LAMDRELAMDRE DawnDawn ofof EnlightenmentEnlightenment Lama Choedak Yuthok HAN DD ET U 'S B B O RY eOK LIBRA E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.buddhanet.net Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc. VIRUPA OVERVIEW HIS BOOK IS BASED ON introductory talks given by Lama T Choedak to prepare students for Lamdre. These teach- ings are prized by students and masters of all Tibetan tra- ditions, and this book will interest all students of Tibetan Buddhism, especially those aspiring to take higher ini- tiations. LAMDRE — DAWN OF ENLIGHTENMENT is a unique work which describes the actual teachings disciples will receive. Special features of this work include: — The origins of the lineage and the special characteristics of the Lamdre system. — An integrated perspective on the three vehicles: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. — The respective roles of teachers and disciples within Buddhism, with particular reference to the Vajrayana. — How disciples can benefit by incorporating the Lamdre approach into every aspect of their spiritual practice and their daily lives. Lama Choedak was born in Tibet and escaped to Nepal in the early 1960s. Following eight years of monastic train- ing, he undertook a three and a half year Lamdre retreat at Lumbini. He has taught in many Buddhist centres worldwide and translated for some of the greatest living Buddhist masters. He is a graduate of the Australian National University and author of a thesis on the origin of the Lamdre tradition in India. iii LAMDRE DAWN OF ENLIGHTENMENT BY LAMA CHOEDAK YUTHOK SERIES OF LECTURES ON THE PRECIOUS LAMDRE TEACHINGS OF THE SAKYA TRADITION OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM GORUM PUBLICATIONS CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 1997 Published and distributed by Gorum Publications PO Box 3430 Manuka ACT 2603 Australia © Lama Choedak Yuthok 1997 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Transcribed and edited by Pauline Westwood with valued assistance from Ot Rastsaphong, Rob Small, Brett Wagland and Whitethorn. Cover design by Rob Small. Cataloguing in Publication Data Yuthok, Lama Choedak Lamdre: dawn of enlightenment: series of lectures on the precious Lamdre teachings of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. ISBN 0 9587085 0 9 1. Lam-’bras (Sa-skya-pa) 2. Vajrayana. BQ7672.Y88 1997 294.3’44 ISBN 0 9587085 0 9 For æons you have stayed in retreat from the city of defilements In the seclusion of unobjectified, awakening maturity Through your teachings gods and humans blossom with qualities To the great Lamdre-pa, the crown of Lotsawas, I pay homage! THE GREAT TRANSLATOR DROGMI LOTSAWA SHAKYA YESHE Contents OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................... III PREFACE ............................................................................................................... IX 1. THE EXTRAORDINARY QUALITIES OF LAMDRE ....................... 1 2. THE FOUR AUTHENTICITIES ............................................................ 11 THE FOUR AUTHENTICITIES IN THE ORDER TAUGHT IN THE TANTRA .............. 11 THE FOUR AUTHENTICITIES IN THE ORDER OF THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS ..... 14 THE FOUR AUTHENTICITIES IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE DISCIPLE FOLLOWS THE PRACTICES .......................................... 18 THE FOUR AUTHENTICITIES IN THE ORDER OF VALIDATION .......................... 19 THE FOUR PARAMETERS OF A WHISPERED LINEAGE ..................................... 20 1. THE STREAM OF INITIATING WATER MUST NOT RUN DRY ........................... 21 2. THE CONTINUITY OF THE BLESSINGS MUST NOT BE BROKEN ..................... 22 3. THE ORDER OF THE INSTRUCTIONS MUST NOT BE INTERFERED WITH ....... 23 4. ONE MUST BE CONTENTED BY ONE’S DEVOTION TO THE TEACHINGS .......... 24 3. THE LIFE OF VIRUPA ......................................................................... 26 4. AN OVERVIEW OF LAMDRE TEACHINGS ................................. 50 5. THE VISION OF EXPERIENCE ......................................................... 66 6. PERSONALISING THE VISION OF EXPERIENCE ...................... 83 7. PURE VISION ........................................................................................ 104 INEXHAUSTIBLE ORNAMENTAL ARRAY OF THE QUALITIES OF THE BUDDHA’S BODY ................................................. 107 INEXHAUSTIBLE ORNAMENTAL QUALITIES OF THE BUDDHA’S SPEECH ......... 112 THE INFINITE INEXHAUSTIBLE QUALITIES OF THE BUDDHA’S OMNISCIENT DHARMAKAYA ............................................ 119 ENLIGHTENED ACTIVITIES OF THE BUDDHA ................................................ 120 vii 8. CAUSAL TANTRA ................................................................................ 