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NEVER FORGET HOW SWIFTLY this
life will be over, like a flash of summer lightning or the wave of a hand.
Now that you have the opportunity to practice dharma, do not waste a
single moment on anything else.
-- Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
from Tricycle, Fall 1997
I supplicate all the noble doctrine holders of India,
Tibet, China, Shambhala and all other places who follow the precious
teachings of the sutras and tantras taught by the incomparable teacher who
is praised like the white lotus.
I supplicate the Nyingmapas of
the secret mantra, who uphold
the sutras, mantras and the three inner
tantras in general, and
especially the tradition of the Great
Perfection - perfectly translated by the supreme learned and accomplished
lotsawas and panditas.
I supplicate the Kagyupas, protectors of
beings, who chieftly
uphold the lineage of practice and blessing from
the Mahasiddhas
Naropa and Maitrepa, the cycles of the profound
instructions
and, especially, Mahamudra.
I supplicate the
glorious Sakyapas who illuminate the doctrine of teaching and practicing
the heart extract of Lord Birwapa, the
cycles of instruction, in
general, and the Path and Fruit in particular.
I supplicate the
Riwo Gedenpas (Gelugpas) who mainly uphold
the essence tradition of
Manjushri - the key points of the path of sutra and tantra - by chiefly
practicing the Gradual Path of Palden Atisha.
I supplicate the
Jetsun Jonangpas who chieftly uphold the meaning of the sutras of the last
Dharma Wheel and of the Kalachakra, who have realized the truth of the
sungata-essence and possess the vajra yoga.
Impartially I
supplicate all the doctrine holders, each and every one, that exist in
these snowy ranges, of the Glorious Shangpa, Choyul, Shije, Nyendrup and
the other cycles of profound instructions.*
By the blessings of
making these supplications, may sectarianism be calmed and may impartial
devotion blaze forth. May all the doctrine holders be in harmony and may
all countries be peaceful. May the auspicious circumstance in which the
teachings flourish for a long time be present.
The source of all
phenomena of samsara and nirvana
Is the nature of mind void,
luminous,
All-encompassing, vast as the sky.
When in that state
of sky-like vastness,
Relax into its openness; stay in that very
openness,
Merge with that sky-like state:
Naturally, it will become
more and more relaxed
Excellent!
If you become
accomplished
In this method of integrating mind with view,
Your
realization will naturally become vast.
And just as the sun shines
freely throughout space,
Your compassion cannot fail to shine on all
unrealized beings.
The mind, dividing
experience into subject and object, first identifies with the subject,
'I,' then with the idea of 'mine,' and starts to cling to 'my body,' 'my
mind' and 'my name.' As our attachment to these three notions grows
stronger and stronger, we become more and more exclusively concerned with
our own well-being. All our striving for comfort, our intolerance of
life's annoying circumstances, our preoccupation with pleasure and pain,
wealth and poverty, fame and obscurity, praise and blame, are due to this
idea of 'I.'
We are usually so obsessed with ourselves that we
hardly ever even think about the welfare of others in fact, we are no more
interested in others than a tiger is interested in eating grass. This is
completely the opposite of the outlook of the Bodhisattva. The ego is
really just a fabrication of thought, and when you realize that both the
object grasped and the mind that grasps are void, it is easy to see that
others are not different from yourself. All the energy we normally put
into looking after ourselves, Bodhisattvas put into looking after others.
If a Bodhisattva sees that by plunging into the fires of hell he can help
even a single being, he does it without an instant of hesitation, like a
swan entering a cool lake.
by H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Courtesy of
http://www.shechen.org
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