Words of My Perfect Teacher, Revised Edition

by RINPOCHE, PATRUL

Edition: Revised

ISBN13: 9781570624124

ISBN10: 1570624127

Format: Trade Paper

Pub. Date: 1998-10-27

Publisher(s): Shambhala

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Summary

A favorite of Tibetans-and of the Dalai Lama himself-The Words of My Perfect Teacheris a practical guide to the spiritual practices common to all Tibetan Buddhist traditions. It is the classic commentary on the preliminary practices of Longchen Nyingthig, a cycle of teachings of the Nyingmapa school. Patrul Rinpoche makes his subject accessible through a wealth of stories, quotations, and references to everyday life, giving the text all the life and atmosphere of a compelling oral teaching. This second, revised edition (of the book originally published by HarperSanFrancisco in 1994) is the result of a detailed and painstaking comparison of the original Tibetan text with the English translation by the Padmakara Translation Group. The new edition also includes translations of a postface to the text written a century ago for the first printed Tibetan edition by the first Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and a new preface by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Author Biography

The Padmakara Translation Group is a team of translators and editors of various nationalities specializing in the translation of Tibetan texts and teachings, mainly into English, French, German, and Spanish.Patrul Rinpoche (1808–1887) was one of the greatest Tibetan teachers of the nineteenth century. Famous for his precise and direct style, he shunned high monastic office and lived the life of a homeless wanderer, writing his book in a rustic hermitage under an overhanging rock.

List of illustrations

xxiii

(2)

Foreword

xxv

(2)

Dalai Lama

Foreword

xxvii

(1)

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Translators' Acknowledgements

xxviii

(1)

Preface to the Second Edition

xxix

(2)

Translators' Introduction

xxxi

(9)

A brief historical introduction to Tibetan Buddhism

PROLOGUE

(4)

PART ONE THE ORDINARY OR EXTERNAL PRELIMINARIES

(164)

Chapter One The difficulty of finding the freedoms and advantages

(32)

1. THE PROPER WAY TO LISTEN TO SPIRITUAL TEACHING

(12)

1. Attitude

1.1 THE VAST ATTITUDE OF THE BODHICITTA

(1)

1.2 VAST SKILL IN MEANS: THE ATTITUDE OF THE SECRET MANTRAYANA

(2)

2. Conduct

2.1 WHAT TO AVOID

2.1.1 The Three Defects of the Pot

(2)

2.1.2 The Six Stains

(3)

2.1.3 The Five Wrong Ways of Remembering

(1)

2.2 WHAT TO DO

2.2.1 The Four Metaphors

(2)

2.2.2 The Six Transcendent Perfections

(1)

2.2.3 Other Modes of Conduct

(1)

II. THE TEACHING ITSELF: AN EXPLANATION OF HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FIND THE FREEDOMS AND ADVANTAGES

(20)

1. Reflecting on the nature of freedom

(2)

2. Reflecting on the particular advantages related to Dharma

(1)

2.1 THE FIVE INDIVIDUAL ADVANTAGES

(3)

2.2 THE FIVE CIRCUMSTANTIAL ADVANTAGES

(5)

2.3 THE EIGHT INTRUSIVE CIRCUMSTANCES

(1)

2.4 THE EIGHT INCOMPATIBLE PROPENSITIES

(2)

3. Reflecting on images that show how difficult it is to find the freedoms and advantages

(1)

4. Reflecting on numerical comparisons

(5)

Chapter Two The impermanence of life

(22)

I. THE IMPERMANENCE OF THE OUTER UNIVERSE IN WHICH BEINGS LIVE

(2)

II. THE IMPERMANENCE OF BEINGS LIVING IN THE UNIVERSE

(1)

III. THE IMPERMANENCE OF HOLY BEINGS

(2)

IV. THE IMPERMANENCE OF THOSE IN POSITIONS OF POWER

(1)

V. OTHER EXAMPLES OF IMPERMANENCE

(8)

VI. THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH

(1)

VII. INTENSE AWARENESS OF IMPERMANENCE

(7)

Chapter Three The defects of samsara

(40)

I. THE SUFFERINGS OF SAMSARA IN GENERAL

(2)

