This form of spiritual
transmission
in Tibet initially spread through two lineages in the beginning and the early part of the ninth cen- tury.
Jig-Me-Lingpa-The-Dzogchen-Innermost-Essence-Preliminary-Practice
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Li I ,_,.
? ? The Dzogchen
Innermost Essence
Preliminary Practice
11Long-chen Nying-thig Ngon-dro" with original Tibetan text
by
Jig-Me Ling-Pa (1729-1798)
Translated with commentary by Ven. Tulku Thondup
Edited by Brian Beresford
LIBRARY OF TIBETAN WORKS AND ARCHIVES
? (C) 1982 Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
First Edition: 1982
Second Revised edition: 1989 Third edition 1998
Fourth edition 2002
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 81-85102-19-8
Published by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala-176215, India, and printed at lndraprastha Press, New Delhi-110002.
? Publisher's Note
It is with pleasure that we are able to introduce another text in our Bilingual series of translations. The Long-chen Nying-thig Ngon- dro is probably one of the most important liturgical texts for actual meditational practice found in the Nying-ma tradition. It is widely practiced and forms the basis for the introductory meditations of the Dzog-chen, or "Great Completeness" system of practices. Such texts are meant to be followed in close conjunction with direct in- structions from a qualified spiritual master. It is supplemented by a concise commentary on the various aspects of the meditation and in the conclusion there is a lucid explanation of the Nying-ma sys- tem of dividing the Buddha's teachings into the Nine Spiritual Ve- hicles or yanas. Both Tulku Thondup and his editor, Brian Beresford, are to be commended for making this valuable translation avail- able at this time of growing interest in the practice of Tibetan Bud- dhism. Special thanks are also due to Michael Richards for his ex- cellent help and guidance in preparing the final manuscript for the press, and Ani-la Kelsang Chokyi for her assistance in typing and
bringing the work to completion.
Gyatsho Tshering Director
February 1982
? Contents
Preface vii Introduction ix
Part I:THEExCELLENTPAmoFOMNlscmNCE:Preliminary Practice of Dzog-pa-chen-po Long-chen Nying-thig
Homage 2
1 Prayer Invoking the Mind-stream of the Gracious Lama 3
2 Refuge 8
3 Activating the Awakening Mind 9
4 Meditation and Recitation of Vajrasattva 9
5 Mat:tc;lala offering 11
6 The Yogi-mendicant's Accumulation of Merit 11
7 Unification with the Spiritual Master (Guru Yoga) 12
8 Prayer to the Lamas of the Lineage 16
9 Receiving the Four Empowerments 18
10 Dedication 21 11 Special Prayers of Aspiration 21
Part II :THE SUMMARY oF PRAcnCE: A Commentary to the Longchen Nying-thig
1 The Common Preliminary Practice 25 1 The Necessity for Dharma 25 2 The Necessity for the Preliminary Practices 25 3 The Actual Preliminary Practices 27
i The Rare Privilege of a Human Rebirth 28 ii The Impermanence of Life 29 iii Karma: the Cause and Result of Action 31 iv TheSufferingofSamsara 33 v The Benefits of Liberation 34 vi The Value of a Spiritual Guide 35
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2 The Uncommon Preliminary Practice 36 1 Going for Refuge 37 2 Activating the Awakening Mind 39 3 Meditation and Recitation of Vajrasattva 43 4 Mar,t<;fala Offering 46 5 Prostrations 48
3 The Actual Path 50 1 Unification with the Spiritual Master (Guru Yoga) 50 2 Prayers to the Lamas of the Lineage 58 3 Receiving the Four Empowerments 59 4 Dedication 59
Part III: THE NINE YaNAS
A Guide to the Approaches to Enlightenment 63 1 The Three Causal Vehicles 64 2 The Six Resultant Vehicles 67
i. The Three External Tantras 68 ii. The Three Internal Tantras 70
Notes 77 Tibetan Text 79
? Preface
The first part of this book is a direct translation of the liturgy on the Preliminary Practices of the Long-ch'en Nying-thig (Klong. chen. snying. thig. ) tradition of the Great Completeness, or Dzog-ch'en (rdzogs. chen; mahasandhi) teaching. The text is entitled The Ex- cellent Path to Omniscience (rnam. mkhyen. lam. bzang) written by the All-knowing Jig-me-ling-pa ('jigs. med. gling. pa) (1729-1798), and compiled by the first Do-drub-ch'en (rdo. grub. chen) (1745- 1821). Jig-me-ling-pais considered the founder of the Long-ch'en Nying-thig tradition, and Do-drub-ch'en is looked upon as the prin- ciple holder of the doctrine. It is in effect a condensed practical handbook of Buddhism for followers of the Vajrayana school of Mahayana Buddhism. Its main subject, though not its sole concern, is the preliminary practices or that which "goes before" (sngon. 'gro) the actual practice. However, this is somewhat misleading, since it also contains a complete course of practice for achieving Buddhahood itself.
A line by line translation of the full text has been prepared and precedes the Tibetan root text. A few sub-headings have been added for clarity, but these have been placed in parentheses.
The second part of the book is summation of the liturgy, giving a brief yet comprehensive explanation of the method of practice. this summary draws upon instructions I have received from my principle Lamas and from the following texts:
1. Kun. bzang. bla. ma'i. zhal. lung. by sPal. sprul. Rin. po. ch'e.
2. Khrid. yig. dran. pa. nyer. bzhag. by Kun. mkhyen. 'Jigs. med. gLing. pa. 3. rNam. mkhyen. Iam. bzang. gsal. byedby mKhyen. brtse'i. dbang. po. 4. Thar. lam. gsal. byed. sgron. me. by 'Gro. 'dul. dPa. bo. rdo. rje.
5. Rig. 'dzin. zhal. lung. by mKhan. po. ch'e mch'og. don. grub.
The third part of the book contains a brief outline of the Nine Vehicles of the Nying-ma (rnying. ma) school on the basis of the books of Long-ch'en-pa, Jig-me-ling-pa and others. The kind and
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able assistance of Mr. Perna Lodro Gyatsho made it possible for me to render this work into English, and thereby make this small book available to its readers. I am greatly indebted to him. I also grate- fully acknowledge my thanks to Mr. Perna Thrinley Gyathso and other members of the Buddhayana Foundation, United States of America, for sponsoring the preparation and translation of several works, including this one, in the United States.
Thanks to Ani-la Kelsang Chokyi (Dee) for her assistance in typing and bringing this work to completion.
My thanks also go to Mr. Gyatsho Tshering, the Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, for sponsor- ing the publication of this book. My appreciation also goes to Brian Beresford for his assistance and his work on editing the entire manu- script.
Tulku Thondup Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan1977
? Introduction
There are many different methods of teaching the Dharma that were expounded by the Buddha, the realized saints who followed after him in India and Tibet, and the traditional scholars. All of these are for the benefit of disciples of differing capabilities. For the practice of Dharma to be effective one should start at a level suited to one's own mental capacity. It is essential to understand the meaning of the teaching first of all through study. Trying to practice it without having studied it properly would be like trying to scale a cliff with- out hands. Conversely, a great deal of study and no practice would be like being surrounded by an abundance of food while dying of hunger. it is important, therefore, for the practice of Dharma to combine both understanding its meaning and trying to realize it through practice.
This text, the Dzog-chen Long-chen Nying-thig, belongs to the category of "Dharma Treasures" (gTer. chos) and the writings of the All-knowing Master, Jig-me Ling-pa. The tradition of the Long- chen Nying-thig in Tibet became very popular, and was a widely studied and practiced system within the Nyingmapa tradition, one of the four major Buddhist sects in Tibet. The Long-chen Nying- thig is a relatively new system, even though the teachings and the practices are basically the? same as the earlier Dzog-chen Nying- thig, which was broughfto :Tibet about the time of Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, in the eighth century. The lineages of transmis- sion of the Dzog-chen Nying-thig and the Long-chen Nying-thig are as follows:
1. The Dzog-chen Nying-thig Lineage
According to the tradition of the Nyingma school, Tibet's earliest, the highest teaching is known as the Great Completion, or Dzog- pa Chen-po (rdzogs. chen; mahiisal! lpatra or mahashiindi), or the Atiyoga direct" method for realizing the nature of the mind and attaining Buddhahood. The Nying-thig, or the "Essence of the
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Heart" teachings, precisely explain the various methods for directly actualizing the innermost teachings of the Dzog-pa Chen-po. The Dzog-chen Nying-thig, as a teaching, fundamentally deals with the expression of the doctrine of the Three Kayas, or the Three Perfect Bodies of a Fully Awakened Being, and they have arisen through the three systems of spiritual transmit:sion.
