Obscurations are mental
impurities
that hide the true nature of mind (ignorance), from passions, and from karma.
Kalu-Rinpoche-Foundation-of-Buddhist-Meditation
Again the results are birth as an animal; and if born as a humar:.
, to be so stupid that one understands nothing, to have no inclination whatsoever for studying and to be born in a poor and barren country.
The very worst acts among the ten vices are: to take the life ofone's father, or spiritual teacher; to take ungiven wealth from the Three Jewels; through seduc- tion to cause another to brt>ak vows of chastity or celibacy; to deceive a lama through lies; to belittle the One-Thus-Gone (Tathagata); to cause disharmony among the congregation ofmonks or religious friends; to speak harshly to one's mother, father, or an awak- ened saint; through idle talk to cause one who wishes to practice religion to wander; to covet precious ob- jects which are consecrated to the Three Jewels; to
? 27 engender ill-will potent enough to commit inexpiable action; and to have wrong views from holding con-
flicting opinions.
If the defilements are considered, anger, greed
stupidity, desire, jealousy and pride lead to birth as a hell-being, preta, animal, man, titan, and god respec- tively. Committing many bad actions leads to birth as a hell-being; committing a moderate number, birth as a preta; and a few as an animal. Good and bad actions mixed together lead to the multifarious lives of the three higher realms, i. e. as human and celestial beings. Accordingly, as the one transgressed against is high, low, or in-between in station, one is born as a hell- being, animal, or preta respectively. It is taught that as long as these evil acts are not abandoned, they grow ever larger.
Secondly, as for meritorious karma, it arises from the components ofvirtue, unattached love, a helping mind, small wants, contentment, etc. When taking life is abandoned, and life protected, the completely ripened result is birth as a god; and, ifand when born as a human, one's life is long and free from sickness,
? 28
one is rich and for oceans of lives will be happy and joyful with little thought for killing; when attachment to one's country is abandoned, and one is generous, the power of king, etc. , will be accumulated; even if born as an ordinary human, one will have the very best wealth and possessions, will take joy in giving, and will be born in a country with the best in food and riches. When wrong desires are abandoned, and mor- als are protected, the results are to be born among celestial beings; and if and when born as a human, to have a fine, beautiful spouse with whom one is in accord, to have contentment in continual friendship, and to be in a country both pleasant and comfortable.
As for speech, when lies are abandoned and truth is spoken the results are to be born among gods or men, to have everyone regard one's words as true, to like to give honest views, and to be in a level country where fruit is always ripening. When creating dishar- mony is given up and one is the agent for reconcilia- tion, the results are birth among gods or men, everything spoken will be regarded as true and will please everyone, and one will always like agreement;
? 29 the country will have little hail or sleet, and food and wealth will be easily found when sought. When harsh language is abandoned and one speaks softly or gently, the results are to be born among gods or men, to rest in everyone's praise and to hear pleasing speech, to enjoy gentle talk, and to be born in a gentle country moderate in temperature. When idle talk is aban- doned and one bears only meaningful news, the re- sults are birth among men, one's words are noble and pleasing to others, one is happy with little talking and
the country is even in terrain and climate.
When covetousness is abandoned and there is contentment and few wants, the results are birth among gods and meru, to be born happy and to accomplish whatever one thinks of, to be always content with one's possessions, and to be born in a pleasant place. When ill-will is abandoned and one has a helpful mind, the results are to be born among gods or men, to be loved by all, to accomplish any purpose that one wishes, to desire to help sentient beings, and to be born in a country where whatever is needed or wanted comes. When wrong views are
? 30
abandoned, one is born among gods or men, is vener- ated and inherits the best intelligence and wisdom, enjoys striving at studying and is born in a country with fertile land and wholesome food.
Thirdly, the karma of stillness: when the seed is the practice of concentration in meditative trances, the result obtained is birth in such a state. Generally, these trances are based on the practice of the ten virtuous deeds. From that overall background, there are eight preparations which precede the actual con- centration, and when at various times in the trance, examination, investigation, joy, and bliss are all present, the first stage ofabsorption has been achieved. When in the actual practice, there is no examination or investigation, yet joy or bliss, the second absorption is reached. When joy ceases and there is just bliss, the third absorption is reached and when all four cease, the fourth is reached. When the absorption deepens beyond these four, one experiences the Infinity of Space. If this absorption is practiced, one is born in the perception of the Infinity of Space. Beyond this absorption, there are the perceptions o f the Infinity o f
? 31 Consciousness, Nothingness and Peak of Cyclic Ex- istence. In this state the subtle discrimination is nei- ther there nor not there, and one can be born as
celestial beings in these states o f perception.
As the mind arrives on each succeeding level, there is successively more separation from attach- ment; thus mind becomes detached and penetrates to the next stage. All these eight trances consist o f a one-
pointed virtuous mind.
Accordingly, the agent which produces the sub-
stance ofSamsara is no other than these three types of sullied karma.
In brief, in the cycle of existence the root is ignorance from which arises the clinging to duality; then. from discriminating consciousness on the one hand come the defilements, from awareness on the other come wisdom, faith compassion and a helpful disposition. From good or bad karma come the results of the higher and lower realms and their correspond- ing happiness, and suffering. When the good and bad karma is mixed, various, uncertain sorrows and com- forts are experienced. All the varied karma makes the
? 32
multiplicity of these beings, since from differing ac- tions different results will come.
