by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje
Sole unfailing and unchanging Refuge, Lord of the Mandala,
Most precious and kind Root Guru, hold me with compassion
When I squander the freedoms and endowments,
Ignoring death, providing only for this life.
The fleeting human life, like a dream,
If it’s happy that’s all right, if it’s unhappy that’s all right.
Without concern for happiness or sorrow,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This mortal existence, like a candle in the wind,
If it’s long that’s all right, if it’s short that’s all right.
Without intensifying the tight grip of the ego,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These intellectual judgements, like the lure of a mirage,
If they’re suitable that’s all right, if they’re not that’s all right.
Discarding, like hay, whatever carries the eight worldly concerns,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This entourage, like of flock of birds in a tree,
If it’s assembled that’s all right, if it’s scattered that’s all right.
Without letting others lead me by the nose,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This illusory body, like a hundred year old house,
If it survives that’s all right, if it collapses that’s all right.
Without becoming obsessed by food, clothes and medicine,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This religious position, like a child’s game,
If it’s kept up that’s all right, if it’s dropped that’s all right.
Without deceiving myself with numerous diversions,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These gods and demons, like reflections in a mirror,
If they’re helpful that’s all right, if they’re harmful that’s all right.
Without perceiving my own hallucinations as enemies,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This delusive talk, like a trackless echo,
If it’s pleasing that’s all right, if it’s unpleasant that’s all right.
Taking the Three Jewels and my own mind as witness,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
That which is useless at the time of need, like the antlers of a deer,
If it’s known that’s all right, if it’s unknown that’s all right.
Without simply relying on various sciences,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These religious possessions, like virulent poisons,
If they come that’s all right, if they don’t that’s all right.
Without devoting my life to sinful, unwholesome means of survival,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This form of greatness, like dogshit wrapped in brocade,
If it’s obtained that’s all right, if it’s not that’s all right.
Having smelled the rot of my own head,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These relationships, like gatherings on a market day,
If they’re loving that’s all right, if they’re spiteful that’s all right.
Cutting the ties of passionate attachment from deep within the heart,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This material wealth, like what’s found in a dream,
If it’s acquired that’s all right, if it’s not that’s all right.
Without deceiving others by flattery and assent,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This rank, like a little bird perch on top of a tree,
If it’s high that’s all right, if it’s low that’s all right.
Without aspiring to that which actually brings sorrow,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This black magic, like a sharpened weapon,
If it’s successful that’s all right, if it’s not that’s all right.
Without buying the blade that will cut off my life,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These recitations, like parrot’s six syllables,
If they’re repeated that’s all right, if they’re not that’s all right.
Without counting numbers of the various practices,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
Mere religious discourse, like a mountain cascade,
If it’s eloquent that’s all right, if it’s not that’s all right.
Without thinking of this glibness as Dharma,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The mind quick to judge, like a pig’s snout,
If it’s sharp that’s all right, if it’s dull that’s all right.
Without uselessly digging up the rubble of anger attachment,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The yogi’s experience, like a stream in summer,
If it expands that’s all right, if it recedes that’s all right.
Without chasing rainbows like a child,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These pure visions, like rain on a mountain top,
If they happen that’s all right, if they don’t that’s all right.
Without giving credence to illusory experiences,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The freedoms and endownments, like a wish-fulfilling gem,
If I do not obtain them, there is not way to accomplish Dharma.
When I have them in hand, without letting them spoil,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This glorious Guru, light on the path of liberation,
If I do not meet him, there is no way to realize the true nature.
When I know the way to go, without jumping into the precipice,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The holy Dharma, like a medicine that cures sickness,
If I have not heard it, there is no way to decide what to give and what to take up.
Distinguishing the beneficial from the harmful, without swallowing the poison,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The alternation of happiness and suffering, the changing of summer and winter,
If I do not recognize it, there is no way to develop renunciation.
Being certain I will suffer in turn,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This immersion in Samsara, like a stone in deep water,
If I do not get out of it now, I will not be free of it later.
Holding on to the lifeline of the compassionate Three Jewels,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The qualities of liberation, like an island of jewels,
If I am unaware of them, there is no way to develop diligence.
Seeing the unending benefits to be gained,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The life stories of the great saints, like the essence of nectar,
If I am unacquainted with them, there is no way to awaken faith.
When I recognize the real gains and losses,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The aspiration towards enlightenment, like a fertile field,
If I do not cultivate it, there is no way to attain Buddhahood.
Without becoming indifferent to the accomplishment of the great goal,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These thoughts of mine, like a monkey’s antics,
If I do not tame them, there is no way to eliminate my afflictive emotions.
Without falling into all kinds of crazy mimicry,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This attachment to ego, like an inherent shadow,
If I do not give it up, there is no way to reach a peaceful place.
When I recognize the enemy, without befriending it,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The five poisons, like embers glowing in the ash,
If I do not extinguish them, I cannot abide in the mind’s self-nature.
Without breeding venomous baby snakes in my bed,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This temperament of mine, like the stiff hide of a butter-bag,
If I do not soften it, the Dharma and my mind will never blend.
Without indulging the child that is born from my self,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These ingrained bad habits, like the course of a river,
If I do not eliminate them, I cannot part from the profane.
Without delivering weapons into the hands of the enemy,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These distractions, like the ceaseless rippling of water,
If I do not reject them, there is no way to become steadfast.
When I have the freedom of choice, without devoting myself to Samsara,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The Guru’s blessing, like the warming of earth and water,
If I do not receive it, there is no way to recognize my own true nature.
When I step on the short path, without turning in circles,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The solitary place, like a summer valley of medicine plants,
If I do not dwell there, there is no way for the good qualities to grow.
When I stay in the mountains, without wandering off to dark cities,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This desire for comfort, like a greedy ghost lodged at the hearth,
If I do not part from it, painful efforts will never cease.
Without making, as to a god, offerings to a hungry demon,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This alert mindfulness, like the key to a fortress,
If it is not relied upon, the movements of delusion will never stop.
At the time the thief arrives, without leaving the latch unfastened,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The true nature, like unchanging space,
If I do not realize it, the ground of the view will not be established.
Without chaining myself in iron fetters,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This awareness, like a stainless crystal,
If I do not see it, the clinging and effort of meditation cannot dissolve.
When I have this inseparable companion, without searching for another,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The natural mind, like an old friend,
If I do not recognize it, all my activities will be deluded.