The first is known as the Mind Transmission of the Buddhas. In this system the teacher transmits the teachings to a disciple with- out using words or any other indication. The disciple attains a state of union with the teacher like a reflection of the moon in the still water, which mirrors a perfect likeness of the moon itself. This level of spiritual transmission is from the Primordial Buddha, Kun-tu Zang-po (kun. tu. bzang. po; Samantabhadra), on the level of the Dharmakaya, or Perfect Body of Truth. The Dzog-chen teachings are then passed on through the level of the Sal! lbhogakaya, the Perfect Body of Enjoyment, which includes the Five Dhyani Bud- dhas on the level of pure mystic vision.
The second level of spiritual transmission is known as the Knowledge-holders' Indication system. Here, a Knowledge-holder (rig. 'dzin; vidyadhara), a being who has direct and pure vision of the nature of reality, manifests to a receptive disciple and transmits the teaching by means of pronouncing a mantra or showing a sign. In this case the 5al! 'bhogakaya Being, Vajrasattva, mystically ap- peared before the Indian teacher Prahevajra who existed on the level of the Ni~r. :taka. ya, or Perfect Body of Manifestation, and in one instant transmitted all empowerments and instructions so that Prahevajra spontaneously and effortlessly attained Enlightenment. He in tum transmitted the teachings to his disciple Maiijushrimitra, who passed them on to Shrisiilha. Shrisiilha transmitted his insight to Jnanasiitra, Vimalamitra and Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche, the Indian Tantric saint who later brought them into TI- bet. Vimalamitra also received his teachings from Pramodhavajra and Maiijushrimitra, and Padmasal! lbhava himself also received the teaching directly from Maiijushrimitra.
The third system of spiritual transmission of the Dzog-chen lineage is that known as the Audial Transmission of the Yo&! -s. In this system the complete verbal empowerment and instructions are transmitted by word of mouth from practitioner to practitioner. This form of spiritual transmission in Tibet initially spread through two lineages in the beginning and the early part of the ninth cen- tury. One originates from Vimalamitra, the other from Guru
? Rinpoche. Vimalamitra transmitted the teachings in Tibet to Nyag Tmg-dzin Zang-po and King Tri-song De-tsen and other disciples. From Nyag this unbroken lineage of audial transmission came down to Long-chen Rab-jam, and through various spiritually real- ized teachers. The other lineage, from Guru? Rinpoche, was passed on to his disciple, the J? akini Yeshe Tso-gyal and Princess Pema- sal. The texts for these teachings were mystically concealed by Guru Rinpoche, to be unearthed later for the benefit of his disciples. These were later discovered by a male incarnation of the Princess, the teacher Perna Ui-tro-tsal, and in his next incarnation as Long-chen Rab-jam-pa. He expounded these teachings together with extraor- dinary commentaries.
The Innermost Essence teachings through the first lineage are known as the Vimala Nying-thig, and the second are known as the Kha-dro Nying-thig. In this way both of these Innermost Essence transmissions meet in Long-chen Rab-jam-pa, who lived from 1308- 1363. From him the uninterrupted audial transmission of these teachings have extended until the present day.
The three systems outlined above are divided here in a very general way. There were also numerous mystical saints and practi- tioners, both in India and Trbet, who received or gave teachings through the Mind or Indication spiritual transmissions.
2. The Dzog-chen Long-chen Nying-thig Lineage
In the eighteenth century the spiritual master Jig-me Ling-pa (1729- 1798), a reincarnation of the king Tri-song De-tsen, received the complete Dzog-chen Nying-thig teachings in a mystical vision from Manjushrimitra, Guru Rinpoche, Vunalamitra, and Long-chen Rab- jam-pa, through Mind, the Indication and the Audial transmissions, in the state of pure vision. In these visions he saw Long-chen Rab- jam-pa three times, received the blessings of being inseparable from the Spiritual Master and thereby the true state of Perfect Accom- plishment, or Buddhahood. He discovered the "Concealed Treas- ures of Dharma" (gter. chos) of the Long-chen Nying-thig, and thus founded this tradition. The Dzog-chen Nying-thig and the Long- chen Nying-thig are also known respectively as the Earlier and Later Nying-thig teachings. The lineage of Audial transmission through which these have reached my teacher, the Fourth Do-drub-chen Rinpoche, is as follows:
xi
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This form of spiritual transmission in Tibet initially spread through two lineages in the beginning and the early part of the ninth cen- tury. One originates from Vimalamitra, the other from Guru
? Rinpoche. Vimalamitra transmitted the teachings in Tibet to Nyag Tmg-dzin Zang-po and King Tri-song De-tsen and other disciples. From Nyag this unbroken lineage of audial transmission came down to Long-chen Rab-jam, and through various spiritually real- ized teachers. The other lineage, from Guru? Rinpoche, was passed on to his disciple, the J? akini Yeshe Tso-gyal and Princess Pema- sal. The texts for these teachings were mystically concealed by Guru Rinpoche, to be unearthed later for the benefit of his disciples. These were later discovered by a male incarnation of the Princess, the teacher Perna Ui-tro-tsal, and in his next incarnation as Long-chen Rab-jam-pa. He expounded these teachings together with extraor- dinary commentaries.
The Innermost Essence teachings through the first lineage are known as the Vimala Nying-thig, and the second are known as the Kha-dro Nying-thig. In this way both of these Innermost Essence transmissions meet in Long-chen Rab-jam-pa, who lived from 1308- 1363. From him the uninterrupted audial transmission of these teachings have extended until the present day.
The three systems outlined above are divided here in a very general way. There were also numerous mystical saints and practi- tioners, both in India and Trbet, who received or gave teachings through the Mind or Indication spiritual transmissions.
2. The Dzog-chen Long-chen Nying-thig Lineage
In the eighteenth century the spiritual master Jig-me Ling-pa (1729- 1798), a reincarnation of the king Tri-song De-tsen, received the complete Dzog-chen Nying-thig teachings in a mystical vision from Manjushrimitra, Guru Rinpoche, Vunalamitra, and Long-chen Rab- jam-pa, through Mind, the Indication and the Audial transmissions, in the state of pure vision. In these visions he saw Long-chen Rab- jam-pa three times, received the blessings of being inseparable from the Spiritual Master and thereby the true state of Perfect Accom- plishment, or Buddhahood. He discovered the "Concealed Treas- ures of Dharma" (gter. chos) of the Long-chen Nying-thig, and thus founded this tradition. The Dzog-chen Nying-thig and the Long- chen Nying-thig are also known respectively as the Earlier and Later Nying-thig teachings. The lineage of Audial transmission through which these have reached my teacher, the Fourth Do-drub-chen Rinpoche, is as follows:
xi
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JIG-ME LING-PA (1729-1798) 1st Do-drub-chen Jig-me Trin-Hi 0-zer (1745-1821)
II ChO. . kyiILO-dro 4th Dzog-chen
Rinpoche (1793-? )
Gyal-se Zhan-pan T'a-ya (18DO-? )
I<hen-pJ Padma Dor-je (Dam-cho 5-zer)
Jig-me G~al-wa'i Nft! -gyu
3rd Do-Drllb-chen Rinpoche
(1865-1926)
II
I
5th Dzog-chen Rinpoche (1872-? )
Gya-roog Jam-biil
I<hyen-tse Cho-kyi
LQ-dro (1893-1959)
Ge-kong Khen-po Kun-pal
Jam-yang Khyen-tse'i Wang-po (1820-1892)
4th Do-drub-chen 11mb-ten Trin-la Pal-zang-po (1927-)
? ? Part -1 The Excellent Path of
Omniscience
The Preliminary Practices of Long-chen-pa's "Innermost Essence for the Great Completion: Dzog-pa Chen-po"
Tibetan
rDzogs-pa chen-po kLong-chen snying-thig sngon-'gro
Composed by
The Knowledge-holding master Jig-me Ling-pa
Compiled by
The first D<rdrub-chen Rinpoche, Jig-me Trin-lii WO-zer
? Homage
_,__
You who have attained Buddhahood primordially but have never ceased appearing as the perfect body of form (riipakaya) for whomsoever is receptive to it;
Exhibiting various illusory manifestations yet free from both the grasping mind and its object, the body-mind constituents, sensory spheres and bases;
Appearing in human form while in fact a Buddha, radi- ating thousands of light rays comprising wisdom and compassion;
I depend on you for firm refuge not simply for this life but forever; bestow your blessings upon me.