Even though this life is generated as the karmic result of virtue which was practiced in the immedi- ately preceding life, this life may pass in misery be- cause ofother karmic conditions such as stealing from others in a past life: for example, one would have to be born as a poorman. Even though this life is generated as the karmic result ofevil practiced in the immedi- ately preceding life, this life may pass in great prosper- ity because of other karmic conditions, such, as generosity in previous lives: an example would be a rich serpent-god (naga). If both generative karma and overall karmic conditions are virtuous, the birth might be such as a Universal Monarch; if both are evil, then as a hell being.
Present karma whose results are experienced in this very life are such as: inexpiable action prepared and executed in reference to a Buddha (or Enlight- ened Sage), for instance, by LhaJin8 who experienced the fires ofhell in this life; or it refers to pure thought and object such as the man and wife who gave Sariputra
? 33 a meal and later harvested ears of corn of gold. Some results are called 'Those To Be Experienced Mter Birth': these include the five inexpiable and the five nearly inexpiable actions,9 whose results will be expe- rienced immediately after this life. Those to be experi- enced at another time will be experienced in three or
four later births, whenever they come.
One may accumulate karma through actions
which would be like worshipping the Jewels through faith, or killing a man from anger. Or one may accumulate karma with no actions, such as rejoicing in the bad or good actions ofothers. Or one may not gather anything through one's actions such as sitting down to meditate but letting the mind wander.
Black thought joined to white action would be like erecting a monastery or stupa for the sake offame, etc. White thought joined with black action would be like speaking roughly or beating and striking some- one in order to help him.
Collective karma is the accumulation of similar karma and so produces similar results, i. e. all sentient beings perceive the universe the same way. Particular
? 34
karma will be experienced from the karma of each individual sentient being and is the varied experience of happiness and sorrow because of differences in individual environment, bodies and possessions. Since after the results from white karma are finished, the results from black are experienced, happiness in early life may turn to misery in later life.
While protecting life results in long life, striking and beating causes much sickness. Through generos- ity, one comes to have great possessions, but when the mind is full of harm, one will have many enemies. Although one may find a beautiful, perfect spouse as a result of abandoning adultery, disharmony created in one's past life results in discord. Those who aban- don harsh language will be loved by all; those who covet will always be destitute. Although one is born in a home with wealthy parents from having made offer- ings and being generous, jealousy ofother's generosity results in oneself becoming destitute in this life. The results ofsmaller generosity have led to birth in a poor household, but through service to all one's elders and parents, etc. , one becomes respected and is praised
? 35 and revered by all. Although born rich because of previous generosity, etc. , not liking religion results in
becoming one with wrong views. Although previ- ously one may have very powerfully practiced virtue, i. e. making offerings, gifts, etc. , the power ofjealously or other defilements distorts prayers; and while the birth is one joined to great power, one perpetrates unwholesome karma very powerfully. Although pre- vious virtuous karma may be small, when one stands fast with faith at death, one is born into a religious home. When previously one practiced religion out of faith and compassion, at the present time family, body and possessions are the very best, religion is similarly practiced, and one travels onwards on the path to enlightenment.
Ifone comes to believe in the inevitable results of inter-dependence and cause and effect, then indeed one has penetrated to the centre of the root of the teaching of Buddha.
Revulsion at the cycle and the urge to procure freedom are like the root ofa tree; faith with compas- sion is like the trunk; practice ofvirtue and abandon-
? 36
ment of unwholesome action are the branches; the levels are virtues beyond limit; the flowers are in possession of the essence of transformation and per- fection (according to esoteric teachings); and the fruit is the attainment ofthe Castle ofFull Enlightenment, Buddha.
When one has become disgusted with the cycle of existence (Samsara), how does one practice religion? First, when one knows the attributes of the Rare Jewels, one goes for refuge and then learns the reason for clearing away obscurations10 and gathering accu- mulations of spiritual merits through one's devotion, etc. If one does not know the reason for wanting to practice religion, the methods of practice or the re- sults ofreligious practice, it would be like shooting an arrow in a black fog.
Therefore, The Awakened One (Buddha), as a sentient being first produced theThought ofEnlight- enment (Bodhichitta); and then for three immeasur- able aeons gathered spiritual merits, cleared obscuration away, perfected enlightened deeds as vast as an ocean, and when the five paths and ten stages
? 37 were crossed, he attained Completely Perfected Awak- ening Enlightenment. Now, the real nature of Awak- ening is to possess three qualities: the great cessation which is the complete removal ofthe two obscurations together with their associated habits; the great realiza- tion of awareness which is an accurate seeing, not confused by all the phenomena of discrimination; and the great brave mind which is activity arising continually and pervasively from spontaneous com-
passion for the benefit ofbeings.
When the meanings are considered after the awak-
ening from the sleep-like ignorance, mind is enlight- ened in the two knowledges ofknowing how everything appears; this state is called Awakened Enlightenment (Buddha).
Each cause has its own result. Through the pos- session of the Compassionate Thought and from the successive perfection ofboth the accumulations which are gathered by performing the six perfections, the twin manifestations of Enlightenment are obtained. Moreover, when all karma is accumulated through actions powered by compassion for those lower and
? 38
by faith in sacred objects, merit is gathered whose result when completely ripened is the accomplish- ment of two form manifestations. Through the prac- tice of absorption in meditation devoid of conceptualization, wisdom is accumulated and the flawless result is the accomplishment of the Body of Dharma.
The omnipresent Body of Dharma pervades all Samsara and Nirvana, is beyond all intellectual postu- lation, and is devoid of arising, existence, and cessa- tion.
In the Jogmin-gyi Shing11 Buddha Field beyond the three realms, the Perfect Manifestation Body arises before all the tenth level Bodhisattvas. 12 This gather- ing of the Buddha's own appearance and the appear- ance of the Bodhisattvas is called the Mutual Manifestation Body.
