No More Learning

Here one actually observes the mind to see what sort of virtuous thoughts and what sort of unvirtuous thoughts occur. Because an understanding of the workings of consciousness is crucial for the practice of meditation, it is imponant to learn the ter- minology of the skandhas.
In the Vajrayana, the path of method, there is a funher development of the concept of the five skandhas, namely, their transformation. Here, once you have understood the skandhas, you can begin to consider how those factors can appear in either impure form or pure form. Since this is the path of method, one's concern is how to transform them. If you can recognize the five skandhas, it makes transformation easier. The impure skandhas become equivalent in their pure aspect to the Buddhas of the Five Families. But it is imponant to understand what the five skandhas are and how they really work, in order to see how they can manifest as the Five Buddhas. For example, some of the ornaments worn by the deities correspond to the fifty-one formations. If you don't know what these formations are, you cannot understand what the pure symbols adorning yidams and Buddhas represent. Thus by in- vestigating the five skandhas, one's understanding of Dharma, epecially the Secret Mantrayana, will gradually improve.
Q. . You said that one of the values of the teaching on the skandhas is to eliminate the view that there is a self. It seems to me that the
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174 The Dharma
Mind Only view which posits an eighth consciousness as the basis of all the different aspects of mind, karma and its effects, is moving back towards an affirmation of some kind of concrete individual.
A. What we have been talking about is the functioning of the mind of a sentient being. When the person becomes enlightened and becomes a Buddha, the distinction between the Mind only school and the Madhyamaka school dissolves, since the Basic Consciousness (the eight consciousness) is transformed into the Dhannakaya. With regard to unliberated consciousness, there seems to be a slight dif- ference between the schools. With regard to liberated mind, there is no distinction.
There are many different philosophical positions, and it's not necessarily the case that one is right and one is wrong. What is im- portant is that a teaching further your understanding and benefit your mind. There are many ways of explaining reality at different levels of understanding.
Q. . How can we use the description of the skandhas to look into our minds? Is it just a system of classification, or can we actually use it as a tool so that it will help us on the Vajrayana path?
A. There are many ways to use this teaching. The five skandhas are taught in a general sense to eliminate ignorance. The more you understand, the less ignorance you have. There are different meditative methods by which you can observe each of the skandhas. Kalu Rinpoche has also taught a special Vajrayana method of meditation on the five skandhas.
Q. . Are the five skandhas related to the concept of mandala?
A. There is a very close relationship. The skandhas represent the im? pure aspects of things. When the skandhas are purified they manifest as a mandala, which is based on the five Buddhas and the five wisdoms. A famous teaching by Milarepa says that in its impure aspect, the world is the five skandhas; in its pure aspect, it's the five Buddhas; in its impure aspect, it's the five emotional afflictions; in its pure aspect, it's the five wisdoms.
Important to the Secret Mantra Vajrayana are the elements of symbol and meaning. Symbol is example-like mandalas and tanka
[thang ka] paintings. Meaning is what is actually experienced in one's
practice. The attainment of the stage of Buddhahood really has to do with one's own stream of being when it is purified, not when it is impure. Following the example of symbolic transformation, one brings about liberation through the meaning of one's practice.
Principally, the teaching of the five skandhas destroys ego? clinging, which is synonymous with the emotionally afflicted con? sciousness. All Dharma is taught as a remedy to ego-clinging. As at? tachment to the self becomes stronger and stronger, it becomes the? main cause of our immeasurable suffering and unhappiness. On the other hand, you experience peace and happiness to the extent to which your clinging has lessened.
Tilopa* was not a man of many words. He would say very little to his student Naropa. But he did tell him that appearances are not the cause of our bondage to samsara. What binds us to samsara is our attachment to those things, and it is . that which we must cut. At? tachment to external sense impressions and an internal ego only binds one more and more to existence, and especially to the lower realms. To the degree that we can reduce our attachment, life im- proves: we are able to meditate and practice the Dharma more easi? ly, and gradually extricate ourselves from the cycle of existence and suffering.
Kalu Rinpoche teaches that one should eat inferior food, wear tattered clothing, and so forth. In that way, one will be much hap? pier and have less suffering. Rinpoche himself has no need for fine things, and whenever he sees his students with fancy clothes or possessions he is displeased. He doesn't say too much about this, but he really doesn't approve of vanity.