123 STORE CONSCIOUSNESS ................................................................................. 125 BUDDHA NATURE ......................................................................................... 126 THE FIVE BUDDHA FAMILIES ...................................................................... 129 ABANDONABLE FACTORS ............................................................................... 131 THE FIVE DEFILEMENTS .............................................................................. 132 INITIATION ................................................................................................... 135 THE NATURE OF MIND ................................................................................. 138 PATH TANTRA ............................................................................................. 140 9. THE HEVAJRA INITIATION ........................................................... 145 10. THE NATURE OF MIND ................................................................... 157 11. THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER ....................................................... 168 12. DISCIPLESHIP IN BUDDHISM ......................................................... 185 THE FOUR MAIN OBSTACLES FACED BY DISCIPLES ..................................... 188 13. SETTING OUT ON THE PATH .......................................................... 201 14. THE SUBSIDIARY PRACTICES ........................................................ 221 1. GYU-LU (ILLUSORY BODY) ....................................................................... 228 2. DREAM YOGA ......................................................................................... 229 3. CLEAR LIGHT ......................................................................................... 232 4. DAKAMA ................................................................................................. 234 5. BARDO ................................................................................................... 234 6. REBIRTH ................................................................................................ 236 15. THE RESULT ........................................................................................ 240 POSTSCRIPT ..................................................................................................... 259 GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................ 260 FURTHER READING .................................................................................... 274 viii Preface NITIATION INTO THE HEVAJRA MANDALA, the king of tantras Ihas long been associated with conversion of the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan to Buddhism and the establishment of priest rulership in Tibet. This lasted from the early thirteenth century up to the present Dalai Lama. We all owe this to one hard working Tibetan savant known as Drogmi Lotsawa Shakya Yeshe (993–1074) who introduced the mag- nificent Lamdre teachings to Tibet during the 11th century. Those fortunate enough to be able to attend Lamdre are in for a big spiritual bonanza. The comprehensive teachings on the Triple Vision, which deal with the preliminary teach- ings common to both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, followed by the Bodhisattva vow are more than enough for most beginners. After that come the Hevajra cause and path initiations, teachings on the Triple Tantra and guid- ance about how to perform the Sadhana practices of Hevajra- tantra. The “oral teachings on the view” are imparted in the most thorough manner, coupled with transmissions and blessings from all the Lamdre lineage masters. More eso- teric teachings associated with the three higher initiations, known as the six yogas in other traditions will be taught in the proper sequence. Lamdre is the most complete form of Tibetan Buddhist path. Lamdre teachings are the father teachings of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. They are coveted by many traditions. The Sakyapa school has preserved the noble tradition of maintaining the integrity of the Hevajra initiation, which to this day is restricted to twenty-five or fewer disciples. Because of the purity of this lineage, most prominent masters of all schools of Tibetan ix Buddhism including Marpa, Milarepa, Longchen Rabjampa and Tsongkhapa have been practitioners of this tantra. Over the past fifteen years I have been directly involved at a number of Lamdre teachings given by His Holiness Sakya Trizin, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche and His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche in the capac- ity of translator and facilitator. Due to the orthodox and formal setting of the presentation of the Lamdre