways to explain the Iourth
deIilement: one is to say it is the residue oI the three combined, or in other words,
something similar to an laya. Alternatively, it can be described as the ground oI
everything,` but this second way oI explaining is quite diIIicult to understand, thus we will
not dwell so much on this.
Generally when you receive an initiation, the empowerment ritual is perIormed
using certain implements and substances that hold symbolic attributes. The lamas will
come along with this vase, which he will Iirst place on your head, and then pouring some
liquid into your hand he will say, 'Drink this saIIroned water. Then the next implement
the lama will use is the kapla, which is traditionally to be Iilled with nectar. In tantric
language, this substance is actually a mixture oI the Iather and mother consort`s essence.
Though in actual Iact, these days, when the initiation is given in Europe, as a
representation oI this, I think most oI the lamas use Bordeaux, or Chianti, whereas when
given in America, they might use Tequila. With the third initiation, usually the substance
is related to the consort. Nowadays the lamas will Ilourish a picture oI a dkini or
something like that. And lastly, Ior the Iourth, this is normally reIerred to as the word
initiation, and although technically speaking it is no longer a necessity, sometimes
Nyingmapas or Kagyupas will use a substance like crystal. Its purpose is to symbolise this
is the nature oI your mind.`
Each individual part oI the initiation can be very elaborate. On the vase initiation
alone, one could talk Ior ages about why it works, and why the lamas use water, Ior
instance. To start with, the Buddhist teachings originated in India, where there is a
customary habit oI puriIication through water. Yet even in our ordinary lives, whenever
we wash, it is also habitual Ior our mind to associate washing with cleansing. At the very
least, we understand that when washing, we are not making more dirt.
Using Water as a Tantric Using Water as a Tantric Using Water as a Tantric Using Water as a Tantric S SS Substance ubstance ubstance ubstance
In Iact, there are so many reasons why the vajrayna has conIidence in using water as a
tantric substance. Eirst oI all, the vajrayna always incorporates ordinary human habits as
path. II you have an article oI clothing that needs washing, you would not think to wash it
with soil, you would use water. So there you go, the vajrayna is using that. Then the
vajrayna would say, when we look at this one entity that we call water` we see it has
many maniIestations. When water is in the sink it`s washing water, when in the toilet bowl
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
111
it`s dirty water, and upon Ilowing out oI the shower nozzle, it has become clean washing
water. Similarly, when placed in the oIIering bowl, it has then become oIIering water.
Even though there is this one entity we call water, by associating certain attributes with it,
our perception changes in accordance. We have drinking water, washing water, bottled
water, and natural water. These days it is even more over the top, to the extent where there
is carbonated or non-carbonated mineral water, giving us the choice oI having our water
with or without bubbles. II we habitually maniIest it in such a variety oI ways, why not use
water as a tantric substance?
When there is logic that is making use oI our own language it is always a prsangika
method.
16
Generally this is something so beautiIul about mahyna Buddhism and
especially the vajrayna. You can never go and tell a vajrayna practitioner, 'This is your
own superstitious stuII. II you were to do so they would only say, 'This seemingly
superstitious stuII is based on your own logic that you yourselI created. All the
responsibility will end up being placed on your head. They will ask, 'Why can`t I use
water as an initiation substance? With this very same water, it is possible Ior you to think
oI at least ten diIIerent substances, isn`t it? AIter all, it is our own logic that regards water
as pure or ordinary. When water is bottled and packaged properly, you might pay a
considerably high price Ior it, perhaps almost two pounds. II you were to go to Bhutan and
explain that in Europe you have to buy water, let alone mention the price, they already
think it strange.` It`s like that.
So anyhow, in the course oI the initiation, and withintantric practices in general, we
use so many diIIerent methods. We use diIIerent substances, mantras, mudrs and we use
samdhi. As part oI the method, this water in the vase is packaged very well, and is in Iact,
much better than expensive bottled water like Evian. Within every drop, it has been
visualised there are million`s oI cities. Keep in mind that here, we are talking about entire
cities, like Hamburg, ErankIurt, London, and in addition to this, there are also vast cities oI
dkinis. This is already quite extensive and yet, that`s but one kind oI packaging That`s
samdhi only! We then have mudr, which is the gesture to bless it, and that`s just another
phenomena altogether.
Twenty Twenty Twenty Twenty- -- -five Substances Coming from the Cow five Substances Coming from the Cow five Substances Coming from the Cow five Substances Coming from the Cow
There are certain substances we use in the initiation, which are very special. Eor instance,
there are special substances that embody water with the power to puriIy. Take Ior example
what is reIerred to as the twenty-Iive substances coming Irom the cow.` Even to gather
these together is a real headache and nowadays, not many people have the patience Ior it.
Eirst oI all, you have to have a red cow. Then you need to collect the milk oI Iive hundred
cows, which you then take and oIIer to this red cow. Not only that, we wash this red cow
with milk every day, and aIter trimming oII just the tip oI the grass, we then oIIer it to the
cow. We continue to do this Ior about a month. Einally, on a Iull moon day, as the cow
deIecates and urinates, beIore it has the chance to even touch the earth, we must take this
up with our very own hands. Now this substance we have in our hands is one oI the
twenty-Iive cow substances, and it`s considered to be one oI the most powerIul cleansing
substances. Actually, this entire ritual is stemming Irom Brahmanic culture, yet it is
something the Buddhists have also adopted as well.
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
112
Initiation of the Child Initiation of the Child Initiation of the Child Initiation of the Child E EE Entering the Mandala ntering the Mandala ntering the Mandala ntering the Mandala
During a major initiation, the vase initiation itselI has seven subcategories, which include
the water initiation, crown initiation, vajra initiation, bell initiation, name initiation,
Vajrasattva initiation and the vajracarya initiation. In Iact, during the vase initiation we are
emphasizing the aspect oI cleansing this body, thus it is also the most gross or in other
words, it is the most outer Iorm.
To begin with, all the initiation substances are set out on display. To the Iront oI the
room, the guru will be seated on the throne, and gathered all around are the disciples. OI
course, Iirst and Ioremost, you, the disciple, need to have the buddha nature, which you do,
so not to worry!
The initiation ritual itselI is quite a complicated procedure, commencing with the
guru blessing the water. Eor instance, each drop oI water is blessed as Aksobhya Buddha.
This is what we Iirst visualise. Then the guru will invoke Aksobhya Buddha Irom the pure
realm and this invocation becomes indivisible with the water. You then have complete
conIidence that each drop oI water is Aksobhya Buddha. The guru will then turn his Iocus
on the disciple, who is sitting there with these Iive aggregates. Eirst, the guru will single
out consciousness, blessing this as Aksobhya Buddha. During this sequence, the guru will
ask the student to visualise the guru, the bestower oI the initiation as Aksobhya Buddha.
Thus, both the student`s consciousness and the guru, the bestower are Aksobhya Buddha.
Who is Aksobhya Buddha in actuality? On an inner level this is your consciousness.
Secretly it is your aggression. Most secretly it is mirror-like wisdom and then most, most
secretly it is the buddha nature. Once again, let us not Iorget this Iactor oI inseparability.
Right Irom the very beginning, the student`s buddha nature, and the guru`s buddha nature
have always been in union, they are neither one nor two entities.
To reinIorce this understanding, Iirst the student supplicates to the guru, Akshobyha,
by saying, 'Mahaguru, please bless my consciousness, this innate Aksobhya. May you
make me realise this very moment mind has been Aksobhya right Irom the beginning.
With millions oI Aksobhya Buddhas as his retinue, Aksobhya Buddha then comes towards
you, and asks, 'Is your consciousness ready? And you say, 'Yes, I`m ready. The
substance oI the intiation being water, the guru will place this vase on top oI your head,
pouring some water onto your head and some into your hand. As you drink this water, you
think that your consciousness, which is the Aksobhya Buddha, and the initiation substance
oI water, which is also the Aksobhya Buddha, thus become inseparable.
As the initiation continues, all your Iive aggregates are transIormed into the Iive
Buddha Iamilies. Eor Ieeling, Amitbha Buddha is symbolized by a vajra. Eor karmic
Iormation, there is Amoghasiddhi, and a bell, and then Ior Iorm, there is Vairochana and
so on. On top oI that, in order to stabilise this transIormation, along comes Vajrasattva,
and again this is a whole diIIerent phenomena in itselI. Last oI all, there is the vajracarya
initiation and with that you complete the Iirst cycle oI the initiation, which is what we call
the initiation oI the child entering the mandala.` It is similar to the kind oI initiation that
His Holiness the Dalai Lama usually gives during the Klachakra initiation.
That Iirst whole cycle is simply Ior the body. So you continue to practice and
practice. As your mind comes to have less and less hang-ups, inhibitions, and principles,
or in other words, once you have become very open-minded you are then ready Ior the
second initiation. You go along to the lama, and this time, you no longer make a regular,
outer Iorm oI mandala oIIering. Eor the second initiation, you make a symbolic mandala
oIIering oI your blood, bone and all the inner aggregates. As a gesture oI that same aspect,
you also oIIer up a consort as a part oI this same oIIering. You then visualise this consort
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
113
as a dkini, and the guru as the deity. The guru, in the Iorm oI the deity and his consort, in
the Iorm oI the dkini will be in union, overIlowing with bliss. Right beIore placing the
nectar that comes as a result oI their union on your tongue, the guru will ask, 'Is your
inhibition still there? Are you still bound by hang-ups?
AIter having received that intitiation, once again, you continue with your practice.
You keep on practicing until there are no longer any more inhibitions or at least until there
are not so many. What is however remaining is a little bit oI this dualistic mind. There is
still a trace oI this habitual way oI thinking, 'I shouldn`t do this, because this is the guru,
and I am that. Anyhow, Iinally, you request the wisdom initiation.
Lastly, Ior the Iourth initiation what you are oIIering is the buddha nature. At this
point, all the guru does is say something, perhaps one word. In this way, you will be
introduced to the Iinal wisdom, the absolute wisdom.
1he Self-initiation of the Curu Yoga
By now, perhaps you think the initiation sounds very complicated, and long-winded, or
maybe even very ritualistic. There is some good news though. In the Longchen Nyingtik,
or Ior that matter in any ngndro, it is possible to take all these initiations within one
stanza, just by doing the visualisation in the guru yoga, Ior instance. Actually, in the long
length Longchen Nyingtik, the explanation oI the Iour initiations is quite elaborate. So iI
you are doing the short ngndro and Ieel like it, you can always supplement by inserting
the selI-initiation Irom the long version. The selI-initiation is mainly a visualisation and a
meditation. The visualisation itselI is not that complicated. What was discussed earlier,
with regard to all the intricate details relating to the Iive Buddha Iamilies, and the
substance oI water all oI that is the theory. What we Iind written in the Longchen
Nyingtik Ngndro are the pith instructions. So again, since it is the pith instructions, it is
all made as simple and as practical as possible.
Just Ior your inIormation, normally the initiation comes at the end oI the guru yoga
practice. II you like, as you are chanting the Vajra Guru mantra, you can take the selI-
initiation over and over again. You could do so, Ior instance, each time you complete one
round oI the rosary.
So the Iour abishekas can be taken one aIter the other within the one session, or
alternatively, as I`ve seen my Iather teaching his students in East Bhutan, you can also
concentrate on each initiation one by one, dedicating about a year to each. Eor instance, Ior
the Iirst year, you just visualise the white light and then during the second year, there is the
light coming Irom the throat and so Iorth. I guess doing it in this latter way, makes it very
thorough.
Open Open Open Opening ing ing ing the Door of the Developing Meditation the Door of the Developing Meditation the Door of the Developing Meditation the Door of the Developing Meditation
To begin, you visualise a white letter OM at the Iorehead oI the guru. II you are not really
able to get a clear image oI these letters that is also Iine. Think that a strong, vibrant, white
light issues Irom the guru`s Iorehead and dissolves into your Iorehead. In a similar Iashion
to the Vajrasattva practice, this cleanses all the deIilements. Think that this white light
cleanses the deIilements oI the body, as well as the obscurations, and karmic deeds mainly
created by the body. In turn, it also cleanses the obscurations oI the ndis, such as the
three channels, and the Iive chakras. As this light Iills your body, think it is planting the
seed oI the nirmnakya within your being. You should also think that the guru`s body and
your body become inseparable. Or another way oI putting it is to think that your body
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
114
becomes an indestructible vajra body. So with this Iirst visualisation, you can say that you
have received the vase initiation. This Iirst initiation also opens the door oI the developing
meditation.
|S |S |S |Student tudent tudent tudent| || |: : : : What`s the diIIerence between Vajrasattva and the guru yoga in this case?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : In the guru yoga, there is a greater emphasis on mixing the mind, and our
whole being with the guru`s being, whereas in the Vajrasattva practice the emphasis is on
cleansing. You are cleansing the deIilements. OI course, all oI this is very interrelated.
AIter all, strictly speaking, we could also ask what`s the diIIerence between the reIuge and
the guru yoga? There are slightly diIIerent aspects to each part oI the ngndro practice.
The reIuge is to divert you Irom the wrong path to the right path, which is placing more oI
a Iocus on protection. And then with the bodhicitta, determination is more paramount.
T TT The Sec he Sec he Sec he Second ond ond ond I II Initiation nitiation nitiation nitiation Opens the Door of the Completion Meditation Opens the Door of the Completion Meditation Opens the Door of the Completion Meditation Opens the Door of the Completion Meditation
Eor the second initiation, you visualise the letter H at the throat oI the guru. Erom this
letter H, brilliant rays oI red light stream Iorth and dissolve into your throat, thereby
cleansing the deIilements oI speech, or what we also call the deIilements oI prna.
As this red light dissolves into you, your speech becomes vajra speech, inseparable
with the guru`s speech. You have now planted the seed oI the sambhogakya. You have
received the secret initiation. In addition, this second initiation opens the door oI the
completion meditation.
Developing and Completion Stages Developing and Completion Stages Developing and Completion Stages Developing and Completion Stages
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What is completion meditation?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: In the vajrayna, there are two main types oI meditational practice: the
development and the completion stage. The developing meditation is a practice oI
developing yourselI as a deity, and at the same time, each and every phenomenon is also
developed as deity along with you. In the completion stage we are dissolving that deity.
Now that is the most straightIorward way to explain. Included within the developing
meditation, you will Iind all these various methods, such as visualising oneselI as a deity,
lotus, sun and moon disk, as well as visualisations where the light is Ilowing back, and
Iorth all oI which is basically tantric in nature. With the completion stage, there are
actually two kinds oI completion meditation: one is what we call completion meditation oI
Iorm, and the other is reIerred to as Iormless completion meditation. In the completion
meditation oI Iorm, you have all these anuyoga practices, such as meditating on the
chakras and channels, and controlling the prna by trying to insert it into the centre oI the
avadhti, the central channel. There is also the dream yoga, as well as the bardo, and the
kundalini practices. All oI these come within the Iorm completion stage. And then there is
the Iormless completion stage, which is the highest vipashyan.
Opening the Door Opening the Door Opening the Door Opening the Door for for for for T TT Trekch rekch rekch rekch
With the third initiation, visualise that Irom the letter HM at the center oI the guru`s
heart, there comes this dazzling blue light, which dissolves into your own heart center.
This light expels all the deIilements oI mind, or rather the obscurations oI bindu. It also
opens the door Ior trekch practice, which is the Iirst oI the two Iormless completion
meditations. Through receiving the wisdom initiation, the seed oI the dharmakya is
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
115
planted and your mind thus becomes a vajra mind. In other words, your mind is now
inseparable with the guru`s mind.
T TT The he he he Fourth Fourth Fourth Fourth Initiation Initiation Initiation Initiation Dispels any Remaining Residue of Defilement Dispels any Remaining Residue of Defilement Dispels any Remaining Residue of Defilement Dispels any Remaining Residue of Defilement
Now again, visualise that Irom the letter HM at the guru`s heart, comes one more round
oI blue light. This blue light dissolves into you everywhere, at your Iorehead, throat, and
heart, thereby dispelling all the deIilements, the residue oI the deIilements, as well as any
remaining habitual patterns. Through this, you receive the word initiation, which destroys
the laya, the mind, basically. You receive the blessings embodying the guru`s entire
body, speech and mind. As a result, the whole oI the guru`s being and your being become
inseparable. And again, watch that.
Clarification on Clarification on Clarification on Clarification on P PP Points of Practice oints of Practice oints of Practice oints of Practice
|Studen |Studen |Studen |Student|: t|: t|: t|: When we do vipashyan meditation and sit in this natural state, is it good to
train in this practice oI dissolving the guru in us?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, that is excellent! Dissolving the guru into oneselI and remaining in that
moment is the highest Iorm oI vipashyan. When doing the vipashyan earlier on, we were
just watching our body, that`s all. That`s the lowest Iorm oI vipashyan.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I was just wondering iI it were possible to do two practices at once? Like Ior
instance, when doing the mandala, you could be merging your mind with the guru`s mind.
It is like doing guru yoga at the same time as the mandala oIIering.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You can do that slowly, but not now.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: When I`m doing hatha yoga, I do this breathing sequence. Then during the
mantras and visualisation, Ior example when I`m doing Vajrasattva, I try and absorb my
breath into my spine and visualise Vajrasattva above my head. I imagine this nectar comes
down, and it`s not going into my spine itselI, but into the very centre oI the spine. I try and
absorb my breath along with doing the visualisation, and then sometimes I hold my breath
and imagine I`m absorbing. Is that all right?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes. In the beginning stages, there is this necessity oI getting used to the
practice, and in order to do that one has to turn to a little bit oI custom-made` Vajrasattva.
That is what is happening.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Then also when I do yoga, sometimes I imagine I`m doing guru yoga at the
same time. Particular postures are supposed to be quite good Ior diIIerent chakras.
Anyway, I imagine the guru is there, and I hold that breath. I`m still making it up, really.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: At least it is reminding you oI the mandala oI the guru. It will do Ior now, but
this skin is something that soon needs to be peeled oII. It will take you somewhere and
then, this skin will peel oII all by itselI. You will Iind another way. So be prepared to see
this skin` peeling oII.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: II I have the thoughts, 'This might be bad or this might be good, or I hate this
person or that person, is thinking in this way a deIilement oI speech or a deIilement oI
mind?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: OI course, basically it is mind. Mind is the main culprit in this situation but
you may be using the speech to express these thoughts, so you can say both.