It is really true that if you want to be a good Dharma practi? cioner, you shouldn't have many activities and be very busy with all sorts of plans and things to remember all the time. When I was lit? de, I was very happy because I didn't have anything to worry about; all I owned were some texts. I had no money, and just maintained a very simple practice of Dharma and meditation. Later on, I became
*The Indian Mahasiddha, teacher of Naropa. Naropa"s quest for, and discipleship to. Tilopa are rich sources for stories about the difficulties that the Lama con? trives in order to train his student.
The Five Skandhas 175
176 The Dharma
busy and had much work to do, so I now know how difficult activity can be.
Medz. tatz"on Practz"ce
Let us complete our study with a short period of meditation on the shortcomings of samsara. This is an unhappy subject, so while you are meditating on this, you should sit in the position that I am in now, with one knee bent, elbow resting on knee, and head in hand- the posture of sorrow.
The six realms of samsara are completely filled with suffering, without even a hair's tip of happiness, like a pit of blazing fire. Wherever one might be reborn, there is only suffering. Reflect in detail on the sufferings of the each of the realms. For example, think of the fact that those in the god realm have to foresee their rebirth in the lower realm of suffering; that human beings suffer birth, illness, old age, and death; that animals are forced into service, or kill and eat each other; that hungry ghosts endure intense hunger and thirst; that hell-beings undergo unbelievable heat and cold. There is no en- during happiness whatsoever in any part of Samsara, whether it be the lower realms or even the higher realms.
Although suffering plagues all the realms, beings in the three lower realms are completely engulfed in it. There, through the cause of powerful hatred, desire and stupidity, suffering is unavoidable; it cannot be circumvented by any means. In our pres- ent lives we feel a great deal of pain if our skin is pierced by a needle or if we are out in the cold for a day; but those in the hells undergo kalpas of extreme heat and cold and excruciating pain.
If we go for a day or two without food and water, we know how difficult this is. But in the hungry ghost realm, beings have no con- trol over their environment, and they have to go for unimaginable lengths of time without even a drop of water. We should reflect deeply upon such suffering.
As for animals, they are either constantly fighting with each other or hunting, killing and eating each other. Human beings force some of them to work; their state is one of perpetual fear and unhappiness.
In the human realm, even here in America, one of the best places a human being can be, there is suffering of all kinds. There
are many luxuries which may give us some physical comfort, but mental happiness is really very hard to find, and there isn't a single person who doesn't have some kind of suffering or problem. Con- sider this, and then think of humans living right now in other coun- tries and situations, people who are very poor, who don't have all the things that they need, and who have much more suffering. Finally, all humans, no matter what their situation, have sickness, old age and death.
In their realm, the Asuras continually fight with the gods; they are embroiled in jealousy and constantly suffer the pains of making war. The gods in the lower pan of the sixth, highest, realm are those who fight the Asuras, and so they also suffer this combat. In the up- per pan of the gods' realm, there are tremendous luxuries and a feeling of happiness. Yet there is also latent suffering, because once the god's stock of merit has been exhausted, he must fall back into one of the other five realms of suffering. Thus, suffering is pervasive even in the higher realms.
Think about these various realms of samsara. Feeling fear at the prospect of being born in one or another of them, you begin to wonder, "How can I possibly get out of this cycle? What method can prevent me from experiencing this suffering? " Reflect that this is not your problem alone: all beings face this situation, including your mother and father and every other sentient being. Generate great compassion for their situation.
Now visualize that in the space in front of you, your own Root Lama appears in the form of Chenrezi. He says, "The nature of samsara is like a hot, burning fire. You need to bathe away the suf- fering of the lower realms by means of compassion. " You then pray, "I have been wandering in samsara for a very long time. Now that I am practicing your teaching, with your great kindness please help me to enter the Buddha's Pure Realm. " Promise that you will help all sentient beings to enter the Pure Realm also, and will not just save yourself.
Then imagine that light rays emanate from Chenrezi's bean, touch your bean, and guide you to the Pure Realm of Dewachen. Next, light rays come from your heart and touch all sentient beings in the universe, leading them to Dewachen. In this way meditate un- distractedly on great compassion.