Without fumbling around with my eyes closed,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
In short, if I do not abandon the concerns of this life,
There is no way to apply the teachings for the benefit of the next life,
Having resolved to be kind to myself,
May whatever I do become the Supreme Teaching.
To doubt the Guru’s instructions that accord with the Dharma,
To feel bitterness toward the deity when bad karma emerges,
To discontinue the sadhana and so forth when adverse circumstances arise,
May such obstacles not occur as accomplishment approaches.
All this doing has no more meaning than walking around a desert,
All these efforts make my character rigid.
All this thinking just reinforces my delusions,
What worldly beings consider to be Dharma is the cause of binding myself.
All this exertion produces no result,
All these ideas bring not a single actualization,
All the numerous wants will never be fulfilled,
Abandoning activities, may I be able to meditate on the oral instructions.
If you think you want to do it, take the Victorious One’s words as witness,
If you think you can really do it, blend your mind with Dharma,
If you think you will practice, follow the example of the past saints.
You spoiled ones, is there any other way?
Taking a humble position, rich with the treasure of contentment,
Free from the binds of eight worldly concerns, firm and strong-hearted in practice,
Receiving the Guru’s blessing, realization becomes equal to space.
May we inherit the Kingdom of Kuntuzangpo.
Thus having united the meaning of the diamond words of the past saints, I have written this as my own prayer.
Jigdral Yeshe Dorje
Drops of the Nectar of Oral Instructions 1: Orgyen Terdag Lingpa
Om Svasti!
Relying upon him, one is completely protected from the many fears of worldly existence.
And established on the path of liberation.
I pay homage to the most kind Master, the Three Jewels Incarnate.
Understanding that he is the essence of my own wakeful awarness.
It is the responsibility of those who wish to attain liberation to follow the displine
Concerning what must be cultivated and what must be abandoned
In accordance with the Victorious One’s teachings, commentaries and instructions,
Thus, adopting this way of acting is appropriate.
The human body, adorned with freedoms and favorable conditions,
Is more extremely difficult to find and is of great importance.
At the time you have something like this, if you do not accomplish the ultimate aim
Who could be more stupid and deluded than that?
All composite things are impermanent and are certain to die.
The time of death is uncertain and the circumstances of death are limitless.
Since at the moment nothing but the sublime teachings will be of benefit,
Without procrastinating practice diligently.
The sufferings of the lower realms are unbearable like a pit of fire.
Sinking there once, how will you find the opportunity for liberation?
Even in the realms of happiness, suffering is actually experienced.
Therefore, you must conclusively establish the means of becoming free.
The seeds of constructive and destructive actions unfailingly
Ripen into the fruit of happiness and sorrow.
As this is the very nature of interdependence, you must rely on attentiveness and mindfulness
Concerning the manner of what to engage in and what to avoid.
From the bottom of your heart, pray to rest your hope permanently
In the unfailing protector, your Master, and the Three Jewels.
Cultivate the enlightened mind of Bodhicitta by offering your compassionate responsiveness
To your fathers and mothers, beings most kind, who are as pervasive as space.
From beginningless samsara until this moment,
Your mind has wandered continuously through ignorance and delusion.
From now on, with no attachment to deluded activity,
Make effort to realize the undeluded true nature of reality
Respectfully following a spiritual master who has all the defining characteristics,
By ripening your mind stream through receiving the perfectly pure four empowerments
Of the great mandala of Vajrayana
Establish yourself unmistakenly in profound interdependence.
As spiritual commitments themselves are the only root of accomplishment,
Without transgressing the boundary of prescribed precepts,
Knowing the restrictions and purposes, practice without confusion
The disciplines of adopting and abandoning according to the Three Vehicles.
The primordial reality and the nature of all phenomena
Is profound, tranquil, unelaborated, luminous and unconditioned.
Apply yourself in the methods of realizing exactly as it is
This vajra mind, perfected in its ground and unchanging.
The manifold appearances of mind, as many as there are,
From their mere appearance, are unreal as magical illusions.
Under the power of habitual tendencies towards singular phenomena,
The causes and conditions of attachment and hatred are
uncertain, and lack single identity.
If analyzed and investigated, it cannot be established as anything.
Yet everyting arises in the brilliant clear awarenss.
As the manifestations of mind are arising unceasingly
It is said that the appearances are themselves what is called mind.
The nature of mind is luminous, intangible and inconceivable.
Its expanse is free of mental constructs, and falls in no particular direction.
Vividly wakeful in the continuity of unconfined self-appearance.
Rest in the primordial purity that is changeless and perfect from the ground.
Binding the essential movements of body with the key points,
Let the movement of the breath in and out come to its natural state.
With no distraction from the focus of meditation on mind itself,
Focus the three doors in union on the essential practice.
Without attachment to the apparent yet empty form of the deities, the illusory bodies,
Engaging in recitation with indivisible wind and mantra train in the continuity
Of mind– luminous, uncompounded great bliss,
The path of method that purifies channels, energies and essential drops.
Through the yoga of the indestructible three vajras: body, speech and mind,
Cleanse the energy channels, dissolve the energies and thoroughly purify the essential drops.
Drawing on the interrelated enhancing pracitces of day and night.
You will experience the fruition of the natural state.
Clearly and without grasping, recognize your own nature by yourself
By the pair of calm abiding cultivated through resting in awareness
And the extraordinary insight of perceiving your nature nakedly.
Nurturing this without distraction is the essence of the path.
The view that understands emptiness is the natural state itself.
Cultivating undistracted mindfulness is the path of meditation.
For the yogi who trains in compassionate expressiveness
As diligently as possible, the foundation of liberation will be firmly laid.
Putting enormous effort into the meaningless activities of this life,
Many are left with only superficial practice toward the ultimate purpose.
Even with the intention to practice the Dharma, those who take it in hand are very rare.
Thus in short, concentrate on the holy dharma.
Persevere in the pure vision that knows with certainty the
Master to be your own awareness.
By arousing unbearable devotion and fierce respect,
You will be blessed to realize the self-arising primordial wisdom
And effortlessly conviction will develop from deep within.
Whatever unfavorable conditions of illness or malevolent influences may arise,
Through never finding their essential nature to be truly established
Except as manifestations of deluded ignorance,
Train yourself by taking adversities on to the path as the play of illusion.
Seek out different spiritual masters upholding their respective Dharma traditions.