II. THE PARTICULAR SUFFERINGS EXPERIENCED BY THE BEINGS OF THE SIX REALMS

(38)

1. The eighteen hells

1.1 THE EIGHT HOT HELLS

1.1.1 The Reviving Hell

(1)

1.1.2 The Black-Line Hell

(1)

1.1.3 The Rounding-Up and Crushing Hell

(1)

1.1.4 The Howling Hell

(1)

1.1.5 The Great Howling Hell

(1)

1.1.6 The Heating Hell

(1)

1.1.7 The Intense Heating Hell

(1)

1.1.8 The Hell of Ultimate Torment

(1)

1.1.9 The Neighbouring Hells

(2)

1.2 THE EIGHT COLD HELLS

(1)

1.3 THE EPHEMERAL HELLS

(3)

2. The pretas

2.1 PRETAS WHO LIVE COLLECTIVELY

2.1.1 Pretas suffering from external obscurations

(1)

2.1.2 Pretas suffering from internal obscurations

(1)

2.1.3 Pretas suffering from specific obscurations

(2)

2.2 PRETAS WHO MOVE THROUGH SPACE

(1)

3. The animals

3.1 ANIMALS LIVING IN THE DEPTHS

(1)

3.2 ANIMALS THAT LIVE SCATTERED IN DIFFERENT PLACES

(2)

4. The human realm

(1)

4.1 THE THREE FUNDAMENTAL TYPES OF SUFFERING

4.1.1 The suffering of change

(1)

4.1.2 Suffering upon suffering

(1)

4.1.3 The suffering of everything composite

(2)

4.2 THE SUFFERINGS OF BIRTH, SICKNESS, OLD AGE AND DEATH

4.2.1 The suffering of birth

(1)

4.2.2 The suffering of old age

(1)

4.2.3 The suffering of sickness

(1)

4.2.4 The suffering of death

(1)

4.3 OTHER HUMAN SUFFERINGS

4.3.1 The fear of meeting hated enemies

(1)

4.3.2 The fear of losing loved ones

(3)

4.3.3 The suffering of not getting what one wants

(1)

4.3.4 The suffering of encountering what one does not want

(3)

5. The asuras

(1)

6. The gods

(8)

Chapter Four Actions: the principle of cause and effect

101

(32)

I. NEGATIVE ACTIONS TO BE ABANDONED

101

(16)

1. The ten negative actions to be avoided

1.1 TAKING LIFE

102

(3)

1.2 TAKING WHAT IS NOT GIVEN

105

(2)

1.3 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

107

(1)

1.4 LYING

107

(1)

1.5 SOWING DISCORD

108

(1)

1.6 HARSH SPEECH

108

(1)

1.7 WORTHLESS CHATTER

108

(2)

1.8 COVETOUSNESS

110

(1)

1.9 WISHING HARM ON OTHERS

110

(1)

1.10 WRONG VIEWS

110

(2)

2. The effects of the ten negative actions

112

(1)

2.1 THE FULLY RIPENED EFFECT

112

(1)

2.2 THE EFFECT SIMILAR TO THE CAUSE

112

(1)

2.2.1 Actions Similar to the Cause

112

(1)

2.2.2 Experiences Similar to the Cause

113

(3)

2.3 THE CONDITIONING EFFECT

116

(1)

2.4 THE PROLIFERATING EFFECT

116

(1)

II. POSITIVE ACTIONS TO BE ADOPTED

117

(1)

III. THE ALL-DETERMINING QUALITY OF ACTIONS

118

(15)

Chapter Five The benefits of liberation

133

(4)

I. CAUSES LEADING TO LIBERATION

133

(1)

II. THE RESULT: THE THREE LEVELS OF ENLIGHTENMENT

134

(3)

Chapter Six How to follow a spiritual friend

137

(34)

I. EXAMINING THE TEACHER

137

(6)

II. FOLLOWING THE TEACHER

143

(6)

III. EMULATING THE TEACHER'S REALIZATION AND ACTIONS

149

(22)

PART TWO THE EXTRAORDINARY OR INTERNAL PRELIMINARIES

171

(180)