The Five Skandha. s 177
178 The Dharma
Now, sit in good meditation posture. From among the five skandhas, concentrate on the skandha of consciousness. Meditate undistractedly on mind's lucid awareness. Its essence is empty, its aspect is clear, and its nature is unimpeded.
Now that we have finished, we should dedicate the merit. When one meditates or explains the Dharma, it is imponant to share whatever roots of vinue one has accumulated with all living beings. In addition we should also make prayers of aspiration for the ultimate attainment of Buddhahood for everyone; for the world to be free of sickness, war, and famine; that the precious teaching of the Buddha endure and those who promulgate it live long.
OUTLINE OF THE FIVE SKANDHAS
I. FORM (zuk chi pung po [gzugs kyi phung po]) rupaskandha (Skt. )
A. Four Types of Causal Form (ju yi zuk [rgyu'i gzugs]) 1. Earth (sa [sa])
2. Water (chu [chu]) S. Fire (me [me])
4. Wind (lung [rlung])
B. Eleven Types ofResultant Form (dray bu zuk ['bras bu'i gzugs]), divided into three main categories:
1. The Five Sense Faculties (wang po nga [dbang po lnga]) 2. The Five Sense Objects (ton nga [don lnga])
S. The Eleventh Form (zuk chu chik pa [gzugs bcu gcig pa])
a) The Five Sense Faculties
(1) Eye Faculty (mik ki wang po [mig gi dbang po]) (2) Ear Faculty (na way wang po [rna ba'i dbang po]) (S) Nose Faculty (na yi wang po [sna'i dbang po])
(4) Tongue Faculty (che yi wang po [Ice'i dbang po]) (5) Body Faculty (lu chi wang po [Ius kyi dbang po])
b) The Five Sense Objects
(1) Sights (zuk [gzugs]) (a) Classified by color (b) Classified by shape
(2) Sounds (dra [sgra]) (a) Sentient sounds (b) Unsentient sounds (c) Venerable sounds
(3) Smells (tri [dri]) (4) Tastes (ro [ro])
(a) Sweet (b) Sour (c) Bitter (d) Salty
The Five Skandhas 179
180 The Dharma
(e) Acid
(f) Astringent
(5) Tactiles (rek ja [reg bya])
c) Eleventh Form
Some examples of the Eleventh Form:
(1) Atomic Form (dul tra rab chi zuk [rdul phra rab kyi gzugs])
(2) Imagined Form (kun tak chi zuk [kun btags kyi gzugs])
(3) Form Seen Through Meditation (wang jor way zuk [dbang 'byor ba'i gzugs])
(4) Unapparent Form, e. g. , the form of vows (rik che rna yin pay zuk [rig byed rna yin pa'i gzugs])
II. SENSATION (tsor way pung po [tshor ba'i phung po] vedan- askandha (Skt. )
A. Bodily Sensations (lu chi tsor wa [Ius kyi tshor ba]) 1. Pleasurable
2. Painful 3. Neutral
B. Mental Sen. sation. s (yi chi tsor wa [yid kyi tshor ba]) 1. Pleasurable
2. Painful
III. RECOGNITION (du she chi pung po ['du shes kyi phung po]) samjnaskandha (Skt. )
A. Two Aspects:
1. Identification (ton Ia tsen mar dzin pa [don Ia mtshan
mar 'dzin pa])
2. Differentiation (ta nyay Ia tsen mar dzin pa [tha snyad Ia
mtshan mar 'dzin pa])
B. Three Scopes
1. Small (Objects within the Desire Realm) (chung ngu
[chung ngu])
2. Extensive (Objects within all the Realms of Samsara) (ja che wa [rgya che ba])
3. Immeasurable (Only accessible to beings of the Formless Realm and beyond, i. e. , Buddhas) (tsay me (mtshad med])
IV. FORMATION (du che chi pung po ['du byed kyi phung po]) samskaraskandha (Skt. )
These 51 states may be: virtuous, unvirtuous, neither, or variable.
A. The Five Pervasive Mental States (kun dro nga [kun 'gro lnga]) 1. Intention (sem pa [sems pa])
2. Concentration (yi Ia che pa [yid Ia byed pa])
3. Contact (rek pa [reg pa])
B.
