milarepa garchen

8/9/2019 Milarepa Garchen

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His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche'sTeaching on Milarepa

by His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche

Oral translation by Tashi Jamyangling

May 11-15, 200!anco"#er, $ana%a

&ll the 'harma (rien%s )ho ha#e come here to recei#e theteaching is in%ee% a )on%er("l thing to happen* To yo" all,)ith +oy, )elcome yo" an% )ish yo" Tashi 'ele*

The s"blime 'harma is the )or%s.teachings o( the /"%%ha*hat is s"blime 'harma "blime 'harma consists o(lo#ing in%ness an% compassion* hen )e say lo#ingin%ness an% compassion, )e thin o( all sentient beings asbo"n%less as space, )e treat all sentient beings as o"rchil%ren an% )e thin o( o"rsel#es as the mother*3ollo)ing the /"%%hist teaching, )hat a practitionernecessarily has to %o is to try to alle#iate all s"4erings o(mother sentient beings* E#en tho"gh )e in%i#i%"als areseemingly insignicant, there is no limitation as to ho) (aran% )i%e )e can generate o"r min%* e can reach o"t toall sentient beings o( the three %hat"s* There(ore, it is notan insignicant thing* t is a #ery, #ery signicant thing*/"%%ha6s teachings consists o( 78 000 heaps6 an% )hen)e go on to practise these teachings, )e %o so in (o"r

%i4erent )ays* mparting the 'harma no)le%ge, listeningor learning the 'harma teachings, me%itating on )hat islearne% an% then act"ally practicing the 'harma teachings*hen )e act"ally go abo"t practicing the 'harma, )e start)ith taing re("ge* hy %o )e ha#e to tae re("geTaing re("ge is the (o"n%ation to the 'harma practice* etae re("ge in the /"%%ha, 'harma an% angha* Taingre("ge in the /"%%ha, 'harma an% angha is the three

o"ter re("ge* e tae re("ge in the /"%%ha )ho is the


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historical /"%%ha, Ga"tama /"%%ha* e tae re("ge in histeachings consisting o( 8 000 heaps* hen )e say 8000 heaps, it so"n%s really as a tremen%o"s amo"nt an%o#er)helming* /"t )hen yo" sit %o)n an% practise the

essence o( these teaching, it is not so #ast at all* n (act,the entire 8 000 heaps o( /"%%ha6s teaching can bes"mmari9e% into lo#ing in%ness an% compassion* e tryto generate lo#ing in%ness an% compassion or bo%hicitta)here there is no bo%hicitta* Once bo%hicitta isarisen.generate% in one6s min% stream, )e try to ens"rethat it is not %epleting.%ecreasing b"t increasing higheran% higher* That is the (r"it o(, the res"lt o(, the essence o(

8 000 heaps o( teachings* e tal abo"t the essence o( allthe /"%%ha6s teaching is bo%hicitta or lo#ing in%ness an%compassion* e can e#en simpli(y that, in s"mmary, )ecan repeat )hat :henpo Ten9in angpo replie% to a (oreign'harma practitioner )ho met :henpo some years ago inTibet an% the practitioner sai%, ;The /"%%ha6s teaching isso #ast, so o#er)helming, can yo" please teach me onesimple essence, the s"mmary o( the )hole teaching*cept that it is (ro9en* hen the )ater is(ro9en, it is calle% ice* hen ice tha)s, )e call it li="i%)ater* /oth )ater an% ice ha#e the same essence*entient beings in cyclic e>istence, )hat an% )ho isresponsible (or it t is lie an ice sheet that has b"ilt "p ino"r min% stream that is responsible* e normally %on6tseem to be a)are o( it, b"t the root ca"se o( o"r e>istencein samsara is attachment* ( yo" rea% the thirty-se#en

/o%%hisatt#a practices, it teaches yo" that the root ca"seo( all pain an% s"4ering is one6s %esire (or one6s o)nhappiness at the e>pense o( others* e re(er to a?icti#eemotions @ sometimes )e say three poisons, sometimes )esay #e poisons* ( )e go into %etails, it re(ers to 8 000types o( a?icti#e emotions* The %ri#ing (orce or the rootca"se o( all these a?icti#e emotions is attachment* ( yo"try to loo at that, attachment, the root ca"se o( e#ils, yo"

)ill not be able to see it* t is intangible +"st as yo" cannotto"ch the (ree9ing col% )eather in )inter time* Ao" go o"tthere, the )eather is so col%, e#erything (ree9es, yo" (eel itat the tips o( yo"r ngers, yo"r toes, yo"r ears etc*Moreo#er, yo" ha#e a ten%ency o( shrining, shi#ering* Ao"%o (eel the e4ect, b"t i( yo" say, ;sho) me )inter,< there isnothing that yo" can hol% onto an% say that this is )inter*Bie)ise, attachment is something that yo" cannot hol%an% say that this is attachment* /"t the e4ect o(

attachment is cons"ming yo"r min% stream* o )e can


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more or less say that attachment is the harsh )interclimate )here e#erything (ree9es* Only the Enlightene%one, the /"%%ha, is able to see this*&ttachment has to %o )ith sel(, * One %isciple came to a

lama an% sai%, ;Bama, yo" eep on teaching me that sho"l% %ispel attachment an% sel(* here is sel( cannotn% it*< The lama sai%, ;hy %o yo" come here to%aycept the )ise /"%%ha*hate#er in% o( pain an% s"4ering in this )orl%, it comesabo"t beca"se o( o"r attachment, a#ersion an% ignorance*hate#er in% o( pain an% s"4ering e>ist in samsara, itcomes abo"t beca"se o( these three poisons* t )as the/"%%ha )ho sa) the root ca"ses o( all the pain an%s"4ering in samsara* t )as /"%%ha )ho sai% that theanti%ote )eapon against these three poisons is altr"istic

min%* ( )e nee% to %ismantle attachment, a#ersion an%ignorance, )e ha#e to ha#e an altr"istic min%* n the/"%%ha6s teaching, he compares the po)er o( s"n an%bo%hicitta* /"%%ha sai%, the po)er o( bo%hicitta, thera%iance o( bo%hicitta is by (ar brighter than the ra%ianceo( 100 000 s"ns* &ll sentient beings %o not nee% any painan% s"4ering* &ll sentient beings aspire to ha#e happinessan% the ca"ses o( happiness* hen an in%i#i%"al is

"n%ergoing a lot o( pain an% s"4ering, a person can sit inthe s"n (or a long, long time b"t the light is not going toalle#iate pain an% s"4ering* $on#ersely, )hen yo" are"n%ergoing pain an% s"4ering, i( yo" either meet a reallyclose (rien% or hear his or her #oice or recei#e a letter o(some sort, imme%iately, it )ill %ispel the %arness o(s"4ering in yo"r min% stream* hy /eca"se o( lo#e an%compassion that e>ist bet)een the t)o o( yo"* ( lo#e an%compassion bet)een t)o persons can mae that in% o(

%i4erence, then not to spea o( the lo#e an% compassion


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that e>ist bet)een ten people or h"n%re% people* Then tryto imagine the in% o( po)er that it )o"l% ha#e )hen yo"ha#e lo#ing in%ness an% compassion to)ar%s all mothersentient beings o( the three realms* That is )hy )e say the

po)er o( bo%hicitta is by (ar greater than the po)er o( 100000 s"ns* This is +"st taling, yo" nee% to ha#e thee>periential "n%erstan%ing o( the po)er o( bo%hicitta* Ao"ha#e to t"rn in)ar%ly an% e>perience the po)er o(bo%hicitta*

here there is lo#ing in%ness an% compassion in one6smin% stream, there is the absence o( attachment an%a#ersion* J"st as the s"nlight melts a)ay the sno) Daes,

lo#ing in%ness an% compassion )ill melt a)ay attachmentan% a#ersion* hen the min% stream is lle% )ith lo#ingin%ness an% compassion an% )hen there is the absence o(attachment, a#ersion an% ignorance, then one )ill ha#e ane>periential "n%erstan%ing o( the innate nat"re o( themin%* Then yo" are act"ally e>periencing the absol"tetr"th* hen yo" ha#e lo#ing in%ness an% compassion inyo"r min% stream, yo" are not going to ca"se pain an%

s"4ering to others, b"t yo" are going to %o anythingpossible to benet the others* hen yo" %o not ca"se painan% s"4ering to others an% yo" benet others, yo" yo"rsel(become a angha* hen yo" become a angha, yo" ha#e%one a)ay )ith attachment* That is )hy taing re("ge is soimportant* &ll these are )ithin the topic o( taing re("ge*

o), )e tal abo"t the three inner re("ges* &ll the threeinner re("ges are not o"tsi%e b"t )ithin one6s o)n min%stream* Ho) %o )e act"ally practise this Milarepa sai%

that )e ha#e to master the #ie), me%itation, con%"ct an%(r"ition* These are the (o"r %i4erent paths* 3irst, )e )ill%eal )ith the /"%%hist #ie)* n %oing so, )e ha#e to loo att)o aspects o( %oing it, the o"ter mastering an% the innermastering*

There are three gro"ps o( sentient beings* There aresentient beings )ho ha#e a great %eal o( mental capacity,there are sentient beings )ho ha#e a#erage capacity an%

there are sentient beings )ho ha#e (eeble mental capacity*hy are they %i4erent 3rom )here %oes the %isparity


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come The %i4erences arise beca"se o( one6s o)n past%ee%s* n yo"r many li(etimes, i( yo" ha% e>pos"re to'harma teaching an% practice, the res"lt is that yo" areblesse% )ith a higher le#el o( "n%erstan%ing in this li(e* (

yo" ha% a#erage e>pos"re to 'harma an% practice in yo"rpre#io"s li(e, yo" )ill ha#e an a#erage "n%erstan%ing inthis li(e* ( yo" ha% +"st recei#e% re("ge or%ination in (ormerli(e.li#es, the res"lt is that yo" )ill ha#e leaning to)ar%sthe 'harma e#en tho"gh maybe yo" %o not ha#e apro(o"n% "n%erstan%ing o( the 'harma* &ltho"gh one6so)n ability to "n%erstan% the 'harma is in% o(pre%etermine% by the amo"nt o( e>pos"re that yo" ha% in

yo"r pre#io"s li(e.li#es, all these three %i4erent categorieso( mental capacity are #ery m"ch pre#alent in one being6sc"rrent li(e* That is to say, )hen one enters the path o('harma as a no#ice, there )o"l% not be a great %eal o(appreciation or "n%erstan%ing o( the 'harma* o )e canclassi(y this perio% as a perio% )hen one %oes not ha#e agreat %eal o( intelligence or intellect"al capacity* &s yo"eep on learning an% practicing, then yo" )ill open "p an%yo" )ill ha#e a greater mental capacity to "n%erstan%*

hen yo" recei#e a lot o( teachings an% )hen yo" %o a loto( me%itation etc, yo" )ill be at the le#el o( those )hoha#e a greater %egree o( "n%erstan%ing an% mentalcapacity*

e are %ealing )ith the /"%%hist #ie)* Mastering the'harma practice, (or someone belonging to the gro"pha#ing the least capacity an% conse="ently ha#e the leastcapacity o( "n%erstan%ing the 'harma, they sho"l% master

the thoro"gh "n%erstan%ing o( ca"se an% e4ectrelationship* The ca"se being attachment an% the e4ect orthe res"lt being pain an% s"4ering that e>ist in samsara*There(ore )hen yo" "n%erstan% this relationship, yo" )ill"n%erstan% that there is a nee% to gi#e "p a?icti#eemotions )hich bring abo"t pain an% s"4ering* Ho) canyo" gi#e "p a?icti#e emotions Ao" can %o that by maingproper "se o( s"ch mental e#ents as min%("lness,)atch("lness an% hee%("lness* /eings )ith the leastmental capacity )ill stri#e to reach sel(-liberation* el(-