According to the interests of those to be tamed, each is profound in its own manner.
In this way, without accumulating the evils of attachment and anger.
Genuinely train in pure vision, non-sectarianism and superior intention.
In a place of solitude, engaging in ordinary food and drink,
Being occupied with frivolous entertainment in attending to your retinue of disciples and patrons,
Endlessly engaged in deceiving people,
Do not be caught in samsara, deceiving yourself through confusion.
By becoming distracted into the many kinds of knowledge that appear to benefit others,
Methods of healing and astrological calculations,
Coming up with examples, and so on, ordinary thoughts build up, and
The images of a great many dharma practitioners are lost.
The natural disposition of the mind is to be self-aware and to rest in its own place;
The radiance of the mind is the unceasing arising of all manner of things.
Recognizing delusion’s own faults and the non-existence of the basis of delusion,
Study, contemplate, and train on the path of indivisibility.
In short, whatever arises, don’t construct thoughts about it;
Nurture it without fabrication, naturally, in its own radiance,
just as it is.
Whatever occurs, be it abiding or moving, do not obstruct or strive.
Always sustain the self-nature of your awareness without distraction.
When gazing directly at your mind,
From the instant of emergence, without defining it as ‘it is thus’
Strive to maintain with no distraction the original face
Of the natural state of your primordially self-liberated awareness.
You have the power to bear the meaningless hardships of this life
Yet for the sake of dharma you don’t give up a single session of sleep.
Be unmistaken in your choice of what to adopt and what to abandon;
Always strive to achieve the ultimate goal.
So be it. This copy is offered from the admonition of oral advice in the words of the King of Dharma, Orgyen Terdag Lingpa, which is known as the Drops of Nectar.
Endowed with Garland of Flowers: The Reasons for Exhaustion by Longchen Rabjam:
Om Svasti Siddham!
The delightful enlightened form, like a blooming lotus garden,
Whom gods and humans honor as the omniscient one,
The glorious Samyepa of mountain retreat,
Offers some verses to the ears of people with clear minds!
Nowadays, some people have been, in a manner of speaking,
Claiming I lack knowledge of appropriate manners, wealth and
short of an unconfused frame of mind,
That I am not firmly established in solitude and am extremely exhausted.
To all these, I answer. Listen as I speak!
Although criticized by sublime beings, non-dharmic evil behavior is increasing.
Lies, cunning and fraud are the basis of deceiving others,
Causing regret at the time of death and falling to lower realms in future lives.
Such appropriately worldly manners are better done without!
Sublime beings criticize sensual pleasures as the lasso of samsara.
Bringing on quarrels with everyone, it is the basis for many kinds of suffering.
Even if you have enough, you’re not satisfied and craving increases.
Since it’s the cause for downfalls, it’s fine to be devoid of wealth!
If revulsion towards worldly dharmas does not arise,
There will never be liberation from the ocean of existence.
Toward impermanent and essence-less phenomena,
It’s good to be unattached and better if you are short of worldly plans!
While staying together as one, attachment and hatred naturally increases.
Distractions, diversions and activities become even greater.
By binding one to existence, ego clinging is the cause of bondage.
In this kind of situation it’s better not to have any certainty!
Even my exhaustion is not without a cause.
As I ponder the auspicious throughout the day and night,
[I see] the ocean of samsara, with its waves of birth and death.
We wander here from the natural illusion of ego clinging.
Having seen the deep ocean of existence that is difficult to cross,
I despair and, shedding tears, become exhausted!
Please listen to how I am even more wearied by
Examining behavior of other people.
Venerable abbots, teachers and lamas, though quite secure,
Do not pursue the path of Dharma but chase after sense
pleasure and entertainment.
Outwardly peaceful, they are extremely arrogant within,
Having seen their cunning ways, I become exhausted!
Even those endowed with the Dharma pay attention to the wealthy.
The straightforward guides as well are more benevolent
towards their dissimulating retinues.
They pursue the eight worldly concerns, those versed in non-Dharma.
Seeing mere reflections of the Gurus, I become exhausted!
The slanderous ones who engage in divisiveness know nothing
about what is meaningful.
The crooked demonic ones who never take a stand but who live by flattery
Are not pleased by goodness and separate two who are in harmony.
Seeing friends like this, I become exhausted!
Unable to bear it themselves, while expecting others to cope with effort;
Not helping in times of need, and upholding others’ unworthy positions.
Displaying all kinds of moods even for minor things;
Seeing friends like this, I become exhausted!
If you teach those who have no proper respect, you evoke harsh words.
Lacking faith and devotion, rigid as unyeilding wood
They run after food and leave behind the activity of exertion.
Seeing students like this, I become exhausted!
They praise you to your face, and speak badly behind your back.
Not striving on the path of Dharma, but chasing after sense pleasures,
As the final return for your nurture they manufacture quarrels.
Seeing students like this, I become exhausted!
If your food and clothing are inferior, you’re cast down even if
you’re learned.
With great wealth, even the stupid are venerated
And reckoned as talented although their companions are evil and cunning.
Seeing this kind of people, I become exhausted!
They look on those who live in an honest way as being completely uncultured.
They take those who lack wealth as having merit.
They say that those who follow the Dharma have accomplished
only worthless methods.
Seeing this kind of people, I become exhausted!
Those who are expert at fitting into the ordinary are counted
excellent scholars.
Those who mimic good qualities are said to be wise in Dharma
Those who are good at using harsh, stupid and deceitful words
are considered quite exemplary.
Seeing this kind of people, I become exhausted!
With only verbal generosity, they dedicate as though the merits
were complete.
Bringing harm, they are proud as though they had created virtue.
Engaging in non-Dharma, they clearly believe they have
accomplished the journey to the bliss realm.
All these perversions make me quite exhausted!
Without Dharma, obtaining mere trifles is counted as happiness.
And genuine monks without wealth are scorned by all who see them.
When fools are more valued than noble ones,
If there is any feeling, exhaustion is appropriate!
At this time and place, principles are perverted.
Being the opposite of one’s mistakes, good qualities are
reckoned as erroneous.
Just as the beings of Tsuta (a realm where all beings have only one leg) laugh at two-legged humans,
Saying one leg is extra,
The one called Samyepa who composes, teaches and debates,
Now faces insults for acting in accord with the Dharma!
