Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Kfienchen Thrangu
T he
P ractice
a n d
of
T ranquillity
Insight
T he
P ractice
T ranquillity
of
a n d
Insight
r e a s u r y of
nowledge
by J a m g o n K o n g tru l
h e n c h e n
h r a n g u
Translated by
P eter R oberts
SHAMBHALA
BOSTON & LONDON
1993
First Edition
Printed in the United States o f America on acid-free paper
Distributed in the United States by Random House, Inc., and in Canada
by Random House o f Canada Ltd.
Library o f Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Thrangu, Khenchen.
The practice o f tranquillity and insight: a guide to Tibetan Buddhist meditation:
a com m entary on the eighth chapter o f the Treasury o f k now ledge by Jamgon
Kongtrul / Khenchen Thrangu; translated by Peter Roberts. 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-87773-943-9 (alk. paper)
1. Meditation Buddhism. 2. Koii-sprul B lo-gros-m th a-yas, 1813-1899. Ses
bya kun khyab. 3. Buddhism China Tibet Doctrines. I. Koii-sprul
B lo-gros-m th a-yas, 1813-1899. Ses bya kun
khyab. Selections. English. 1993. II. Title.
B Q 7805.T 47 1993 93-20223
294.3'443 dc20
CIP
C ontents
Foreword vii
Acknowledgments xi
1.
In t r o d u c t i o n
In s i g h t M
to
editation
ranquillity
and
PART O N E
2.
M editation
Identifying
E x p e r ie n c e s in S a m a t h a
M editation
39
17
C ontents
PART TW O
4.
VipaSyana: I n s ig h t M e d i t a t i o n
65
PART T H R E E
5.
he
i p a Sy a n a
nion
of
Samatha
and
III
Notes 143
Glossary 149
Transliteration and Pronunciation o f
Tibetan Terms 159
Bibliography 163
About the Author 165
Index 167
VI
Foreword
T h e f o u n d a ti o n o f B u d d h is t p ra c tic e h as alw ay s b e e n
th e tw o f o ld d e v e lo p m e n t o f g a in in g an u n d e r s ta n d i n g
o f th e B u d d h a s te a c h in g s , o n th e o n e h a n d , a n d devel
o p in g lib e r a tio n f r o m e m o t i o n a l a n d c o g n itiv e o b s c u r a
tio n s t h r o u g h th e p ra c tic e o f m e d ita tio n , o n th e o t h e r
h a n d . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , th e r e have b e e n fe w b o o k s e x
p la in in g th e la tte r p ro c e s s o f w h y a n d h o w o n e m e d i
tates. T h is b o o k b y K h e n c h e n T h r a n g u , R in p o c h e , lays
o u t in d e ta il h o w o n e d ev e lo p s th e tw o p rin c ip a l k in d s
o f m e d i t a t i o n s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a f r o m th e s ta g e
o f b e g in n e r to th a t o f c o m p le te e n lig h te n m e n t.
T h e r e are, o f c o u rs e , m a n y m a n u a ls o n m e d ita tio n ,
b u t T h r a n g u R in p o c h e c h o s e th e Treasury o f K nowledge
f o r th e b asis o f th e s e te a c h in g s b e c a u s e its a u th o r ,
J a m g o n K o n g triil, is w id e ly k n o w n f o r s y n th e s iz in g th e
k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e rie n c e o f m a n y lin eag e s in T i b e t
a n d f o r h e lp in g to f o u n d th e R i - m e (e cu m en ica l) m o v e
m e n t. H e is also k n o w n fo r w r i t i n g a n d c o m p ilin g o n e
h u n d r e d v o lu m e s o f N y i n g m a a n d K a g y ii te a c h in g s .
W h e n T h r a n g u R in p o c h e re fers to th e t e x t , h e is
a c tu a lly r e f e r r in g to th e e ig h th c h a p te r o f th e first o f th e
five b o o k s o f th e Treasury o f K nowledge. T h is c h a p te r h as
b e e n tr a n s la te d b y K ik i E d k e liu s a n d C h r y s s o u la Z e r b in i as T h e Treasury o f K nowledge. B u t th e c h a p te r is
e n c y c lo p e d ic in th a t it e n c o m p a s s e s th e v ie w a n d p r a c V ll
Foreword
tice o f m e d ita tio n n o t o n ly f r o m th e s u tra t r a d itio n b u t
also f r o m th e m a h a y a n a a n d v a jra y an a tra d itio n s . B e in g
e n c y c lo p e d ic , it c o n d e n s e s a v a s t a m o u n t o f i n f o r m a ti o n
in ea ch s e n te n c e a n d a s s u m e s th a t th e re a d e r h as h a d
e x te n siv e tr a in in g in B u d d h is m . So, fo r W e ste rn e rs to
u n d e r s ta n d th is g re a t w o rk , th e y n e e d an e x te n siv e
c o m m e n t a r y f r o m an a c c o m p lis h e d s c h o la r a n d B u d
d h is t p ra c titio n e r. K h e n c h e n T h r a n g u is b o t h o f th ese.
T h r a n g u R i n p o c h e t a u g h t tw o s e m i n a r s o n th is
te x t o n e at W o rc e s te r C o lle g e in O x f o r d , E n g la n d , in
1988 a n d th e o t h e r in K a th m a n d u , N e p a l, in 1989. To
d ev elo p th is te x t, th e s e tw o s e m in a rs w e re r e c o rd e d ,
tra n s c rib e d , a n d c o m b i n e d in to o n e b o o k . T h e re a s o n
fo r c o m b i n i n g th e tw o d iffe re n t s e m in a r s w a s th a t
T h r a n g u R in p o c h e w o u ld e m p h a s iz e c e rta in p o in ts in
o n e s e m in a r a n d o t h e r p o in ts in th e o th e r s e m in a r.
E x te n s iv e e d itin g w a s th e re fo re n e c e ssa ry , a n d it is
h o p e d th a t th e r e s u ltin g te x t is a t h o r o u g h y e t re a d a b le
a n d u n d e r s ta n d a b le e x p la n a tio n o f th is v e ry p r o f o u n d
a n d c o m p le x to p ic .
W h a t m a k e s th is c o m m e n t a r y so v a lu a b le is th a t
T h r a n g u R in p o c h e is o n e o f th e f o r e m o s t T i b e t a n s c h o l
ars o f th e s a m e K a g y ii lin e a g e to w h ic h J a m g o n K o n g triil b e lo n g e d . T h r a n g u R in p o c h e w a s tra in e d in T ib e t,
a n d u p o n lea v in g T i b e t in 1959 h e c o n tin u e d his s tu d ie s
in In d ia. H e w as t h e n e x a m in e d a n d g iv e n th e h ig h e s t
geshe d e g r e e b y H is H o lin e s s th e D a la i L am a . F o llo w in g
th is h e w a s a s k e d b y H is H o lin e s s th e s ix te e n th K a r m a p a to e s ta b lis h th e c u r r ic u lu m fo r tr a in in g th e K a g y ii
lin e a g e a n d w a s th e t u t o r fo r th e f o u r m a jo r re g e n ts : Tai
S itu p a R in p o c h e , G y a lts a p a R in p o c h e , S h a rm a p a R in
p o c h e , a n d J a m g o n K o n g t r u l R in p o c h e ( w h o w a s a
r e in c a rn a tio n o f th e a u t h o r o f th e Treasury o f K n o w led g e).
v iii
Foreword
T h r a n g u R in p o c h e is also w id e ly re c o g n iz e d as b e in g
s p iritu a lly realized , a n d h as ta u g h t th o u s a n d s o f s tu d e n ts
in o ver t h i r t y c o u n trie s . A s a re s u lt, th is c o m m e n t a r y
c o n ta in s p ra c tic a l e x a m p le s a n d in s ig h ts f r o m his e x p e
rie n c e a n d tr a in in g ra th e r th a n j u s t a n e r u d ite e x p la n a
t io n o f th e te x t.
F in a lly , to m a k e this b o o k m o r e re a d a b le , T i b e t a n
te r m s have b e e n sp e lle d a c c o rd in g to th e p h o n e tic s y s
te m . In te r e s te d re a d e rs ca n fin d th e o rig in a l T i b e t a n a n d
t ra n s lite ra tio n s in th e b a c k o f th e b o o k .
Clark Johnson,
ix
P h .D.
Acknowledgm ents
T h e a u t h o r w o u ld lik e to th a n k th e m a n y p e r s o n s w h o
m a d e th is b o o k p o ssib le : P e te r R o b e rts f o r tra n s la tin g
th e te a c h in g s o f T h r a n g u R in p o c h e f r o m T i b e t a n in to
E n g lis h ; S u san R o e a n d G a b y H o l m a n n f o r tr a n s c r ib in g
th e a u d io tap e s o f th e s e te a c h in g s ; J e a n J o h n s o n fo r
h e lp in g to e d it th e m a n u s c r ip t; a n d C o r n e lia H w a n g fo r
o r g a n iz in g th e s e te a c h in g s .
T he
P ractice
a n d
of
T ranquillity
Insight
I
T
n t r o d u c t i o n
r a n q u i l l i t y
hi s
a n d
t o
n s i g h t
e d i t a t i o n
t e a c h in g o n m e d ita t io n c o m e s f r o m a te x t
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
w h e n th e k in g o f D e r g e h e a rd o f his skills, h e w a n te d
to m a k e h i m his p e r s o n a l s e c re ta ry . B u t P e m a N y in g je
t h o u g h t , I f h e is j u s t an o r d i n a r y m o n k , th e k in g w ill
b e ab le to ta k e h i m away, a n d h e w ill w a s te his tim e
w i t h te m p o r a l m a tte r s as a se c re ta ry . H o w e v er, i f h e is
d e c la re d a tiilku, th e k in g w ill n o t b e ab le to have h i m as
a s e c r e t a r y . T h e p r o b l e m w a s th a t h e h a d to b e th e
r e in c a rn a tio n o f s o m e o n e to b e id e n tifie d as a tiilk u . So
P e m a N y in g je t h o u g h t it w o u ld b e a g o o d id e a to call
h i m th e tiilk u o f K o n g p o P a m d e n . T h is w o u l d b e c o n
v e n ie n t b e c a u s e K o n g p o P a m d e n h a d b e e n s u c h a g o o d
m e d ita to r . T h e r e f o r e , th e y gave J a m g o n K o n g triil th e
n a m e K o n g p o P a m d e n T iilk u , a n d th is w a s s h o r te n e d
to K o n g triil. T h a t is h o w J a m g o n K o n g triil g o t his
nam e.
S o J a m g o n K o n g triil w a s d e c la re d a tiilk u a n d liv ed in
a c a b in o n a la rg e ro c k ab ov e P a lp u n g . T h is r o c k is
called T s a d r a R in c h e n D ra k . Rinchen drak m e a n s p r e
cio u s r o c k o r je w e l r o c k , a n d tsadra m e a n s s im ila r
to T s a r i . T s a r i a n d M o u n t K a ila sh are tw o v e ry s a c re d
places in T ib e t. T s a d r a R in c h e n D r a k w a s r e c o g n iz e d
b y th e terton C h o j y u r L in g p a , so th is is a v e ry sp ecial
place. W h e n o n e lo o k s at th e n o r t h e r n face o f th e ro c k ,
o n e can see th e f o r m o f th e d e ity D o r je P h u r b a (Skt.
Vhjrakilaya) o n th e ro c k . J a m g o n K o n g triil h a d a little
h o u s e b u ilt in th e area o f th e h e a rt o f this f o r m o f D o rje
P h u r b a , a n d h e sta y e d th e re m e d ita tin g in re tre a t. In his
life s to r y h e says th a t h e w as th e re a lo n e in a s ta te o f
p o v e rty , w i t h n o t h i n g o th e r th a n o n e b a g o f tsampa
(ro a s te d b a rle y ) a n d a sin g le b ric k o f tea.
A t th e tim e th e re w e re m a n y lin eag e s in T i b e t s o m e
w i t h m a n y lin e a g e h o ld e rs a n d s o m e w i t h o n ly a fe w
h o ld e rs . To p re v e n t th e se lin eag e s f r o m d y in g o u t,
2
Introduction
J a m g o n K o n g triil c o lle c te d th e te a c h in g s o f all th e s e
lin eag e s a n d a s s e m b le d t h e m in to five te x ts called th e
Five Treasuries. T h e Treasury o f K nowledge, th e w o r k w e
are d e a lin g w i t h h e re , is j u s t o n e of* th e five, j a m g o n
K o n g triil a s s e m b le d th e se tre a s u rie s g ra d u a lly . B u t th e n
it w a s d is c o v e re d th a t a s u tr a says, T h e r e w ill c o m e a
g u id e called L o d r o w h o w ill te a c h th e five k in d s o f
k n o w l e d g e . T h e w o r d lodro m e a n s in te llig e n c e in
T ib e ta n , a n d th is w a s a c tu a lly J a m g o n K o n g tr iils n a m e .
T h e five k in d s o f k n o w l e d g e re fe r to th e five tre a s u rie s .
S o J a m g o n K o n g triil c o m p o s e d th e se five tre a s u rie s , a n d
g re a t s c h o la rs have r e c o g n iz e d th e p r o p h e c y o f th e s u tra
as in d e e d b e in g a b o u t J a m g o n K o n g triil.
J a m g o n K o n g triil b e c a m e th e te a c h e r o f th e fifte e n th
K a r m a p a , K h a k h y a b D o rje , w h ic h is a v ery special
d is tin c tio n . In th e Treasury o f K nowledge are te a c h in g s o n
all levels, in c lu d in g th e s u tra s a n d th e ta n tra s . T h e r e are
also te a c h in g s o n w h a t to d o a t ea ch o f th ese levels, h o w
to d ev e lo p o n e s m e d i t a t i o n at th e s e levels, a n d so o n .
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
to b e c o m e a c c u s to m e d to d o in g s o m e t h i n g , so th a t it
b e c o m e s a p a r t o f o n eself. M e d ita tio n is v e ry s im ila r to
fa m ilia riz a tio n b e c a u s e o n e c o n tin u e s m e d ita tin g even i f
it s o m e tim e s d o e s n t g o w ell. O b s ta c le s a n d p r o b le m s
o fte n arise, b u t o n e c o n tin u e s a n d h a b itu a te s o n e s e lf to
m e d i t a t i n g u n t i l it b e c o m e s e a s y a n d n a t u r a l . S o
t h r o u g h h a b itu a tio n o n e is ab le to r e m a in in th e s ta te o f
m e d ita tio n .
S a m a d h i in c lu d e s tr a n q u illity m e d ita tio n , o r samatha,
a n d in s ig h t m e d ita tio n , o r vipasyana. A f te r re c e iv in g th e
te a c h in g s f o r th e s e tw o ty p e s o f m e d ita tio n , o n e n e e d s
to an a ly z e t h e m w i t h o n e s in te llig e n c e in o r d e r to g a in
a d e fin ite u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f th e m . A fte r g a in in g an
u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f th e s e tw o , it is n e c e s s a ry to p ra c tic e
a n d m e d ita te so th a t w h a t o n e h as le a rn e d b e c o m e s
a b s o r b e d b y th e m in d . E v en i f o n e k n o w s a g r e a t deal
a b o u t d h a r m a , it w ill b e o f n o h e lp i f o n e d o e s n o t
u n d e r s ta n d s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a m e d ita tio n . T h e r e
fo re, o n e m u s t p ra c tic e m e d ita tio n so t h a t w h a t is
c o n c e p tu a lly l e a r n e d , b e c o m e s a p a r t o f o n ese lf. T h u s
w e m u s t e x a m in e m e d ita tio n first.
T h e r e are several levels o f u n d e r s ta n d in g . F r o m h e a r
in g th e B u d d h is t te a c h in g s o n e d ev elo p s th e understand
ing o f listening; f r o m th i n k in g a b o u t th e s e te a c h in g s o n e
d ev e lo p s th e understanding o f contemplation. T h e s e tw o are
n o t e n o u g h to d ev e lo p fu ll u n d e r s ta n d i n g b e c a u s e o n e
m u s t t u r n o n e s m i n d i n w a r d to g a in th e u n d e r s ta n d i n g
th a t c o m e s f r o m m e d ita tio n . In s te a d o f fo c u s in g th e
m i n d e x te rn a lly b y lis te n in g to th e te a c h in g s , o n e fo
cu ses o n e s a tte n tio n in te rn a lly o n th e m i n d its e lf to
d ev e lo p understanding o f meditation. O n e c a n n o t b e n e fit
m u c h f r o m fo c u s in g o n e x te rn a l p h e n o m e n a b e c a u s e
th e m i n d is b o u n d u p b y th e k lesas, a n d th e o n ly w a y
4
Introduction
to free o n e s e lf f r o m th e b o n d a g e o f k lesas is to t u r n
i n w a r d t h r o u g h m e d ita tio n .
J a m g o n K o n g triil gives tw o e x a m p le s illu s tr a tin g th e
n e c e s s ity f o r m e d ita tio n . O n e is th e e x a m p le o f a
f a rm e r. F o r a f a r m e r to b e h a p p y a n d w ell fed, h e m u s t
p la n t a field, w o r k h a r d , a n d g e t a g o o d h a rv e s t. To have
a g o o d c r o p in th e field is n o t e n o u g h ; h e m u s t h a rv e s t
it a n d eat it. S im ila rly , j u s t lis te n in g to th e te a c h in g s
a n d c o n t e m p l a ti n g t h e m is n o t e n o u g h ; o n e m u s t m e d
ita te to d is p e l th e n e g a t iv i t y in o n e s m i n d a n d d ev e lo p
in n e r w i s d o m . In th e s e c o n d e x a m p le , b o r r o w e d f r o m
S an tid e v a , a d o c t o r m u s t have k n o w le d g e o f th e m e d i
cines a n d th e ir p r o p e r a p p lic a tio n , w h ic h is g a in e d
t h r o u g h th e s tu d y o f m e d ic a l b o o k s . B u t j u s t re a d in g
m e d ic a l b o o k s w ill n o t e lim in a te disease; th e p a tie n t
m u s t ta k e th e m e d ic in e s d e s c rib e d in th e te x ts . S im i
la rly , j u s t lis te n in g to a n d c o n te m p la tin g th e d h a r m a is
n o t e n o u g h b e c a u s e it w ill n o t q u ell th e klesas a n d c a lm
th e m in d . To d ev e lo p th e q u alities o f w is d o m , o n e m u s t
p ra c tic e m e d ita tio n . To p ra c tic e m e d ita tio n m e a n s to
h a b itu a te o n e s e lf to m e d ita tio n . I f o n e s m i n d is p ea c e fu l
a n d h a p p y in o r d i n a r y life, all e x te rn a l th in g s a p p e a r
p le a s a n t a n d attra c tiv e ; i f o n e s m in d is d is tu r b e d a n d
u n h a p p y , all th e s e e x te rn a l th in g s s e e m u n p le a s a n t a n d
n o t r ig h t. O n e n e e d s to m a k e th e m i n d p e a c e fu l a n d
h a p p y to d ev e lo p in n e r w i s d o m , a n d th is is d o n e b y
m e d ita tio n .
S a m a d h i, th e sta te o f d ee p m e d ita tio n , is c o m p o s e d
o f tw o e le m e n ts : s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a . T h e r e are, in
fact, a g r e a t n u m b e r o f m e d i t a t i o n te c h n iq u e s , b u t th e y
can all b e in c lu d e d in th ese tw o c a te g o rie s . In th e
D efinite E xp la n a tio n o f the View s u tra th e B u d d h a says
th e re are th e s a m a d h is o f th e sravakas, w h o are th e
5
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
Introduction
w h a te v e r w o r ld ly o r s p iritu a l q u a litie s are p o s s e s s e d b y
th e s ra v a k a s , th e b o d h is a ttv a s , o r th e ta th a g a ta s are all
t h e re s u lt o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a . T h is e x p la in s th e
i m p o r t a n c e o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a b e c a u s e th e y a re
th e r o o t o f all m e d ita tio n . K n o w i n g th is, o n e s h o u ld
d e v e lo p a g r e a t in te r e s t in p ra c tic in g th e s e tw o k in d s o f
m e d ita tio n .
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
T h e m i n d c a n n o t fo c u s o n s o m e t h i n g b e c a u s e o f th e
d is tr a c tio n o f th o u g h t s . I f th e m i n d can fo c u s o n e p o in te d ly w i t h o u t th is d is tra c tio n , o n e h a s s a m a th a
m e d ita tio n . T h e s u tr a also says th a t v ip a s y a n a h a s th e
c la rity o f u n d e r s ta n d i n g in w h i c h e v e ry th in g is see n
cle arly a n d d is tin c tly ; th e relativ e is see n as re la tiv e , th e
a b s o lu te as a b s o lu te . S o th e ac tu a l n a t u r e o f th in g s is
seen as it is, a n d th is is w h a t is m e a n t b y v ip a s y a n a . A
c o m m e n t a r y o n t h e C loud o f Jewels s u tra w a s c o m p o s e d
b y V a s u b a n d h u , w h o w a s a g re a t m a s te r o f th e abhidharma. V a s u b a n d h u said th a t in g e n u in e s a m a th a th e
m i n d is ab le to re s t in th e m in d . T h e m i n d b e c o m e s so
re la x e d th a t it re sts in itself, j u s t as it is, in a n a tu ra l
w ay , u n d is tr a c te d b y th o u g h t s . D i s t r a c t e d in T ib e ta n
is yengwa, w h ic h m e a n s s w e p t a w a y . T h e w o r d dis
tracted in th is c o n te x t has in it th e c o n n o t a ti o n o f b e in g
c a rrie d aw ay w i t h n o c o n tr o l b y a s t r o n g riv er. In th e
s a m e w a y , o n e s m i n d c a n n o t stay still a n d is j u s t c a rrie d
aw ay. I f th e m i n d is re s tin g in th e m in d , it is j u s t w h e r e
it is, a n d th e m i n d b e c o m e s s ta b le a n d p e a c e fu l a n d
re la x e d . T h e C loud o f Jewels s u tra says, S a m a th a is th e
o n e - p o in t e d m i n d , a n d V a s u b a n d h u s c o m m e n t a r y e x
p lain s th a t v ip a s y a n a is th e d is c r im in a tio n o f p h e n o m
e n a , m e a n in g th a t all th in g s a p p e a r as v e ry clear a n d
d is tin c t f r o m o n e a n o th e r. S o th is is th e n a t u r e o f
v ip a s y a n a . W ith s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a o n e has a g e n
u in e s ta te o f m e d ita tio n w i t h th e m i n d r e s tin g in m i n d
a n d b e in g a b le to d is tin g u is h all p h e n o m e n a . W i t h o u t
s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a o n e d o e s n o t have a g e n u in e
s a m a d h i o r m e d i t a t i o n state.
T h e t h ir d te x t c ite d b y J a m g o n K o n g triil c o m e s f r o m
K a m a la sila . In th e e ig h th c e n tu r y S a n ta ra k s ita c a m e to
T i b e t a n d t a u g h t th e stag es o f m e d ita tio n . O w i n g to his
8
Introduction
cla irv o y an ce , h e k n e w th a t h e w o u ld s o o n p ass aw ay. So
h e said, I have g iv e n th e s e te a c h in g s . In th e fu tu re ,
p r o b l e m s m a y o c c u r a n d th in g s m i g h t g o w r o n g . W h e n
th is h a p p e n s , in v ite m y p u p il K a m a la s lla f r o m In d ia.