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liberation can only be reali9e% i( yo" ha#e the"n%erstan%ing o( ca"se an% e4ect relationship* There isthe o"ter ca"se-an%-e4ect relationship an% the innerca"se-an%- e4ect relationship* The inner ca"se an%

e4ect.res"lt is #ery important* hene#er there area?icti#e emotions in yo"r min% stream, i( yo" aspire toreach sel(-liberation, yo" ha#e to get ri% o( these a?icti#eemotions* hene#er there are a?icti#e emotions in yo"rmin% stream, these a?icti#e emotions )ill ser#e as a see%*hen there are see%s so)n, it is a certainty that sooneran% later, there )ill be bla%es o( grass gro)ing* t is +"stlie a see% o( Do)er, one %ay it )ill bloom* o, in or%er to

%eal )ith this, yo" ha#e to be yo"r o)n )itness, yo"r o)n+"%ge, an% yo" ha#e to be tr"e to yo"rsel( an% try to get ri%o( these a?icti#e emotions* hen yo" n% o"t that all thepain an% s"4ering that one (aces in samsara come abo"tbeca"se o( a?icti#e emotions an% then )hen yo"in#estigate ("rther, one )ill n% that hatre% (or e>ample,)ill ca"se one6s rebirth or one6s e>periencing o( thes"4ering o( hell* hen yo" no) the reason )hy one (acescertain pain an% s"4ering, one )ill come to the concl"sion

that one has to %etach onesel( (rom attachment* n thecase o( the persons )ho ha#e the least e>pos"re to the'harma, thro"gh reasoning an% thro"gh one6s o)ne>perience, one by one, one )ill be able to n% o"t thereasons )hy there are pain an% s"4ering* ( (or no otherreason, by (earing the conse="ence o( "nleashing negati#eemotions, one )ill be able to then cease to ha#eattachment* The root ca"se o( e#erything is attachment

an% a#ersion* hen )e say attachment, a#ersion,ignorance etc, really, it is the attachment to sel(* hen yo"minimi9e or %o a)ay )ith this #ery strong attachment an%a#ersion, yo" )ill start to see the tr"e nat"re o( the min%*hen yo" start seeing a glimpse o( the tr"e nat"re o( themin%, yo" )ill reali9e that obsc"rations, pain an% s"4eringare all bro"ght abo"t by attachment to sel(* hen yo" ha#ethis "n%erstan%ing, yo" )ill n% o"t the nee% (orbo%hicitta, lo#ing in%ness an% compassion, or beneting

others or altr"ism* /"t in the case o( beings )ith the least


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The Eight Ornaments of Profound Meaning

To cut through exaggeration from withinIs this not view not spoiled by any extreme?Dress it in scriptures adorn it with reasoning

!nd this will serve as its special embellishment"Rinpoche is going to teach "s one o( Milarepa6s songscalle% ;The Eight Ornaments o( Cro(o"n% Meaningplain the #ie) an% the rst priorityFessential element* These priorities are labele% poeticallyas ornaments* Milarepa base% on eight %i4erent

ornaments to help "s to "n%erstan% the %eniti#e."ltimatemeaning* The rst ornament is /"%%ha6s canonicalteachings Fscript"res an% one6s o)n analytical %e%"ctionFreasoning*Ceople tale% abo"t the (o"r e>tremes* e can s"mmari9eit into eternalism an% nihilism or armati#e an% negati#e*e cannot (all into one e>treme by saying that yes,e#erything e>ist in%epen%ently* ( yo" say that beca"se)ithin all phenomena, )hether it is the o"ter cosmos ore#erything that is s"bs"me% "n%er, not one single thinge>ists inherently or in%epen%ently )itho"t relying on other(actors an% con%itions* On the other han%, i( yo" ha#e anihilistic #ie) o( all phenomena, this is also e>tremebeca"se all phenomena an% e#erything that )e e>perienceare act"ally the creation o( the min%*

The (o"r e>tremes really mean eternalistic #ie) an%nihilistic #ie)* This is taling abo"t the innate nat"re* hen)e tal abo"t the innate nat"re, )e ha#e to be %eniti#e orabsol"te abo"t it* e can %o that base% on a ="otations(rom the teachings o( the /"%%ha, an% b thro"gh o"r o)nanalyses an% e>periences* e cannot be %eniti#e abo"t it)itho"t both o( these t)o components, one )itho"t theother )ill simply not %o* e are taling abo"t the /"%%hist#ie) )hich is beyon% all e>tremes an% to come to this in%

o( pro(o"n% an% %eniti#e meaning, yo" ha#e to rely on the


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/"%%ha6s teachings as )ell as yo"r o)n e>periential"n%erstan%ing an% analyses* /"%%ha sai%, ;The profoundand denitive meaning of the innate nature is profound,pacifying (peaceful), unfabricated, luminous, not

composite. These are the characteristics or attributes ofthe innate nature*periential "n%erstan%ing o( theinnate nat"re, )e can only %o so by the min% looing at themin% itsel(* hen )e %o so, it )ill appear to "s as i( thereis one aspect o( the min% as concept"al tho"ght an% the

other aspect o( the min% )hich sees the rising o( theconcept"al tho"ght* t appears to "s as i( these are%"alistic* $oncept"al tho"ght )hich is the seeing an% thesee-er, the )atch("l aspect o( the min%, )hich %oes theseeing* o) )e in#estigate )hat this aspect o( the min%)hich sees the concept"al tho"ght Fthe see-er is allabo"t* hen )e %o that, the i%entity o( that partic"laraspect o( the min% has gone into emptiness* t becomeslie the space, it cannot be labele%* t has %isappeare%*

o) )e ha#e to stay in that state o( min%, a state o( min%)hich cannot be labele%, cannot be name%, cannot bei%entie% as s"ch, b"t it is there an% it %oes not ha#e anin%epen%ent e>istence* That state o( min% is @ is notIarmati#e yet negati#e* That state o( min% is the min%)hich create% both samsara an% nir#ana* t is notsomething that there is, it is not something that there isnot* e cannot p"t a label to it* Bet it be le(t in its nat"ral

state* hen le(t to its nat"ral state, it is "n(abricate% or"ncontri#e%* To come to concl"sion to the %eniti#epro(o"n% meaning, )e nee% the %irect teaching (rom the/"%%ha, an% o"r o)n e>periential "n%erstan%ing o( thes"b+ect matter* t is in% o( easy )hen )e loo e>ternally atall the phenomena an% to come to a concl"sion that allphenomena are the creation o( one6s o)n min%*E#erything )e see o"tsi%e is composite an% come abo"t%"e to the conglomeration o( ca"ses an% con%itions* t is

e#en easier )hen )e rely on science as (ar as matter is


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concerne%* Ho)e#er, )hen it comes to the inner min%tho"gh, it is some)hat more %ic"lt*#hen the conceptual thoughts dissolve in the state

of Dharma$aya %&uddhahood'Is this not the self(arisen)self(originated meditation?Dress it up in the realm of experience

!nd this will serve as its special embellishment"econ%, Rinpoche tals abo"t me%itation an% the priorityhere is e>perience* e "n%erstan% that all phenomena,both in samsara an% nir#ana, are the creations o( the

min%* 3irst, the concept"al tho"ght arises, )hen )e treat)hat is arisen as concept"al tho"ght as ha#ing inherente>istence, one thing lea%s to the other* The c"p, (ore>ample, rst yo" nee% to ha#e an i%ea @ concept"altho"ght, an% it e#ol#es (rom there* t is the creation o(min%* o is o"r #ery physical bo%y* /"t concept"al tho"ght%oes not ha#e its in%epen%ent e>istence )itho"t relying onother ca"ses an% con%itions* hen yo" %o not (ollo) theseconcept"al tho"ghts as ha#ing in%epen%ent e>istence,

)hat the root te>t says is that these concept"al tho"ghts)ill %issipate* Ho) J"st lie )a#es arising (rom the ocean)ill %issol#e into the ocean itsel(* hen yo" "n%erstan%that concept"al tho"ghts are )itho"t reality,)itho"t inherent e>istence, then )hat happen toconcept"al tho"ght is that it )ill %issol#e.%issipate into)here it comes (rom, )hich is the 'harmaaya state o(/"%%hahoo%* $oncept"al tho"ght %oes not e>ist

in%epen%ently* $oncept"al tho"ghts are not reality, theyare merely the mani(estations o( the innate nat"re an% %onot e>ist in%epen%ently* o, i( yo" %o not (ollo) them, they)ill +"st %isappear (rom )here#er they came (rom, +"st lie)a#es %isappearing into the ocean* This is the meaning o(the rst t)o lines*The ne>t t)o lines )e tale% abo"t concept"al tho"ghts%issol#ing in the 'harmaaya state, isn6t that the

spontaneo"sly arisen me%itation This line means


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e>perience base% on "n%erstan%ing is o( priority* To cometo that in% o( %eniti#e meaning, yo" nee% to ha#e the)or%s o( the /"%%ha as )ell as the basis o( yo"r o)ne>periential "n%erstan%ing* Aes, yo" can analy9e an% yo"

can rely on science etc, b"t most important o( all, it sho"l%be something that is base% on yo"r o)n e>perience* emay as, ;Ho) %oes the concept"al tho"ght %issol#e intothe 'harmaaya state o( /"%%hahoo%< ( )e try toanaly9e these things an% get into a 9illion n"mber o( nitty-gritty things, it )ill only con("se the min%* ( someone triesto c"t a tree by cropping o4 all the branches an% lea#es o(a gigantic tree, it is going to be time cons"ming, con("sing

an% ine4ecti#e* o, i( one )ants to get ri% o( all thebranches an% the tree altogether, )e may as )ell c"t an%crop o4 the tree tr"n so that yo" ha#e taen care o(e#erything* Bie)ise, instea% o( going thro"gh all %i4erent)ays o( analy9ing as to ho) the concept"al tho"ght%issol#es in the 'harmaaya state o( /"%%ahoo%, the mostpo)er("l thing is to base e#erything on yo"r o)ne>periential "n%erstan%ing an% yo"r o)n e>perience* Thisis the secon% ornament* Milarepa sai%, ;In order to come to

the denitive understanding of the point, instead of puttingit into very eloquent words, verbalizing it and taling aboutmany fancy things, simply try to understand the mainpoint*< o it is the same thing as c"tting the tree tr"nrather than c"tting the branches an% lea#es*( the "n%erstan%ing o( the tr"e nat"re is not base% on yo"ro)n e>periential "n%erstan%ing, b"t it is base% on

aca%emic "n%erstan%ing only, then )hat is going tohappen is that yo" no) ho) to say, ;&ll concept"altho"ght arises (rom the tr"e nat"re o( min% an% %issipatesinto the tr"e nat"re o( the min%*< /"t that is all* Thenegati#e si%e o( ha#ing only the aca%emic "n%erstan%ing isthat )hene#er yo" generate a #ery strong negati#eemotion, lie anger, yo" are going to "nleash that anger,create negati#e arma +"st the )ay yo" "se% to %o be(ore*othing has change% an% yo" are going to create the same

in% o( negati#e arma, same in% o( conse="ences that


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yo" ha#e to (ace* /"t on the contrary, i( it is base% on yo"ro)n e>periential "n%erstan%ing, then )hen a #ery stronganger arises, imme%iately, yo" )ill no) that it is not a#ery goo% thing to "nleash negati#e emotions* Ao" )ill

me%itate on the nat"re o( that partic"lar negati#e emotionan% in the process that negati#e emotion )ill ha#e%isappeare%* hen the negati#e emotion %isappears, thenyo" )ill say ;Aes, "n%erstan% that anger %oes not ha#einherent e>istence*< Then ne>t yo" are going to say, ;(anger %oes not ha#e inherent e>istence nor %o any othera?icti#e emotions* &ll a?icti#e emotions are empty o(inherent e>istence*< Then this is going to benet yo" )hen

yo" contin"e to practise )hat yo" "n%erstan%*The sixfold collection puri*ed where it standsIs this not the conduct of e+ual taste?Dress it up in a sense of right timing