When I expound this truth, the throng of heedless, ignorant fools,
The most stupid who pretend to be studying and contemplating
the system of logic,
The foolish hypocrites with their imposing air of mastery of the
supreme precious three trainings,
And those lofty associates who easily befriend them, are most displeased.
However my body of discipline is superb; the petals of the
three trainings are formed and expanded.
And the excellent ones who can discern the causes assemble at
the fortress of honesty.
In order to awaken delight in their minds I arranged this composition.
All whose minds are clear, please examine whether the
meaning is true or false.
In this manner the sweet-voiced one of mountain retreat
I, Tshultrim Lodro Zangpo composed this.
By this virtue, may I and all beings,
Sit before the great tree of the essence of enlightenment;
After defeating the devils of unpleasant speech,
May we become Dharma Kings with the spontaneously established three kayas!
With the intention of a perfect exposition, this answer, called “Endowed with Rosary that Completely Subjugates”, was composed by the greatly learned poet, the glorious Samyepa, Tsultrim Lodro. It is here complete.
spam
Advice from Me to Myself
Patrul Rinpoche
Vajrasattva, sole deity, Master,
You sit on a full-moon lotus-cushion of white light
In the hundred-petalled full bloom of youth.
Think of me, Vajrasattva,
You who remain unmoved within the manifest display
That is Mahamudra, pure bliss-emptiness.
Listen up, old bad-karma Patrul,
You dweller-in-distraction.
For ages now you've been
Beguiled, entranced, and fooled by appearances.
Are you aware of that? Are you?
Right this very instant, when you're
Under the spell of mistaken perception
You've got to watch out.
Don't let yourself get carried away by this fake
and empty life.
Your mind is spinning around
About carrying out a lot of useless projects:
It's a waste! Give it up!
Thinking about the hundred plans you want to accomplish,
With never enough time to finish them,
Just weighs down your mind.
You're completely distracted
By all these projects, which never come to an end,
But keep spreading out more, like ripples in water.
Don't be a fool: for once, just sit tight.
Listening to the teachings — you've already
heard hundreds of teachings,
But when you haven't grasped the meaning of even
one teaching,
What's the point of more listening?
Reflecting on the teachings — even though you've listened,
If the teachings aren't coming to mind when needed,
What's the point of more reflection? None.
Meditating according to the teachings —
If your meditation practice still isn't curing
The obscuring states of mind—forget about it!
You've added up just how many mantras you've done —
But you aren't accomplishing the kyerim visualization.
You may get the forms of deities nice and clear —
But you're not putting an end to subject and object.
You may tame what appear to be evil spirits and ghosts,
But you're not training the stream of your own mind.
Your four fine sessions of sadhana practice,
So meticulously arranged —
Forget about them.
When you're in a good mood,
Your practice seems to have lots of clarity —
But you just can't relax into it.
When you're depressed,
Your practice is stable enough
But there's no brilliance to it.
As for awareness,
You try to force yourself into a rigpa-like state,
As if stabbing a stake into a target!
When those yogic positions and gazes keep your mind stable
Only by keeping mind tethered —
Forget about them!
Giving high-sounding lectures
Doesn't do your mind-stream any good.
The path of analytical reasoning is precise and acute —
But it's just more delusion, good for nothing goat-shit.
The oral instructions are very profound
But not if you don't put them into practice.
Reading over and over those dharma texts
That just occupy your mind and make your eyes sore —
Forget about it!
You beat your little damaru drum — ting, ting —
And your audience thinks it's charming to hear.
You're reciting words about offering up your body,
But you still haven't stopped holding it dear.
You're making your little cymbals go cling, cling —
Without keeping the ultimate purpose in mind.
All this dharma-practice equipment
That seems so attractive —
Forget about it!
Right now, those students are all studying so very hard,
But in the end, they can't keep it up.
Today, they seem to get the idea,
But later on, there's not a trace left.
Even if one of them manages to learn a little,
He rarely applies his "learning" to his own conduct.
Those elegant dharma disciplines —
Forget about them!
This year, he really cares about you,
Next year, it's not like that.
At first, he seems modest,
Then he grows exalted and pompous.
The more you nurture and cherish him,
The more distant he grows.
These dear friends
Who show such smiling faces to begin with —
Forget about them!
Her smile seems so full of joy —
But who knows if that's really the case?
One time, it's pure pleasure,
Then it's nine months of mental pain.
It might be fine for a month,
But sooner or later, there's trouble.
People teasing; your mind embroiled —
Your lady-friend —
Forget about her!
These endless rounds of conversation
Are just attachment and aversion —
It's just more goat-shit, good for nothing at all.
At the time it seems marvelously entertaining,
But really, you're just spreading around stories
about other people's mistakes.
Your audience seems to be listening politely,
But then they grow embarrassed for you.
Useless talk that just make you thirsty —
Forget about it!
Giving teachings on meditation texts
Without yourself having
Gained actual experience through practice,
Is like reciting a dance-manual out loud
And thinking that's the same as actually dancing.
People may be listening to you with devotion,
But it just isn't the real thing.
Sooner or later, when your own actions
Contradict the teachings, you'll feel ashamed.
Just mouthing the words,
Giving dharma explanations that sound so eloquent—
Forget about it!
When you don't have a text, you long for it;
Then when you've finally gotten it,
you hardly look at it.
The number of pages seems few enough,
But it's a bit hard to find time to copy them all.
Even if you copied down all the dharma texts on earth,
You wouldn't be satisfied.
Copying down texts is a waste of time
(Unless you get paid) —
So forget about it!
Today, they're happy as clams —
Tomorrow, they're furious.
With all their black moods and white moods,
People are never satisfied.
Or even if they're nice enough,
They may not come through when you really need them,
Disappointing you even more.
All this politeness, keeping up a
Courteous demeanor —
Forget about it!
Worldly and religious work
Is the province of gentlemen.
Patrul, old boy — that's not for you.
Haven't you noticed what always happens?
An old bull, once you've gone to the trouble of
borrowing him for his services,
Seems to have absolutely no desire left in him at all—
(Except to go back to sleep).
Be like that — desireless.
Just sleep, eat, piss, shit.
There's nothing else in life that has to be done.
Don't get involved with other things:
They're not the point.
Keep a low profile,
Sleep.
In the triple universe
When you're lower than your company
You should take the low seat.
Should you happen to be the superior one,
Don't get arrogant.
There's no absolute need to have close friends;
You're better off just keeping to yourself.
