Patrul KLZ PT 1

Kiin-zang La-may Zhal-lung
THE ORAL INSTRUCTION OF KUN-ZANG LA-MA

ON THE PRELIMINARY PRACTICES
OF DZOG-CH'EN LONG-CH'EN NYING-TIG
PART ONE
Kiin-zang La-may Zhal-lung
THE ORAL INSTRUCTION OF KUN-ZANG LA-MA

ON THE PRELIMINARY PRACTICES
OF DZOG-CH'EN LONG-CH'EN NYING-TIG
PART ONE
As transcribed by
Pal-trill O-gyen Jig-me Ch'o-kyi Wang-po Rin-po-ch'e
Translated from the Tibetan and edited by

Sonam T. Kazi
Diamond-Lotus Publishing
1989
NGA-GYUR NYING-MAY SUNG-RAE
ENGLISH TRANSLATION SERIES
VOLUME IV
Copyright © 1989 Sonam T. Kazi

First Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book

may be reproduced in any form without written
permission. For information address:
Diamond-Lotus PUblishing
P.O. Box 43242
Upper Montclair, N.J. 07043, U.S.A.
First Printing, 1989
ISBN 0-923468-03-X
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dpal-sprul O-rgyan-'jigs-med-chos-kyi-dbari-po. b. 1808.

[Kun bzan bla ma'i zal-lun, English]
Kun-zang la-may zhal-Iung i as transcribed by Pal-trul O-gyen Jig-me Ch'o-kyi
Wang-po Rin-po-ch'e; translated from the Tibetan and edited by Sonam T. Kazi.
--1st ed.
p. cm. - (Nga-gyur Nying-may Sung-rab English translation series: v. 4)
Translation of: Kun bzari. bla ma'i zal lun,
Contents: [I]. The oral instruction of Kun-zang La-rna on the preliminary
practices of Dzog-ch'en Long-ch'en Nying-tig.
ISBN 0-923468-03-X (v. I)
I. Rdzogs-chen (Rfiir\-ma-pa) 2. 'Jigs-med-rgyal-ba'i-myu-gu, ea. 1750-1825.
I. Kazi, Sonam T. (Sonam Topgay), 1925- II. Title. III. Series:
Nga-gyur Nying-may Sung-rab English translation series: v 4, etc.
BQ7662.4. D6313 1989
294.3'4--dc20 89-32345
CIP
Printed in the United States of America by

Blue Dolphin Press, Inc., Grass Valley, California
Table of Contents
List of Color Plates Vll
Translation and Pronunciation Notes ix
Preface by Cha-tral Rin-po-ch'e Xl
Introduction xxiii
Kun-zang La-may Zhal-Iung, Part One 1
1 The Difficulty of Obtaining Leisure and Endowment 7
2 The Impermanence of Life 57
3 The Misery of Samsara 85
4 The Cause and Effect of Karma 143
Preface to Chapters Five and Six 189
5 The Benefit of Freedom 191
6 Following a Spiritual Teacher 193
v
List of Color Plates
1. Sakyamuni Buddha (fifth century B.c.E.) , the present Buddha.

Above left, the previous Buddha, Kasyapa; above right, the future
Buddha, Maitreya. Below, left and right, are Sakyamuni Buddha's two
main disciples: Sariputra and Maudgalyayana, Between them are four-
faced Brahma, offering a cakra, and Indra, holding a conch; they are
requesting Lord Buddha to turn the Wheel of Dharma and blow the
Conch of Dharma.
2. The Lotus-Born Guru (Padmasambhava) of India. Below left,
Mahapandita Santaraksita (K'yen-ch'en Zhi-wa-ts'o) of India; below right,
the Dharma King, Tr'i-song Deu-tsen of Tibet. These three pioneers,
known as the K'yen-lob-ch'o Sum, formally established Buddhism in Tibet
in the eighth century C.E.
3. The First Kun-k'yen, Long-ch'en Rab-jam Dri-me Ovzer (1308-
1363), the greatest Tibetan scholar-saint of the Nying-ma School of Bud-
dhism in Tibet. The Dzog-ch 'en Nying-t'ig tradition up through his time is
known as the Earlier Nying-t'ig.
4. The Second Kun-k'yen, Rig-dzin Jig-me Ling-pa (1729-1798), a
great Ter-ton who excavated and propagated the teachings of the Later
Nying-t'ig, known as Long-ch'en Nying-t'ig. This gold painting is believed
to have been done during Jig-me Ling-pa's lifetime.
5. Atlsa Dlpamkara Srijrlana of India (982-1054), the great Buddhist