!nd this will serve as its special embellishment"The thir% #erse o( teaching is %ealing )ith con%"ct an% thepriority Fornament is timing* n %ealing )ith con%"ct, the

root te>t sai%, ;hen the gro"ping o( si> aspects o(conscio"snesses is p"rie% )here it stan%s, isn6t that calle%the con%"ct o( e="al taste< The si> senses are eyes, ear,nose, tong"e, bo%y an% min%* Their associate% ob+ects, si>sense ob+ects, are (orm, so"n%, smell, taste, to"ch an% allphenomena* /ase% on the si> senses )ith the presence o(the si> sense ob+ects, mental (actor s"ch as conscio"snessarises* The si> aspects o( conscio"sness are Feye-

conscio"sness, ear-conscio"sness, nose-conscio"sness,tong"e-conscio"sness, bo%y-conscio"sness an% min%-conscio"sness* hen the si> aspects o( conscio"sness arep"rie% )here they stan%, there is no ="estion o(attachment* Then there is no ="estion o( lingering insamsara* e are taling abo"t ha#ing the e>periential"n%erstan%ing o( the innate nat"re* The con%"ct o( onetaste, one taste so that )hene#er yo" see an image, thereis no ="estion o( attachment to the goo% image or a#ersion

to the not so goo% imageI the same thing applies to so"n%,


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smell, taste, to"ch an% e#erything* There is completeoneness, no goo%, no ba%, no parallel nor opposite* o="estion o( bea"ti("l an% not bea"ti("l an% that is calle%e="al taste* &s to Milarepa, there is no %i4erence bet)een

samsara an% nir#ana, it is o( one taste* To him, i( a chil% iscrying here, he no)s that it is "nreal as there is noin%epen%ent inherent e>istence, it is lie a %ream* o )hen)e tal abo"t p"ri(ying the si> conscio"snesses, this is)hat it is abo"t*e are taling abo"t con%"ct an% in the conte>t o( eightornamentsI right timing is the essential element Fornament

or priority* Right timing is #ery cr"cial* hen yo" arepracticing all the things that )e mentione%, the p"ricationo( the si> conscio"snesses an% reaching a le#el )here yo"can ha#e one taste, the ="estion is )hen yo" sho"l%practise the one taste* o) timing is important* ( yo" %onot ha#e the e>periential "n%erstan%ing o( the innatenat"re o( all things, yo" )ill not be able to "n%erstan% )hatone taste is* Goo% taste an% not so goo% taste in (oo%, (ore>ample, these are all %el"sion an% %el"sion, by %enition,

is the ca"se o( pain an% s"4ering* hen it comes toclothing (or e>ample, there is goo% an% not so goo% %ress,)arm or not so )arm, all these attrib"tes that )e attach too"r clothes* &ll these are in reality concept"al tho"ghts*hen yo" are "se% to certain (oo% an% yo" are habit"ate%)ith that (oo%, the taste is ac="ire% an% that taste is st"c)ith yo"* t is almost lie an a%%iction* Ao" got to ha#e thattaste an% yo" call it goo% taste* /"t i( yo" loo at the

nat"re o( that goo% taste, there is not a thing calle% goo%taste )hich e>ists in%epen%ently o"t there* There is not athing calle% ba% taste in (oo% )hich e>ists in%epen%ently*The timing part, yo" ha#e to practise this one taste)hene#er yo" ha#e the e>periential "n%erstan%ing o( thetr"e nat"re* /"t i( yo" %o not ha#e inner reali9ation an%yo" )ent o"t there an% %ran hea#ily, theres"lt )o"l% be %r"nenness* t is not a goo% timing* eare taling here abo"t con%"ct* t has to be at the right

timing* hen yo" are reali9e% to the le#el )here yo" )ill


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not be into>icate% at all an% yo" )ill not lose the mentalalertness, it is per(ectly ne to %rin an% it is o( one taste*Ho)e#er, it is not a goo% timing i( yo" are not reali9e%* t isne (or a reali9e% person s"ch as aropa to ill sentient

beings Fshes since he reache% the in% o( reali9ation)here his min% an% the min% o( other sentient beingsmerge into one an% he co"l% ele#ate their conscio"sness tothe le#el o( /"%%ha6s p"relan% (or e>ample* o all thingsare abo"t timing an% yo" can practise one taste only )henthe timing is right an% )hen yo" are able to practise thisone taste* hen all the si> sense conscio"snesses arep"rie%, that is to say, complete an% "tter p"re #ision, an%

)hen yo" ha#e reache% that #ery high le#el o( attainment,a person )ho is beyon% goo% an% ba%, then )hate#er thatperson %oes is ne as he or she sees e#erything as p"re#ision, it is no) the time )hich enable yo" to %o )hate#eryo" )ant* &bo"t timing, again, )hether

the thing yo" %o is #irt"o"s or not, %epen%s on the righttime an% )rong time* This applies to gi#ing @ charity or'hanaI there is also a timing (actor here* The

/o%%hisatt#as ha% no problem in c"tting o4 their bo%yparts an% (ee%ing the h"ngry animals, (or e>ample,beca"se the timing (or them )as right as they )ere in thatstate o( attainment )here they co"l% %o that* ( )e try toreplicate )hat they %i%, it )ill be trage%y* ( )e c"t o4 o"rhan%s, it is going to h"rt "s an% there )ill be conse="encesto it since timing is not right* o, instea% o( %oing any goo%,it becomes an obstacle to o"r practice* 3or e>ample, manyo( yo" )ho aspire to go (or long retreat, again, there is

right time an% )rong time as mentione% here* There(ore,yo" sho"l% )eigh all pros an% cons, to see )hether yo" areliely to be able to s"ccee% i( yo" )ent on a retreat* &lson% o"t i( yo" are able to mae en%s meet* &n%emotionally an% other)ise, )hen yo" thin it is the righttime, then it is a goo% thing to embar on )hate#er'harma practice yo" )ant to %o*

#hen experiences of emptiness bliss well upIs this not the point of whispered lineage


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instruction?Dress it in four empowering abhishe$as

!nd this will serve as its special embellishment"

FTashi Jamyangling translate% the te>t as (ollo)s ;hene>periences o( emptiness an% bliss are generate%, is thatnot calle% the pith instr"ctions passe% (rom mo"th to earperiencethe tr"e nat"re o( the min% ho)e#er, yo" )ill e>periencethe Great bliss* The tr"e nat"re o( the min% itsel( is the

Great /liss*hen yo" generate bliss an% emptiness, )hy is it that ithas to tie necessarily )ith the "n)ritten pitch instr"ctionspasse% (rom master6s mo"th to yo"r ear /liss an%emptiness are generate% F(or e>ample, by practising na%i,pra+na, bin%" or the creation stage o( practice orcompletion stage o( practice beca"se o( the help o( the

pitch instr"ctions gi#en by the master* ( yo" are going togenerate the bliss an% emptiness beca"se o( the pitchinstr"ctions gi#en by one6s o)n master, it m"st beconnecte% to the besto)al o( the (o"r empo)erments*3o"r empo)erments, the rst one is creation stage o( thepractice F#ase empo)erment, secon%, the completionstage o( the practice Fsecret empo)erment, thir%, theempo)erment o( the min% Fcrystal empo)erment, (o"rth,the essence aya empo)erment Fprimor%ial )is%om

empo)erment* hen the empo)erment o( the creation


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stage Fthe rst empo)erment is gi#en, it intro%"ces yo" tothe (act that yo"r #e aggregates or san%as, #e senses,#e sense bases are primor%ially p"re* The secon%empo)erment intro%"ces yo" to the (act that all yo"r

s"btle ner#es, channels, )in%, bin%", e#erything isprimor%ially p"re* /y gi#ing s"ch empo)erment, it enablesone to reach the state o( sambogaaya, the state o(/"%%hahoo% a(ter %eath an% be(ore rebirth* Thir%empo)erment intro%"ces yo" to the ="alities o( one6s min%an% the (o"rth is the intro%"ction to the tr"e nat"re o( themin%* o again to recap, the arising o( the "nion o(emptiness an% bliss is calle% the pitch instr"ctions gi#en

(rom master to %isciple an% this m"st be line% )ith the(o"r empo)erments*There is also a metho% to intro%"ce maham"%ra @ rst, thegeneration o( bliss an% emptiness thro"gh the practice o(na%i, pra+na an% bin%" an% then step by step attaining theattainment o( the (o"r yogas in the :agy"pa tra%ition* The(o"r yogas are one point, "ncontri#e%."n(abricate%, onetaste an% no me%itation* The (o"r yogas are not part o( the

i> Aogas o( aropa, rather, the (o"r yogas are the (o"rle#els o( me%itation attainment* o, the (o"rth ornament isthe (o"r empo)erments* hen )e tal abo"tempo)erment, it %eals %irectly )ith the esoteric tantricpractice* Empo)erment means the tantric practice thatenables one to reach Enlightenment in one li(etime* This isthe specialty o( tantric practice* ( one can practise itaccor%ing to the tantric teachings, all the #e sense ob+ects

nee% not be gi#en "p* n tantric practice, the sense o(gi#ing "p %oes not ariseI rather the ey )or% istrans(ormation, trans(ormation o( the #e sense ob+ectsinto the #e primor%ial )is%oms* The #e sense ob+ects aretaen into the path to reach enlightenment* This is )hattantric practices is all abo"t an% this is )hat empo)ermentis all abo"t* Empo)erment in this case means the tantricpractice* hen yo" recei#e empo)erment, )ith that comesthe teaching an% a(ter that yo" )ill ha#e some

"n%erstan%ing o( )hat tantric practices is all abo"t*


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hat act"ally happens )hen yo" recei#e empo)erment isthat, one )ill then e>pose to the teaching o( p"re #ision*hen yo" are able to practise p"re #ision an% that at all

times ai%e% by alert min%, one )ill al)ays #ie) onesel( as%eity an% others as %eities as )ell* &t that time, the="estion o( attachment an% a#ersion )o"l% not arise, )hichmeans that there )ill not be %"alism, sel( an% others*itho"t %"alistic min%, )ith p"re #ision, then )hate#erin% o( sense-ob+ect that yo" mae "se o(, as long as it is%one )itho"t parting (rom the %eity, p"re #ision, there is noca"se to habit"ate yo"rsel(* ormally )hat happens is,

)itho"t that in% o( p"re #ision, rst yo" are attracte% tothe sense ob+ect, then yo" mae "se o( that an% yo" in%o( (eel goo% abo"t it an% yo" repeat it, it becomes a habit,almost lie an a%%iction )hich res"lt in bon%age insamsara* hen yo" ha#e this %eity #ision, p"re #ision o(sel( an% others, e#en )hen yo" mae "se o( the senseob+ect, the hal( yo" are "sing it (or yo"r s"stenance b"t theother hal( yo" are o4ering it to the %eity* This )ill not bin%yo" into immobility* Ao" )ill not be in samsaric bon%age*

n or%er to practise this in% o( teaching, yo" nee% to ha#ea spirit"al master )ho is completely ="alie% to impart theteaching an% the no)le%ge )hich )ill enable yo" togenerate the "nion o( bliss an% emptiness* 3rom the #ie)o( the %isciple, yo" nee% to ha#e a great %eal o( %e#otionan% (aith in the teaching an% in yo"r spirit"al master* J"strepeat, the ey)or% here is the pitch instr"ctions that pass

(rom the master6s mo"th to the %isciple6s ear Fthe pitchinstr"ctions pass thro"gh the oral lineage* This is a ro"ghorientation o( Milarepa6s teaching here* E#erything cannotbe ma%e e>plicit an% open here beca"se it is the esotericaspect o( the tantric teaching* Many o( yo" ha#e recei#e%many empo)erments an% )hen yo" recei#eempo)erment, it is important that yo" obser#e thesamayas or the obligations*