When you're without any worldly
or religious obligations,
Don't keep on longing to acquire some!
If you let go of everything —
Everything, everything —
That's the real point!
This advice was written by the practitioner Trime Lodro
(Patrul Rinpoche) for his intimate friend Ahu Shri
(Patrul Rinpoche), in order to give advice that is tailored
exactly to his capacities.
This advice should be put into practice.
Even though you don't know how to practice, just let go of
everything — that's what I really want to say. Even though
you aren't able to succeed in your dharma practice, don't
get angry.
May it be virtuous.
Patrul Rinpoche (1808-1887) was the wandering turn-of-the-century
Dzogchen master of Eastern Tibet, beloved by the people. He was
renowned as the enlightened vagabond.
Translation by Constance Wilkinson
Many questions about the text were clarified according to the extremely
kind explanations of the Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, during
his stay in New York City, and according to the detailed explanations
of Khenpo, Rigdzin Dorje of the Nyingmapa Shedra, Bansbari,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
Thanks to Matthieu Ricard of Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling, and to
Anne Burchardi of the Marpa institute of Translation for their advice
toward trying to make this translation faithful to both the letter and
spirit of the original Tibetan.
All errors and misunderstandings are those of the translator. May this
poem, despite all shortcomings of its translation, serve to benefit beings.
Sarva Mangalam.
this is the goal of buddhism:
Be like that — desireless.
“Material objects are like clouds and mist; never think they might last.
Popularity is like an echo; don’t pursue esteem, pursue its very nature.
Beautiful clothes are like colors in a rainbow; dress simply and apply yourself to practice.
This body of ours is a sack of blood, pus and lymph; do not cherish it.
Even delicious meals turn into excrement; don’t give great importance to food.
Phenomena arise as enemies; stay in hermitages or in the mountains.
The thorns of illusory perception tear at the mind; experience them as being of equal nature.
Desires and needs all come from yourself; keep to the very nature of mind.
The most precious jewel is within you; do not long for food and wealth.
A lot of talking just brings quarrels; act as if you were dumb.
Mind has its own natural ability; don’t just follow the dictates of your stomach.
Blessings arise from the mind, pray to your lama and yidam.
If you stay in one place too long, you will find fault even with the Buddha; don’t stay anywhere for long.
You should act in a humble way; abandon pride in your status.
You won’t be here for long; practice now without delay.
You are like a traveller in this life; don’t build a castle where you are just resting a while.
No action will be of any help; put accomplishment into practice.
You never know when your body will become worm-fodder or simply disappear;
don’t get distracted by this life’s appearances.
Friends and relations are like little birds on a branch; do not get attached to them.
Confident faith is like an excellent foundation; don’t leave it in the refuse of negative emotions.
This human form is like a precious wish-granting gem; do not hand it to your enemy, hatred.
Samaya is like a watch-tower, don’t contaminate it with faults.
While the Vajra Master is among you, don’t let the Dharma drift into laziness.”
--Padampa Sangye
Originally posted by Dharmadhatu:“Material objects are like clouds and mist; never think they might last.
Popularity is like an echo; don’t pursue esteem, pursue its very nature.
Beautiful clothes are like colors in a rainbow; dress simply and apply yourself to practice.
This body of ours is a sack of blood, pus and lymph; do not cherish it.
Even delicious meals turn into excrement; don’t give great importance to food.
Phenomena arise as enemies; stay in hermitages or in the mountains.
The thorns of illusory perception tear at the mind; experience them as being of equal nature.
Desires and needs all come from yourself; keep to the very nature of mind.
The most precious jewel is within you; do not long for food and wealth.
A lot of talking just brings quarrels; act as if you were dumb.
Mind has its own natural ability; don’t just follow the dictates of your stomach.
Blessings arise from the mind, pray to your lama and yidam.
If you stay in one place too long, you will find fault even with the Buddha; don’t stay anywhere for long.
You should act in a humble way; abandon pride in your status.
You won’t be here for long; practice now without delay.
You are like a traveller in this life; don’t build a castle where you are just resting a while.
No action will be of any help; put accomplishment into practice.
You never know when your body will become worm-fodder or simply disappear;
don’t get distracted by this life’s appearances.
Friends and relations are like little birds on a branch; do not get attached to them.
Confident faith is like an excellent foundation; don’t leave it in the refuse of negative emotions.
This human form is like a precious wish-granting gem; do not hand it to your enemy, hatred.
Samaya is like a watch-tower, don’t contaminate it with faults.
While the Vajra Master is among you, don’t let the Dharma drift into laziness.”
--Padampa Sangye
nice advice. esp looking into:-
"A lot of talking just brings quarrels; act as if you were dumb. "
and
"If you stay in one place too long, you will find fault even with the Buddha; don’t stay anywhere for long."
ps: food to eat a bit healthier though.
/\
“Buddhahood Without Meditation” by Dudjom Rinpoche:
On another occasion, when I encountered Orgyan Tsokyey Dorje–the embodiment of the magical illusion of timeless awareness–he bestowed advice for refining my perception of things so that I could see that they are illusory (gyu-ma). He said, “For me to introduce you directly to the interdependence of causes and conditions coming together, consider this: The cause is the ground of being as basic space (zhi-ying), which is pristinely lucid (dang-sal) and endowed with capacity for anything whatsoever to arise. The condition is a consciousness that conceives of an ‘I.’ From the coming together of these two, all sensory appearances (nang-wa) manifest like illusions.
“In this way, the ground of being as basic space, ordinary mind (sem) that arises from the dynamic energy (tzal) of that ground, and the external and internal phenomena that constitute the manifest aspect of that mind are all interlinked (lu-gu-gyud), like the sun and its rays. Thus, we use the expression ‘occurring in interdependent connection.’
“Here are some metaphors for this process: It is like the appearance of a magical illusion, which depends on the pristine clarity of space as the cause and manifestations through the interdependent connection created by the synchronicity of the conditions–that is, magical substances, mantras, and the mind that creates the illusion.
“All phenomena, which manifest as they do, are ineffable, yet appear due to the influence of conceiving of an ‘I.’ This process is like a mirage appearing from the synchronicity of vividly clear space and the presence of warmth and moisture.
“All sensory appearances of the waking consciousness, dream states, the bardo, and future lifetimes are apparent yet ineffable. Confusion comes about due to fixation on their seeming truth. This is like a dream that one does not consider false–thinking, ‘This is a dream’–but instead reifies and fixates on as some enduring objective environment.