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
116
Explaining the Four Kyas Explaining the Four Kyas Explaining the Four Kyas Explaining the Four Kyas
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Can you tell us a little more about the diIIerent kyas? Is the sambhogakya like
a bridge between the nirmnakya and the dharmakya?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No. The concept oI kya is very diIIicult to explain. At the moment, the best
we can do is to interpret the word kya in terms oI a body. Body, in this sense, reIers to a
mass, something similar to a dimension. Eor instance, you are over there and I am over
here. There is this separateness. That aspect is not unlike the nirmnakya, which is very
much Irom the point oI view oI the other person.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Like duality?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, not necessarily. Since nirmnakya has the meaning oI maniIestation, it
indicates there is also a maniIester. There is an audience to which the maniIestation is
being maniIested Ior. Thus, this is the audience`s point oI view. So let`s say a dancer, in
one oI his plays, happens to wear a prostitute`s clothes and then, during the next act, he`s a
king. In the Iollowing act, he`s a hunter all oI this is a display, and the nirmnakya is
something like that. So the audience thinks, 'Ah, a diIIerent being. But then, there is a
certain oneness as well and that is the dharmakya. So the dharmakya is the quintessence,
or in other words, it is the emptiness aspect oI phenomena.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Do you mean the actor, or the dancer?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: The dancer is the sambhogakya. Since the dance itselI is Irom the audience`s
point oI view that is the nirmnakya. The dance and the dancer neither being a separate
entity, nor one entity is the dharmakya. It`s quite diIIicult iI we take these distinctions too
literally. Take Ior instance, the many ways in which the sun` maniIests. The light shining
Iorth Irom the sun is the sun. When the rays oI the sun Iall upon the ground, we say, 'It`s
sunny, today. Then in the mornings, we say, 'The sun is rising now, but that does not
mean the sun has entered through the window and is sitting there beside us. That`s one
way to understand this.
Another way oI understanding is the complete emptiness aspect. II you were to try
and search, you would not Iind even one entity to which you could point and say: this is
mind. But it`s not a negation. Never Iorget that even emptiness is empty. So in Iact,
emptiness is actually Iullness, and thus, the two terms mean exactly the same thing.
Second oI all, who is there to know that this is empty? There is the selI-awareness, and
that is the sambhogakya. And thirdly, arising out oI the union oI emptiness and clarity,
there is a continuous display as emotions, as compassion, and as devotion. That`s the
nirmnakya. All Iour oI these combined are what we call the svabhvikakya. So as you
see, there is a Iourth kya.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Isn`t there also a rpakya?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Rpakya is a common name Ior the nirmnakya and the sambhogakya. To
reIer to the rpakya is classic Theravadin language, it is not mahyna language.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is the practice oI this initiation harmIul Ior the root lama?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No. Why? Do you think that he will exhaust in some way? Actually, you have
raised an interesting point. It can`t be harmIul because oI the nirmnakya aspect. It is
your show! This is why the three kyas are incredible. You see, you and I share the
dharmakya, and to a certain extent the sambhogakya. But your nirmnakya is your
nirmnakya and my nirmnakya is my nirmnakya. Right now, we don`t share this.
Now, suppose that I am looking at an object. I can see it and you can see it. Without
trying to be clever, just answer me in a regular way, as a human being. Do you think that I
see what you see?
| || |Some students|: Some students|: Some students|: Some students|: Yes.
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
117
|Some students|: |Some students|: |Some students|: |Some students|: No.
As an ordinary human being, the answer is yes. Otherwise how could I possibly say, 'Can
you give me that cup? and then you actually give me that very cup. When you do that you
are presuming that what we see is one and the same thing.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: It`s just the general action that one recognises.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, but we think we are looking at the same cup. In reality, what you
perceive is something I will never see. This is a very important point in Buddhism! Do you
realise that all you see, hear, and Ieel, at this very moment is something that no other can
see, hear, or Ieel? You are totally, alone! Absolutely alone! You are the lone perceiver. II
you really think this through careIully, it is quite scary. Having said this, there is
something you should know. What you see, and what an omniscient being sees will be the
same and will happen in exactly the same moment, the same dimension, and the same
Iorm. So who is this omniscient being?! There are these layers to this omniscient being.
One is the dharmakya. Who or what is this? It is the nature oI your mind. So again, it`s
not really another separate being. As Ior the sambhogakya, it is slightly grosser than this.
With the nirmnakya, oI course, Shakyamuni Buddha is an omniscient being, so he
knows exactly what I am thinking at this moment. But again, who is doing this? It`s your
mind doing this.
Now you can see the interconnectivity and why these three work so well, which is
also the reason why blessing` is possible. It is believed that iI one were to disrupt the
order oI the three kyas, no-one would be able to give or receive blessings. The whole
Buddhist philosophy works based around this amazing tripartite!! Eor instance, even with
karma, iI I am teaching and suddenly you get some sort oI inspiration, this is thanks to
your karma. It is your karma and your devotion that is doing the interpreting, and that is
creating the capacity to awaken you. You have nobody else to thank. As the Buddha said,
'Since you are your own wisdom teacher, no-one can really be your teacher. But having
said that, you should still oIIer thanks to your teacher, because by doing so you accumulate
merit.
All is made possible because oI the dharmakya, sambhogakya and nirmnakya.
Who is the nirmnakya in this case? It is me. This person whom you think is giving a
certain teaching. This one who inspires you, or bores you, whatever your interpretation
happens to be in the moment; this is your nirmnakya. And where is this nirmnakya
coming Irom? It is coming Irom your sambhogakya and your dharmakya. Moreover,
since this person teaching is none other than your perception, your sambhogakya and
nirmnakya and this person`s sambhogakya and nirmnakya are exactly the same.
This is why the dissolving oI the guru and yourselI is working. II Buddhists were
ever to Iormulate a conception oI the guru as being a separate independent entity Irom you
then that would be it! No blessing could ever be given or received. How can there be two
within one? The meaning oI unity would be lost Iorever. Unity is there because your Iace
and the reIlection in the mirror are somehow connected, since it is your Iace reIlecting
there. You cannot say that the reIlection you see is not your Iace and at the same time, nor
can you say the reIlection is your Iace, because it is not possible to have two Iaces. It is
like that. So in exactly the same way, as you listen to me talking, it is only you thatcan see
what you see.
You can share notes, and discuss things over with others, and they might come up
with similar ideas, but again that is your interpretation. You might think, 'Our notes are
kind oI similar. Yet Buddhists have so many answers Ior that. They might answer by
saying, 'You guys, all share the same group phenomena. In a past liIe, when I was a
nomad in Tibet I must have eaten a piece oI rotten meat, within which, there must oI been
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
118
close on IiIty-Iive germs that all got killed, and now here I am Iorever karmically in debt
with you. Along the way, Iortunately, I may have met a great master who taught me the art
oI aspiration. I may have prayed: 'whatever I have done in my past lives be it creating
bad karma with sentient beings, may it benefit them eventually.

Doing a Tsok Off Doing a Tsok Off Doing a Tsok Off Doing a Tsok Offering as a ering as a ering as a ering as a Ngndro Practitioner Ngndro Practitioner Ngndro Practitioner Ngndro Practitioner
Tsok practice is quite a big deal. I thought, since it is a Guru Rinpoche day and we are
doing the ngndro, we ought to do a tsok oIIering in the way that a ngndro practitioner
would do one.
Nowadays tsok practice has become somewhat oI a monthly Ieast, but in actual Iact,
it is much more than that. As you know, we have been discussing prna, bindu, and ndi.
When we reIer to the prna, usually, what we are talking about is the air, or the wind-
energy. It is not that there is something so amazing about the wind-energy that makes it
special. It is because this is where the dkinis dwell. In other words, the very essence oI
the prna is the dkinis. The prna goes up and down the ndis, the channels.
To be exact, there are Iive chakras, and three ndis. And within these chakras travel
these dkinis, which is something that we also reIer to as the prna. Within the top chakra
alone, there are thirty-two spokes and within each spoke there is a lead dkini. Then, the
lead dkini is surrounded by many other dkinis. So what we are basically saying is there
are so many dkas and dkinis camping in our system. And a tsok oIIering is actually
making an oIIering to these inner dkas and dkinis.
Likewise, there is a reason Ior practicing on special days, such as on Guru Rinpoche
days and dki ni days. It is believed that during this time, our inner astrological system
and the outward astrological system intersect in a certain way. Since the inner astrological
system is actually that oI the dkinis, on these particular days, dkas and dkinis gather
more than on other days. This is why it is considered to be a special day. I`m just
explaining this very brieIly, as I`m not permitted to say much more than this.
But what are we doing here? Don`t misunderstand and think that we are Ieeding
some kind oI spirit inside ourselves. That is not the idea at all. The tsok oIIering is yet
another very, skilIul practice oI the vajrayna. AIter all, what are prna, ndi, and bindu?
These three are the non-dual display oI the buddha nature. They are the guru, deva, and
dkini, and are non-dual not a separate sort oI entity. As is stated by Khyentse Chkyi
Lodr: wisdom enjoys wisdom. Thus, in the tsok practice, both the object oI oIIering and
the substance are the wisdom deity. In other words, the substance we oIIer is wisdom, the
object to whom we oIIer is wisdom and the person who is perIorming the oIIering is also
the wisdom. So clearly, it is yet another Iorm oI non-duality practice.
Having accepted conIusion as the path, this is how the vajrayna works. You think
there are these diIIerences and at Iirst, you are permitted to think in this way. There is a
guru as the one who gives you blessings, and you as a receiver oI the blessing. At Iirst, the
method is to allow us to think that there are two separate beings, with you as this impure,
not so perIect being and the guru as a pure sublime being. Then gradually you are
compelled to understand that they are one. Slowly you are lead to the understanding that
they are neither diIIerent, nor the same. That is the whole purpose.
Now, when it comes to making a proper tsok, it is quite diIIicult. Even to gather the
appropriate substances could present somewhat oI a problem. Eor instance, in the proper
tsok, we talk oI the Iive kinds oI meat and the Iive kinds oI nectar. And the Iive nectars
alone are things that you would not even want to imagine such as puss, blood, urine,
mucus, and stuII like that. It is always the case that the highest teachings oI the Buddha
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
119
contain the most outrageous things. Now, in India, Brahmins are the highest class and are
also considered to be the most prestigious class. Coming Irom a time when the Buddha
taught to a Brahmanic dominated society, meat was considered the worst oI the worst.
Even today, a person belonging to a strict Brahmin Iamily would never invite someone
like you or I, to a meal. We eat meat and wear leather products, like leather jackets, and
shoes. They think we are like animals. So they really look down on us. Especially with the
methods oI the Buddha`s highest teachings, the aim is to completely go against such
habits. This is why, Irom the point oI view oI Brahmanic culture, all the worst substances
are mentioned in the tsok substance.
These days, in many dharma centres, each time there is a tsok oIIering, there is a
bottle oI champagne and meat and so Iorth. This is where we have to be careIul. Eirstly,
since Western society is not a Brahman society, there is none oI this tendency to despise
meat and thus, the ancient Buddhist practice oI using this, as an undesirable substance, is
not really applicable. Ideally, we should oIIer a plate oI shit, because bacteria, or
something oI a similar nature is what Western scientiIic minded people would generally
regard as dirty. That substance should then be eaten without any sort oI preIerence
between the Iood and the shit. That is the whole idea. Secondly, in perIorming the tsok,
sometimes it can get overly wild and perhaps that is not such a good image Ior the
vajrayna. It is already the case that in the vajrayna, practitioners are suIIering a soured
reputation, due to a certain lack oI discipline on the part oI masters and disciples alike.
So Ior those only just beginning to practice, while you might not get into the actual
tsok oIIering straight away, keep in mind that as a ngndro practitioner, there is a very
beautiIul way oI practising, and doing the tsok. As I explain I will try to make it as simple
as possible. II we were to arrange things in a very elaborate way, it might make you think
that you could not do this practice yourselI at home. But it really is something you can do
on your own steam. You can even do the practice just beIore lunch or dinner, and then that
particular lunch or dinner can be used as a tsok substance. II you have Iorgotten, then just
a Iew biscuits and some Iruit are really all you need.
Eirst oI all, we will do three times oI reIuge, and then go straight to the guru yoga,
and aIter a little bit oI chanting, and supplicating, we will then do the kusli. It is not
required that you do the kusli practice here, but iI you want to do a short tsok oIIering it
is good to do because you are oIIering your body, which is the best tsok substance.
So, sit straight. Eirst is reIuge (three times).
Instantly you become Vajrayogin or Vajravrh. In Iront oI you, as much as you
can, visualise all the details oI the reIuge objects Ior the guru yoga. There are rainbow
colored lights, a lion throne, a one-hundred-thousand petalled lotus, and a sun and moon
disc. On top oI that is the embodiment oI the outer, inner, and secret guru, the essence oI
all the buddhas, in the Iorm oI Guru Rinpoche.
You then chant the Seven Line Prayer. Please recite that as many times as you can.
As you chant the mantra, you pray to Guru Rinpoche as we talked oI earlier, and to
begin with, just concentrate on his Iorm. You can then alternate between chanting the
Seven Line Prayer and the mantra.
And then, as we start the kusli practice we say PHAT` and visualise, thinking that
our consciousness shoots straight up in the sky, and remains there.
Now transIorm your consciousness into the Iorm oI Vajravrh; this time we will
use Vajravrh. She has one Iace, two hands and two legs. Her right leg is stretching
downwards, and her leIt leg is bent. In her right hand she is holding a curved kniIe, and the
leIt hand is holding a scull cup. Have this conIidence that you are not this ordinary being:
you are Vajravrh. Standing in the midst oI Iire, you are dancing. You have three eyes
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
120
and your mouth is slightly parted, giving a semi-wrathIul expression. You now begin
cutting at the Iorehead oI this liIeless body that you have leIt behind in a heap on the
ground. Still you are in the Iorm oI Vajravrh and aIter cutting away the scull, it
instantly transIorms into a skullcup that is both inIinite and vast. You then start to cut up
all the other parts oI the body.
At this point, Ior those who have it, please read the liturgy.
By casting aside cherishing this body. by the power of the three syllables.
OM H HM.
Now still visualising yourselI as Vajravrh, you imagine that Irom your heart
comes this light. The light travels to all the ten directions and invokes the guests. The Iirst
group oI guests are the tathgatas, buddhas and bodhisattvas, gurus, devas, dkas, dkini s,
and the dharmaplas. Trust that they are all sitting or standing, gathered right in Iront oI
you, up there in the sky. Immediately, this light Irom the heart, again invokes the second
set oI guests, the lower beings Irom the six realms. This summons all the gods, asuras, the
remaining human beings, bardo beings and the hungry ghosts, animals, and hell beings.
Visualise that they all gather and surround you.
Eor the Iirst part, you visualise that you are making oIIerings oI all your belongings.
You oIIer Iirstly to the buddhas and bodhisattvas and then to the six realms, especially to
those with whom you have karmic debts. This time, you are merely Iocusing on oIIering
your belongings, such as your car, clothes, house, and so Iorth. Thinking that, chant, OM
H HM.
Now, with this, I am elaborating a little. Visualise that Irom your heart, there comes
many more Vajravrhs. Each oI these visualised Vajravrhs is you, yet you` are now
numerous in quantity. They all become the servers, in the Iorm oI Vajravrh and Irom
the kapla, these servers oIIer nectar, which is your Ilesh, blood, and bones transIormed.
Vajravrh Iirst oIIers this to the sublime beings. Thinking this recite OM H HM.
AIter having made oIIerings to the sublime beings, you visualise yourselI receiving
Irom them, the initiations and blessings oI wisdom and compassion. Again, you then make
oIIerings to all the lower beings. As you do this, think that as soon as the lower beings
receive the oIIering substance, their ignorance, passion, and aggression dissolves. All these
beings now possess love, compassion, bodhicitta and so on.
OM H HM.`
To Iurther elaborate, imagine you also make an oIIering oI all your Iriends and
relatives. They actually Iall within the second group oI guests, the lower beings. Your
relatives, Iriends, and basically all those you like, you oIIer to the buddhas and
bodhisattvas, and to the gurus, devas, dkas and dkinis. You then pray, asking Ior
blessings so that your attachment will dissolve.
OM H HM.`
Now make an oIIering oI all the beings that you dislike, those you consider your
enemies, people who have upset or annoyed you, people whom you Iear and those you Ieel
bad about. OIIer them to the sublime beings, and ask them to accept them as their retinue.
You then ask Ior blessings, so that your hatred, and aggression dissolves.
OM H HM...`
Lastly, you oIIer all those beings you are unIamiliar with, such as strangers, those
you ignore, and those who are neither your Iriends nor enemies. OIIer them to the sublime
beings, and ask them to also accept them as their retinue. And pray Ior blessings so that
your ignorance will dissolve.
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
121
OM H HM.`
That`s it! Eor those who are practising ngndro, it is a very handy way oI doing the
tsok oIIering. There is no need to keep a remainder or anything like that. Here at this point,
you simply eat the tsok you have oIIered and iI it is your lunch or dinner you eat that.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Rinpoche, what should we do with the rest?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: In this case, you can give it away to other people! II you were doing a special
Vajrayogin Ieast oIIering, unless the person has been initiated, you couldn`t do that. There
are all these kinds oI problems. This is why I`m not suggesting that you do something
quite so complicated right now. But iI you want the complication and have the time Ior it, I
have so many methods.
So now, aIter having enjoyed the tsok, we Iollow on with the initiation part oI the
practice.
Visualise that all the retinue gradually dissolves into the guru. The mandala such as
the celestial mansions, rainbow, and everything else also dissolves into the guru. Though
actually, during your ngndro, you don`t really need all these elaborations.
Right beIore taking the initiation, you can read the liturgy, which begins with,
'From the three places of the guru... This is also Iound in the short ngndro. Think that
Irom the guru`s Iorehead, there comes this dazzling white light, which hits directly at the
crown oI your head. Slowly that light Iills your body. All the deIilements oI the body are
puriIied. Think that the guru`s body and your body become inseparable. Remain in that or
watch that.
(pause, for about two minutes)
Next, you visualise that Irom the guru`s throat comes this red light, which dissolves
into your throat, and puriIies the deIilements oI speech. Your speech and guru`s speech
become inseparable.
(pause, for about two minutes)
Now visualise that Irom the guru`s heart comes blue light, which dissolves into your
heart center, and puriIies the deIilements oI your mind. The guru`s mind and your mind
become inseparable. And again, watch that.