Subduing beings with exposition on various arts and science is the Skillful Emanation. Subduing be- ings in various forms such as a king and a deer, etc. , is the Bodily Emanation. Through the twelve great deeds, benefit for all sentient beings is administered by the Perfect Emanation.
? 39 Thus, the twin form manifestations manifest from previous aspiration and invocation for manifestation, in order to help train beings, form the innate power
and blessings of the Dharma Body.
In their distinctive manifestations, the Dharma
Body appears when the obscurations of inaccurate knowledged are cleared away; the Manifestation Body by dearing away the obscurations ofdefilements; and the Emanation Body by the dearing away of the obscurations ofkarma.
In the great awareness ofBuddha, there is not any Dharma in Samsara, Nirvana or the path that is not known or seen. It is as ifeverything were placed in the palm of the hand. The karma of the three times, the past, present and future, the seeds ofkarma, the result of karma-everything is known individually, unconfusedly, and dearly without any obscuration. This is the Awareness of Knowledge. Great spontane- ous love going out to all beings without discrimina- tion with regard to distance or association with a ceaseless flow ofkindness is loving-kindness and com- passion. Functioning which never ceases and brooks
? 40
no interruption, though functioning in different ways according to the potential ofindividuals having con- ducive or adverse relations, yet opens the doors to temporal benefit to the higher realms and then to final freedom, and continues to arise until all of the cycle that exists is emptied is called deeds and functioning.
With the power of inspiration and blessings of the above, a sentient being, through the successive arising of faith, devotion, respect, love and compas- sion, and understanding that all dharmas (subjective and objective phenomena) are empty in reality and realizing that they are like magic, destroys all clinging to the reality of Samsara. Absorbed completely in Peaceful Tranquility and Insight, and crossing the Five Paths and Ten Stages with the six and ten perfec- tions, he is protected from the great fear and suffer- ings of the cycle of existence and guided to ultimate Enlightenment. This is the capability of refuge from the power of Samsara.
Thus, the all-knowing awareness, loving kindness and compassion, deeds and functioning, and power and capability for protection are the supreme qualities ofAwakened Enlightenment.
? 41 Now, those who have arrived at the eighth up to the tenth levels possess ten powers: the power oflife, which is the ability to obtain and stay in any existence at will; the power of mind, which is the ability to be absorbed exactly in whatever state of meditation is desired; the power o f necessities which is the ability to rain down riches and jewels and food for all sentient beings; the power over karma, which is the ability to inspire others to cultivate good karma which will be experienced at another time; the power ofbirth, which is the ability to be born in the desire realm without getting stained by impurities by staying in medita- tion; the power of creation, which is the ability to change any of the four elements at will; the power of miracles, which is the ability to demonstrate innu- merable miracles for the benefit ofsentient beings; the power of wisdom, which is to know completely the true significance ofall dharma (phenomena); and the power of Dharma, which is the ability to satisfY completely the minds of sentient beings of different tongues and different capabilities by explaining the Dharma in its assembly ofwords and phrases in one
? 42
single exposition. With respect to these powers, Bud- dhas are much greater and more sacred.
In addition, the thirty-two major perfections and eighty minor perfections of the body, sixty special tones ofharmonious speech, ten forces, four grounds for no fear, eighteen differences, etc,. and all the distinct and completely ripened attributes number over a million. If through some inconceivably great miracle the form were seen, there would be no dis- agreement. Such is Precious Rare Awakened Enlight- enment (Buddha).
Speech, hidden and unencompassable by thought, with pure melody rains down the Dharma of the various vehicles, Great and Small, according to faith, capability and realm, simultaneously on gods, nagas, and men, both kind and mean, and animals, etc. , in their own respective tongues. Moreover, even though speaking to every stream of being which is to be trained in places both near and far, the quality of the sound is perfectly suited, is lacking in all faults such as speaking too quickly, stutte. ring, halting, etc. , and is soft, gentle and melodious. In all the Buddha realms,
? the other worlds, and other realms, until all ofSamsara is emptied, the Dharma, noble in the beginning, middle and end, deep and extensive, works for the benefit of beings. Such is the Precious Rare Dharma.
Then, all who have practiced the Dharma the best ofall speech successively: Sravkas, Pratyekas, Arhants13 and all those on the spiritual stages from the first to the tenth and final comprise the Transcendent Sangha. The Sangha of individuals consists of all those who abide in any ofthe three vows: ordination, Bodhisattva, or Vajrayana, whichever is applicable. Such is the Precious Rare Sangha.
Thus one should go for refuge in the knowledge that Buddha is the permanent refuge, Dharma the path, and Sangha the companions.
From the play of the discipline of Buddha, the Accomplished Conqueror beyond sorrow, who is the very self of the five wisdoms and three bodies, arise the assembly of deities, the Yidams, roots of attain- ment. He who bestows the pith of the yogas ofTrans- formation and Perfection of these Yidams at every stage of ripening, liberation, and final attainment is
43
? 44
the Lama, root of all blessings. Depending on that practice all actions, pacifying, extending, influencing, and subduing are accomplished with the support of Dakinis and Defenders ofthe Dharma, the roots ofall activity. These are the three roots.
The seekers of refuge are oneself and all sentient beings. The objects in which refuge is sought are all of the above. The real reason for refuge is to seek refuge from the eight and sixteen fears, and ultimately from the sorrow of the lower realms and the cycle (from now until the moment of enlightenment). To go for refuge, understanding these three things is the root of the religion o f Buddha.