“Due to the predominant condition of the perception of an inner ‘I,’ the realm of phenomena manifests as something ‘other.’ This is like the appearance of a reflection through the interdependent connection of a face and a mirror coming together.
“Because one is thoroughly ensnared by concepts of identity (dag-dzin), the realms of the six states manifest one after the other. This is like the cities of gandarvas appearing in one’s environment–for example, one a plain at sunset–as visionary experiences reified by the ordinary mind.
“While sensory appearances are primordially such that they have never existed, the myriad appearances that are seen, heard, smelled and tasted, or felt are like echoes–subjective appearances manifesting as though they were something else.
“All sensory appearances are not other than the ground of being, but are of one taste with that ground itself, like the reflections of all the planets and stars in the ocean that are not other than the ocean, but are of one taste with the water itself.
“Due to the concept of an ‘I,’ self and other manifest as though they truly existed within the panoramic sky of the ground of being, expansive basic space. This is analogous to bubbles forming on water.
“The pristine lucidity of the ground of being as empty basic space is forced into the narrow confines of the subjective perception of consciousness based on conceptual mind (yid-shey). The influence of this entrenched habit causes sensory appearances perceived in confusion to manifest in all their variety. This is like the appearance of a hallucination when pressure is applied to the optic nerve or when one’s nervous system is disturbed by an imbalance of subtle energy (lung).
“Sensory appearances manifest from the ground of being in all their variety in view of a consciousness that conceives of an ‘I,’ yet they do not diverge from or occur outside of that ground. This is like the case of an adept who has gained mastery (wang gyur-wa) over states of meditative absorption (ting-nge-dzin) that permit the emanation and control of phantoms. Although a variety of phantoms manifest when such an individual is engaged in this process of emanation and control, in actuality these phantoms are free of any basis and have never existed as real objects.
“Ah, my incredible little child, meditate progressively in this way and, having realized that all sensory appearances are illusory, you will become a yogin of illusion.”
Saying this, he vanished.
The Ultimate and Meaningful Instruction: Longchen Rabjam
Supreme glorious master, all-pervasive lord of the hundred Buddha-families.
Who combines into one, the power of compassion and enlightened activity.
Of the limitless mandala of the infinite Victorious Ones,
I constantly pay homage at your feet.
Ema, fortunate yogins listen to me. We have all now obtained this perfect human body with the freedoms and endowments. We have been introduced to the precious teachings of the higher vehicle. We have the freedom to behave in accordance with the sublime dharma. At this time, we should make sure that our human life does not go to waste and pass without meaning. We must establish our ultimate goal correctly. The categories of teachings are innumerable, the doors to the teachings are countless, and the commentaries to the teachings are vast.
If you cannot practice the essential points of the teachings, then although one knows a hundred thousand volumes of scriptures by heart, certain benefit at the time of death is difficult to achieve. Although you may have acquired boundless qualities of knowledge through study and contemplation, if your mindstream does not accord with genuine dharma you will not be able to tame the enemy of delusions. Moreover, if you don’t commit to an attitude of not needing anything, even with control over the one billion world systems, contentment won’t arise.
Without preparing soon for the uncertain time of death, you will not accomplish the great essential objective when death occurs. If you don’t correct your own mistakes and train in unbiased pure perception, being motivated by attachment and aversion, you won’t fully enter t dharma of the greater vehicle.
Among the six realms of the three worlds, there is not even a single sentient being who has not been your parent. If you do not regularly and continually aspire and pray for their well-being and happiness with the compassionate mind of enlightenment, the treasure of benefiting others will not be revealed. If you do not cultivate the devotion to your root guru that regards him as even more kind than the actual Buddha, the power of blessings will not be great.
If genuine blessings do not enter into you, the sprout of experience and realization will not emerge. Without realization dawning from within, the fruit of enlightenment will not be obtained through mere intellectual understanding or empty talk. In short, if you do not mingle your mind with dharma, merely appearing like a practitioner will not bring about your purpose. Consider that you do not need more than is merely sufficient to support your life force and vital energy.
Pray single-pointedly to your guru and practice Guru Yoga. Whatever virtuous activities you do, always focus on the benefit for sentient beings, your parents. No matter what happiness or sorrow, good or bad might occur, always meditate on the compassion of your guru. Within the expanse of self manifesting non-grasping self-cognizing awareness, abide in non-fabricated and unforced naturalness. Whatever thought arises; know its nature and liberate everything as the play of the true nature of reality.
Without so much as a hair tip of something solid to meditate on, and without falling for even a moment under the power of perpetual ordinary delusion, maintain undistracted mindfulness in all your daily activities. By training in recognizing all sights and sounds — whatever arises of the six consciousnesses — as magical play lacking true existence, you will gain mastery over the experiences of the bardo.
In short, at all times and on all occasions ensure that whatever you do accords with the sacred dharma and dedicate all virtue for the attainment of enlightenment. Acting in that way, you will not only fulfill the intentions of your root guru but also be of service to the teachings. You will repay the kindness of your parents and spontaneously accomplish the two benefits, of self and others.
I request that you retain this in your hearts. Even if you meet me in person, other than these instructions, I have nothing more to say. Therefore, at all times and on all occasions, practice!
The powerful conqueror, the excellent Longchen Rabjam wrote this when he lived on the slope of Gangri Thodkar. May it be virtuous!
Originally posted by Dharmadhatu:“Buddhahood Without Meditation” by Dudjom Rinpoche:
On another occasion, when I encountered Orgyan Tsokyey Dorje–the embodiment of the magical illusion of timeless awareness–he bestowed advice for refining my perception of things so that I could see that they are illusory (gyu-ma). He said, “For me to introduce you directly to the interdependence of causes and conditions coming together, consider this: The cause is the ground of being as basic space (zhi-ying), which is pristinely lucid (dang-sal) and endowed with capacity for anything whatsoever to arise. The condition is a consciousness that conceives of an ‘I.’ From the coming together of these two, all sensory appearances (nang-wa) manifest like illusions.
“In this way, the ground of being as basic space, ordinary mind (sem) that arises from the dynamic energy (tzal) of that ground, and the external and internal phenomena that constitute the manifest aspect of that mind are all interlinked (lu-gu-gyud), like the sun and its rays. Thus, we use the expression ‘occurring in interdependent connection.’
