Nothing else than the projection of one’s own mind ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

In short, all the infinite phenomena of samsara and nirvana are nothing else than the projection of one’s own mind and are therefore an illusion. Nothing is truly existent and permanent. When you understand this, you will realize that everything is unborn like space, that its nature is emptiness. It is with this realization — that you yourself, the teacher, and all phenomena are like a dream and illusion — that you should practice the meditation on the wisdom deity and recite the mantra. And if you ever have a sign of accomplishment, even a vision of the yidam, you should continue to recognize its illusory nature and avoid the error of feeling attached or proud. To be conceited and think, “I have achieved a sign of accomplishment” is an obstacle, a demon.

However high your realization may be, you must never be proud of any signs such as clairvoyance that you may experience, but remain free from clinging and see their dreamlike nature. Otherwise, if you are attached to such things, it will be impossible for even the most basic qualities of the path to develop in your mind. As the great siddha Saraha said, “Wherever there is attachment, there will be a downfall.” Even the husk of a sesame seed’s worth of attachment will create great suffering in the mind. So if you have any result in your practice, you should simply think that it is the natural consequence of doing the practice and not be proud of it. As we read in Parting from the Four Attachments, the four-line teaching that Mañjushri gave in a vision to the great Sakyapa teacher Jetsun Trakpa Gyaltsen: As long as there is clinging, there is no view.


Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

from the book Zurchungpa's Testament

translated by Padmakara Translation Group


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