Ifone goes for refuge in Buddha with clear faith, believing in and wanting to reach Buddha, one be- lieves the Dharma that he taught. To practice its methods and to take it to heart is to go for refuge in Dharma. By listening to the speech of all the Awak- ened Ones and individuals who have studied the meaning of the Dharma and to practice and follow in their path is to go for refuge in the Sangha. Ifone goes for refuge in such a way, Buddha decreed that in every
? 45 life, both this and later, one will travel the path of freedom, one will meet the precious Doctrine of
Buddha and will not encounter evil companions and will not stay in thought and action; nor will obstacles cause one to stumble, one will not be born in lower realms, and with all vehicles having a foundation, the cycle of existence will come to an end.
Thus, imagine that all the deities of the Three Jewels and Three Roots are really gathered in the sky, radiant with brilliant light, and with devotion pros- trate before them with body, speech and mind; offer everything substantial and imaginable that is beauti- ful or pleasing in form, sound, smell, taste, and touch. With extreme regret confess all the obscuring un- wholesome acts that have been accumulated from the time that has no beginning, and vow not to commit them in the future.
These are blessings which all these objects of refuge have; in mind, the very being of knowledge, love and capability; in speech, secret and inconceiv- able; in body, great merit and inconceivable qualities. With all these and one's own great faith, devotion,
? 46
and inner thought, the basis and interdependence of all the truths of the arising of conditions and of emptiness, i. e. that all dharmas are by their essential nature non-demonstrable fall together. Then as all fog-like obscurations and unwholesome acts are thinned out and purified, there is Awakening; and as the accumulation of merit and wisdom rise bit by bit, like the sun, the wisdom of knowledge of all that is and the way it is, Enlightens; thus, the Enlightened State of Buddha, Awakened Enlightenment, is at- tained. Until then, during the intervening lives, all the happiness of the higher realms is experienced, as excellent fruit and grain grows from sound roots and stalks. To go for refuge with great faith and to dear away obscurations and to gather accumulations are extremely important. Have great faith in the Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu and Nyingma schools, since all are exactly the means of liberating all sentient beings from Samsara by training them all in the religion of Awakened Enlightenment.
For the substance of the practice of religion, one of the middle capability practices virtue, abandons
? 47 wrong action and consolidates the five foundations which are each practiced one hundred thousand times. Then, one trains the mind in concentration and purification, and sets out to meditate and realize a Yidam; and then meditates on the Six Yogas, espe- cially Heat Yoga. By gaining mastery over vase like energy through four practices and with various exer- cises, and through the projection, retention, distribu- tion, and scattering of vital fluids, mind and body become full ofbliss; the unity ofwarmth and blissful emptiness, i. e. the Great Symbol (Mahamudra) is realized. Someone of the highest capabilities, when ripened in his stream of being by initiation, immedi- ately after the explanation of Mahamudra or perfec- tion, meditates and will cross decisively the various
paths and stages.
Now ifone is able to comprehend well the mean-
ing of all these teachings, one will turn away from clinging to the cycle, and the resolve to peruse the benefits of freedom will be born. Faith will be born from an understanding ofthe qualities ofthe Precious Rare Ones, and compassion will arise for all suffering
? 48
sentient beings. Then, if one devotes to a Lama, and after seeking the key instruction, meditates, one will definitely come to obtain both ordinary and perfect attainments.
? I.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Notes
The three higher births are birth as a human, as a titan or as a god (or celestial being).
Sentient being refers to any being that possesses mind: i. e. a hell being, preta, animal, human, titan, or god. The three Precious Jewels are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. These will be discussed later. Skandha is a Sanskrit word meaning heap or pile. A sentient being may be viewed as a heap of forms, feelings, cognitions, volitions, and consciousness. Nagas are a class of animals that might be termed serpent-gods, since they have a serpent like body, but may be very powerful or rich.
Dharma, in this context, refers to all subjective and objective phenomena.
The six worlds are as in note 2. The three realms are
49
? 50
the desire realm (from the hell beings up to and including the first level ofgods), the form realm (the next seventeen levels ofgods), and the formless realm (the last four levels).
8. Lha Jin, or Devadatta, was Buddha Shakyamuni's cousin. Somewhat envious of Buddha's station, he tried to harm Buddha on a number of occasions. On one occasion, he succeeded in hurting Buddha with a stone. As a result, he came to suffer extreme agony later in his life.
9. The five inexpiable acts are: to kill one's mother, father spiritual teacher, or a saint, or to harm a Bud- dha. The five nearly inexpiable acts are: to kill a novice or full monk, to bring down a nun, mutilate an image of Buddha or scriptures, and to destroy a temple or shrine.
10.
Obscurations are mental impurities that hide the true nature of mind (ignorance), from passions, and from karma.
11. Jogmin-gyi-Shing is the Buddha field of the celestial Buddha Vajradhara (Dorje Chang).
12. Bodhisatrvas are Awakened Saints who pursue en-
? 51 lightenment in order to liberate all sentient beings from sorrow. The ten levels ofBodhisattvas reflect the
degree of realization of enlightenment attained.
13. These are v:;trious classes of accomplished spiritual
beings.
? FOUNDATION OF BUDDHIST MEDITATION
The Foundation of Buddhist Meditation by Ven. Kalu Rinpoche outlines the basic meditation practices common to all seers ofTibetan Buddhism.
In this manual, Rinpoche gives concise explanation of the Buddhist path leading to the supreme goal of enlightenment for the welfare of all sentient beings.
This manual . will provide the reader with a deeper insight into the complex scope of Tibetan Buddhist thought and practice.