Here it says, these teachings m"st be practise% in the


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conte>t o( the (o"r empo)erments or the practice m"st beassociate% )ith the (o"r empo)erments* Min% an% thesamaya or obligation m"st not part* hen )e sayobligation o( recei#ing empo)erment, )e are taling abo"t

p"re #ision* &ll the male species m"st be #ie)e% as$henre9ig or aloitsh#ara an% all the (emale speciesm"st be #ie)e% as Tara* &ll sentient beings m"st be#ie)e% as %aas an% all the (emale beings m"st be #ie)e%as %ainis* &gain an% again, consistently, yo" m"st trainmin% to recogni9e all sentient beings as s"ch* hen yo"are able to train the min% in this )ay, )hate#er %ailyacti#ities yo" con%"ct, they )ill all be p"re, )hate#er (oo%

or %rin yo" eat or %rin, these are #ie)e% as ganacharao4erings* &ll o( yo" m"st a(ter recei#ing the tantricempo)erment mae e4ort to practise p"re #ision* 3ore>ample, yo" ha#e a spo"se to )hom yo" ha#e a great%eal o( lo#e an% a4ection, yo" ha#e respect etc* hen yo"practise p"re #ision, yo"r practice in this c"rrent li(e )illprogress* t )ill become better an% better* n the ("t"re,a(ter yo" pass a)ay (rom here beca"se o( ha#ing practise%p"re #ision, beca"se o( ha#ing #ie)e% each other as %eity,

that practice )ill mae a in%elible imprint in yo"r min%stream to the e>tent that in yo"r bar%o stage, a(ter %eathan% be(ore rebirth, instea% o( remembering yo"r lo#e% oneas mere mortal, yo" )ill remember yo"r lo#e% one as yo"r%eity* ith that in%elible imprint in yo"r min% stream, yo")ill ha#e the possibility o( reaching enlightenment in thebar%o stage beca"se )hen yo" come across the image o(that #ery %eity, the opport"nity is open (or yo" to reach

enlightenment* hen yo" practise the essence o( tantricpractice, e>periential "n%erstan%ing o( the tr"e nat"re o(the min% )ill be clearer an% clearer*#hen the vivid vision of emptiness unfoldsIs this not the evolution of paths and levels?Dress it in signs that come while traversing the path


;hen the clarity o( emptiness "n(ol%s, isn6t that calle% the


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le#els o( paths an% bh"mis*< hen the emptiness o( yo"rmin% becomes clearer an% clearer, this is )hat it reallymeans by bh"mis Fthe le#el o( attainment an% paths*$larity, is an aspect o( the min% )hich %oes the %etecting

o( the arising o( the concept"al tho"ght, )hether goo% orba%* ith the %etection o( the rising o( these concept"altho"ghts, especially the a?icti#e emotions an% the #erystrong negati#e emotions, )hen yo" ens"re that yo" ha#e%etecte% these strong emotions an% that yo" are noto#ercome by them an% %o not "nleash the negati#eemotions, step by step then yo" progress in the (o"r yogasFsingle-pointe%, "ncontri#e%, one taste an% no me%itation,

one by one* 3or e>ample, )hen the aspect o( yo"r min%act"ally sees the tr"e nat"re o( the min%, an% then )henyo" try to stabili9e that special insight, it )ill be the rstle#el o( me%itational attainment )hich is single-pointe%*hen yo" ha#e a taste o( that tr"e nat"re o( min%, )itho"tstraying a)ay (rom that e>perience, )hen yo" are able tocon="er all the obsc"ring concept"al tho"ghts that arisean% )hen yo" are able to remain (oc"se%, this is the ne>tle#el* This is being "ncontri#e%* &n% lie that, yo" )ill go

step by step, higher an% higher* hen yo" eep onpracticing, then yo" eep on impro#ing, eep onprogressing an% yo" go higher an% higher in yo"r path an%bh"mis, )hen yo" sit %o)n an% %o one in% o( me%itati#ee="ipoise, (or e>ample, in that brie( moment, e#erything isincl"%e% too* Bet6s say )e are %oing shamatha or calm-abi%ing me%itation, )hen )e are able to (or a split secon%remain in a state o( no concept"al tho"ght, there )ill be

bliss* hen there is bliss, there )ill %enitely be clarity*here there is clarity, )hen the concept"al tho"ght arisesFconcept"al tho"ghts are lie throngs in o"r min%, )e )illha#e the )is%om o( not to (all prey to these concept"altho"ghts* n this brie( perio% o( me%itation, )e )ille>perience e#erything* These e>periences are bliss("le>perience, clarity, no concept"al tho"ght* The more yo"practise, the ="ality o( yo"r min% stream )ill becomebetter an% better an% yo" )ill go higher an% higher in

terms o( paths an% bh"mis*


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The (th ornament is the sign o( ha#ing s"ccee%e% in yo"rpractice* &s yo" progress in yo"r practice, the ="ality o(yo"r practice is going to increase* $orrespon%ingly, yo" )ill

start seeing #ario"s signs b"t signs lie bliss, clarity, nonconcept"al tho"ghts etc, b"t yo" m"st not be attache% tothese* :henpo M"nsel has ta"ght "s that in o"r practice,there )ill be many %i4erent signs* one o( these signs areanything that yo" sho"l% cling onto* one o( these signsare permanent* Ho)e#er, one o( the %enite signs o(ha#ing e>periential "n%erstan%ing o( pro(o"n% emptiness isthat yo"r min% stream is lle% )ith compassion* That is

signicant an% that is %enite* Cro(o"n% emptiness an%compassion are complementary to each other, there(ore)hen yo" ha#e an "n"s"al amo"nt o( compassion in yo"rmin% streamI yo" no) that correspon%ingly, yo" ha#e thatm"ch e>periential "n%erstan%ing o( the pro(o"n%emptiness* o the signs, the most reliable in%icator is thepresence or the absence o( compassion in yo"r min%steam* ( yo" %o not ha#e compassion in yo"r min% streaman% i( yo" thin yo" ha#e some e>periential "n%erstan%ing

o( pro(o"n% emptiness, there is a great chance that yo"rme%itation an% yo"r practice )ill go )rong* These are thesigns o( path or attainment* Reaching le#el an% paths m"stbe in%icate% by signs an% the %enite sign is the presenceo( compassion* 3or e>ample, )hen yo" reach the rst o(the ten bh"mis, it is sai% that yo" )ill ha#e the #ision o(h"n%re% enlightene% /"%%has )ho )ill gi#e teachings toyo"* Other signs o( attainments )o"l% be rmer an%

%eeper (aith in the ca"se an% e4ect, m"ch morecompassion to)ar% sentient beings, rmer an% %eeper (aithin the Three Je)els, m"ch less a?icti#e emotions an%greater p"re #ision*#hen your mind has arrived at the point where theriddle is solvedIs this not &uddhahood gained in a single life?

!rray it in bodies the buddha$ayas the four



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hen yo" ha#e reache% to the point )here yo"r or%inarymin% is e>ha"ste%, is this not calle% Enlightenment in oneli(etime e ha#e the or%inary min% on the one han% an%

Frigpa a)areness on the other* Min% is the chaotic,or%inary min% that )e ha#e )hich is "nmin%("l, "nhee%("lan% "n%ene% or%inary min%* The %i4erence bet)eenor%inary min% an% a)areness is the presence or absence o(clarity* The a)areness on the other han% is the clarity)hich sees or e>periences the tr"e nat"re o( min%*&)areness is a state o( min% )hich has %one a)ay )ithignorance* &)areness means a min% )hich %oes not ha#e

clinging attachment* &)areness means it is lie the imagein a stainless mirror* hen yo" ha#e this in% o( a)arenessor )hen yo" ha#e e>ha"ste% the or%inary min%, that isEnlightenment* t sho"l% be calle% Enlightenment* TheTibetan )or% (or Enlightenment is ang-gye* ang meansto a)ae (rom the %el"sion o( %"alistic bon%age @ %"alisticas an% yo", samsara an% nir#ana*

e ha#e this notion that i( )e practise so an% so, )e )ill

then reach Enlightenment some time %o)n the roa%*Ho)e#er, it is not lie that at all* ( yo" are able to correctlypractise an% correctly me%itate, (or a split secon%, yo"embo%y all the ="alities o( the enlightene% one* Ho) hatis the correct practice The correct practice is )hen yo" %onot chase the past, )hen yo" %o not "sher in the ("t"re,)hen yo" stay in this present moment in the min%6s nat"ralstate or in the min%6s tr"e nat"re )hich is lie the space @ a

phenomena that yo" cannot possibly p"t a label on, a stateo( min% that has clarity )hich essence is emptiness, a stateo( min% that is emptiness )hich essence is clarity, at thatmoment one becomes ("lly enlightene%* There is a phrasecalle% instantaneo"s Enlightenment, so yo" reachinstantaneo"s Enlightenment at that partic"lar moment*/"t beca"se yo" ha#e not practise% eno"gh to stabili9e orprolong that e>perience, then again %el"sion sets in, b"t i()e )ere able to stay in that present moment at )ill, that is,

(or the %"ration that yo" )ish to stay in that state o( min%,


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yo" ha#e become a ("lly enlightene% being*n the Maham"%ra lang"age, there are three %escripti#e)or%s )hich %escribe the nat"re o( min%* The rst one is

ne), the secon% is staying in its nat"ral state an% the thir%is staying loosely )itho"t press"re or stress* hen themin% rests in its nat"ral state in the present moment)itho"t press"re or stress, it is lie seeing a glimpse o( thes"n thro"gh layers an% layers o( clo"% (ormation* e ha#ein o"r min% stream layer an% layer o( concept"al tho"ghts,b"t )hen )e %)ell in the present moment, )hich is thene) min%, in its nat"ral state, )hen )e lea#e the min%

loose, )e ha#e this opport"nity o( ha#ing a glimpse o( o"rtr"e nat"re o( min%, that is the time )hen the concept"altho"ghts cease* Then later on )hen )e eep on practicing,then there )ill come a time )hen the sy )o"l% be (ree o(layers an% layers o( clo"%s )hen the s"n )o"l% be ("llye>pose%* hen the s"n is ("lly e>pose%, then the s"n )illnot be s"b+ect to changes an% it )ill al)ays remain that)ay* n that case, it may seem lie yo" can intermittentlyreach Enlightenment an% then go bac into %el"sion an%

again be enlightene%* o it loos as i( it )ere #ery easy, b"tnot all that easy either beca"se yo"r attainment m"st bethe attainment in the conte>t o( the (o"r bo%ies.ayas*hen yo" ha#e this e>perience o( seeing the tr"e nat"re)hich is lie open space, emptiness, that )o"l% be the'harmaaya state* Ao" m"st ha#e this e>perience* Theno"t o( this emptiness, yo" )ill e>perience clarity, the clarityis ambogaaya* 3rom the #ery beginning )hen )e begin

to practise, )e practise the (o"r immeas"rables* The (o"rimmeas"rables incl"%e lo#ing in%ness, compassion, +oyan% e="animity* The creati#e po)er o( lo#ing in%ness an%compassion, the "ntargete% compassion %irecte% to)ar%snot any one in partic"lar b"t rather to all sentient beings,the (eeling )o"l% be as i( there is a tint o( sa%ness in one6so)n min% stream* That "ntargete% compassion mani(estsas irmanaaya state o( /"%%hahoo%* The combination o(all three is embo%ie%.s"bs"me% in one6s o)n min% )hich is

the essence aya or the (o"rth aya Fs#abha#iaaya* o


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yo"r e>perience has to be the e>perience in the conte>t o(the (o"r ayas.bo%ies o( enlightene% being*

! master of scriptures and logic and special

instructionsIs this not called a lama who holds a lineage?

!dorned with a noble heart of true compassionThis is what serves as his special embellishment.