teacher from Bengal. He visited Tibet in 1040, at the start of the New
Translation Period, and established the Old Ka-dam-pa School of Bud-
dhism. Above, left to right: the Mahasiddha Ti-lo-pa, Vajradhara with His
consort, and Na-ro-pa, Below, left and right, Atlsa's disciples, Brom-ton-
pa and Ngog Leg-pay Shey-rab. Below them is a figure of an offering
goddess, flanked by two Dharma Protectors.
6. The famous translator, Mar-pa Ch'o-kyi Lo-dro (1012-] 097),
founder of the Ka-gyu School of Buddhism in Tibet. The figure of a Guru
above him (caption illegible) may be that of Atisa. Below him, left to
right, are three of his disciples (see Chapter Six, page 225): Ngog-ton
Ch'o-dor of Zhung, Mey-ton Ts'on-po of Tsang-rong, and Ts'ur-ton
Wang-de of Dol. Below right is his spiritual consort, Dag-me-rna, holding
a child.
7. This painting depicts how Je-tsun Mi-la Re-pa (1040-1123) de-
stroyed his enemies with the help of black magic and hailstones, and how
vii
viii List of Color Plates
he had to construct a nine-story building at the command of his gracious

Guru, Mar-pa, in order to absolve his sins.
8. Je-tsun Mi-la Re-pa, who dramatically proved that, through proper
meditation, it is possible to dissolve one's sins-however heavy they may
be-and attain Buddhahood in one lifetime. He is seen teaching the
Dharma to establish peace, tranquility, and eternal happiness in a fright-
ened deer, a voracious hunting dog, and a greedy hunter, Gom-po Do-je,
who thereafter gave up hunting. Below are three of Je-tsun Mi-la Re-pa's
disciples: left to right, Re-ch'ung Do-je Drag-pa, Ngen-dzong Ton-pa, and
Re-pa Zhi-wa-o, The yogi depicted above left may be Dam-pa Sang-gyay.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Plates 1-2 and 5-8 have been reproduced from Bod Kyi Tangka, a book
on Buddhist paintings from Tibet. These well-preserved, excellent paint-
ings, done by the best artists in Tibet, are from the archives of the Potala
Palace of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Judging from their
quality, it would not be overestimating to assume that they were done
during the time of His Holiness the Great Fifth Dalai Lama of Tibet
(1617-1682).
Plate 3 is newly painted by students of the Dzogchen Perna Choling
Meditation Center, Inc., New York, New York.
Plate 4 has been reproduced from an original painting of Kun-k'yen
Jig-me Ling-pa from the private collection of Mrs. Tsede Kazi, President
and spiritual director, the Longchen Nyingthig Buddhist Society, New
York, New York.
Translation and Pronunciation Notes
Tibetan, a very concise language, rarely uses the plethora of articles,

pronouns, conjunctions, and prepositions needed to convey meaning in
English. Therefore, when such words appear in the English text, no
special notation is used to indicate their absence in the original Tibetan.
Significant textual interpolations, which have been made only when neces-
sary, are set off in brackets ([ D.
Although most Tibetan words and sentences are gender neutral,
English often requires the use of gender specific pronouns. In keeping
with conventional usage, the masculine forms have been used throughout;
however, it should be understood that words such as Guru, Bodhisattva,
and so forth apply equally to male and female beings.
Two notation systems are used for Tibetan words, names, and titles:
transliteration and phonetic transcription. Footnotes use both the
transliteration system, which is set in italic type, and the transcription
system, which is set in upright type. The body of the text uses only the
phonetic transcription system. Words are set in italic type, and names and
titles, due to the frequency of their appearance, are set in upright type.
The transliteration system is as follows:
i u e 0
k kh g it
c ch j n
t th d n
p ph b m
ts tsh dz wrb)
i z y
r I S s
h a
The phonetic transcription system and its pronunciation are as follows:
a as in far p as in pat
i as in fccl p' as on haphazard
l/ as in food b as in bet
ii as in nuisance m as in man
e as in fed ts as in fits
0 as is go ts' as in its him
6 as in French bleu dz as in words
k as in king w as in wake
ix
x Translation and Pronunciation Notes
k' as in backhand zh as in azure