Ven. Kalu Rinpoche (1905-1989) of the Shang-pa Kagyu tradition was one of the leading Kagyu meditation masters of this century, and has taught and guided many clisciples in meditation and retreats all over the world.
ISBN: 81-85102-61-9 Rs. 70.
The very worst acts among the ten vices are: to take the life ofone's father, or spiritual teacher; to take ungiven wealth from the Three Jewels; through seduc- tion to cause another to brt>ak vows of chastity or celibacy; to deceive a lama through lies; to belittle the One-Thus-Gone (Tathagata); to cause disharmony among the congregation ofmonks or religious friends; to speak harshly to one's mother, father, or an awak- ened saint; through idle talk to cause one who wishes to practice religion to wander; to covet precious ob- jects which are consecrated to the Three Jewels; to
? 27 engender ill-will potent enough to commit inexpiable action; and to have wrong views from holding con-
flicting opinions.
If the defilements are considered, anger, greed
stupidity, desire, jealousy and pride lead to birth as a hell-being, preta, animal, man, titan, and god respec- tively. Committing many bad actions leads to birth as a hell-being; committing a moderate number, birth as a preta; and a few as an animal. Good and bad actions mixed together lead to the multifarious lives of the three higher realms, i. e. as human and celestial beings. Accordingly, as the one transgressed against is high, low, or in-between in station, one is born as a hell- being, animal, or preta respectively. It is taught that as long as these evil acts are not abandoned, they grow ever larger.
Secondly, as for meritorious karma, it arises from the components ofvirtue, unattached love, a helping mind, small wants, contentment, etc. When taking life is abandoned, and life protected, the completely ripened result is birth as a god; and, ifand when born as a human, one's life is long and free from sickness,
? 28
one is rich and for oceans of lives will be happy and joyful with little thought for killing; when attachment to one's country is abandoned, and one is generous, the power of king, etc. , will be accumulated; even if born as an ordinary human, one will have the very best wealth and possessions, will take joy in giving, and will be born in a country with the best in food and riches. When wrong desires are abandoned, and mor- als are protected, the results are to be born among celestial beings; and if and when born as a human, to have a fine, beautiful spouse with whom one is in accord, to have contentment in continual friendship, and to be in a country both pleasant and comfortable.
As for speech, when lies are abandoned and truth is spoken the results are to be born among gods or men, to have everyone regard one's words as true, to like to give honest views, and to be in a level country where fruit is always ripening. When creating dishar- mony is given up and one is the agent for reconcilia- tion, the results are birth among gods or men, everything spoken will be regarded as true and will please everyone, and one will always like agreement;
? 29 the country will have little hail or sleet, and food and wealth will be easily found when sought. When harsh language is abandoned and one speaks softly or gently, the results are to be born among gods or men, to rest in everyone's praise and to hear pleasing speech, to enjoy gentle talk, and to be born in a gentle country moderate in temperature. When idle talk is aban- doned and one bears only meaningful news, the re- sults are birth among men, one's words are noble and pleasing to others, one is happy with little talking and
the country is even in terrain and climate.
When covetousness is abandoned and there is contentment and few wants, the results are birth among gods and meru, to be born happy and to accomplish whatever one thinks of, to be always content with one's possessions, and to be born in a pleasant place. When ill-will is abandoned and one has a helpful mind, the results are to be born among gods or men, to be loved by all, to accomplish any purpose that one wishes, to desire to help sentient beings, and to be born in a country where whatever is needed or wanted comes. When wrong views are
? 30
abandoned, one is born among gods or men, is vener- ated and inherits the best intelligence and wisdom, enjoys striving at studying and is born in a country with fertile land and wholesome food.
Thirdly, the karma of stillness: when the seed is the practice of concentration in meditative trances, the result obtained is birth in such a state. Generally, these trances are based on the practice of the ten virtuous deeds. From that overall background, there are eight preparations which precede the actual con- centration, and when at various times in the trance, examination, investigation, joy, and bliss are all present, the first stage ofabsorption has been achieved. When in the actual practice, there is no examination or investigation, yet joy or bliss, the second absorption is reached. When joy ceases and there is just bliss, the third absorption is reached and when all four cease, the fourth is reached. When the absorption deepens beyond these four, one experiences the Infinity of Space. If this absorption is practiced, one is born in the perception of the Infinity of Space. Beyond this absorption, there are the perceptions o f the Infinity o f
? 31 Consciousness, Nothingness and Peak of Cyclic Ex- istence. In this state the subtle discrimination is nei- ther there nor not there, and one can be born as
celestial beings in these states o f perception.
As the mind arrives on each succeeding level, there is successively more separation from attach- ment; thus mind becomes detached and penetrates to the next stage. All these eight trances consist o f a one-
pointed virtuous mind.
Accordingly, the agent which produces the sub-
stance ofSamsara is no other than these three types of sullied karma.
In brief, in the cycle of existence the root is ignorance from which arises the clinging to duality; then. from discriminating consciousness on the one hand come the defilements, from awareness on the other come wisdom, faith compassion and a helpful disposition. From good or bad karma come the results of the higher and lower realms and their correspond- ing happiness, and suffering. When the good and bad karma is mixed, various, uncertain sorrows and com- forts are experienced. All the varied karma makes the
? 32
multiplicity of these beings, since from differing ac- tions different results will come.
Even though this life is generated as the karmic result of virtue which was practiced in the immedi- ately preceding life, this life may pass in misery be- cause ofother karmic conditions such as stealing from others in a past life: for example, one would have to be born as a poorman. Even though this life is generated as the karmic result ofevil practiced in the immedi- ately preceding life, this life may pass in great prosper- ity because of other karmic conditions, such, as generosity in previous lives: an example would be a rich serpent-god (naga). If both generative karma and overall karmic conditions are virtuous, the birth might be such as a Universal Monarch; if both are evil, then as a hell being.