? Preliminaries of Long-chen-pas "Innermost Essence for the Great Completion"
in eleven parts:
-l--
1. Prayer Invoking the Mind-stream of the Gracious Lama
0 Lama! 0 Lama! 0 Lama!
[Having invoked the presence of the Lama with intense devotion, recite thefollowing:]
From the blossoming lotus of devotion at the center of my heart
Sole protector, gracious Lama, arise!
For my protection against misfortune,
From torment by the vicious legacy of actions and de-
filements
Be enshrined as the ornament in the Wheel of Great Bliss
on the crown of my head;
Let there arise in me total recollection and mindfulness.
[The rarity ofa human rebirth characterized by eight freedoms and ten endowments. ]
At this time, I have gained this leisure free fro~ the eight kinds of bondage:
From hell, hungry ghost and animal realms;
From the realms of the long-lived gods, barbarians and
perverse philosophers;
From being a fool, from a place in which no Buddha has
appeared.
To have been born a human being complete with sen-
sory faculties, in a central land congenial to Dharma, Not to have reverted to extreme wrong deeds and to have
faith in the Buddhist teachings;
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These comprise the five personal endowments.
When a Buddha has appeared,
Has expounded the tru~ of_Dharma,
When the teachings surVive and are being-followed, And when one has'been accepted by a spiritual friend;
these are the five circumstantial endowments, Which, despite my posses~ing thein completely, may
become wasted in this life
By uncertain circumstances,
Giving cause for birth into this transitory world again. 0 Guru, Rinpoche, tum my mind towards th~ Dharma. Long-chen-pa and Jig-me-ling-pa, exalted and all-know-
ing, let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior
path.
0 Lama, you who are one with them: Hear me!
If this present opportunity to practice Dharma is not taken seriously,
In the future this basis for achieving liberation will. not be regained.
Once the merits that gave cause for this happy existence have been consumed,
I will wander after death as an inferior being through the lower realms.
Unable to differentiate virtue from non-virtue I will not hear the sound of Dharma,
Nor will I meet with a virtuous spiritual friend-indeed a great disaster.
Merely to think about the numberless variety of sentient beings
Is to realize that obtaining a human body is just barely possible.
To see mankind doing non-virtue, irreligious acts,
Is to realize that those who act spiritually are as rare as
stars in broad daylight.
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma:a AII-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
? [Tize eight unfree states caused by temporal events]
Even had I arrived at this jewel island, the human form, An impoverished mind in such an auspicious body Could not be a basis befitting the accomplishment of lib-
eration.
Especially: to be entrapped by harmful influences or
polluted by the five poisons,
To be struck by the lightening of non-virtue Karma or to
be distracted by laziness,
To be enslaved by others, to practice Dharma as a de-
fence from fear or with pretension,
Or to be thick-headed and the like, are the eight unfree
states caused by temporal events.
When these utter contradictions to Dharma are visited
upon me,
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma. All-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
[The eight unfree states caused by mental abe"ation]
To lack remorse and the jewel of faith,
To be bound by the lasso of desire and greed or to be-
have crudely,
Not to refrain from unskillful and non-virtue actions, or
to live by dishonest means,
To undermine one's vows and rend precepts asunder; These are the eight unfree states caused by mental aber-
ration.
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma. All-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
[Impenuanence oflife]
At present I am not tormented by sufferings and illness. I have not come under the control of others, such as be-
ing a slave.
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So while I have this opportunity of independence, If I waste the fortunate human life by idleness, No question of retinue, wealth, or relations,
But this very body which I cherished
Will be removed from bed and taken to a deserted place, To be eaten by foxes, vultures and dogs,
At that time,
In the Bardo, I will feel terrible fear:
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma. All-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
[Karma: the cause and result ofaction]
The result of non-virtue and virtuous Karmas will fol- low after me.
[Tize suffering ofsai[LSara]
Especially if I am born in the realm of hell,
On a ground of burning iron my body and head will be
cut by instruments,
Split by saws and crushed by burning hammers.
I will cry for help, suffocating in a doorless (burning)
iron house.
Pierced by burning spears and boiled in molten iron
I will bum in extremely hot fire-the eight (hot hells). Amid snow mountains and freezing cold water,
In a place of terrible distress and fear, I will be blasted by
blizzards.
Beaten by very cold winds, my flesh will have
Blisters, glaring wounds.
I will bewail without ceasing, and
By these feelings of unbearable suffering,
Like a sick and dying man whose strength is exhausted, I will experience gasping, clenching of teeth, and thea
cracking of the skin,
Flesh emerging from the wounds, broad cracks of the
skin: the eight (cold hells).
Likewise I shall experience being cut on a field of razors,
? My body cut in pieces in a forest of swords;
Trapped in disgusting mud; suffering in an expanse of
unfordable hot ashes:
The sub-hells and the changing hells.
Trapped in doors, pillars, stoves, ropes, etc.
Always used and exploited: the scattered hells.
When the cause of these 18 Hells-
Powerful angry thoughts-arises,
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma. All-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
[The suffering of the hungry ghosts]
In a poor and unpleasant land
Where the names of wealth, food, and drink had never
been known,
Food and drink cannot be found for months and years. The bodies of hungry ghosts
Are very feeble, and they are too exhausted to stand up:
the three types of hungry ghosts. The cause of their arising is miserliness.
[Tize suffering ofanimals]
In great fear of death by being eaten by one another, Exhausted by servitude and ignorant of what is good
and bad to do.
Being tormented by endless sufferings,
Of which the seed is the darkness of ignorance in which
I am wandering.
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma. All-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
[Recognizing oue's own faults]
I have entered the path of Dharma but do not restrain my wrong conduct.
7
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I have entered the door of the Mahayana, but lack the thought of the benefit of others.
I have received the Four Empowerments but am not practicing the Developing and Perfecting Stages.
0 Lama, protect me from this errant path.
Though the view is not realized, I act in a crazy manner; Though meditation wavers, I cling to hearsay;
Though my conduct is wrong, I ignore my faults;
0 Lama, protect me from indifference to Dharma.
Even if death comes tomorrow, I covet a house, clothes,
and wealth.
Even though youth has long since passed away, I lack
renunciation and revulsion,
Although little Dharma has been studied, I boast about
my scholarship,
0 Lama, protect me from this ignorance.
Although they lead me into (harmful) circumstances,
I wish for entertainments and pilgrimages,
Although I stay in solitary places, the ordinary mind re-
mains rigid like a tree.
I talk about discipline but do not eradicate desire and
hatred.
0 Lama,prot(>ctmefromtheseeight(worldly)Dharmas. Let me awaken quickly from thjs thick sleep.
Swiftly pull me out of this dark prison.