(pause, about two minutes)
Now again, visualise that Irom the guru`s heart comes more blue light, which
dissolves into you everywhere, at your Iorehead, throat, and heart. This light dispels all the
deIilements, the residue oI the deIilements, and the remainder oI these habitual patterns.
Thus, the guru`s whole being, and your being become inseparable. And again, watch that.
(pause, about two minutes)
AIter receiving the Iour initiations, iI you are doing the expanded Longchen
Nyingtik Ngndro, there is a special prayer here. II you are not doing that, then here, once
again, we can pray to Guru Rinpoche with the Seven Line Prayer.
You are still in the Iorm oI Vajravrh. Now, think that Irom the guru`s heart comes
a Iurther round oI red light. Having the quality oI Iire, it is warm, even slightly scorching.
This red light comes towards you and the moment it touches your heart center, you melt
into light. You are now in the Iorm oI a ball oI red light. This ball oI light slowly
approaches the guru, and gradually dissolves into the guru`s heart. Remain in that state.
(pause, about one-half minute)
You can now dedicate the merit by thinking:
May I never be apart from the great master,
May I always follow the vafrayna path,
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
122
May I bring benefit to all sentient beings,
May I be the doctor, medicine and the nurse as well as the method of
treatment for all sentient beings, again and again until all beings
enlightenment.
General General General General Q QQ Questions uestions uestions uestions R RR Relating to elating to elating to elating to Ngndro Ngndro Ngndro Ngndro
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: When doing the ngndro practice, can we sort oI pick and choose, or must we
stick with the one practice in a progressive way?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You can do both. The aim is to try and Iinish the ngndro. You can go in order,
or when you have more time, you can do prostrations and mandalas, then when you Ieel
like sitting or not doing so much, you could choose to do Vajrasattva, Ior instance. You
can alternate like that. But always begin with reIuge and bodhicitta and end with the
dedication.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Can you explain why human liIe is so precious?
|R |R |R |Rinpoche|: inpoche|: inpoche|: inpoche|: It is because human beings have the greatest intellectual capacity to
understand: what is suIIering and what is not.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: II I have a body, can I still have omniscience? Isn`t the human body an obstacle
to omniscience?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It is not an obstacle according to the vajrayna, although according to the
srvakayna and the mahyna, it is.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Sometimes during prostrations, I have the Ieeling I can`t really mean what I`m
saying. I was just wondering iI I`m not really Ieeling anything and just doing it, does it still
work?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yeah, you should just keep on with it! At least it`s better than nothing. You
had better not wait until the right Ieeling comes along; otherwise you end up wasting a lot
oI time. This right Ieeling hardly ever comes to me. It comes perhaps just once a year.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Can you accumulate reIuge and bodhicitta at the same time, iI you`re doing the
long version?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Not in the long one, to do so is a bit diIIicult because there is too much to
read.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: How should we relate to the reIuge name?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It`s just symbolic. Once you have taken reIuge everything changes, even your
body changes. To represent the change, we snip a small scrap oI hair, although this is just
symbolic. It is as though there is a transIormation, especially in terms oI identity. You
have the buddha nature and to accept this is the ultimate reIuge. The main idea is you have
accepted the Iact that you are cookable, and that alone is a big turnaround. This change in
view is what makes the biggest diIIerence. By analogy, in taking a hike, your view is you
are simply walking along towards a mountain. Then iI along the way, you decide you`re
going to build a house at the summit your view about that mountain subsequently changes.
In the same way, when you take reIuge, there is a change oI your view, so the Iormal
reIuge ritual is just to symbolise that. Some people use their dharma name and, some
don`t.
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
123
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I don`t know what vidydhara means. Is it a realisation?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well vidy means rigpa,` which is awareness, and dhara has the meaning oI
the one who holds.` Jidydhara is thereIore a very proIound term. I guess you could
Ieasibly designate your dog with such a name. Generally though, it is most oIten reserved
Ior a good and realised being. At any rate, it is just a Iorm oI address, aIter all.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I thought there were Iour lineages, but in one oI the stanzas there is mention oI
three lineages:`

In the space in front, in the midst of rainbow light,
Is the root guru, Thtrengsal,
Surrounded by oceans of vidydharas of the three lineages,.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Within the Nyingma tradition, there are three main lineages: the mind
lineage the Tathgata, the vidydhara sign lineage, and the oral lineage.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: During the visualisation, when I am tired I can only pretend that I visualise.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s Iine.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Sometimes it is present, there`s a kind oI visualisation. But iI I try too hard, it
doesn`t work.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Just relax and don`t try too hard. That`s one oI the methods oI meditation, you
need not tune too much.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: At the end oI the guru yoga, when we pray to remain in a non-dual, non-
Iabricated naturalness, are we still Vajrayogin or have we become our ordinary selves?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You remain as Vajrayogin Ior as long as possible.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: When I visualise myselI as Vajrayogin and later when I am supplicating to
Guru Rinpoche, I oIten Ieel myselI returning to my normal Iorm.
|Rinpoc |Rinpoc |Rinpoc |Rinpoche|: he|: he|: he|: It`s more powerIul iI you pray as Vajrayogin. You just have to get used to it.
The Iact that you have imagined yourselI, as Vajrayogin, does not immediately put a stop
to all the karmic Iormations. It`s like visualising that Vajrayogin is looking at a mountain.
You know you have to go towards the mountain because just seeing it is not enough. You
have to walk, and you have to get closer and closer and closer.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I have read in Patrl Rinpoche`s the 'Words oI my PerIect Teacher that
masturbation is considered to be a kind oI sexual misconduct and I wonder why?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Did he say that? In the srvakayna anything related to sex is kind oI looked
down on. Erom the vajrayna point oI view, it is taught that within each semen there are
millions and millions oI dkinis. It would be like killing millions oI dkinis.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What about Ior women?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: The same thing applies. Eor women, it is the climax instead oI semen.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What`s the diIIerence between masturbation and sex? When you have sex with
someone else are you still using up your dkinis?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, iI you are not doing it properly. You need an anuyoga teaching now.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But surely it would be very beneIicial iI you could tell us, Rinpoche?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Right. Well, Ior now visualise yourselI as a Vajrayogin.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Eor a ngndro practitioner, what can we read to study a little bit more oI the
theory side?
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
124
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: There is the 'Words oI my PerIect Teacher, which is actually more like a set
oI pith instructions, and then you can read the mahyna Lankvatra-stra, or
Shntideva`s Bodhicharyvatra.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What`s the watcher or the intelligence that visualises and watches the
visualisation, is it consciousness? Is it something we have attachment to and do we impute
it? Is it ego?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, it is ego. It is consciousness. It is your mind.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is it the sum oI perceptions and aggregates coming together?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, Ior now, that`s the only way we can understand it. That is the path. In the
same way, iI you aim to journey Irom the plains to a mountain`s peak, you have to walk
along the path, and while the path is important, we also know the path is not the mountain.
It`s like that.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Does the ngndro practice have to do with dismantling the laya?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: According to the Nyingma tradition, all practice leads to dismantling the laya.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What is the Iourth empowerment. Can you say that again, very quickly?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: The theory is to destroy the laya, and to receive the blessings oI the guru`s
body, speech, and mind, taken in unity. The practice is to visualise that Irom the letter
HM comes one Iurther round oI blue light. That`s according to the Longchen Nyingtik,
which is slightly diIIerent Irom the Dudjom Tersar. Though many oI you are doing the
Dudjom Tersar Ngndro, please remember there really is no contradiction at all. II that is
what you have been doing, just keep on doing that.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Could you maybe say something more about laya? Is laya just emptiness?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No, it is mind. That`s it.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Rinpoche, is it possible to mix it a little bit? Can we do the Dudjom Tersar
Ngndro with Ior example, the mandala oIIering Irom the Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: : : : Yes.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: On the last line in the guru yoga, it says that the guru dissolves into light and
then melts into us. But the way you taught us is a little diIIerent .
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, a condensed text is always like that. Since this is an important part oI the
practice, I was just trying to elaborate, by basing it on the long version.
Samaya Samaya Samaya Samaya Is Like Fencing Is Like Fencing Is Like Fencing Is Like Fencing
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Rinpoche, during the Vajrasattva when we recite the text, there is mention oI
samaya. Could you talk a little bit about samaya and perhaps say something regarding
whatever the samaya is Ior this practice.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: With this practice, you have some general samayas, and that`s about it.
Basically, there are three: not harming others, trying to help others, and trying to have pure
vision towards everything, including the guru. These are the three samayas you have
received. Now samaya itselI is a bit like the Iencing. When you are Iollowing a path, and
going Irom here to that mountain, the samaya is there so that you will not sidetrack, and
will not Iall. When you practice the vajrayna, you are practicing all three vehicles, the
srvakayna, mahyna, and vajrayna. That`s the greatness oI the vajrayna. But you
have to know the theory, at least to some extent. Eor instance, in the srvakayna, their
system oI Iencing is mainly based on not harming others. In application, this Iencing
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
125
prompts us not to kill, and not to lie or to steal. Then in the mahyna, because oI the
view, or this greater attitude, there is also a greater Iencing. It is thereIore explained that iI
by your stealing something, iI this act were to beneIit hundreds oI people, to not steal
would be breaking the samaya. So the mahyna is much more motivation oriented. Now
in the vajrayna, the Iencing is even more sophisticated it`s entire basis is not getting
caught by impure vision.
To keep Vajrayna samayas perIectly is so diIIicult. II you look at a girl and think,
'She is beautiIul and then look at another girl and think, 'she is not so beautiIul, you are
already breaking a samaya. You are breaking what is known as the samaya oI vajra body.
Essentially, you not supposed to have any kind oI dualistic mind at all. II you read the
Iourteen root vows oI the vajrayna, you will see that one is relating to the body. Since
your aggregates are in essence the Iive buddha Iamilies, to not treat the body nicely, would
also be breaking one oI the root vows. Likewise, when you really look down on yourselI
as a worthless, useless being, in doing so, you are also breaking a samaya.
One should understand that the prtimoksa vow is like a clay pot, once broken it is
diIIicult to mend. This is because the emphasis lies mostly on the Iorm. II you are a monk
Irom the srvaka tradition, and have not oIIered back your vow, to go ahead and sleep with
a woman, just out oI desire, would mean that Ior this entire liIetime you would be unable
to renew your monk`s vow. At least, that is how it is Ior the Mlasarvstivdins, in their
tradition.
17
However in the vajrayna and the mahyna, the vow is oIten reIerred to as a
golden pot. Although you may be breaking one or more vows repeatedly, with care and
with constant maintenance, each time you restore your vows, you can make this broken`
golden pot more and more beautiIul. It might well be tough to maintain samaya, but at the
same time, there are these solutions that can be applied. There are these various higher
methods oI resolving and restoration. Eor instance, you can always restore samaya, by
doing the Vajrasattva mantra.
It is purely because one has this higher view that there are higher solutions as well as
higher and easier methods. There are greater dangers but more solutions. It`s always like
that. Thus, it is easier to break the samayas. In the mahyna Ior example, eating meat is
not allowed, but in the vajrayna you should not have this dualistic mind oI being
vegetarian or non-vegetarian, so it`s much more view oriented. As a mahyna practitioner,
you should not eat meat at all.
Now, the second oI the Iourteen root vows oI the vajrayna says you have to obey
the Buddha. Here we are speaking about Shakyamuni Buddha. In the prtimoksa tradition,
Buddha told the monks not to eat aIter lunch. Then, in the mahyna, we are told not to eat
meat, which more or less directly contradicts the vajrayna vow oI not harming your
aggregates. Eor instance, not eating aIter lunch is almost like making your aggregates
starve. Now the question is which one do we emphasize? Always emphasize the greater
view. Many people think that in the vajrayna, people are allowed to eat meat and drink
wine. No permission is given Ior this, not at all. The vajrayna only says you should not
have any preIerences between meat and no meat. That is misinterpreted as a Iree reign to
eat meat. But actually, it is solely because the vajrayna is much more view or wisdom
oriented, so you can`t have preIerences. Many Tibetans have abused that by saying, we are
vajrayna practitioners, let`s eat meat, drink wine, and have women, or even men, to be
politically correct.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What about choice?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: There should be no choice, and no preIerence.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: How do we ever get anything to eat without choosing?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Just take whatever comes.
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
126
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: That`s a bit impractical. AIter all, you have to go to the shop and buy
something.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s okay.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: That does not make sense.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, with all oI that you are breaking samaya. There is no such thing as
reaching a point oI never breaking samaya, or never breaking the rules and then Iollowing
the path.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: So you make a prayer as you are buying meat? Is it that sort oI thing?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No. You see, it is a bit like this. It is as though the Ience is very narrow. You
are bumping against the sides oI the Ience all the time, even though you are being as
careIul as possible. That is what the Iences are Ior. Once you no longer break any samayas
that means you are already there.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: So you are constantly breaking samayas all the time?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yeah, and constantly restoring. That is what we call practicing the dharma.
|Student |Student |Student |Student|: |: |: |: How do we restore?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: In this case, you do the Vajrasattva mantra.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: How about eating clean Iood and how about the channels? How does that Iit in?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s a good question, and to hear this might shock you, at least, iI you are
quite Iresh. In the highest tantric practice oI the vajrayna, to do any other practices,
whether it be visualisation, recitation oI mantra, breathing, prna, bindu, ndi, all oI this is
breaking samaya. It is amazing, isn`t it? Each and every path is breaking samaya, simply
because you should not be on the path. II you are going to the other shore, once you reach
there, the boat should be abandoned.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: It seems like it could be very easy to get conIused about where you are on the
path?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No, this is what Guru Rinpoche said, 'One`s view should be as high, deep,
and vast as the sky, whereas one`s actions should be as subtle or as Iine as reIined Ilour.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Could you explain that a bit more? I don`t really understand.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Try to obey the prtimoksa rules as much as possible, and try your best to
obey the mahyna rules, and then, try at least to understand the vajrayna vow. Right
now, especially Ior the beginners, the vajrayna vow is not really something you can
practice. That`s what I was telling you. All you can do right now is try not to harm others,
and try to help others. We have not yet reached the highest level, but when it comes to that
it is quite diIIerent.
Jafra Hell. a Symbolic Term for Impure Jision Jafra Hell. a Symbolic Term for Impure Jision Jafra Hell. a Symbolic Term for Impure Jision Jafra Hell. a Symbolic Term for Impure Jision
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Rinpoche could you talk about vajra hell, how do we get in and how do we get
out? AIter all, iI we are going to practice the vajrayna, it`s a kind oI risk, isn`t it?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Vajra hell is a symbolic term Ior the lowest oI the lowest kind oI impure
vision. Getting in is somewhat easy. You only need receive an initiation Irom a master
with the deepest, worst motivation and impure vision. Creating disharmony among your
vajra brothers and sisters is also another big misdemeanour. Then, there are things like, iI
you think or say the vajrayna mandala is Iake, is a shamanist thing or the mantra has no
result. So you see, it is quite easy.
Getting out is quite diIIicult. Though to hear it is diIIicult should be oI some
consolation. At least, I am not saying you will never get out. AIter all, even the vajra hell
is a compounded phenomena; it is impermanent. It`s not as though there is no method Ior
getting out. It`s just that you are caught in the momentum and have no time to practice that
Abisheka and the Four Empowerments
127
method. So it`s something like shooting an arrow up into the sky. There is this continuum
where it has to exhaust that energy. So you have to remain Ior some time and allow
everything to exhaust. Once that has happened, you will come back, oI course.
Vajra hell comes about when impure vision is too strong. It has got nothing to do
with a truly existing hell or anything like that. It is simply this very strong impure vision. It
is not trusting oneselI, not trusting others, and all oI that. It is suIIering all the time.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I read something, which seemed to say that beings in vajra hell are beyond
compassion. That really conIused me.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: I do not know in what context it was said, but that is going too Iar. Even those
beings in vajra hell, also have the buddha nature.
Practice in Daily Life Practice in Daily Life Practice in Daily Life Practice in Daily Life
P PP PRACTICE RACTICE RACTICE RACTICE D DD DOES OES OES OES N NN NOT OT OT OT N NN NECESSARILY ECESSARILY ECESSARILY ECESSARILY M MM MEAN EAN EAN EAN S SS SITTING ITTING ITTING ITTING
gain, we will start with the traditional approach oI reminding you to practise
the dharma. The lamas tend to repeat these preliminary thoughts again and
again, so much so that students almost do not listen. To hear these
preliminary teachings is almost painIul, because basically, there is not much oI a sidetrack.
This exotic element that we Iind in the main proIound teachings is decidedly absent. There
are none oI the colourIul attractive details oI visualizations, prna, ndi, and so Iorth. The
Iact is when we hear oI the chakras and the channels, all those details oI visualisation and
the experience oI meditation then, it`s almost a trip. It is as though just hearing about
these aspects is kind oI exciting or blissIul. Yet I implore, request, and plead with you, as
all the lamas oI the past have done: not to pay less attention to these preliminary thoughts.
Especially Ior beginners like us, this is what will drive our minds towards the dharma.
I see this Iault oI our minds not being entirely on the dharma. Quite a Iew oI us, like
myselI, have been in the dharma Ior a long time, and yet our minds are still very rigid. We
easily become happy Ior some very mundane stupid reason. Likewise when we are Iaced
with the most trivial, ridiculous oI circumstances, many oI us, somehow end up Ieeling
hurt. That is not a good sign! It means the dharma is going in one ear and out the other. It`s
just not hitting us in the way that it should. Really, it has to hit here, (Rinpoche thumps his
heart) and penetrate!
Another thing to remember is you do not necessarily have to go away somewhere to
practice. You should not get discouraged or think, 'I will never be able to practice the
dharma properly because I am not able to go to a cave Ior three to six years . It has got
nothing to do with this!
How to Let the Dharma Penetrate How to Let the Dharma Penetrate How to Let the Dharma Penetrate How to Let the Dharma Penetrate
There are people who have livedin Kathmandu Ior thirty years and are still the same! I`ve
seen it with my own eyes. They`re as rigid as ever, iI not more so. In Iact, some oI these
people have become even more rigid. Not only is there all the ordinary mundane human
garbage, now they are also in disguise, wearing what I call the camouIlage oI a dharma-
practitioner. Once others begin to see through this camouIlage, these so called dharma-
practitioners Iind it unbearable, and they really lose it.