Present karma whose results are experienced in this very life are such as: inexpiable action prepared and executed in reference to a Buddha (or Enlight- ened Sage), for instance, by LhaJin8 who experienced the fires ofhell in this life; or it refers to pure thought and object such as the man and wife who gave Sariputra
? 33 a meal and later harvested ears of corn of gold. Some results are called 'Those To Be Experienced Mter Birth': these include the five inexpiable and the five nearly inexpiable actions,9 whose results will be expe- rienced immediately after this life. Those to be experi- enced at another time will be experienced in three or
four later births, whenever they come.
One may accumulate karma through actions
which would be like worshipping the Jewels through faith, or killing a man from anger. Or one may accumulate karma with no actions, such as rejoicing in the bad or good actions ofothers. Or one may not gather anything through one's actions such as sitting down to meditate but letting the mind wander.
Black thought joined to white action would be like erecting a monastery or stupa for the sake offame, etc. White thought joined with black action would be like speaking roughly or beating and striking some- one in order to help him.
Collective karma is the accumulation of similar karma and so produces similar results, i. e. all sentient beings perceive the universe the same way. Particular
? 34
karma will be experienced from the karma of each individual sentient being and is the varied experience of happiness and sorrow because of differences in individual environment, bodies and possessions. Since after the results from white karma are finished, the results from black are experienced, happiness in early life may turn to misery in later life.
While protecting life results in long life, striking and beating causes much sickness. Through generos- ity, one comes to have great possessions, but when the mind is full of harm, one will have many enemies. Although one may find a beautiful, perfect spouse as a result of abandoning adultery, disharmony created in one's past life results in discord. Those who aban- don harsh language will be loved by all; those who covet will always be destitute. Although one is born in a home with wealthy parents from having made offer- ings and being generous, jealousy ofother's generosity results in oneself becoming destitute in this life. The results ofsmaller generosity have led to birth in a poor household, but through service to all one's elders and parents, etc. , one becomes respected and is praised
? 35 and revered by all. Although born rich because of previous generosity, etc. , not liking religion results in
becoming one with wrong views. Although previ- ously one may have very powerfully practiced virtue, i. e. making offerings, gifts, etc. , the power ofjealously or other defilements distorts prayers; and while the birth is one joined to great power, one perpetrates unwholesome karma very powerfully. Although pre- vious virtuous karma may be small, when one stands fast with faith at death, one is born into a religious home. When previously one practiced religion out of faith and compassion, at the present time family, body and possessions are the very best, religion is similarly practiced, and one travels onwards on the path to enlightenment.
Ifone comes to believe in the inevitable results of inter-dependence and cause and effect, then indeed one has penetrated to the centre of the root of the teaching of Buddha.
Revulsion at the cycle and the urge to procure freedom are like the root ofa tree; faith with compas- sion is like the trunk; practice ofvirtue and abandon-
? 36
ment of unwholesome action are the branches; the levels are virtues beyond limit; the flowers are in possession of the essence of transformation and per- fection (according to esoteric teachings); and the fruit is the attainment ofthe Castle ofFull Enlightenment, Buddha.
When one has become disgusted with the cycle of existence (Samsara), how does one practice religion? First, when one knows the attributes of the Rare Jewels, one goes for refuge and then learns the reason for clearing away obscurations10 and gathering accu- mulations of spiritual merits through one's devotion, etc. If one does not know the reason for wanting to practice religion, the methods of practice or the re- sults ofreligious practice, it would be like shooting an arrow in a black fog.
Therefore, The Awakened One (Buddha), as a sentient being first produced theThought ofEnlight- enment (Bodhichitta); and then for three immeasur- able aeons gathered spiritual merits, cleared obscuration away, perfected enlightened deeds as vast as an ocean, and when the five paths and ten stages
? 37 were crossed, he attained Completely Perfected Awak- ening Enlightenment. Now, the real nature of Awak- ening is to possess three qualities: the great cessation which is the complete removal ofthe two obscurations together with their associated habits; the great realiza- tion of awareness which is an accurate seeing, not confused by all the phenomena of discrimination; and the great brave mind which is activity arising continually and pervasively from spontaneous com-
passion for the benefit ofbeings.
When the meanings are considered after the awak-
ening from the sleep-like ignorance, mind is enlight- ened in the two knowledges ofknowing how everything appears; this state is called Awakened Enlightenment (Buddha).
Each cause has its own result. Through the pos- session of the Compassionate Thought and from the successive perfection ofboth the accumulations which are gathered by performing the six perfections, the twin manifestations of Enlightenment are obtained. Moreover, when all karma is accumulated through actions powered by compassion for those lower and
? 38
by faith in sacred objects, merit is gathered whose result when completely ripened is the accomplish- ment of two form manifestations. Through the prac- tice of absorption in meditation devoid of conceptualization, wisdom is accumulated and the flawless result is the accomplishment of the Body of Dharma.
The omnipresent Body of Dharma pervades all Samsara and Nirvana, is beyond all intellectual postu- lation, and is devoid of arising, existence, and cessa- tion.
In the Jogmin-gyi Shing11 Buddha Field beyond the three realms, the Perfect Manifestation Body arises before all the tenth level Bodhisattvas. 12 This gather- ing of the Buddha's own appearance and the appear- ance of the Bodhisattvas is called the Mutual Manifestation Body.