H e w ill b e ab le to e x p la in m e d i t a t i o n c le arly a n d re m o v e
a n y e r r o r s in i n t e r p r e t a t i o n th a t m i g h t a r is e . T h is w a s
h is last w is h , a n d t h e n h e p a s s e d away.
T h e n f r o m C h i n a a C h in e s e m a s te r n a m e d H a s h a n g
M a h a y a n a c a m e to T i b e t a n d said, Y o u 'h a v e b e e n
re c e iv in g th e s e te a c h in g s f r o m S a n ta ra k s ita , b u t th e se
te a c h in g s are o n th e g ra d u a l p a th . T h is is n o t th e
p r o f o u n d w a y a n d is v e ry d iffic u lt to d o a n d ta k e s a
l o n g tim e . M y te a c h in g s a re th e in s ta n ta n e o u s w a y a n d
a re e a sie r a n d fa s te r th a n th e g ra d u a l w a y . W h e t h e r a
g o o d t h o u g h t o r a b a d t h o u g h t c o m e s to m i n d m a k e s
n o d iffe re n c e . I f o n e h as a w h ite c lo u d , it o b s c u re s th e
su n ; i f o n e h a s a b la c k c lo u d , it also o b s c u re s th e s u n . I f
o n e is b itte n b y a w h i t e d o g , o n e w ill have te e th m a rk s ;
i f o n e is b itte n b y a b la c k d o g ; o n e w ill also have te e th
m a r k s . I f a g o o d t h o u g h t arises, it is n o t g o o d ; i f a
b a d t h o u g h t arises, it is n o t b a d . In s te a d o n e n e e d s to
re s t in a s ta te o f n o t h o u g h t s w h a ts o e v e r . S u ch are th e
te a c h in g s h e gave, a n d th e p e o p le o f T i b e t b e c a m e
c o n f u s e d a n d d id n o t k n o w th e c o r re c t w a y to m e d ita te .
T h e n t h e y r e m e m b e r e d w h a t S a n ta ra k s ita h a d said a n d
i n v ite d K a m a la s lla f r o m In d ia to clear u p th e s e m i s u n
d e r s ta n d in g s .
In fact, th e re is n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h H a s h a n g s te a c h
in g s e x c e p t th a t t h e y d id n o t in c lu d e th e d e v e lo p m e n t
o f love a n d c o m p a s s io n a n d th e a c c u m u la tio n o f m e r i t
t h r o u g h g o o d a c tio n s . In his s y s te m , o n e j u s t s t o p p e d
all th o u g h t s a n d m e d ita te d . W h e n K a m a la s lla a rriv e d in
T ib e t, h e w a n te d to k n o w w h e th e r H a s h a n g w a s in te l
9
he
r a c t i c e
lig e n t o r n o t.
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
I f h e w a s n t in t e l l ig e n t ,
n s i g h t
th e n th e re
w o u l d n t be a n y p o i n t in d e b a tin g w i t h h im . N o w ,, n e a r
S a m y e M o n a s te r y in T ib e t is th e g re a t T s a n g p o R iv er,
w h i c h is a c tu a lly th e u p p e r p a r t o f th e B r a h m a p u tr a
R iv er. It is v e ry w id e . O n o n e side o f th e riv e r s to o d
K a m a la s ila a n d o n th e o th e r side, H a s h a n g M a h a y a n a .
To d e te r m in e h o w in te llig e n t H a s h a n g w a s, K a m a la s ila
t o o k his s ta f f a n d w h ir le d it above his h e a d th r e e tim e s .
T h is w a s to s y m b o lic a lly ask th e q u e s tio n , W h e r e d o
th e th re e re a lm s o f samsara c o m e f r o m ? H a s h a n g M a
h a y a n a w a s in te llig e n t a n d h e ld u p h is tw o h a n d s , w h ic h
w e re co v e red b y th e lo n g sleeves o f his clo a k . T h is
m e a n t, T h e y c o m e f r o m ig n o ra n c e , w h ic h g ra s p s th e
d u a lis m o f p e rc e iv e r a n d p e r c e p tio n . W h e n K a m a la s ila
saw th is a n sw e r, h e set u p a d e b a te to b e h e ld at S a m y e
M o n a s te r y . T h e k in g o f T i b e t p re s id e d over th e d e b a te
a n d b r o u g h t flo w er g a rla n d s . T h e k in g said th a t p re v i
o u s ly th e mahapandita S a n ta ra k s ita h a d c o m e a n d g iv e n
te a c h in g s ; l a t e r H a s h a n g M a h a y a n a c a m e a n d gave
te a c h in g s th a t w e re n o t th e s a m e as S a n ta ra k s ita s. T h e
k in g th e n said, I a m j u s t an o r d in a r y b e in g a n d c a n n o t
tell w h o is c o rre c t, so w e w ill have a d e b a te in w h i c h
y o u w ill ask each o t h e r q u e s tio n s . I f s o m e o n e is d e fe a te d
in th e d eb a te , h e s h o u ld give th e s e g a rla n d s to th e
v ic to r. H e s h o u ld th e n ac c e p t d efeat g ra c e fu lly a n d leave
q u ie tly w i t h o u t a n y fuss o r r e s e n t m e n t . T h e y th e n
h e ld a d e b a te a s k in g each o th e r q u e s tio n s . In th e e n d
H a s h a n g M a h a y a n a lo s t th e d e b a te a n d p r e s e n te d th e
flo w er g a rla n d s to K a m a lasila . W h e n th is w a s d o n e ,
K a m a la s ila gave te a c h in g s o n m e d ita tio n th a t can b e
f o u n d in his Stages o f Meditation. In th e Treasury o f
K nowledge th e e x p la n a tio n o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a
fo llo w s th e te a c h in g o f K a m a la s ila .4
10
Introduction
T h e s e c o n d v o lu m e o f th e Stages o f Meditation d e
s c rib e s th e n a t u r e o f s a m a th a m e d ita tio n . In s a m a th a th e
m i n d is c o n tin u o u s ly fo c u s e d in w a r d so th a t it b e c o m e s
v e ry p e a c e fu l a n d all e x te rn a l d is tra c tio n s are p ac ified .
T h e o b s ta c le to s a m a th a is e x te rn a l d is tra c tio n s s u c h as
s ig h t, s o u n d , a n d taste. T h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f s a m a th a
o c c u rs w h e n th e m i n d is c o n tin u o u s ly t u r n e d i n w a r d
a n d n a tu r a lly re sts in th a t state. K a m a la s lla says th a t
th e r e are tw o c h a ra c te ris tic s th a t arise f r o m s a m a th a .
T h e firs t c h a ra c te ris tic is a ttr a c tio n to s a m a th a b e c a u s e
o n e feels it is i m p o r t a n t a n d n a tu ra lly d o e s it b e c a u s e o f
a s ta te o f j o y . T h e s e c o n d is th a t th e m i n d is c o m p le te ly
t r a i n e d / w h i c h m e a n s o n e is n t b a ttlin g w i t h th o u g h t s
o r d is tra c tio n s . O n e can re s t o n e s m i n d o n w h a t o n e
w is h e s w i t h o u t a n y co n flict. So th e s e are th e tw o q u a li
ties o f s a m a th a m e d ita tio n .
In s u m m a r y , w h e n o n e achieves s a m a th a , o n e is n o t
in a s ta te o f d u lln e ss o r s tu p o r . W h e n s a m a th a is devel
o p e d , o n e e lim in a te s d is tra c tin g t h o u g h t s th a t k e e p o n e
f r o m b e in g ab le to e x a m in e o r an a ly z e th in g s . R e m o v
i n g th e d is tr a c tio n o f t h o u g h t s leads to p e r c e iv in g th in g s
v e ry c le arly a n d d is tin c tly , w h ic h is v ip a y a n . T h is is
h o w K a m a la s lla d e sc rib e s th e n a tu r e o f s a m a th a a n d
v ip a y a n .
E ty m o lo g y o f S a m a th a and V ip a ya n
T h e S a n s k rit w o r d f o r samatha w as tra n s la te d in to T i
b e ta n as shi-ne. T h is w a s a lite ra l tra n s la tio n b e c a u s e th e
firs t tw o sy llab les, sam a, m e a n p e a c e , a n d th e T i b e t a n
shiwa also m e a n s p e a c e . T h is p eace m e a n s th a t th e
m i n d is n o t d is tra c te d b e c a u s e w h e n th e m i n d is o v er
c o m e w i t h a n g e r, sad n e ss, re g re t, o r crav in g , it b e c o m e s
T h e
P r a c t i c e
of
T r a n q u i l l i t y
& I n s i g h t
d is tra c te d . B u t in s a m a th a th e m i n d is v e ry re la x e d a n d
at ease w i t h o u t a n y d ifficu lties o r h a r d s h ip s . T h e t h ir d
syllab le, tha, m e a n s to d w e ll o r s ta b i l i ty . In T i b e t a n
to d w e ll is tiepa. In th is c o n te x t it m e a n s th a t th e
m i n d is n o t in v o lv e d in fo r c e d a c tiv ity o r d iffic u ltie s b u t
d w e lls in a sta te o f peace. In T ib e ta n th is is th e ne in shi
ne. T h e r e are m a n y d iffe re n t k in d s o f s a m a d h is , o r
m e d ita tiv e states, b u t s a m a th a is th e b asis o f all th e
m e d ita tiv e states in w h ic h th e m i n d is r e s tin g o n e p o in te d ly o n s o m e t h i n g a n d re m a in s c o m p le te ly fo
c u s e d o n th a t o b jec t.
T h e S a n s k rit w o r d vipasyana is m a d e u p o f tw o p a rts .
T h e first p a rt, vi, is s h o r t fo r visesa, w h i c h m e a n s
s p e c ia l, s u p e r i o r , o r p a r tic u la r . T h e s e c o n d p a r t,
pasyana, m e a n s to se e o r to l o o k . S o vipasyana
m e a n s to lo o k a t th in g s in a v e ry d ire c t w a y , in an
e sp e cially clear w a y . It is see in g w i t h th e ey e s o f
w is d o m . T h is w as tra n s la te d in to T i b e t a n as hlagtong,
w h e r e hlag m e a n s sp e c ia l a n d tong m e a n s to s e e .
Introduction
o n e h as to have a cle ar u n d e r s ta n d i n g a n d b e ab le to
fo c u s th e m i n d o n th e o b je c t fo r as lo n g as is n e c e ssa ry .
I f e ith e r o f th e s e is m is s in g , th e n th e tru e n a tu r e o f
th in g s c a n n o t b e p e rc e iv e d . O n e n e e d s to have b o t h
s a m a t h a (th e u n w a v e r i n g l ig h t) a n d v ip a s y a n a ( th e
b r i g h t flam e). W ith b o th , o n e h as c o m p le te f r e e d o m to
fo c u s o n a n y t h i n g a n d is a b le to e lim in a te all k lesas a n d
d e v e lo p th e w i s d o m th a t o n e n e e d s. I f o n e p ra c tic e s
s a m a th a m e d i t a t i o n w i t h o u t v ip a s y a n a , o n e w ill n o t b e
ab le to u n d e r s ta n d th e tr u e n a tu r e o f p h e n o m e n a ; o n e
w ill j u s t b e a b le to re st th e m i n d o n s o m e th in g . It is lik e
b e in g o n a v a c a tio n ; o n e e x p e rie n c e s p eace o n a v ac a
tio n , b u t o n e d o e s n o t g e t a n y la s tin g re s u lts f r o m it.
I f y o u p ra c tic e v ip a s y a n a w i t h o u t s a m a th a , y o u w ill
n o t b e ab le to e lim in a te w h a te v e r n e g a tiv ity n e e d s to b e
e lim in a te d , b e c a u s e v ip a s y a n a w i t h o u t s a m a th a is u n s t a
ble. S o even i f y o u have th e u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f v ip a s y a n a ,
y o u r m i n d w ill b e a g ita te d . T h e r e f o r e , y o u n e e d to have
b o t h s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a . T h is h as b e e n said b y th e
B u d d h a in th e s u tra s a n d also in th e vajrayana te a c h in g s .
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
14
P art
O ne
TRANQUILLITY
[zhi gnas]
/
S
_
a m a t h a
: T
r a n q u i l l i t y
e d i t a t i o n
T h e Prerequisites f o r Practicing S a m a th a
T h e r e are fa v o rab le c o n d itio n s fo r m e d ita tio n , a n d i f
th e s e are p re s e n t, s a m a th a w ill d ev e lo p . I f th e y are
a b s e n t, n o s a m a th a w ill dev elo p .
W h e n th e d h a r m a w a s firs t i n t r o d u c e d in to T i b e t in
t h e s e v e n th c e n tu r y , th e r e w a s a g o o d u n d e r s ta n d i n g
a n d p ra c tic e o f th e d h a r m a . L a te r L a n g d a r m a , a k i n g o f
T ib e t, s u p p r e s s e d th e d h a r m a in th e te n t h c e n tu r y a n d
d e s tr o y e d m u c h o f th e B u d d h is t te a c h in g s . A fte r th is
d e s tr u c tio n , s o m e o f th e d h a r m a w a s p re s e rv e d , b u t
s o m e o f th e p re s e rv e d te a c h in g s w e re in c o r r e c tly p ra c
ticed . A s a re s u lt th e T ib e ta n s w e re n o l o n g e r s u re w h o
w a s g iv in g th e c o r r e c t te a c h in g s . S o in 1042 A tisa w a s
in v ite d to T i b e t f r o m In d ia b e c a u s e h e w a s b eliev ed to
b e th e m o s t q u a lifie d p e r s o n to te a c h th e c o r re c t w a y o f
p ra c tic in g . A tisa also re ceiv e d a re v e la tio n a n d p r o p h e c y
f r o m T a r a s a y in g th a t i f h e w e n t to T ib e t, th is w o u ld b e
o f g r e a t b e n e fit to th e d h a r m a .
U p o n a r r iv in g in T ib e t, A tisa gave te a c h in g s o n th e
m e t h o d s o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n m e d ita tio n . T h e s e
te a c h in g s can b e f o u n d in h is b o o k L a m p fo r the Path to
E nlightenm ent. In th is te x t h e says th a t to d o s a m a th a
m e d i t a t i o n o n e n e e d s to have fav o rab le c o n d itio n s . E v en
17
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
i f o n e is d ilig e n t a n d ap p lies o n e s e lf fo r m a n y y e a rs to
s a m a th a m e d ita tio n , i f th e s e fav o rab le c o n d itio n s are
la c k in g , o n e w ill fail to d ev elo p real s a m a th a m e d ita tio n .
H o w e v er, h e also says th a t i f all th e fa v o rab le c o n d itio n s
are p re s e n t a n d o n e c o n c e n tra te s th e m i n d o n s o m e t h i n g
g o o d a n d p o sitiv e , th e n o n e w ill b e ab le to a c c o m p lis h
s a m a th a m e d ita tio n a n d b e ab le to d ev e lo p c la irv o y a n t
p o w e rs .
In his s e c o n d v o lu m e o f th e Stages o f M editation K a m a la slla says th a t (i) o n e s h o u ld re sid e in a fa v o rab le
p lace a p lac e w h e r e o n e can o b ta in th e m a te ria ls o n e
n e e d s. In te r m s o f m in d , (2) o n e s h o u l d n t have a g re a t
d eal o f d esire, th in k in g , O h , I n e e d th is to m e d ita te ;
n o , I n e e d tw o o r th r e e th in g s to m e d i t a t e , a n d so o n .
T h is k i n d o f th i n k in g w ill o n ly create an o b s ta c le . (3)
O n e m u s t also b e c o n te n t, w h i c h m e a n s w h a te v e r o n e
h as is fin e a n d all r ig h t. (4) O n e s h o u ld also g ive u p
ac tiv itie s s u c h as b u s in e s s o r b u y i n g a n d s e llin g so th a t
(5) o n e can have p u re , g o o d c o n d u c t. So, (6) w h e n o n e
stays a n d m e d ita te s in th is place, it is c o m p le te ly c o rre c t.
(7) O n e s h o u ld also avo id a n y d is tra c tio n s o r d e sire s th a t
a p p e a r as w ell as id eas a n d c o n c e p ts . T h is , th e n , is a list
o f seven c o n d itio n s n e c e s s a ry fo r th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f
s a m a th a .
In th e O rnam ent o f the M a h a y ana Sutras, M a i t r e y a says
th a t w e s h o u ld p ra c tic e w h e r e w e can easily o b ta in th e
n ec essitie s s u c h as c lo th in g , fo o d , a n d so o n . T h e p lace
w h e r e w e stay s h o u ld b e free f r o m thieves o r a n y fe a r o f
d a n g e r. We s h o u ld b e in a h e a lth y p lac e th a t is n o t
e x tr e m e ly c o ld o r h o t o r d a m p a n d w ill n o t im p a i r o u r
h e a lth . We also n e e d g o o d c o m p a n io n s w h o have th e
s a m e v ie w a n d b e h a v io r as o u rse lv e s. I f t h e y have a
d iffe re n t v ie w o r w a y o f life, th e y w ill p re v e n t u s f r o m
18
C ategories o f S a m a th a
T h e r e are f o u r k in d s o f s a m a th a m e d ita tio n . T h e first is
ca lle d desire realm s a m a th a . O n e m a k e s th e m i n d so
re la x e d th a t it b e c o m e s c o m p le te ly s ta b le a n d p ea cefu l.
N e x t is dhyana s a m a th a , o r s a m a th a o f m e n ta l s ta b ility
o f th e fo rm realm. O n e h as an in te n s e e x p e rie n c e o f jo y
o r b liss w i t h th is k in d o f m e d ita tio n . T h e t h ir d k in d is
form less realm s a m a th a , in w h i c h e v e ry th in g d is a p p e a rs .
T h e f o u r t h k in d is th e cessation s a m a th a , w h i c h is n t
p ra c tic e d v e ry m u c h to d a y , b u t in p re v io u s tim e s s o m e
s ra v a k a s o f th e h in a y a n a u s e d to d o th is p ra c tic e a n d
19
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
re a c h a sta te w h e r e m i n d ceases a n d m e n ta l c o n t i n u i t y
s to p s .
M o r e p re c is e ly , th e re are n in e stag es o f s a m a th a .
F irst, in th e d e sire re a lm , th e re is th e one-pointed s a m a
th a, w h ic h m e a n s th a t o n e d o e s n o t have c o m p le te
m e n ta l s ta b ility , b u t o n e has a c e rta in a m o u n t o f m e n ta l
s ta b ility so th a t o n e is n o t d is tra c te d b y e x te rn a l ob jects.
N e x t, in th e f o r m re a lm , th e re are f o u r successiv e
levels o f s a m a th a m e d ita tio n . T h e first is s a m a th a w i t h
exam ination and analysis. T h e s e c o n d is s a m a th a w i t h jo y
and bliss. T h e t h i r d is s a m a th a w i t h inhalation and exh a
lation. A n d th e f o u r th level is s a m a th a th a t is free fro m
the eight defects. T h e first tw o d efects are (i) th e p h y s ic a l
s u ffe rin g o f th e d e s ire re a lm a n d (2) th e m e n t a l s u ffe rin g
o f th e d e s ire re a lm . T h e r e m a in in g six are d efects o f th e
p re v io u s th re e levels o f s a m a th a in th e f o r m re a lm : (3)
an aly sis, (4) e x a m in a tio n , (5) jo y , (6) b liss, (7) in h a la
tio n , a n d (8) e x h a la tio n . F re e d o m f r o m in h a la tio n a n d
e x h a la tio n m e a n s th a t in th a t s ta te o n e is c o m p le te ly
still w i t h o u t a n y b r e a th in g . So th e re are th e s e fo u r levels
o f s a m a th a m e d ita tio n in th e f o r m re a lm .
T h e r e are f o u r states o f m e d ita tio n th a t b e l o n g to th e
fo rm le s s re a lm , w h i c h is a sta te lik e th a t o f e m p tin e s s ,
b u t n o t th e e m p tin e s s (siinyata) o f th e M a d h y a m a k a . It
is j u s t a v o id o r b la n k in w h ic h n o t h i n g is p e rc e iv e d o r
fo c u s e d o n . T h e r e are f o u r stag es o f s a m a th a in th is
fo rm le s s re a lm . T h e s e are th e s a m a th a o f infinite space,
th e s a m a th a o f infinite consciousness, th e s a m a th a o f nei
ther existence nor nonexistence, a n d th e s a m a th a o f nothing
whatsoever. A ll t o g e th e r , th e n , th e re are n in e stag es o f
s a m a th a m e d ita tio n : o n e in th e d e sire re a lm , f o u r in th e
f o r m re a lm , a n d f o u r in th e fo rm le ss re a lm .
20
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
fo o d in th e s to m a c h , se p a ra te s th e w a s te m a t t e r f r o m
th e f o o d , a n d ex p e ls th e w a s te t h r o u g h th e a n u s .5
T h e first asp e c t o f th e V airo can a p o s t u r e is ( i) k e e p in g
th e s p in e s tr a ig h t so th a t th e c e n tra l e n e r g y c h a n n e l is
s tra ig h t. T h e life -fo rc e v ay u is called prana (T ib . soklung)
a n d flow s in th e c e n tra l c h a n n e l. P ra n a m a k e s o n e s
b o d y s tab le a n d firm . It is also called th e e a r th v a y u
b e c a u s e it gives s ta b ility a n d e n d u r a n c e to th e b o d y . I f
th e b o d y is b e n t f o r w a r d in m e d ita tio n , o r le a n in g to
t h e left, r ig h t, o r b a c k w a r d , t h e n th is c e n tra l c h a n n e l is
g o in g to b e b e n t a n d th e p ra n a flo w in g w i t h i n it w ill b e
c o n s tric te d . T h e r e f o r e i f o n e k ee p s th e sp in e s tra ig h t,
th e e a rth v ay u w ill flo w s tra ig h t, a n d th is w ill r e s u lt in
e n d u r a n c e a n d s ta b ility .
T h e w a te r v ay u p e r m e a te s th e b o d y a n d k e e p s it
m o is t. I f th e s e w a te r v ay u s flo w in th e c e n tra l c h a n n e l,
t h e y w ill n a tu ra lly b e stab le. In o r d e r to cause th e w a te r
v ay u to flo w in th e c e n tra l c h a n n e l, (2) o n e p laces th e
h a n d s in a m e d ita tiv e p o s t u r e (3) w i t h th e e lb o w s
s lig h tly s tic k in g o u t. T h e fire v ay u n a tu r a lly g o e s u p
w a r d , w h ile th e e a r th a n d w a te r v ay u n a tu r a lly g o
d o w n w a r d . F o r th e fire v ay u to e n te r th e c e n tra l c h a n
n el, (4) o n e lo w ers th e c h in s lig h tly , w h ic h h as th e effec t
o f p r e v e n tin g th e fire v ay u f r o m ris in g u p w a r d .
To in t r o d u c e th e a ir v ayu in to th e c e n tra l c h a n n e l, (5)
o n e s ey es s h o u ld b e u n w a v e rin g . T h e air v ay u is c o n
n e c te d w i t h m o v e m e n t o f th e b o d y , a n d th e ey es n a t u
ra lly have a g re a t d eal o f m o v e m e n t a s s o c ia te d w i t h
t h e m . T h e m o v in g o f th e ey es w ill ca u se th e m i n d to
m o v e. S o o n e k e e p s th e eyes still, fo c u s e d o n th e sp ace
b e y o n d th e tip o f th e n o se . T h is w ill ca u se th e m i n d to
b e c o m e still a n d th e a ir v ay u to e n te r th e c e n tra l c h a n n e l.