[Thus invoke strongly the compassion of the Guru. ]
2. Refuge
To the actual three rare and supreme Jewels,1 those Gone to Bliss2 to the Three Roots,3
To the nature of (physical) channels, energy and essence,? To the mal)~ala of the essence, nature and compassion
of the Awakening Mind,5
I go for refuge until the attainment of the quintessence
of awakening. "
[repeat tlzrcc times]
? 3. Activating the Awakening Mind
Deceived by myriad appearances like the moon's reflec- tion in water,
Sentient beings wander through the cyclic chain of lives; So they may be at ease7 in the luminescent expanse of
intrinsic awareness,"
I shall activate the Awakening Mind, contemplating on
the four boundless states. 9
[repeat three times]
4. Meditation and Recitation of Vajrasattva i. The visualization
AH:
In my ordinary form; above my head
Is a white lotus with a lunar seat in its fold:
From a HUI'yt above this arises the Lama as Vajrasattva White, translucent, the perfect body of complete enjoy-
ment,10
Holding a vajra and beU,and embracing his consort.
ii. Petition
I request your protection; purify my negativities. With intense regret I confess and acknowledge; Even at the cost of my life I shall abstain.
iii. Purification
Upon a full moon in your heart
Is the letter HUI'yt encircled by the mantra.
By invoking with the recitation of mantras
From the point of union of the deities' blissful play Flows nectar-clouds of bodhichitta
Falling like fine particles of camphor.
iv. Requesting
I implore you to utterly purify
Myself and all beings throughout the three realms11
Of our Karma and conflicting emotions, the cause of suf-
fering,
9
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As well as illness, harmful spirits, negativities, mental obscurations and transgressions of vows.
v. Mautra recitatiou
OM VAJRA SATIVA SAMAYA/MANU PALAYA/VAJRA SATIVA
TVENO PATISHTHTA/DRIDHO ME BHAVA/SUTOSH- YOMEBHAVA/ . . .
SU~HYOME BHAVA/ANURAKTOME BHAVA/SARVA SIDDHIMME PRAYACHCHHA/SARVA
KARMA SUCHA ME/CHmAM SHRIYAMH KURU HOM/ HAHAHAHAHOH . BHAGAVAN/SARVA. TATHAGATA/VAJRA MA ME
MUNCHA/V AJRI BHAVA/MAHASAMAYA SATIVA/A [recite as much as possible}
vi. lnvocatiou and dissolving the visualization
0 Protector,throughmylackofknowledgeandignorance I have transgressed and weakened the sacred pledges; 0 Lama, Protector, give me refuge.
Lord, Vajradhara, holder of the adamantine scepter Whose very nature is great compassion,
The lord of beings, to you I go for refuge.
I confess and acknowledge all transgressions of the root and branch commitments done physically, verbally and mentally. Please purify and cleanse away all strains of wrongdoings, emotional obscurations, errors and downfalls.
At these words, Vajrasattva, with a glad and smiling countenance says, "0 fortunate child, all your wrongdoings, obscurations and transgressions are purified. " So saying he merges into radiant light and dissolves into me. By this means I become Vajrasattva, apparent yet empty, like a reflection in a mirror. By visualizing the heart-sylla- ble HUtyl encircled by four letters, light rays are emitted so that all beings are the realms of the three worlds become perfected in the nature of awakened beings, Vajrasattva, the five Buddha families, maJ:t~alasand retinues.
Otyl VAJRASATIVA HUtyl
{recitiug as much as possible remain in meditative equipoise}
? 5. Ma~H~ala Offering
OIYt-AJ::I-Hillyt!
i. Nirnzanakiiya ma~ujala
A billion universes encompassing the three-thousand worlds
Filled with the wealth of gods and men and the seven precious jewels,
I offer in its entirety together with my body and posses- sions
That I may attain the state of a Dharma-ruler of the uni- verse.
ii. Smrzbhogakiiya ma~u! ala
By offering the ultimately blissful, beautifully arrayed pure realm of Akani~h! }la,
With assemblies of the five Buddha families endowed with the five certainties,
And inconceivable billowing clouds of offerings compris- ing the sensory objects,
May I enjoy the Buddha field of the perfect body of en- joyment-the Sal! lbhogakaya.
iii. Dhannakiiya ma~ujala
By offering utterly pure phenomenal appearances, the perfect body of the vase of immortality (eternal youth), Embellished by unimpeded compassion, and the play of
Reality Itself,
Together with the utterly pure apprehension of perfect
form and energy,
May I delight in the Buddha field of the perfect body of
truth-the Dharmakaya.
6. The Yogi-mendicant's Accumulation of Merit
Pha~!
By throwing out cherishing the body, the demon of the gods is destroyed.
The mind is shot out into the pure expanse through the fontanel,
11
? 12
DestroyingthedemonofdeathandbecomingRudrani12 (the yogini)
Who wields the curved vajra blade in her right hand, which slays the demon of the conflicting emotions.
I annihilate the demon of the bodily aggregation by cut-
ting off my skull;
My left hand actively wrenches away the head
And places it upon a tripod stove of three human heads,
symbolizing the three perfect bodies.
In it is my corpse which fills the three-thousand-fold
universes;
The short AJ::I and HU~ syllables melt the corpse into the
nectar;
B y t h e p o w e r o f t h e t h r e e l e t t e r s {0~, A J : : I a n d H f i ? d i s -
solving into the offering), it is purified, increased and
transformed.
O~Al:fHU~!
[after reciting many times:]
Phat!
The wishes of the upper guests of offering are fulfilled The accumulations are perfected, and the common and
uncommon attainments are achieved.
The lower guests of saJ! lsara are satisfied and their debts
are paid.
Especially the harmful and obstructive spirits are satis-
fied
Illness, evil spirits, and obstacles are pacified into empty
space.
Harmful circumstances and clinging to self are blasted
to atoms.
Finally all the offering, offerer, and object of offering Dissolve into unmodified Dzog-pa Chen-po-Ah!
7. Unification with the Spiritual Master (Guru Yoga)
i. Visualization
E-MA-HO!
My perceptions spontaneously arise as the absolute pure realms,
The perfectly arrayed Glorious Copper-colored Moun- tain. In the center
? Is my own body but now as Vajra Yogini's;
Red and translucent, with one face and two hands, hold-
ing the curved vajra blade and skull-cup of blood. My two legs are placed in the "advancing posture" and
my three eyes gaze up into space.
Upon my head on an unfolding hundred-thousand-pet-
alled lotus,
Seated upon a sun and a moon, is the perfect emanation
body
Of Padmasaqtbhava, Saroruha Vajra,
The synthesis of all objects of refuge and inseparable from
my Root Lama.
His complexion is white with pinkish hue and he is
youthful in appearance.
He is attired in a gown, a monastic robe and brocade
cape,
Has one face, two arms and sits in the playful posture of
a king.
In his right hand he holds a vajra scepter, in the left a
skull-cup containing a vase of immortality.
He wears the lotus hat on his head,
And in the cleft of his left arm is the divine consort of
bliss and emptiness
Concealed in the form of the sacred I<ha~vanga trident. He sits amidst radiant rainbows, light rays and shim-
mering nuclei of light;
In the outer perimeters, in the expanse of an exquisite
lattice of five-colored light,
Are seated the 25 emanation disciples,
The spiritual scholars, realized sages, Knowledge-holders, divine meditational deities,
The J? akinis and Dharma protectors, all gathered like
billowing clouds;
They are perceived in the state of great equipoise of lu-
minescence and emptiness.
ii. Invitation
HU? !
In the northwest country of Uddiyana
Is the one (born) on the pistil stem of a lotus
And endowed with supreme marvelous attainments;
13
? 14
Renowned as the Lotus Born One, Padmasa~bhava, and surrounded by a retinue of many c:f. ikinis.
I will practice by following you;
Please come forth to grace me with your inspiration. GURU PADMA SIDDI-fi HiJIYt:
iii. The Scvcm Aspects ofDevotional Practice
(A) HOMAGE AND PROSTRATION
By projecting my body to equal the atoms
In the universe I prostrate in homage to you.
(B) OFFERING
Offerings actually arrayed and those mentally emanated by the power of meditation-
!