& person )ho is en%o)e% )ith the script"ral no)le%gean% )ho is en%o)e% )ith intellect"al an% analyticalcapacity an% )ho embo%ies a )i%e array o( pith

instr"ctions base% on the e>periential "n%erstan%ing o(his.her masters* hen )e come across s"ch a person, )hatelse can that person be calle% b"t a lama )ho embo%iesall these no)le%ge inhis.her min% stream* Tibetan )or% lungmeans script"ralteachings, script"ral teachings as containe% in the threeTipitaa* These are the %irect teachings o( the /"%%ha*&nalytical %e%"ction )o"l% be (or e>ample processing allthese canonical teachings* 'ialectic %ebate )o"l% be (or

e>ample a metho% o( coming to a %eniti#e "n%erstan%ingo( the meanings o( the teachings o( the /"%%ha* The pithinstr"ction is something that is passe% %o)n to yo" byone6s o)n masters* Cith instr"ctions are base% on one6so)n "ni="e e>periential "n%erstan%ing o( the practice*omeone )ho has all this no)le%ge, that person s"relyhas to be the lama*

The Tibetan )or% (or script"ral teachings is lung. B"ng hasse#eral %i4erent meanings* n this partic"lar conte>t, itmeans /"%%ha6s teachings )hich can be categori9e% intot)o gro"ps - one is aca%emic an% the other is e>periential*3rom the aca%emic si%e, the aca%emic instit"tes, (ore>ample monastic colleges pro#i%e opport"nities (orst"%ents to st"%y the script"res Fso that they becomelearne%, to "n%ergo training in logic, %ialectical %ebatesan% so on* These are metho%s o( %ening an% re%ening

the %eniti#e meaning o( /"%%ha6s teachings* He.she is a


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lama )ho has recei#e% these script"ral teachings an% )hohas "n%ergone training in logic etc* ( )e shi(t to thee>periential part o( teaching an% practice, pith instr"ctions(or e>ample, (all into the category o( e>periential learning

an% practice* & lama "phol%s the lineage - lineage o( thescript"ral teachings, lineage o( the teachings in logic,lineage o( pith instr"ctions* hen )e say lineage, )e are inthe conte>t o( tantric practice* Empo)erment to ripenone6s o)n min% stream is one lineage, that is, lineage o(empo)erment* The commentary teaching is anotherlineage* &ct"al practice base% on pith instr"ctions gi#en bythe masters is the lineage o( blessings* o )hen the te>t

re(ers to lineage this is the in% o( lineage that it is talingabo"t*Cith instr"ction ties in )ith the blessing lineage )hichcomes (rom practice* This is #ery important* hen )e talabo"t pith instr"ctions, rst o( all, yo" yo"rsel( ha#e toha#e that e>perience an% the e>periential "n%erstan%ing o(the s"b+ect matter* Ao" ha#e to (eel the )armth o( thatpartic"lar practice an% then yo" share that e>perience )ith

others in the (orm o( pith instr"ctions* hen yo" %o in this)ay, the benet )ill be tremen%o"s* Ao" can pass on theblessings* t is something lie the )ater r"nning thro"gh ametal pipe* The pipe alone )o"l% be o( #ery little "se i(there is no r"nning )ater in it* ( yo" yo"rsel( act"allye>perience )hat yo" are teaching to others, then there )illbe the blessings* 3or e>ample, )hen yo" me%itate onlo#ing in%ness an% compassion Fthe relati#e bo%hicitta,

yo" )ill e>perience that yo" are able to cope )itha?icti#e emotions, attachment, a#ersion* hen yo" areable to reap the benet o( practicing relati#e bo%hicitta,yo" can share that e>perience )ith others an% say, ;This is)hat %i% an% these are the e>periences that ha#e*perience, it becomes the pithinstr"ctions* &s these are my e>periences, there(ore, i( yo"%o the same, yo" )ill e>perience similar e>periences* amething )hen )e are "n%ergoing the creation stage o( the

practice* ( yo" %o it correctly, yo" )ill ha#e e>periences*


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en% o( attachment is a#ersion* t )o"l% ha#e no benet atall* t has to be "nbiase% compassion* The abo#e teachingis abo"t the in% o( ="alities that a tr"e lama m"st ha#e*

One who has faith with compassion is amplyendowedIs this not a student comprising a suitable vessel?,ully e+uipped with respect and devoutcommitmentThis is what serves as their special embellishment"

o) )e are going to %isc"ss )hat in% o( ="ality a %isciple

m"st ha#e* & %isciple m"st ha#e a great %eal o(compassion, a rm lo#ing tr"st in the lama or the ThreeJe)els* ( yo" ha#e these, yo" become the ;right in% o(#essel< to hol% the teachings o( the lama, a tr"e %isciple*hen )e tal abo"t lo#ing tr"st an% (aith in the lama, thereare three %i4erent in%s o( tr"st an% (aith* One is that tr"stan% (aith arise o"t o( the (act that the Three Je)els areinspirational* The Three Je)els inspire yo" an% o"t o( thisinspiration gro)s this lo#ing tr"st an% (aith* The secon% is

that tr"st an% (aith arise thro"gh the "n%erstan%ing o(ca"sality o( ca"se an% e4ect relationship* The thir% one isthat lo#ing tr"st an% (aith arise )hen yo" ha#e s"chlonging to be liberate% (rom samsara (or yo"rsel( an%others* ( yo" ha#e all these, yo" become a tr"e %isciple, atr"e #essel s"itable to recei#e the teachings*

hen someone is being calle% the ;right in% o( #essel


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#essel i( yo" ha#e a great %eal o( compassion, lo#ing tr"stan% (aith* To mae yo"rsel( to become a complete %isciple,a completely s"itable #essel (or recei#ing all the teachings,yo" nee% to ha#e the ornament o( mLg )hich normally is

translate% as %e#otion b"t here means respect an% %e#o"tcommitment* 3or the sae o( simplicity, )e translate mLgas %e#otion*'e#otion arises beca"se yo" aspire to be liberate% (romsamsara* 'e#otion is ma%e "p o( t)o Tibetan )or%s @ mLan% g* ML literally means inclination to)ar%s one thing orlonging (or one thing* This one thing is to be liberate% (rom

samsara, longing to be liberate% (rom samsara is calle%mL* hen yo" ha#e that in% o( %esire, this %esire )ill thengenerate respect (or the lama beca"se the lama is the one)ho can lea% yo" to the right path* This respect is g*

&s to generate %e#otion, rst )e ha#e to generates"percial %e#otion* e generate s"percial %e#otion bythining o( o"r parents* e can generate %e#otion )hen )eno) that o"r parents ha#e been so in% to "s* e can

generate the s"percial %e#otion )hen )e thin o( thein%ness o( all the teachers (or e>ample* ame thing canbe %one )hen )e thin o( the in%ness an% the benets o(ha#ing a system in yo"r co"ntry s"ch as a go#ernment, anorgani9ation, a ci#ili9ation an% so on* o )hen yo" thin o(all these in%nesses, yo" can generate respect an%%e#otion* hen yo" ha#e some "n%erstan%ing o( ca"sean% e4ect (or e>ample, yo" )ill be able to generate%e#otion to)ar% yo"r lamas or teachers beca"se it is

thans to their teachings that yo" ha#e this in% o("n%erstan%ing* &mong all the teachers, the in%est teacheris the one )ho teaches yo" the pro(o"n% 'harma*

MLg can be loosely translate% as %e#otion )hereas TN pacan be loosely translate% as (aith an% tr"st* MLg, mL is)hen yo" loo at someone lie the lama, it is not onlyleaning to)ar% the lama, appreciating the ="alities o( lamaIb"t there is a strong element o( holiness, sacre%ness an%

blessings attache% to it* Then comes the )or% g meansrespect* Tashi Jamyangling Fthe translator ase% Rinpoche


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;hen yo" )hole-hearte%ly pray to yo"r root lama )ith(aith an% tr"st FtNpa #ers"s )hen yo" )hole-hearte%lypray to yo"r root lama )ith %e#otion FmLg, )hat in% o(%i4erent inner (eelings or emotions )o"l% yo" generatetent that )hate#er the lama teaches yo", yo" )ill

ne#er (orget* 3or e>ample, :henpo Ten9in angpo )o"l%teach that )hen he sees the prayer Dags D"ttering in the)in% an% casting sha%o)s on the gro"n%, he )o"l% ha#e som"ch respect that he )o"l% not )al o#er the sha%o))itho"t being min%("l an% hee%("l* nstea% he )o"l% maea gest"re )ith his han% as i( he )as li(ting the sha%o) o(the Dag (rom the gro"n% an% at the same time saying themantra !ar"a #edma $tama* hen yo" ha#e so m"ch tr"st,lo#e an% %e#otion to the lama, yo" )ill al)ays remember

his.her )or%s* TN pa Ftranslate% as (aith.tr"st an% mL gFtranslate% as %e#otion, these t)o seem to be similar, yet%i4erent* hen yo" ha#e tN pa F(aith.tr"st, a rm-roote%one, an% o"to( that, one is able to generate mLg F%e#otion* e ha#erespect, tr"st an% (aith in all lamas* 'e#otion, ho)e#er, )eha#e to)ar%s +"st a (e)* TNpa F(aith.tr"st basically meansliing someone b"t there is m"ch more than that* Ao" lie

someone beca"se that someone is not or%inary* Thatsomeone is ("ll o( blessings, there is something holy an%sacre% abo"t that someone* hen yo" are str"c )ith thisin% o( (eeling to)ar% a s"blime being to the e>tent thate#en the bo%ily hair stan%s on their en%I )hen yo" ha#ethat in% o( (aith.tr"st an% )hen yo" ha#e min% to min%connection to yo"r lama.root lama Fthe root lama )o"l% be(or e>ample, the one )ho has gi#en yo" the re("geor%ination, empo)erments an% oral transmission etc*, the

pre#io"sly arisen tNpa F(aith.tr"st is no) li(te% to mLg


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F%e#otion* Tears come into yo"r eyes an% this is not liethe (aith.tr"st in the earlier %ays b"t rather there is min% tomin% merging*

n or%er to generate mLg F%e#otion, yo" ha#e to start)ith s"percial %e#otion be(ore it becomes a secon% nat"reto yo"* Thin o( or me%itate on all sentient beings as one6so)n parents* ( one is able to %o that, this )ill create theca"ses an% con%itions to generate non-%"al )is%om* n thesame )ay, try to generate s"percial %e#otion to)ar%s alllamas* Thin o( all lamas ha#ing the same essence, that is,the lama6s min% as the min% o( /"%%ha, the lama6s speechas the 'harma an% the lama6s bo%y as the angha* ith

the help o( the s"percial %e#otion, )hen yo" thin o( theirin%nesses again an% again, yo" )ill be able to generate%e#otion to)ar%s all lamas )itho"t maing special e4ort*ame as Milarepa, )e ha#e access to teachings o( many#ery learne% lamas* hen )e ha#e access to theseprecio"s teachings, each time )hen )e recei#e teaching,o"r lo#e (or the lama increases* &s the lo#e increases, theblessings also increase* There is a correlation* Ao"r lo#e

to)ar%s the lama correspon%s to the amo"nt o( blessingsthat is trans(erre% or Do)e% in to yo"I especially )hen yo"are "n%ergoing real har%ships or pain an% s"4erings* henyo" reDect on the teachings o( yo"r lamas, it )ill help agreat %eal* hen )as in prison (or e>ample, )hen (ace%lots o( trials an% trib"lations, )hen reDecte% on theteachings that recei#e% (rom the s"blime lamas, becameto"gher, more heroic an% not scare% to (ace har%ship* &llthis thans to the teachings o( the lamas* This helps to

increase yo"r s"percial %e#otion to the lamas, especiallythe lamas (rom )hom yo" ha#e recei#e% the bo%hisatt#a#o)s or tantric teachings* These lamas are #ery, #ery in%to "s* These lamas are the ones )ho sho) yo" the )ay toget o"t o( samsaric e>istence* 3irst, yo" begin bygenerating s"percial %e#otion to)ar%s yo"r lama bythining o( the )on%er("l ="alities o( the lama* Then )henyo" get "se% to this, later on, yo" )ill not nee% to rst

thin o( the lamas6 ="alities etc* The min"te yo" thin o(the lama, it )o"l% be lie s"nrays shining on sno) Daes,


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yo"r a?icti#e emotions an% concept"al tho"ghts )o"l%a"tomatically, instantaneo"sly %issipate beca"se thelama6s min% an% the nat"re o( yo"r min% is the same* Ao"ralert min% an% the lama6s min% are the same* Bater on

)hen yo" are "se% to generate %e#otion, the absol"te%e#otion Fnot the s"percial one, yo" )ill n% that lama6smin% is beyon% %eath an% beyon% birth* hen yo"are able to generate non-s"percial %e#otion to the lama,yo" )ill see that the lama is nothing less than a ("llyenlightene% being*

Here is Rinpoche6s e>planation on mL g F%e#otion hen )as a small boy, "se% to be #ery, #ery angry at MarpaBotsa)a* "se% to lie Marpa Botsa)as consort 'amema* tho"ght, ;hat a )on%er("l la%y, ho) in%* hat abo%hisatt#a*< /"t "se% to almost hate Marpa Botsa)abeca"se o( the cr"elty that he inDicte% on Milarepa* Then began to rea% Marpa Botsa)a6s li(e history* He sol%e#erything that he e#er possesse% an% t"rn them into gol%coins* He too a bacpac an% (rom the col% Tibet )ent allthe )ay on (oot to epal* He (ace% all in%s o( har%ship* He