4. Sensation (tsor wa [tshor ba]) 5. Recognition (du she ('du shes])
The Five Determinative States (yul nge che nga [yul nges byed lnga])
6. Resolution (dun pa ('dun pa])
7. Interest (mo pa [mos pa])
8. Recollection (dren pa [dran pa])
9. Samadhi (ting nge dzin [ting nge 'dzin])
10. Wisdom (she rap [shes rab])
C. The Eleven Virtuous Mental Occurrances 11. Faith (tay pa [dad pa])
a) Faith of Yearning (do pay tay pa ('dod pa'i dad pa]) b) Trusting Faith (yi che pay tay pa (yid ches pa'i dad pa]) c) Clear faith (dang way tay pa [dang ba'i dad pa])
12. Carefulness (pa yo pa [bag yod pa])
13. ThoroughTraining(shintujangwa[shintusbyangba]) 14. Equanimity (tang nyom [btang snyoms])
15. Sense of Propriety (ngo tsa she pa [ngo tsha shes pa]) 16. Considerateness (trel yo pa (khrel yod pa])
17. Non-attachment (rna chak pa (rna chags pa])
18. Lack of Hatred (she dang me pa (zhe sdang med pa]) 19. Lack of Stupidity (ti muk me pa (gti mug med pa])
The Five Skandhas 181
182 The Dharma
20. Complete Harmlessness (nam parmi tse wa [rnam par mi 'tshe ba])
21. Diligence (tson dru [brtson 'grus])
D. The Twenty-Six Unvirtuous Mental Occurences
The Six Root Defilements (tsa way nyon mong druk [rtsa ba'i nyon mongs drug])
22. Ignorance (rna rik pa [rna rig pa]) 23. Desire (do chak [dod chags])
a. Desire of Desire (in Desire Realm) (do pay do chak ['dod pa'i 'dod chags])
b. Desire for Existence (in Upper Realms) (si pay do chak [srid pa'i 'dod chags])
24. Hatred (she dang [zhe sdang]) 25. Pride (nga jal [nga rgyal])
26. Doubt (te tsom [the tshom]) 27. View (ta wa [Ita ba])
a) View based on the perishable aggregates. i. e.
, a belief in a self (jig tsok Ia ta wa ['jig tshogs Ia Ita ba])
b) View of holding to extremes (eternalism or nihilism) (tar dzin pay ta wa [mthar 'dzin pa'i Ita ba])
c) Opposite view (lok par ta wa [log par Ita ba])
d) Holding one's own views as supreme (ta wa chok dzin
[Ita ba mchog 'dzin])
e) Holding one's morality and discipline as supreme (tsul
trim tang tul shuk chok dzin [tshul khrims dang bnul
zhugs mchog 'dzin])
Views are further distinguished as:
(1) Innate (len chay [lhan skyes]) (2) Acquired (kun tak [kun btags])
The Twenty Subsidiary Emotional Afflictions (nye way nyon mong nyi shu [nye ba'i nyon mongs nyi shu])
28. Wrath (tro wa [khro ba])
29. Malice (kon du dzin pa [khon du 'dzin pa])
30. Rage (tsik pa ['tshig pa])
31. Vindictiveness (nam par tse wa [rnam par 'tshe ba]) 32. jealousy (trak dok [phrag dog])
33. Deceitfulness (yo [gyo])
34. Hypocrisy (ju [sgyu])
35. Shamelessness (ngo tsa me pa [ngo tsha med pa])
36. Inconsiderateness (trel me pa [khrel med pa])
37. Concealment (chap pa ['chab pa])
38. Greed (ser na [ser sna])
39. Vanity (jak pa [rgyags pa])
40. Lack of faith (rna tay pa [rna dad pa])
41. Laziness (le lo [le lo])
42. Carelessness (pa me pa [bag med pa])
43. Forgetfulness (je ngay [brjed ngas])
44. Lack of conscience (shay shin min pa [shes bzhin min
pa])
45. Fogginess (muk pa [rmugs pa])
46. Wildness (go pa [rgod pa])
47. Distraction (nam par yeng wa [mam par gyeng ba])
E. The Four Van"able Occurrences (shen jur shi [gzhan gyur bzhi])
48. Sleep (nyi [gnyid])
49. Remorse (jo pa ['gyod pa])
50. Investigation (tok pa [rtog pa]) 51. Examination (cho pa [dpyod pa])
V. CONSCIOUSNESS(namshechipungpo[mamssheskyiphung po] vijnanaskandha (Skt. )
A. The Eight Types:
1. Eye consciousness (mik ki nam she [mig gi mam shes])
2. Nose consciousness (na yi nam she [sna'i mam shes])
3. Ear consciousness (na way nam she [rna ba'i rnam shes])
4. Tongueconsciousness(cheyinamshe[lche'imamshes])
5. Body consciousness (lu chi nam she [Ius kyi mam shes])
6. Mind consciousness (yi chi nam she [yid kyi mam shes])
7. Afflicted consciousness (nyon mong yi chi nam she [nyon
mongs yid kyi mam shes])
8. Basic consciousness (kun shi nam she [kun gzhi mam
shes])
The Five Skandhas 183

Appendix 2
Glossary
It is important to note that the definitions in this glossary are zntended to z"dentify and clanfy technical terms only as they are used in this book. They are in no way comprehensive deftnitz"ons applying to all Buddhist usages. Many of the terms have significantly dif-
ferent senses zn other contexts and other Buddhist tradz"tions. Dz"rect quotatz"ons, unless otherwise noted, are drawn from the chapters ofthis book and are zntroduced here to serve as reminders
offuller discussions zn the text.