Li I ,_,.
? ? The Dzogchen
Innermost Essence
Preliminary Practice
11Long-chen Nying-thig Ngon-dro" with original Tibetan text
by
Jig-Me Ling-Pa (1729-1798)
Translated with commentary by Ven. Tulku Thondup
Edited by Brian Beresford
LIBRARY OF TIBETAN WORKS AND ARCHIVES
? (C) 1982 Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
First Edition: 1982
Second Revised edition: 1989 Third edition 1998
Fourth edition 2002
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 81-85102-19-8
Published by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala-176215, India, and printed at lndraprastha Press, New Delhi-110002.
? Publisher's Note
It is with pleasure that we are able to introduce another text in our Bilingual series of translations. The Long-chen Nying-thig Ngon- dro is probably one of the most important liturgical texts for actual meditational practice found in the Nying-ma tradition. It is widely practiced and forms the basis for the introductory meditations of the Dzog-chen, or "Great Completeness" system of practices. Such texts are meant to be followed in close conjunction with direct in- structions from a qualified spiritual master. It is supplemented by a concise commentary on the various aspects of the meditation and in the conclusion there is a lucid explanation of the Nying-ma sys- tem of dividing the Buddha's teachings into the Nine Spiritual Ve- hicles or yanas. Both Tulku Thondup and his editor, Brian Beresford, are to be commended for making this valuable translation avail- able at this time of growing interest in the practice of Tibetan Bud- dhism. Special thanks are also due to Michael Richards for his ex- cellent help and guidance in preparing the final manuscript for the press, and Ani-la Kelsang Chokyi for her assistance in typing and
bringing the work to completion.
Gyatsho Tshering Director
February 1982
? Contents
Preface vii Introduction ix
Part I:THEExCELLENTPAmoFOMNlscmNCE:Preliminary Practice of Dzog-pa-chen-po Long-chen Nying-thig
Homage 2
1 Prayer Invoking the Mind-stream of the Gracious Lama 3
2 Refuge 8
3 Activating the Awakening Mind 9
4 Meditation and Recitation of Vajrasattva 9
5 Mat:tc;lala offering 11
6 The Yogi-mendicant's Accumulation of Merit 11
7 Unification with the Spiritual Master (Guru Yoga) 12
8 Prayer to the Lamas of the Lineage 16
9 Receiving the Four Empowerments 18
10 Dedication 21 11 Special Prayers of Aspiration 21
Part II :THE SUMMARY oF PRAcnCE: A Commentary to the Longchen Nying-thig
1 The Common Preliminary Practice 25 1 The Necessity for Dharma 25 2 The Necessity for the Preliminary Practices 25 3 The Actual Preliminary Practices 27
i The Rare Privilege of a Human Rebirth 28 ii The Impermanence of Life 29 iii Karma: the Cause and Result of Action 31 iv TheSufferingofSamsara 33 v The Benefits of Liberation 34 vi The Value of a Spiritual Guide 35
? vi
2 The Uncommon Preliminary Practice 36 1 Going for Refuge 37 2 Activating the Awakening Mind 39 3 Meditation and Recitation of Vajrasattva 43 4 Mar,t<;fala Offering 46 5 Prostrations 48
3 The Actual Path 50 1 Unification with the Spiritual Master (Guru Yoga) 50 2 Prayers to the Lamas of the Lineage 58 3 Receiving the Four Empowerments 59 4 Dedication 59
Part III: THE NINE YaNAS
A Guide to the Approaches to Enlightenment 63 1 The Three Causal Vehicles 64 2 The Six Resultant Vehicles 67
i. The Three External Tantras 68 ii. The Three Internal Tantras 70
Notes 77 Tibetan Text 79
? Preface
The first part of this book is a direct translation of the liturgy on the Preliminary Practices of the Long-ch'en Nying-thig (Klong. chen. snying. thig. ) tradition of the Great Completeness, or Dzog-ch'en (rdzogs. chen; mahasandhi) teaching. The text is entitled The Ex- cellent Path to Omniscience (rnam. mkhyen. lam. bzang) written by the All-knowing Jig-me-ling-pa ('jigs. med. gling. pa) (1729-1798), and compiled by the first Do-drub-ch'en (rdo. grub. chen) (1745- 1821). Jig-me-ling-pais considered the founder of the Long-ch'en Nying-thig tradition, and Do-drub-ch'en is looked upon as the prin- ciple holder of the doctrine. It is in effect a condensed practical handbook of Buddhism for followers of the Vajrayana school of Mahayana Buddhism. Its main subject, though not its sole concern, is the preliminary practices or that which "goes before" (sngon. 'gro) the actual practice. However, this is somewhat misleading, since it also contains a complete course of practice for achieving Buddhahood itself.
A line by line translation of the full text has been prepared and precedes the Tibetan root text. A few sub-headings have been added for clarity, but these have been placed in parentheses.
The second part of the book is summation of the liturgy, giving a brief yet comprehensive explanation of the method of practice. this summary draws upon instructions I have received from my principle Lamas and from the following texts:
1. Kun. bzang. bla. ma'i. zhal. lung. by sPal. sprul. Rin. po. ch'e.
2. Khrid. yig. dran. pa. nyer. bzhag. by Kun. mkhyen. 'Jigs. med. gLing. pa. 3. rNam. mkhyen. Iam. bzang. gsal. byedby mKhyen. brtse'i. dbang. po. 4. Thar. lam. gsal. byed. sgron. me. by 'Gro. 'dul. dPa. bo. rdo. rje.
5. Rig. 'dzin. zhal. lung. by mKhan. po. ch'e mch'og. don. grub.
The third part of the book contains a brief outline of the Nine Vehicles of the Nying-ma (rnying. ma) school on the basis of the books of Long-ch'en-pa, Jig-me-ling-pa and others. The kind and
? viii
able assistance of Mr. Perna Lodro Gyatsho made it possible for me to render this work into English, and thereby make this small book available to its readers. I am greatly indebted to him. I also grate- fully acknowledge my thanks to Mr. Perna Thrinley Gyathso and other members of the Buddhayana Foundation, United States of America, for sponsoring the preparation and translation of several works, including this one, in the United States.
Thanks to Ani-la Kelsang Chokyi (Dee) for her assistance in typing and bringing this work to completion.
My thanks also go to Mr. Gyatsho Tshering, the Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, for sponsor- ing the publication of this book. My appreciation also goes to Brian Beresford for his assistance and his work on editing the entire manu- script.
Tulku Thondup Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan1977
? Introduction
There are many different methods of teaching the Dharma that were expounded by the Buddha, the realized saints who followed after him in India and Tibet, and the traditional scholars. All of these are for the benefit of disciples of differing capabilities. For the practice of Dharma to be effective one should start at a level suited to one's own mental capacity. It is essential to understand the meaning of the teaching first of all through study. Trying to practice it without having studied it properly would be like trying to scale a cliff with- out hands. Conversely, a great deal of study and no practice would be like being surrounded by an abundance of food while dying of hunger. it is important, therefore, for the practice of Dharma to combine both understanding its meaning and trying to realize it through practice.
This text, the Dzog-chen Long-chen Nying-thig, belongs to the category of "Dharma Treasures" (gTer. chos) and the writings of the All-knowing Master, Jig-me Ling-pa. The tradition of the Long- chen Nying-thig in Tibet became very popular, and was a widely studied and practiced system within the Nyingmapa tradition, one of the four major Buddhist sects in Tibet. The Long-chen Nying- thig is a relatively new system, even though the teachings and the practices are basically the? same as the earlier Dzog-chen Nying- thig, which was broughfto :Tibet about the time of Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, in the eighth century. The lineages of transmis- sion of the Dzog-chen Nying-thig and the Long-chen Nying-thig are as follows:
1. The Dzog-chen Nying-thig Lineage
According to the tradition of the Nyingma school, Tibet's earliest, the highest teaching is known as the Great Completion, or Dzog- pa Chen-po (rdzogs. chen; mahiisal! lpatra or mahashiindi), or the Atiyoga direct" method for realizing the nature of the mind and attaining Buddhahood. The Nying-thig, or the "Essence of the
? X
Heart" teachings, precisely explain the various methods for directly actualizing the innermost teachings of the Dzog-pa Chen-po. The Dzog-chen Nying-thig, as a teaching, fundamentally deals with the expression of the doctrine of the Three Kayas, or the Three Perfect Bodies of a Fully Awakened Being, and they have arisen through the three systems of spiritual transmit:sion.