)ent to n%ia )ith the heat, %iseases, sicnesses an% allin%s o( har%ship he (ace%* &s narrate% by Marpa Botsa)a6sson )hen the (ather came bac, ;My (ather sol% e#erythinghe possesse% an% t"rne% them into gol% an% too the gol%to n%ia an% )hen he came bac, all he e#er bro"ght toTibet )as a bacpac ("ll o( te>tboos*< That )as ="itetr"e* On reDecting on this, Marpa Botsa)a ga#e e#erythinga)ay an% he %i% not e#en care (or his o)n sa(ety* He )as)illing to gi#e his li(e so that he )o"l% be able to bringbac the s"blime 'harma* hy %i% he %o that He %i% it (orsentient beings* He bro"ght all those oral tra%itions o( #erypro(o"n% teachings )hich he later on passe% onto his%isciple Milarepa* t is thans to the e4ort o( Marpa Botsa)athat )e to%ay ha#e access to these )on%er("l teachings*hen yo" e>amine this care("lly, yo" )ill see ho) in%Marpa Botsa)a ha% been @ not only to Milarepa b"t also toall those )ho (ollo) the teachings to%ay* o there is

eno"gh reason to ha#e a great %eal o( s"percial %e#otion*Ao"r eyes start getting moist, tears gather in yo"r eyes* &ll


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in%s o( %e#otion then yo" generate beca"se yo" no) n%that Marpa Botsa)a )as not a cr"el person b"t someone)ho ha% been #ery, #ery in% to all sentient beings* o thisis ho) generate% my s"percial %e#otion* There )ere

many times )hen Marpa Botsa)a beat "p Milarepa,physical ab"se literally* Ho)e#er, )hen yo" loo at this)ith a )i%er #ie), yo" )ill "n%erstan% that )hat %ro#eMarpa to beat "p Milarepa )as a pro("sion o( compassionan% lo#e an% the #ery pro(o"n% goal that )as set* ot only)as Marpa Botsa)a #ery compassionate b"t he )as alsoall-no)ing omniscient* Marpa Botsa)a ha% many, many%isciples )ho )ere entitle% to ha#e ;gol%en canopy< as a

mar o( respect* /"t o"t o( all these, Marpa Botsa)a han%-pice% Milarepa an% prophesi9e% that Milarepa6s(orbearance has the li(e (orce p"ll o( /"%%ha6s teachings* nother )or%s, Milarepa is going to be the "phol%er o( the/"%%ha6s teachings o"t o( all the %isciples* 3rom this )e"n%erstan% that Marpa Botsa)a really ne)* He co"l%(oretell the ("t"re as he )as omniscient* He ne) the threetimes* To%ay, on this planet, :agypa teachings Do"rishthans to the heroic (orbearance o( Milarepa* Thro"gh the

e4ort o( Marpa an% Milarepa, )e are blesse% )ith thepractice lineage o( blessing* o )hen no) that MarpaBotsa)a ne) then )hat the ("t"re o( Milarepa )o"l%become, )as able to generate the s"percial %e#otion*Ao" sho"l% ha#e %e#otion, respect, tr"st an% lo#e to)ar%sall* ( yo" ha#e this, yo" are the one )ho is going to bebenete%* ( yo" ha#e the )rong #ie) )hich is the oppositeo( %e#otion, yo" are the one )ho )ill inc"r the loss* Ao" are

the one )ho has to (ace the conse="ences o( being borninto the three lo)er realms o( e>istence* This is in an"tshell o( ho) )as able to generate s"percial %e#otion*One o( the things that )ill help yo" to generate s"percial%e#otion is to rea% the li(e histories o( the s"blime beings*The real Fnon-s"percial %e#otion can be generate% by%oing me%itation*

o yo" generate s"percial or contri#e% %e#otion Fnot the

act"al or absol"te %e#otion, then later on, )hen yo" startseeing the tr"e nat"re o( yo"r min%, then )e )ill n% that


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the nat"re o( yo"r min% an% the nat"re o( /"%%ha6s min%an% the nat"re o( the lama6s min%, all three become thesame* hen yo" see that, yo" )ill tr"st yo"rsel(* e tal interms o( seeing or e>periencing the tr"e nat"re o( the min%

#ers"s not e>periencing the tr"e nat"re o( the min%* Thereis an element o( %o"bt in the latter case* ometimes )hen)e e>perience certain thing, )e ten% to as o"rsel#es)o"l% this be the e>perience o( the tr"e nat"re o( the min%or )o"l% it not hen yo" act"ally see the tr"e nat"re o(yo"r min%, there )ill ne#er be this in% o( %o"bt* hen yo"see the tr"e nat"re o( yo"r min%, there )ill be noattachment in that state o( min%* The nat"re o( that min%

)ill be the "nion o( emptiness an% clarity* The nat"re o(that min% )o"l% be the embo%iment o( the three ayasaccor%ing to '9ogchen tra%ition* E>periencing the innatenat"re is not something that is arisen in yo"r min% streamthat )as not there pre#io"sly* nnate nat"re is notsomething that )e ha#e so"ght an% (o"n% (rom )itho"t* thas al)ays been )ithin one6s o)n min%* n the maham"%ratra%ition, it is the recognition o( one6s min% )hich hasal)ays been ("lly enlightene%* hen yo" ha#e this

e>perience o( the tr"e nat"re, onesel( is no less than a ("llyenlightene% being* Bama is a ("lly enlightene% being an%yo" yo"rsel( are a ("lly enlightene% being*

J"st to recap the topic* omeone )ho has compassion,someone )ho has tr"st an% (aith, that someone is s"rely a%isciple, the right in% o( #essel to hol% all the teachings*/"t still to be a complete #essel, to be a complete %isciple,something else is missing, that something else is %e#otion

mLg* hen a person, on top o( compassion, tr"st an%(aith, is complimente% )ith ornament F%e#otion then thatperson becomes a complete %isciple* '"ring practice, thepractice m"st be integrate% )ith the generation o(%e#otion* t is e>tremely important* ( yo" %o so, then lateron, it )ill not become +"st s"percial %e#otion* t )ill thenbecome the act"al %e#otion* hen yo" are able togenerate act"al %e#otion, yo" )ill see the tr"e nat"re o(the min%* n '9ogchen teachings (or e>ample, since not allcan straight a)ay see the tr"e nat"re o( the min%,


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there(ore in the teaching, it says that i( yo" cannote>perience the tr"e nat"re o( the min%I let alone the tr"enat"re o( the min%, i( yo" cannot e#en e>perience thearising o( yo"r alert min%, then )e sho"l% )hole-hearte%ly

%e#ote on the generation o( %e#otion to)ar% one6s lama*hen yo" %o this, yo"r min% merges later on )ith the min%o( the lama an% then this )ill enable yo" to see the tr"enat"re o( the min%* This partic"lar teaching )as gi#en byJigme Binpa, the (amo"s !i%ya%hara* n the Maham"%rateachings, it is al)ays emphasi9e% that the e>perience o(maham"%ra becomes possible beca"se yo"r min% merges)ith the min% o( the lama* /eca"se o( yo"r %e#otion, yo"

are able to merge yo"r min% )ith the min% o( the lama an%as a res"lt yo" can e>perience the tr"e nat"re o( the min%*hat is tr"e nat"re o( the min% t is something that is #ery%ic"lt to p"t a label on, it is something that yo" ha#e toe>perience yo"rsel(*

here there is no %e#otion to)ar%s the lama, one )ill notrecei#e the blessings* The blessings o( the practice lineage)ill not Do) to yo"* Gyalpa Rinpoche, the (o"n%er o( the

'ri"ng :agy" Bineage sai%, ;Knless yo" yo"rsel( ha#ereache% the le#el o( the attainment o( !a+ra%hara, %o notlet yo"r %isciples me%itate on yo" as s"ch*< The reason isbeca"se )hen a pro("sion o( %e#otion is generate% by the%isciple, it merges )ith the min% o( the lama @ the min%an% min% )ill meet* hen the min% o( the %isciple tries toreach o"t to the lama an% i( the lama has nothing to reachat, it is harm("l* That is the message o( Gyalpa Rinpoche* nor%er to be me%itate% "pon by yo"r %isciples, yo" ha#e to

reach certain le#el o( attainment* hy %i% he )arn "s thatt is beca"se )hen the %isciples reach o"t to the lamathro"gh %e#otion, it is possible to reach o"t min% to min%*'isciples ha#e to ha#e the right in% o( %e#otion )hile thelama has to ha#e the right in% o( po)er an% attainment*hen these ca"ses an% con%itions are right, )hen the%isciples generate a great %eal o( %e#otion to the lama, the%isciples can act"ally recei#e the inner reali9ation o( the

lama* ame thing happens )hen yo" practise yi%am %eity*hy %o )e practise yi%am %eity )ith %e#otion t is


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beca"se )hen yo" practice )ith the right ca"ses an%con%itions, yo" )ill be able to recei#e the bo%hicitta o( theyi%am %eity* Ho) come )e sho"l% not see protection (romsamsaric %eities 3or the same reason, yo" try to reach o"t

)ith %e#otion to the %eity an% the %eity has nothing too4er, then it becomes %etrimental rather than o( anybenet* hen yo" ha#e the right in% o( lama, the rightin% o( moti#ation, right in% o( %e#otion, then ob#io"sly, it)ill not only benet yo", b"t also increase yo"r (aith,increase yo"r tr"st an% increase yo"r %e#otion*In brief one comes to terms with mind through

view-Meditation turns this into experience-.onduct *lls in the picture in every detail-#hat actually happens((four $ayas manifest-The fruit of all this is asserted in terms of mind-/eali0ation is seeing these all come down to thesame"

The rst line can also be rea% as ;The mind%s rope issevered (set free) by the viewistence* &ll phenomena areemptiness an% %o not ha#e sel(* That is the nat"re o(

%harmata* That is one #ie) at the absol"te le#el* Thenat the relati#e le#el, it is not lie there isn6t ane>perience o( hell* There is* t is not lie yo" %o note>perience appearances* Ao" %o e>perienceappearances* o (rom )here %o all these come (rome are taling abo"t the #ie), the %harmata, an% yet)e are taling abo"t a secon%ary #ie) )here all theseare possible* nstea% o( looing o"t)ar% to search (or

ans)er, )e loo in)ar% to)ar%s one6s o)n min%, thetr"e nat"re o( min%* ho create all these


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appearances ho create all the hells an% otherrealms The ="ic ans)er to that is that the )orl%systems, the cosmos is create% by o"r Fsentientbeings6 collecti#e arma* ithin it, the inhabitants, thein%i#i%"al samsara comes abo"t beca"se o( in%i#i%"al6sarma* These arma, )hether collecti#e or in%i#i%"al,are create% by none other than the min% itsel(* ho seean% "n%erstan% all the %etails as to ho) the la) o(ca"se an% e4ect )or The ("lly enlightene% being cansee them all* obo%y else can see e#erything in %etails*e ha#e some #ag"e i%ea abo"t that an% )e ha#e o"ro)n in%i#i%"al se)e% #ie)s on things*hen yo" %o not see or "n%erstan% the nat"re o( allphenomena, then )e ten% to ha#e clinging attachmentto phenomena* e ha#e attachment an% that %e#elopsinto a habit* hen yo" ha#e some i%ea o( the tr"enat"re o( phenomena, yo" )ill come to the concl"sionthat e#erything is composite, meaning that e#erythinge>ists beca"se o( a )hole b"nch o( other ca"ses an%con%itions* Temporarily, at the relati#e le#el, they e>istb"t at the "ltimate le#el, they %o not e>ist* omepeople ha#e this in% o( "n%erstan%ing* Ha#ing some"n%erstan%ing is better than not ha#ing any"n%erstan%ing o( the nat"re o( phenomena* hen yo"ha#e clinging attachment to )hat seems to ha#ein%epen%ent reality an% i( this clinging attachmentbecomes habit"ate% ten%ency, then yo" )ill be inbon%age* hen yo" can %ismantle this belie( thatphenomena, )hate#er it may be, ha#e in%epen%ente>istence an% )hen the min% is (ree (rom thatbon%age, then it %oes not really matter )hat happenso"tsi%e o( yo"r min% stream beca"se the min% is th"sset (ree* E#en tho"gh yo" %o not ha#e a pro(o"n% or%eeper e>periential "n%erstan%ing o( this partic"lar

point, b"t i( yo" ha#e some aca%emic "n%erstan%ingthat there is not any single thing that e>ists by itsel(,