“Here are some metaphors for this process: It is like the appearance of a magical illusion, which depends on the pristine clarity of space as the cause and manifestations through the interdependent connection created by the synchronicity of the conditions–that is, magical substances, mantras, and the mind that creates the illusion.
“All phenomena, which manifest as they do, are ineffable, yet appear due to the influence of conceiving of an ‘I.’ This process is like a mirage appearing from the synchronicity of vividly clear space and the presence of warmth and moisture.
“All sensory appearances of the waking consciousness, dream states, the bardo, and future lifetimes are apparent yet ineffable. Confusion comes about due to fixation on their seeming truth. This is like a dream that one does not consider false–thinking, ‘This is a dream’–but instead reifies and fixates on as some enduring objective environment.
“Due to the predominant condition of the perception of an inner ‘I,’ the realm of phenomena manifests as something ‘other.’ This is like the appearance of a reflection through the interdependent connection of a face and a mirror coming together.
“Because one is thoroughly ensnared by concepts of identity (dag-dzin), the realms of the six states manifest one after the other. This is like the cities of gandarvas appearing in one’s environment–for example, one a plain at sunset–as visionary experiences reified by the ordinary mind.
“While sensory appearances are primordially such that they have never existed, the myriad appearances that are seen, heard, smelled and tasted, or felt are like echoes–subjective appearances manifesting as though they were something else.
“All sensory appearances are not other than the ground of being, but are of one taste with that ground itself, like the reflections of all the planets and stars in the ocean that are not other than the ocean, but are of one taste with the water itself.
“Due to the concept of an ‘I,’ self and other manifest as though they truly existed within the panoramic sky of the ground of being, expansive basic space. This is analogous to bubbles forming on water.
“The pristine lucidity of the ground of being as empty basic space is forced into the narrow confines of the subjective perception of consciousness based on conceptual mind (yid-shey). The influence of this entrenched habit causes sensory appearances perceived in confusion to manifest in all their variety. This is like the appearance of a hallucination when pressure is applied to the optic nerve or when one’s nervous system is disturbed by an imbalance of subtle energy (lung).
“Sensory appearances manifest from the ground of being in all their variety in view of a consciousness that conceives of an ‘I,’ yet they do not diverge from or occur outside of that ground. This is like the case of an adept who has gained mastery (wang gyur-wa) over states of meditative absorption (ting-nge-dzin) that permit the emanation and control of phantoms. Although a variety of phantoms manifest when such an individual is engaged in this process of emanation and control, in actuality these phantoms are free of any basis and have never existed as real objects.
“Ah, my incredible little child, meditate progressively in this way and, having realized that all sensory appearances are illusory, you will become a yogin of illusion.”
Saying this, he vanished.
Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
This belongs to a book called NangJang or "Buddhahood without Meditation", already translated and available in Singapore at Evergreen bookshop.
“The result of learning, contemplation, and meditation should be a steady and real increase in the love and compassion of Bodhicitta, together with a steady and real diminution of ego-clinging and negative thinking.“
~ Patrul Rinpoche, The Words of My Perfect Teacher
Confident faith is like an excellent foundation; don’t leave it in the refuse of negative emotions.
--Padampa Sangye
Maurice O'Connell Walsh sees a possible Shin connection in the Sarakaani Sutta...see his footnotes.
I must say that this struck me too, though maybe someone will deem the parallels to be superficial. Shinran believed himself incapable of any religious practice and decided to put his trust in other-power. Likewise, Sarakaaani failed at his practice and took to drink, but his sincere devotion to the Triple Gem kept him out of the states of woe (and even led to stream entry at the moment of death).
Remarking on practitioners of various capabilities, the Buddha states:
Take the case of another man. He is not even endowed with unwavering devotion to the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha. He is not joyous and swift in wisdom and has not gained release. But he has just these things: the faculty of faith, of energy, of mindfulness, of concentration, of wisdom. Yet if he has merely faith, merely affection for the Tathaagata, that man, too, does not go to... states of woe.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn55/sn55.024.wlsh.html
/\
For the mind that masters view the emptiness dawns
In the content seen not even an atom exists
A seer and seen refined until they're gone
This way of realizing view, it works quite well
When meditation is clear light river flow
There is no need to confine it to sessions and breaks
Meditator and object refined until they're gone
This heart bone of meditation, it beats quite well
When you're sure that conducts work is luminous light
And you're sure that interdependence is emptiness
A doer and deed refined until they're gone
This way of working with conduct, it works quite well
When biased thinking has vanished into space
No phony facades, eight dharmas, nor hopes and fears,
A keeper and kept refined until they're gone
This way of keeping samaya, it works quite well
When you've finally discovered your mind is dharmakaya
And you're really doing yourself and others good
A winner and won refined until they're gone
This way of winning results, it works quite well.
If you examine minutely the mindstreams of people who continually devote themselves at present to physical and verbal acts of virtue and those who spend their whole lives engaging in harmful actions, you will find that there is not an iota of difference in the minds of both types of people with respect to the perpetuation of attachment and aversion, hope and fear. If they gain freedom, they gain freedom because their mindstreams are freed; if they are confused, they are confused because their mindstreams are confused. But since the mindstream of neither type of person has been freed, there is not a hair's tip of difference as far as their wandering in cyclic existence. Hence, although there is a short term distinction between virtuous and harmful actions -- they give rise to temporary happiness and suffering, respectively -- neither is more than a prolongation of cyclic existence.
My Vital Advice
by Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro
Homage to the unsurpassed savior, the Lord of Oddiyana.
Now that you've found this precious human life with freedom and richness,
Take care not to squander it unconsciously.
Push yourself to uncover the meaning of this life.
Your mind is the source of everything.
It is skilled in deception and manipulation, and beguiling when unexamined.
Once you look into it, it is without basis or root.
It comes from nowhere, stays nowhere and goes nowhere.
Everything, including samsara and nirvana,
Is but a reflection of pure and impure mind;
In reality, neither samsara nor nirvana exist.
The source of compassionate awareness
Is primordially empty. Though free from characteristics,
It is not just a barren nothingness
But is luminous and naturally present.
Pristine awareness is not captured by names and labels.
The endless unfolding of samsara and nirvana pours forth as its radiance.
At the same time, there is no rift between the place from where all these come and that which is coming;
Remain in that nondual place.
Unborn dharmakaya Rigpa
Arises naturally without cause or condition.