Subduing beings with exposition on various arts and science is the Skillful Emanation. Subduing be- ings in various forms such as a king and a deer, etc. , is the Bodily Emanation. Through the twelve great deeds, benefit for all sentient beings is administered by the Perfect Emanation.
? 39 Thus, the twin form manifestations manifest from previous aspiration and invocation for manifestation, in order to help train beings, form the innate power
and blessings of the Dharma Body.
In their distinctive manifestations, the Dharma
Body appears when the obscurations of inaccurate knowledged are cleared away; the Manifestation Body by dearing away the obscurations ofdefilements; and the Emanation Body by the dearing away of the obscurations ofkarma.
In the great awareness ofBuddha, there is not any Dharma in Samsara, Nirvana or the path that is not known or seen. It is as ifeverything were placed in the palm of the hand. The karma of the three times, the past, present and future, the seeds ofkarma, the result of karma-everything is known individually, unconfusedly, and dearly without any obscuration. This is the Awareness of Knowledge. Great spontane- ous love going out to all beings without discrimina- tion with regard to distance or association with a ceaseless flow ofkindness is loving-kindness and com- passion. Functioning which never ceases and brooks
? 40
no interruption, though functioning in different ways according to the potential ofindividuals having con- ducive or adverse relations, yet opens the doors to temporal benefit to the higher realms and then to final freedom, and continues to arise until all of the cycle that exists is emptied is called deeds and functioning.
With the power of inspiration and blessings of the above, a sentient being, through the successive arising of faith, devotion, respect, love and compas- sion, and understanding that all dharmas (subjective and objective phenomena) are empty in reality and realizing that they are like magic, destroys all clinging to the reality of Samsara. Absorbed completely in Peaceful Tranquility and Insight, and crossing the Five Paths and Ten Stages with the six and ten perfec- tions, he is protected from the great fear and suffer- ings of the cycle of existence and guided to ultimate Enlightenment. This is the capability of refuge from the power of Samsara.
Thus, the all-knowing awareness, loving kindness and compassion, deeds and functioning, and power and capability for protection are the supreme qualities ofAwakened Enlightenment.
? 41 Now, those who have arrived at the eighth up to the tenth levels possess ten powers: the power oflife, which is the ability to obtain and stay in any existence at will; the power of mind, which is the ability to be absorbed exactly in whatever state of meditation is desired; the power o f necessities which is the ability to rain down riches and jewels and food for all sentient beings; the power over karma, which is the ability to inspire others to cultivate good karma which will be experienced at another time; the power ofbirth, which is the ability to be born in the desire realm without getting stained by impurities by staying in medita- tion; the power of creation, which is the ability to change any of the four elements at will; the power of miracles, which is the ability to demonstrate innu- merable miracles for the benefit ofsentient beings; the power of wisdom, which is to know completely the true significance ofall dharma (phenomena); and the power of Dharma, which is the ability to satisfY completely the minds of sentient beings of different tongues and different capabilities by explaining the Dharma in its assembly ofwords and phrases in one
? 42
single exposition. With respect to these powers, Bud- dhas are much greater and more sacred.
In addition, the thirty-two major perfections and eighty minor perfections of the body, sixty special tones ofharmonious speech, ten forces, four grounds for no fear, eighteen differences, etc,. and all the distinct and completely ripened attributes number over a million. If through some inconceivably great miracle the form were seen, there would be no dis- agreement. Such is Precious Rare Awakened Enlight- enment (Buddha).
Speech, hidden and unencompassable by thought, with pure melody rains down the Dharma of the various vehicles, Great and Small, according to faith, capability and realm, simultaneously on gods, nagas, and men, both kind and mean, and animals, etc. , in their own respective tongues. Moreover, even though speaking to every stream of being which is to be trained in places both near and far, the quality of the sound is perfectly suited, is lacking in all faults such as speaking too quickly, stutte. ring, halting, etc. , and is soft, gentle and melodious. In all the Buddha realms,
? the other worlds, and other realms, until all ofSamsara is emptied, the Dharma, noble in the beginning, middle and end, deep and extensive, works for the benefit of beings. Such is the Precious Rare Dharma.
Then, all who have practiced the Dharma the best ofall speech successively: Sravkas, Pratyekas, Arhants13 and all those on the spiritual stages from the first to the tenth and final comprise the Transcendent Sangha. The Sangha of individuals consists of all those who abide in any ofthe three vows: ordination, Bodhisattva, or Vajrayana, whichever is applicable. Such is the Precious Rare Sangha.
Thus one should go for refuge in the knowledge that Buddha is the permanent refuge, Dharma the path, and Sangha the companions.
From the play of the discipline of Buddha, the Accomplished Conqueror beyond sorrow, who is the very self of the five wisdoms and three bodies, arise the assembly of deities, the Yidams, roots of attain- ment. He who bestows the pith of the yogas ofTrans- formation and Perfection of these Yidams at every stage of ripening, liberation, and final attainment is
43
? 44
the Lama, root of all blessings. Depending on that practice all actions, pacifying, extending, influencing, and subduing are accomplished with the support of Dakinis and Defenders ofthe Dharma, the roots ofall activity. These are the three roots.
The seekers of refuge are oneself and all sentient beings. The objects in which refuge is sought are all of the above. The real reason for refuge is to seek refuge from the eight and sixteen fears, and ultimately from the sorrow of the lower realms and the cycle (from now until the moment of enlightenment). To go for refuge, understanding these three things is the root of the religion o f Buddha.