(6) T h e lips are also le ft to re s t q u ite n a tu ra lly , w i t h th e
22
23
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
w h ic h
m e a n s th e y s h o u ld b e n e ith e r w id e o p e n a n d s ta rin g
a h e a d n o r fu lly c lo se d so th a t e v e ry th in g is d a rk . T h e y
are k e p t h a lf-c lo s e d w i t h o u t a n y e f fo rt o r te n s io n so
th a t th e y are c o m p le te ly re la x e d a n d y o u d o n t have to
th in k a b o u t th e m .
T h i r d , th e u p p e r b o d y s h o u ld b e s tra ig h t. S ince th e
body
a n d m in d
are in te rc o n n e c te d ,
i f th e b o d y
is
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
th a t, a n d so o n . D u r i n g o u r p re s e n t life, w e can e x p e ri
en ce p h y s ic a l p a in a n d m e n ta l s u ffe rin g , o r w e can
e x p e rie n c e h a p p in e s s a n d bliss. T h e s e e x p e rie n c e s c o m e
f r o m o u r a c tio n s in a p re v io u s life. T h e y a re th e re s u lt
o f karma. H o w e v er, n o t e v e ry th in g is d u e to k a r m a .
S o m e p e o p le have g re a t d e sire o r g re a t a n g e r, a n d th is
m i g h t c o m e f r o m th e p o w e r o f h a b itu a tio n in a p re v io u s
life a n d n o t as a re s u lt o f k a r m a . O n e m i g h t have
b e c o m e h a b i t u a t e d to d e sire o r a n g e r, a n d th e s e e m o
tio n s b e c o m e g r e a te r a n d g re a te r, so th a t in th e n e x t life
th e re w ill b e g r e a t d e sire o r g re a t a n g e r. O r in o n e
life tim e w e m a y e n c o u n t e r a r e m e d y fo r th is d e s ire o r
a n g e r, a n d th is w ill lessen o u r fau lts, w h i c h m a y c o n
tin u e to lessen t h r o u g h successiv e life tim e s . S o i f w e
w e re a c c u s to m e d t o a lo t o f d e sire in o u r p re v io u s lives,
th e n th e re w ill b e a lo t o f d e sire in o u r p r e s e n t life. I f
w e w e re a c c u s to m e d to a lo t o f a n g e r in o u r p re v io u s
lives, w e w ill e x p e rie n c e a lo t o f a n g e r in th is life tim e .
I f w e w e re a c c u s to m e d to h a v in g m a n y t h o u g h t s in o u r
p re v io u s lives, o u r p re s e n t m i n d w ill n o t b e ab le to
r e m a in stab le; th o u g h t s w ill ta k e o ver o u r m i n d , a n d w e
w ill b e u n d e r th e ir p o w e r. F in ally , i f w e h a d s t r o n g
ig n o r a n c e in o u r p re v io u s life tim e , w e w ill have b e c o m e
a c c u s to m e d to th is, a n d o u r p r e s e n t m i n d w ill c o n ta in a
lo t o f ig n o ra n c e . So th e s e p a tte r n s d e s c rib e th e five
ty p e s o f p e r s o n s (th o s e w i t h g re a t a tta c h m e n t, a n g e r,
ig n o ra n c e , je a lo u s y , a n d p rid e ), a n d m e d i t a t i o n is d o n e
to r e m e d y th e s e five k in d s o f m e n ta lity .
I f w e have s t r o n g d esire a n d a tt a c h m e n t to o u r o w n
b o d y o r to e x te rn a l th in g s , w e can p ra c tic e m e d ita tio n
o n u g lin e ss. We n o r m a l l y see o u r b o d y as s o lid , la s tin g ,
a n d im p o r t a n t ; b u t th e B u d d h a t a u g h t th a t w e have a
p re c io u s h u m a n ex iste n c e , w h ic h allo w s us to p ra c tic e
26
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
g r a d u a lly th is ig n o r a n c e can b e re m o v e d . I f o n e h as a
g re a t d ea l o f ig n o ra n c e , th e r e m e d y in te r m s o f s a m a th a
m e d ita tio n is c o n te m p la tio n o n th e tw e lv e lin k s o f d e
p e n d e n t o r ig in a tio n . O n e c o n te m p la te s h o w all th in g s
arise a n d d e p e n d o n s o m e t h i n g else. F o r e x a m p le , b y
b e in g a c c u s to m e d to d o in g g o o d a c tio n s a n d h a v in g
g o o d th o u g h t s , th e p o w e r o f h a b it w ill ca u se g o o d
th o u g h t s a n d a c tio n s to o c c u r. S im ila rly , w h e n th e
m i n d is a c c u s t o m e d to n e g a t i v i t y a n d b a d t h i n g s ,
t h r o u g h th e p o w e r o f th a t h a b it n e g a tiv e t h o u g h t s a n d
a c tio n s o c c u r. S o all th in g s are i n t e r d e p e n d e n t a n d
c o n te m p la tio n o n d e p e n d e n t o r ig in a tio n is th e r e m e d y
f o r ig n o ra n c e .
T h e r e m e d y fo r p rid e is to m e d ita te o n th e e le m e n ts
th a t m a k e u p a b e in g . W ith p rid e o n e th in k s o f o n e s e lf
as s u p e r io r o r special. T h e r e m e d y is to m e d ita te o n th e
five a g g r e g a te s (Skt. skandhas). B y th i n k in g o f o n e s e lf as
special o r s u p e r io r , o n e sees o n e s e lf as s o lid a n d d efin ite.
I f o n e e x a m in e s th e a g g re g a te s , one. disco v ers th a t th in g s
are n o t so lid , b u t alw ay s c h a n g in g . O n e is j u s t an
a g g r e g a tio n o f d iffe re n t e le m e n ts . F o r e x a m p le , a p e r
s o n is m a d e u p o f th e five a g g re g a te s c o lle c te d t o g e t h e r
o r j u s t an a g g r e g a tio n o f d iffe re n t p a rts . So, b e in g aw are
o f th e five a g g r e g a te s w ill d im in is h o n e s p rid e .
T h e r e m e d y f o r h a v in g to o m a n y th o u g h t s is to
m e d ita te o n o n e s b re a th . B y m e d ita tin g o n th e b re a th ,
w h i c h is q u ite s u b tle a n d c h a n g in g all th e t i m e w i t h th e
i n - a n d - o u t m o v e m e n ts , o n e s th o u g h t s b e c o m e less a n d
less s t r o n g . S o th is is t h e r e m e d y f o r t o o m a n y
t h o u g h ts .
T h e t h i r d class o f o b jec ts o f m e d ita tio n is th e objects o f
the learned a n d is th e u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f th e five a g g r e
g ates. F o r e x a m p le , o n e le a rn s th a t th e b o d y is a m ass
28
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r a c t i c e
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r a n q u i l l i t y
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n s i g h t
a t ta c h m e n t a n d c ra v in g . F o r e x a m p le , i f t h o u g h t s o f
a g g r e s s io n c o m e u p , o n e n e e d s to r e c o g n iz e t h e m b e
cause th e y w ill r e tu r n c o n tin u o u s ly in o n e s m e d ita tio n .
O n e m u s t re c o g n iz e th a t a g g re s s io n , w h e n o n e b e c o m e s
a tta c h e d to it, is c a u s in g h a r m to o n e s m e d ita tio n . T h e
m a in th in g is th a t o n e s h o u ld n o t b e in v o lv e d in o r
a tta c h e d to th e th o u g h t s . I f o n e is n o t a tta c h e d to th e
th o u g h t s , it w ill b e easy to g e t rid o f th e m . B u t i f o n e
is a tta c h e d to th e s e th o u g h t s , it w ill b e v e r y d iffic u lt to
g e t rid o f th e m .
T h e r e are tw o d iffe re n t k in d s o f t h o u g h t s : g ro s s a n d
s u b tle . W h e n g ro s s th o u g h t s arise in m e d ita tio n , o n e
fo rg e ts th a t o n e is m e d ita tin g a n d loses o n e s m i n d f u l
ness a n d aw are n ess. T h e n o n e r e m e m b e r s , O h , I a m
m e d i t a t i n g a n d r e tu r n s to m e d ita tin g . T h e s e g ro s s
th o u g h t s are called an ac tu a l d is tra c tio n . T h e w a y to
p re v e n t th e s e g ro s s th o u g h t s is to re ta in m in d fu ln e s s
a n d aw aren ess. T h e s e c o n d k in d are s u b tle th o u g h t s ,
called th o u g h t s th a t c o m e f r o m b e lo w . W i t h th e s e o n e
d o e s n o t fo r g e t th a t o n e is m e d ita tin g , b u t re m a in s th e re
th in k in g , T h e s e little t h o u g h t s are o c c u r r i n g . T h e s e
th o u g h t s are so s m a ll th a t o n e c a n n o t u s u a lly d o v e ry
m u c h a b o u t t h e m a n d th e y are v e ry d iffic u lt to g e t rid
of. T h e s e t h o u g h t s d o n t p a r tic u la rly h a r m m e d ita tio n ;
th e y j u s t c o m e u p in o n e s aw are n ess a n d o n e j u s t leaves
t h e m as th e y are a n d ev e n tu a lly o n e w ill b e ab le to
e lim in a te th e m . T h e s e little t h o u g h ts , h o w e v er, can
s o m e tim e s g ra d u a lly g r o w la rg e r a n d la rg e r, a n d o n e s
m e d ita tio n is lo st. So, firs t o n e is a w are o f th e s e little
t h o u g h t s , t h e n o n e g ets d is tra c te d b y t h e m a n d o n e s
m in d fu ln e s s is lo st. O n e s h o u ld t r y to p re v e n t th is f r o m
h a p p e n in g b y h a v in g a v ery s tab le a n d e n d u r in g m i n d
fu ln ess a n d aw are n ess b e c a u se th is aw a re n e ss is n e c e s
30
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
w h i c h p erceiv es a n d e x p e rie n c e s
v is u a l fo r m s ; a u d i t o r y c o n s c io u s n e s s , w h i c h p erceiv e s
s o u n d s b a s e d o n th e ear; o lfa c to ry c o n s c io u s n e s s , w h ic h
p erceiv e s sm e lls a n d is b a s e d o n th e n o se ; ta s te c o n
s c io u s n e s s , f o r ta s te b a s e d o n th e to n g u e ; a n d b o d ily
33
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
c o n s c io u s n e s s , w h i c h perceiv es to u c h a n d p h y s ic a l s e n
s atio n s.
T h e s e five s en se c o n s c io u s n e s s e s are said to b e n o n c o n c e p tu a l. T h e y j u s t see, h e a r, sm ell, taste, a n d feel
a n d are n o t in v o lv e d w i t h th o u g h t s s u c h as T h is is
g o o d o r b a d . T ilo p a , in h is in s tr u c tio n s to N r o p a ,
said th a t a p p e a ra n c e s d o n o h a r m , b u t a t t a c h m e n t to
t h e m causes p r o b le m s . T h e ac tu a l se e in g a n d h e a r in g o f
th in g s d o e s n o t h a r m m e d ita tio n in a n y w a y b e c a u s e
th e s e c o n s c io u s n e s s e s are n o n c o n c e p tu a l. W h a t ca u ses
an o b s ta c le to m e d ita tio n is d e v e lo p in g a t t a c h m e n t to a
f o r m , s o u n d , etc. S o th e re is n o n e e d to e lim in a te th e se
s e n s a tio n s in o n e s m e d ita tio n .
In In d ia b e f o re th e B u d d h a it w a s t a u g h t th a t th e re
w as j u s t o n e c o n s c io u s n e s s . T h e e x a m p le f o r h o w th is
o n e c o n s c io u s n e s s w o rk s is an e x a m p le o f a h o u s e w i t h
five o r six w i n d o w s a n d a m o n k e y in sid e. T h e m o n k e y
w o u ld s o m e tim e s l o o k o u t o n e w i n d o w , th e n l o o k o u t
a n o t h e r w i n d o w , so th a t o n th e o u ts id e it w o u ld a p p e a r
as i f th e r e w e re d iffe re n t m o n k e y s at d iffe re n t w i n d o w s .
B u t all th e t im e it w a s j u s t o n e m o n k e y . T h e p h ilo s o
p h e rs said th a t th e h o u s e w as lik e th e m i n d a n d th e
w i n d o w s w e re lik e th e d iffe re n t s e n s o ry c o n s c io u s
nesses, a n d th e re w a s j u s t o n e c o n s c io u s n e s s j u s t as th e re
w a s j u s t o n e m o n k e y . B u t th e B u d d h a said th e r e w a s n t
j u s t o n e c o n s c io u s n e s s b e c a u s e i f th e re w e re, t h e n w h e n
o n e w as s e e in g s o m e th in g , o n e w o u l d n t b e ab le to h e a r
a s o u n d , o r i f o n e h e a r d a s o u n d , o n e w o u l d n t b e ab le
to sm ell, a n d so o n . B u t in fact, o n e can see, h e a r, taste,
sm ell, a n d feel p h y s ic a l se n s a tio n s at th e s a m e tim e . So
th e re are five d is tin c t co n s c io u s n e s s e s , n o t j u s t o n e .
W h e n o n e m e d ita te s , o n e d o e s n o t u se a n y o f th e five
n o n c o n c e p tu a l c o n s c io u s n e s s e s th a t are u s e d to e x p e r i
34
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
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n s i g h t
o n . T h e r o o t o f all th e se is m e n ta l c o n s c io u s n e s s , so th is
s ix th c o n s c io u s n e s s is th e r o o t o f all t h o u g h t s a n d
c o n c e p ts . In m e d ita tio n o n e c o n tro ls th is c o n s c io u s n e s s
th a t e x p e rie n c e s all th o u g h t s , d e lu s io n s , a n d feelin g s. In
m e d ita tio n o n e c o n tro ls it so th a t it stays still a n d th e se
ty p e s o f th o u g h t s d o n o t arise. T h is m e n ta l c o n s c io u s
ness has tw o asp ects: k n o w le d g e o f o t h e r a n d k n o w le d g e
o f o n eself. T h e k n o w le d g e o f o th e r o c c u rs w h e n th e
m i n d tu r n s o u t w a r d a n d th in k s , O h , th is is g o o d o r
th is is b a d . I n e e d th is o r I d o n t n e e d t h i s . E x te r n a lly
o r ie n te d k n o w le d g e is c o n c e p tu a l. T h e k n o w l e d g e o f
o n e s e lf is v e ry d ire c t k n o w le d g e o f w h a t o n e is t h in k in g .
T h is se lf-a w a re n e ss is n o n c o n c e p tu a l; w i t h o u t th is selfaw are n ess, o n e w o u l d n t k n o w w h a t o n e is t h i n k in g
a b o u t. It is a m in d fu ln e s s th a t gives us clear k n o w le d g e
o f w h e t h e r o n e is m e d ita tin g o r n o t. S o in m e d i t a t i o n
th e re is th is m in d fu ln e s s a n d aw aren ess.
W h e n o n e is m e d ita tin g , th e m i n d o r th e g e n e ra l
m e n ta l c o n s c io u s n e s s is b e in g a b s o r b e d i n to th e g r o u n d
c o n s c io u s n e s s . F o r e x a m p le , i f o n e th in k s o f w aves as
th o u g h t s a n d g r o u n d c o n s c io u s n e s s as th e o ce a n , th e n
th e waves o rig in a te f r o m th e o c e a n a n d t h e n m e r g e o r
d is a p p e a r i n to th e o ce an . In th e s a m e w a y , th o u g h t s
arise f r o m th e u n c e a s in g , u n i m p a i r e d c la rity o f g r o u n d
c o n s c io u s n e s s a n d t h e n m e r g e a n d d i s a p p e a r i n t o
g r o u n d c o n s c io u s n e s s . A lso , w h e n it is w in d y , th e
w aves in th e o c e a n in cre ase; w h e n it is c a lm , th e w aves
s u b s id e a n d th e o c e a n b e c o m e s s ta b le a n d c a lm . In th e
s a m e w a y , t h o u g h t s a p p e a r in th e m i n d th a t are lik e a
w i n d c o m in g f r o m th e g r o u n d c o n s c io u s n e s s . T h is
causes all th e m o v e m e n t o f t h o u g h ts in th e m in d . So i f
th is w i n d f r o m th e g r o u n d c o n s c io u s n e s s s u b s id e s a n d
m e rg e s in to itself, th e th o u g h t s s u b s id e a n d th e m i n d
36
Sa m a th a : Tranquillity Meditation
b e c o m e s still. T h is is d e s c rib e d b y M ila re p a in o n e o f
his s o n g s in w h i c h h e talk s a b o u t th e m a n ife s ta tio n s o f
th e m i n d in th e s a m e w a y th a t th e waves are a m a n ife s
ta tio n o f th e sea. T h e s e waves c o m e to re s t in th e sea
j u s t as t h o u g h t s c o m e to re s t in th e m in d . So t h o u g h t s
are j u s t th e p lay o r m a n ife s ta tio n o f th e m in d . T h e r e
fo re, th o u g h t s arise f r o m t h e m i n d b e c a u s e th e y c o m e
f r o m th e m in d . S o w h e n th e w i n d a ris in g f r o m th e
g r o u n d c o n s c io u s n e s s is stilled , th e m i n d b e c o m e s still.
S o th e u l t im a te f o r m o f s a m a th a is h a v in g t h o u g h t s
d is a p p e a r i n to th e g r o u n d c o n s c io u s n e s s w i t h th e m i n d
b e c o m in g s ta b le a n d v ery re la x e d . In o t h e r w o rd s , o n e
h as a g r e a t n u m b e r o f th o u g h t s c o m i n g o u t o f th is
g r o u n d c o n s c io u s n e s s a n d in m e d ita tio n th e re is in
c re a se d e f fo rt to a b s o r b th e s e th o u g h t s b a c k in to th e
u n c e a s in g a n d u n c h a n g i n g c la rity o f g r o u n d c o n s c io u s
n ess. In s u c h a w a y o n e w ill have a re la x e d a n d still
m in d .
T h e s ix th c o n s c io u s n e s s h as to re la x in to th e g r o u n d
c o n s c io u s n e s s b e c a u s e it arises o u t o f th e g r o u n d c o n
s c io u s n e s s a n d th e r e f o r e m u s t r e tu r n to it. In m e d i t a t i o n
o n e n e e d s th e s ix th c o n s c io u s n e s s to b e c o m e still a n d
c a lm w i t h o u t a n y th o u g h t s a risin g . T h e g r o u n d c o n
s c io u s n e s s in it s e l f d o e s n o t create an o b s ta c le to m e d i
ta tio n . B u t th e sev e n th , o r afflicted, c o n s c io u s n e s s is
c h a ra c te riz e d b y e g o - c lin g in g . It is alw ay s th e re . It d o e s
n o t c re a te an o b s ta c le to m e d ita tio n b u t it d o e s c re a te
a n o b s ta c le to lib e ra tio n . N e v e rth e le ss, as o n e g ra d u a lly
b e c o m e s m o r e a c c u s to m e d to th e re a liz a tio n o f selfless
n ess, th is afflicted c o n s c io u s n e s s , th is s u b tle e g o - c lin g
in g g ra d u a lly d is a p p e a rs . I f th e s ix th m e n ta l c o n s c io u s
n ess b e c o m e s in v o lv e d in th e five sen se c o n s c io u s n e s s e s ,
t h e n it b e c o m e s a n o b s ta c le to m e d ita tio n . B u t i f th e
37
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n s i g h t
m i n d re sts c a lm ly a n d s ta b ly in its e lf a n d d o e s n o t
b e c o m e in v o lv e d in sense p e r c e p tio n s , th e n th e sen se
p e r c e p tio n s d o n o t c reate a n o b s ta c le to m e d ita tio n .
H o w e v er, sin ce th e o r d i n a r y m i n d is h a b itu a te d to in
v o lv e m e n t w i t h sen se p e r c e p tio n s , it is b e t t e r f o r th e
b e g in n e r to p ra c tic e in a q u ie t, is o la te d place.
38
I d e n t i f y i n g
a m a t h a
E x p e r i e n c e s
M
in
e d i t a t i o n
t io n is d e s c rib e d in te r m s o f th e te x tu a l tr a d i t i o n a n d
also in te r m s o f th e o ra l in s tru c tio n s o f th e g re a t
m e d ita to r s . T h e te x ts are i m p o r t a n t b e c a u s e th e y d e
s c rib e a n d e x p la in th e m e a n in g o f th e te a c h in g s o f th e
B u d d h a , a n d th e in s tr u c tio n s are i m p o r t a n t b e c a u s e th e y
c o m e f r o m th e a c tu a l e x p e rie n c e o f m e d ita tin g . F irst,
let u s b e g in w i t h th e te x tu a l tr a d itio n th a t d e s c rib e s
m e d i t a t i o n in te r m s o f th e five th in g s th a t can cau se
m e d i t a t i o n to g o w r o n g a n d th e e ig h t w a y s to e lim in a te
th e s e faults.
T h e F ive Faults
W h e n m e d ita tin g , o n e has to re c o g n iz e w h ic h e x p e r i
en c es c o m e o u t o f m e d ita tio n a n d w h i c h fa u lts have to
b e e lim in a te d . T h e r e are five fa u lts th a t have to b e
e lim in a te d t h r o u g h e ig h t k in d s o f a c tio n s o r a n tid o te s .
T h e s e five fa u lts o r d efects p re v e n t th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f
m e d i t a t i o n a n d are d e s c rib e d b y A s a n g a in th e te a c h in g s
o f M a i t r e y a in th e D ifferentiation o f the M iddle Way fro m
the E xtrem es. T h is te x t says t h a t i f th e m i n d can re s t o n
an o b jec t, th e n th e m i n d b e c o m e s w o r k a b le a n d v e ry
s ta b le so w e ca n d o w h a te v e r w e w is h w i t h th e m in d . In
39
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r a n q u i l l i t y
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n s i g h t
c o n tra s t, o u r n o r m a l m in d is lik e r id in g a w i l d h o rs e ;
w h e n w e are o n a w ild h o r s e w e c a n n o t stay in o n e s p o t
a n d w e c a n n o t g o w h e r e w e w a n t to g o . B u t i f th e m i n d
b e c o m e s ta m e a n d w o rk a b le , w e can d o w h a te v e r w e
w a n t. W e can u se o u r m i n d to in c re a se o u r w i s d o m a n d
u n d e r s ta n d in g , o r i f w e n e e d m ira c u lo u s p o w e rs a n d
cla irv o y an ce , w e ca n d ev elo p th ese. T h e w a y to o b ta in a
w o rk a b le m i n d is t h r o u g h e lim in a tin g th e five fa u lts to
m e d ita tio n .
T h e firs t fa u lt is laziness. L azin ess p re v e n ts th e a p p li
c a tio n o f m e d i t a t i o n b e c a u s e o n e d o e s n t even b e g in
a fte r re c e iv in g in s tr u c tio n s in m e d ita tio n . T h e r e are
a c tu a lly th r e e k in d s o f laziness. F irst is le th a r g y , in
w h i c h o n e is n t in te re s te d in d o in g a n y t h i n g e x c e p t
sle e p in g . S e c o n d is a t ta c h m e n t to w o rld ly a c tiv ity re
s u ltin g in n o d e s ire f o r d h a r m a p ra c tic e o r m e d ita tio n .
In s te a d o n e d ev o te s o n e s e lf to w o rld ly ac tiv itie s s u c h as
h u n t i n g a n im a ls, ly in g a n d d e c e iv in g o th e rs , a n d so o n .
