Dakini Mumtso Rinpoche
(HH Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche's main Dharma heir, present head of Larung Buddhist Academy)
We will not remain in this world for long,
just like earlier generations of people,
we must depart for destinations in future lives.
Not to keep this in mind is foolish.
Although death is unavoidable,
by following the conduct of past accomplished masters,
if one realizes that birth-and-death is dream-like,
one holds the method to be free from suffering.
The ocean-like treasury of sutric and tantric teachings
can be essentialized as emptiness and dependent-arising.
If one realizes the union of these both- illusion-like nature,
there is not the slightest suffering to be found in samsara.
Visualizing the deity requires this;
clear light in the completion stage requires this;
view and meditation in Dzogchen requires this;
lacking this, there is no hope for liberation.
Talking about emptiness is easy,
truly realizing emptiness in the mind is rare.
Conceptualizing emptiness in a contrived way is easy,
cutting through all mental fabrications is rare.
To practice this profound path,
begin with the five hundred thousand preliminaries (ngondro).
In the middle, two methods are necessary:
(1) Lineage blessings and (2) using the teachings to analyse
You, Chinese devotees, who are very intelligent,
being the emanations of Manjushri’s compassion,
should contemplate the valid reasonings of many Dharma teachings,
which brings about realization of the illusory nature of empty appearances
At the beginning, to gain realization through reasoning is difficult;
The more you contemplate, the more doubts multiply
Increasing doubts actually indicates that
your investigation is approaching its most profound depth.
Do not accept the Buddha saying that it is so,
do not accept the teacher saying that this is truth,
but through one’s deep contemplation,
cut through all mental fabrications from within —
this is genuine understanding.
Without eliminating all doubts,
prematurely concluding that one has reached definite understanding —
to view such a fabricated experience
as realization is completely absurd.
The preliminary of refuge and generating Bodhichitta;
the main practice of contemplating and meditating on the meaning of emptiness;
in conclusion, to seal the practice with deep aspirations;
these are the unmistaken key-points of the authentic path.
Needless to say that one can realize the ultimate reality,
but even just having reasonable doubts
will shake up the basis of samsaric phenomena,
therefore, do not take this lightly but constantly reflect upon it.
Meditating that external appearances is empty is Madhyamaka,
Meditating that mind is empty is Mahamudra and Dzogchen.
Without knowing that the ultimate truth is the view of emptiness,
there is nothing to call the Dzogchen view.
According to the lineage teachings of past holy beings,
by relying on the Guru who is the actual Buddha,
the lineage of wisdom blessings will be transmitted to one’s mind.
Many have attained spontaneous realization of mind’s nature this way.
Nowadays, when the Buddhadharma is gradually waning,
qualified realized Vidyadhara masters
and karmically-linked students with respect and devotion,
as is described in past histories, are rarely seen.
Nonetheless, if teachings are given authentically,
with empowerments and guidance instructions conferred by the root Guru,
by viewing the Guru as the actual Buddha with respect and faith,
the teacher’s wisdom mind and student’s mind merges in samadhi.
At this time, do not contemplate with many thoughts,
just remain like the ocean with no waves.
With this method of the Guru’s blessings,
those with the karmic conditions can realize ultimate reality.
Thus, using deep precise reasoning to analyse
and practicing Guru Yoga —
these are the two methods for realizing mind’s nature.
Without neglecting either method, practice by alternating between the two.
Among sentient beings, there are the elderly and the young.
Their intentions and aspirations are of various kinds
Although teachings were not given catering to individual dispositions and
capacities,
there is no lack of opportunities to practice the excellent Dharma
The essence of the Mahayana Dharma
is to have love and compassion
for all beings whether they are high or low.
To always wish to benefit them is the greatest of virtues.
Those who are lowly suffer from many desires unfulfilled,
those who are of high stature are plagued by many worries and mental
sufferings,
all beings are hounded by the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death,
there is no place in samsara that is completely free from sufferings.
Just wishing for one sentient being to be free from suffering,
even just generating this compassionate intention once,
can wipe out negative karma as heavy as Mount Meru,
and gives rise to merits as vast as the ocean.
In this entire universe, one cannot find anything
that surpasses the love for one’s own life,
therefore, for fishes and other animals to be cruelly slaughtered,
persistently saving their lives brings happiness for present and future lives.
Happiness, suffering, virtue and non-virtue alternately occurs —
this is the unchanging nature of samsara.
Pray frequently to the Triple Gems
with faith and diligence for their protection.
From now on, in all lives,
one needs to concentrate on one deity,
viewing the deity as no different from the Guru,
the more mantras you recite, the better.
When the time of death arrives,
you will leave this world for other destinations,
therefore constantly visualize Amitabha in your daily practice
and aspire to be reborn in Sukhavati.
The time of dying will not be like today when we are alive,
it will be hard to do many practices at that point,
but if you hold this instruction in your heart,
it is the method to block rebirth in the lower realms.
This heart advice that I speak now
condenses all the essential points of sutric and tantric teachings.
If you follow it with heartfelt faith,
it will become a powerfully beneficial teaching for you.
Whether teachings are so-called “high” or “low”
only depends on how deeply it connects with the student’s mind.
In of themselves, teachings have no such distinctions.
Knowing this, please practice well.
By the merits of saying these words,
may those who read, recite, contemplate or practice it,
by the blessings of the unequalled Guru,
may the path to liberation become clarified for them.
Colophon:
