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THISCHAPTERisasummaryofacommentaryonTheVajraSevenLinePrayer, entitledPadmaKarpo(TheWhiteLotus),writtenbyMiphamNamgyal(1846 1912),acelebratedscholaroftheNyingmaBuddhisttraditionofTibet.Theoriginal TibetantextofMipham'scommentaryisveryprofoundanddifficulttounderstandor totranslate,andIhavesummarizedthebasicpointsofhistextinthischapter. TheVajraSevenLinePrayeristhemostsacredandimportantprayerinthe Nyingmatradition.Thisshortprayercontainstheouter,inner,andinnermost teachingsoftheesoterictrainingsofBuddhism.BypracticingTheVajraSevenLine Prayeraccordingtoanyoneofthesetrainings,theresultofthatparticulartraining willbeattained. Inthissummarytherearefivelevelsofinterpretation.Theyare(1)thegeneralor commonmeaningthepathofthehiddenmeaning(sBasDon),consistingofthenext threelevels(2)themeaningaccordingtothepathofliberation(GrolLam)(3)the meaningaccordingtotheperfectionstage(rDzogRim)(4)meaningaccordingto theNyingthigofDzogpaChenpo:thedirectrealizationofthespontaneous(Lhun GrubThodrGal)and(5)themeaningaccordingtotheaccomplishmentofthe result.Fromamongtheselevelsofmeaningitisproperforapersonrecitingthevajra prayertolearnandpracticetheparticularlevelthatissuitabletohisorhercapacity. Ihavearrangedthissummarymerelywiththehopeofbeingabletoindicatethatthis briefprayercontainsdifferentlevelsofmeaningandtraining,asmanyfollowersof theNyingmateachingswhoareacquaintedwithTheVajraSevenLinePrayerare oftenunawareofitsdeepermeanings,Butinordertocomprehendthecomplete meaningoftheprayer,IurgethereaderstoreadtheoriginaltextofMipham Rinpoche. InTibet,theNyingmasreciteTheVajraSevenLinePrayertoGuruRinpochethree timesbeforerecitinganyotherprayers,doinganymeditation,orperformingany ceremony.Manydevoteesrepeatithundredsofthousandsoftimes,recitingitduring alltheirwakinghours,makingitastheirmainprayer,breathing,life,and contemplation. STRUCTUREOFTHETEXT Becauseofthecomplexorganizationofthetextanumberofheadings,subheadings anditalics,andbracketshavebeensuppliedandanoteofexplanationmaytherefore beofbenefittothereader. Mipham'scommentaryhasdividedeachlevelofinterpretationofTheVajraSeven LinePrayerintoanintroduction,theutteranceoftheseedsyllable,theobjectofthe prayer,theprayer,themantraforinvokingblessings,and(forthefirstlevelof interpretationonly)thecontentsoftheprayer. OnthebasisofeachlevelofinterpretationgivenbyMipham'scommentaryIhave extractedarootmeaningforTheVajraSevenLinePrayer,andthereaderwillfind that,foreachlevelofinterpretation,therootmeaningisgivenfirst,followedby Mipham'scommentary(withitssubdivisions). Withrespecttoformat,therearethreedifferentusesofitalics,First,throughoutthe
bodyofthetext,italicsaresometimesusedforunfamiliarTibetanwords(givenin phoneticforms),followedeitherbyanEnglishequivalentor,occasionallyaSanskrit equivalent(indicatedbytheabbreviationSkt.)inparentheses,Second,English wordsinitalics,appearinginthecommentary,areusedtoindicatethattheyarethe translatedwordsofTheVajraSevenLinePrayeritself.Thereaderisencouraged, whenreadingthecommentary,toreferbacktotherootmeaningsectiontoseehow theitalicizedwordscompriseacoherentrootmeaning.Third,beginningwiththe hiddenmeaning(second)levelofinterpretationonward,theesotericmeaningsinthe rootmeaningsectionsarefollowedbythecorrespondingphrasesofTheVajra SevenLinePrayer,whicharegiveninparenthesesinitalicizedTibetanphonetic form. Throughoutthetext,squarebracketsaresometimesusedtoindicatewordsaddedso astomakethemeaningclear.Finally,inordertokeepthenumberoffootnotestoa minimum,keyTibetantermsareputinparenthesesinatransliteratedform. TherearedifferencesinspellingattwoplacesintheTibetanofTheVajraSeven LinePrayer.Forthelastsyllableofline6,Ihaveusedkyee(Kyis)accordingto Mipham'scommentary,wheresometextsusekyi(Kyi).Forthethirdsyllableofthe seventhline,Ihaveusedlab(brLab)asintheLongchenNyingthigtexts,asitisthe versioncommonlyrecited,althoughMiphamandsomeothershaveusedlob (rLobs).
[Duetomypoorhtmlskill,Iwillhereforthinsertfootnotesinbracketsinreducedfontsize ratherthanlistingthemattheendofthecommentaryasTulkuThonduphasdoneinthe original.Mypardons.]
OncetherecametothemonasteryofNalandahereticalteachers,learnedin languagesandlogic,whoreviledtheDharma.TheBuddhistscholarswereunableto refutethem.Thenmostofthescholarshadthesamedream.Init,DakiniZhiwa Chog(SupremePeace)prophesiedasfollows: "Youwillnotbeabletodefeattheheretics.Ifyoudonotinviteheremyelder brother,DorjeTh threngTsal(VajraSkullGarlandPower,GuruRinpoche),who livesattheDarkCemetery,theDharmawillbedestroyed." "Howcanweinvitehimwhenitissodifficulttogothere?"askedthescholars. TheKhadromasaid:"Setupagreatofferingontheroofofthemonastery,with musicandincense,andwithonevoicerecitethevajraprayer."Andshegavethem TheVajraSevenLinePrayer.Thescholarsprayedaccordingly,andinaninstant GuruRinpochecamemiraculouslyfromthesky.HepresidedovertheBuddhist scholarsanddefeatedthehereticalteachersbymeansoftextualreferenceand intellectualreasoning.Whenhewasthreatenedbythemagicalpowersofthe
heretics,heopenedthecasketgivenhimbytheLionFacedDakini,andhefoundin itthemantraof"fourteenletters."[AHKASAMARATSASHATARASAMARAYA PHAT]Byrecitingit,heeliminatedtheevilonesamongthehereticswitharainof lightningbolts.HecausedtheremainingonestoentertheDharma.Itissaidthatthe prayeroriginatedfromthatincident. Lateron,whenGuruRinpochecametoTibetintheeighthcentury,hegaveittothe kingandhissubjects.Intendingitforfuturedisciplescapableoftraining,he concealeditinmanyTers.[earthormindtreasures]Later,TheVajraSevenLine PrayerwasrevealedintheTersofmostoftheonehundredgreatTertonsofthelast tencenturiesoftheNyingmalineage,againandagain,astheheartoftheprayers, teachings,andmeditation. THECOMMONMEANING RootMeaning HUMinvokesthemindofGuruRinpoche. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. InthenorthwestofthecountryofOddiyana Bornonthepistilofalotus: Endowedwiththemostmarvelousattainment RenownedastheLotusBorn(Padmasambhava) SurroundedbyaretinueofmanyKhadros
[Tib.dPa'Bo,Skt.Daka(male)and Tib.mKha''Gro,Skt.Dakini(female)sagesanddeities.]
ThisisthelevelofpracticingTheVajraSevenLinePrayerinrelationtothewayof GuruRinpoche'sappearanceinthisearthlyworldasamanifestedform(Skt. Nirmanakaya). Inactuality,GuruRinpocheisnotseparatefromSamantabhadra(Universally Excellent),whoisfullyliberatedfromthebeginningastheselfarisenDharmakaya (theultimatestate).WithoutmovingfromthesphereoftheDharmakaya,heis spontaneouslyaccomplishedintheSambhogakaya(theenjoymentbodyinpure forms),whichhasfiveabsolutequalities.[Theabsolutecertaintiesofplace,teacher, disciple,teaching,andtime.]Heisalsotheselfarisingmanifestationinvariousdisplays ofNirmanakaya(themanifestedbodyinimpureforms),theselfreflectionof compassion.ThisistheactualwayinwhichGuruRinpochedwellsandappears.It isthedisplayoftheBuddhas,andtheyalonecanperceiveallaspectsofhisdisplay. Eight(ortwelve)yearsafterthemahaparinirvanaofShakyamuniBuddha,Guru RinpocheappearedonalotusinDhanakoshalakeofOddiyanafortheordinary
Line1.InthewestoftheJambucontinent,atthenorthwestofOddiyana,thelandof theKhadros(DakasandDakinis)intheDhanakoshalake,filledwithwaterofeight purequalities. Line2.Onthestemornamentedbythepistil,leaves,andpetalsofalotus,Guru Rinpochewasborn. Allthequalitiesandblessingsofthethreesecrets(body,speech,andmind)ofallthe BuddhascametogetherintheformofthesyllableHRIH,anditdissolvedintothe heartofAmitabhaBuddha.Fromhisheart,alightoffivecolorsspreadoutandcame downonthepistilofthelotus.TheytransformedintotheformofGuruRinpoche, andhetookbirthinthemannerofthelotusbornmiraculousbirth]. Line3.Hespontaneouslyaccomplishedthetwofoldbenefit(ofselfandothers),and heexhibitedmarvelousforms,suchastheeightmanifestationsoftheGuru.He achievedtheextraordinaryattainmentoftheVajradharastate,notjustordinary attainment. Line4.HisnameisrenownedastheLotusBorn(Padmasambhava). Line5.AndheissurroundedbyretinuesofmanifoldKhadros(DakasandDakinis).
THEPRAYER
Line6.Oneshouldpraywiththethreekindsoffaith,[DangBa'iDadPa:faiththat
cleansesthemind.'DodPa'iDadPa:faiththatinspiresthedevoteetoaccomplishthesame attainmentastheobjectofhisorherfaith.YidCh'esKyiDadPa:faiththatproducesfull confidenceintheobjectofthefaith.]thinking,"0Protector,Iwillfollowafteryou,andI
GURUmeansmasterorspiritualguide,onewhoisprosperouswithexcellent
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
andnirvana(chang). Itistherealizationoftheunion(dongpo)oftheprimordiallypureultimate sphere(pema)andluminous,vajraintrinsicawareness(kesar)and(la)... ItistheGreatPerfection,themarvelous(yatsen).Itistheattainment(nye)of thesupremesiddhi(chogking drub),thestateofVajradhara. Thisisthewisdomoftheabsolutenature,renownedas(zhesutrag)the ultimatebasis(jungne)oftheBuddhas(pema). Thiswisdomiswith(kor)itsnumerousmanifestativepowers(mangpo) emanating(dro)intheultimatesphere(kha)asattributes(khortu). Ifirmlydevelopconfidence(dagdrubkyee)inthenatureofthenondual primordialwisdom(khyekyijesu). Inorderto(chir)purifyalltheattachmentstoappearancesastheprimordial wisdom(chinkyeelob),mayIrealize(shegsusol)theultimatenature.
Theprimordialwisdomisemptinessinitsessence(Dharmakaya)(GURU),clarityin
Theprayerbeginswiththeutteranceoftheseedsyllableofthemind,HUM,which awakenstheselfarisenprimordialwisdom,thetruenatureofsamsaraandnirvana.
THEOBJECTOFTHEPRAYER
Line1.ThecountryofOddiyanaisaspecialsourceoftantra.Intermsoftheactual path,one'sownMindisthespecialsourceoftantra,sothatiswhatOddiyanameans. TheMindortheultimatenatureofthemindisthefreedomfromsinkinginsamsara andrisingtonirvana,asitisneitherremaininginnorpartialtothetwoextremes samsaraandnirvana. Line2.Pema,thelotus,signifiestheultimatesphere(Dharmadhatu),thenaturethat istoberealized.Itdoesnotdwellanywhereandispurefromthebeginning,justasa lotusisunstainedbyanyimpurity. "Kesar,"thepistil,signifiestheluminous,vajraintrinsicawareness(RigPa'irDo rJe),whichisthemeansofrealizingthenature.Thespontaneouslyaccomplished, selfradiantintrinsicawareness,primordialwisdom,isblossomingwithclaritysoit resemblesthepistilofalotus. Asthestem(Dongpo)holdsthepistilandthepetalsofalotustogether,theself arisen,greatblissfulprimordialwisdomdwellsastheunionoftheultimatesphere (dByings)andprimordialwisdom(YeShes),anditistheultimatenatureofthemind ortheinnateluminosityofthemind. Line3.Mindisthespontaneouslyborn,luminousGreatPerfection(Dzogpa Chenpo),theprimordialwisdomoftheabsolutenature,themeaningofthefourth empowerment,whichismarvelous.Itispresentspontaneouslyasthebasisofthe MindofalltheBuddhas,theattainmentofthesupremesiddhi,thestateof Vajradhara. Line4.MindisthebasisofalltheBuddhasofthethreetimes,whohaveblossomed forthlikelotuses,theultimatenaturesoitisrenownedasthebasisofPema,the Buddhas.ThisistherecognitionofPemaJungneastheabsoluteBuddha. Line5.Inthatprimordialwisdomthereareinconceivablequalitiesofattainment which,ifdividedintotheirvarieties,includethefivetypesofprimordialwisdom(Ye SheslNga).[Primordialwisdomoftheultimatesphere,mirrorlikeprimordialwisdom,
primordialwisdomofevenness,discriminatingprimordialwisdom,andallaccomplished primordialwisdom]So,intheuncoveredspaceoftheultimatesphere,numerous
manifestativepowersoftheintrinsicawarenessprimordialwisdomareemanatingas itsattributesceaselessly.
THEPRAYER
Theprimordialwisdomistheemptinessessence(NgoBosTongPa),the Dharmakaya,andsinceitisnotinferiortoanyconceivablecharacteristic,itisthe supremeone,theGURU. Theprimordialwisdom'snatureisluminescence(RangbZhingSalBa).Itis spontaneouslyaccomplishedSambhogakaya,withaceaselessdisplayofpower.Yet itisnotseparatefromtheultimatesphere.SoitisPADMA,thelotus,whichmeans notstainedbyrelativecharacteristics. Theinseparabilityofthatessenceandnature[TheinseparabilityofNgoBoandRang bZhin,sTongPaandgSalBa,Ch'ossKuandLongssKu,GuruandPadma.]istheuniversal compassion,whicharisesinthesamsaricandnirvanicdisplay(RolPa),fulfillingthe wishesofalltheendlessbeings,whichisSIDDHIorattainment. HUMsignifiestheselfarisenprimordialwisdom,theseedsyllableofmind, possessoroffiveprimordialwisdoms.
THEPATHOFSKILLFUlMEANS(ThabsLam) ACCORDINGTOTHEPERFECTIONSTAGE
4. 5.
6. 7.
wisdommindthechangelessluminousessence,theattainmentofsupreme siddhi(chogkingodrub). Itisrenowned(zhesutrag)asthespontaneouslypresent,absolute Padmasambhava(pemajungne). Thisprimordialwisdomessenceiswith(kor)many(mangpo)kindsofenergy (rLung)andessence(ThigLe),whicharemanifestatingintheemptysphere (khadro)ofthechannelsasanimations(khortu). Accordingtotheskillfulnatureofthevajrabody(khyekyijesu),Iwilltrainin theprimordialwisdom(dagdrubkyee)throughthestagesofesoterictraining. Inorderto(chir)transformallexistentsintothesphereofgreatbliss(chinkyee lab),mayIattainthegreatblissofthevajrabody(shegsusol).
TheHUMsyllablesignifiestheawakeningoftheselfarisen,innateprimordial wisdom.
THEOBJECTOFTHEPRAYER
Line1.ThecountryofOddiyanasignifiesthevajrabody,theextraordinarybaseof tantra. Inthatvajrabody,ontherightsideistheredroma(Skt.rasana)channelinwhich thesunenergy(NyiMa'irLung)movesabout,decreasingtheessence(Tib.ThigLe, Skt.bindu).OntheleftsideisthewhiteKyangma(Skt.lalana)channelinwhichthe moonenergy(ZlaBa'irLung)movesabout,increasing,cleansing,cooling,and pacifyingtheessence. Betweenthesechannels,atthecenter[wheretheprimordialwisdomenergyflows]: Line2.Thelotus(pema)signifiestheeightpetaledDharmachakraoftheheart (sNyingKaCh'osKyi'KhorLo),Thepistil(kesar)signifiestheessence(orsemen), thevitalessenceofthefiveelements.Thestem(dongpo)signifiestheuma(Skt. avadhuti)orcentralchannelinwhichtheprimordialwisdomenergy(YeShesKyi rLung)flowsabout. Line3.Withinthatcycleofchannel,energy,andessencetheextraordinaryvital essence(DvangsMa)ofthevajrabodyandoriginatingsimultaneouslywiththem fromthebeginning,likecamphorandthesmellofcamphor,dwellstheluminous essence('odgSalBa'iThigLe),whichisunstainedgreatbliss,theselfarisen
primordialwisdom. Soitisverymarvelous.Thisluminousessenceistheinseparableunionofblissand emptinessthattranscendsthoughtsanddescription,anditisthespontaneous accomplishmentofthesupremesiddhi,Vajradhara. Line4.Theprimordialwisdomofrealizingthatluminousessenceisrenownedas theabsolute,selfarisenPemaJungne(Padmasambhava). Line5.Thatprimordialwisdomluminousessence,Padmasambhava,iswithmany essencesandenergies(rLung)asitsmanifestingpower(rTsal)ofthegreatessence ofprimordialwisdomitself.Thesearemanifestinginthespaceoftheemptyhollows ofthecentralchannelandsmallerchannelsastheiranimations.Ifoneappliesthe trainingonskillfulmeans,thecycleofvajrabodyarisesasthegreatblissful primordialwisdomofluminousessence.
THEPRAYER
Line6."Iwillfollowafteryou,andIwillpractice"signifies,first,thatitisthe trainingonunderstandingandaccomplishingthenatureofthevajrabodyand second,theprimordialwisdomofgreatblissthroughtheprofoundtrainingswith characteristics(mTshanbChasKyirNal'Byor)oftheperfectionstage(rDzogsRim), whichincludepracticeontheheatyoga(gTumMo),thetrainingsthroughthe supportsofinneroroutervajraconsorts.Thesetrainingswillbringtheresultof admittingthekarmicenergiesandmindintothecentralchannel,andrealizingthe stateofillusorybody,luminousabsorption,anddreamyoga,becauseoftheforceof physicalexercises,disciplineofenergies,andmentalconcentrationonthesubtle essences(PhraMo'iThigLe). Line7.Throughthetrainingofskillfulmeans,onetransformsalltheexistentsinto theattainmentofthenatureoftheimmaculategreatblissofthevajrabody,and transformsthemintothemandalasofthebody,speech,andmindoftheBuddhas. Toattainthegreatblissofthevajrabody,allthehabitualinclinationsofthe changingkarmicenergythecauseofsamsaricappearances,duetotheminddefiled bythoughtswithcharacteristicsdissolveintothecentralchannelofchangeless primordialwisdom,andareboundtothechangelessgreatessence,theveryultimate sphereofthebasis.So,Come(attain)totheDharmakaya,theultimatesphereofthe basis.
THEMANTRAFORINVOKINGBLESSINGS
RootMeaning HUMinvokestheselfarisenwisdomthatbringstherealizationofthefaceofthe ultimateprimordialwisdom. 1. Thelightoftheheart(ogyenyul)andits(kyi)innerultimatesphere(nub), outerultimatesphere(chang),andthewaterlightoftheeyes(tsam),and 2. Thelightofthepureultimatesphereandthelightofemptinessthigle(pema) withthevajrachainsthepoweroftheintrinsicawareness(kesar)arepresent forus.Upon(la)firmlystabilizingintrinsicawarenessonthemthrough contemplation(dongpo), 3. Oneachieves(nye)themarvelous(yatsen)firstthreevisions(sNangBa)and attainsthesupremesiddhi(chogki'ng drub),thefourthvision. 4. Thisattainmentisrenowned(zhesutrag)astheattainmentoftheprimordial Buddhahood(pemajungne). 5. Thenthelightofselfarisenwisdomemanates(kor)many(mangpo)raysand thiglesasitsmanifestingpower(rTsal)(khortu)movingaboutinspace (khadro). 6. Icontemplate(dagdrubkyee)onthenaturalvisionoforiginalpurity(khyekyi jesu). 7. Inorderto(chir)attaintherainbowvajrabodyofgreattransformation(shegsu sol),mayIpurifyallphenomenaintotheexpanseofprimordialwisdom (chinkyeelab). Thissupreme(GURU),unstained(PADMA),andultimateattainment(SIDDHI)is amazing(HUM). Commentary
INTR0DUCTION
HUMsignifiestheessenceofspontaneouslyaccomplishedth gal,theselfarisen primordialwisdom.Th galbringsaboutthevisionofthetruefaceofselfarisen primordialwisdomfromthestateofspontaneouslyaccomplishedluminous absorption,evenforusordinarypeople,ifwefollowtheinstructionsofthissupreme yana. Linel.Orgyenyulsignifiesthelightoftheheart(TsitaShaYisGronMa).The youthfulbodyinavase(gZhonNuBumsKu),theradiantthigleofprimordial wisdom,dwellsinvisibly(Nub)inthespaceofthevajrabody,theinnerultimate
sphere(NangGidByings). Changistheouterultimatesphere,theclearlyappearingspace,thecloudlesssky. Tsham,thechannelofthetwoouterandinnerspheres,isthewaterlightoftheeyes (rGyangZhagCh'uYisGronMa). Line2.Throughthewaterlightoftheeyes,intheouterultimatesphere,appearsthe pureskyblue,clean,withnetsofrainbowraysbeautifiedbycircularthigle,like mirrors.Allthesearethelightofthepureultimatesphere(dByingsrNamDagGi sGronMa). Then,bygainingexperienceatthat,thelightofemptinessthigle(ThigLesTong Pa'isGronMa)inredclear,round,andcleanwillariselikedesignsonwatermade bythrowingastoneinapond.Thesetwolights(sGronMa)functionastheground, acontainer,orahouse.Theyarebothsignifiedbythepema(lotus). Kesar(pistil)signifiesthevajrachain(rDorJeLuGurGyud),whichisthepower ofintrinsicawareness(RiggDangs).Itistheessenceofthelightofselfarisen wisdom(ShesRabRangByungGisGronMa)andtheselfradianceoftheactual intrinsicawareness,primordialwisdom. Dongpo(stem)signifiesstabilizationoftheultimatesphere(dByings)andthe intrinsicawareness(RigPa)byconfiningthepowerofintrinsicawareness(Rig gDangs)intherealmoftheultimatesphereandpressingthepoint(gNadgZhiBa) throughthethoughtfreenaturalmodeofintrinsicawareness(RigPaRangBab rTogMed).Bygettingexperiencein(la)thoseskillfulmeans, Line3.Onewillachievethefourconfidencesgraduallyandwillaccomplishthe marvelousvisionsofthedirectrealizationoftheultimatenature(Ch'osNyidmNgon gSum),thedevelopmentofexperiences(NyamsGong'Phel),andtheperfectionof theintrinsicawareness(RigPaTshadPhebs).Afterthat,onewillachievethestate ofdissolutionof(alldharmasinto)theultimatenature(Ch'osNyidZadPa)the supremeattainment,thestateofVajradharainthisverylife. Line4.ThenonewillbeinseparablefromtheMindofPemaJungne,whoisthe primordialBuddha(Samantabhadra).So,"HeisrenownedasPemaJungne." Line5.Thoughnotmovingfromthestateofevennessofthelightofselfarisen wisdom,therewillbespontaneousemanationofmanifestingpower(rTsal)ofthat selfarisenwisdom,intheformofmanyclearandmovingrainbowrays,thigles, andsmallthiglesinthespace. Line6.Atthattimeallthesedevelopmentsarethemerepowerofintrinsic awareness.So,onecontemplatesontheluminousabsorptionofthefournatural contemplations(ChogbZhagbZhi)intheunmodifiednaturalvisionoforiginal purity(KaDag). Line7.Bypracticinglikethat,mayIpurifyallthephenomenaproducedbythe impurekarmicenergyintotheexpanseofindestructibleprimordialwisdomtoattain therainbowvajrabodyofgreattransformation('Ja'Lus'PhoBaCh'enPo).
THEMANTRAFORINVOKINGBLESSINGS
RootMeaning HUMinvokestheprimordialwisdom. 1. Theesoterictrainingawakensone'stantriclineage(ogyenyul)oftheMind that(kyi)transcendsthejuncture(tsam)ofsinking(nub)inthesamsaraand liberating(chang)fromitthrough 2. Theattainmentofthespeech(pema),mind(kesar),andbody(dongpo)ofthe Buddhas,and(la) 3. [Theprimordialwisdomoftheattainment]ismarvelous(yatsen).Thisisthe attainment(nye)ofthesupremeaccomplishment(chogkin gdrub),thestateof Vajradhara, 4. Whichisrenowned(zhesutrag)astheselfarisenabsolutePadmasambhava (pemajungne). 5. Thiswisdomiswith(kor)infinite(mangpo)manifestation,boundlessasspace (kha),functioning(dro)asitspower(khortu). 6. Iremain(dagdrubkyee)intherealizedstate(jesu)ofeffortlessnature, primordialpurity(khyekyi). 7. Inorderfor(chir)phenomenalexistentstoariseasthemandalaofthefour vajras(chinkyeelab),mayIattain(shegsusol)themandalaoftheprimordial basis. Thisistherealization(HUM)ofthepathandwisdom,whichissupreme(GURU), unstained(PADMA)ultimateattainment(SIDDHI). Commentary
INTRODUCTION
HUMthesacredprimordialwisdom.
THEOBJECTOFTHEPRAYER
Line1.ThecountryofOddiyana(ogyenyul)isasourceoftantras,andthe definitionofthewordOddiyanais"goingbyflying."Intantra,theawakeningof one'stantriclineage(sNgagsKyiRigsSadPa)ofone'sownmindandattaining liberationfromtheswampofdualistic(gNyissNang)appearancesofsamsaraisvery swift,likeflying. Byawakeningthemind,onetranscendsthejuncture(Tsam)ofsamsaraandnirvana byliberating(chang)itfromsinking(nub)inthemudofsamsara,purifyingitfrom allthedefilements,anddissolvingillusoryappearancesintotheultimatesphere. Line2.Theattainmentofthepurityofallsoundasthemandalaofspeech(Pema), theperfectionofallthoughtsasthemandalaofmind(kesar),andthematurationof
allappearancesasthemandalaofbody(dongpo)thethreesecretaspects(gSangBa gSum)ofBuddhahoodand(La) Line3.Theprimordialwisdomoftheattainment,whichisonenessandevenness,is marvelous(yatsen). Whenonerealizesthis,itistheattainmentoftheindivisibilityofthebasisandresult, thesupremeattainment(chogking drub),thestateofVajradhara. Line4.This[attainment]isrenowned(zhesutrag)astheabsolutePadmasambhava (pemajungne), Line5.Anditsnatureisthatitdoesnotstrayfromtheprimordialground.Yetfrom theprimordialwisdom,therearise(kor)infinite(mangpo)functions(dro)of manifestationsofsamsaraandnirvana,asboundlessasthesky(kha),appearingas itspower(khor).
THEPRAYER
Thisistherealization(HUM)ofthepathandwisdom,whichissupreme(GURU), unstained(PADMA)ultimateattainment(SIDDHI). CONCLUSIONOFTHEPRACTICES First,thepracticeofTheVajraSevenLinePrayerasGuruYoga,accordingtothe commonmeaning,willcausethearisingoftheprofoundprimordialwisdom.By learningthecrucialpointsofthepathsofliberation,skillfulmeans,orgreat perfectionfromaqualifiedLamaandpracticingthemdiligently,onewillachieve confidenceintherealization,theresultitselfasexpoundedintheteachings,andwill reachthestateofVidyadhara(knowledgeholder). Withunshakablefaith,visualizeGuruRinpoche,theembodimentofallrefuges,on thecrownofone'shead.PraytohimstronglywithTheVajraSevenLinePrayer. BythenectarpouringdownfromthebodyoftheGuru,alltheillness,badkarma, andsufferingsofone'sbody,speech,andmindarewashedawayintheformofpus, blood,insects,soot,andoffal.Attheend,one'sownbodydissolves,likesaltinto water,andthentheliquidgoesdownintothemouthofYamaraja,theLordof Death,andothercreditorsofkarmabeneaththeground.Believethatithassatisfied allofthemandthatallthedebtsarecleared.Attheend,oneshouldregardthemall
ashavingvanishedintoemptiness. Again,visualizeyourownbodyintheformoftheradiantbodyofadivinity whicheverformyoulike.Intheheartofthedivinity,atthecenterofaneightpetaled lotus,theLamacomesdownfromthecrownofyourheadandbecomesonewiththe indestructibleessence(bindu),theprimordialwisdom.Thenoneshouldremainin theblissfulprimordialwisdom. Thepostmeditativeperiodshouldbetreatedasfollows:allappearancesviewedasa purelandandasdivinities,foodanddrinkasofferings,andtheactivitiesofsitting andwalkingasprostrationandcircumnambulation.Whenyousleep,youshould visualizetheGuruinyourheart.Inalldailyactivitiesyoushouldtrytotransform everythingintovirtuouspracticeswithoutinterval.Itisimportanttovisualizethe Lamaintheskybeforeyouandtopresentofferings,offerpraise,invokehismind, andreceivetheblessingsofhisbody,speech,andmind.Thisisbecausegenerally thegoodqualitiesofthehigherrealmsofliberation,andespeciallythedevelopment ofrealizationoftheprofoundpath,dependonlyontheentryoftheblessingsofthe Guruintoone'sownmind. Inordertoattaintheabsoluteprimordialwisdominone'sownmind,onemust becomefamiliarwiththeteachingsgiveninthesutrasandtantrasingeneraland,in particular,withtheinstructiononthedirectintroduction(Ngo'Phrod)totheabsolute primordialwisdom(DonGyiYeShes).And,accordingtoone'sexperience, realization,andability,oneshouldmeditateonanyofthepathsofliberationor skillfulmeansthatisappropriateforoneself.Bydoingthis,onewillachievethe fulfillmentofboththetemporaryandtheultimateresult. ___________________________________________________________
ManythankstoHaroldTalbottforconnectingmetoTulkuThonduptoTulkuThondupforhis clarityandkindnessinallowingthisextraordinarycommentarytobeplacedonQuietMountain andtoJonathanGreenatShambhalaPublicationsforpermissiontoexcerptthiscommentary fromEnlightenedJourney,byTulkuThondup. Thispageisdedicatedforthebenefitofallsentientbeingsandtothelong,longlivesofourkind rootgurus.MaytheGloriousProtectorscontinuouslyaccompanyusintherealizationofGuru Rinpoche!dongagtenzin
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