Now I am not saying this just to encourage you. Really, the Iocal point oI dharma-
practice has nothing to do with chanting more mantras or spending more hours sitting. It
has got a lot to do with simple everyday things. As you walk and talk with people, as you
sit next to your Iriends, or your enemies I doubt that we have any obvious enemies, but
with those people whom you can`t get along with, or can`t deal with easily, whoever
happens to annoy you you should be with them! Like Atisha Dipankara, he with a lot
oI eIIort brought an Indian guy along to Tibet and that man had no other task apart Irom
annoying him. That was the whole purpose oI bringing him.
In this day and era, it is our worldly, day-to-day lives that we really have to watch,
like Ior instance when something is not going according to our liking, or iI our mood
suddenly changes. You know, our mind is so Iickle. One minute we are okay, the next
minute Ior some ridiculous reason, such as a breeze Irom the north, we are invoking all
kinds oI past emotions. AIter bringing up all these things you have done or regret, you
A
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
130
then brood Ior days, perhaps you even cry. It is all right iI nobody is around, and iI you
continue crying and brooding to yourselI, but then you usually like to exhibit that to
someone else. You`re longing Ior attention, and because oI this, you bother others. This
person, your Iriend or relative, whoever it is that you call, gets bothered. His or her moods
also go up or down. What`s the point? Especially as a bodhisattva, iI you want to suIIer,
suIIer alone! Why drag another person into this? Particularly, iI you are a tonglen
practitioner, you are supposed to bring in other people`s suIIering, not seek someone to
share the suIIering with. So especially Ior older dharma practitioners like myselI, it is due
time we let the dharma really penetrate. Do not ever let the dharma become something
you can pin an excuse on.
What It Means to Say. Dharma Bearing Fruit What It Means to Say. Dharma Bearing Fruit What It Means to Say. Dharma Bearing Fruit What It Means to Say. Dharma Bearing Fruit
As Kongtrul Rinpoche says here:
Damch taru chinpar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that I completely accomplish the holy dharma.
Kyoshey tingney kyewar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that I give birth to deep sadness.
Longmey lona tungwar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that my worthless schemes are curtailed.
Chiwa nyingney drenpar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that I take to heart the certainty oI death.
Lleyla yichey kyewar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that conviction in karma arises in me.
Lamla barchey meypar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that the path is Iree Irom obstacles.
Drubla tsndr npar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that I am able to exert myselI in practice.
Kyenngen lamdu longwar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that unIortunate circumstances are brought to the path.
Nyenpo rangtsuk tubpar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that I continually apply my antidotes.
Chmin mg kyewar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that genuine devotion arises in me.
Neyluk rang:hai falwar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that I glimpse the natural state.
Rang-rig nying- seypar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that insight is awakened in my heart.
Trlnang :hitsa chpar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that I uproot conIusion.
Tsechik sangye drubpar fingyi lob.
Grant your blessings so that I attain buddhahood in one liIetime.
18
I am extracting Irom the verses belonging to Jamgn Kongtrul Lodr Thaye`s long
length 'Calling the Guru. Actually, this is another 'Calling the Guru, which you really
should do. It`s so wonderIul. When doing it every morning, I try to dwell on at least one
stanza each day. It`s very piercing! It`s like a constant digging oI the Iaults. The dharma is
like that. Not so much, the theoretical dharma but the pith instructions are particularly this
way. Theoretical dharmas are: everything is emptiness,` everything is interdependent`
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and all oI that business. But when it comes to the pith instructions, as Patrl Rinpoche
says, iI you Ieel that a certain instruction is digging, scraping or Iishing out some oI the
worst things inside oI you, this is a good sign. It means this pith instruction is working.
Nowadays, you go along to these teachings, and it is hard to tell whether they are
Buddhist or New Age. To listen to these New Age masters or even with some oI the
Buddhist masters, it makes you Ieel good. It validates the maniIestation oI your ego, and
conIirms certain Ieelings that you have. II that`s what you want, you might as well go and
have a good massage. It`s at least more tangible. Alternatively, you could accomplish the
same end, just listening to a piece oI good music, something like Beethoven`s EiIth
Symphony, Ior instance. These things cheer you up. Pith-instructions on the other hand,
should really make you Ieel bad.
As you read the 'Words oI my PerIect Teacher, the more it depresses you, the more
you are at last beginning to understand the dharma. I call the 'Words oI my PerIect
Teacher a book oI depression, because it is a book that rattles you. It tells us almost
disconcerting things and this is something quite important. In any case, not all depressions
are bad. Without ever letting this deIilement surIace, you would be oblivious to it. You
would not be aware it is a stain. II you have no knowledge oI it, how can you even begin
to have the motivation oI cleaning it? So this digging oI the Iaults should really bring
things out in the open. And as I was saying, we should try to have the dharma penetrate
our minds. As Kongtrul Rinpoche said: 'Our practice oI the dharma should really bear
Iruit. This has nothing to do with good dreams, a certain sensation aIter sitting Ior a long
time, or even some sort oI ecstatic Ieeling, clairvoyance or enhancement oI intuition.
These outcomes are not necessarily the Iruit that we are looking Ior. What Kongtrul
Rinpoche meant was: as we practise, once we begin to put less emphasis into some oI the
things that had previously been such a big deal, that is what we call bearing the Iruit.`
In the past, aIter receiving a compliment, 'Your hair looks good! The color is nice,
you could become easily moved. Eor halI a day, it sort oI intoxicates you, doesn`t it? And
then, during the second halI oI the day aIter someone else has said: 'It`s not good, you
Ieel depressed. II aIter doing some dharma practice, these things begin not to make any
diIIerence that is the bearing Iruit. This is Iar preIerrable to millions oI good dreams, even
iI the Buddha himselI has appeared to you in a dream, placed his hand on the top oI your
head and blessed you! We don`t know whether these so-called good dreams are a good or
a bad sign. I say this very strongly, because as Patrl Rinpoche said sometimes when a
practitioner has a good dream it can actually be what he calls a devil`s maniIestation.`
Eirst oI all, it blocks the practitioner`s urge to practice Iurther because they think, 'I have
reached somewhere, and secondly, it develops pride.
So as Patrl Rinpoche said, iI last night you dreamt that the Buddha was having
dinner with you, 'Treat such dreams, as you would the saliva you spit on the ground. You
shouldn`t even look twice at it. When we spit, do we check to see how it has landed or
how much is there? Likewise, your dream should never, ever be mentioned, nor even
written down in your notebook. In Iact, you should even Ieel a little bit wary oI it!
Otherwise, when you notice that your compassion towards sentient beings is growing a
little, or that devotion towards the path and the teacher is increasing, you might just
become more relaxed. So whenever a diIIerent situation occurs, then that`s a good sign!
That`s the Iruit!
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D DD Dharma Attitudes. harma Attitudes. harma Attitudes. harma Attitudes. a Race a Race a Race a Race A AA Against Time gainst Time gainst Time gainst Time and and and and the Genuine Heart of Sadness the Genuine Heart of Sadness the Genuine Heart of Sadness the Genuine Heart of Sadness
Kongtrul Rinpoche also says: "Kyoshey tingney kyewar fingyi lob." "A genuine heart oI
sadness" is what Chgyam Trungpa calls it, and I think this is quite a good term. This
genuine heart oI sadness` is really important. Let`s say you are dreaming and happen to
be having a good dream. You actually enjoy whatever dream it is that you are going
through. At the same time, you know that you are going to wake up, because it is a dream.
Deep down, somewhere in your mind, you know that sooner or later you are going to wake
up. That is what we call the genuine heart oI sadness.` Sooner or later, our relationships,
our health, or whatever other circumstances we happen to Iace all this is going to
change! We are going through this situation now, but it is not going to last. No matter
what, change is inevitable.
While not necessarily obvious, that constant bell ringing somewhere in your head is
always there this is the genuine heart oI sadness.` You should always have the attitude
'You don`t have so much time. This is so important. It is as though someone were
chasing you: it is like a race against time. And one should not leave aside dharma practice
as: 'I will do it some other time. Never part Irom this race against time` kind oI attitude,
especially when it comes to practice. By no means should you ever start to think in the
way oI, 'I will practice the dharma next July tomorrow the day aIter tomorrow. It
never eventuates! This is also my own experience. Like when we say, 'I will practice this
week, more oIten than not, it just doesn`t happen.
Now that you know dharma practice has less to do with sitting and chanting, and
more to do with really going against your pride and ego and accepting things: that you
can do at any time, so you should begin right away. It could be that you are on a beach
looking at the sunset, and nothing is terribly wrong. Suddenly there is this alarm-bell
ringing in your head, saying 'ting, ting, ting, ting, practice the dharma or something like
that. At that very moment, you can always think: 'I`m looking at this sunset. I`d better
take a good look, because I might never see another. This might be the last sunset in my
liIe. Who knows, 'in the next liIe I might become an insect, a being that has no
knowledge oI sunset or sunrise, let alone the capacity to comprehend the idea. You will
have a totally diIIerent interpretation oI what a sunset is.
Complaints Show Our Lack of Complaints Show Our Lack of Complaints Show Our Lack of Complaints Show Our Lack of U UU Understanding of Cause, Condition and Effect nderstanding of Cause, Condition and Effect nderstanding of Cause, Condition and Effect nderstanding of Cause, Condition and Effect
In the next stanza Kongtrul says: "Chiwa nyingney drenpar fingyi lob." Death, dying, the
continuity oI death: constantly getting closer and closer to death that needs to be brought
to mind again and again and again. Next to that we must have a strong trust, belieI and
devotion towards cause, condition and eIIect. This is something that needs prompting Irom
time to time; otherwise it goes completely out oI our mind. How do we Iorget? In many
diIIerent ways! You should listen to your complaints we complain a lot! We complain to
the Buddha, to the guru, to husbands, to wives, and to Iriends. II you listen to your own
complaints and contemplate them, you will realize that most stem Irom a lack oI
understanding on cause, condition and eIIect. It is a bit like this: you are driving towards a
cliII, the road is really bad and you have been warned that it is dangerous. Going ahead
with this course is Iatal and you know this. What is more, despite having been told not to
drink, you go ahead and drink anyhow. Not being careIul, as you are driving towards this
cliII and speeding very Iast, you Iall and still you complain. That`s how we are. Listen to
your own complaints! II you think back, you always Iind that the cause and conditions
have been systematically organized by you alone! Eor years you have learned, practiced,
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and gathered the causes and conditions so careIully, but when the unpleasant result occurs,
you complain. This is usually how it is. You lack the understanding. Eurther illustrative oI
this Iailure to understand cause, condition, and eIIect is the lack oI trust in the triple gem,
the Buddha, dharma and the sangha. These are what we call preliminary thoughts.
Dharma Is No Therapy Dharma Is No Therapy Dharma Is No Therapy Dharma Is No Therapy - -- - Dharma Stir Dharma Stir Dharma Stir Dharma Stirs s s s U UU Up pp p Your Life Your Life Your Life Your Life
Sometimes daily, Ior seven months in row, with no weekend breaks, we listened to His
Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. In the morning he would teach one subject, in the
aIternoon another and at night, yet another, but whatever the subject, it always began with
these preliminary thoughts. He would spend at least Iorty-Iive minutes to an hour talking
about the preliminary thoughts. The main teaching usually lasted Iive to ten minutes, or at
the longest, halI an hour. Indeed, it is quite important to hear the preliminary thoughts
again and again. Even though it will unsettle you a little, the purpose oI dharma is just that.
Never should you think, through practicing the dharma you will be able to settle your liIe
down properly. This is why the dharma is not a therapy. In Iact it is just the opposite. I tell
you: the eIIect oI the dharma is to really stir up your liIe. It is meant to actually turn your
liIe upside down. II that`s what you have asked Ior, why complain? II the dharma is not
turning your liIe upside down, the dharma is not working. With that kind oI dharma it
becomes just another one oI these New Age methods, Deepak Chopra` 12 steps`, Men
Are Irom Mars, Women Are Irom Venus.` Dharma should really disturb you.
T TT The Ultimate Cra:iness he Ultimate Cra:iness he Ultimate Cra:iness he Ultimate Cra:iness. .. . G GG Going Beyond All Conceptions oing Beyond All Conceptions oing Beyond All Conceptions oing Beyond All Conceptions
II you really want to practice the dharma that means you aim to achieve enlightenment.
Striving to be happy, or to be a good person is not your main objective. OI course, it is not
as though you intend to be unhappy or become a bad person. As a rule, in wanting to Iit
into society, you try to be polite, and gentle. You have etiquette, and you are respectIul.
Many people think, 'As a dharma practitioner. and when we look at another who may
seem to be doing things a little inhumanely, we think: 'How can he be a dharma
practitioner! He is so arrogant! Yet it is very diIIicult to judge another, because Ior the
genuine dharma practitioner, Iitting in is not really their aim. II some oI the great masters
oI the past, like Tilopa or Nropa, were to walk into this room right now, I don`t think we
would allow them entry! We would regard them as homeless, street beggars or intruders
even. Imagine Tilopa, almost completely naked perhaps partially covered with
something like a g-string, iI we are lucky. His hair has never been shampooed, and there is
this live Iish protruding Irom his mouth, with its tail still quivering. Alive! 'He is
supposedly a Buddhist, how can he do such a thing? We tend to have this very theistic,
judgemental mind. Our attitude is very srvaka-like. OI course, srvaka judgement is
already good but we are talking about the vajrayna here. We are talking about going
beyond all kinds oI conceptions.
Milarepa, Ior instance, was considered one oI the worst looking, most annoying oI
guys. He had this habit oI going around naked, and when his sister gave him a piece oI
cloth intending that he would make some clothing instead oI making a proper shirt or
pants, he sewed a cloth to Iit his penis like a sock. He made these socks to Iit his hands and
Ieet and to Iit his penis! He wasted a piece oI cloth! And, he wasn`t even doing that
deliberately. Erom an ordinary point oI view, we would regard such a person either as
completely childish or as beyond human.
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We should really have this aspiration. We should pray that one day we reach a stage
where we have enough courage to become just like these eccentric people. Right now, we
can only aIIord to be slightly nonconIormist. A little bit oI craziness is okay. It`s a kind oI
character building activity. But we are very scared oI going beyond that! We would be
outcast and all that. So we should pray that someday, we really become crazy. Not in the
sense oI becoming something like a lunatic Irom one oI these asylums. The craziness we
are reIerring to means going beyond the 'eight worldly dharmas: truly not caring whether
you are being praised or criticised is the ultimate craziness. Erom the mundane, worldly
point oI view, whenever you are praised, you are supposed to be happy; when you are
criticised, you are expected to be unhappy. However, the sublime beings are not moved
that`s why we think they are crazy. This is what you have to aim Ior.
Don`t do this right now, because it will backIire on you! Just aspire. II you tried
doing this now, it would not only Iail to help your practice it would also upset others. So
continue in a way that any decent human being would want you to behave. But at the same
time, let this alarm continuously sound in your head: 'All oI this is useless.
Always Rememb Always Rememb Always Rememb Always Remember t er t er t er the Three he Three he Three he Three Wholesomenesss Wholesomenesss Wholesomenesss Wholesomenesss
Lastly, pay attention to th e three wholesomeness`s because that will make the practice. We
may be seasoned dharma practitioners, but always remember that in order to make an
action worthwhile and beneIicial, these three are crucial. As I said earlier, when I say
practice, it does not necessarily mean sitting down and reciting mantras or doing
meditation or something like that. In everything we do, gradually, or eventually at least,
we should try to turn that into something beneIicial. II not Ior the sake oI sentient beings at
this very moment, at least we should have aspirations: 'whatever we do, may it beneIit
sentient beings, at some time in the Iuture.
So in whatever you do, always do it with the motivation oI helping sentient beings.
This is the Iirst point oI the three wholesomeness`s or what is also known as the three
supreme methods. When it comes to dharma practice, we need to be almost ambitious in
generating the proper motivation. It is not enough to merely settleIor simple kindness or a
good attitude. We should try to have the bodhicitta mind.
Even iI it is a minor act oI oIIering a small candle, try and remember to do it with
the motivation oI enlightening all sentient beings. As His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche
actually said: 'Dharma practice is quite easy. It`s all a matter oI motivation. It all comes
down to our attitude. The only problem is that on many occasions, we just don`t remember
these crucial instructions. On top oI that, we always end up trying to adopt something
more complicated, which is totally unnecessary. So when you are oIIering a candle, or iI
you are perhaps oIIering a bouquet oI Ilowers to your teacher, at that very moment, you
should try to seal it with the motivation oI bodhicitta.
Thus, you begin everything with the motivation oI bodhicitta, and that motivation
should then be permeated with the attitude oI non-duality. This is something that can be a
little diIIicult in the beginning. In Iact, we may not be able to constantly meditate on
emptiness, but at least, we should have the notion, 'This is just my perception. Even with
the most simple oI acts, be it lighting a candle or doing three prostrations, you should have
the understanding, 'Although I am accumulating merit, and doing something good it is
my mind that is doing this. And as I advised right Irom the start, you need to get used to
this idea. Try to know that whatever you are oIIering, or doing, whether it is dharma
practice or a simple good deed, all this is something your mind is interpreting. There is no
truly existing holy act. It`s just your mind.
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This really releases you Irom countless deIilements. Eor one, it releases you Irom the
pride oI having done something. Should this person whom you are oIIering a bouquet oI
Ilowers, sort oI squash or discard them without a second glance, you don`t care so much. II
however, we are lacking in this attitude oI non-duality, we will remain attached to the
object we are meant to be giving away. We still like to hear oI how this person is going to
use or not use it. Things like this should indicate to us, there is a strong clinging towards
our every act.
At the end, you conclude whatever you do with a dedication. Dedicate this merit to
all sentient beings. So that`s the three supreme methods. It`s really important. II you can
remember these three in all your actions, and in your day-to-day liIe, very soon you will
become a great dharma practitioner. It won`t take long, just a month or two.
Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing
Now to conclude, I will share three very important points oI Jamgn Kongtrul Lodr
Thaye that are based on the slogans oI abandoning, transIorming and knowing. This is not
only giving you some some practical advice on how to practice the dharma, these points
will also very clearly deIine the three ynas: the srvakayna, mahyna and the vajrayna.
