It is said that if you do not meditate, you will not gain certainty; If you do, you will. But what sort of certainty? If you meditate with a strong, joyful endeavor, signs will appear showing that you have become used to staying in your nature. The fierce, tight clinging from dualistically experiencing phenomena will […]
The common practices are the four thoughts that turn the mind away from samsara. The uncommon practices are taking refuge, generating bodhicitta, purifying obscurations, and gathering the accumulations of merit and wisdom. Exert yourself according to each of their commentaries until experiences arise. Especially, embrace guru yoga as the vital essence of practice, and practice […]
In absolute truth, all phenomena are devoid of any intrinsic nature, and therefore merit too cannot be objectified, being entirely free of the three concepts. In relative, conventional truth, every aspect of a positive action – the agent who performs the action, the object of the action, and the action itself – is like a […]
One’s own awareness, fresh and uncontrived, Is the primordially present ultimate Lama From whom you have not been separated for even an instant. This meeting with the original abiding nature — how amazing! Dudjom Rinpoche
Nowadays we all boast that we are Dharma practitioners, but we have not severed our attachment to the things of this life, we have not turned our minds away from cyclic existence, we have not relinquished even the smallest of our desires — for friends and relations, entourage, servants, food and clothes, pleasant conversation, and […]
While the causal condition for the path is the Buddha-nature, the dominant condition is the sublime teacher, because the path comes about through practicing his or her teachings, and realization of the ground as it is depends on the teacher. The actual practice of the path depends on the individual; the path itself is virtue […]
Be constant amid the ebb and flow of happiness and suffering. Be friendly and even with others. Unguarded, intemperate chatter will put you in their power; excessive silence may leave them unclear as to what you mean. So keep a middle course: don’t swagger with self-confidence, but don’t be a doormat either. Don’t run after […]
Rest at ease within the uncontrived nature of mind. By looking, nothing is seen; Seeing nothing is actually to see naked awareness: That itself is Buddha Kuntu Zangpo. Dudjom Rinpoche
The realization that all phenomena of samsara and enlightenment are emptiness inseparable from naked awareness is the view. To release present awareness within the spacious natural state and then to sustain the self-liberation of thoughts without grasping is meditation. All post-meditative activity done harmoniously with the Dharma is the conduct. The complete manifestation of that […]
May we gain conviction in the view, wherein samsara and nirvana are the same. May we have consummate skill in meditation, a natural flow unaltered, uncontrived. May we bring our action to perfection, a natural, unintended, spontaneity. May we find the dharmakaya, beyond all gaining and rejection. Dudjom Rinpoche
To put it simply, from the moment you enter the sacred Dharma and become a Dharma practitioner, your inner attitude and outer conduct should far surpass those of an ordinary mundane person. As the saying goes: The sign of true learning is a peaceful temperament, And the sign of having meditated is fewer afflictions. If, […]
The master Ashvagosha says: All these sources of good that I have accomplished I dedicate as the cause of the state beyond the world, Without thoughts related to cyclic existence, or hopes Of any resulting fame, praise, or happiness, celestial or human. Unless all our meritorious actions are backed by the skillful means of compassion […]
Do not allow yourself to become impervious and blasé regarding the Dharma; do not lead yourself astray. Let the profound Dharma sink into your mind. Now that you have obtained this excellent life, so hard to find, now that you have the freedom to practice the teachings, don’t waste your time. Dudjom Rinpoche
Cultivate faith and devotion to the Three Jewels and to your teacher. Strive in the ten virtues and combine clear intelligence with extensive learning. Nurture a sense of personal integrity and propriety regarding others. With these seven sublime riches, you will always be happy! Dudjom Rinpoche
Make every effort on the path, uniting absolute and relative bodhichitta. This distils the essence of all the sutras and the tantras. The subduing of one’s own mind is the root of Dharma. When the mind is controlled, defilements naturally subside. Dudjom Rinpoche
The altruism of bodhichitta is the path of beings of great potential. Therefore train yourself in the deeds of bodhisattvas, and do this on a grand scale! Shoulder the responsibility of freeing all beings from samsara. Of all the eighty-four thousand sections of the Buddha’s teachings, none is more profound than bodhichitta. Dudjom Rinpoche
Strive to accomplish the supreme unchanging goal. For life is passing, and there is no certainty about the time of death. Even if you should die tomorrow, you should have confidence and be without regret. Dudjom Rinpoche
You should bring into the path all those who have a good or bad connection with you without making any distinction whatsoever, be they faithful persons who serve you or faithless persons who revile or abuse you. Care for them with pure prayers of aspiration. Dudjom Rinpoche
If you are not contented with few possessions, as long as one need after another arises, the deceptive demon of your pleasures will enter without much trouble. Dudjom Rinpoche
Now, one time out of hundreds you have obtained a human form. If you do not do what you can now to avoid rebirth in the lower realms, your place of rebirth might be unknown, but wherever it might be among the six classes of beings, suffering will be its only sure feature. Dudjom Rinpoche