s as in go z as in zone
ng as in ring y as in you
ch as in church r as in rid
ch' as in churchhall I as in lit
j as in jewel sh as in show
ny as in canyon s as in sit
t as in ten h as in hill
t' as in coathanger tr as in trill
d as in done tr' like tr, but aspirated
n as in none dr as in drill
l' as in drill hole
Sanskrit words, names, and titles are set in normal, upright type. The
transliteration system and its pronunciation are as follows:
a as in but j as in jewel
a as in far jh like j, but aspirated
i, i as in feel n as in canyon
u,u as in food t, ! as in ten
r, f as in rid th, th as in coat hanger
as in lit d,~ as in done
e as in fed dh,~h as in glad heart
ai as in fine n,f). as in none
0 as is go p as in pat
au as in shout ph as in haphazard
m as in calm b as in bet
h as in hah bh as in abhor
k as in king m as in man
kh as in backhand y as in you
g as in go r as in rid
gh as in tag him I as in lit
it as in ring v as in vow
c as in church S, ~ as in show
ch as in churchhall s as in sit
h as in hill
Preface
Beginning with the Primordial Buddha,

Up to the gracious Root-Guru,
The ocean-like Rig-dzins of the Three
Traditions who have come:
With due respect to them, the history
of the Dharma is being related.
This is a brief description of the Three Traditions,' a

special term used within the Great Secret Doctrine of the
Nying-ma School; the three divisions of the Inner Tantras.? in
general; and the manner in which the Ka-ma and Ter-ma
traditions of the Nying-t'ig teaching descended, in particular.
The Mind-to-Mind Tradition ofthe Buddhas
Sakyamuni Buddha attained the ultimate realization of

enlightenment incalculable aeons ago. Thereafter, He mani-
fested His Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, and Nirrnanakaya
as, respectively, Samantabhadra, the five races of Buddhas;'
and the great Vajradhara in the pure upper regions of the
gods. He also manifested His Nirrnanakaya as the six races
of Buddhas in the six regions of sentient beings. All of these
[manifestations] preached an inconceivable number of doc-
trines to suit the individual abilities of sentient beings.
1 gyu-pa sum/ brgyud.pa gsum

2 nang-gyu de-sum / nan.rgyud sde.gsum
3 Vairocana, Aksobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, and Amoghasiddhi
xi
xii Preface
In the unblemished, self-created Paradise of Og-min Tug-

po Ko-pa, the Primordial Buddha [Samantabhadra] taught the
highest of these innumerable doctrines, O-sal Dzog-pa ch'en-
po, to His followers, the five Sarnbhogakaya [Buddhas], who
were no other than His own manifestations. He communi-
cated the teaching not through words, but through the bless-
ings of His mind. This tradition which descended through
Vajrasattva and others by means of the transference of pri-
mordial wisdom thus came to be known as the Mind-to-Mind
Tradition of the Buddhas. 4
The Gesture Tradition ofthe Rig-dzins
The Inner [Tantras] have three divisions, [the outer, inner,

and secret]: Do, or Kye-pa Mahayoga; Gyu, or Lung Anuyoga;
and Sem, or Dzog-pa Atiyoga. Kye-pa Mahayoga, the outer
yoga, is further divided into Gyu-de and Drub-de.
[The Gyii-de tradition] was established by Vajrasattva, who
taught it to the three races of Bodhisattvas. They in turn
taught it to the devas, the nagas, and the yaksas," liberating
hundreds of thousands of their respective followers. Vajrapa-
ni also taught this doctrine to human and non-human Rig-
dzins at Mount Malaya, and at other unspecified places, at
which time the teaching was recorded by the raksasa Lo-dro
T'ab-den. He inscribed the [Tantras] in volumes made of
precious materials and concealed them in the sky. Later,
these volumes descended upon the roof of the palace of King
Dza. 6 Thus the Gyu-de teaching gradually began to propa-
gate.
4 gyal-wa gong-gyi1 / rgyal.ba dgons.brgyud