Let`s say there is this person who happens to be going through some sort oI desire or
aggression. According to Jamgn Kongtrul`s instructions, there are three principle ways to
deal with the situation. Eirstly, in taking the srvaka way oI dealing with it, we abandon
the emotion. You do so by suppressing, dismantling, and discouraging it. Basically, you
are getting rid oI the emotion. Secondly, in the mahyna, the method is to transIorm the
emotion. With this approach, we are not necessarily abandoning it, and nor are we
allowing the emotion to maniIest as it likes, in a wild, untamed and harmIul way. There is
this act oI actually transIorming. Thirdly, in the vajrayna, the means is to simply know
the essence oI the emotion. It is a method that is perIected by not really doing anything, at
least not in the sense oI either abandoning or transIorming the emotion, as in the
srvakayna or the mahyna way. In the secret mantrayna, we are simply not Iabricating
anything, and in the state oI the unIabricated situation, we aim to simply recognise. That`s
how the vajrayna would deal with it.
The Srvakayna The Srvakayna The Srvakayna The Srvakayna Method. Method. Method. Method. Meditation Meditation Meditation Meditation upon Impermanence and upon Impermanence and upon Impermanence and upon Impermanence and Ugl Ugl Ugl Ugliness iness iness iness
Within the srvakayna, whenever desire, passion or aggression arises, regardless oI
whatever emotion you happen to be having, you try to discourage and abandon it. To apply
this method, you summon to mind the Iutility aspect oI samsaric liIe and then analyse the
results these emotions will bring. It is a matter oI knowing that passion, aggression,
ignorance and so Iorth, are only going to result in pain. To give over to these emotions is
deIinately not going to bring us any real pleasure in the end. Thus, by giving rise to
revulsion, we are bringing in this renunciation mind.
In eIIect, much oI the passion and aggression that we go through gives us pain right
Irom the very start. Quite oIten, even as the emotion Iirst begins, already it`s bringing us
pain and suIIering. At other times, certain emotions arise and although they may not seem
painIul at Iirst, eventually we are going to bear the Iruit oI suIIering. Emotions such as
desire might well bring us bliss or satisIaction, but that experience is only going to breed
more hope and Iear. In the end, suIIering is what you Iinally end up with.
So what would a srvaka practitioner do? They would abandon these emotions
through applying such methods as impermanence meditation and ugliness meditation. As
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you experience a growing desire towards an object you consider beautiIul, you look and
see the reality oI that. II, as it were, you happened to be looking at someone and had
developed this desire towards them, step by step you would begin to analyze this person.
Mentally, you go through and break down each and every particle oI their existence, Irom
his or her hair, skin, blood, pus, mucus, right down to their intestines. You will soon learn
that there is not a single entity out there that escapes such analysis. Moreover, by careIully
analysing in this way, you will no longer Ieel that this particular substance is something
inherently precious. This is what we call ugliness meditation. Not only is it helpIul, it is
also a path Iree oI risk because it`s dealing with raw truths.
Usually an inIatuation with a particular person is anchored in a thought, I really
like her` or I really like him.` It`s a very vague idea. This is how it was in the story oI
Utpala, who was a very Iamous nun during the Buddha`s time. She was so beautiIul that
she was named aIter the Utpala, which is an exquisitely beautiIul Ilower. Owing to her
beauty, there was this one man who was so attached to her that he would Iollow her
everywhere she went, until Iinally Utpala asked him, 'Why do you chase me, all the
time? And this man said: 'I think, I`m inIatuated. I`m just so madly in love with you.
Utpala responded by asking, 'Which part oI me is it that you like the most? He had to
think Ior a while beIore Iinally answering, 'Your eyes are the most attractive. Utpala then
said, 'Well, that`s easy, and she took out her eyes and gave them to him. It was because
oI this she actually became blind. As she oIIered her eyes to him, she said: 'Take these.
AIter all, these are what you like the most. Yet, with these two dead, staring eyes in his
hand, he Ielt so much revulsion that he renounced and later also became an arhat, a
realised being. So that is a prtimoksa attitude. It`s very riskless.
The srvaka teachings are in many ways much more appropriate Ior us than the
secret mantrayna or the vajrayna, which can be Iull oI risk. The srvakayna is not only
simple, straightIorward and honest, it also deals with day-to-day truths. Nothing can
change the reality that liIe is impermanent and every emotion is painIul. These are the
Iacts.
It is like when Shakyamuni Buddha went travelling outside his palace and saw
death, old age and sickness Ior the Iirst time. Never beIore had he experienced such things,
and nor had he known the misery oI the world. Up until that point, he had been living in
seclusion in a beautiIul palace. In Iact, his Iather had made certain that he be sheltered
Irom the ugliness oI the world. So being Iairly naive and inexperienced, when he Iirst saw
death, old age and sickness, he asked his chariot driver, 'What is this? And the chariot
driver sort oI accordingly answered, 'This is death, old age and sickness. Quite
innocently, Prince Siddhrtha then asked, 'Is this going to come to me, too? And Chana
his chariot driver said, 'Yes, Your Majesty, it is also going to come to you. This is a
srvaka teaching. It is true, whether we like it or not, death is something that is going to
happen to all oI us. The srvaka teachings are so proIound. In this way oI practice, through
completely discouraging the cause and conditions oI the emotions, there is a dismantling
oI the emotions.
The Mahyna The Mahyna The Mahyna The Mahyna. the Aspiration . the Aspiration . the Aspiration . the Aspiration
OI course, no mahyna master has ever gone and said: 'The srvakas are wrong. Men and
women are actually beautiIul. Shit is actually not dirty, and nor has there been any claim
such as, 'there are those who may not be able to die. The mahyna completely accepts
what is said in the srvakayna. But in addition to the prtimoksa method oI dealing with
the emotions, there is an emphasis in the mahyna to transIorm. How are the emotions
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137
transIormed? It is by generating this motivation and aspiration: 'May all sentient beings
jealousy come to me. May all beings be Iree oI jealousy. Through the practice oI giving
good things to others and bringing bad things to oneselI, the emotions are thus
transIormed. It is an incredible method.
Eirst oI all, let us consider the Iact that having become Buddhists we have surely
heard how aggression is bad. So it is our immediate reaction to think: 'I don`t want this.
When we are going through a certain jealousy or aggression, due to our being in love with
this selI, as an egoist, as someone who has an ego, we don`t want to have that badness,
right? We think in the way oI: 'I don`t want to have jealousy or aggression. Yet
according to the mahyna, owing to this greater view, Ior us to have such an attitude is
thought to be a kind oI weakness. II there is this desire oI not wanting the bad and only
wanting the good, there is still this stain oI the ego there`s still a clinging to the selI.
Instead, in the mahyna we would say: 'This is bad. It really is terrible, but all sentient
beings also suIIer in such a way. May the aggression, jealousy and pride oI all sentient
beings come to me.
Erom the relative point oI view, what is happening when we are doing that? It`s
going against the ego. It is ego wanting to be holy. Ego wants to be the best, the sublime
being, and to go beyond. It is ego wanting to boast: 'I have no desire. I have no jealousy.
So this method is totally going against that ego. By continually applying this, the ego
becomes smaller and smaller and smaller, until ego has no place to live. Once that has
happened, what will be remaining oI the emotions? By then, the emotions will have
become as unreal as a scarecrow, and much like a mirage. It`s like asking, 'How would it
be iI you didn`t have a you? II there were no you` and no I,` then just imagine what
would become oI the passion? What would you do with it? So that is the great
transIormation.
On an ultimate level, a bodhisattva knows that the emotions are a compounded
phenomenon, and thus will exhaust. Likewise, since an emotion is not a truly or
permanently existing entity within itselI, it is true to say the emotions themselves hold this
characteristic oI emptiness. Essentially, these emotions are also something that can be
transIormed. Without this quality oI emptiness, there could not be any transIormation,
since in that case, the emotions would be real. The bodhisattva understands these very
Iacts. Armed with this knowledge, bodhisattvas are able to transIorm the emotions.
The J The J The J The Jafrayna. afrayna. afrayna. afrayna. N NN Not Fabricat ot Fabricat ot Fabricat ot Fabricating, Just Watching ing, Just Watching ing, Just Watching ing, Just Watching
In the vajrayna, we Iind this incredible method. OI course, both the srvakayna and the
mahyna methods are also accepted, but on the top oI that what does a vajrayna person
do? Nothing. When the emotion comes, just watch that. I think this is where many people
get misled. When the emotion comes, you do not Iabricate. Now what does that mean? To
put it in very simple terms: you stop doing things. But that does not mean to say, iI you
happen to be walking down the street you immediately come to a halt. II an emotion
suddenly appears, when the vajrayna says do not Iabricate` that does not mean you stop
walking, plonk yourselI down somewhere on a bench, sit cross legged and then watch. It is
nothing to do with that.
OI course, on average whenever an emotion comes along, most people also watch.
Yet ordinarily, most oI us don`t really watch, we just let go. We Iollow the emotion.
Desire comes and we then Iollow the desire. Anger comes and we then Iollow the anger. It
might happen that aIter receiving a little bit oI teaching some oI us develop this habit oI
watching, yet as we do so, we watch with, 'Where does it comes Irom? or 'why was it
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
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there? But to search Ior the emotion`s source can actually mislead you, because you are
Iabricating. When you ask: 'Why was I angry? oI course, there are a hundred thousand
reasons in answer to that and you are always right. The reasons you pinpoint will tend to
conIirm your belieI and you will say to yourselI: 'I have a right to get angry. I was in the
right. You know how it is, 'I should get angry otherwise these people are going to step all
over me. Due to the Iact that you are Iabricating so much, none oI the methods will be
able to work with this situation not the vajrayna wisdom, nor the mahyna`s
transIormation nor even the srvakayna`s abandoning.
You should simply not Iabricate anything. You just watch and the moment you
watch, the emotions disappear right there and then. OI course, Ior the beginners the
emotions reappear, but what is more important, the moment you watch they disappear.
Even iI it is only Ior a split second, that very disappearance oI the emotion is also an
arising oI wisdom. To recognize this naked awareness is the third slogan, it is that oI
knowing.
Knowing the emotion is to understand that having no root, there is nothing there.
The emotion does not stay. It`s not as though these desires are some sort oI hideous satanic
or evil being that has decided to come and park itselI within you. It`s just not like that.
Even the word disappear` is not really the right term, but Ior now, we have no choice but
to use this word. So the moment you have this anger, you watch not the cause oI the
anger, or the result oI the anger you just watch the emotion. As you watch, you will Iind
there is nothing that you can point to and say, this is anger.` That understanding is the
wisdom.
Practicing Practicing Practicing Practicing A AA All Three Points Together ll Three Points Together ll Three Points Together ll Three Points Together
Now according to Jamgn Kongtrul Rinpoche we must try to practice all three at the same
time. We practice the vajrayna, mahyna and srvakayna methods, all in one go. Eor
example, should you be walking down the street, and suddenly experience some sort oI
aggression, you then apply abandoning, transIorming and knowing simultaneously. How is
this possible? Eirst you have to know: 'Aggression is not good. It is only going to lead to
more suIIering, and anyhow, there is no point in getting angry, aIter all this is my own
perception, and so on and so on. Once you have this understanding, you are already
practicing the srvakayna. In that brieI moment oI realising the Iutility oI the emotion,
you have practiced the Iirst yna. Second, you think: 'May all sentient beings anger come
to me. May all beings be Iree oI anger. In this way, you are practising the mahyna. And
third, you watch and as you just watch, you are then practicing the vajrayna.
Further Pith Instructions of Jamg Further Pith Instructions of Jamg Further Pith Instructions of Jamg Further Pith Instructions of Jamg n Kongtrul Rinpoche n Kongtrul Rinpoche n Kongtrul Rinpoche n Kongtrul Rinpoche
AIter some experimention with abandoning, transIorming and knowing, especially iI you
are a beginner, you may Iind that you keep on having this emotion. You continue to have
this desire, anger, jealousy, depression or whatever emotion it is that you happen to be
going through. So as an additional piece oI advice, there is this particular pith instruction
coming Irom Jamgn Kongtrul Rinpoche that I think is one oI the most incredible
methods. Let`s say it is passion that is the problem. In this method, you visualize yourselI
as a deity with a consort and you perIorm the act oI unity with the consort. OI course,
there is an ordinary sort oI passion that will arise. And then, at the center oI the heart, you
visualize your guru seated on a lotus and moon disk, and as the passion arises, think that
your passion, your being a deity, and the guru, all become inseparable, and then just
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
139
watch. You watch that inseparability over and over again. As Kongtrul Rinpoche said, 'II
that does not heal the passion, then nothing will.
Eor passion related problems, you can visualise yourselI as a deity such as
Chakrasamvara. II it is aggression you are experiencing, visualize yourselI as a deity, such
as Vajraklaya. So you know, you can be creative with this. Eor diIIerent emotions, you
can actually visualize a diIIerent deity, although that`s not crucial. In Iact, in the ultimate
sense any deity`s Iine, since all the deities have the ability to combat all the emotions
anyway. Generally speaking though, Ior passion, visualise Chakrasamvara; Ior aggression,
Vajrakumra; and Ior ignorance you can visualise Yamantaka or Majushr. Or perhaps
Ior aggression, maybe you can also visualize Avalokiteshvara. But particularly when it
comes to passion or desire, it is good to visualize a deity with consort.
So these are the three incredible pith instructions coming Irom Jamgn Kongtrul
Lodr Thaye, who was truly one oI the greatest Chgyam Trungpa has called him the
Leonardo da Vinci oI Tibet. So we began with the three supreme methods and have
concluded with Jamgn Kongtrul Rinpoche`s three pith instructions and the three slogans
oI abandoning, transIorming and knowing.
|S |S |S |Student tudent tudent tudent| || |: :: : Did you say that the passion and the guru become inseparable?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : Yes, the passion, you, Chakrasamvara and the guru become inseparable. You
see, in reality the passion is Chakrasamvara.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Who is that?
| || |Rinpoche|: Rinpoche|: Rinpoche|: Rinpoche|: Chakrasamvara is a deity
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Couldn`t you visualize Guru Rinpoche?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, usually a deity with a consort is encouraged, so Guru Rinpoche with a
consort is also Iine.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Guru Rinpoche with Yeshe Tsogyal?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s also Iine, but I`m quoting Irom Jamgn Kongtrul Lodr Thaye so I`m
trying to be loyal to his words. And Chakrasamvara is such a beautiIul deity.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What does Chakrasamvara look like?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: In appearance, somewhat similar to Klachakra, but actually, Chakrasamvara
is one oI the most beautiIul deities. Dark blue in color, he appears in a standing posture
embracing Vajrayogin. In this case, Vajrayogin is the husband, or sort oI like the
boyIriend. Even the name Chakrasamvara is beautiIul. In Tibetan we say khorlo
demchok,` which means the wheel oI bliss. This is a practice done by many passion-
oriented beings. You see, in the pure aspect, the passion is Amitbha, or Chakrasamvara.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Rinpoche, when one watches an aggression and can`t Iind anything, is it gone,
or can one just not Iind it?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It`s gone Ior that moment, and that`s what Milarepa said, between the past and
Iuture mind there`s always buddhahood.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: AIter an aggression is gone, iI one continues in trying to Iind something, is this
searching Ior something only a Iabrication?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes. That`s a good question. Right now that`s how you have to hear it,
otherwise there is no communication. So basically, this is something you have to expand
on and that`s what dzogchen teachings are Ior.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Could you please say again, when passion, aggression or ignorance arises we
visualise ourselI as a deity?
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
140
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You visualize yourselI as a deity, and inside your heart is the guru. You think
that the emotion, the guru and yourselI become inseparable, and then watch that.
|Stu |Stu |Stu |Student|: dent|: dent|: dent|: We do all three methods when the emotions come up, but it seems the emotions
come up, and go down so quickly that there isn`t time to do all three.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, there are so many emotions that you will always have a chance. It
doesn`t matter.
| || |Student|: Student|: Student|: Student|: I don`t understand how it works doing all three at the same time. In my head
they`re kind oI separate.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You are just not used to it at the moment so you have to think in a sequential
way. Once you get used to it, you no longer have to do that. Why worry?
Karmic Connection to a Particular Practice Karmic Connection to a Particular Practice Karmic Connection to a Particular Practice Karmic Connection to a Particular Practice
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: It is oIten written that you must have something oI a karmic relationship with a
guru or an yidam. What does karmic connection mean? Is there another relationship
possible, other than a karmic one?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No. Though that`s actually quite a big question. To explain this brieIly,
buddha nature has Iive immediate maniIestations. When these Iive maniIestations are not
recognised, they appear as passion, aggression, jealousy, pride, and ignorance. Let`s say
you`re more oI an angry, or an aggressive person. That would mean you also tend to create
karma more linked to aggression. Now let us imagine that in one oI your liIetimes,
somehow you got inspired and moved by the dharma. That has created a certain amount oI
merit. Due to that merit and as a result oI your deIilement, this aggression, you would be
more suitable Ior a practice such as Vajrakumra. So as you can see, it is kind oI a
complicated procedure.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But how can I recognize this?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Usually, we tend to think, Iirst you should recognise and then practise. In this
case however, as you go along with your practice you recognise and you continue to
practice.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Do each and every one oI us have a special connection with a certain practice?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, and this connection that you have will always throw you back to what is
there. Eor instance, let`s say you`re connected to a vajra deity such as Aksobhya but
somehow you ended up with the padma Iamily, and are perhaps practicing a deity like
Amitbha. So you go ahead with this practice and then, through the blessing oI Amitbha,
it will lead you to Aksobhya. This has happened in many instances.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: So we don`t have to search Ior the right kind oI karmic connection?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You should still search. But having said that, it doesn`t mean you stop what
you are doing and then search. You just go ahead and continue to practise, and practise,
which in itselI is already a way to begin searching. That will lead you, deIinitively.
Dream Yoga Dream Yoga Dream Yoga Dream Yoga
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I do not want to lose time so I have been trying to work on my practice during
sleep. I am trying to become aware oI dreaming when I`m dreaming. I`ve been doing this
Ior two months now and not once has it ever happened. What can I do?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: When you sleep you should visualize Guru Rinpoche in the center oI your
heart. Concentrate your mind there. That is the sleeping yoga. By doing that it will take
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
141
care oI your problem. Then, in the morning, Guru Rinpoche rises and sits there. In the long
version oI the Longchen Nyingtik it says:
From the blooming lotus of faith in the center of our hearts,
Kind guru, our only protector, please arise.