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that no)le%ge alone )o"l% be o( great help to onesel(*

To recapit"late, )e sai% that %harmata is emptiness b"tit is not empty o( ca"se an% e4ect* e ha#e ca"se an%e4ect on the relati#e le#el an% )e cannot say that%harmata is empty an% there(ore )e can %o a)ay )ithca"se an% e4ect* $a"ses are the creation o( the min%an% e4ects are the reaction that nat"rally (ollo)s theaction* &ll these, yo" ha#e to "n%erstan% (rom )ithininternally, not e>ternally* Ao" ha#e to internali9e allthese "n%erstan%ings* Milarepa sai%, ;'o not search (oryo"r ans)er bet)een the lines o( pro(o"n% teachingsb"t try to n% yo"r ans)er )ithin yo"r o)n min%*perience the tr"e nat"re o( the min%,try generating %e#otion to lama* Once yo" start seeingan% e>periencing the tr"e nat"re o( min%, yo"rimme%iate response )o"l% be that it is not that %ic"ltat all* hen yo" %o not ha#e attachment to anyconcept"al tho"ghts, yo" )ill see the tr"e nat"re o(

min%* hen yo" %o not ha#e attachment to concept"altho"ghts, there is no ca"se to create arma* hen yo"


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%o not ha#e attachment to concept"al tho"ghts, theseconcept"al tho"ghts )ill %issol#e into the %harmaaya,the state o( /"%%hahoo%* This is me%itation* top looat it at a )i%e e>panse, %o not try to stretch it to thelimit an% try to analy9e e#erything in e#ery %etail* Tryto mae it simple an% lea#e the min% alone an%me%itate* That is eno"gh* That is ho) practice an% n% it that more than a%e="ate*e>t line is abo"t per(ection o( con%"ct an% it rea%s;onduct lls in the picture in every detailtis going to e>plain eight in%s o( ill"sions b"t (or no),)e +"st "se %reams as an e>ample* e ha#e thisten%ency o( treating o"r %aytime e>periences as realan% noct"rnal %ream e>periences as being something%i4erent* n reality this #ery li(e is lie a %ream* ( yo"in#estigate it, )e ha#e the o"ter cosmos an% the innerinhabitants, an% )e ha#e the sel( an% othersI all thesein o"r min% stream are lie %reams* ( yo" can treat allthese as %reams an% train the min% to recogni9e themall as %reams, it )ill be o( great help %"ring the bar%ostage Fa(ter %eath an% be(ore rebirth* /oth %aytime

e>periences an% %ream state e>periences, yo" )ill n%them as the same )hen yo" pass a)ay (rom this li(e* n


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the bar%o state a(ter yo"r %eath, in retrospect, all yo"rli(elong e>periences )ill be seen as nothing more than)hat )e to%ay thin o( as a %ream at night* o i( yo"can train the min% to recogni9e that this #ery li(e is liea %ream, then there )ill be less attachment an% lessa#ersion* hen there are less attachment an% lessa#ersion, there )ill be more lo#e an% compassion*hen yo" pass a)ay (rom this li(e, yo" nee% lo#e an%compassion to carry (or)ar%* Rea% the P /o%hisatt#aCractices*Regar%ing training on the per(ection o( con%"ct, thereare t)o things that )e nee% to ha#e* One is the alertmin% )hich is an aspect o( one o( the (ty-one mentale#ents* e ha#e to ha#e an alert min% on g"ar%* T)o islo#ing in%ness an% compassion* e nee% to ha#elo#ing in%ness an% compassion ongoing "ninterr"pte%*hen )e ha#e these t)o, then again )e %o not nee% toanaly9e each an% e#ery con%"ct as right con%"ct or)rong con%"ct beca"se )e no) that )e ha#e as%ri#ing (orce the right ingre%ients the alert min% ong"ar% an% lo#ing in%ness an% compassion"ninterr"pte%* hen )e ha#e these t)o, all o"racti#ities, all o"r con%"ct )ill constit"te as theper(ormance o( si> per(ections* &ct"ally, )hate#er )e%o, as long as the alert min% is ("nctioning, the alertmin% is on g"ar% an% )e ha#e lo#ing in%ness an%compassion in o"r heart "ninterr"pte%, then )hate#er)e %o in samsara, e#erything is going to constit"te asper(ect con%"ct* That is the ="ality o( bo%hicitta* ( yo"%o not ha#e the alert min% or )atch("l min%, then )hatis going to happen is that yo" are going to %e#elopattachment* hen the min% is not separate% (rom alertmin% an% lo#ing in%ness an% compassion, thene#erything yo" %o )ill be per(ect con%"ct, per(ect

acti#ities*


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Cer(ect acti#ities or per(ect con%"ct means, i( possibletra%ing one6s o)n place )ith the place o( other sentientbeingsI an% i( that is not possible, )hen yo" ha#e thealert min% on g"ar% an% lo#ing in%ness an%compassion in yo"r min% "ninterr"pte%, then there )illal)ays be an e="ality o( sel( an% all other sentientbeings* Cer(ection o( con%"ct means, i( yo" no) ho)to practice it correctly an% i( yo" ha#e the sill("lmeans, it incl"%es the si> paramitas )hich is in thes"trayana tra%ition* ( it is in the tantrayana tra%ition,)e )ill spea slightly %i4erently* &ll appearances, allso"n%s, all a)areness, e#erything )ill be trans(orme%into the per(ect con%"ct by sill("l means*Regar%ing con%"ct, there are three %i4erent le#els o(path* 3irst is the path o( the no#ice, the beginner in the'harma* hen yo" are an ine>perience% beginner inthe 'harma practice, at least )hat yo" ha#e is the (earto)ar%s the conse="ences o( samsara* Ao" ha#e an"n%erstan%ing o( the ca"se an% e4ect* J"st by sheerpo)er o( (ear an% the "n%erstan%ing o( ca"se an%e4ect, that )ill pre#ent yo"rsel( (rom in%"lging innegati#e %ee%s* o, yo" )ill try to sa#e yo"rsel( (rombeing o#ercome by a?icti#e emotions* ( yo" are apractitioner )ho can generate lo#ing in%ness an%compassion, then )hate#er %ee%s yo" %o, all the si>paramitas are incl"%e% in yo"r con%"ct beca"sebo%hicitta means lo#e* e tae an e>ample o( a motheran% a chil%* Ob#io"sly, there is lots o( lo#e, motherlo#es the chil%* /"t this lo#e is also tainte% )ithattachment* /ehin% this lo#e is the notion that the chil%belongs to me, the chil% is mine* E#en then )ith thisin% o( lo#e to)ar%s yo"r chil%, )hate#er e>penses thatyo" pai% on behal( o( the chil% constit"te as the rst o(the si> paramitas @ %ana paramita or gi#ing* econ%

one is that yo" )ill not )ant to ca"se harm, no)inglyor intentionally, to yo"r chil%* That is, obser#ing the


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ethical co%e o( con%"ct* Ao" %o e#erything possible tobenet yo"r chil%* The thir% is that yo" "n%ergo allin%s o( har%ships )hich is patience* The (o"rth is thatyo" al)ays p"t in the best e4ort in or%er to achie#e)hate#er yo" are aiming to achie#e an% o#ercome allproblems )hate#er they are (or yo"r chil%, e#en i( yo"are tire%* This is %iligent e4ort* The (th is that yo"al)ays thin o( benetting yo"r chil%* This isconcentration* n this partic"lar case, )hat are missingis the si>th paramitas )hich is )is%om* is%om isabsent beca"se o( attachment, attachment to yo"rchil%* here there is attachment, it )ill res"lt in cyclice>istence* /"t i( yo" ha#e )is%om, )is%om to treat allsentient beings in the si> realms o( e>istence as e="alto yo"r chil%, i( yo" are able to recogni9e all sentientbeings in the si> realms as yo"r mother, that is calle%great e="animity* here there is e="animity, there isno sel( an% )here there is no sel(, there is the presenceo( si> paramitas* &"tomatically, yo" are practicing thesi> paramitas* The %i4erence bet)een )hether or notyo" are incorporating the si> paramitas in yo"r con%"ctis the presence or the absence o( attachment an% sel(*( yo" ha#e bo%hicitta, all yo"r m"n%ane acti#ities )illbe t"rne% into si> per(ections )hether yo" are )oring(or the go#ernment, (or the nation or (or yo"rsel(* ithbo%hicitta in yo"r min% an% in yo"r heart, e#en )henyo" sleep, yo" )ill be acc"m"lating #irt"es* hat si>paramitas %o is that they sa(eg"ar%, enhance an%increase yo"r bo%hicitta by helping yo" to eepbo%hicitta in yo"r min% stream* here there isbo%hicitta, there is a lac o( attachment* here there isno attachment an% clinging, yo" )ill be able to see thetr"e nat"re o( min%* t is possible to reachenlightenment only )ith the practice o( bo%hicitta*&bo#e %escribes the si> paramitas accor%ing to

s"trayana tra%ition*


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&ccor%ing to the tantric tra%ition, it is %i4erent* e %onot ha#e to thin o( all sentient beings as o"r parents*

The o"ter cosmos, in the tantric practice, is seen as the#e elements, as celestial mansion or man%ala* &llinner n"trients or sentient beings as ha#ing thea?icti#e emotions, #e negati#e poisons, )e see the#e poisons in the p"rie% state as #e primor%ial)is%oms* The physical constit"tion o( all sentientbeings, #e san%as, the #e heaps are seen as #e'hyani /"%%has )ith their correspon%ing (emaleconsorts or %ainis in the p"rie% state* E#erything issel(-arisen in these p"re (orms* The entire samsara isseen as the #e 'hyani /"%%has an% the #e consorts*

Tae the e>ample o( +"st one apple* The apple comesabo"t beca"se o( the #e elements an% the apple isthere to benet sentient beings* The apple comesabo"t beca"se o( the aspiration prayers an% the po)ero( all the enlightene% beings* e are taling abo"t the(o"r ayas or the (o"r bo%ies o( enlightene% beings* O(the (o"r, the apple is the irmanaaya state o(/"%%hahoo% beca"se it e>ists in or%er to benetsentient beings* n tantric practice, )e tal in terms o(e>istence an% appearances as p"re an% )hen they arep"re, there is no room (or attachment an% a#ersion*hen there is no attachment an% no a#ersion, there isno ca"se (or obsc"rations* This is ho) )e m"st"n%erstan% tantric practice*

o) )e go on to the #ie) an% practice o( maham"%ra*The con%"ct in the conte>t o( maham"%ra practice isnot to ha#e %"alistic notion, that is the ey* hen )eeat, )e ha#e a %"alistic i%ea o( tasty an% not tasty*hen )e n% one (oo% being tasty, )ith that )e ha#eattachmentI an% another one not being tasty, )e ha#ea#ersion* hen it is percei#e% as goo%, )e ha#e

attachment* To )hat is percei#e% as ba%, )e ha#ea#ersion an% in the )orst case scenario, )e ha#e


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aggression* There sho"l% be neither e>pectations nor%o"bts* e e>pect to ha#e happiness an% )e area#erse to pain an% s"4ering* This in% o( %"alistic i%eabrings abo"t the b"il%"p o( an ice sheet in one6s min%stream* The min% )itho"t concept"al tho"ght is li="i%*