The first is known as the Mind Transmission of the Buddhas. In this system the teacher transmits the teachings to a disciple with- out using words or any other indication. The disciple attains a state of union with the teacher like a reflection of the moon in the still water, which mirrors a perfect likeness of the moon itself. This level of spiritual transmission is from the Primordial Buddha, Kun-tu Zang-po (kun. tu. bzang. po; Samantabhadra), on the level of the Dharmakaya, or Perfect Body of Truth. The Dzog-chen teachings are then passed on through the level of the Sal! lbhogakaya, the Perfect Body of Enjoyment, which includes the Five Dhyani Bud- dhas on the level of pure mystic vision.
The second level of spiritual transmission is known as the Knowledge-holders' Indication system. Here, a Knowledge-holder (rig. 'dzin; vidyadhara), a being who has direct and pure vision of the nature of reality, manifests to a receptive disciple and transmits the teaching by means of pronouncing a mantra or showing a sign. In this case the 5al! 'bhogakaya Being, Vajrasattva, mystically ap- peared before the Indian teacher Prahevajra who existed on the level of the Ni~r. :taka. ya, or Perfect Body of Manifestation, and in one instant transmitted all empowerments and instructions so that Prahevajra spontaneously and effortlessly attained Enlightenment. He in tum transmitted the teachings to his disciple Maiijushrimitra, who passed them on to Shrisiilha. Shrisiilha transmitted his insight to Jnanasiitra, Vimalamitra and Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche, the Indian Tantric saint who later brought them into TI- bet. Vimalamitra also received his teachings from Pramodhavajra and Maiijushrimitra, and Padmasal! lbhava himself also received the teaching directly from Maiijushrimitra.
The third system of spiritual transmission of the Dzog-chen lineage is that known as the Audial Transmission of the Yo&! -s. In this system the complete verbal empowerment and instructions are transmitted by word of mouth from practitioner to practitioner. This form of spiritual transmission in Tibet initially spread through two lineages in the beginning and the early part of the ninth cen- tury. One originates from Vimalamitra, the other from Guru
? Rinpoche. Vimalamitra transmitted the teachings in Tibet to Nyag Tmg-dzin Zang-po and King Tri-song De-tsen and other disciples. From Nyag this unbroken lineage of audial transmission came down to Long-chen Rab-jam, and through various spiritually real- ized teachers. The other lineage, from Guru? Rinpoche, was passed on to his disciple, the J? akini Yeshe Tso-gyal and Princess Pema- sal. The texts for these teachings were mystically concealed by Guru Rinpoche, to be unearthed later for the benefit of his disciples. These were later discovered by a male incarnation of the Princess, the teacher Perna Ui-tro-tsal, and in his next incarnation as Long-chen Rab-jam-pa. He expounded these teachings together with extraor- dinary commentaries.
The Innermost Essence teachings through the first lineage are known as the Vimala Nying-thig, and the second are known as the Kha-dro Nying-thig. In this way both of these Innermost Essence transmissions meet in Long-chen Rab-jam-pa, who lived from 1308- 1363. From him the uninterrupted audial transmission of these teachings have extended until the present day.
The three systems outlined above are divided here in a very general way. There were also numerous mystical saints and practi- tioners, both in India and Trbet, who received or gave teachings through the Mind or Indication spiritual transmissions.
2. The Dzog-chen Long-chen Nying-thig Lineage
In the eighteenth century the spiritual master Jig-me Ling-pa (1729- 1798), a reincarnation of the king Tri-song De-tsen, received the complete Dzog-chen Nying-thig teachings in a mystical vision from Manjushrimitra, Guru Rinpoche, Vunalamitra, and Long-chen Rab- jam-pa, through Mind, the Indication and the Audial transmissions, in the state of pure vision. In these visions he saw Long-chen Rab- jam-pa three times, received the blessings of being inseparable from the Spiritual Master and thereby the true state of Perfect Accom- plishment, or Buddhahood. He discovered the "Concealed Treas- ures of Dharma" (gter. chos) of the Long-chen Nying-thig, and thus founded this tradition. The Dzog-chen Nying-thig and the Long- chen Nying-thig are also known respectively as the Earlier and Later Nying-thig teachings. The lineage of Audial transmission through which these have reached my teacher, the Fourth Do-drub-chen Rinpoche, is as follows:
xi
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
This form of spiritual transmission in Tibet initially spread through two lineages in the beginning and the early part of the ninth cen- tury. One originates from Vimalamitra, the other from Guru
? Rinpoche. Vimalamitra transmitted the teachings in Tibet to Nyag Tmg-dzin Zang-po and King Tri-song De-tsen and other disciples. From Nyag this unbroken lineage of audial transmission came down to Long-chen Rab-jam, and through various spiritually real- ized teachers. The other lineage, from Guru? Rinpoche, was passed on to his disciple, the J? akini Yeshe Tso-gyal and Princess Pema- sal. The texts for these teachings were mystically concealed by Guru Rinpoche, to be unearthed later for the benefit of his disciples. These were later discovered by a male incarnation of the Princess, the teacher Perna Ui-tro-tsal, and in his next incarnation as Long-chen Rab-jam-pa. He expounded these teachings together with extraor- dinary commentaries.
The Innermost Essence teachings through the first lineage are known as the Vimala Nying-thig, and the second are known as the Kha-dro Nying-thig. In this way both of these Innermost Essence transmissions meet in Long-chen Rab-jam-pa, who lived from 1308- 1363. From him the uninterrupted audial transmission of these teachings have extended until the present day.
The three systems outlined above are divided here in a very general way. There were also numerous mystical saints and practi- tioners, both in India and Trbet, who received or gave teachings through the Mind or Indication spiritual transmissions.
2. The Dzog-chen Long-chen Nying-thig Lineage
In the eighteenth century the spiritual master Jig-me Ling-pa (1729- 1798), a reincarnation of the king Tri-song De-tsen, received the complete Dzog-chen Nying-thig teachings in a mystical vision from Manjushrimitra, Guru Rinpoche, Vunalamitra, and Long-chen Rab- jam-pa, through Mind, the Indication and the Audial transmissions, in the state of pure vision. In these visions he saw Long-chen Rab- jam-pa three times, received the blessings of being inseparable from the Spiritual Master and thereby the true state of Perfect Accom- plishment, or Buddhahood. He discovered the "Concealed Treas- ures of Dharma" (gter. chos) of the Long-chen Nying-thig, and thus founded this tradition. The Dzog-chen Nying-thig and the Long- chen Nying-thig are also known respectively as the Earlier and Later Nying-thig teachings. The lineage of Audial transmission through which these have reached my teacher, the Fourth Do-drub-chen Rinpoche, is as follows:
xi
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? xii
JIG-ME LING-PA (1729-1798) 1st Do-drub-chen Jig-me Trin-Hi 0-zer (1745-1821)
II ChO. . kyiILO-dro 4th Dzog-chen
Rinpoche (1793-? )
Gyal-se Zhan-pan T'a-ya (18DO-? )
I<hen-pJ Padma Dor-je (Dam-cho 5-zer)
Jig-me G~al-wa'i Nft! -gyu
3rd Do-Drllb-chen Rinpoche
(1865-1926)
II
I
5th Dzog-chen Rinpoche (1872-? )
Gya-roog Jam-biil
I<hyen-tse Cho-kyi
LQ-dro (1893-1959)
Ge-kong Khen-po Kun-pal
Jam-yang Khyen-tse'i Wang-po (1820-1892)
4th Do-drub-chen 11mb-ten Trin-la Pal-zang-po (1927-)
? ? Part -1 The Excellent Path of
Omniscience
The Preliminary Practices of Long-chen-pa's "Innermost Essence for the Great Completion: Dzog-pa Chen-po"
Tibetan
rDzogs-pa chen-po kLong-chen snying-thig sngon-'gro
Composed by
The Knowledge-holding master Jig-me Ling-pa
Compiled by
The first D<rdrub-chen Rinpoche, Jig-me Trin-lii WO-zer
? Homage
_,__
You who have attained Buddhahood primordially but have never ceased appearing as the perfect body of form (riipakaya) for whomsoever is receptive to it;
Exhibiting various illusory manifestations yet free from both the grasping mind and its object, the body-mind constituents, sensory spheres and bases;
Appearing in human form while in fact a Buddha, radi- ating thousands of light rays comprising wisdom and compassion;
I depend on you for firm refuge not simply for this life but forever; bestow your blessings upon me.