To protect us in this degenerate age
In which we are tormented by intense kleshas and karma,
Remain on top of our heads.
20
As the verse says, you are inviting Irom the heart. This idea oI letting that guru
dwell in your heart as you sleep, it`s so beautiIul. It is again, such a symbolic teaching. It
tells you that the outer guru is actually your mind; this is your buddha nature. The next day
as we awaken, since we are such dualistic practitioners, we still think oI the guru as being
outside ourselves. The vajrayna lets you think that. Okay, he`s outside, but where? He`s
dwelling in your heart. So you say, please come` and then he comes out, and you pray
again.
Group Practice Group Practice Group Practice Group Practice should should should should inspire Individual Practice inspire Individual Practice inspire Individual Practice inspire Individual Practice
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I tried to practice without a schedule many times but Iailed. Eor me it seems
even when I am in retreat it is better to practice with a schedule.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: OI course, Ior some, to have something like a bell ringing, and to think, Oh, I
must go` I guess it works. When I was in Australia, we did it in this way Ior one month
during the Longchen Nyingtik Ngndro retreat. But I deliberately went away Ior about
seven, or eight days because I wanted to see how the practice would go. I think it makes a
diIIerence. Actually, I went completely out oI Australia to Canada; it was just timed like
that. It is not so good iI it is like a kindergarten, where if the teacher is present then all the
students behave. This is dharma practice. You are not practising Ior the lama. You are
practising Ior yourselI.
Group practice like this is important. But group practice is also meant to inspire
individual practice, isn`t it? How oIten can we expect to meet like this? It is just not
possible all the time. Although nowadays, in the West, people seem to meet together Ior
practice quite a lot. It is not unlike weekend Iootball or a weekend picnic. Weekend
ngndro they call it.
So iI you have the time, you should do the ngndro in retreat Iorm, three or Iour
sessions a day. Otherwise, do it in the daily way, as a daily sdhana, and as a daily
practice, and iI you want, you can count the numbers and accumulate. You can do the
prostrations Iirst, and when you complete the required amount oI accumulations, you then
go on to the practice that Iollows. Or iI you Ieel like it, you can do something like 20
thousand prostrations, and then start to Iocus on the Vajrasattva. AIter doing perhaps 20
thousand oI the Vajrasattva, you then go back to doing the prostrations. Or alternatively, iI
you want to you can do all the Ioundations together, whatever you choose to do. I would
suggest that you meditate more, always in that period oI dissolution. AIter merging the
guru`s mind and your mind, remain there as much as possible.
Communicating Communicating Communicating Communicating I II Is s s s N NN Not ot ot ot a Life and Death a Life and Death a Life and Death a Life and Death M MM Matter atter atter atter
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Sometimes I talk about the basic principles oI Buddhism to people Iollowing
some other spiritual path and when I get in touch with them, it`s diIIicult to communicate.
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
142
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, you should really keep in mind that communicating with them is not a
liIe and death matter. Sometimes in talking with so many people in so many diIIerent parts
oI the world, it`s diIIicult to communicate. Personally, I have to ring this bell in my head
and remind myselI that it`s not the end oI the world. AIter a while, you have to give it a
rest, but that doesn`t mean you should stop communicating. You just keep on with it, but
don`t be rigid.
I think the Tibetans have taught Westerners quite a lot about how to be rigid. It
seems to occur almost regularly in the dharma centres. Actually, I`m almost thinking oI
writing a book about it. Like when it comes to comparing the older dharma students with
the younger ones, the older dharma students have learned this certain rigid mind. 'When
you see Rinpoche, you have to do three prostrations, and you can`t show the right side oI
your bum, and there is so much oI that kind oI behavior. Eirstly, you are so attached to
doing that, and secondly, even though it`s incomplete, there is this pride oI knowing a little
oI this broken culture. You then pass this on to the new student so that the poor newcomer
just ends up getting paranoid. It`s like, 'What to do next? I have seen the older students
do this kind oI thing, quite Irequently, and sometimes, it actually causes young Iresh
people to lose some oI their inspiration towards Buddhism.
The Two Obscurations The Two Obscurations The Two Obscurations The Two Obscurations
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I`d like to understand more about the selIlessness oI phenomena and the
selIlessness oI the person. How can these be integrated with liIe?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, this is a very big question. It is corresponding to the two obscurations
21
that we distinguish between the two vehicles: the srvakayna and the mahyna. The
srvakas are not interested in abandoning the selI oI phenomena, because this does not
obstruct us Irom enlightenment. What obstructs our enlightenment is this clinging to the
selI clinging to this notion oI I.`
When we say I` there is this belieI in the existence oI personal selI, but what you
are actually looking at is the Iive aggregates. You inIer the idea oI a subjective I` and yet,
there`s no actual, substantial object Iound to be I.` In other words, this I` is entirely an
imputation. Nonetheless, we cling to this imputed selI, and this is the root oI samsra.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But we are also attached to what we believe.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes. But upon destroying that clinging to the selI, although you have not
reached the Iinal enlightenment, you do escape Irom samsra. You no longer go to
samsra. Yet Ior the bodhisattva, due to the greater attitude, this is not suIIicient. Eirst oI
all, it is not nirvna they seek. What interests them is omniscience, which in other words,
is an understanding oI non-duality, complete non-duality.
Eor the bodhisattva, it is considered very important to also get rid oI the obscuration
that causes attachment to phenomena. This is what they meditate upon. Prtimoksa
practitioners meditate and look at the selI and give rise to the conviction that this selI is not
existent. They do this over and over again, until they are able to completely deconstruct
the selI. Einally, there is no longer any selIishness and thereIore no samsra. But Ior a
mahyna bodhisattva everything needs to be deconstructed. They deconstruct nirvna,
including the path, until each and every aspect oI phenomena is deconstructed, even
enlightenment.
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
143
Ego Ego Ego Ego I II Is s s s L LL Like a Cat and ike a Cat and ike a Cat and ike a Cat and O OO Our Insecurity ur Insecurity ur Insecurity ur Insecurity I II Is the Tail s the Tail s the Tail s the Tail
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Can you talk a little about vulnerability and it`s connection with pride. Mostly I
do not recognize the pride or how one can transIorm this.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, ego is like a cat. It is the main culprit. Ego`s insecurity is like a swiIt
and agile tail. As I was saying, ego is this notion that arises when you look at the Iive
aggregates. When you`re looking at the body and your being, there is this thing called I.`
This thinking: 'that is something real is ego. It`s totally baseless, but can`t really be
disregarded because this ego is also the very thing that has caused all our problems. What
is more, our ego knows this I` is actually baseless, and that gives rise to tremendous
insecurity. Ego knows that it does not exist. So day and night, ego tries to prove its
existence, and that`s what we call insecurity. As part oI this process, we try to make
Iriends and try to have enemies so as to prove that ego exists. Basically everything Irom
wearing a certain t-shirt, having a certain haircut, hair-dye, to crying, or practising dharma,
and having a big guru or a small guru, all oI this, is an eIIort to try and conIirm that ego
exists.
This insecurity oI ego is maniIesting all the time, though it actually comes in
diIIerent Iorms. There are Iive main Iorms: aggression, passion, jealousy, pride, and
ignorance. The pride, which is quite a major one, is also something that is quite useless.
Ignorance is kind oI sweet, and at least with passion, it gets things done, as can aggression.
But pride and jealousy are real losers. These two are really destructive.
So there is always this pride, and how does it maniIest? It is there once we use too
much reIerence. You`re comparing too much. When comparing yourselI with someone
great, you Ieel miserable Ior not being equal to them. When you set yourselI against
another who is considered your equivalent, you begin to Ieel egotistical, and have this
Ieeling oI wanting to be better than this person. Then when you`re looking down on
someone who is lower than you, this boosts the pride so that you Ieel, 'Ah, I`m
somebody! There is this competitive mind. It`s like that.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But iI none oI these things happen, does that mean I have no pride?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: II it does not happen, then oI course, this means there is no pride, but it`s
always happening. Strictly speaking, even trying to have a Iriend is an expression oI
vulnerability. Because oI this basic insecurity, ego always wants a little conIirmation Irom
others. So it invites Iriends in, and then when the Iriends get too close, ego doesn`t want
all the space to be occupied. There is always this vulnerability.
Chandrakirti Chandrakirti Chandrakirti Chandrakirti s Seven Chariots Method s Seven Chariots Method s Seven Chariots Method s Seven Chariots Method
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Could you say more about how ego is always acting in jealous and angry ways
because the ego Ieels non-existent?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Eor that, as you study, your understanding will become deeper and deeper
since it is one oI the main subjects oI Buddhism. II you read the writings oI Chandrakirti,
you will see he is very good at explaining this. He uses a very Iamous analytical method,
called the seven chariots method. Traditionally, there is this example oI a chariot, although
Ior us, a car` might be more appropriate, since a chariot is not something we use
nowadays. So when we think car,` we are looking at something, and imputing this idea oI
car, right? But in Iact, there is no basis to this characterisation. II you go through the parts
one by one, Irom the steering wheel, engine, seat, to the brakes, you know that not one oI
these items has any such set oI attributes that can be reIerred to as car.` Similarly, nor is
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
144
there any one entity that can be said to be car.` So we now realise that it is only an idea, oI
course.
Chandrakirti is not going against the Iunction oI the car in anyway whatsoever.
What Chandrakirti is going against is our habit oI imputing. We impute something that is
totally non-existent. This in itselI is not so bad, but things really go wrong when we have
attachment to that imputed object. When we think, this is my car, your car, a good car, a
bad car, then that is where all the samsaric problems start. It is the same with our being.
We look at the Iive aggregates. II you look at them separately, you Iind nothing that can be
reIerred to as I.` Eor instance, iI we take a look at Iorm, we know that your nose is not
you, and your toe is not you a toe is a toe. Even right down to our toes, it is possible to
dissect this part oI our anatomy into nail is nail, skin is skin, blood is blood, and Ilesh is
Ilesh. So you continue to divide and break everything down until you no longer Iind
anything that you can reIer to as toe.` This is a mahyna way oI analysing the twoIold
selIlessness oI phenomena. So basically, what these mahyna masters are saying is selI
and attachment to selI is purely a habit. SelI is not a truly existing entity and there is
nothing valid to it.
Jarious Questions on Practice in Daily Life Jarious Questions on Practice in Daily Life Jarious Questions on Practice in Daily Life Jarious Questions on Practice in Daily Life
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Rinpoche, in our daily lives, living closely with our Iamilies and relatives, such
as our parents and grandparents, when trying to take such things as path, somehow it can
create diIIiculties. When we actually have to relate with them, sometimes as the problem`s
coming up, I don`t know whether it`s better to stay a little bit more ordinary or...
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: This is a good question. Basically, you should never rely on one speciIic
skilIul means. When it comes to giving or not giving toys to babies, one should not be
limited to one method. II you were to depend on only a single method, it would not be
skilIul. This aIternoon you should be straight, and tomorrow morning crooked.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I think Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche told us, when he goes to India he Ieels there is
so much tradition and so much convention that it`s good to leave.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It is good to leave? At times it is, at times it`s not, and Ior myselI it is the same.
When I go to India or Bhutan I have to act like a god and it`s terrible to do that, but at the
same time I also go there because it disciplines me.
One should not stick with one particular kind oI thing. Basically, you should never
be rigid. The older dharma practitioners have this rigid tendency. So don`t be rigid. Be
Ilexible.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: How do you know when you are being rigid?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It is very diIIicult. To begin with, never imagine that what you think is always
right.
|S |S |S |Student|: tudent|: tudent|: tudent|: When we have diIIerent samayas with diIIerent teachers around speciIic
practices, how can we prioritise?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Whomever it is that you think you are the closest to.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Who is your living teacher, the one whom you have the most devotion towards?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: His Holiness Sakya Trizin. There are actually several, but I think His Holiness
Sakya Trizin is the most representative. And then there is His Holiness Sakya Trizin`s
sister who I also received the complete Vajrayogin teachings Irom.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What is her name?
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
145
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Jetsn Chime, or else they also call her Reverend Chime or Jetsn Gushok.
Reverend` has this connotation oI immortal and Gushok` is bit like a title.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: II we receive instructions Irom two or three diIIerent masters, can these
instructions be shared among one another?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Unless you are instructed not to do so, yes. Some masters will say don`t tell
anyone, and in that case, not a single word oI those instructions should be spoken, not even
to the Buddha.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: II you`re in a position where you have to give advice to people who are not
Buddhist, what kind oI advice can you give?
|Rinpoch |Rinpoch |Rinpoch |Rinpoche|: e|: e|: e|: All compounded things are impermanent, all emotions are pain, all
phenomena have no inherently existing nature and nirvna is beyond Iabrication.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Somehow I relate to Christian belieI, although not so much to Christianity, but I
also Ieel attracted by Buddhism. I would like to have some advice on how to deal with
this.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s quite a diIIicult one. Relatively speaking, iI this were an inter-religious
or an inter-Iaith conIerence I would have said: all religion leads to the same thing, but
strictly speaking there is quite a Iundamental diIIerence. Eirst oI all, as you can see
Buddhists do not believe in a selI, which in itselI is quite a major conviction. The key
aspect here is not believing in a selI, as a truly existing entity, meaning that there is no
truly existing soul or selI that needs to be saved, or that goes to heaven. So there is a little
bit oI a conIlict there, but there is a way out. II you are a mahyna bodhisattva, there is no
real predicament. As a bodhisattva practice oI helping sentient beings, you can be
anything, and Ior that matter you can maniIest as a Christian, iI that is your preIerence.
When it comes to the vajrayna however, it would deIinitely present somewhat oI a
problem. I have to tell you this honestly.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: You said our children will be the Iirst real Buddhist generation, but in my case,
with my two children Iive and six, I`m observing a big mess oI conIusion. They are being
raised in a Christian culture, and then at the same time, they are having this Rinpoche
input as well. They`re really mixing up the whole thing, though it is actually happening in
a very nice way.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Then?
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Well it is very poetic, but my son, Paul, has always thought oI churches as
Rinpoche`s home, so he always wants to go inside each one. He was convinced oI this Ior
a long time, and only now is he beginning to understand. I`m trying to explain to him that
priests are Iollowing Jesus Christ, and Rinpoche`s are Iollowing Buddha. Seriously, I`ve
Iound it`s very diIIicult to deal with this.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well as a mother or a Iather it`s your duty to also put your children onto a
right path, because you`re supposed to save all sentient beings. At the same time however,
they have their own destiny. One day, everyone must choose their own path, and when
they do, even iI they choose to be a Shiite Muslim, you shouldn`t say so much. You should
just pray: whatever it is they choose, may it benefit sentient beings.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Paul`s cousin has just had his Iirst communion` and so Paul wants to receive
this communion` Irom you. He doesn`t understand the diIIerence between Rinpoches and
priests. What iI he really insists on having this? II he insists on going to Catholicism out oI
conIusion, out oI not knowing it is not the same path, should I just let him receive this?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yeah, why not? Depending on the diIIerent children, I guess. I think,
Buddhism is so young in the West, and that means there are a lot oI disadvantages. We
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
146
don`t have a good school Ior kids, although many people are trying to do something. The
Shambhala people are the most successIul, I must say. Even the children oI non-Buddhists
go to the Shambhala elementary school because it is a very good school. It doesn`t really
teach so much on Buddhism directly, although oI course, there are the Buddha`s sayings.
It`s secular, and at the same time, it`s very love and compassion oriented. There should be
these kinds oI schools created Ior kids but it`s diIIicult because all the Buddhists are so
spread out.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What can you teach them at this young age? Christianity is so easy to teach
children. There`s a God and there is Jesus, it`s very easy.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: I think rather than teaching Buddhism itselI, we should Iocus on those things
that are very related to Buddhism. With every act, there are consequences. This is not only
something we can tell our kids, it is also something to share with non-Buddhists in general.
Teaching this is also very practical. II Ior instance, we want to express the idea that eating
a hamburger is not so good, it is not very helpIul to simply say, 'You should not eat that
hamburger. I think it`s kind oI an old, worn out message. It would be much better to say,
'Eating that hamburger is your choice, but each time you do so, there are consequences.
Especially iI it`s Iast Iood, something like Macdonalds, then as an indirect consequence oI
your having that hamburger, there is also going to be deIorestation and environmental
pollution. Whatever you do there is always a consequence added. Eor a more direct
consequence, just think about what happens as a result oI your going to a Chinese
restaurant and using these disposable chopsticks. I think it is this kind oI thing that we
should put in the kids heads when they are young, because normally, we seem to talk oI
ecology or environment as an issue. It`s not really touching us in any direct way. So we
should try and make them realize there is always a consequence. Eor instance, when you
are driving what is happening? 'OI course, it is making things easier and more convenient
but at the same time. They should know both the positive and the negative side oI
things. That`s what I was thinking.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Sometimes, iI my daughter is being really selIish with her brother and not
sharing, I try to explain and give her a choice. I try to explain what the results oI both ways
could be and how she might act. II she listens, and understands but then still decides to be
horrible and selIish, should I just let her choose or should I Iorce her to do the right thing?
|Rinpo |Rinpo |Rinpo |Rinpoche|: che|: che|: che|: Those are very big questions, and on each particular day, there will be a
diIIerent way oI dealing with them. One thing you can do is to teach your children the
Jtaka Tales. It is also called the 'One Thousand Tales oI the Buddha.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Could you please give advice Ior an elderly person: Should such a person still
go to summer schools or shedras, or would it be better to just Iocus more on practice?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Should they go to shedras? Why not? Upon being reborn, such a person will
be better prepared, so really why not? As Sakya Pandita said, 'Even when you have
conIirmed that you will die tomorrow, you should still study today.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: II one hasn`t Iinished one`s ngndro, should one still study.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, deIinitely, study is good.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Eor the visualization against pride, what kind oI deities do we visualize?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Vajrasattva.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: And jealousy?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Eor jealousy there is Amoghasiddhi and Ior miserliness, Ratnasambhava.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Can one call visualisation a complete projection?
