|
(Excerpted from "The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation" by Chogyam
Trungpa.)
The World As Symbol
On the whole, understanding the vividness of the energy of the
universe in terms of symbolism, in terms of patterns, colors, and shapes is
not a matter of imagination, or hallucination for the real tantric
practitioner. It is real. It is similar to a person hearing music that is
very moving to him and feeling that he could almost carve statues out of it,
that he could almost hold it, handle it. Sound becomes almost a solid object,
almost a color or shape. If a person is able to see ther energies of the
universe as they are, then shapes and colors and patterns suggest themselves,
symbolism happens. That is the meaning of MAHAMUDRA, which means "Great
symbol." The whole world is symbol-not symbol in the sense of a sign
representing something other than itself, but symbol in the sense of the
highlights of the vivid qualities of things as they are.
Mahamudra Upadesa
These were a set or oral instructions on Mahamudra given by Sri Tilopa to
Naropa at the Banks of the Ganges River.
(Translated from the Sanskrit into Tibetan by Chokyi-Lodro [Chos Kyi bLo
gros] Marpa the Translator.)
Homage to the co-emergent Wisdom! (1)
Mahamudra cannot be shown;
But for you who are devoted to the guru, who have
mastered the ascetic practices
And are forbearant in suffering, intelligent Naropa,
Take heart, my fortunate student.
Kye-ho! (2)
Look at the nature of the world,
Impermanent like a mirage or dream;
Even the mirage or dream does not exist.
Therefore, develop renunciation and abandon the worldy
activities.
Renounce servants and kin, causes of passion and aggression.
Meditate alone in the forest, in retreats, in solitary places.
Remain in the state of non-meditation.
If you attain non-attainment, then you have attained mahamudra.
The Dharma of samsara is petty, causing passion and agression.
The things we have created have no substance; therefore, seek the substance of
ultimate.
The dharma of mind cannot see the meaning of transcendent mind.
The dharma of action cannot discover the meaning of non-action.
If you would attain the realization of transcendant mind and non-action,
then cut the root of mind and let consciousness remain naked.
Let the polluted waters of mental activities clear.
Do not seek to stop projections, but let them come to rest themselves.
If there is no rejecting or accepting, then you are liberated in the
mahamudra.
When trees grow leaves and branches, if you cut the roots, the many leaves
and branches will wither.
Likewise, if you cut the root of mind, the various mental activities will
subside.
The darkness that has collected in thousands of "kulpas" (4)
One torch will dispel.
Likewise, one moment's experience of luminous mind will disolve the viel of
karmic impurities.
Men of lesser intelligence who cannot grasp this,
Concentrate your awareness and focus on breath.
Through different eye-gazes and concentration practices,
Discipline your mind until it rests naturally.
If you perceive space,
The fixed ideas of center and boundaries dissolve.
Likewise, if mind perceives mind,
All mental activities will cease, you will remain in a state of non-thought,
And you will realize the supreme BHODI-CITTA. (5)
Vapors arising from the earth becomes clouds and then vanish into the sky;
It is not known where the clouds go when they have dissolved.
Likewise the waves of thoughts derived from mind Dissolve when mind perceives
mind.
Space has neither color nor shape. It is changeless, it is not tinged with
black or white.
Likewise luminous mind has neither color nor shape;
It is not tinged by black or white, virtue or vise.
The sun's pure and brilliant essence
Cannot be dimmed by the darkness that endures for a thousand Kalpas.
Likewise, the luminous essence of mind
Cannot be dimmed by the long kalpas of samsara.
Though it may be said that space is empty,
Space cannot be described.
Likewise, though it may be said that mind is luminous,
Naming it does not prove it exists.
Space is completely without locality.
Likewise, mahamudra mind dwells nowhere.
Without change, rest loose in the primordial state;
There is no doubt that your bonds will loosen.
The essence of mind is like space;
Therefore there is nothing that it does not encompass.
Let the movement of the body ease into genuineness,
Cease your idle chatter, let your speech become an echo,
Have no mind, but see the dharma of the leap.
The body like a hollow bamboo, has no substance.
Mind is like the essence of space, having no place for thoughts.
Rest loose your mind; neither hold it nor permit it to wander.
If mind has no aim, it is mahamudra.
Accomplishing this is the attainment of supreme enlightenment.
The nature of mind is luminous, without object of perception.
You will discover th path of Buddha when there is no path of meditation.
By meditating on non-meditation you will attain the supreme BHODI. (6)
This is the king of views-it transcends fixing and holding. (7)
This is the king of meditations-without wandering mind.
This is the king of actions-without effort.
When there is no hope and fear, you have realized the goal.
The unborn ALAYA (8) is without habits and viels.
Rest mind in the unborn essence; Make no distinctions between meditation and
post meditation.
When projections exhaust the dharma of mind, One attains the king of
views, free from all limitations.
Boundless and deep is the supreme king of meditations.
Effortless self-existence is the supreme king of actions.
Hopeless self-existence is the supreme king of the fruitition.
In the beginning the mind is like a turbulent river.
In the middle it is like the River Ganges flowing slowly.
In the end it is like the confluence of all rivers, like the meeting of son
and mother.
The followers of Tantra, the PRAJNAPARAMITA,
The Vinaya (9) the Sutras, and other religions-
All these, by their texts and philosophical dogmas,
will not see the luminous mahamudra.
Having no mind, without desires,
Self-quieted, self-existing,
It is like a wave of water.
Luminosity is vieled only by the rising of desire.
The real vow of Samaya (10) is broken by thinking in terms of precepts.
IF you neither dwell, percieve, nor stray from the ultimate,
Then you are the holy practitioner, the torch which illumines darkness.
If you are without desire, If you do not dwell in extremes,
You will see the dharmas of all the teachings.
If you strive in this endeavor, you will free yourself from samsaric
imprisonment.
If you meditate in this way, you will burn the viel of karmic impurities.
Therefore, you are known as "The Torch of the Doctrine."
Even ignorant people who are not devoted to this teaching
Could be saved by you from constantly drowning in the river of samsara.
It is a pity that beings endure such suffering in the lower realms.
Those who would free themselves from suffering should seek a wise guru.
Being posessed by the Adhishthana (11) one's mind will be free.
If you seek karma mudra (12) then the wisdom of the union of joy and emptiness
will arise.
The union of skillful means and knowledge brings blessings.
Bring it down and give rise to the mandala.
Deliver it to the places and distribute it throughout the body.
If there is no desire involved, then the union of Joy and emptiness will
arise.
Gain long life, without white hairs, and you will wax like the moon.
Become radiant, and your strength will be perfect.
Having speedily achieved the relative Siddhis (13)
One should seek the absolute siddhis.
May this pointed instruction in mahamudra remain in the hearts of fortunate
beings.
1. Co-emergent Wisdom- The primordial wisdom, born simultaneously with
ignorance, just as nirvana and samsara must come simultaneously into being.
2. Kye-ho! - Hark! or Listen!
3. dharma-here taken as law, pattern, path.
4. kalpas- eons.
5. bhoddi-citta-awakened mind
6. bhodi the awakened state.
7. fixing and holding-holding; holding onto projections; fixing: believing in
the existence of a projector
8. unborn alaya- the primordial state beyond being and non-being.
9. Vinaya- the scriptures containing the Hinayana rules of discipline.
10. samaya- the tantric vows of discipline.
11. adhishthana- blessings, the atmosphere created by the guru.
12. karma mudra- one's consort in the practice of the third abhisheka, the
third initiation. (the third level of awareness as expressed in LEELA
The Game of Self Knowledge)
13. siddhis- miraculous powers.
|