? Preliminaries of Long-chen-pas "Innermost Essence for the Great Completion"
in eleven parts:
-l--
1. Prayer Invoking the Mind-stream of the Gracious Lama
0 Lama! 0 Lama! 0 Lama!
[Having invoked the presence of the Lama with intense devotion, recite thefollowing:]
From the blossoming lotus of devotion at the center of my heart
Sole protector, gracious Lama, arise!
For my protection against misfortune,
From torment by the vicious legacy of actions and de-
filements
Be enshrined as the ornament in the Wheel of Great Bliss
on the crown of my head;
Let there arise in me total recollection and mindfulness.
[The rarity ofa human rebirth characterized by eight freedoms and ten endowments. ]
At this time, I have gained this leisure free fro~ the eight kinds of bondage:
From hell, hungry ghost and animal realms;
From the realms of the long-lived gods, barbarians and
perverse philosophers;
From being a fool, from a place in which no Buddha has
appeared.
To have been born a human being complete with sen-
sory faculties, in a central land congenial to Dharma, Not to have reverted to extreme wrong deeds and to have
faith in the Buddhist teachings;
? 4
These comprise the five personal endowments.
When a Buddha has appeared,
Has expounded the tru~ of_Dharma,
When the teachings surVive and are being-followed, And when one has'been accepted by a spiritual friend;
these are the five circumstantial endowments, Which, despite my posses~ing thein completely, may
become wasted in this life
By uncertain circumstances,
Giving cause for birth into this transitory world again. 0 Guru, Rinpoche, tum my mind towards th~ Dharma. Long-chen-pa and Jig-me-ling-pa, exalted and all-know-
ing, let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior
path.
0 Lama, you who are one with them: Hear me!
If this present opportunity to practice Dharma is not taken seriously,
In the future this basis for achieving liberation will. not be regained.
Once the merits that gave cause for this happy existence have been consumed,
I will wander after death as an inferior being through the lower realms.
Unable to differentiate virtue from non-virtue I will not hear the sound of Dharma,
Nor will I meet with a virtuous spiritual friend-indeed a great disaster.
Merely to think about the numberless variety of sentient beings
Is to realize that obtaining a human body is just barely possible.
To see mankind doing non-virtue, irreligious acts,
Is to realize that those who act spiritually are as rare as
stars in broad daylight.
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma:a AII-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
? [Tize eight unfree states caused by temporal events]
Even had I arrived at this jewel island, the human form, An impoverished mind in such an auspicious body Could not be a basis befitting the accomplishment of lib-
eration.
Especially: to be entrapped by harmful influences or
polluted by the five poisons,
To be struck by the lightening of non-virtue Karma or to
be distracted by laziness,
To be enslaved by others, to practice Dharma as a de-
fence from fear or with pretension,
Or to be thick-headed and the like, are the eight unfree
states caused by temporal events.
When these utter contradictions to Dharma are visited
upon me,
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma. All-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
[The eight unfree states caused by mental abe"ation]
To lack remorse and the jewel of faith,
To be bound by the lasso of desire and greed or to be-
have crudely,
Not to refrain from unskillful and non-virtue actions, or
to live by dishonest means,
To undermine one's vows and rend precepts asunder; These are the eight unfree states caused by mental aber-
ration.
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma. All-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
[Impenuanence oflife]
At present I am not tormented by sufferings and illness. I have not come under the control of others, such as be-
ing a slave.
5
? 6
So while I have this opportunity of independence, If I waste the fortunate human life by idleness, No question of retinue, wealth, or relations,
But this very body which I cherished
Will be removed from bed and taken to a deserted place, To be eaten by foxes, vultures and dogs,
At that time,
In the Bardo, I will feel terrible fear:
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma. All-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
[Karma: the cause and result ofaction]
The result of non-virtue and virtuous Karmas will fol- low after me.
[Tize suffering ofsai[LSara]
Especially if I am born in the realm of hell,
On a ground of burning iron my body and head will be
cut by instruments,
Split by saws and crushed by burning hammers.
I will cry for help, suffocating in a doorless (burning)
iron house.
Pierced by burning spears and boiled in molten iron
I will bum in extremely hot fire-the eight (hot hells). Amid snow mountains and freezing cold water,
In a place of terrible distress and fear, I will be blasted by
blizzards.
Beaten by very cold winds, my flesh will have
Blisters, glaring wounds.
I will bewail without ceasing, and
By these feelings of unbearable suffering,
Like a sick and dying man whose strength is exhausted, I will experience gasping, clenching of teeth, and thea
cracking of the skin,
Flesh emerging from the wounds, broad cracks of the
skin: the eight (cold hells).
Likewise I shall experience being cut on a field of razors,
? My body cut in pieces in a forest of swords;
Trapped in disgusting mud; suffering in an expanse of
unfordable hot ashes:
The sub-hells and the changing hells.
Trapped in doors, pillars, stoves, ropes, etc.
Always used and exploited: the scattered hells.
When the cause of these 18 Hells-
Powerful angry thoughts-arises,
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma. All-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
[The suffering of the hungry ghosts]
In a poor and unpleasant land
Where the names of wealth, food, and drink had never
been known,
Food and drink cannot be found for months and years. The bodies of hungry ghosts
Are very feeble, and they are too exhausted to stand up:
the three types of hungry ghosts. The cause of their arising is miserliness.
[Tize suffering ofanimals]
In great fear of death by being eaten by one another, Exhausted by servitude and ignorant of what is good
and bad to do.
Being tormented by endless sufferings,
Of which the seed is the darkness of ignorance in which
I am wandering.
0 Guru Rinpoche, tum my mind towards the Dharma. All-knowing Long-chen-pa and exalted Jig-me-ling-pa,
let me not deviate into any wrong and inferior path. 0 Lama, you who are one with them:
Hear me!
[Recognizing oue's own faults]
I have entered the path of Dharma but do not restrain my wrong conduct.
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I have entered the door of the Mahayana, but lack the thought of the benefit of others.
I have received the Four Empowerments but am not practicing the Developing and Perfecting Stages.
0 Lama, protect me from this errant path.
Though the view is not realized, I act in a crazy manner; Though meditation wavers, I cling to hearsay;
Though my conduct is wrong, I ignore my faults;
0 Lama, protect me from indifference to Dharma.
Even if death comes tomorrow, I covet a house, clothes,
and wealth.
Even though youth has long since passed away, I lack
renunciation and revulsion,
Although little Dharma has been studied, I boast about
my scholarship,
0 Lama, protect me from this ignorance.
Although they lead me into (harmful) circumstances,
I wish for entertainments and pilgrimages,
Although I stay in solitary places, the ordinary mind re-
mains rigid like a tree.
I talk about discipline but do not eradicate desire and
hatred.
0 Lama,prot(>ctmefromtheseeight(worldly)Dharmas. Let me awaken quickly from thjs thick sleep.
Swiftly pull me out of this dark prison.