Practice does not Necessarilv mean Sitting
147
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, oI course.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: And that`s okay?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s the only way.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is there anything real coming into it?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: There`s nothing more real than the perception, and there`s nothing in this
world that exists, beyond perceptions. What you see is basically all that you have. To
borrow a more ordinary phrase, one could almost say what you see is what you get.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: You know how you`ve been talking about peeling back the skin? Well I think
this applies to everybody, but in my practice iI you can call it that every now and then I
come to a point, where metaphorically speaking, it is really like hitting a brick wall. I can`t
go any Iurther and then I Ieel like I`m going all the way back to square one and that I don`t
understand any oI it.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s good.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Do you think it`s kind oI like peeling back the skin? Is it that you can`t go any
Iurther than where you`re going and then it changes?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You just have to be stubborn a little bit there.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Be stubborn?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Just pierce that wall.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: It seems that once this casket is opening a little it is a similar experience to
tripping or taking other kinds oI drugs. So I was wondering, iI Ior example, a person takes
something like mushrooms, can this be helpIul or is it just misleading?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s a good question. Tulku Orgyen Rinpoche, one oI the past great masters,
was oIIered all kinds oI things such as LSD, cocaine, heroine, and so Iorth. AIter trying
these various substances, he concluded iI it is a good practitioner taking these things, it can
help in enhancing the practice. II someone who is not really a good practitioner should
take these things, it is a diIIerent matter. It could then become an addiction, and you don`t
want to have a tripping dependence on a substance. Becoming dependant on a substance
means you then become a slave oI the substance. It`s Iar better to have to depend on your
mind.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: How about iI you just do it once?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: I think it can help but that all depends. I mean, with many oI the dharma
students I have met, they seem to have had their introduction to the dharma by taking
drugs. This is not so true nowadays, though. But Ior the older generation, many have come
to the dharma out oI being hippies or out oI their experiences with drugs. So in such
circumstances, beIore you do one-hundred-thousand prostrations to Guru Rinpoche, you
should do at least halI a prostration to the drug.
Our karma is incredible. Even your asking this question, this alone must be your
great merit. In a past liIe, let`s say you were born in a very rigid puritanical Iamily, or in
some similar kind oI situation to that. Then one day, perhaps aIter reading a book or
something, somehow you give rise to this Ieeling, 'I would like to experience the eIIects
oI a drug. Now as much as this is the start oI your samsaric liIe, such a mentality
suddenly popping into your head can also be due to your merit. Then you pursued it you
went through all this struggle oI breaking through all these concepts oI what is proper,
what is pure, and what is the right thing to do. Then that experience opened up your mind
a little bit Iurther, until you eventually became not so interested in the drug anymore.
Perhaps you become more Iocused on the practice, and in the meditation. Thus, it can be a
maniIestation oI your inner guru. I can conIidently tell you that. DeIinitely.
S SS SHAMATHA AND HAMATHA AND HAMATHA AND HAMATHA AND V VV VIPASHYAN IPASHYAN IPASHYAN IPASHYAN : :: :
A D A D A D A DOORWAY TO OORWAY TO OORWAY TO OORWAY TO K KK KNOWING NOWING NOWING NOWING T TT THIS HIS HIS HIS U UU UNEABRICATED NEABRICATED NEABRICATED NEABRICATED` `` ` S SS STATE TATE TATE TATE
s it is stated in the text, towards the end oI the guru yoga, aIter receiving the
Iour abishekas, you remain in this natural unIabricated state. Yet most oI the
time we don`t comprehend what that means. What is non-Iabricated? I mean,
just about the only thing we really know is Iabrication. We don`t know anything about
non-Iabrication. So in order to generate some understanding oI non-Iabrication I thought
the vipashyan should be introduced. II you want to know the unIabricated state then I
think you have to get it through doing the practice oI shamatha and vipashyan. It is then
you will really know.
The vipashyan based on the srvaka system, actually compliments our practice
quite a lot. There are two kinds oI mindIulness that we will Iocus on at this point:
mindIulness oI the body and mindIulness oI Ieeling. MindIulness oI the body includes the
sound and the taste along with anything visual.
So anyhow, I want you to remain sitting until I ring the bell. Scratch your legs,
cough, and clear your throats now, because once we`ve started, there should be no
movement at all. The srvakas might do ten hours oI this practice. And please, oI course,
you`re allowed to swallow. That`s the only way to keep your blood circulation Ilowing.
Apart Irom this, there should be no other movement, whatever happens! Should you Ieel
as though you`re nose is running, or there is mucus in your nostrils, don`t even attempt to
clean it. Even iI there is some sort oI itch to the throat, still no coughing! II you Ieel like
scratching, or like moving a little, do not give in to that Ieeling! II some insect is crawling
towards you, and getting closer and closer, still nothing, still no reaction.
What you are aiming to do is heighten the sensation oI your body as much as
possible. So when you Ieel something, you should just look at that. Also, iI possible there
should be no movement oI the eyes, and no yawning. No movement at all! II you happen
to do one oI these things accidentally, you should stop there and wait until the next
session. So iI you start, and then within one minute, you Iorget your mindIulness, and
move even a little bit, don`t attempt to continue and do the meditation over again,
otherwise, this will become a bad habit.
|S |S |S |Stu tu tu tudent dent dent dent| || |: :: : When are you going to ring the bell?
|Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche| |Rinpoche|: :: : We don`t know!
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: When we close the eyes...
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You had better not close your eyes. It is better not to escape! Closing the eyes
is escaping.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: When you stop blinking.
The The The The Eye and T Eye and T Eye and T Eye and T gal gal gal gal
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You are not really supposed to allow yourselI to blink, but right now you have
no control, so you will. As you get better and better, not only won`t you blink, you won`t
even move. But Ior now, the eye is akin to mercury; it moves the most. Just to brieIly
explain, tgal has so much to do with the eye, and iI you understand something oI tgal,
you`ll then see why the sight is so important. And that`s why I`m asking you not to close
your eyes.
A
Shamatha and Jipashvana
150
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Is it better to breathe through the mouth?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It doesn`t matter. Likewise, with the sitting posture, you can sit however you
want. The only thing is you can`t lie down. Once you start sitting though, that is it.
Whether you are sitting in a stretched out position or cross-legged, you must stay with that.
It`s the only way.
The Four Mindfulness The Four Mindfulness The Four Mindfulness The Four Mindfulnesss s s s
When we are doing shamatha, by Iocusing on the breath, we are using an object to
enhance our concentration. In the vipashyan, you`re being aware oI Iour things:
awareness oI the body, Ieeling, dharma and mind. Out oI the Iour, right now, we are
learning the most outer one, which is the body.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: BeIore I Iound it uncomIortable to sit like this, but now that I`m comIortable, I
Iall asleep.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Each time you Ieel something that`s actually good! II you`re Ieeling sleepy,
you should really look at that. As it happens, you usually have no idea how the body is
when you Iall asleep and are sleeping. So you should watch this body, then you`ll really
know. AIter a while, even when your eyes move a little bit, you almost Ieel that your
whole body moves. Right now, the only instructions you have Ior the body mindIulness
are to sit straight and not move. Then, when you have a bodily pain or a bodily sensation,
you just watch that.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: You don`t make the body the object? You know, like watching the body all the
time...
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No. Just make sure that your body doesn`t respond to a Ieeling like Ior
instance, the urge to scratch.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: What happens iI you space out, I always thought that was really bad.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: You`re jumping ahead. Eor that, there is dharma mindIulness and mind
mindIulness. Since in this case, dharma means phenomena, it is actually phenomena
mindIulness. Then mind mindIulness is reIerring to being conscious oI the mind. Only
when we talk oI mind mindIulness, do we then talk about spacing out and all oI that.
Anyhow, phenomena mindIulness and consciousness mindIulness are included during the
initiation, during the guru yoga, so there is no need to worry so much about this. What we
have been doing is the body mindIulness.
Basically, you should Iorget about dharma and mind mindIulness Ior now. It is not
something that you will do this year, nor in all likelihood, the Iollowing year. Maybe it is
not even necessary at all. Yet on the other hand, body mindIulness and Ieeling
mindIulness, you should really do a little bit oI these.
So with this Iirst chapter oI the vipashyan, in doing the body mindIulness oI just
watching, it will almost Iorce you to develop your shamatha. When there is pain, it just
doesn`t go. Even when you try to think oI something else, still it returns. It won`t go, so
you just watch and watch and watch. That`s all you can do.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Does one have to just watch the body? Or when it`s uncomIortable is it alright
to use shamatha?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It is better to just apply the pain, and to watch that. This is much Iaster. Why
go and do the shamatha? II you do that you are taking it one Iurther step than you need to.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But what is the diIIerence between shamatha and vipashyan?
Shamatha and Jipashvana
151
Jipashyan Triggers an Understanding of Emptiness Jipashyan Triggers an Understanding of Emptiness Jipashyan Triggers an Understanding of Emptiness Jipashyan Triggers an Understanding of Emptiness
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: There is a big diIIerence! The vipashyan has a view, but the shamatha
doesn`t. In doing vipashyan we are trying to understand emptiness, but with shamatha we
are not concerned with emptiness. Shamatha is only concerned with generating non-
distraction, that`s the whole purpose.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Doesn`t the view automatically arise when you sit?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, that`s the whole idea, you watch that and then aIter a while that triggers
an understanding oI emptiness. It is the view that makes the diIIerence, otherwise you can
almost query, what is the diIIerence between shamatha and guru yoga? In the shamatha,
they don`t teach you the view, and it is the view oI egolessness that makes a diIIerence.
Shamatha doesn`t care about your body. Here we care, because the body is one oI the
aggregates. The body, the aggregates are the cause oI attachment to the selI, and so on and
so on. With shamatha, all we concentrate on is this mind that is constantly distracted. You
don`t want the mind to do that, and this is what shamatha is Ior.
Having said that this is already quite an achievement. I tell you, iI a person truly
does shamatha properly, the shamatha guy can actually achieve certain results that might
make you think there is complete enlightenment. They call it shyin yang perIection. This
person will even have light issuing Irom their body. In addition to that there will be
clairvoyance, a bit like omniscience. There is also destruction oI the emotions, as well.
The reason being, shamatha calms the mind totally.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: But they still have karma?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Yes, although they don`t really care about karma. And mind you, they don`t
create as much karma as ordinary people do, because Ior a shamatha person, their mind is
very calm.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: II, during the meditation, whenever a thought arises I let the thought go, it
would mean I was watching my thoughts, wouldn`t it? Would that mean I`m doing it
wrong?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: No, that`s Iine. That`s an added bonus. You`re leaping ahead towards the
consciousness mindIulness.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: You see, I don`t know iI I could just do the body.
Mindfulness Mindfulness Mindfulness Mindfulness I II Itself tself tself tself I II Is a Strong Discipline s a Strong Discipline s a Strong Discipline s a Strong Discipline
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: Well, that`s the whole purpose. In a way, it`s as though the Iirst mindIulness,
the mindIulness oI body is a trick. We know there will be a certain result achieved by
hauling this body into a cage, with this discipline oI don`t move, and don`t stretch! It leads
to many other things. Eor a start, it disciplines you, since mindIulness itselI is a very strong
discipline.
You should really do this! Even iI you don`t manage to do the Iour Ioundations, just
doing the Iour vipashyan, there is so much blessing in that alone! Moreover, iI you have a
non-Buddhist Iriend, who shows interest and asks you, what do you Buddhists do? Then
you should teach them shamatha and vipashyan. It`s totally non-theistic, and at the same
time, it`s totally Buddhism. II somebody walked into the room while you were doing the
mandala oIIering, they would really wonder: 'What is happening? Why is this bunch oI
people throwing rice onto a plate over and over again? But on the other hand, iI you ask
them to sit and do vipashyan or shamatha even just Ior Iew minutes, they will know there
is something to this. Unless Ior some obscure reason they are pretending otherwise, they
would have to know. What they might say is 'Nothing seems to be happening. Then, the
Shamatha and Jipashvana
152
Iirst thing you should say is, 'That is it! That is the result. Really, vipashyan is quite
important! I`ve done this in Taiwan and we went on Ior almost six days.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: Was it a whole day?
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: It was two hours in the morning, and two hours in the aIternoon. Then every
hour we had a break, where we just sort oI sat on the mat Ior about IiIteen minutes or so.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: I am sitting very calmly, and then I have the Ieeling oI losing connection to the
body. Maybe it`s a sort oI escape.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s good! Lose more connection! You should lose connection with the
body. Then slowly the Ieeling goes, and slowly the dharma, and Iinally you should lose
connection with the mind. It is then that rigpa, the awareness, will come in.
|Student|: |Student|: |Student|: |Student|: When trying to sit I sometimes use one technique that I have learned, which is
to imagine being under the sea or ocean. It`s a kind oI meditation.
|Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: |Rinpoche|: That`s Iine. You just can`t move that`s all. In this case, the discipline is you`re
not allowed to move. You can try to bring in all kinds oI creative imagination, but aIter a
while none oI this works. AIter a while, the pain will Iorce you to pay attention, and then
you should just pay heed to that. Just keep on Iocusing on that pain again and again. OI
course, I should not tell you the result, because otherwise it will become a concept in your
head and then you will be looking Ior it. Each oI you will have a diIIerent result.
Appendix I:
1he Excellent Path to Enlightenment
THE ABBREVIATED PRACTICE OE THE PRELIMINARIES
NAMO
Until I and all beings attain enlightenment,
I take reIuge in the three roots.
To attain buddhahood Ior the beneIit oI others,
I arouse aspiring, entering, and absolute bodhicitta.
A
Above my head, on a lotus and moon,
Is guru Vajrasattva with consort.
Erom the mantra in his heart centre Ilows a stream oI amrita,
Which puriIies sickness, dns, evil deeds, and obscurations.
Recite the hundred-syllable mantra.
Vajrasattva melts into light, which dissolves into me.
OM H HM
The Buddha Iields oI the thre kyas, enjoyments,
And clouds oI the outer, inner, and secret oIIerings
We oIIer to the three jewels and three roots.
Having accepted them, please bestow the supreme and ordinary siddhis.
OM H HM GURU-DEVA-DKIN-SAPARIVRA RATNA-MANDALA-PJA-
MEGHA H HM
In the space in Iront, in the midst oI rainbow light,
Is the root guru, Thtrengsal,
Surrounded by oceans oI vidydharas oI the three lineages,
He is the embodiment oI all reIuges.
With exertion, recite the Seven Line supplication and the vafra-guru mantra.
At the end.
The light rays Irom the three syllables in his three centres
Bestow blessings, abhisheka, and siddhi.
The guru melts into light, which dissolves into me.
Uncontrived and inseparable Irom him, I rest at ease.
Then dedicate the merit.
This was written by Khyentse Wangpo.
Translated by the Jafravairochana Translation Committee and used with their permission. 1996-
2000 by the Jafravairochana Translation Committee, 1619 Edward Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada B3H 3H9. All rights reserved.
Appendix
154
Appendix Appendix Appendix Appendix II II II II: : : :
An Outline oI the Ng An Outline oI the Ng An Outline oI the Ng An Outline oI the Ng ndro ndro ndro ndro
( (( (I II Irom the ReIuge rom the ReIuge rom the ReIuge rom the ReIuge T TT Through to the Vajrasattva Practice) hrough to the Vajrasattva Practice) hrough to the Vajrasattva Practice) hrough to the Vajrasattva Practice)
Points 1: Eirst is "stopping the chain oI mundane
thoughts."

2: Clearing the stale air (*).
22
3: TransIorming the atmosphere with the
invocation oI Guru Rinpoche.
4: "Lama khyeno" and contemplation oI
the Eour Common Thoughts.
5: Visualizing the object oI reIuge, and
then actually doing the reIuge. In this case, the reIuge with the
bodhicitta.
6: Tonglen (*).

7: The Eour Immeasurable Thoughts (*).

8: Dissolving the reIuge and bodhicitta.
9: Visualization oI Vajrasattva and reciting the liturgy.
10: Chanting the 100-syllable-mantra with
Eour sub-categories.
11: Prayer to Vajrasattva.
12: Vajrasattva dissolves into you.
13: You as Vajrasattva, reciting the six-
syllable-mantra.