T h e s e are a c tiv ities o n e enjoys, o n e is u s e d to , o r th in k s
a b o u t a lo t. In o n e s en se o n e has d ilig e n ce , b u t it is an
o b s ta c le to p ra c tic in g th e d h a r m a . T h is is also called
a tt a c h m e n t to n e g a tiv e a c tiv ity . T h e t h ir d is d e s p o n
d e n c y a n d s e lf-a c c u s a tio n , w h i c h re s u lt in t h in k in g ,
O t h e r s can m e d ita te , b u t I c a n t; o th e r s w ill u n d e r
s ta n d th e d h a r m a , b u t I w o n t . T h e fa ct is th a t all
b e in g s are ab le to m e d ita te a n d w o r k o n th e p a th , b u t i f
t h e y u n d e r e s tim a te th e ir cap ab ilitie s, th is is also called
s e lf- re p u d ia tio n .
T h e s e c o n d fa u lt is forgetting the instructions, w h i c h is
a la c k o f m in d fu ln e s s o n h o w to m e d ita te p ro p e r ly .
W h ile m e d ita tin g , o n e s h o u ld b e v e ry clear a b o u t w h a t
o n e is d o in g , w h a t fa u lts m u s t b e e lim in a te d , a n d w h a t
40
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n s i g h t
T h e E ig h t A n tid o te s
To d e v e lo p o n e s m e d ita tio n , o n e h as to e lim in a te th e
five faults. F irs t o n e m u s t b e ab le to re c o g n iz e w h a t
th e s e fau lts are, th e n o n e n e e d s to a p p ly th e re m e d ie s
th a t e lim in a te th e m . T h e s e re m e d ie s are called th e e ig h t
re m e d ie s th a t e lim in a te th e five faults.
A s d e s c rib e d b e fo re , th e re are e ig h t c o n s c io u s n e s s e s
a n d th e s e e ig h t are called th e p rin c ip a l m in d . W ith in
th e s e c o n s c io u s n e s s e s o c c u r t r a n s f o r m a tio n s o r c h a n g e s .
T h e s e c h a n g e s a re called m e n ta l events th a t can b e
s o m e tim e s g o o d a n d s o m e tim e s b a d . T h e s e m e n ta l
events can also b e d e s c rib e d in te r m s o f th e five a g g r e
g ates. T h e r e are th e a g g r e g a te s o f f o r m , s e n s a tio n ,
id e n tific a tio n , m e n ta l events, a n d c o n s c io u s n e s s . T h e s e
d e s c rib e th e c h a n g e s th a t o c c u r w i t h i n th e p rin c ip a l
m in d . In th e a n a ly sis o f th e a g g r e g a te o f m e n ta l even ts,
th e r e are f if ty - o n e d iffe re n t k in d s o f m e n ta l ev en ts s u c h
as laziness, f o r g e t t in g in s tru c tio n s , a n d so o n . T h e s e
five fa u lts are m e n ta l events, a n d th e e ig h t a n tid o te s are
also a m o n g th is list o f fifty - o n e m e n ta l events.
T h e firs t fa u lt m e n t i o n e d w a s laziness, a p a r tic u la rly
p o w e rfu l o b s ta c le to m e d ita tio n . T h e r e are f o u r m e n ta l
ev ents th a t r e m e d y th is laziness. T h e firs t o f th e se
re m e d ie s is h a v in g a s p ira tio n o r in te re s t in m e d ita tio n ,
m e a n in g th a t o n e lik es to m e d ita te a n d is h a p p y m e d i
ta tin g . O n e c o u ld say th a t o n e is a tta c h e d to m e d ita tio n ,
b u t th is a tt a c h m e n t is p o sitiv e , so w e u s e th e w o r d
aspiration b e c a u s e th e a tta c h m e n t is to s o m e t h i n g th a t is
n e g a tiv e a n d h a r m f u l. In T i b e t a n th e r e are tw o w o r d s
42
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n s i g h t
he
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of
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& I
n s i g h t
In s u m m a r y , th e r e are e ig h t m e n ta l re m e d ie s th a t ca n
e lim in a te th e five fau lts.
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
a w are th a t o n e h as b e c o m e d is tra c te d b y th e m . O n e
re tu r n s to th e s ta te o f m e d ita tio n , so o n e re a p p lie s
o n e s e lf to it, re e s ta b lis h in g th is s e ttlin g in m e d ita tio n .
W h e n th e re is a d is tra c tio n th a t tak e s o n e aw ay f r o m
r e s tin g in m e d ita tio n , o n e is ab le to r e tu r n to o n e s s ta te
o f m e d ita tio n re p e a te d ly . T h is is r e a p p ly in g a s ta te o f
s e ttlin g th e m in d . T h is p o w e r c o m e s f r o m th e p o w e r o f
m in d fu ln e s s b e c a u s e o n e b e c o m e s a w are o f th e m i n d
b e in g d is tra c te d b y s o m e th o u g h t . W ith m in d fu ln e s s
o n e th in k s , Im n o t g o in g to b e fu lly u n d e r th e in flu
en c e o f th is d is tra c tin g t h o u g h t a n d m e n ta lly r e tu r n s
to w h a t o n e is d o in g . T h is p o w e r o f m in d fu ln e s s also
d ev e lo p s th e f o u r th s ta g e o f m e n ta l s ta b ility , called
in te n s ifie d s e ttle m e n t, in w h ic h th e m i n d t h a t h a s b e e n
b r o a d ly fo c u s e d is n o w fo c u s e d v e ry n a r r o w ly . T h e
m in d , fo r e x a m p le , is n a r r o w ly fo c u s e d o n an o b jec t.
T h e p u r p o s e o f th is k in d o f m e d ita tio n is to fo c u s th e
m in d o n s o m e t h i n g v e ry su b tle .
W h a t can w e d o to p re v e n t this c o n tin u o u s a ris in g o f
th o u g h ts ? T h e t e x t says th a t th e m i n d is v e ry v ast a n d
t h o u g h t s c o n tin u o u s ly arise a n d g o e v e ry w h e re . T h e
m i n d h as to b e d r a w n in w a r d a n d m a d e m o r e n a r r o w ,
m o r e c o n s tric te d . S o th is is th e s ta te called th e c o n c e n
tr a te d o r in te n s ifie d s e ttle m e n t, w h ic h is th e f o u r th s ta g e
o f s a m a th a m e d ita tio n . T h e p o w e r n e c e s s a ry fo r th is is
th e th i r d p o w e r o f m in d fu ln e s s a n d m e m o r y . W e n e e d
to r e m e m b e r te a c h in g s g iv e n b y th e B u d d h a , th e c o m
m e n ta rie s , a n d th e a c tu a l m e d ita tio n in s tr u c tio n s . We
also n e e d to b e m i n d f u l o f d is tra c tio n s so t h a t w h e n w e
b e c o m e d is tra c te d w e k n o w th is s ta te allo w s u s n o t to
b e c o m e a tta c h e d o r in v o lv e d w ith th a t th o u g h t , so w e
can leave it a n d r e tu r n to re s tin g in m e d ita tio n . S o m e
tim e s w h e n w e are m e d ita tin g a n d a t h o u g h t arises, w e
48
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he
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& I
n s i g h t
TABLE ONE
P ower
1. Hearing the
teachings
2 . Contemplating
the teachings
3 . M emory or
mindfulness
L e v e l s of
S t ability
1. Resting the
mind
2 . Resting in the
mind longer
E ngagement
1. Tightly focused
or controlled
engagement
3 . Continuously
resettling the
mind
4 . Intensely settled
mind
4 . Awareness
5 . Taming the
2 . Interrupted
mental
engagement
mind
6 . Pacification o f
the mind
5 . Diligence
7 . Com plete
pacification o f
the mind
8 . One-pointed
3 . Uninterrupted
mental
engagement
mind
6 . Familiarization
9 . Resting in
equanimity
54
4 . Naturally
settled
engagement
T h e Tradition o f O ra l Instruction
T h e i n s tr u c tio n o f s a m a th a h as b e e n p a s s e d o n o ra lly
f r o m o n e in d iv id u a l to a n o th e r. O n e firs t receiv es i n
s t r u c t i o n o n s a m a th a m u c h lik e th e in s tr u c tio n in th is
b o o k . T h is firs t s ta g e is called th e experience o f instability.
W h e n o n e b e g in s to m e d ita te , o n e firs t e x p e rie n c e s th e
m i n d as v e ry u n s ta b le w i t h m a n y , m a n y th o u g h t s aris
in g . T h e r e a re g o o d th o u g h t s a n d b a d th o u g h t s a n d th is
is lik e n e d to a w a te rfa ll r u s h in g o f f a cliff. W h e n th e
w a te r h its th e b o t t o m , it sp la sh e s u p w i t h a g re a t d eal
o f a g ita tio n a n d m a k e s m a n y w aves. In m e d ita tio n it
se e m s o n e h as n e v e r h a d so m a n y th o u g h t s a n d o n e
th in k s , I a m g e ttin g w o rs e b e c a u s e o f m y m e d i t a t i o n .
B u t, in fact, o n e is n o t d e v e lo p in g m o r e t h o u g h ts ;
ra th e r, b e f o re o n e h a d b e g u n to m e d ita te , o n e d i d n t
th i n k a b o u t h o w m a n y th o u g h t s o n e h a d . O n e d i d n t
a n a ly z e t h e m a n d so o n e w a s n t aw are o f th e n u m b e r o f
t h o u g h t s . A c tu a lly , m e d ita tio n is th e b e g in n in g o f d e a l
in g w i t h o n e s m i n d b e c a u s e o n e b e c o m e s aw are o f
o n e s t h o u g h ts .
W h e n w e b e g in to m e d ita te c o n tin u a lly , w e b e g in to
have a s e c o n d e x p e rie n c e called th e experience o f attain
m ent. W ith th is e x p e rie n c e w e b e g in to feel th a t w e have
a c c o m p lis h e d g o o d m e d ita tio n . T h is e x p e rie n c e is lik
e n e d to a m o u n t a i n s tr e a m o r a riv er in a g u lly . T h e
riv e r is still r o u g h w i t h m a n y w aves, b u t it is n t as
p o w e rfu l a n d fierce as a w a te rfa ll.
T h e n e x t level o f m e d ita tio n b e c o m e s ea sie r a n d is
55
he
r a c t i c e
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& I
n s i g h t
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
a r o u n d o n h is h a n d s a n d k n e e s a n d t h o u g h t th is m u s t
have b e e n c a u se d b y a d e m o n . S till a n o t h e r tim e h e
h e a rd a l o u d s h o u t i n g f r o m n o w h e r e a n d t h o u g h t th a t
h e h a d g o n e in san e. W h e n h e w e n t a n d a s k e d M ila re p a
a b o u t it, M ila re p a j u s t said it w a s n o t h i n g a t all, n o t
g o o d o r b a d , a n d to ld h i m to j u s t c a rry o n m e d ita tin g .
L ik ew ise , w e s h o u ld j u s t c a rry o n w i t h o u r m e d i t a t i o n
w h e th e r w e have g o o d o r b a d e x p e rie n c e s.
T h e A cco m p lish m en t o f S a m a th a
So far th e n a tu r e o f m e d ita tio n in th e s c h o la s tic a n d o ra l
tra d itio n s h as b e e n d iscu ssed . N o w let u s d isc u ss th e
re s u lt o f m e d i t a t i o n o r th e sig n s o f a c c o m p lis h m e n t in
m e d ita tio n . T h e re s u lt o f m e d ita tio n is th e e x p e rie n c e
o f bliss o f m i n d a n d b o d y . T h is bliss o f m i n d a n d b o d y
is called lite ra lly w ell t r a i n e d . In T ib e ta n it is shinjang,
w h ic h is a c tu a lly a d e s c rip tio n o f th e ca u se o f th e re su lt;
th e n a m e o f th e cause, b e in g w ell t r a i n e d , is u s e d f o r
th e a c tu a l re su lt. S o a c tu a lly b e in g w ell tra in e d is th e
cause, b u t th e n a m e is g iv e n to th e re su lt. S hintu m e a n s
a g re a t d e a l o r v e ry m u c h a n d ja n g p a m e a n s
t r a in e d o r th e m a s te r y o f s o m e th in g . So shintu jan gp a
m e a n s th a t o n e is w e ll tra in e d in s o m e t h i n g . T h e te x t
says t h a t i f o n e h as n o t a tta in e d th is s ta te o f b e in g w ell
tra in e d in b o d y a n d m in d , th e n o n e h as n o t re ally
re a c h e d th e fu ll a tta in m e n t o f s a m a th a m e d ita tio n . E v en
i f o n e has a tta in e d th e h ig h e s t (th e fo u r th ) m e n ta l e n
g a g e m e n t a n d th e fin al (n in th ) sta g e o f m e n ta l s ta b ility ,
i f o n e d o e s n t have th e w e ll-tr a in e d b o d y a n d m in d , o n e
h a s n t ac h iev ed fu ll s a m a th a m e d ita tio n . T h is is e x
p la in e d in th e D efin ite E xp la n a tio n o f the V iew . In th is
s u tra M a itre y a asks w h a t th e m e d ita tio n o f a b o d h is a ttv a
58
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n s i g h t
he
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of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& In
s i g h t
62
P art T w o
INSIGHT
[lhag mthong]
4
V
i p a s y a n a
: I
n s i g h t
e d i t a t i o n
e x p la n a tio n o f v ip a s y a n a , o r in s ig h t m e d ita
tio n , is d iv id e d in to five p a rts . T h e s e are th e
p re re q u is ite c o n d itio n s f o r v ip a s y a n a , th e d iffe r
e n t f o r m s o f v ip a s y a n a , th e c a te g o riz a tio n s o f th e n a tu r e
o f v ip a s y a n a , th e m e t h o d s o f m e d ita tio n , a n d th e m e a
s u re o f a c c o m p lis h m e n t. T h e firs t s e c tio n deals w i t h
th e c o n d itio n s n e c e s s a ry fo r v ip a s y a n a m e d ita tio n .
K a m a la s lla in h is s e c o n d b o o k o f th e Stages o f M edita
tion d e s c rib e s th r e e c o n d itio n s n e c e s s a ry to d ev e lo p
v ip a s y a n a .
he
65
he
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of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
fin d in g th e ir b o d ie s s h a k in g o r w o r k in g v e ry h a r d w i t h
o u t g e ttin g a n y s ig n s o f a c c o m p lis h m e n t f r o m th e ir
m e d ita tio n . O n e re ally n e e d s to d e p e n d o n a sp ec ia l a n d
le a rn e d te a c h e r b e c a u s e a b o o k c a n n o t a d a p t th e in s tr u c
tio n to o n e s o w n n a tu r e a n d ca p ab ilitie s. T h e r e f o r e ,
o n e n e e d s to re ly o n a sp ecial b e in g w h o is ab le to te a c h
in a c c o rd a n c e w i t h o n e s sp ecific ab ilities.
T h e r e are d iffe re n t k in d s o f te a c h e rs. S o m e are v e ry
s c h o la rly a n d give t h o r o u g h e x p la n a tio n s b a s e d o n th e
c o m m e n ta r ie s o n v a rio u s te x ts . O t h e r s m a y n o t b e v e ry
s c h o la rly b u t give in s tr u c tio n s b a s e d o n a g re a t d ea l o f
p e r s o n a l e x p e rie n c e o f m e d ita tio n so h e o r sh e ca n
e x p la in w h a t w ill h a p p e n in m e d ita tio n . T h e r e is also
w h a t is called th e o ld l a d y s p o i n t in g in s tr u c tio n . T h is
is lik e a n i n s tr u c tio n f r o m an o ld la d y w h o re a lly d o e s n t
k n o w v e ry m u c h , b u t is ab le to p o i n t o u t th e k e y th in g s
to l o o k fo r. T h e c o m m e n ta r ie s o n m e d ita tio n d o n o t
g iv e p o in ts o n th e d ire c t e x p e rie n c e o f m e d i t a t i o n o r
th e se p o i n t in g o u t in s tru c tio n s . It is th e r e f o r e i m p o r
ta n t f o r m e d ita to r s to re ceiv e d ire c t i n s tr u c tio n f r o m an
e x p e rie n c e d tea ch er.
T h e b e n e fits o f a g e n u in e te a c h e r c o m e n o t j u s t f r o m
b e in g w i t h a n d h a v in g c o n v e rs a tio n s w i t h th e te a c h e r,
b u t f r o m re c e iv in g in s tru c tio n s th a t are b e n e fic ia l to
o n e s p ro g r e s s . A g e n u in e te a c h e r also gives th e a c tu a l
te a c h in g s o f th e B u d d h a o r th e e x p e rie n c e s o f th e b o d h is a ttv a s a n d g re a t s id d h a s , a n d n o t te a c h in g s o f his
o w n p e r s o n a l c re a tio n . T h e te a c h in g s t h a t are th e m o s t
b en e fic ia l are th o s e t h a t c o m e f r o m a p u r e o r g e n u in e
te x t, t h a t is, th e a c tu a l te a c h in g s (sutras) o f th e B u d d h a
o r th e c o m m e n ta r ie s (sastras), w h ic h c o m e f r o m th e
g re a t b o d h is a ttv a s o r th e g re a t s id d h a s . T h e te a c h e r
s h o u ld b e a b le to re a d a n d u n d e r s ta n d th e s e te a c h in g s
66
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s i g h t
c o n te m p la tin g th e te a c h in g s b y re ly in g o n th e c o m m e n
taries w a s d e v e lo p e d . S o m e C h in e s e a n d s o m e W e ste rn
s c h o la rs s ta te th a t th is is a d e fe c t in th e T i b e t a n B u d d h is t
tr a d itio n b e c a u s e it relies so h ea v ily o n c o m m e n ta r ie s
in s te a d o f re ly in g o n th e a c tu a l w o rd s o f th e B u d d h a .
T h e re lia n c e o n c o m m e n ta r ie s , h o w e v er, h a s a v e ry
sp ecial p u r p o s e b e c a u s e w h e n th e B u d d h a gave te a c h
in g s , h e gave p a r tic u la r te a c h in g s to v a rio u s in d iv id u a ls
a c c o rd in g to th e ir p a r tic u la r n a tu r e so t h a t s o m e o f his
te a c h in g s w e re th e p ro v is io n a l t r u th s a n d s o m e w e re th e
d e fin itiv e tru th s .
I f o n e h as to g o t h r o u g h th e B u d d h a s te a c h in g s
d e c id in g w h ic h te a c h in g s are p ro v is io n a l a n d w h ic h a re
d e fin itiv e w i t h lo g ic a l an aly sis, o n e c o u ld m a k e m a n y
m is ta k e s . B u t th e B u d d h a p r o p h e s ie d th a t v a r io u s m a s
ters w o u ld c o m e in th e f u tu r e a n d w r ite c o m m e n ta r ie s
o n th e te a c h in g s to s h o w w h ic h te a c h in g s a re p r o v i
sio n a l a n d w h ic h d efin itiv e. In p a rtic u la r, th e Treasury o f
K now ledge m e n tio n s tw o lo n g , p u r e tra d itio n s : th e tr a
d itio n o f N a g a r ju n a w h o f o u n d e d th e t r a d itio n o f th e
p r o f o u n d v ie w , a n d th e t r a d i t i o n o f A s a n g a w h o
fo u n d e d th e t r a d itio n o f v a s t c o n d u c t. T h e s e tw o g re a t
m a s te rs w e re ab le to cle arly d is tin g u is h th e p ro v is io n a l
a n d d e fin itiv e te a c h in g s o f th e B u d d h a w i t h th e ir c o m
m e n ta rie s . O n e s h o u ld re ly o n th e c o m m e n ta r ie s o f
th e s e tw o g re a t m a s te rs n o t o n ly f o r d iffe re n tia tin g
b e tw e e n th e s e tw o m e a n in g s , b u t also f o r th e ir v ast
c o n te n t. T h e Prajndpdramitd te a c h in g s , f o r e x a m p le ,
c o n ta in tw elv e v o lu m e s , a n d it w o u ld b e d iffic u lt to g o
t h r o u g h th e s e d e c id in g th e d e fin itiv e a n d p ro v is io n a l
m e a n in g o f ea ch p assa g e. H e n c e th e s e c o m m e n ta r ie s
s u m m a r iz e th e v a s t te a c h in g s o f th e B u d d h a a n d g ive
th e ir real m e a n in g s . F o r e x a m p le , A s a n g a in th e O rn a
68
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n s i g h t
th e n o v e rc o m e a n g e r. O n e m a y w o n d e r i f th e r e is
s o m e t h i n g w r o n g w i t h th is n o n - B u d d h i s t f o r m o f v i
p a s y a n . A c tu a lly , th e re is n t a n y th in g w r o n g w i t h th is
tra d itio n , w h ic h is called th e c o m m o n t r a d i t i o n b e
ca u se it is c o m m o n to B u d d h is ts a n d n o n - B u d d h is ts . In
th e B u d d h is t t r a d itio n th is v ip a s y a n is k n o w n as th e
w o rld ly level o f v ip a s y a n b e c a u s e o n e re c o g n iz e s th e
m i n d p o is o n s a n d th e ir fau lts a n d trie s to m a k e th e m in d
still a n d stab le. T h e p ra c tic e is p e r f o r m e d to c a lm th e
m i n d a n d s u b ju g a te th e m i n d p o is o n s r a th e r th a n to
u n d e r s ta n d e m p tin e s s o r th e ab se n c e o f self. C a lm in g
th e m in d e lim in a te s th e fa u lts o n th e level o f th e d e s ire
re a lm so th a t o n e c a n a tta in th e firs t level o f m e n ta l
s ta b ility in th e f o r m re a lm .
T h e v ip a s y a n o f th e sr v a k a s a n d p r a ty e k a b u d d h a s
(th e s o lita ry b u d d h a s ) is fo r th o s e w h o are w i t h o u t th e
n e c e s s a ry f o r titu d e to a c c o m p lis h c o m p le te B u d d a h o o d .
T h e s e tw o k in d s o f re a liz e d b ein g s , th e s r v a k a s a n d th e
p r a ty e k a b u d d a s , are fo u n d w i t h i n th e h n a y n a tra d i
tio n . T h e d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n t h e m is th e a c c u m u la tio n
o f m e rit. I f th e re is s o m e a c c u m u la tio n o f m e rit, th e n
o n e is a sr v ak a; i f th e re is a g re a t a c c u m u la tio n o f
m e rit, th e n o n e is a p r a ty e k a b u d d h a . H o w e v er, in te r m s
o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n m e d ita tio n th e r e is o n ly a
s lig h t d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n t h e m b e c a u s e b o t h m e d ita te
o n th e f o u r n o b le tru th s . T h e p ra c tic e o f s r v a k a s a n d
p r a ty e k a b u d d h a s is b a s e d o n th e fo u r n o b le tr u th s ,
w h ic h are d iv id e d i n to s ix te e n asp e cts (see ta b le 2). W ith
th is ty p e o f v ip a s y a n , p ea ce is b a s e d o n th e f o u r n o b le
t r u th s as a d e s c r ip tio n o f s a m s ra a n d n irv n a . T h e first
n o b le t r u t h is a d e s c rip tio n o f sa m s ra , w h ic h is ca lle d
th e t r u t h o f s u ffe rin g . T h e s e c o n d t r u t h o f o r ig in a tio n
lo o k s at th e cau se o f sa m s ra , w h ic h o rig in a te s f r o m
70
TABLE T W O
T he T r u t h
of
S uffering
(Duhkhasatya)
Suffering
Im p e rm a n e n c e
(duhkha)
(anitya)
E m p tin e ss
Selflessness
(.snyata)
(antmaka)
T he T r u t h
of
O rigin
(Samudayasatya)
O r ig in
S tro n g p ro d u c tio n
C au se
C o n d itio n
T he T r u t h
of
(samudaya)
(prabhava)
(hetu)
(pratyaya)
C essation
(Nirodhasatya )
C essatio n
(nirodha)
Pacification
E xcellence
D e fin ite e m e rg en c e
T he T r u t h
(sdnta)
(pranta)
(nihsarana)
of the
P ath
(Mrgasatya)
P ath
S uitability
(mdrga)
(nydya)
A chievem ent
D eliv eran ce
(pratipatti)
(nairydnika)
71
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n s i g h t
k a r m a a n d th e k leas. T h e t h ir d t r u t h o f c e s s a tio n o c c u rs
i f k a r m a a n d th e k leas are e lim in a te d a n d th is re su lts in
n irv a n a . T h e f o u r th t r u t h is f o llo w in g a n d p ra c tic in g
th e t r u t h o f th e p a th . In th e v ip a y a n o f r v a k a s a n d
p ra ty e k a b u d d h a s th e a c tu a l n a tu r e o f th e s e f o u r tr u th s
has to b e u n d e r s to o d a lo n g w i t h th e ir s u b c a te g o rie s .