[Thus invoke strongly the compassion of the Guru. ]
2. Refuge
To the actual three rare and supreme Jewels,1 those Gone to Bliss2 to the Three Roots,3
To the nature of (physical) channels, energy and essence,? To the mal)~ala of the essence, nature and compassion
of the Awakening Mind,5
I go for refuge until the attainment of the quintessence
of awakening. "
[repeat tlzrcc times]
? 3. Activating the Awakening Mind
Deceived by myriad appearances like the moon's reflec- tion in water,
Sentient beings wander through the cyclic chain of lives; So they may be at ease7 in the luminescent expanse of
intrinsic awareness,"
I shall activate the Awakening Mind, contemplating on
the four boundless states. 9
[repeat three times]
4. Meditation and Recitation of Vajrasattva i. The visualization
AH:
In my ordinary form; above my head
Is a white lotus with a lunar seat in its fold:
From a HUI'yt above this arises the Lama as Vajrasattva White, translucent, the perfect body of complete enjoy-
ment,10
Holding a vajra and beU,and embracing his consort.
ii. Petition
I request your protection; purify my negativities. With intense regret I confess and acknowledge; Even at the cost of my life I shall abstain.
iii. Purification
Upon a full moon in your heart
Is the letter HUI'yt encircled by the mantra.
By invoking with the recitation of mantras
From the point of union of the deities' blissful play Flows nectar-clouds of bodhichitta
Falling like fine particles of camphor.
iv. Requesting
I implore you to utterly purify
Myself and all beings throughout the three realms11
Of our Karma and conflicting emotions, the cause of suf-
fering,
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As well as illness, harmful spirits, negativities, mental obscurations and transgressions of vows.
v. Mautra recitatiou
OM VAJRA SATIVA SAMAYA/MANU PALAYA/VAJRA SATIVA
TVENO PATISHTHTA/DRIDHO ME BHAVA/SUTOSH- YOMEBHAVA/ . . .
SU~HYOME BHAVA/ANURAKTOME BHAVA/SARVA SIDDHIMME PRAYACHCHHA/SARVA
KARMA SUCHA ME/CHmAM SHRIYAMH KURU HOM/ HAHAHAHAHOH . BHAGAVAN/SARVA. TATHAGATA/VAJRA MA ME
MUNCHA/V AJRI BHAVA/MAHASAMAYA SATIVA/A [recite as much as possible}
vi. lnvocatiou and dissolving the visualization
0 Protector,throughmylackofknowledgeandignorance I have transgressed and weakened the sacred pledges; 0 Lama, Protector, give me refuge.
Lord, Vajradhara, holder of the adamantine scepter Whose very nature is great compassion,
The lord of beings, to you I go for refuge.
I confess and acknowledge all transgressions of the root and branch commitments done physically, verbally and mentally. Please purify and cleanse away all strains of wrongdoings, emotional obscurations, errors and downfalls.
At these words, Vajrasattva, with a glad and smiling countenance says, "0 fortunate child, all your wrongdoings, obscurations and transgressions are purified. " So saying he merges into radiant light and dissolves into me. By this means I become Vajrasattva, apparent yet empty, like a reflection in a mirror. By visualizing the heart-sylla- ble HUtyl encircled by four letters, light rays are emitted so that all beings are the realms of the three worlds become perfected in the nature of awakened beings, Vajrasattva, the five Buddha families, maJ:t~alasand retinues.
Otyl VAJRASATIVA HUtyl
{recitiug as much as possible remain in meditative equipoise}
? 5. Ma~H~ala Offering
OIYt-AJ::I-Hillyt!
i. Nirnzanakiiya ma~ujala
A billion universes encompassing the three-thousand worlds
Filled with the wealth of gods and men and the seven precious jewels,
I offer in its entirety together with my body and posses- sions
That I may attain the state of a Dharma-ruler of the uni- verse.
ii. Smrzbhogakiiya ma~u! ala
By offering the ultimately blissful, beautifully arrayed pure realm of Akani~h! }la,
With assemblies of the five Buddha families endowed with the five certainties,
And inconceivable billowing clouds of offerings compris- ing the sensory objects,
May I enjoy the Buddha field of the perfect body of en- joyment-the Sal! lbhogakaya.
iii. Dhannakiiya ma~ujala
By offering utterly pure phenomenal appearances, the perfect body of the vase of immortality (eternal youth), Embellished by unimpeded compassion, and the play of
Reality Itself,
Together with the utterly pure apprehension of perfect
form and energy,
May I delight in the Buddha field of the perfect body of
truth-the Dharmakaya.
6. The Yogi-mendicant's Accumulation of Merit
Pha~!
By throwing out cherishing the body, the demon of the gods is destroyed.
The mind is shot out into the pure expanse through the fontanel,
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DestroyingthedemonofdeathandbecomingRudrani12 (the yogini)
Who wields the curved vajra blade in her right hand, which slays the demon of the conflicting emotions.
I annihilate the demon of the bodily aggregation by cut-
ting off my skull;
My left hand actively wrenches away the head
And places it upon a tripod stove of three human heads,
symbolizing the three perfect bodies.
In it is my corpse which fills the three-thousand-fold
universes;
The short AJ::I and HU~ syllables melt the corpse into the
nectar;
B y t h e p o w e r o f t h e t h r e e l e t t e r s {0~, A J : : I a n d H f i ? d i s -
solving into the offering), it is purified, increased and
transformed.
O~Al:fHU~!
[after reciting many times:]
Phat!
The wishes of the upper guests of offering are fulfilled The accumulations are perfected, and the common and
uncommon attainments are achieved.
The lower guests of saJ! lsara are satisfied and their debts
are paid.
Especially the harmful and obstructive spirits are satis-
fied
Illness, evil spirits, and obstacles are pacified into empty
space.
Harmful circumstances and clinging to self are blasted
to atoms.
Finally all the offering, offerer, and object of offering Dissolve into unmodified Dzog-pa Chen-po-Ah!
7. Unification with the Spiritual Master (Guru Yoga)
i. Visualization
E-MA-HO!
My perceptions spontaneously arise as the absolute pure realms,
The perfectly arrayed Glorious Copper-colored Moun- tain. In the center
? Is my own body but now as Vajra Yogini's;
Red and translucent, with one face and two hands, hold-
ing the curved vajra blade and skull-cup of blood. My two legs are placed in the "advancing posture" and
my three eyes gaze up into space.
Upon my head on an unfolding hundred-thousand-pet-
alled lotus,
Seated upon a sun and a moon, is the perfect emanation
body
Of Padmasaqtbhava, Saroruha Vajra,
The synthesis of all objects of refuge and inseparable from
my Root Lama.
His complexion is white with pinkish hue and he is
youthful in appearance.
He is attired in a gown, a monastic robe and brocade
cape,
Has one face, two arms and sits in the playful posture of
a king.
In his right hand he holds a vajra scepter, in the left a
skull-cup containing a vase of immortality.
He wears the lotus hat on his head,
And in the cleft of his left arm is the divine consort of
bliss and emptiness
Concealed in the form of the sacred I<ha~vanga trident. He sits amidst radiant rainbows, light rays and shim-
mering nuclei of light;
In the outer perimeters, in the expanse of an exquisite
lattice of five-colored light,
Are seated the 25 emanation disciples,
The spiritual scholars, realized sages, Knowledge-holders, divine meditational deities,
The J? akinis and Dharma protectors, all gathered like
billowing clouds;
They are perceived in the state of great equipoise of lu-
minescence and emptiness.
ii. Invitation
HU? !
In the northwest country of Uddiyana
Is the one (born) on the pistil stem of a lotus
And endowed with supreme marvelous attainments;
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Renowned as the Lotus Born One, Padmasa~bhava, and surrounded by a retinue of many c:f. ikinis.
I will practice by following you;
Please come forth to grace me with your inspiration. GURU PADMA SIDDI-fi HiJIYt:
iii. The Scvcm Aspects ofDevotional Practice
(A) HOMAGE AND PROSTRATION
By projecting my body to equal the atoms
In the universe I prostrate in homage to you.
(B) OFFERING
Offerings actually arrayed and those mentally emanated by the power of meditation-
!