Abhidharma (Skt. ) cho ngon pa (chos mngon pa] (Tib. ) The sec- tion of Buddhist scriptures concerned with philosophical, cosmological, and psychological analysis.
Alayavijiiina see Kiin shi nam she
Anuttarayogatantra (Skt. ) naljor Ia name pay jii [mal'byor bla na med pa'i rgyud] (Tib. ) "The highest of the four levels of Vajrayana teachings. "
Arhat (Skt. ) dra chom pa (dgra bcom pa] (Tib. ) One who has "con- quered the enemy," that is, the "emotions and ignorance that keep one locked in Samsara. " The Arhat represents the Hinayana ideal, one who has experienced the cessation of suffering.
186 The Dharma
Asuras (Skt. ) lha min [lha min] (Tib. ) Envious gods who occupy a realm adjacent to the human realm in Samsara. "They live in con- tinual strife," beset by possessiveness, paranoia, and jealousy of the gods.
Avalokiteivara see Chenrezi
Bardo [bar do] (Tib. ) Literally, "between two. " In general, any in- terval, a "between. " Six bardos are usually spoken of in the Va- jrayana teachings:
1. The Death Process (Tib. : chi kay bar do ['chi kha'i bar do]) The interval from the moment when the individual begins to die until the moment "when the separation of the mind and body takes place. "
2. The Cho nyi Bardo (Tib. : cho nyi bar do [chos nyid bar do])
The interval of the ultimate nature of phenomena (the Dharmata), when the mind is plunged into its own nature. The first phase of the after-death experience.
3. The Bardo of Becoming (Tib. : si pay bar do [srid pa'i bar do])
The interval in which the mind moves towards rebirth.
4. The Bardo between Birth and Death (Tib. : che shi bar
do [skye shi'i bar do])
Ordinary waking consciousness during the present lifetime.
5. Dream (Tib. : milam bar do [rmi lam bar do]) The dream state we experience in sleep.
6. Meditative concentration (Tib. : sam ten bar do [bsam gtan bar do])
The state of meditative stability.
Recently in the West "bardo" has been used to refer only to the first three of these, that is, the states between death and rebirth. These states are no more and no less illusory than dreams and ordinary waking consciousness.
Bhi. lqu see Gelong
Bhilmi (Skt. ) sa [sa] (Tib. )
Literally "ground. " One of the ten stages of realization and activity through which a Bodhisattva progresses towards Enlightenment. The ten bhumi. s are:
1. The Supremely Joyful (Tib. : rap tu ga wa [rab tu dga' ba]: Skt. : pramudita).
2. The Stainless (Tib. : dri rna me pa [dri rna med pa]: Skt. : vimala).
S. The Illuminating (Tib. : o che pa ['od byed pa]: Skt. : prabhakari).
4. The Radiant (Tib. : o tro wa ['od 'phro ba]: Skt. : ar-
ci~mati).