The min% )ith concept"al tho"ght becomes lie an icesheet* o )hen yo" ha#e attachment an% clinging,these obsc"re /"%%ha nat"re* ( yo" %o not ha#eattachment an% clinging, yo" can mae "se o( all senseob+ects* hene#er yo" ha#e %"alistic i%ea o(attachment an% a#ersion, in that case, )e m"st call"pon the alert min% to separate right (rom )rong* Ao"sho"l% also (ree yo"rsel( (rom acceptance an% re+ection*here there is neither acceptance nor re+ection, that iscalle% con%"ct o( one taste, there is the oneness o(e="ality o( happiness an% s"4ering* /oth happinessan% s"4ering are concept"al tho"ghts* here there isone taste, it )ill (ree onesel( (rom the i%ea o( happinessan% s"4ering* That is so beca"se i( yo" loo care("lly,happiness arises beca"se o( s"4ering* Happiness %oesnot come by itsel(* Happiness relies on or %epen%s ons"4ering* itho"t being %epen%ent on s"4ering,happiness )ill not arise* here there is e="ality,)hate#er yo" %o, yo"r con%"ct )ill be #irt"o"s* Themain thing is that yo" %o not ha#e attachment in themin% stream* Eat )hate#er that is in (ront o( yo"* ear)hate#er clothes yo" ha#e )itho"t ha#ing attachmentor a#ersion* There is a saying ;e#en i( yo"r reali9ationis sy high, yo"r con%"ct m"st be gro"n% le#el lo)


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tal abo"t me%itation, )e are taling abo"t remainingin the contin"ity o( the min%6s nat"re* hen )e talabo"t con%"ct, )e are also taling abo"t the min%* eare taling abo"t the state o( min% that is (ree o(attachment an% a#ersion, (ree o( %"alistic clinging*$on%"ct in that conte>t is relating to the min%essentially* Bastly, )hen )e tal abo"t (r"ition.res"lt,)e are also taling abo"t the min%* E#erything is abo"tthe min%* n '9ogchen teachings, )e )o"l% saye#erything in samsara an% nir#ana is arisen in onemin% stream* n maham"%ra )e re(er to this min% asthe or%inary nae% min% Fthe tr"e nat"re o( min%* Thisor%inary nae% min% %oes not change* t remains thesame (rom no) "ntil ("ll enlightenment*

The 1ong of Mahamudra

1ung in reply to the challenge raised by threescholars$t the time I%m meditating on ahamudraI rest without struggle in actual real beingI rest rela'ed in a free-from-wandering spaceI rest in a clarity-cradled-in-emptiness spaceI rest in awareness and this is blissful spaceIn variety%s space I rest in equipoise

$nd resting lie this is native mind itself$ wealth of certainty manifests endlesslyithout even trying self-luminous mind is at wor/ot stuc in e'pecting results, I%m doing 0.1./o dualism,no hopes and fears, 2o 2ey34elusion as wisdom, now that%s being cheerful and bright4elusion transformed into wisdom, now that%s all right3

Ho) to me%itate on Maham"%ra Milarepa sai%, ;hen me%itate on Maham"%ra, rest in the innate nat"re )itho"t


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e4ort*< This innate nat"re Milarepa re(erre% to as theor%inary nae% min%* n the s"tras, yo" )ill n% %i4erentterms (or this, terms lie the /"%%ha nat"re, the essence o(the enlightene% being etcI b"t Milarepa simply re(erre% to it

as the nae% or%inary min%* hen Gampopa, )ho )as a#ery reali9e% an% a scholarly gi(te% one, )hen he hear% thislabel, it )oe him "p* Gampopa sa) a ne) %imension tothe tr"e nat"re o( min%* hen yo" ha#e concept"altho"ghts arising in yo"r min% stream, that aspect o( themin% )hich recogni9es the arising o( concept"al tho"ghtsis labele% as the nae% or%inary min%* There(ore, yo" canloo in)ar%ly an% loo at yo"r o)n min%* hen yo" %o

that, that aspect o( the min% can be (o"n% )itho"t ha#ingto mae any e4ort* t )ill be (o"n% an% %isco#ere%nat"rally* hen )e loo in)ar%ly, )e m"st loo at theinnate nat"re )itho"t e4ort an% )e ha#e to %o it byo"rsel#es* itho"t e4ort means that )hen the alert min%recogni9es the arising o( the concept"al tho"ght an% tome%itate on that aspect o( the min%, )e %o not ha#e tomae any special e4ort to see beca"se it is there nat"rallyarisen in o"r min% stream an% it stays in that mo%e*

hen yo" me%iate on the tr"e nat"re o( min%, yo" )ill%etect the arising o( concept"al tho"ghts* hen yo" looat the nat"re o( those concept"al tho"ghts, theseconcept"al tho"ghts )ill %issipate* There )ill be perio%s)hen there are no concept"al tho"ghts an% the (eeling ore>perience yo" get is #astness an% the (eeling o(emptiness an% then again concept"al tho"ghts )ill arise*

Then loo at the nat"re o( concept"al tho"ghts* t is arepetition* hen yo" eep on %oing that, yo" %o so )itho"te>erting yo"rsel( since Milarepa in his teaching specicallymentione% the )or% QTson meQ Fbrtson me% )hich meanso E4ort* Rinpoche sai%, ;'o not mae e4ort*< There is nonee% to mae e4ort* Bet the min% stay in its nat"ral state*That is the ey* Try to me%itate tonight an% come tomorro)*Ao" may be ase% to tell Rinpoche )hat yo"r e>periences)ere*


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ormally )hen yo" practice, )e prece%e all o"r practices)ith re("ge an% bo%hicitta min% generation* n a%%ition tothat, i( yo" co"l% rea% The P /o%hisatt#a Cractices at leastonce e#ery )ee, then this )ill gi#e yo" more insight into

)hy )e rea% the re("ge prayer an% the bo%hicitta min%generation* hen yo" mae a habit o( rea%ing the P/o%hisatt#a Cractices once e#ery )ee an% )hen yo" eepon %oing that, yo" )ill e#ent"ally be able to recite it byheart* This little boolet tells yo" the reasons )hy )e taere("ge in the /"%%ha, 'harma an% anghaI other)ise, i(yo" +"st recite the re("ge prayer an% the bo%hicitta min%generation, especially to the ne) ones )ho are no#ices,

they )ill not ha#e m"ch "n%erstan%ing as to the ca"sesan% con%itions that bring abo"t happiness or s"4ering*FThe P /o%hisatt#a Cractices can be %o)n-loa% athttp..)))*garchen*net.reso"rces.Ppractices*p%(The root ca"se o( all pain an% s"4ering is attachment an%clinging* ome people )on%er ;( yo" +"st %o mental#is"ali9ation o( o4ering, ho) )o"l% that possibly benetonesel( or others ( it is gi#ing, then yo" ha#e to act"ally

gi#e* hate#er it may be, yo" ha#e to act"ally mae amaterial gi(t*< ell, that is tr"e i( it is possible, by allmeans, go o"t an% gi#e* ( yo" %o, yo" )ill ha#e both theaspiration as )ell as the practice* /oth aspiration an%action are all incl"%e% in the act"al act o( gi#ing* /"t )eha#e to "n%erstan% )hy gi#ing is a #irt"o"s %ee%* O"rpossessions )hate#er they may be, )ith thosepossessions, )e ha#e attachment* hen )e part )ith o"r

possessions, there is a (eeling o( not )anting to part @stinginess* hen )e part )ith things, there is a#ersion*hen )e recei#ethings (rom others, it has to %o )ith attachment, )e lie it*e %o not )ant to part )ith things* hy /eca"se the rootca"se o( this is attachment an% clinging* There(ore, i( )eno) that the act o( gi#ing is to %etach o"rsel#es (romattachment* ( that is the case, then it maes per(ect sense)hen )e try to #is"ali9e e#erything that is )on%er("l @ in

the o"ter cosmos, an% e#erything that is containe% )ithin @
http://www.garchen.net/resources/37practices.pdfhttp://www.garchen.net/resources/37practices.pdf


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)e mae a nonattache% o4ering to the %eities, to the/"%%ha, 'harma an% angha* n o"r Man%ala O4ering, )e#is"ali9e the (o"r continents etc, all the )on%er("l ="alitieso( the o"ter cosmos an% the inner contentI )e bring to

min% an% then mae them as an o4ering to the /"%%ha,'harma an% angha* That incl"%es o"r o)n physical bo%y,speech an% min%* hen yo" mae this a habit, there )illnot be attachment to e#en yo"r o)n bo%y, speech an%min% since yo" repeate%ly mae o4erings to the ThreeJe)els in yo"r min% stream so these %o not belong to yo"*hen these %o not belong to yo", yo" %o not ha#eattachment* t is (or that reason )hy a prescription o( 100

000 Man%ala O4erings is ma%e in or%er to train the min% to%etach onesel( (rom attachment* t is not a ="estion o( ho)big or small an o4ering one maes, the real point is to%etach onesel( (rom attachment* The main thing is tocleanse one6s o)n state o( min% "ntil the state o( min%%oes not ha#e attachment an% clinging*e say that lo#ing in%ness compassion @ bo%hicitta isin%ispensable an% e>tremely important* Bet6s tal abo"t

compassion* $ompassion is something that is promote% byall ma+or religions* hat is "ni="e abo"t /"%%hism is thattogether )ith compassion, )e ha#e to ha#e emptinessIthat is the specialty o( /"%%hism* ( yo" %o not ha#e thee>periential "n%erstan%ing o( emptiness b"t yo" ha#e agreat %eal o( compassion, then sometimes, it can )oragainst yo"* 3or e>ample, mental con%ition, )e call it heart%isease Floong %isor%er, b"t really it has to %o )ith the

min%* $ompassion )itho"t emptiness cannot be o( anygreat %eal o( benet to others* hy is that so The logicbehin% is that all pain an% s"4ering arise (rom ignorance*hat ignorance &ttachment an% clinging to sel( an% to allphenomena as i( they ha#e in%epen%ent e>istence* Theanti%otal )eapon against ignorance is pro(o"n% emptiness*hat create arma are the a?icti#e emotions an% e#encompassion is a?icti#e emotion* hen yo" ha#ecompassion an% in a%%ition i( yo" ha#e the e>periential

"n%erstan%ing o( the pro(o"n% emptiness, together yo" can


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benet both the li#ing as )ell as the %ea%* /eca"se yo" aregenerating compassion to)ar%s sentient beings an% at thesame time, attachment to a %el"%e% notion o( thee>istence o( reality is %ismantle% by yo"r e>periential

"n%erstan%ing o( emptiness* hene#er yo" are able togenerate a great %eal o( compassion, let that becomplimente% by the e>periential "n%erstan%ing o(emptinessI the t)o ha#e to go together* ( the t)o aregenerate% together, it becomes benecial (or onesel( an%(or others*ol"tion to samsaric problems s"ch as pain an% s"4ering

arising (rom losses, i( the sol"tion to s"ch samsaricproblem is achie#e% thro"gh material replacement, (ore>ample, the loss o( one6s %ear parent, )hich is going togenerate a great %eal o( pain an% s"4eringI that is, i( thatloss is to be reme%ie% strictly in a material sense, the only)ay ho) )e can get ri% o( pain an% s"4ering )o"l% be toha#e the %ea% parent res"rrecte%, )hich )o"l% nothappen* amsara has so many %i4erent #arieties o( painan% s"4ering* To n% a sol"tion, a in% o( healing reme%y

to all pain an% s"4ering is to be (o"n% )ithin the min%stream itsel(* hen yo" reali9e that all pain an% s"4eringincl"%ing happiness is nothing more or less thanconcept"al tho"ght, )hen yo" see the tr"e nat"re o( themin%, then the healing reme%y is (o"n%* The b"il%-"p o(something lie an ice sheet in the min% stream is tha)e%a)ay* n or%er to n% the healing reme%y, in or%er to tha)a)ay the ice b"il%-"p in one6s min% stream, Maham"%ra is

important* Maham"%ra plays a great part in this healingreme%y* hen yo" ha#e an e>periential "n%erstan%ing o(the innate nat"re o( the gro"n%, then yo" )ill n% thatneither happiness nor s"4ering has any ;taste


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Bast night, )e tale% abo"t this #ery thing, i*e* the innatenat"re, Maham"%ra* e tale% abo"t it base% on the rootte>t here* The Tibetan term (or this is ;'on Gyi el"g ;F'on Gyi gas B"gs* ;'on< literally means ;meaningperiencing o( the min%as is*

Bast night, ase% yo" to me%itate an% try to e>periencethe tr"e nat"re o( min%* )o"l% lie to no) )hoe>perience% it

hen yo" e>perience the tr"e nat"re o( min% (or the rsttime, it is going to be a tiny glimpse o( the tr"e nat"re

milarepa garchen

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