T h e t r u t h o f s u ffe rin g is d iv id e d in to im p e r m a n e n c e ,
s u ffe rin g , ab se n c e o f self, a n d e m p tin e s s . T h e t r u t h o f
o rig in a tio n , th e t r u t h o f ce ssatio n , a n d th e t r u t h o f th e
p a th are also d iv id e d in to fo u r p a rts , m a k in g a to ta l o f
s ix te e n s u b d iv is io n s .
W h a t are th e f o u r n o b le tru th s ? T h e r e is s a m s ra ,
f r o m w h ic h o n e seek s to g a in lib e ra tio n , a n d th e re is
n irv a n a , w h ic h o n e seek s to a tta in . O n e w is h e s to a tta in
lib e ra tio n f r o m sa m s ra , th e n a tu r e o f w h ic h is s u ffe r
in g . S o th e firs t t r u t h o f su ffe rin g is th a t o n e w is h e s to
a tta in lib e ra tio n f r o m th e s u ffe rin g o f s a m s ra . O n e
w is h e s to a tta in n irv n a , a n d th is is th e th i r d t r u t h o f
ce ssatio n . H o w ev er, o n e c a n n o t s im p ly say o n e w a n ts to
a tta in lib e ra tio n a n d achieve it. T h is is b e c a u s e all p h e
n o m e n a arise f r o m causes, so s a m s ra a n d n ir v n a also
arise f r o m a cause. T h is cau se is th e s e c o n d t r u t h o f
o rig in a tio n , w h ic h is k a r m a a n d th e k leas. T h e r e f o r e ,
o n e n e e d s to e lim in a te th e cau se o f s a m s ra , w h ic h is
k a r m a a n d th e m i n d p o is o n s . W h e n th e s e are e lim i
n a te d , o n e h as a tta in e d fr e e d o m f r o m th e t r u t h o f
s u ffe rin g , f r o m sa m s ra . To b e ab le to a tta in f r e e d o m
f r o m th e t r u t h o f s u ffe rin g a n d s a m s ra , o n e m u s t b e
ab le to e lim in a te th e o r ig in o f su ffe rin g . O n e c a n t
e lim in a te k a r m a a n d th e k leas d ire c tly b e c a u s e th e ir
s o u rc e is e g o - c lin g in g th a t h as to b e e lim in a te d . T h e
w a y to e lim in a te th is is th e f o u r th n o b le t r u t h o f p a th
w h ic h is th e m e d ita tio n o n selflessness, th a t is, to m e d -
72
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r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
us u n c o m f o r ta b le , a n d m a k e u s lo se o u r fe elin g o f
c o n fid e n c e a n d so o n . B u d d h is m d o e s te a c h th e se , b u t
it is t a u g h t b e c a u se w e n e e d th is i n f o r m a ti o n to a tta in
lib e ra tio n f r o m s u ffe rin g . O n c e w e u n d e r s ta n d th e n a
tu re o f s u ffe rin g , w e c a n b e lib e ra te d f r o m it. T h r o u g h
th is u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f th e n a tu r e o f s u ffe rin g , o u r w is
d o m w ill also' in c re a se a n d d ev elo p .
O r d i n a r y b e in g s have an in n a te e g o - c lin g in g . T h is
c lin g in g to a s e lf o c c u rs in a child; n o o n e n e e d s to te a c h
it. A n im a ls also have th is c lin g in g to self. B u t w h a t is
th is c lin g in g ? T h e r e is re a lly n o sta b le o b je c t fo r th is
c lin g in g ; it is a d e lu s io n . S o m e tim e s o n e th in k s th is s e lf
is th e m in d . B u t w h e n o n e e x a m in e s th e s e l f m o r e
clo sely , o n e d isco v ers th a t it is n o t in th e h a ir, n o t in th e
b o n e , th e ey es, th e n o s e , th e b ra in , a n d so o n . O n e
fin d s th a t th e se are o n ly b o d y p a r ts w i t h n o s e lf id e n ti
fied w i t h th e m . O n e s b o d y is ju s t a p h y s ic a l a g g r e g a te
o f f o r m a n d th e s e lf is n o w h e r e to b e fo u n d .
P e rc e iv in g th e b o d y as n o t b e in g th e self, o n e m a y
t h in k t h a t th e m in d is th e self. B u t th e m i n d is j u s t a
su c c e s s io n o f in s ta n ts , lik e th e flo w o f a riv e r w i t h each
in s ta n t b e in g a n e w in s ta n t o f m in d . T h e r e a re t h o u g h t s
o n e h a d y e s te rd a y , th o u g h t s o n e h as n o w , a n d t h o u g h t s
o n e w ill have in th e fu tu re . O n e m a y w o n d e r i f a
p re v io u s t h o u g h t w ill ever c o m e b a c k ag a in . It d o e s n o t
c o m e b ac k . W h e n o n e w a s a ch ild , o n e h a d a c h ild s
m in d ; w h e n o n e g r o w s u p a n d b e c o m e s o ld , th e m i n d
is d iffe re n t. T h e m i n d h as d iffe re n t c h a ra c te ris tic s , d if
fe re n t th o u g h ts , a d iffe re n t p ro c e s s o f th in k in g , a n d a
d iffe re n t d e g re e o f u n d e r s ta n d in g . E v en th e m i n d b e
tw e e n y e s te rd a y a n d to d a y is d iffe re n t. T h e r e is a c o n tin
u o u s s u c c e s s io n o f d iffe re n t k in d s o f th o u g h t s a n d states
o f m in d . S o o n e ask s, Is th e s e lf o f to d a y , th e m i n d o f
74
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r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& In
s i g h t
T h e
P r a c t i c e
o f
T r a n q u i l l i t y
& I n s i g h t
T h e r e is n o p a r tic u la r re a s o n , it j u s t h a p p e n s t h a t ev e ry
o n e th in k s th a t it is im p o r t a n t . So th is is d e p e n d e n t
o r ig in a tio n th e v a lu e o f v a rio u s th in g s is d e p e n d e n t o n
w h a t e v e ry o n e th in k s . T h is is n o t o n ly tru e w i t h p a p e r
m o n e y ; e v e ry o n e th in k s th a t g o ld is m o r e v a lu a b le th a n
iro n . W h y is g o ld m o r e v alu ab le? S im p ly b e c a u s e e v e ry
o n e th in k s so. G o ld its e lf d o e s n o t have amrita flo w in g
o u t o f it; g o ld is j u s t a m e ta l. In th is w a y , th e m i n d
clin g s to th in g s ; it p erceiv es s o m e th in g s as g o o d , o t h e r
th in g s as b a d , b u t n o t h i n g is u ltim a te ly g o o d o r b a d in
itself. It is j u s t a m e n ta l p e r c e p tio n a n d th e n a t u r e o f
th in g s is e m p tin e s s .
E v e r y th in g c o m e s in to b e in g t h r o u g h i n te r d e p e n
d en c e. F o r e x a m p le , i f o n e h as tw o p ieces o f p a p e r, o n e
t h a t is s m a ll a n d o n e th a t is b ig , th e y are s m a ll a n d b ig
b ec a u se th e y d e p e n d o n ea ch o th e r. I f o n e p u ts a la r g e r
p iec e o f p a p e r n e x t to th e m , th e n th e b ig p iec e b e c o m e s
th e m e d iu m - s iz e d p iece. In its e lf it is n o t a b ig p iec e o f
p a p e r o r a s m a ll p iec e o f p a p e r. L a rg e a n d sm all, g o o d
a n d b a d , b e a u tifu l a n d u g ly are all c re a tio n s o f th e m i n d
a n d d o n o t have a c tu a l e x isten c e. T h e r e is a fa b le to
illu s tra te th is p o in t. T h e r e w as o n c e a ra b b it w h o w as
re s tin g in th e s h a d e o f a tre e b y th e lake. S u d d e n ly th e
w i n d b r o k e o f f o n e o f th e b ra n c h e s o f th e tre e a n d it fell
in to th e w a te r, m a k i n g a b ig sp lash . T h is s o u n d f r ig h t
e n e d th e ra b b it a n d w i t h o u t t h in k in g h e ra n aw ay. W h ile
r u n n i n g h e e n c o u n te r e d tw o m ice. T h e y a sk e d h i m w h y
h e w a s r u n n i n g a n d th e r a b b it said, T h e r e w a s a g re a t
s o u n d b a c k t h e r e . T h a t fr ig h te n e d th e m ic e a n d th e y
b e g a n r u n n i n g as w ell. So, w e are lik e th e m ic e , w e
d o n t ask w h y a te n - d o lla r b ill is v alu a b le , w e s im p ly
a n s w e r, Well, e v e ry o n e th in k s s o . T h i n g s d o n t have
a n a tu ra l e x is te n c e o f th e ir o w n , b u t th e m i n d j u s t c lin g s
78
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& I
n s i g h t
th e B u d d h a to o k N a n d a to a j u n g l e o f m o n k e y s w i t h o u t
eyes. B u d d h a a s k e d N a n d a , W h o d o y o u t h i n k is th e
p r e ttie s t, th e s e m o n k e y s o r y o u r w ife ? N a n d a a n
s w e re d , T h e r e is n o c o m p a ris o n , P u n d a r ik a is o n e
h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d tim e s p r e ttie r th a n th e s e m o n k e y s .
T h e n th e B u d d h a w i t h his m ira c u lo u s p o w e rs to o k
N a n d a to a g o d re a lm filled w ith g o d d e s s e s. H e th e n
a sk e d h im , W h ic h is m o r e b e a u tifu l, th ese g o d d e s s e s
o r P u n d a r ik a ? a n d N a n d a a n s w e re d , Well, n o w t h a t I
lo o k at th e s e g o d d e s s e s, P u n d a r ik a a n d th e m o n k e y s
lo o k p r e tt y m u c h th e s a m e . T h a t is h o w i n te r d e p e n
d e n c e m a k e s s o m e th in g s lo o k p r e tt y a n d o th e r s lo o k
u g ly . O b je c ts are m e r e ly c re a tio n s o f th e m i n d o r m e n ta l
c o n c e p ts.
I f o n e e x a m in e s p h e n o m e n a w i t h lo g ic a n d e sta b lish e s
th a t th e y are e m p ty , o n e can g a in an u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f
e m p tin e s s , b u t o n e d o e s n t g a in a d ire c t e x p e rie n c e o f
e m p tin e s s . A lso th is lo g ic a l m e t h o d tak e s a l o n g tim e .
In th e v a jra y an a a p p r o a c h o u t e r p h e n o m e n a are u n d e r
s to o d to b e e m p ty ; b u t th e p ra c tic e is to o b s e rv e th e
m in d . T h e m i n d is th e s o u rc e o f all h a p p in e s s a n d all
s u ffe rin g , th e s o u rc e o f all c rav in g a n d all a n g e r, th e
s o u rc e o f all love a n d c o m p a s s io n ; w h a te v e r o c c u rs
c o m e s f r o m th e m in d . W h e n w e firs t e x a m in e th e m in d ,
w e th in k th a t it m u s t b e v e ry p o w e rfu l to c re a te all th is.
H o w e v er, lo o k in g in w a r d , w e are c o m p le te ly u n a b le to
fin d th e m in d ; it is n o t o u ts id e th e b o d y , n o r in s id e th e
b o d y , n o r in b e tw e e n th e s e tw o . S o th e m i n d is e m p ty .
W h e n w e say th e m i n d is e m p ty , w e d o n t m e a n th a t
th e m i n d d o e s n t e x is t lik e th e h o r n s o f a r a b b i t ,
w h ic h o b v io u s ly d o n o t ex ist. N o r is th e e m p tin e s s o f
m i n d lik e e m p t y sp ac e th a t h as n o t h i n g in it. R a th e r th e
n a tu r e o f m i n d is n a tu ra l cla rity . W h e n w e t r y to fin d
80
a n d p o w e r f u l, e s p e c ia lly w h e n all th e
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
H a v in g u n d e r s to o d th e n a tu r e o f e m p tin e s s t h r o u g h
a n a ly tic m e d ita tio n , w e n o w lo o k to see w h o is k n o w
in g , w h o h as th is u n d e r s ta n d in g , a n d w e fin d th e
k n o w e r d o e s n t ex ist. So w e re c o g n iz e th is in d iv is ib ility
o f k n o w i n g a n d e m p tin e s s . T h is is k n o w n as d is c rim i
n a tin g w i s d o m o r d is c rim in a tin g p ra jn a .
T h e r e are s id d h a s , th a t is, a c c o m p lis h e d v a jra y a n a
m a s te rs, w h o have said th a t w h e n o n e lo o k s d ire c tly at
a n g e r, th e a n g e r d isa p p e a rs . A n g e r h as its o w n e m p t i
ness. It a tta in s its o w n n a tu ra l e m p t y state. P re v io u s ly ,
it h as b e e n said th a t th e re is n o d ire c t r e m e d y th a t o n e
can a p p ly to a n g e r th a t is c o rre c t in th e c o n te x t o f
h in a y a n a a n d m a h a y a n a m e d ita tio n . B u t in v ajra y a n a
m e d ita tio n th e re is th e r e m e d y o f lo o k in g d ire c tly in to
th e n a tu r e o f a n g e r .9
C ategories o f V ip asyana
T h e r e are th re e m a in c a te g o rie s o f v ip a sy a n a : th e v ip a s y an a s o f th e fo u r essences, th e v ip a s y a n a o f th e three
doorways, a n d th e v ip a s y a n a o f th e six investigations.
T h e f o u r essences o f v ip a s y a n a are d e s c rib e d in th e
E xplan a tio n o f the V iew s u tra a n d in A s a n g a s C o m p en
dium o f the A bhidharm a. In th is a n a ly sis th e re are tw o
c a te g o rie s o f v ip a s y a n a d iffe re n tia tio n a n d c o m p le te
d iffe re n tia tio n . E a c h o f th e se c a te g o rie s h as tw o as
p e c ts e x a m in a tio n a n d an a ly sis so th a t th e re are ac
tu a lly f o u r c a te g o rie s . D iff e re n tia tio n in v o lv es th e u n
d e r s ta n d in g o r p ra jn a th a t can d is tin g u is h b e tw e e n all
th e v a rio u s k in d s o f p h e n o m e n a . C o m p le t e d iffe re n tia
tio n is th e u n d e r s ta n d in g th a t d is tin g u is h e s th e a c tu al
n a tu r e o f all p h e n o m e n a . E x a m in a tio n is th e g a in in g o f
an u n d e r s ta n d in g o f s o m e th in g o n an o b v io u s level.
84
85
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n s i g h t
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& In
s i g h t
9i
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& In
s i g h t
th e p a n d ita o c c u rs w h e n s o m e b o d y e x a m in e s a n d a n a
ly zes s o m e t h i n g t h o r o u g h l y u n til a v e ry cle ar u n d e r
s ta n d in g o f it is d e v e lo p ed . D o i n g th is, o n e g a in s a v e ry
d e fin ite a n d la s tin g u n d e r s ta n d in g , so th a t th e r e is n o
d a n g e r o f m a k in g a n e rro r. H o w ev er, th is p a th o f th e
p a n d ita tak e s a lo n g tim e . T h e m e d ita tio n o f th e k u s u lu
d ev elo p s f r o m k n o w i n g h o w to m e d ita te , a n d th e n
m e d ita tin g v e ry e x te n siv e ly . T h is m e t h o d is m u c h
s w ifte r, b u t th e re is a d a n g e r o f g o in g astra y a n d m a k in g
a m is ta k e . S o o n e u s u a lly b e g in s w i t h an a n a ly sis a n d
e x a m in a tio n o f th e re a s o n s a n d p ro o f s so th a t a d e fin ite
u n d e r s ta n d in g is d e v e lo p ed . T h e n o n e fa m ilia riz e s o n e
s e lf w i t h th is a n d d ev e lo p s a n u n d e r s ta n d in g a n d f r o m
th is o n e b e g in s th e k u s u lu m e d ita tio n .
In a n a ly tic a l m e d ita tio n , fo r e x a m p le , o n e m e d ita te s
o n selflessness, a n d in tr y in g to id e n tify th e s e l f o n e
fin d s th a t it d o e s n t e x is t in te rn a lly , e x te rn a lly , o r in
b e tw e e n . It is s im ila r to s a m a th a m e d ita tio n in th a t o n e
fo cu ses th e m i n d o n an o b ject, j u s t as o n e re sts th e m i n d
o n th e in - a n d o u t - b r e a t h in s a m a th a m e d ita tio n . S im i
larly , w h e n re s tin g o n th e ab se n c e o f self, th e m i n d is
k e p t fo c u s e d o n e - p o in te d ly o n th is a n d j u s t re sts, a n d
f r o m th is d ev e lo p s th e e x p e rie n c e o f th e c e rta in ty o f th e
a b se n c e o f self. It is th e s a m e m e t h o d e m p lo y e d in
s a m a th a m e d ita tio n so it is called th e a n a ly tic a l m e d ita
tio n o n th e ab se n c e o f self.
A n a ly tic m e d ita tio n is n o t j u s t h e a rin g , re c e iv in g ,
a n d c o n te m p la tin g th e te a c h in g s . In s te a d it is th e d e fi
n ite in s ig h t o n e h as g a in e d u n ite d w i t h s a m a th a m e d i
ta tio n . In s a m a th a m e d ita tio n o n e fo c u ses th e m i n d o n
b re a th in g o r fo c u ses it o n n o o b je c t w h a ts o e v e r. H e re
o n e h as d e fin ite k n o w le d g e th a t is g a in e d t h r o u g h a n a
ly tic d e d u c tio n . T h is k n o w le d g e is j o i n e d to g e t h e r w i t h
92
M eth o d s o f V ip a sya n a
T h e b asis o f v ip a s y a n a m e d ita tio n is a s ta te o f s a m a d h i,
a m e d ita tio n s ta te w i t h o u t t h o u g h t s a n d c o n c e p ts . Its
p r i m a r y q u a lity is th a t it c u ts t h r o u g h all th e m is c o n c e p
tio n s , in a c c u ra c ie s, a n d m is u n d e r s ta n d in g s w e m i g h t
have. It says in th e te x t th a t it is n e c e s s a ry to have th e
v i e w p o i n t o f th e a b s e n c e o f s e lf a n d w i t h o u t th is v ie w
p o i n t w e c a n n o t d ev e lo p g e n u in e v ip a s y a n a m e d ita tio n .
T h e r e f o r e , w e have to d ev e lo p th is u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e
a b s e n c e o f self. T h e te x t states th a t i f w e d o n t have an
u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f w h a t th e m e d ita tio n s h o u ld b e d i
re c te d at, w e are lik e a p e r s o n w i t h o u t a r m s tr y i n g to
h o l d o n t o th e sid e o f a cliff. S o th e b asis o f m e d ita tio n
is th e d e fin ite u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e a b s e n c e o f self. We
n e e d to firs t re c o g n iz e th is, th e n c o n te m p la te it u n til w e
have a d e fin ite u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f th e a b se n c e o f self.
O n c e w e have d e v e lo p e d th is u n d e r s ta n d in g , th e n th e
m i n d m u s t b e ab le to re s t u p o n th is u n d e r s ta n d in g
re la x e d a n d c o m p le te ly u n a g ita te d . I f w e have th e v ie w ,
b u t j u s t t h i n k in te lle c tu a lly a b o u t it, w e w ill n o t b e ab le
93
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to p r o p e r l y d ev e lo p o u r m e d ita tio n b e c a u s e w e w o n t b e
a b le to e lim in a te th e o b s c u r a tio n s . H e n c e th e t e x t says
th a t even i f w e are le a rn e d a n d have s tu d ie d a n d u n d e r
s to o d th e v ie w o f th e a b s e n c e o f self, b u t have n o t
m e d ita te d o n it, w e a re lik e a m is e r w i t h g re a t w e a lth
w h o c a n t u se a n y o f it b ec a u se o f h is s tin g in e s s . N o t
o n ly is all o f th e w e a lth o f a m is e r o f n o u se to h im , b u t
it is also o f n o g o o d to o th e rs b e c a u s e h e d o e s n t give it
to a n y o n e . S im ila rly i f w e have th e u n d e r s ta n d i n g a n d
v ie w o f th e ab se n c e o f self, w i t h o u t m e d ita tio n w e w o n t
d e riv e a n y b e n e fit f r o m it b e c a u s e w e are n o t ab le to
d ev e lo p w i s d o m a n d e lim in a te th e k lesas. We also th e n
c a n n o t b e n e fit o th e rs b e c a u s e w e are n o t ab le to fo llo w
th e p a th a n d g a in e n lig h te n m e n t.
To s u m m a riz e , to d ev e lo p th e v ie w o f th e a b s e n c e o f
self, o n e h as to m e d ita te . O n e n e e d s to s tu d y firs t th e
te a c h in g s o f selflessness, th e n a n a ly z e a n d c o n te m p la te
t h e m so th a t o n e can d ev e lo p a d e fin ite u n d e r s ta n d in g
o f th is v ie w . T h e n o n e re sts o n e s m in d o n th a t, fo c u s e d
in th a t v ie w b u t in a c o m p le te ly re la x e d state. T h is
re s tin g is lik e th e u n i o n o f s ta b ility o f m i n d a n d in s ig h t,
th e u n i o n o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a . O n e m u s t b a la n c e
th e a n a ly tic m e d ita tio n th a t d ev elo p s c la rity o f m i n d
w i t h s ta b ility o f m in d . T oo m u c h a n a ly tic m e d ita tio n
w ill re d u c e o n e s s ta b ility . T h e r e fo r e , o n e m u s t re la x
th e m i n d in a n o n a n a ly tic s ta te o f m e d ita tio n . T o o m u c h
n o n a n a ly tic m e d ita tio n w ill d im in is h th e c la rity o f m i n d
a n d o n e b e g in s to s in k in to d u lln ess. S o o n e th e n d o es
re p e a te d a n a ly tic m e d ita tio n to re g a in o n e s b a la n c e .