Chapter One Taking refuge, foundation stone of all paths

171

(24)

I. APPROACHES TO TAKING REFUGE

171

(6)

1. Faith

1.1 VIVID FAITH

171

(1)

1.2 EAGER FAITH

172

(1)

1.3 CONFIDENT FAITH

172

(4)

2. Motivation

2.1 THE REFUGE OF LESSER BEINGS

176

(1)

2.2 THE REFUGE OF MIDDLING BEINGS

176

(1)

2.3 THE REFUGE OF GREAT BEINGS

176

(1)

II. HOW TO TAKE REFUGE

177

(5)

III. PRECEPTS AND BENEFITS OF TAKING REFUGE

182

(13)

1. The precepts of taking refuge

182

(1)

1.1 THE THREE THINGS TO BE ABANDONED

182

(1)

1.2 THE THREE THINGS TO BE DONE

183

(1)

1.3 THE THREE SUPPLEMENTARY PRECEPTS

183

(4)

2. The benefits of taking refuge

187

(8)

Chapter Two Arousing bodhicitta, the root of the Great Vehicle

195

(68)

I. TRAINING THE MIND IN THE FOUR BOUNDLESS QUALITIES

195

(23)

1. Meditation on impartiality

196

(2)

2. Meditation on love

198

(3)

3. Meditation on compassion

201

(12)

4. Meditation on sympathetic joy

213

(5)

II. AROUSING BODHICITTA

218

(4)

1. Classification based on the three degrees of courage

1.1 THE COURAGE OF A KING

218

(1)

1.2 THE COURAGE OF A BOATMAN

218

(1)

1.3 THE COURAGE OF A SHEPHERD

218

(1)

2. Classification according to the Bodhisattva levels

218

(1)

3. Classification according to the nature of bodhicitta

3.1 RELATIVE BODHICITTA

3.1.1 Intention

219

(1)

3.1.2 Application

219

(1)

3.2 ABSOLUTE BODHICITTA

219

(1)

4. Taking the vow of bodhicitta

220

(2)

III. TRAINING IN THE BODHICITTA PRECEPTS

222

(41)

1. Training in the precepts of the bodhicitta of aspiration

1.1 CONSIDERING OTHERS AS EQUAL TO ONESELF

222

(1)

1.2 EXCHANGING ONESELF AND OTHERS

223

(5)

1.3 CONSIDERING OTHERS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ONESELF

228

(6)

2. Training in the precepts of the bodhicitta of application: the six transcendent perfections

2.1 TRANSCENDENT GENEROSITY

2.1.1 Material giving

234

(2)

2.1.2 Giving Dharma

236

(2)

2.1.3 Giving protection from fear

238

(1)

2.2 TRANSCENDENT DISCIPLINE

238

(1)

2.2.1 Avoiding negative actions

239

(1)

2.2.2 Undertaking positive actions

239

(1)

2.2.3 Bringing benefit to others

239

(1)

2.3 TRANSCENDENT PATIENCE

2.3.1 Patience when wronged

240

(2)

2.3.2 Patience to bear hardships for the Dharma

242

(2)

2.3.3 Patience to face the profound truth without fear

244

(1)

2.4 TRANSCENDENT DILIGENCE

2.4.1 Armour-like diligence

245

(1)

2.4.2 Diligence in action

245

(1)

2.4.3 Diligence that cannot be stopped

246

(2)

2.5 TRANSCENDENT CONCENTRATION

2.5.1 Giving up distractions

248

(2)

2.5.2 Actual concentration

250

(1)

2.6 TRANSCENDENT WISDOM

2.6.1 Wisdom through hearing

251

(1)

2.6.2 Wisdom through reflection

251

(1)

2.6.3 Wisdom through meditation

252

(11)

Chapter Three Meditating and reciting on the teacher as Vajrasattva to cleanse all obscurations

263

(20)

I. HOW OBSCURATIONS CAN BE PURIFIED THROUGH CONFESSION

263

(2)

II. THE FOUR POWERS

265

(2)

1. The power of support

265

(1)

2. The power of regretting having done wrong

265

(1)

3. The power of resolution

266

(1)

4. The power of action as an antidote

266

(1)