Alert, fresh and naked,
It is uncolored by dualistic mind
And unpolluted by intellectual ideas.
Stay in that spontaneously arisen meditation.
Even the words "to meditate" are but words;
In reality, there is no meditator and nothing to meditate on.
Without distraction, always maintain empty awareness,
The true face of dharmakaya.
The deluded karma of samsara will never run out.
The more you work to solve your problems, the greater they become.
Belief in enemies and friends grows and grows,
And the causes for incarnating in lower realms pile up.
Direct yourself toward the dharma,
And if you can bring dharma to every action, word and thought,
You will uncover the great awakening, the path to liberation.
When death falls upon you, you will regret nothing.
During this life and in those to come,
You will walk the path of ever-growing happiness.
Atop your head and in your heart,
Imagine as a single being
Your most kind guru and the great Lord of Oddiyana.
Feel an upwelling of unbearable longing and devotion.
Whatever joy or sorrow befalls you, whatever favor or misfortune,
Pray forever to the lord Guru.
Let your minds flow together, yours at one with his.
As death draws near, let go of all attachment and hatred.
Picture Guru Padmasambhava above your head;
Imagine your consciousness as an orb of light, marked with the syllable Hri;
Dissolve that into the heart of the guru.
If you practice regularly now
And recite "The Aspiration to Be Born in the Copper-Colored Mountain,"
At death, a clear visualization will be easy.
To put it briefly, the essence of dharma
Is to cut through clinging to samsara,
To cultivate love and compassion toward those in the six realms
And to completely tame one's mind.
Without distraction, please always practice thus.
Even though I am immune to dharma, have no experience of meditation, and just use up the donations, I, Chokyi Lodro, wrote this according to what the past masters have taught, to fulfill the request of the yogini Pad Lu.
Hi Dharmadhatu, were you at ChNNR's Dzogchen retreat?
The famous nineteenth-century dzogchen master Paltrul Rinpoche explained self-liberation concretely and precisely:
"The practitioner of self-liberation is like an ordinary person as far as the way in which the thoughts of pleasure and pain, hope and fear, manifest themselves as creative energy. However, the ordinary person, taking these really seriously and judging them as acceptable or rejecting them, continues to get caught up in situations and becomes conditioned by attachment and aversion.
"Not doing this, a practitioner, when such thoughts arise, experiences freedom: initially, by recognizing the thought for what it is, it is freed just like meeting a previous acquaintance; then it is freed in and of itself, like a snake shedding its skin; and finally, thought is freed in being unable to be of benefit or harm, like a thief entering an empty house."
...Freeing or liberating thought does not mean ignoring, letting go of, being indifferent to, observing, or even not having thoughts. It means being present in hope and fear, pain and pleasure, not as objects before us, but as the radiant clarity of our natural state. Thus anger, for example, when experienced dualistically, is an irritation which we may indulge in or reject, depending on our conditioning. Either way we are caught up in it and act out of it. But when aware of anger as a manifestation of clarity, its energy is a very fresh awareness of the particulars of the situation. However, these particulars are no longer irritating.
- From You Are the Eyes of the World by Longchenpa
Effortless compassion by Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche
An effortless compassion can arise for all beings
who have not realized their true nature.
So limitless is it that if tears could express it,
you would cry without end.
Not only compassion, but tremendous skillful means
can be born when you realize the nature of mind.
Also you are naturally liberated from all suffering and fear,
such as the fear of birth, death and the intermediate state.
Then if you were to speak of the joy and bliss that arise
from this realization, it is said by the buddhas that
if you were to gather all the glory, enjoyment, pleasure
and happiness of the world and put it all together,
it would not approach one tiny fraction of the bliss
that you experience upon realizing the nature of mind.
The Attainment of Non-Attainment
By Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche
Once, Tilopa advised his disciple to go off to an isolated retreat and avoid any meditation. Now, this may seem a little unusual for a meditation retreat. He explains, however, that when you go to meditate, you normally take up something to meditate on, some thing. That thing, and therefore that meditation, is necessarily artificial. The practice of Mahamudra is not like that at all. It is not taking up a thing called Mahamudra and meditating on it. Ultimately, Ma-hamudra practice is meditation directly on reality itself.
Reality itself is not something devised or made up. What you have to do here is accustom yourself to that, practice that. You are not taking up a meditation, but rather are practicing something. Like any activity, when you practice and become accustomed to it, it becomes easier and easier. So, acquaint yourself with this lack of anything whatsoever to be taken up as a discrete object. Focus on reality itself and become accustomed to that. Tilopa's advice, then, is that if you attain something by this Mahamudra practice, then you have not attained Mahamudra. Attaining Mahamudra is attaining non-attainment. If you are not getting anything, then you're getting Mahamudra. If you get some thing, then necessarily it is not Mahamudra.
What is the meaning of this? If, when we strive for Buddhahood, we think that Buddhahood is something that we are going to get, we will be making a great mistake. We would be like hunters going after an animal. Buddhahood would be reduced to just another worldly activity in which we engage to get some pleasure for ourselves. Mahamudra is not like that, it is not some thing to be obtained. It is attaining the state of non-attainment. Understanding that, we do not focus on obtaining something but on transcending. We have to get beyond that search for something to grasp onto.
Now the nature of reality is beyond the illusion of the phenomenal world, the world as it appears. What appears is illusory; reality is something else. So, when engaging in this meditation on Mahamudra, one seeks to realize Mahamudra. As long as it is something that is an object of mind, something that is conceived by mind, then is it necessarily something other than Mahamudra. Mahamudra is not a conception, not something which is of the nature of appearances or of the nature of objects of the conventional mind.
Therefore, whatever we look for, whatever we try to hold on to in terms of objects of mind, is not going to be Mahamudra. It is something other than that. It is not of the nature of the phenomenal world in any sense. As long as we conceive of it as something, we are making a mistake and will not attain the realization of Mahamudra in that way. Tilopa's advice is that if the disciple wishes to see Mahamudra, the disciple must go beyond conventional mind and abandon worldly involvement, because the conventional mind and worldly activities are what obscure the realization of Mahamudra and can never lead to it.
Excerpted from the book The Practice of Mahamudra - Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche
All phenomenon are like a reflection,
Clear, pure and lucid,
Beyond definition and explanations,
But always arise from causes and from karma.
The essence is non-dual and is never established,
This is the condition of all phenomena, know this.
~Buddha