D e v e lo p in g b o t h c la rity a n d s ta b ility w ill m a k e th e
m i n d v e ry p o w e rfu l. G e n e ra lly , th e m a in p ra c tic e o f all
th e s c h o o ls in T i b e t w a s firs t to a n a ly z e p h e n o m e n a
re p e a te d ly to g a in a n u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e v ie w a n d
94
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m u s t d ev elo p w i s d o m to a c c u m u la te m e rit. So o n e
d ev e lo p s fa ith a n d d e v o tio n a n d m a k e s o ffe rin g s , p ra y e rs
o f s u p p lic a tio n to th e s u b lim e o r s a c re d o b jec ts, a n d also
p ra c tic e s w h a te v e r g o o d a c tio n s o n e can to a c c u m u la te
m e rit, a sta te o f g o o d k a r m a . T h r o u g h t h a t o n e w ill
in c re a se th e a c c u m u la tio n o f w is d o m .
T h e r e is a n o th e r a p p r o a c h th a t is th e t r a d itio n o f
G a n d e n m o n a s te r y a G e lu g tra d itio n . In th is tr a d itio n
even w h e n re s tin g in m e d ita tio n , o n e th in k s o f th e
k n o w le d g e o n e h as a c q u ire d o n eg o le ssn e ss a n d o n e
m a in ta in s th is k n o w le d g e b y re p e a te d ly th i n k in g T h is
is lik e th is a n d T h a t is lik e t h a t , a n d so o n , b r i n g i n g
u p th e te a c h in g a g a in a n d ag ain .
A s m e n tio n e d b e fo re , w h e n o n e h as d e v e lo p e d s a m a th a m e d ita tio n , m a n y d iffe re n t k in d s o f th o u g h t s a n d
im a g e s f r o m in te rn a l a n d e x te rn a l events a p p e a r in th e
m in d . T h e s e are called u n e x a m in e d im a g e s . T h is m e a n s
th a t th e y are n o t a c tu a l e x te rn a l im a g e s , b u t are j u s t th e
a p p e a ra n c e o f th in g s , im a g e s th a t arise in th e m in d . In
v ip a s y a n a m e d ita tio n o n e tak e s th e s e im a g e s a n d an a
ly zes t h e m to d ev e lo p th e c o n v ic tio n th a t th e y have n o
tr u e e x is te n c e o f th e ir o w n . In th is m e t h o d th e m i n d is
tu r n e d in w a r d . F o r e x a m p le , o n e d o e s n t l o o k a t a p illa r
a n d th in k , Well, th is is a p illa r a n d th e p illa r h as n o
re a lity o f its o w n , a n d so o n . In s te a d o n e e x a m in e s
w h a te v e r a p p e a rs in th e m in d a n d sees th a t it h a s n o
e x is te n c e o f its o w n . W h a t o n e n e e d s in th is m e d ita tio n
is d is c rim in a tin g k n o w le d g e so th a t all th in g s are seen
as d is tin c t f r o m e a c h o th e r. O n e n e e d s d is c rim in a tin g
k n o w le d g e in m e d ita tio n b e c a u s e o n e n e e d s to b e ab le
to fo c u s o n p a r tic u la r o b jec ts in m e d ita tio n . N o t h i n g
b e c o m e s m ix e d o r o v e rla p p in g so th in g s d o n o t t u r n
o u t to b e v a g u e , in d is tin c t, o r u n c le a r.
96
TABLE THREE
(1Sarvatraga)
Feeling
D is c e rn m e n t
In te n tio n
C o n ta c t
M en tal e n g a g e m e n t
T he F ive D
e t e rm in in g
(vedana)
(.samja)
(1chetana)
(sparsa)
(manasikra)
M ental Fac to rs
( Visayaniyata)
A sp ira tio n
B elief
R ecollection
S tab ilizatio n
(chhanda)
S u p erio r k n o w le d g e
(adhimosksa)
(smriti)
(samdhi)
(p raj a)
(Kusala)
Faith
S ham e
E m b a rra s s m e n t
D e ta c h m e n t
N o n h a tre d
N o n b e w ild e rm e n t
Joy o u s effo rt
98
(sraddha)
(hri)
(apatrpya)
(alobha)
(advesa)
(amoha)
(vxrya)
(prasrabdhi)
(apramdda)
(upeksa)
(avihimsa)
Suppleness
C o n scien tio u sn ess
E q u a n im ity
N o n h a rm fu ln e s s
T he S i x R o o t M ental D
efilements
(Mulaklesa)
D esire
A nger
P rid e
Ig n o ran ce
D oubt
A fflicted view
{raga)
(pratigha)
(mana)
(avidya)
(vichikitsa)
(idristi)
T he T w e n t y S e c o n d a r y D efilements
(Upaklesa)
(krodha)
(upandha)
(mraksa)
(p radas a)
(irsya)
(mdtsarya)
(maya)
(sdthya)
(mada)
W rath
R e sen tm en t
C o n c e a lm e n t
Spite
Jealo u sy
Avarice
D eceit
D is h o n e s ty
S elf-im p o rtan c e
H a rm fu ln e ss
N onsham e
N o n e m b a rra s s m e n t
99
(vihimsa)
(dhrkya)
(anapatrdpya)
L eth a rg y
A g ita tio n
N o n fa ith
Laziness
N o n co n sc ien tio u sn ess
F o rgetfulness
D is tra c tio n
N o n in tro s p e c tio n
(styna)
(iauddhatya)
(israddhya)
(kausdya)
(pramda)
(musitasmritita)
(viksepa)
(asamprajanya)
T he F o u r C h an g e ab le M ental Factors
(Aniyata)
C o n tritio n
Sleep
E x a m in a tio n
A nalysis
(kaukritya)
(middha)
(vitarka)
(vichdra)
h e re d o e s n o t m e a n th a t th e re is n o a p p e a ra n c e , b u t th a t
th e n a tu r e o f th a t a p p e a ra n c e is e m p tin e s s . F o r e x a m p le ,
w h e n o n e is d r e a m in g o f a n e le p h a n t, th e n a t u r e o f th a t
e le p h a n t is e m p tin e s s b e c a u s e th e re is n o re a lity to it. I f
s o m e o n e a sk e d w h e th e r y o u w e re d r e a m in g o f an ele
p h a n t, y o u w o u ld say yes, a n d th is d e m o n s tr a te s th a t
th e a p p e a ra n c e o f th e e le p h a n t w as th e re . B u t th e a c tu a l
n a tu r e o f th e e le p h a n t is still e m p tin e s s .
A n e x a m p le o f m e d ita tin g o n th e in te rn a l p e rc e iv e r is
a n g e r. A n g e r arises a n d o n e e x a m in e s it n o t w i t h o r d i
n a r y u n d e r s ta n d in g , b u t w i t h d is c rim in a tin g k n o w l
ed g e . O n e asks w h e r e d o es it c o m e f r o m o r w h a t is its
so u rc e ? T h is is n o t in te rm s o f th is p e r s o n d id th is to
m e a n d th a t m a d e m e a n g r y / b u t in te r m s o f w h e r e
ioo
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
u n c e r ta in ty a n d u n fa v o ra b le u n c e r ta in ty . F av o ra b le u n
c e rta in ty o c c u rs w h e n o n e th in k s s o m e t h i n g p r o b a b ly
is a n d u n fa v o ra b le u n c e r ta in ty is w h e n o n e th in k s s o m e
th in g p r o b a b ly is n t. S o in a d e c isio n a p e r s o n w i t h
fa v o rab le u n c e r ta in ty w ill th in k y es a n d a p e r s o n w i t h
u n fa v o ra b le u n c e r ta in ty w ill th in k n o . O n c lo s e r e x a m
in a tio n th is m i n d p o is o n also is th e in s e p a r a b ility o f
e m p tin e s s a n d aw are n ess. T h e s ix th m i n d p o is o n is
called th e nature o f the view a n d is th e m is ta k e n v ie w th a t
I e x i s t . S o th e re is a m is c o n c e p tio n in w h a t o n e
believes a n d w h e n o n e e x a m in e s it c lo sely w i t h d is c r im
in a tin g u n d e r s ta n d in g , o n e fin d s it also d o e s n t have a n y
r e a lity a n d is t h e i n d i v is i b i l i ty o f e m p t i n e s s a n d
aw are n ess.
In v ip a s y a n a m e d ita tio n o n e m e d ita te s o n th e m in d
p o is o n s as b e in g th e in s e p a ra b ility o f e m p tin e s s a n d
aw are n ess. O n e c a n also m e d ita te o n n e u tr a l t h o u g h ts .
N e u tr a l th o u g h t s are t h o u g h t s th a t are n e ith e r g o o d n o r
b a d . T h e r e are tw o k in d s o f n e u tra l th o u g h ts : creativ e
n e u tra l t h o u g h t s a n d t h o u g h t s o f a c tiv ity . C re a tiv e n e u
tra l th o u g h t s are s o m e t h i n g lik e I w a n t to m a k e d in
n e r a n d n e u tra l th o u g h t s o f a c tiv ity are s o m e t h i n g lik e
I m u s t leave o r I w a n t to g o to e a t . T h e s e t h o u g h t s
are n e u tr a l b u t o n e can e x a m in e t h e m to see w h o is
t h in k in g th e t h o u g h t I w a n t to e a t a n d w h e r e th is
th o u g h t is lo c a te d . O n e disco v ers th a t th e n a tu r e o f
n e u tra l th o u g h t s is th a t th e y have n o re a lity a n d are th e
in d iv is ib ility o f e m p tin e s s a n d aw are n ess.
O n e th e re fo re e x a m in e s th e in te rn a l u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f
th e in d iv is ib ility o f e m p tin e s s a n d a w are n ess a n d th e
e x te rn a l u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e in d iv is ib ility o f e m p tin e s s
a n d a p p e a ra n c e . T h e d is c rim in a tin g k n o w le d g e u n d e r
s ta n d s th is in d iv is ib ility , a n d o n e realizes t h a t th e d is
102
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& In
s i g h t
c lin g in g o r g ra s p in g , th e m i n d d o e s n t th in k T h is is
g o o d a n d has to b e k e p t a n d T h is is b a d a n d h as to b e
re je c te d . T h is is w h a t is m e a n t b y v ip a s y a n a m e d ita
tio n .
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
a c c o m p lis h m e n t o f v ip a s y a n a is also th e s ta te o f b e in g
c o m p le te ly t r a i n e d . O n e m a y b e ab le to m e d ita te b u t
la te r n o t d o so w ell b e c a u s e o n e loses o n e s c la rity , o r
o n e s m i n d b e c o m e s d u ll, o r o n e lo ses o n e s w is h to
m e d ita te . B u t w h e n o n e h as re a c h e d th e s ta te o f th e
s u p p le n e s s o f b e in g w e ll tra in e d , t h e n th e m i n d n a t u
ra lly e n g a g e s in v ip a s y a n a a n d th is v ip a s y a n a b r in g s
c la rity a n d u n d e r s ta n d in g . So u n til o n e h a s a c c o m
p lis h e d th e s u p p le n e s s o f b e in g w ell tra in e d , o n e h as n o t
a tta in e d tr u e v ip a s y a n a . T h e t e x t says th a t th e n a t u r e o f
th is v ip a s y a n a a n d th e w a y it is c re a te d h as a lre a d y b e e n
e x p la in e d in th e s a m a th a s e c tio n . In te r m s o f th e a b h id h a r m a o n e can say b e in g w ell t r a in e d is a m e n ta l
e v en t a n d th e re fo re all b e in g s p o ssess it all th e tim e . B u t
w h a t d iffers b e tw e e n b e in g s is its e x te n t. S o m e b e in g s
n a tu r a lly e n g a g e in n e g a tiv e a c tio n s a n d s o m e n a tu ra lly
e n g a g e in g o o d a c tio n s. B u t sin ce w e h a v e n t b e e n
m e d ita tin g f r o m b e g in n in g le s s tim e , w e are n o t w ell
t r a in e d in o u r m e d ita tio n . We d o n t have th is n a tu r a l
te n d e n c y , so w e have to h a b itu a te o u rse lv e s to it as w e
d id fo r s a m a th a p ra c tic e . T h e w e ll- tr a in e d v ip a s y a n a
w ill g ra d u a lly d ev e lo p b y b e g in n in g w i t h v e ry little a n d
th e n g ra d u a lly in cre ase. S a m a d h i, u n d e r s ta n d in g , m i n d
fu ln ess, a n d a w are n ess are all m e n ta l ev en ts t h a t are
n a tu r a lly p re s e n t, b u t m u s t b e in c re a se d . S o firs t w e
d ev e lo p s a m a th a m e d ita tio n a n d th e n w e d e v e lo p v ip a
sy an a . T h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e w e ll- tr a in e d v ip a s y a n a
is d e s c rib e d in th e E xp la n a tio n o f the V iew s u tra , w h ic h
says th a t th e r e are tw o k in d s o f re a liz a tio n . T h e r e is th e
re a liz a tio n o f th e e n tire m u ltip lic ity o f p h e n o m e n a ,
w h ic h is u n d e r s ta n d in g th e re la tiv e asp e c t o f p h e n o m
ena. T h is is th e u n d e r s ta n d in g o f im p e r m a n e n c e , th e
five a g g re g a te s , a n d th e tw elv e lin k s o f d e p e n d e n t o r i g
106
107
P art T hree
U N IO N
[zung j ug)
h e
n i o n
AND
o f
a m a t h a
V lPA SY A N
c a n t achieve e n lig h t e n m e n t w i t h j u s t sa
m a t h a m e d ita tio n . O n e also c a n t ach iev e e n
l i g h te n m e n t w i t h j u s t v ip a s y a n m e d ita tio n .
N o o n e achieves w i s d o m o f B u d d h a h o o d w i t h j u s t
v ip a s y a n m e d ita tio n . W h a t is n e c e s s a ry is to s t u d y
s a m a th a b y itself, t h e n s tu d y v ip a s y a n b y itself, a n d
t h e n p ra c tic e th e u n i o n o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n to
re a c h fin al e n lig h te n m e n t. T h e o rig in a l te x t d iv id e s this
c h a p te r i n to th re e p a rts : th e p ra c tic e o f th e u n i o n o f
s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n , th e ti m i n g o f th is u n io n , a n d
th e d iffe re n t k in d s o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n .
ne
T h e Practice o f T h is U nion
T h e u n i o n o f th e s ta b ility o f m i n d (samatha) a n d o f
in s ig h t (vipasyana) o c c u rs w h e n th e m i n d is at re s t a n d
still, n o t in th e o r d i n a r y w ay , b u t at re s t in th e w i s d o m
o f th e dharmadhdtu. In th e s tra t r a d itio n th e re a re f o u r
d iffe re n t sets o f in s tr u c tio n s o n h o w to d o th is, each o f
w h i c h is g iv e n b y a d iffe re n t In d ia n m a s te r . T h e in s tr u c
tio n s v a ry , b u t t h e y a g re e th a t o n e s h o u ld p ra c tic e th e
u n i o n o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n . T h e s e f o u r m a s te r s are
B h v a v iv e k a , S n tid e v a , K a m a la sla , a n d C h a n d r a k r t i,
w h o w e re all M a d h y a m a k a m a s te rs c o n c e rn e d w i t h a
h i
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
t h o r o u g h u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f e m p tin e s s . T h e r e are tw o
m a jo r s c h o o ls in th e M a d h y a m a k a : th e S v a ta n trik a s a n d
th e P ra s a n g ik a s . To s im p lify , th e S v a ta n trik a s c h o o l says
th a t o n th e level o f u ltim a te t r u t h n o t h i n g h a s a n y t r u e
e x is te n c e , w h e re a s o n th e relativ e level th in g s ex ist. S o
th e S v a ta n trik a s c h o o l is c o n c e rn e d w i t h c o n c e p ts o f
e x is te n c e a n d n o n e x is te n c e . T h e P r a s a n g ik a s c h o o l,
h o w e v er, believes th a t th in g s have n o a c tu a l n a tu r e a n d
p h e n o m e n a are j u s t a p p e a ra n c e s, th a t a p a rt f r o m th e s e
a p p e a ra n c e s th e y d o n t have a n y tr u e n a tu r e . A ll th in g s
are j u s t a p p e a ra n c e s . So th e P ra s a n g ik a s are n o t so
c o n c e rn e d w i t h c o n c e p ts o f e x is te n c e a n d n o n e x is te n c e .
F irst, B h a v a v iv e k a o f th e P r a s a n g ik a s c h o o l u ses th e
m e t h o d f o r d e v e lo p in g u n io n , o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a ,
w h i c h is th a t o n e firs t m e d ita te s o n u n p le a s a n tn e s s a n d
love, etc. T h is is d e s c rib e d in th e s e c tio n o n th e r e m e d y
fo r a tt a c h m e n t w h e r e , f o r e x a m p le , o n e m e d ita te s o n
love to o v e r c o m e c lin g in g to a n g e r. A p e r s o n th u s
d ev e lo p s s a m a th a m e d ita tio n . T h e n o n e an a ly z e s p h e
n o m e n a . In th e a n a ly sis o f e x te rn a l p h e n o m e n a o n e
d ev e lo p s an u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f th e in s e p a r a b ility o f a p
p e a ra n c e a n d e m p tin e s s . In th e an a ly sis o f in te rn a l p h e
n o m e n a o n e g a in s u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f th e in s e p a r a b ility
o f e m p tin e s s a n d aw are n ess o f th e p e rceiv e r.
S e c o n d , S a n tid e v a in A G uide to the B odhisattvas Way
o f L ife says th a t to d ev elo p s a m a th a o n e n e e d s to d ev e lo p
bodhichitta. T h e r e is re la tiv e a n d a b s o lu te b o d h ic h itta
a n d in th is p ra c tic e o n e d ev elo p s s a m a th a t h r o u g h re la
tive b o d h ic h itta b y w is h in g th a t all b e in g s achieve h a p
p in e ss a n d b e free f r o m s u ffe rin g . B u t b e in g s d o n o t
k n o w w h a t causes s u ffe rin g a n d so t h e y re m a in in
s u ffe rin g . T h e r e f o r e , o n e m u s t d ev elo p th e m o t iv a t io n
to h e lp all b e in g s b e c o m e free f r o m s u ffe rin g . H o w e v er,
112
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& In
s i g h t
n a te h is p u p i l s c lin g in g to p h e n o m e n a h e d id a p ra c tic a l
d e m o n s t r a ti o n . A t th e e n tra n c e o f m o s t te m p le s th e r e is
a p a in tin g o f th e W h e e l o f E x is te n c e .11 In th e p a s t a rh a ts
w o u ld g o a n d v is it th e six re a lm s , a n d w h e n th e y
re tu r n e d , th e y w o u ld d e s c rib e to o th e rs w h a t it w a s lik e
so th a t o r d in a r y p e o p le c o u ld liste n to th e s e te a c h in g s
a n d have th e s e re a lm s d e s c rib e d to th e m . S o th e B u d d h a
said th a t at th e e n tra n c e to th e te m p le s th e re s h o u ld b e
a p a in tin g o f th e b e in g s o f th e six re a lm s f o r o r d i n a r y
p e o p le to see. A n y w a y , in th e p a in tin g o f th e six re a lm s
th e re are d e p ic te d s o m e co w s in th e s e c tio n o f th e a n im a l
re a lm . O n e d ay C h a n d r a k i r t i c a m e u p to th e p a in tin g
a n d b e g a n m ilk in g o n e o f th e co w s in th e p a in tin g . H e
w a s ab le to g e t e n o u g h m ilk f o r e v e ry o n e to d rin k . H e
d id th is to d e m o n s t r a te th a t w h e th e r it w as a p a in tin g
o f a c o w o r an a c tu a l co w , n e ith e r h as a n y t r u e re a lity .
So C h a n d r a k i r t i w a s n o t o n ly a g r e a t s c h o la r, b u t also
h a d g r e a t re aliz a tio n .
C h a n d r a k i r t i s m e t h o d is d iffe re n t f r o m th e o th e rs .
In th is m e t h o d o n e liste n s to th e te a c h in g s a n d th e n
c o n te m p la te s t h e m so th a t o n e g ain s u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f
th e tr u e n a t u r e o f th in g s . B y lis te n in g to a n d c o n t e m
p la tin g th e te a c h in g s , o n e d ev e lo p s th e p ra jn a o r u n d e r
s ta n d in g o f th e t r u e n a t u r e o f all p h e n o m e n a , w h i c h
d ev e lo p s th e v ie w th a t c o m e s f r o m th e a n a ly sis o f th e
s u c h n e ss o f. th in g s . O n e firs t d ev elo p s th is p e r fe c t u n
d e r s ta n d in g o f th e tru e n a t u r e o f p h e n o m e n a , a n d h av
in g g a in e d th is, o n e d ev elo p s s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a
m e d ita tio n . T h u s th e y are p ra c tic e d o n th e b asis o f th e
v ie w , th e ac tu a l u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f th e n a tu r e o f m in d .
In th e s e f o u r s y s te m s th e re are s lig h tly d iffe re n t in
s tr u c tio n s o n h o w to d ev elo p s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a ,
b u t th e s e are s lig h t v a ria tio n s . T h e y a g re e th a t w e firs t
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u s in g an e x te rn a l, th e n in te rn a l o b jec t, etc. So s a m a th a
is g e n e ra lly d e v e lo p e d b y d o in g th e p ra c tic e o f w a tc h in g
o n e s b re a th .
V ip a s y a n a is n o r m a l l y p ra c tic e d u s in g th e d iffe re n t
a n a ly se s o f e x te rn a l o b jec ts a n d e m p tin e s s , in te rn a l
e m p tin e s s a n d aw are n ess, u s in g th e m a n y d iffe re n t
m e t h o d s th a t have b e e n d e s c rib e d . B u t th e w a y fo llo w e d
in th e v a jra y a n a tr a d i t i o n is th e in te rn a l in s e p a r a b ility o f
e m p tin e s s a n d aw aren ess. W h e n m e d i t a t i o n is s tab le,
th e m i n d re s ts in its n a t u r a l s t a b i l i ty . S o m e t im e s
t h o u g h t s arise a n d th e m i n d is th e n in m o v e m e n t. O n e
lo o k s to see w h a t is th e n a t u r e o f th e m o v e m e n t o f th e
m in d . T h is is n o t u s in g an a ly tic a l re a s o n in g a n d lo g ic ,
b u t h a v in g a d ire c t e x p e rie n c e o f th e n a t u r e o f m i n d at
re s t a n d in m o v e m e n t. T h is is th e u s u a l m e t h o d fo llo w e d
f o r th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f v ip a s y a n a .
O n e d o e s n t have to lo g ic a lly an a ly z e th e m i n d to fin d
o u t th a t it h as n o ex iste n c e . O n e ca n j u s t l o o k a t th e
m i n d a n d see th a t it is n o t th e re . A t th e s a m e t im e th e re
is th is p ro c e s s o f k n o w i n g o r aw are n ess. T h e w o r d fo r
m i n d in T i b e t a n is sem o r shepa, w h ic h m e a n s th a t
w h ic h k n o w s . 12 S o th e r e is th is k n o w in g , b u t i f o n e
tries to fin d o u t w h a t it is th a t is k n o w i n g , o n e c a n t
fin d a n y th in g . T h e a c tiv ity o f k n o w i n g is u n c e a s in g b u t
o n e c a n t fin d a n y th in g th a t k n o w s so o n e ca n say th a t
th is is selflessness. W h e n th e re is n o m in d , th e re is
selflessness a n d th e r e is e m p tin e s s so o n e ca n call th is
th e in s e p a r a b ility o f cla rity a n d e m p tin e s s . T h is selfless
ness, o r e g o le ssn e ss, is s o m e th in g th a t w e h a v e n t re ally
t h o u g h t o f t h r o u g h o u t b e g in n in g le s s tim e th a t w e have
b e e n in s a m s a ra b e c a u s e o u r a tte n tio n h as b e e n t u r n e d
o u tw a r d . B u t t u r n i n g in w a r d , o n e sees th is selflessness
a n d th e in s e p a ra b ility o f cla rity a n d e m p tin e s s . T h is
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th e
I f o u r m i n d is n o t u n d e r c o n tro l, th e n all th e o b s c u r
a tio n s ca n arise in th e m in d . S o all th e s e th in g s a p p e a r
a n d t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e is s o m e t h i n g lik e w a t c h i n g a
m o v ie . T h e r e is n o t h i n g a c tu a lly th e re in th e th e a te r,
y e t all th e s e p ic tu re s , s o u n d s , a n d e m o tio n s a p p e a r in
o u r m in d . S o w e have a p p e a ra n c e s a ris in g in m in d , b u t
w h e n w e in v e s tig a te m o r e clo sely , w e see th a t it h a s n o
tr u e e x is te n c e , b u t is j u s t th e in te r d e p e n d e n c e o f p h e
n o m e n a (su c h as th e m o v ie p ro je c to r, th e film , th e
s c re e n , th e s p e a k e rs , e tc .).