III. THE ACTUAL MEDITATION ON VAJRASATTVA

267

(16)

Chapter Four Offering the mandala to accumulate merit and wisdom

283

(14)

I. THE NEED FOR THE TWO ACCUMULATIONS

283

(2)

II. THE ACCOMPLISHMENT MANDALA

285

(1)

III. THE OFFERING MANDALA

286

(11)

1. The thirty-seven element mandala offering

286

(2)

2. The mandala offering of the three kayas according to this text

2.1 THE ORDINARY MANDALA OF THE NIRMANAKAYA

288

(1)

2.2 THE EXTRAORDINARY MANDALA OF THE SAMBHOGAKAYA

289

(1)

2.3 THE SPECIAL MANDALA OF THE DHARMAKAYA

289

(8)

Chapter Five The kusali's accumulation: destroying the four demons at a single stroke

297

(12)

I. THE BODY AS AN OFFERING

297

(1)

II. THE PRACTICE OF OFFERING THE BODY

298

(5)

1. The white feast for the guests above

300

(1)

2. The white feast for the guests below

300

(1)

3. The variegated feast for the guests above

301

(1)

4. The variegated feast for the guests below

301

(2)

III. THE MEANING OF CHO

303

(6)

Chapter Six Guru Yoga, entrance-way for blessings, the ultimate method for arousing the wisdom of realization

309

(42)

I. THE REASON FOR GURU YOGA

309

(4)

II. HOW TO PRACTISE GURU YOGA

313

(19)

1. Visualizing the field of merit

313

(4)

2. Offering the seven branches

2.1 PROSTRATION, THE ANTIDOTE TO PRIDE

317

(4)

2.2 OFFERING

321

(1)

2.3 CONFESSION OF HARMFUL ACTIONS

322

(1)

2.4 REJOICING, THE ANTIDOTE TO JEALOUSY

323

(1)

2.5 EXHORTING THE BUDDHAS TO TURN THE WHEEL OF DHARMA

324

(1)

2.6 REQUESTING THE BUDDHAS NOT TO ENTER NIRVANA

325

(1)

2.7 DEDICATION

325

(3)

3. Praying with resolute trust

328

(1)

4. Taking the four empowerments

329

(3)

III. THE HISTORY OF THE ADVENT OF THE EARLY TRANSLATION DOCTRINE

332

(9)

1. The mind lineage of the Conquerors

333

(1)

2. The symbol lineage of the Vidyadharas

333

(1)

2.1 THE MAHAYOGA TANTRAS

334

(1)

2.2 THE TRANSMISSION OF ANUYOGA

334

(1)

2.3 THE PITH-INSTRUCTIONS OF ATIYOGA

335

(3)

2.4 THE COMING OF ATIYOGA TO THE HUMAN REALM

338

(3)

IV. PROPAGATION OF THE ESSENCE-TEACHING IN TIBET, LAND OF SNOWS

341

(10)

3. The hearing lineage of ordinary beings

345

(6)

PART THREE THE SWIFT PATH OF TRANSFERENCE

351

(16)

Chapter One Transference of consciousness, the instructions for the dying: Buddhahood without meditation

351

(16)

I. THE FIVE KINDS OF TRANSFERENCE

351

(4)

1. Superior transference to the dharmakaya through the seal of the view

352

(1)

2. Middling transference to the sambhogakaya through the union of the generation and perfection phases

352

(1)

3. Lower transference to the nirmanakaya through immeasurable compassion

352

(1)

4. Ordinary transference using three metaphors

352

(1)

5. Transference performed for the dead with the hook of compassion

352

(3)

II. ORDINARY TRANSFERENCE USING THREE IDEAS

355

(12)

1. Training for transference

357

(1)

2. Actual transference

357

(2)

3. The steps of the meditation on transference

3.1 THE PRELIMINARIES

359

(1)

3.2 THE MAIN VISUALIZATION

360

(7)

CONCLUSION

367

(9)

Postface

376

(1)

Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye

Notes

377

(26)

Glossary

403

(40)

Bibliography

443

(7)

Index

450

(8)

Padmakara Translation Group

458

Words of My Perfect Teacher, Revised Edition

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