5. Very Difficult to Train For (Tib. : shin tu jang ka wa [shin tu sbyang dka' ba]: Skt. : sudurjaya).
6. The Manifesting (Tib. : ngon du jur pa [mngon du gyur pa]: Skt. : abhimukhi).
7. The Far Going (Tib. : ring du song wa [ring du song ba]: Skt. : diirarilgama).
8. The Unwavering (Tib. : mi yo wa [mi gyo ba]: Skt. : acala).
9. Excellent Intelligence (Tib. : lek pay lo dro [legs pa'i blo gros]: Skt. : sadhumati).
10. Cloud of Dharma (Tib. : cho chi trin [chos kyi sprin]: Skt. : dharmamehga).
Bindu see Tig le
Bodhicitta (Skt. ) chang chup chi sem [byang chub kyi sems] (Tib. ) The Enlightened Attitude proclaimed by the Mahayana-the aspiration to rescue all sentient beings from the sufferings of cyclic existence and bring them to Enlightenment, and perseverance in deeds and practice towards that end. The development of the Enlightened Attitude is an indispensable part of all Vajrayana prac- tice as well.
Bodhisattva (Skt. ) chang chup sem pa [byang chub sems dpa;] (Tib. ) One who has taken the great vow to rescue all beings from suffering and guide them to Enlightenment.
Glossary 187
188 The Dharma
Body of Completely Ripened Karma nam min ji Iii [roam smin gyi Ius] (Tib. ) The body of the individual regarded as a result of his own past acts, the "seemingly solid, concrete projection of mind that is the physical body. "
Chem che [skye mched] (Tib. ) ayatana (Skt. ) field of sense percep- tion. There are twelve fields: one for each of the six sense faculties, and one for each of their sensory objects.
Che nay bardo [skye gnas bar do] (Tib. ) The bardo of the birth pro- cess. See Bardo.
Che rim [bskyed rim] (Tib. ) utpattikrama (Skt. ) The development phase of meditation, q. v.
Che shi Bardo (skye shi'i bar do] (Tib. ) The bardo between birth and death. See Bardo.
Che wa [skye ba] (Tib. ) Birth. The eleventh Nidana, q. v.
Chenrezi [spyan ras gzigs] (Tib. ) Avalokite5vara (Skt. ) The Bodhisattva of Compassion.
Chi ka Bardo ['chi kha'i bar do] (Tib. ) the Bardo at the time of death. See Bardo.
Chin kor see Ma~c;l. ala
Cho nyi Bardo (chos nyid bar do] (Tib. ) See Bardo.
Clarity sal wa [gsal ba] (Tib. ) One of the three intrinsic qualities of mind. the other two being Emptiness and Unimpededness; it cor- responds to the Sambhogakaya (q. v. ) aspect of Enlightenment, and is the mind's "inherent ability to experience. "
Compassion nying je [snying rje] (Tib. ) ka~a (Skt. ) Three levels of compassion are identified in the Mahayana:
1. Compassion with reference to all sentient beings.
2. Compassion with reference to all phenomena.
3. Completely non-referential or objecdess compassion.
Dasabhiimi (Skt. ) sa chu [sa bcu] (Tib. ) The ten stages of Bodhisat- tva realization. (See Bhumi).
D e p e n d e n t O r i g i n a t i o n t e n d r e l [ r t e n ' b r e i ] ( T i b . ) pra~itya samutpada (Skt. ) A central insight of Buddhism, the interdepen- dent co-origination of all things. (See nidana. )
Development State of Meditation che rim [bskyed rim] (Tib. ) ut- pattikrama (Skt. ) The development phase ofVajrayana meditation, in which a visualization of a deity is built up and maintained.
Dewachen [bde ba can] (Tib. ) Sukhavati (Skt. ) The Pure Realm of Amitabha Buddha.
De wa chen po [bde ba chen po] (Tib. ) mahasukha (Skt. ) Supreme Bliss-the "direct experience of the nature of mind and its intrinsic purity. "
Dharma (Skt. ) cho [chos] (Tib. ) Among the many meanings of Dharma in Sanskrit and Chos in Tibetan, three are especially im- portant:
1. The whole body of the Buddha's teaching, usually capitalized in English.
2. Any constituent of a moment of existence, a "thing" or phenomenon.
3. Truth, or ultimate reality. (See Dharmakaya. ) Dharmadhatu (Skt. ) cho ying [chos dbyings] (Tib.