T h e t h i r d K a r m a p a , R a n g ju n g D o rje , d e s c rib e d th e
n a t u r e o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a in th e v a jra y a n a tr a d i
tio n . In s a m a th a th e re are o b v io u s a n d s u b tle w aves o f
t h o u g h t s th a t b e c o m e n a tu r a lly p acified . H e said th a t
th e s e o b v io u s a n d s u b tle t h o u g h t s b e c o m e stilled; th e y
are lik e th e sea. T h e r e are s o m e tim e s la rg e a n d s o m e
tim e s s m a ll w aves o n th e sea. W h e n th e se w aves cease,
t h e n th e sea is c o m p le te ly still w i t h o u t m o v e m e n t. In
th e s a m e w a y , o n e has s o m e tim e s s u b tle a n d s o m e tim e s
o b v io u s t h o u g h t s . I f th e s e b e c o m e c o m p le te ly p ac ified ,
th e m i n d b e c o m e s to ta lly still, ca lm , a n d u n m o v i n g lik e
a c a lm sea. E v en w h e n th e sea is c o m p le te ly still, th e re
ca n b e s o m e p o llu tio n , so o n e n ee d s to have v e ry p u re
a n d cle ar w a te r r u n n i n g in to th e sea fo r it to b e c o m
p le te ly p u re . L ik ew ise , even t h o u g h th e m i n d h as b e e n
stille d , th e r e ca n still b e th e d e fe c t o f d u lln e s s o f th e
m in d . S o c o r re c t s a m a th a o c c u rs w h e n th e d e fe c t o f
d u lln e s s is r e m o v e d so th a t th e re is a sta te o f c a lm a n d
s ta b ility a n d also a sta te o f cla rity .
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R a n g ju n g D o r je also d e s c rib e s v ip a s y a n a as l o o k in g
a g a in a n d a g a in a t s o m e t h i n g th a t c a n n o t b e seen. So
th e n a tu r e o f m i n d c a n n o t b e e x a m in e d o r a n a ly z e d . H e
says th a t o n e lo o k s at th e n a t u r e o f m i n d a g a in a n d
a g a in a n d n o t h i n g w i t h tr u e e x is te n c e ca n b e f o u n d . B y
l o o k i n g at th is a n d s e e in g th e tr u e n a tu r e o f th e m in d ,
o n e b e c o m e s free o f d o u b t a n d u n c e r ta in ty o f w h a t th e
m i n d is like. In s te a d o n e d ev elo p s a c e r ta in ty t h r o u g h
see in g th e n a t u r e o f th e m in d , a n d th is is v ip a s y a n a
m e d ita tio n .
To d ev e lo p s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a y o u have to have
d ilig e n c e a n d a p p ly y o u r s e l f to m e d ita tio n w i t h o u t g o
in g f r o m o n e m e t h o d to a n o th e r. B u t d ilig e n c e a lo n e is
n o t e n o u g h w i t h o u t h a v in g th e ac tu al p ra c tic e a n d es
se n tial in s tr u c tio n s s u c h as in g u r u y o g a . In th is p ra c tic e
y o u s u p p lic a te th e g u r u a n d in th is w a y y o u d ev e lo p
d e v o tio n to th e g u r u . F o llo w in g th is s u p p lic a tio n a n d
d e v e lo p m e n t o f fa ith a n d d e v o tio n to th e g u r u , lig h t
b e a m s o f w h ite , re d , a n d b lu e c o m e f r o m t h e g u r u (w h o
is v is u a liz e d in f r o n t o f y o u ) a n d m e r g e in to y o u rs e lf;
th u s y o u receiv e th e b le s s in g f r o m th e g u r u . W h e n th a t
o c c u rs , a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n in m e d i t a t i o n can o c c u r. I f y o u
h a d n t b e e n ab le to d ev e lo p th e in s ig h t o f v ip a s y a n a
m e d ita tio n , t h e n s u d d e n ly t h r o u g h g u r u y o g a y o u can
d ev elo p th is m e d ita tio n . I f y o u have h a d t h e e x p e rie n c e
o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a , g u r u y o g a ca n h e lp in c re a s e
th e in te n s ity o f th is e x p e rie n c e . T h e p u rific a tio n s o f
y o u r b a d k a r m a a n d th e a c c u m u la tio n o f m e r i t w ill also
in c re a se y o u r s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a . T h e e lim in a tio n
o f y o u r b a d k a r m a a n d o b s c u r a tio n s w ill also re m o v e
o b sta c le s to y o u r s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a . T h e r e f o r e ,
y o u d o th e p ra c tic e o f V a jrasattv a fo r th e p u r if ic a tio n o f
y o u r b a d k a r m a a n d o b s c u r a tio n s a n d d o th e p ra c tic e o f
118
T h e T im e o f the U nion
T h e te x t says th a t th e r e are tw o k in d s o f u n io n : s a m a th a
a n d v ip a s y a n w i t h a re fe re n c e p o i n t a n d s a m a th a a n d
v ip a s y a n w i t h o u t a re fe re n c e p o in t. S a m a th a w i t h a
re fe re n c e p o i n t m e a n s th a t o n e s m i n d is fo c u s e d o n
s o m e t h i n g lik e a s ta tu e o f th e B u d d h a o r th e b re a th .
V ip a s y a n w i t h a re fe re n c e p o i n t m e a n s th a t o n e a n a ly t
ically e x a m in e s a n d d iffe re n tia te s b e tw e e n p h e n o m e n a .
W h e n th a t v i p a s y a n s re a liz a tio n arises t o g e t h e r w i t h
n o n c o n c e p t u a l s a m a th a , th e r e is th e u n i o n o f th e tw o .
T h o u g h th e r e is s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n th a t d e p e n d s o n
a re fe re n c e p o in t, th e m a in k i n d o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y
a n is n o n c o n c e p t u a l s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n th a t is
w i t h o u t a re fe re n c e p o in t. T h is k in d o f s a m a th a m e d i
ta tio n is d e s c rib e d b y R a n ju n g D o r je w h e n h e talk s o f
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he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
s o n g s , p a r tic u la rly th e s o n g to N y i m a P a ld a r B u m .
P a ld a r B u m h a d a lo t o f fa ith a n d w a s v e ry s k ille d in h e r
d h a r m a p ra c tic e . She w a s also v e ry g o o d a t a s k in g s h a r p
a n d in te llig e n t q u e s tio n s . M ila re p a m e t h e r o n e tim e
w h e n h e w a s g iv in g te a c h in g s to a n u m b e r o f p e o p le .
She fe lt g re a t fa ith in M ila re p a a n d in v ite d h i m i n to h e r
h o m e . She to ld h i m th a t she w a s liv in g in s a m s a ra a n d
d u r i n g th e d ay s h e w a s b u s y p r e p a r in g f o o d a n d c lo th
in g a n d in th e e v e n in g sh e slep t. B u t s h e w a n te d to
p ra c tic e th e d h a r m a a n d a sk e d M ila re p a w h a t p ra c tic e
sh e c o u ld d o th a t w o u ld lea d h e r to a tta in B u d d h a h o o d .
M ila re p a th e n s a n g h e r a s p iritu a l s o n g (doha) in
w h i c h h e u s e d a n u m b e r o f m e ta p h o r s a n d e x a m p le s .
W h e n I w a s y o u n g m y te a c h e r to ld m e th e s t o r y o f
M ila re p a lea v in g his h o m e la n d , h a v in g h is h o u s e d e
s tro y e d , a n d la te r r e tu r n i n g to his h o m e to see th e ru in s .
I h e a r d th e s o n g in w h ic h M ila re p a d e s c rib e d h is ru in e d
h o u s e as a l i o n s u p p e r j a w a n d a n e i g h b o r i n g h o u s e as
b e in g lik e a d o n k e y s ears. W h e n I h e a r d th is s o n g as a
ch ild , I t h o u g h t it w as s o m e k in d o f m e t a p h o r . L a te r
w h e n I r e tu r n e d to T i b e t a n d saw all th e r u i n e d b u i l d
in g s, I th o u g h t , T h is re ally d o e s l o o k lik e a l i o n s j a w
a n d t h a t s lik e a d o n k e y s ears w i t h b its o f th e b u ild in g s
fallen d o w n a n d pieces s tic k in g u p . M ila r e p a s m e t a
p h o r p e rfe c tly d e s c rib e d w h a t th e ru in s l o o k e d like.
R e tu r n in g to o u r s to ry , M ila re p a gave P a ld a r B u m a
te a c h in g in a s o n g in w h ic h h e u s e d f o u r m e t a p h o r s o r
s y m b o ls . H e firs t said to h e r, L o o k at th e sk y . T h e s k y
has n o c e n te r th a t y o u can p o in t to a n d y o u c a n t
d e te r m in e w h e r e th e e d g e o f th e sk y is. In th a t s a m e
w a y re st in y o u r m i n d w i t h o u t th e re b e in g a c e n te r o r
l i m i t . S e c o n d , h e said, L o o k at th e m o u n t a i n . It is
c o m p le te ly s ta b le a n d u n m o v in g . In th a t w a y y o u r m i n d
122
m e d i t a t e d a n d c a m e b a c k to
123
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b u t w h e n sh e d id th is t h o u g h t s w o u ld arise, a n d h o w
c o u ld she m e d ita te o n th e s e th o u g h ts ?
M ila re p a re p lie d th a t it w a s v e ry g o o d th a t sh e c o u ld
m e d ita te lik e th e s k y w i t h th e ab se n c e o f a n y c e n te r o r
lim it. W h e n c lo u d s a p p e a re d , o n e s h o u ld n o t see t h e m
as b e in g a n y d iffe re n t f r o m th e s k y b e c a u s e th e y are j u s t
a m a n ife s ta tio n o f th e sk y . I f o n e can realize a n d u n d e r
s ta n d th a t th e n a t u r e o f th e se c lo u d s is th e s k y , t h e y w ill
n a tu ra lly d is a p p e a r. I f o n e is ab le to m e d ita te o n th e
m o u n ta in , th a t is g o o d . T h e p la n ts a n d tree s g r o w i n g
o n th e m o u n t a i n are n o t a n y d iffe re n t f r o m th e m o u n
tain ; th e y are s im p ly m a n ife s ta tio n s o f th e m o u n t a i n . I f
o n e is a b le to m e d ita te o n th e s u n a n d m o o n , th a t is
g o o d a n d an eclip se o f th e s u n o r m o o n is n o t h i n g o t h e r
t h a n th e n a t u r e o f th e s u n a n d m o o n . I f o n e is ab le to
m e d ita te o n a g r e a t lak e, waves are lik e ly to o c c u r,
w h ic h is j u s t th e m o v e m e n t o f th e la k e a n d th e r e f o r e
o n ly a m a n ife s ta tio n o f th e la k e b e c a u s e th e re are n o
w aves th a t are n o t a p a r t o f th e lake. T h e n M ila re p a said
th a t i f o n e is ab le to m e d ita te o n th e m in d , th e n s o m e
tim e s th o u g h t s w ill a p p e a r. B u t th e s e th o u g h t s are j u s t
m o v e m e n ts o c c u r r i n g in th e m in d . T h e y are n o t h i n g
o t h e r th a n th e m in d , a m a n ife s ta tio n o f th e m in d . W h e n
o n e d o e s n o t u n d e r s ta n d th e n a tu r e o f th e t h o u g h ts ,
th e y are lik e waves u p o n th e lake, b u t still p a r t o f th e
lake. W h e n o n e u n d e r s ta n d s th e n a t u r e o f th o u g h t s a n d
th a t th e y d o n o t have a n y tr u e essence, t h e y w ill n a t u
ra lly b e p acified .
S o o n e n e e d s to u n d e r s ta n d th a t
th o u g h t s are n o t s e p a ra te f r o m th e m in d .
In th is w a y M ila re p a t a u g h t th e u n i o n o f s a m a th a a n d
v ip a s y a n a . R e s tin g w i t h o u t t h o u g h t s is s a m a th a m e d i
t a t i o n a n d s e e in g t h a t th e s e t h o u g h t s
124
a re n o t h i n g
he
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he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
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s i g h t
p h e n o m e n a as illu s io n so th a t w e w o n t b e c o m e a tta c h e d
to p h e n o m e n a . T h is is w h a t w e s h o u ld d o in th e p o s t m e d ita tiv e state.
T h e r e are th r e e k in d s o f b e h a v io r th a t o n e s h o u ld
p ra c tic e in th e p o s tm e d ita tiv e state: (i) m a k i n g o ffe rin g s
to th e B u d d h a s a n d b o d h is a ttv a s , (2) d e v e lo p in g c o m
p a s s io n to w a r d b e in g s , a n d (3) d e d ic a tin g all o f o n e s
g o o d a c tio n s a n d k a r m a . O n e m a k e s o ffe rin g s to th e
B u d d h a s a n d b o d h is a ttv a s n o t b e c a u s e o ffe rin g s m a k e
t h e m h a p p y a n d o n c e h a p p y th e y w ill h e lp us. O n e
m a k e s o ffe rin g s b e c a u s e th e d h a r m a is v e ry i m p o r t a n t
a n d th e p ra c tic e o f d h a r m a is special. T h e B u d d h a is th e
o n e w h o t a u g h t th e d h a r m a a n d th e b o d h is a ttv a s are
special b e in g s w h o have b e e n ab le to p ra c tic e th e d h a r m a
w i t h o u t o b stacle s. M a k i n g o ffe rin g s to th e s e sp ec ia l
b e in g s in cre ases o n e s o w n m o t iv a t io n to p ra c tic e th e
d h a r m a a n d to m e d ita te . W i t h o u t th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f
g e n u in e m e d i t a t i o n o n e w ill re m a in in s a m s a r a a n d
e x p e rie n c e s u ffe rin g , b e in g c o n tin u o u s ly r e b o r n . B u t i f
o n e h as g e n u in e m e d i t a t i o n o n e w ill a tta in lib e ra tio n .
O n e m u s t d ev e lo p c o m p a s s io n to w a r d o t h e r b e in g s
b e c a u s e th e y are s u ffe rin g . T h e y are s u ffe rin g b e c a u s e
t h e y h a v e n t b e e n ab le to d ev e lo p g e n u in e m e d ita tio n .
So b y m a k i n g an o ff e rin g to th e B u d d h a s a n d b o d h i s a t t
vas a n d d e v e lo p in g c o m p a s s io n to w a r d b e in g s , th is b e
c o m e s p a r t o f o n e s o w n a s p ira tio n a n d in te r e s t in th e
d e v e lo p m e n t o f s a m a d h i. T h r o u g h th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f
o n e s s a m a d h i, o n e w ill b e ab le to h e lp o t h e r b e in g s .
O n e also m a k e s a v a s t d e d ic a tio n , w h i c h m e a n s d e d
ic a tin g to all b e in g s w h a te v e r re a liz a tio n a n d e x p e rie n c e
o n e h as a c q u ire d f r o m o n e s m e d i t a t i o n o r w h a te v e r
g o o d k a r m a o n e h a s a c c u m u l a t e d .13 D o e s th is m e a n th a t
w h e n o n e d o e s a g o o d a c tio n , th e n o n e ca n give it to
128
D iffe r e n t K in d s o f S a m a th a
T h e n e x t s e c tio n o f th e Treasury o f K nowledge is a re v ie w
o f th e d iffe re n t k in d s o f s a m a th a a n d v ip a s y a n a . B e g in
n i n g w i t h s a m a th a , th e re is th e s a m a th a o f th e g e n e ra l
y a n a s a n d t h e n th e r e is th e s a m a th a sp ecific to th e
v a ja ra y a n a . S a m a th a o f th e s u tra m e t h o d c o n sists o f
s a m a th a m e d i t a t i o n o n th e n in e k in d s o f u n p le a s a n tn e s s
as a r e m e d y f o r d esire, o n love a n d c o m p a s s io n as a
r e m e d y f o r a n g e r, a n d o n th e b r e a th as a r e m e d y fo r
t o o m a n y t h o u g h ts .
T h e s a m a th a o f th e v a jra y a n a uses a n u m b e r o f m e t h
o d s . T h e v a jra y a n a is o f te n b e tte r b e c a u s e it h as m a n y
d if fe re n t k in d s o f m e t h o d s th a t m a k e th e p a th m u c h
ea sie r to p ra c tic e . T h u s , th e r e are a v a rie ty o f m e t h o d s
s u c h as th e m e d i t a t i o n o h love in w h i c h o n e d ev e lo p s
129
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
th e w is h th a t b e in g s have h a p p in e s s . I f b e in g s are w i t h
o u t h a p p in e s s , o n e w is h e s th a t th e y can b e c o m e h a p p y
a n d can have th e c o n d itio n s th a t b r i n g h a p p in e s s . T h is
is th e m e d ita tio n o n love, w h i c h is d ire c te d a t all b e in g s .
T h r o u g h th is m e d ita tio n o n love o n e d ev e lo p s a n d in
creases o n e s s a m a th a m e d ita tio n , w h ic h its e lf in cre ases
o n e s m e d ita tio n o n love. T h e n o n e m e d ita te s o n th o s e
w h o are s u ffe rin g a n d w is h e s th a t th e y b e free f r o m
s u ffe rin g a n d th e cau ses o f s u ffe rin g . T h is m e d i t a t i o n
o n c o m p a s s io n in cre ases o n e s m e d ita tio n , w h i c h in
creases o n e s c o m p a s s io n . So in this w ay , d e v e lo p in g
love a n d c o m p a s s io n in cre ases th e s ta b ility a n d stilln ess
o f o n e s m in d .
T h e m e t h o d f o r d e v e lo p in g love a n d c o m p a s s io n is to
firs t m e d ita te o n th e sa m e n e s s o f o n e s e lf a n d o th e rs .
O n e th in k s th a t e v e ry th in g o n e e x p e rie n c e s th a t is p le a
s u ra b le is w h a t o t h e r b e in g s also like. I f o n e e x p e rie n c e s
th in g s o n e d o e s n o t like, it is th e s a m e f o r o t h e r b e in g s .
In th is w a y o n e c o n te m p la te s a n d realizes th e sa m e n e s s
o f o n e s e lf a n d o th e rs . N e x t o n e m e d ita te s o n c h e ris h in g
o th e rs m o r e t h a n o n eself. T h e r e are a c tio n s o n e d o es
f o r o n ese lf. I f o n e d o e s th is f o r o t h e r b e in g s in s te a d o f
a c tin g j u s t fo r o n eself, it is o f m u c h g re a te r b e n e fit. So
o th e rs are see n as m o r e i m p o r t a n t th a n o n ese lf. F in a lly ,
th e re is th e p ra c tic e o f e x c h a n g in g o n e s e lf fo r o th e rs ,
k n o w n as s e n d in g a n d ta k in g (T ib . tonglen). T h r o u g h
th is p ra c tic e o n e s m i n d p o is o n s b e c o m e less a n d o n e s
love a n d c o m p a s s io n f o r o th e rs in cre ase, a n d th e s ta b il
ity o f o n e s m i n d in cre ases.
T h e r e is also th e v a jra y a n a p ra c tic e o f b r e a t h i n g u s e d
w i t h i n th e K a g y ii tr a d itio n called g e n tle b r e a t h i n g in
th re e p h ase s. In n o r m a l b r e a th in g , th e re is a n in - b r e a t h
a n d an o u t - b r e a t h . In th is p ra c tic e o f b r e a t h i n g o n e
130
131
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
T h e
P r a c t i c e
o f
T r a n q u i l l i t y
&
I n s i g h t
p r im o r d ia l n a t u r e o f peace. It is n o t a n e w w i s d o m , b u t
a re a liz a tio n th a t c o m e s c o m p le te ly e ffo rtle s s ly . So th e se
are th e th r e e k in d s o f m e d ita tio n in re la tio n to th a tn e s s ,
th e tr u e n a tu r e o f p h e n o m e n a .
T h e Treasury o f K nowledge d o e s n o t d iscu ss th e e x p e
rien c es th a t c o m e f r o m m e d ita tio n in p a r tic u la r, so I
sh all o ffe r m y o w n t h o u g h t s o n th is to p ic as a s u m m a r y .
T h e re s u lt o f p ra c tic in g m e d ita tio n is re a liz a tio n a n d
e x p e rie n c e . M e d ita tio n e x p e rie n c e s are t e m p o r a r y a n d
c o m e r a th e r q u ic k ly . R ealiza tio n , h o w e v er, is a tta in e d
t h r o u g h th e g ra d u a l p ro c e s s o f m e d ita tio n a n d is la s tin g .
O n e has to w o r k o n a tta in in g re a liz a tio n , w h e re a s o n e
s h o u ld have n o a tt a c h m e n t to th e e x p e rie n c e o f m e d ita
tio n w h e t h e r g o o d o r b ad . I f o n e h as a g o o d e x p e rie n c e
in m e d ita tio n , o n e s h o u ld th in k th a t it is ju s t an a p p e a r
an c e o r m a n ife s ta tio n o f th e m i n d a n d have n o jo y th a t
o n e h as h a d it. I f o n e d o e s d ev e lo p an a t t a c h m e n t to
m e d ita tio n a l e x p e rie n c e s , o n e w ill d ev e lo p p rid e , w h ic h
w ill ca u se f u r th e r o b sta c le s to o n e s m e d ita tio n . I f o n e
h as a b a d e x p e rie n c e , o n e s h o u ld n o t b e fr ig h te n e d
b e c a u s e it also is j u s t an a p p e a ra n c e o f m in d .
T h e d iffe re n t e x p e rie n c e s o f m e d ita tio n are d u e to th e
d iffe re n c e s o f th e s u b tle c h a n n els. S o m e p e o p le g e t
e x p e rie n c e s r i g h t aw ay, o th e rs d o n t g e t a n y p a r tic u la r
m e d ita tio n a l e x p e rie n c e u n til th e ir m e d i t a t i o n b e c o m e s
f ir m a n d stab le. T h e r e is n o re a s o n to feel h a p p y th a t
o n e has h a d a g o o d e x p e rie n c e o r th in k th a t o n e is n o t
) g e ttin g a n y w h e r e b e c a u s e o n e h as h a d n o e x p e rie n c e s .