Ifone goes for refuge in Buddha with clear faith, believing in and wanting to reach Buddha, one be- lieves the Dharma that he taught. To practice its methods and to take it to heart is to go for refuge in Dharma. By listening to the speech of all the Awak- ened Ones and individuals who have studied the meaning of the Dharma and to practice and follow in their path is to go for refuge in the Sangha. Ifone goes for refuge in such a way, Buddha decreed that in every
? 45 life, both this and later, one will travel the path of freedom, one will meet the precious Doctrine of
Buddha and will not encounter evil companions and will not stay in thought and action; nor will obstacles cause one to stumble, one will not be born in lower realms, and with all vehicles having a foundation, the cycle of existence will come to an end.
Thus, imagine that all the deities of the Three Jewels and Three Roots are really gathered in the sky, radiant with brilliant light, and with devotion pros- trate before them with body, speech and mind; offer everything substantial and imaginable that is beauti- ful or pleasing in form, sound, smell, taste, and touch. With extreme regret confess all the obscuring un- wholesome acts that have been accumulated from the time that has no beginning, and vow not to commit them in the future.
These are blessings which all these objects of refuge have; in mind, the very being of knowledge, love and capability; in speech, secret and inconceiv- able; in body, great merit and inconceivable qualities. With all these and one's own great faith, devotion,
? 46
and inner thought, the basis and interdependence of all the truths of the arising of conditions and of emptiness, i. e. that all dharmas are by their essential nature non-demonstrable fall together. Then as all fog-like obscurations and unwholesome acts are thinned out and purified, there is Awakening; and as the accumulation of merit and wisdom rise bit by bit, like the sun, the wisdom of knowledge of all that is and the way it is, Enlightens; thus, the Enlightened State of Buddha, Awakened Enlightenment, is at- tained. Until then, during the intervening lives, all the happiness of the higher realms is experienced, as excellent fruit and grain grows from sound roots and stalks. To go for refuge with great faith and to dear away obscurations and to gather accumulations are extremely important. Have great faith in the Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu and Nyingma schools, since all are exactly the means of liberating all sentient beings from Samsara by training them all in the religion of Awakened Enlightenment.
For the substance of the practice of religion, one of the middle capability practices virtue, abandons
? 47 wrong action and consolidates the five foundations which are each practiced one hundred thousand times. Then, one trains the mind in concentration and purification, and sets out to meditate and realize a Yidam; and then meditates on the Six Yogas, espe- cially Heat Yoga. By gaining mastery over vase like energy through four practices and with various exer- cises, and through the projection, retention, distribu- tion, and scattering of vital fluids, mind and body become full ofbliss; the unity ofwarmth and blissful emptiness, i. e. the Great Symbol (Mahamudra) is realized. Someone of the highest capabilities, when ripened in his stream of being by initiation, immedi- ately after the explanation of Mahamudra or perfec- tion, meditates and will cross decisively the various
paths and stages.
Now ifone is able to comprehend well the mean-
ing of all these teachings, one will turn away from clinging to the cycle, and the resolve to peruse the benefits of freedom will be born. Faith will be born from an understanding ofthe qualities ofthe Precious Rare Ones, and compassion will arise for all suffering
? 48
sentient beings. Then, if one devotes to a Lama, and after seeking the key instruction, meditates, one will definitely come to obtain both ordinary and perfect attainments.
? I.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Notes
The three higher births are birth as a human, as a titan or as a god (or celestial being).
Sentient being refers to any being that possesses mind: i. e. a hell being, preta, animal, human, titan, or god. The three Precious Jewels are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. These will be discussed later. Skandha is a Sanskrit word meaning heap or pile. A sentient being may be viewed as a heap of forms, feelings, cognitions, volitions, and consciousness. Nagas are a class of animals that might be termed serpent-gods, since they have a serpent like body, but may be very powerful or rich.
Dharma, in this context, refers to all subjective and objective phenomena.
The six worlds are as in note 2. The three realms are
49
? 50
the desire realm (from the hell beings up to and including the first level ofgods), the form realm (the next seventeen levels ofgods), and the formless realm (the last four levels).
8. Lha Jin, or Devadatta, was Buddha Shakyamuni's cousin. Somewhat envious of Buddha's station, he tried to harm Buddha on a number of occasions. On one occasion, he succeeded in hurting Buddha with a stone. As a result, he came to suffer extreme agony later in his life.
9. The five inexpiable acts are: to kill one's mother, father spiritual teacher, or a saint, or to harm a Bud- dha. The five nearly inexpiable acts are: to kill a novice or full monk, to bring down a nun, mutilate an image of Buddha or scriptures, and to destroy a temple or shrine.
10.
Obscurations are mental impurities that hide the true nature of mind (ignorance), from passions, and from karma.
11. Jogmin-gyi-Shing is the Buddha field of the celestial Buddha Vajradhara (Dorje Chang).
12. Bodhisatrvas are Awakened Saints who pursue en-
? 51 lightenment in order to liberate all sentient beings from sorrow. The ten levels ofBodhisattvas reflect the
degree of realization of enlightenment attained.
13. These are v:;trious classes of accomplished spiritual
beings.
? FOUNDATION OF BUDDHIST MEDITATION
The Foundation of Buddhist Meditation by Ven. Kalu Rinpoche outlines the basic meditation practices common to all seers ofTibetan Buddhism.
In this manual, Rinpoche gives concise explanation of the Buddhist path leading to the supreme goal of enlightenment for the welfare of all sentient beings.
This manual . will provide the reader with a deeper insight into the complex scope of Tibetan Buddhist thought and practice.
Ven. Kalu Rinpoche (1905-1989) of the Shang-pa Kagyu tradition was one of the leading Kagyu meditation masters of this century, and has taught and guided many clisciples in meditation and retreats all over the world.
ISBN: 81-85102-61-9 Rs. 70.
