WISDOM ACADEMY

Buddhist Philosophy in Depth, Part 3

JAY GARFIELD

Lessons 8: , Mipham Rinpoche, and the Rime Movement in Tibet

Reading: The Essential Jewel of Holy Practice Selected root verses: pages 29, 31, 37, 41, 53, 65, 67, 69, 79, 81, 107, 109

Th e essential An exquisite poem from one of Patrul Rinpoche was one of the greatest ’s greatest teachers. Tibetan Buddhist teachers of the nineteenth century. He was a leading figure in the ecumen- 8 ical movement in Tibet, which brought about

a renaissance in Tibetan thought. Famous for j e wel his direct of teaching, Patrul Rinpoche “Dza Patrul Rinpoche was a humble monk and erudite The Essential Jewel of Holy Practice is a vibrant shunned high monastic office and lived the life scholar who dedicated himself to practicing what is taught philosophical and ethical poem by one of of a homeless wanderer. in Śantideva’s How to Lead an Awakened Life ... Patrul Tibet’s great spiritual masters. Patrul Rinpoche

presents a complete of the path of libera- Rinpoche’s essential point is that we need to transform of tion from the perspectives of the ourselves in thought, word, and deed, which requires ho l y p r a ctic e understanding of emptiness and the Mahāyāna , introspection, and conscientiousness.” 8 ideal of compassionate care refracted through —His Holiness the Dalai the Dzogchen perspective on experience, yield- ing a sophisticated philosophical approach to practice focusing on the cultivation of clear, Jay Garfield is Doris Silbert Professor in open, luminous, empty awareness and of lib- the Humanities and professor of philosophy, eration leading to the transformation of one’s logic, and at Smith College moral capacity and sensitivity. Patrul Rin- and Harvard Divinity School, and professor of poche’s verses speak intimately and directly philosophy at the University of Melbourne and The to the reader and inspire one to develop one’s Central University of Tibetan Studies. p a t r ul rinpoche essential mind for the sake of ethical perfection and liberation. emily mcrae is an assistant professor of jewel of The translators’ introduction provides a philosophy at the University of New Mexico. foundation for reading the poem, and their holy practice commentary to the verses assists the reader in 8 understanding Patrul Rinpoche’s allusions and technical terms. patrul rinpoche

jay l. garfield & ISBN 978-1-61429-447-4 US $17.95 | CAN $24.95 51795 emily w. mcrae

9 781614 294474 8.

Granted, we are unable to perfect ourselves, but it still makes no sense to neglect our minds. Aren’t we just throwing away our precious lives when we fail to engage in practice?

9.

Ordinary people are so degraded. Their vicious thoughts and actions do no good for themselves or others. And they are deceitful. What can you do for them? Wouldn’t it be best to withdraw from all of this?

29

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 10.

You can’t please exalted people, even by honor. You can’t please common people, even by nurture. Nobody ever even returns your affection. Think about this and make a firm commitment.

11.

Learning doesn’t lead to progress, only to disputes. Achievement doesn’t help others, they only run it down. Status doesn’t help the country, it only sparks revolt. So when you gaze on this dark age, feel only sorrow.

31

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 16.

Even if your acts conform to Dharma, you will be at odds with the world. Even if you speak the truth, people will be angry. Even if you are always kind and pure, they will find fault. So from now on, please, just keep your words and actions secret.

17.

Conceal your body by living alone on a desolate mountain. Conceal your speech by cutting off all contact and saying but little. Conceal your mind by attending carefully to each of your own faults. This is what it takes to be a concealed practitioner.

37

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 20.

Placing hope in everyone you meet, you greet them with a smile; with so many demands, you are always running about: first do this, then do that, torn between your hopes and doubts! From now on, no matter what you face, stop acting like that!

21.

Even if you die today, do not grieve—that’s the way of samsara. Even if you live to be one hundred, don’t rejoice— youth will be long gone. What does it matter if you live or die right now— what good is this life, anyway? So, for your own sake, just practice Dharma from now on.

41

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 30.

Samsara is mere appearance, nothing more. See mundane appearance as divine to benefit others. By seeing things this way, you grant all beings the four empowerments. Plumbing the depths of samsara, chant the six-beat .

53

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 39.

Your mind, nondually aware and empty, is the embodiment of truth. So if you leave things in their natural, unfabricated state, clarity will arise on its own. Only by doing nothing at all will you do what is to be done. Letting everything remain in naked, empty awareness, chant the six-beat mantra.

65

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 40.

In a moment of stillness, cut through restless pursuit. See the essence of stillness in that restless movement. Find the ordinary mind in the nonduality of motion and stillness. Practicing one-pointedness, chant the six-beat mantra.

41.

The ultimate falls out when you investigate the conventional. And see how the conventional arises from the ultimate! The two truths are inseparable, transcend thought, natural and glorious. With a view free of fabrication, chant the six-beat mantra.

67

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 42.

Cut off the mind’s obsession with appearance. Let the whole structure of deluded appearance crumble away. The nonduality of mind and appearance is an infinite expanse. Realizing that single essence, chant the six-beat mantra.

69

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 49.

To know the emptiness of all phenomena is the point of the view. Belief in truth and falsity is liberated on the spot. Transcending clinging to experience—whether of samsara or —is the vast embodiment of reality. In the self-liberation of cognition, chant the six-beat mantra.

50.

Don’t pursue the object of aversion; attend to the angry mind. The appearance of anger instantly self-liberates into radiant emptiness. Radiant emptiness is nothing but mirror-like insight. In the self-liberation of aversion, chant the six-beat mantra.

79

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 51.

Don’t pursue or grasp the object of pride; attend to the grasping mind. Arrogance instantly self-liberates into primordial emptiness. Primordial emptiness is nothing but insight into the identity of all things. In the self-liberation of pride, chant the six-beat mantra.

81

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 71.

What has all your sleeping accomplished? You just spend your life in a fog. Since you can see how little time you have left to lie around, from now on, please start putting in wholehearted effort! Day and night, ignoring all distraction, chant the six-beat mantra.

72.

There’s no time! No time! No time to spare! When the Lord of Death suddenly arrives, what can you do? Right now, and from now on, please practice the divine Dharma. Right now, with haste, chant the six-beat mantra.

107

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution 73.

How can you count the years, months, and days? You can see right now that everything changes from moment to moment; So, every passing moment brings you closer to death! Right now, at this moment, chant the six-beat mantra.

74.

Your life departs like the setting sun. Death creeps ever closer like the evening shadows. Even now, your life is just like those fading shadows. There’s no time to waste—chant the six-beat mantra.

109

For students of the Wisdom Academy –– Not for distribution