T h e r e is also n o re a s o n to th in k th a t o n e h a s a p r o b l e m
b e c a u s e o n e is h a v in g d iffe re n t e x p e rie n c e s in m e d ita
tio n , o r th a t o n e d o e s n o t have s tab le m e d ita tio n b e c a u s e
o n e is h a v in g fe w o r n o e x p e rie n c e s. T h e r e is n o r e a s o n
to b e h a p p y o r sad b e c a u s e e x p e rie n c e s in m e d ita tio n
136
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& I
n s i g h t
138
he
r a c t i c e
of
r a n q u i l l i t y
& In
s i g h t
141
Notes
1. All Tibetan words are spelled phonetically. The translitera
tions for these words are given in the table on pages 158-60.
2. The word for meditation in Tibetan is transliterated as
sgom (Skt. bhavana) and pronounced gom. The word for
habituate is goms (Skt. abhyasa ), pronounced khom. These
words are similar in Tibetan because the s is silent.
3. This word is translitered as zh i gnas in Tibetan and is often
spelled shi-ne in English. It is pronounced she-mzy.
4. Som e scholars believe that Hashang Mahayanas teaching
was connected with Zen Buddhism. I do not believe so. In
the Tibetan texts there is no description o f Hashang Maha
yanas teaching. A number o f Tibetans say it was the
Chinese tradition that spread to China, but I believe that it
was som ething particular to Hashang Mahayana. Hashang
Mahayana is an individuals name, whereas Hashang is a
general name o f a person in the dharma tradition. The
history o f the sixteen arhats in Tibet says that they were
together and did many miracles and that their patron was
Hashang. Also, som e scholars describe Hashang as a sym bol
for the alaya, or ground consciousness. There are six con
sciousnesses, which can be compared to six children w ho
are a bother because they are running around all the time.
Imagine an old man sitting with six children jumping about,
never giving him any peace. So you have Hashang sitting
there w ith all these children climbing all over him, but he is
sitting there smiling and peaceful. This is a sym bol for the
ground consciousness being unperturbed by the six con
sciousnesses. In this way Hashang is a sym bol.
There is also another Hashang in Tibetan history. He is
143
Notes
called Hashang w ho is depicted iconographically as carrying
a big sack with him. He was a teacher and an emanation o f
Maitreya w ho spread the dharma in China. This Hashang
Maitreya looks like the Hashang w ho is with the sixteen
arhats. He is, however, completely different from the Ha
shang Mahayana monk w ho came to Tibet to teach medi
tation.
5. There are several kinds o f subtle airs or winds, called vayus
in Sanskrit. There is the vayu o f air or vayu o f fire. It makes
the body warm and provides the heat and well-being o f the
body. The vayu o f the element fire provides the warmth o f
the body. The vayu o f the element water keeps the body
moist, pervades the w hole body, and has the function o f the
element o f water. The vayu o f the element o f air provides
for the physical movement o f the body. The ability to move
and the suppleness o f the body come from the vayu (air) o f
the air element. The movements o f both the mind and the
body come through this vayu. The vayu o f earth provides
the stability o f the body and keeps the body from going
into a state o f change. It gives the body physical solidity. In
this way the commentaries talk o f the air o f earth, the
air o f air, and so on.
In general there are four elements: earth, fire, air, and
water. Earth is the ground beneath us, water is the material
that flows downward, fire is what burns, and air (the Ti
betan word for which also means w in d ) is what moves
around us. The earth element has the aspect o f solidity and
durability. The fire element has the aspect o f warmth and
burning. The water element has the aspect o f moistness.
The air element has the aspect o f movement. These four
qualities o f solidity, warmth, moistness, and movement are
what is meant by the four elements. The functions o f the
elements are, for example, that the earth makes something
very solid and durable and the water element causes cohe
sion and keeps things together. For instance, a finger just
doesnt disintegrate; it stays together in one piece, and this
is the function o f the water element. The function o f the fire
element is ripening, causing things to change. For example,
144
Notes
6.
7.
8.
9.
145
Notes
Tibetan scholars. I believe that sravakas do not realize the
selflessness o f phenomena. I base this on studying the M a dhyamakdvatara using the commentary by Lama Mipam,
which says that the sravakas dont realize the selflessness o f
phenomena. For example, Tsongkapa disagreed w ith this
view, while the eighth Karmapa, M ikyo Dorje, for exam
ple, says that sravakas do not realize the selflessness o f
phenomena.
Once a person has reached Buddhahood, he or she has
clarity, knowing everything is emptiness. O ne cant really
look and find this wisdom , this clarity, but the power o f the
mind is still there. This w isdom is called jn a n a in Sanskrit
or yeshe in Tibetan. So there is this jnana, or perfect w is
dom, and then there is also love and power. The love has
power because it is love with power, not like the love, for
example, o f a mother w ho has no arms and is trying to save
her child w ho is being swept away by a strong current.
One may ask if the dharma itself is also empty. The
answer is that dharma teachings do not have the nature o f
true existence in themselves. When one receives dharma
teachings, one benefits from them only if one puts them
into practice. Receiving teachings without practicing is just
hearing words, or if they are written down, it is just black
ink on white paper. So they have no value by themselves.
Taking another example, what makes a precious human
existence valuable? The human body by itself has little
value, but w hen it is put to use, it can have great value. The
commentaries refer to the teachings as being like a boat.
The boats in the old days were made out o f leather, and
these were not very valuable. But the value o f a boat is that
with it one can cross over to the other side o f a river. In the
same way, dharma and precious human existence are valu
able they have no value in themselves, but one gains great
value from them when one uses them.
10. O ne might wonder about emptiness and awareness at the
time o f total liberation. Buddhahood is called liberation,
and this is not like something one gets or achieves that one
did not have before. Liberation is the realization o f the actual
146
Notes
nature o f phenomena w ithout any contrivance. Because one
doesnt realize the natural state o f phenomena, one is in a
state o f delusion believing in what doesnt exist. Once one
realizes this natural state, then one has attained liberation
from samsara. To do this, one. first analyzes phenomena
through reasoning. Through this analysis one attains the
understanding o f the true nature o f phenomena. But even
though one has this understanding, one still is not familiar
ized with or habituated to it. So one needs to become
habituated to the true nature o f phenomena before one has
attained complete liberation.
Tilopa asked, Where is the sesame oil? The sesame oil
is in the sesame seeds, but one doesnt get any sesame oil by
simply eating sesame seeds. To get sesame oil, one has to
beat, grind, or crush the seeds. It is like that with Buddhahood: it is within one, but in order to achieve liberation one
has to apply oneself to meditation to realize it. Another
example o f liberation is the analogy o f the rope and the
snake. If there is a rope in a poorly lit room and one sees it,
one m ight think that it is a snake, and the result w ill be
great fear. This fear arises because o f the illusion that the
rope is a snake. To be free o f that fear, one has to realize that
the snake is really a rope, and no other solution such as
getting a weapon or taking an antidote to the snake venom
is going to work. When one does realize that the snake is
just a rope, then all the fear naturally disappears. This
happens even though there was absolutely no change in the
rope either before or after. The only difference was that
before one was deluded, and afterward one discovered the
truth. So to achieve the complete peace o f mind o f Buddhahood, one has to receive the teachings, follow the methods
taught by the Buddha, and contemplate them, thereby
removing the delusions and attaining the realization o f the
true nature o f the mind.
ii.
147
Notes
12. In more detail, there is the Tibetan term yeshe (Skt. jhana ),
which has been translated as w isd om in this book. In
Sanskrit jhana is not a particularly special word and simply
means to k n o w . When the Tibetan translators translated
jhana into Tibetan, they added the syllable ye to she because
ye means primordial knowledge that has always existed.
This word was then used for the knowledge o f the Buddha,
w ho knows all things in their ultimate and relative aspects.
The Tibetan word sherab, or prajha in Sanskrit, has been
translated as understanding in this book. The syllable she
means to k n o w , and the syllable rab means the best,
superior to everything, perfect in Tibetan. The terms sherab
and yeshe are often used interchangeably as know ledge
and w isd o m . But one can differentiate between them,
because yeshe is the knowledge a Buddha or enlightened
being has, which is the direct understanding o f phemonena,
whereas sherab is the understanding one gains through anal
ysis, examination, and reasoning. Sherab is related to the
differentiation o f phenomena. In ones normal experience,
all phenomena are merged together, and through the under
standing o f sherab all phenomena are differentiated so that
one knows this is this, that is that, this exists, that doesnt,
this is good, that is bad, and so on. So all phenomena are
differentiated from each other, and this is the special mean
ing o f sherab. The knowledge in meditation where one
knows the true nature o f things is rigpa in Tibetan or vidya
in Sanskrit. So this clarity, the knowledge o f the true nature
o f things, is called rigpa.
13. The dedication prayer is said by the lamas and their students
usually at the end o f each dharma teaching as well as at any
sadhana practices:
Through this merit may omniscience be attained;
Thereby may every enemy [mental defilements] be
overcome.
May beings be liberated from the ocean o f samsara,
Which is troubled by the waves o f birth, sickness, old
age, and death.
1 48
Glossary
Many o f the terms in this glossary have several different meanings.
The definitions given here are those that are relevant to the context
o f this book.
(Tib. cho ngonpa) The Buddhist teachings are
often divided into the Tripitaka: the sutras (teachings o f the
Buddha), the vinaya (teachings on conduct), and the abhidharma, which are the analyses o f phenomena that exist
primarily as a commentarial tradition to the Buddhist teach
ings. There is not, in fact, an abhidharma section within the
Tibetan collection o f the Buddhist teachings.
a fflic te d co n scio u sn ess
See consciousnesses, eight.
a g g r e g a t e s , f i v e (Skt. skatidha , Tib. pungpo nga)
Literally,
heaps ; the five basic transformations that perceptions un
dergo w hen an object is perceived. First is form, which
includes all sounds, smells, etc., or everything that is not
mind. The second and third are sensations (pleasant and
unpleasant, etc.) and identification. Fourth is mental events,
which actually include the second and third aggregates. The
fifth is ordinary consciousness such as the sensory and mental
consciousnesses.
ab h id h a rm a
alaya
a rh a t
149
Glossary
A valokiteSvara
(Tib. Chenrezi)
(Tib. kyemeh)
their sensory objects.
D eity o f compassion.
AYATANA
bardo
retrea t
An advanced vajrayana practice in which the
practitioner is enclosed in total darkness.
bardo
bind
BO D h i s AT T v a
b o d h isa ttv a
Sakyam uni
Often called the Gautama Buddha;
refers to the latest Buddha w ho lived between 563 and 483
B u d d h a
B. C. E.
c e n tr a l
ch a k ra
ch ak ravartin
c o n d it io n e d
existence
See samsara.
eigh t
These include the five sensory
consciousnesses o f sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
The sixth is the mental consciousness; the seventh is afflicted
consciousness; and the eighth is ground consciousness.
dak A
(Tib. dapo)
(Tib. kandroma)
yidam.
dakin!
150
Glossary
m eaning
Teachings o f the Buddha that give the
direct meaning o f dharma and are not changed or simplified
to accom modate the capacity o f the listener. This contrasts
with the provisional meaning.
definitive
o r ig in a tio n
(Skt. pratxtyasamutpada) The
twelve successive phases that begin with ignorance and end
with old age and death.
d ep en d en t
desire realm
dharm a
d h a rm a d h a tu
m e d i t a t i o n (Tib. sampten)
The Sanskrit refers to
meditation, but in this context it refers to mental stabil
ity in relation to samatha.
d h y a n a
d o h a
form
realm
co n scio u sn ess
gu ru y o g a
hInayana
ab sorp tion
o r w i t h d r a w a l (Skt. pratyaThis is the first stage o f the completion phase o f
practice.
in d iv id u a l
hara)
in sigh t m ed itation
j n a n a (Tib. yeshe)
istic thought.
151
Glossary
One o f the four major schools o f Buddhism in Tibet.
It was founded by Marpa and is headed by His Holiness
Karmapa. The other three schools are the Nyingm a, the
Sakya, and the Gelug.
K agyu
karm a
kleA
k u su lu
lam a
c h a n n e l (Skt. lalana)
This subtle channel is parallel to
the central channel and is usually visualized as white. The
left, central, and right channels are the three principal chan
nels within the body that conduct the subtle airs.
le ft
A philosophical school founded by Nagarjuna in the second century. The main principle o f this school
is proving through analytical reasoning that everything is
empty o f self-nature.
M ad h yam ak a
m aham udra
m ahayan a
m ahapandita
Glossary
A rosary o f beads used for mantra practice. A mala
usually has 108 beads.
m a n t r a (Tib. ngak)
Invocations to various meditation deities
that are recited in Sanskrit. These Sanskrit syllables, repre
senting various energies, are repeated in different vajrayana
practices.
m an tra y a n a
Another term for the vajrayana.
m a n d A L A (Tib. kyilkhor)
A diagram used in various vajrayana
practices, usually depicting a central deity and four directions.
m en tal co n sciou sn ess
See consciousnesses, eight.
n a d I (Tib. tsa)
Subtle channels through which the subtle
energy (vayu) flows.
m ala
153
Glossary
The Buddhist literature outlining the mahayana path and the teaching o f emptiness.
P rajnaparam ita
PR a n a
(Tib. bindu)
Life-supporting energy.
pratim oksa
p ratyek abu d d h a
p r a c t i c e s (Tib. ngondro)
O ne usually begins
the vajrayana path by doing the four preliminary practices,
which involve doing 100,000 refuge prostrations, 100,000
Vajrasattva mantras, 100,000 mandala offerings, and 100,000
guru yoga supplications.
prelim inary
m eaning
The teachings o f the Buddha that
have been simplified or modified to accommodate the capa
bilities o f the audience. This contrasts with the definitive
meaning.
p rovision al
th ree
The existence in samsara is in one o f three
realms: the desire realm in which beings are reborn into the six
realms o f samsara based on their karma; the form realm in
which beings, due to the power o f their meditation, are born
with immaterial bodies; and the formless realm in which beings
with meditative absorption have entered a state o f meditation
after death, where there are no bodies, no actual realms, or
locations because all the processes o f thought and perception
have ceased.
realm s,
righ t
sad h an a
sam a d hi
154
Glossary
(Tib. shi-ne) Also known as tranquil
lity meditation. This is basic sitting meditation in which one
usually follows the breath while observing the workings o f
the mind.
H am ath a m e d ita t io n
sams ra
sam sra,
san gh a
Sstra
SENDING AND t a k i n g p r a c t i c e
siDDHA
(Tib. drubtop)
tioner.
(Tib. nyento) Literally, those w ho hear meaning
disciples. A type o f realized hlnayna practitioner (arhat) w ho
has achieved the realization o f the nonexistence o f a self.
Srvaka
Snyat
155
Glossary
A master in the Tibetan tradition w h o discovers
treasures (terma), which are teachings concealed by great
masters o f the past.
h eravad a
A school derived from the early schools o f Bud
dhism that primarily emphasized the hlnayana teachings.
te r to n
T irth ik as
of p ro fo u n d view
This tradition is one o f the
principal mahayana traditions in India, which was founded
by Nagarjuna in the second century a . d . It is the Madhyamaka or Middle Way that teaches emptiness o f all external
and internal phenomena.
tr a d itio n
of vast c o n d u c t
This tradition is one o f the
two principal mahayana traditions in India founded by A sanga in the fourth century a . d . It is the Chittamatrin or
Mind O n ly school that teaches how all phenomena are
mind created. This gave rise to the mahayana traditions o f
abhidharma and logic.
ree jew els
These are the Buddha, the dharma, and the
sangha.
tr a d itio n
th
tr a n q u illity
m ed itation
See
samatha meditation.
tu lk u
vajra
vajrayana
156
Glossary
(Tib. lung) In Sanskrit and Tibetan can mean w in d
outside or the air that is breathed as well as the subtle airs o f
the body. In this context it refers to the subtle airs or energies
that travel along the subtle channels.
vayu
vipaSyana
See
consciousnesses, eight.
stage
yidam
157
PRONOUNCED
SPELLED IN TIBETAN
bardo
bar do
chagpa
chags pa
chagya chenpo
changchub sempa
changpa
sbyangs pa
Chenrezi
cho
chos
choying
chos dbyings
cho ngonpa
chos m ngon pa
do
m do
doije
rdorje
dorje tekpa
drenpa
dran pa
drubtop
grub thob
dulwa
dul ba
dutsi
bdud rtsi
gendun
d g edun
TIBETAN
aw]*rr
v-'
a&-esr
O^aj-q-
159
sgom
gur
mgur
gy
rgyud
hlagthong
lhag m thong
jangm a
rkyjang ma
kandroma
mkha gro ma
sjjq q -q q y sj-
khom
gom s
p W
khorlo gyurwa
khor lo bsgyur ba
khorwa
khor bak
knshi namshe
kyeche
skye mched
kyerim
bskyed rim
kyilkhor
dkyil khor
lama
bl ama
lung
rlung
mpa
mos pa
ne ngen len
nepa
gnas pa
ngak
sngags
ngndro
sngon gro
f f 51'
|Y
a jq y s^ e;
^ g a j-q jfo *
rV
160
'v"
nyent
nyan thos
ny n m o n g
nyon m ongs
parltu chinpa
pawo
dpa bo
pungpo nga
phung po Inga
riktong yerme
rigpa
rig pa
rinchen
rin chen
roma
ro ma
sampten
bsam gtan
sang-gye
sangs rgyas
selwa
gsal ba
sem
sems
shepa
shes pa
sherab
shes rab
she shin
shes bzhin
shi-ne
zhi gnas
<N 'S
^ 3j'c53jv-'
ii
'
shin sbyangs
shintu
shin tu
shiwa
zhi ba
soklung
srog rlung
sordu
sor sdud
sosor tarpa
so sor thar pa
tab lam
thabs lam
tekpa chenpo
theg pa chen po
tekpa chung
theg pa chung
tencho
bstan bcos
tig-le
thig le
tonglen
gtong len
tongpanyi
stong pa nyid
trmeh
spros med
tsa
rtsa
uma
dbu ma
^ cr
'W *
yengwa
gyeng ba
yeshe
ye shes
162
Bibliography
Asaga. Compendium o f the Abhidharma. Skt. Abhidharmasamuchchaya; Tib. mngonpa kun btus.
. Levels o f Srvakas. Skt. Srvakabhmi; Tib. nyan sa.
---------- . Ornament o f Clear Realization. Skt. Abhisamaylamkra;
Tib.
163
Bibliography
Maitrlpa. Commentary on the Ten Suchnesses. Skt. Tib. de kho na
nyid bcu p a i grel ba.
Skt. Samdhinirmochanasutra;
Tib. dgongs pa nges p ar \'grel p a i mdo.
Heart Sutra. Skt. Mahdprajndparamitahridayasutra; Tib. bcom
Definite Explanation o f the View.
Idan 'das ma shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin p ah snying poh mdo.
164
A b o u t the A u th or
A b o u t the A u t h o r
Thrangu R inpoche has traveled extensively in Europe, the
U nited States, Canada, and Asia. He has a three-year retreat
center at N a m o Buddha in Nepal, is in charge o f lo n g retreats
at Sam ye Ling, Scotland, is abbot o f G am po A b b ey in
Canada, and offers yearly N a m o Buddha Seminars for b eg in
ning and advanced students o f Buddhism .
For m ore inform ation on Thrangu R in p och es activities,
contact the N a m o Buddha Seminar, 1390 Kalm ia Avenue,
Boulder, C O 80304-1813.
166
Index
abhidharma, 8
absence o f self. See egolessness
5i
bardo retreat, 138
Bhavaviveka, m - 1 1 2
Bodhibhadra, 33
bodhichitta, 112-113
bodhisattva vow, 19
breathing methods, 130-131
B uddha, Tibetan for, 126
Chandraklrti, 111, 113-114
channels, subtle, 132, 136-137
clarity, 83
Cloud of Jewels sutra, 7-8
ego-clinging, 72-75
egolessness, 73, 93-95, 116-117,
145 n.9
emptiness, 80-82, 95, 97, 100,
145 n.8
analytic vs. insight, 84
o f phenomena, 117, 120-121
engagements, mental, 52-53
(Maitripa), 125
Index
four noble truths. See noble
truths
Gampopa, 57, 131, I3 7 -I39
Ganden monastery, 96
n*4
Heart Sutra, 76
ignorance, two types of, 27-28
individual withdrawal, 131-132
inseparability
o f emptiness and appearance,
97, 103, 120, 127
o f emptiness and awareness,
101-102, 120
o f emptiness and clarity, 116117
Jamgon Kongtriil, 1-3
Five Treasuries, 3
Je, the strongman, 104
Kamalaslla, 8-11, 18, 23, 111,
113
karma, 26
klesas, 75
six, 82-83, 101-102
Madhyamaka school, m - 1 1 2
mahamudra, 23
Mahamudra Prayer (Ranjung
Dorje), 105
mantra recitation, 133-134
Marpa, 125
meditation
diligence of, 140-141
eight antidotes or remedies,
42-45
experiences of, 135-139
five faults of, 39-42
four engagements of, 47, 52-53
levels of, 135-136
necessity of, 5
nine levels of, 46-54
objects of, 25-29
obstacles of, 29-31
on an external object, 3132
on no object, 32-33
on a yidam, 132
order of, 13-14
posture, 21-25, 139-^140
resting in essence of, 3 3
six powers of, 4 6 -54
Tibetan for, 3, 143 n.2
walking, 145 n.6
mental engagements, 52-53
mental events, fifty-one, 96-99
mental factors, 52
Milarepa, 121-124, 137-141
mind
completely trained, 106-107
Tibetan word for, 116
well-trained, 58-60, 105-106
See also consciousness, mental
mindfulness, 47-50
Nanda, 79-80
noble truths, sixteen aspects of,
70-73
5 3 , 60
1 68
In d e x
oral instruction o f samatha, 55-58
66
postmeditation, 127-128
posture, 139-140
eight aspects of, 23-25
in meditation, 21-25
ofVairocana, 21
powers, six, 46-53
Prajhpramit teachings, 68-69,
81
prna, 22
Prsangika school, 112
pratimoka vows, 19
pratyekabuddha, 70-72
provisional meaning, 68-69
135
samadhi, 126
ofsrvakas, bodhisattvas, and
tathgatas, 6
Tibetan for, 3
samsara, six realms, 126
Sntarakita, 8
Sntideva, 14, 49, 111, 112-113
sending and taking practice (tonglen), 130
six powers. See powers, six
six realms o f samsara, 126
srvaka, 70-72
Stages of Meditation (Kamalaslla),
10-11, 18, 23-24, 42, 62, 65,
113, 120
subtle airs, 21-22, 132, 144 n .5
Svtantrika school, 112
teachers, kinds of, 66
thoughts
arising of, 48
having too many, 28
as obstacles to meditation, 2 9 -
3i
two kinds of, 30
Tilopa, 34
Tirthika, 69, 73
tonglen, 130
tradition o f the profound view,
68
tradition o f vast conduct, 68
Treasury of Knowledge (Jamgon
Kongtrl), 1, 3 39
understanding, three levels of, 4,
4648
union o f samatha and vipasyan,
in -1 1 9
169
In d e x
stra tradition, i n - 1 1 6
vajrayna tradition, 116-119
vajrayna approach, 80-81
vajrayna tradition, 116-119
Vasubandhu, 8
vay. See subtle airs
view, Buddhist, 67
vipayan
accomplishments of, 104-107
o f a bodhisattva, 75-80
combined w ith amatha, 12-13
etym ology of, 12
four essences, 84-85
four types of, 69-84
o f the mantrayna, 80-84
nonconceptual, 119-120
yidam, 132-133
170
SHAM BHALA
Boston & London
c 1993 S h a m h h a l a P u b l i c a t i o n s , In c . P r i n t e d i n U.S.A.
978087773943251200