Appendix III: Appendix III: Appendix III: Appendix III:
Diagram oI the Seven Point Mandala Diagram oI the Seven Point Mandala Diagram oI the Seven Point Mandala Diagram oI the Seven Point Mandala
Appendix IV Appendix IV Appendix IV Appendix IV: : : :
Diagram oI the 37 Point Mandala Diagram oI the 37 Point Mandala Diagram oI the 37 Point Mandala Diagram oI the 37 Point Mandala
I II INDEX NDEX NDEX NDEX
Abhidharma, 62
Abisheka. See also initiation
meaning oI, 109
accumulation
oI merit, 14, 22, 70, 73, 80, 88, 89,
99
path oI, 46
Akshobhya Buddha, 112, 140
laya, 61, 110, 115, 124
Amitbha
practice oI, 140
realm, 101
stra, 51
Amitbha Buddha, 99, 100, 106, 112
Amoghasiddhi, 112
anuyoga, 114
arhat, 20, 81, 88, 136
Atisha Dipankara, 89, 129
attachment, 32, 78, 80, 142
essence oI, 78
letting go oI, 51, 120
to phenomena, 50, 136, 142, 144
to the action, 135
to the selI, 124, 142, 151
attainments
common, 81
uncommon, 81
avadhti, 114
Avalokiteshvara, 63, 99, 139
bardo, 114, 120
Bodh Gaya, 88
Bodhicharyvatra, 9, 36, 38, 51, 55, 56,
124, 167
Bodhicharyvatra, 6
bodhicitta
a complete picture oI, 35, 36, 53
and loving kindness, 24
as motivation, 134
aspiring, 36, 37, 40
capacity oI, 88
entering, 36, 37
importance oI, 34, 41
in daily liIe, 39
moisture oI, 74
relative, 36, 45
ultimate, 35, 36, 37, 47
witness oI the, 74
Bodhisattva
activities oI, 35
and determination, 35, 36, 45, 46
attitude oI, 41, 142
beginner, 36, 40, 46
Ierryman, 38
grounds oI, 36, 38
king, 38
mahyna level oI, 88, 145
path oI, 46
practices oI, 36, 130, 137
shepard, 38
three types oI, 38
wisdom oI, 35
Buddha
dreams oI the, 131
nature oI, 89, 92
perIectly accomplished, 48
primordial, 91
qualities oI, 96, 101
words oI, 32, 50, 87, 117
Buddhism
and advice to non-buddhists, 145,
151
and children, 145, 146
and culture, 17
in the West, 26, 27, 145
translating oI, 26
Buddhist cosmology, 75
Chakrasamvara, 23, 32, 139
Chandrakirti, 143, 144
Chetsn Nyingthik, 29
Chogyur Lingpa, 89
clay pot, 125
compassion
a master's display oI, 91
and bodhicitta, 34, 39
and co-dependence, 35
and obsession with the goal, 36
and skilIul means, 31
in union with emptiness, 35, 53, 116
oI a Bodhisattva, 35
symbolic aspect oI, 79
Index
158
understanding oI, 40
with reIerence to beings, 88
completion meditation, 24, 52, 114
consort
concept oI, 32
Copper-coloured Mountain, 12, 24, 81
Dalai Lama, His Holiness the, 99, 112
dkini
and abisheka, 110
and prana, 118
the concept oI, 25
death
inevitability oI, 11, 28, 132, 136
instructions Ior, 106
signs oI, 83
uncertainty oI the moment oI, 27, 52
demons
Iour mras, 80
Deshung Rinpoche, 60, 71, 89, 91
Devadatta, 20, 57
developing meditation, 114
devotion
and chanting, 26
as a practice, 21, 93
as trust, 93
beneIits oI, 84, 85, 86, 131
genuine, 100, 108
path oI, 19, 21
to the guru, 20, 65, 88, 108
unshakable, 86
dharma
basis oI, 17, 133
how to listen to, 54, 55
in daily liIe, 30
name, 122
practice oI, 14, 28, 47, 54, 84, 94,
126, 129, 135
quintessence oI, 41
rare and precious, 70
theoretical. 10-12
understanding oI, 129, 131
dharma centres, 9, 73, 119, 142
dharma practice
and experiences, 85, 105, 131, 140
and motivation, 13, 22, 41, 133
and perseverance, 107
and signs, 72
and study, 146
attitude to, 14, 21, 30, 72, 132, 134
daily style oI, 22, 24, 71, 141
in a group, 28, 141
in retreat Iorm, 29, 59, 71, 76, 141
individual, 10, 11, 28, 29, 141
purpose oI, 133
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, HH, 8, 69, 77,
88, 91, 96, 101, 133, 167
disappointment, 13, 35
dream yoga, 114
dualistic mind, 58, 63, 99, 113
Dudjom Rinpoche, 8, 100, 134
Dudjom Tersar, 29, 30, 124
duhkha, 27
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, 53, 144
dzogchen, 62, 70, 77, 86, 87, 107, 139
dzogchen Monastery, 85
Dzogpachenpo, 29, 107
eightgreat charnel grounds , 66
eight worldly dharmas, 25, 134
carried away by, 30
essence-less aspect oI, 23
Iive Buddha Iamilies, 49, 71, 112, 113
Iive emotions, 13, 49, 143
Iive Ioundations, 34
Iour common thoughts, 67, 154
Iour Ioundations, 34, 151
Iour immeasurable thoughts, 40
Iour kyas. 195-198
Iour mras, 80
Iourteen root vows, 125
Garab Dorje, 98, 99
Gelugpa, 91
Gendun Chopal, 26
golden pot, 125
Guhyagarbha tantra, 10, 66
Guhyasamfa tantra, 32
guru yoga
and developing meditation, 24
and nyam, 102, 103
and preparatory practices, 79
and selI-initiation, 113
and shamatha, 151
and transIorming the selI, 79
devotional aspect, 84, 100
emphasis oI, 114
importance oI, 100
inner, 84, 94
outer, 84, 98
proIound path oI, 8
purpose oI, 21, 79, 92
secret, 84, 93, 98
visualisation, 98
guru-disciple relationship, 20
habitual patterns, 7, 104, 105, 115, 121
hell, 66
beings, 120, 127
Iear oI, 17
symbolism oI, 126
Heruka, 49, 66
ornaments oI, 80
Index
159
Hevajra, 9
impure perception
description oI, 12, 13
discarding oI, 13, 20, 62
Indrabodhi, 32
initiation
and puriIication, 110
connotations oI the, 110
substances oI, 111
types oI, 110
interdependent
auspiciousness, 79
reality, 70
Jamgn Kongtrul Lodr Thaye, 89, 130,
132, 135, 138, 139
Jamyang Khyentse Chkyi Lodr, 19, 20,
89
on the guru yoga, 19
Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, 17, 79, 89
Jataka Tales, 146
Jetsn Chime , 145
Jigme Lingpa, 17, 30, 95, 101
on aspiration, 37
on meditation, 76, 91
verses written by, 104
Kadampas, 41
Kagyupa, 91, 110
Kalachakra, 9, 112, 139
karma
and devotion, 93
and emotion, 140
and interpretation, 48, 117, 147
and meditation, 151
related to body, 62
related to mind, 61
karmic connection, 94, 105, 140
Khandro Thug Thik, 29
khatvnga, 97, 98, 99
King Trisong Detsen, 99
Knchog Lhundrup, 89
Krodhikl, 79, 80, 82
Kunzang Lama`i Shelung, 6
Lama
and student's motivation, 109
as a reIuge object, 57
as path, 84, 106
blessings oI, 88, 100, 118
calling oI, 17, 29, 68, 130
connection with, 84, 140
evaluation oI, 95
importance oI, 19, 65, 79, 85, 91
impure vision oI, 20, 92
motivation oI, 90, 91, 95
obeying instructions oI the, 55, 102
on the ultimate level, 21
qualities oI, 20
role oI, 20, 84, 91, 92
true existence oI, 92, 94
Lama khyeno, 17, 67, 154
Lama, choice oI, 89
Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, 66
Lankvatra-stra, 124
lineage, 29, 67, 91
visualisation, 98
lineages
three, 123
Longchenpa, 30
Loving Kindness, 24
mhamudr, 87
mahyna
and analysing selIlessness, 144
and compassion, 13
and emotion, 136
oI cause, 7
oI result, 7
path oI, 8, 34
quintessence oI, 34
theory oI, 9
merit
and bodhicitta, 88
and devotion, 108
dedication oI, 14, 47, 65, 121, 135
deIinition oI, 69
Iruit oI, 69
importance oI, 19, 57, 69
lack oI, 57
past accumlation oI, 147
ripening oI, 84
Milarepa, 10, 28, 133, 139
mind
as a vessel, 56
competitive, 143
deIilements oI, 57, 61, 114, 115
discriminating, 47
emptiness aspect oI, 48, 100, 106,
116, 134
essential nature oI, 21, 100
Iickle, 66, 129
goal-oriented, 36
grasping, 80
humanitarian, 39
interpretation oI, 14, 36, 42, 48, 50,
91
nature oI, 58, 77, 79, 85, 93, 99,
100, 106, 117
non-dualistic, 125
observation oI, 41, 52, 69, 104
open, 112, 147
ordinary, 42
recognising the, 88
Index
160
rigid, 54, 129, 142
theistic, 17, 47, 106
training oI the, 7, 13, 48, 50, 54, 88,
92
transIormations oI, 8
understanding oI, 43, 70
Mount Meru, 43, 70, 71, 75, 77, 78
Mount Wutai, 99
Mlasar vstivdins, 125
Ngrjuna, 64
ngas, 71
non-dualism
realm oI, 12
non-duality, 43, 87, 142
and emptiness, 35
attitude oI, 134
oI samsara and nirvana, 87
practice oI, 14, 43
non-existence
meaning oI, 107
nyam, 103
Nyingmapa, 91, 110
three lineages oI, 123
Nyoshl Khenpo, 86, 101
Nyoshl Lungtok. 139-142
obstacles, 64
as a good sign, 70, 107
oIIering substances, 71, 73
oIIerings
and a shrine, 71, 73
and attitude, 14, 134
concept oI, 70
created by mind, 73, 77
lamp, 70
meaning oI, 70
purpose oI, 69
parinirvna, 12
Patrl Rinpoche, 8, 13, 41, 56, 69, 72, 82,
85, 123, 131
phowa, 80
power oI the object oI puriIication, 64
prsangika, 111
prtimoksa. See srvakayna
precious human liIe, 23, 122
preliminary practices. 9 See also
vajrayna
preliminary thoughts, 54
prostrations, 8, 9, 10, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24,
37, 44, 47, 55, 72, 74, 76, 93, 122, 141,
142, 147
pure realm, 50, 51, 53
reIuge
as a hnayna practice, 8, 18
beneIits oI, 8, 56, 58
companion, 24
dissolving objects oI, 22, 23
distinction between mahyna and
vajrayna, 18
Iarmers attitude, 18, 78
in the mahyna, 19, 22
motivation, 20
object oI, 18, 19, 23, 67, 74, 98, 99,
100, 154
quintessence oI, 18
symbolic level, 122
taking, 44
theory oI, 18, 19, 23
ultimate, 93
relative and ultimate truth, 50
renunciation mind, 11, 23, 48, 52, 55, 67,
77, 93, 135
rigpa, 25, 123, 146, 152
rpakya, 116
Sakya Pandita, 146
Sakya Trizin, HH, 144
Sakyapa, 91
Samantabhadra, 100
samaya, 124, 126, 144
samaya breakage, 126
samsara
detachment Irom, 7, 142
essenceless aspect oI, 55
Iutility oI, 54, 55
illusory appearances oI, 51
not diIIerent Irom nirvana, 7
root oI, 142
sangha
the meaning oI, 25
selIlessness oI phenomena, 45, 91, 116.
See also two obscurations
selIlessness oI the person. See two
obscurations
Seven-Limb-Prayer, 24
Seven-Line-Prayer, 30, 98
sexual misconduct, 59, 62, 123
Shakyamuni Buddha, 48, 58, 93, 117, 125,
136
Shntideva, 39, 55, 56
srvakayna
and attitude, 8, 14, 17, 133
and discipline, 7, 13, 30
and emotion, 135, 136, 138
and ugliness meditation, 135
suIIering. See duhkha
awareness oI, 46
oI change, 27
source oI, 40, 135, 138
truth oI, 8, 52
Sukhvati, 51, 100
snyat
Index
161
(shunyata), 100
tendrel. 107 See also interdependent
the 'pot' example, 22, 42
theistic
skin, 47, 94
theravada. See srvakayna
three kyas, 81, 117
three lineages, 123
three supreme methods, 134, 135, 139. See
also three wholesomenesss
three wholesomeness`s, 13, 14, 35, 134
tgal, 29, 149
tonglenmeditation , 77
tooth
dog's, 69, 95
trekch, 29, 114
Tulku Orgyen Rinpoche, 147
two obscurations, 142
Uddiyna, 32
unshakable Iaith, 95
Vairochana, 99, 112
Vajravarahi, 98, 119, 120, 121
vajrayna
vows, 31
vajrayna
and emotion, 135, 137
and impure vision, 12
and samaya. 209 See also Iourteen
root vows
and tantric substance, 110
and the body as a vessel, 56
and transIorming the mind, 13
and vegetarianism, 125
essential practice oI, 23
methods oI, 8, 12, 82
path oI, 8
preliminary practices oI, 8
vidydhara, 123
view, 51, 122, 125, 126
and motivation, 39
mahyna, 51
oI emptiness, 104
ordinary point oI, 12
relative point oI, 137
vajrayna, 12, 30
vipashyana, 151
worldly point oI, 134
wrong, 34, 61
vipashyana
and non-Iabrication, 149
and the Iour Ioundations, 52
and the Iour mindIulness, 150
highest Iorm oI, 114, 115
visualisation, 146
basis oI, 42
method oI, 123
problems with, 12, 21, 123
purpose oI, 11, 13
wanderer's attitude. 159-160
quintessence oI, 97
wisdom
absolute, 113
and non-duality, 118
discriminating, 78
initiation, 113
maniIestation oI, 61, 138
mirror-like, 78
oIIering oI, 118
resulting Irom hearing, 54
resulting Irom meditation, 23
resulting Irom reIlection, 138
selI-existing, 25, 117
three kinds oI, 54
wrathIul deities, 49
Zen, 27
Buddhism, 86
methods oI, 9, 72, 73
Endnotes Endnotes Endnotes Endnotes
1
The uddhisl vehicIe lhal is aIso referred lo as lhe Theravada.
2
Someone vho foIIovs lhe srvaka lradilion.
3
Irom An ||uci!aiicn cj inc |xcc||cni Pain ic Onniscicncc. A Iiiurgq jcr inc Prc|ininarics cj inc
Hcari |sscncc cj inc Grcai |xpansc, inc Icngcncn Nqinginik Ngcn!rc comiIed and comosed
by }amyang Khyenlse Wango. TransIaled by lhe Va|ravairochana TransIalion
Commillee. 1996-2000 by lhe Va|ravairochana TransIalion Commillee, 1619 Idvard
Slreel, HaIifax, Nova Scolia, Canada 3H 3H9. AII righls reserved.
4
Ixcerl from Chaler 1, Slanza 23, Shanlideva's, Tnc Waq cj inc Bc!nisaiita
(Bc!nicnarqataiara), lransIaled by lhe Iadmakara TransIalion Grou.
5
incs |san sgcn gsun - Hearing, refIeclion and medilalion. 'Hearing' in lhis sense
means 'Iearning' as il incIudes receiving oraI leachings and sludying scrilures in order
lo cIear avay ignorance and vrong vievs. 'RefIeclion' is lo eradicale uncerlainly and
misunderslanding lhrough carefuIIy lhinking over lhe sub|ecl. 'Medilalion' means lo
gain direcl insighl lhrough aIying lhe leachings in one's ersonaI exerience.
|angjung Ycsnc Trans|aiicns c Pu||icaiicns, ||ccircnic Oiciicnarq.
6
Ixcerl from Chaler 5, Slanza 68, Shanlideva's, Tnc Waq cj inc Bc!nisaiita
(Bc!nicnarqataiara), lransIaled by lhe Iadmakara TransIalion Grou.
7
According lo SogyaI Rinoche's Ti|cian Bcck cj Iiting an! Oqing, iik|c are oinls or
baIIs of Iighl of differenl sizes.
8
IemaIe Iay raclilioner, lhe vovs of a femaIe Iay raclilioner.
9
!ur knrc! |rgqa! - Iighl charneI grounds: 1) CooI Grove, Silavana (bsiI ba lshaI), in lhe
easl. 2) Ierfecled in ody (sku Ia rdzogs) lo lhe soulh. 3) Lolus Mound (ad ma
brlsegs) lo lhe vesl. 4) Lanka Mound (Ian ka brlsegs) lo lhe norlh. 5) SonlaneousIy
AccomIished Mound (Ihun grub brlsegs) lo lhe soulh-easl. 6) DisIay of Greal Secrel
(gsang chen roI a) lo lhe soulh-vesl. 7) Iervasive Greal }oy (he chen brdaI ba) lo lhe
norlh-vesl. 8) WorId Mound ('|ig rlen brlsegs) lo lhe norlh-easl. There are aIso
numerous olher Iisls of charneI grounds. Scurcc. |angjung Ycsnc, ||ccircnic Oiciicnarq.
10
See Aendix I: OulIine of lhe Ngndro Iraclice.
11
See Aendix II: Diagram of lhe Seven Ioinl MandaIa.
12
See Aendix III: Diagram of lhe 37 Ioinl MandaIa.
13
The four kinds of |eveIs are cryslaI, sahire, ruby and goId.
14
In HH DiIgo Khyenlse Rinoche's Tnc Wisn-|u|ji||ing jcuc|, il is exIained lhal lhe lhe
eighl bone ornamenls symboIise lhe lransmulalion of lhe eighl conciousnesses. Sel
vilh |eveIs, lhe eighl bone ornamenls are Iisled as: diadem, earrings, lhree kinds of
neckIaces, braceIels, ankIels and beIl.
Endnotes
163
15
The 'four emovermenls' olhervise knovn as lhe four inilialions or lhe four
abishekas incIude: lhe vase inilialion, lhe secrel inilialion, lhe visdom inilialion and
lhe vord inilialion. Ior an in-delh sludy see: Tsc|c Naisck |ang!rc|, |npcucrncni an!
inc Pain cj Ii|craiicn.
16
Of lhe four main hiIosohicaI schooIs found vilhin buddhism: lhe saulrnlika, lhe
vaibhshika, lhe cillamlra and lhe madhyamika, lhe fourlh, can be furlher divided
inlo lvo: lhe rsangika and lhe svlanlrika. Ozcngsar Knqcnisc |inpccnc, Tnc
Ma!nqanikataiara icacnings, |rancc, 1996-2000.
17
The syslem of monaslism and elhicaI ruIes, as racliced in lhe Tibelan lradilion.
18
Irom |nicnsijqing Octciicn in Oncs Hcari. Tnc Supp|icaiicn Crqing ic inc Gurus jrcn Ajar
by }amgon KonglruI Lodro Thaya. TransIaled by lhe NIIandI TransIalion Commillee.
by lhe NIIandI TransIalion Commillee, 1619 Idvard Slreel, HaIifax, Nova Scolia, Canada
3H 3H9. AII righls reserved.
19
Irom |nicnsijqing Octciicn in Oncs Hcari. Tnc Supp|icaiicn Crqing ic inc Gurus jrcn Ajar
by }amgon KonglruI Lodro Thaya. TransIaled by lhe NIIandI TransIalion Commillee.
by lhe NIIandI TransIalion Commillee, 1619 Idvard Slreel, HaIifax, Nova Scolia, Canada
3H 3H9. AII righls reserved.
20
Irom An ||uci!aiicn cj inc |xcc||cni Pain ic Onniscicncc. A Iiiurgq jcr inc Prc|ininarics cj
inc Hcari |sscncc cj inc Grcai |xpansc, inc Icngcncn Nqinginik Ngcn!rc comiIed and
comosed by }amyang Khyenlse Wango. TransIaled by lhe Va|ravairochana TransIalion
Commillee. 1996-2000 by lhe Va|ravairochana TransIalion Commillee, 1619 Idvard
Slreel, HaIifax, Nova Scolia, Canada 3H 3H9. AII righls reserved.
21
The lvo obscuralions are aIso referred lo as lhe emolionaI veiI, and lhe cognilive veiI.
The emolionaI veiI is lhe beIief in a lruIy exisling seIf, lhis gives rise lo aII lhe emolionaI
affIiclions. The cognilive veiI, refers lo conceluaI lhinking and lhe division of
henomena inlo sub|ecl, ob|ecl and aclion. Trcasurq cj Prccicus Qua|iiics, A Ccnncniarq
cj inc |cci Tcxi cj jignc Iingpa |q Kangqur |inpccnc.
22
Those oinls marked vilh an aslerisk can be olionaI.