5 The three races of Bodhisattvas are: Marijusrl, who taught the devas
(divine beings); Avalokitesvara, who taught the nagas (serpent-like spir-
its); and Vajrapani, who taught the yaksas (a class of incorporeal beings).
They represent, respectively, the Buddlla's Mind, Speech, and Body.
6 S. lndrabhuti
Preface xiii
In the Og-min Paradise, Kun-zang Ch'e-ch'og Heruka 7

preached the Drub-de Dharma by means of the Dharrnadha-
tu's own sound. Rig-dzin Do-je Ch'o collected these [Tan-
tras], committed them to writing in book form, and entrusted
them to the Dakini Lay-kyi Wang-mo. She put the general
and particular Tantras in precious caskets and concealed
them as treasures in the De-je Tseg-pa stupa in India. Later,
when the appropriate time arrived, the caskets containing the
particular Tantras were handed over to the Eight Rig-dzins."
The casket containing the general sum and substance of all
those precious Tantras was handed over to Guru Padmasam-
bhava.
After [Sakyamuni] Buddha passed into nirvana, the Dhar-
ma and the circumstances under which it had been propa-
gated began to deteriorate. When heretics began to criticize
it, five excellent beings of noble birth" became dissatisfied
and arose from their profound meditation. They went to the
summit of Mount Malaya and offered prayers of twenty-three
lines that expressed their impatience. At this, urged by the
mercy of the Buddhas of the three times, Vajrapani appeared
[to them] in his true form. He expounded the Anuyoga Tan-
tra, and thus it began to propagate.
Vajrasattva gave the initiations and transmitted the
teachings of the secret Atiyoga Tantra to Sem-l'ag-chen, the
son of the gods. Thereafter, the Atiyoga began to propagate
in the godly regions.
In this world of ours, the Lion of the Sakyas, the Guru of
sentient beings, completed the training of His followers with
the Body and Speech Doctrines. Thereafter, when the time
came for Him to train His followers with the Mind Dharma,
the daughter of King A-sha of Uddiyana happened to be
7 the ferocious aspect of Kun-tu Zang-po

8 Manjusrlmitra, Nagarjuna, Humkara, Vimalamitra, Prabhahasti,
Dhanasamskrta, Rong-bu Guhya, and Santigarbha
9 the deva Drag-den Ch'og-kyong, the naga Jog-po, the yaksa Kar-da
Dong, the raksasa Lo-dro T'ab-den, and the human being Licchavi Dri-me
Drag-pa .
xiv Preface
meditating on the beach of the Gold Ocean. She had a

dream in which she saw a crystal man of wonderful appear-
ance initiating her with a crystal vase inscribed with letters.
As a result of this auspicious dream, she gave birth to Ga-rab
Do-je, an incarnation. Later, Vajrapani gave Ga-rab Do-je
the gyal-t'ay chi-lug initiation.!" and handed over to him the
Dzog-ch 'en doctrines in eighteen volumes, known as the Sem-
me Cho-gye, twenty thousand volumes of Long-ch'en, and
similar Tantras. Ga-rab Do-je was consecrated as the sole
upholder of all the Maha, Anu, and Ati doctrines.
After meditating at Nyi-ma Nang-je Mountain for twenty
years, [Ga-rab Do-je] transformed himself into the essence of
the sun, which enabled him to move about in the sky. He be-
gan to recite the 6,400,000 Dzog-ch 'en Tantras that were pri-
mordially in his mind. The Dakinis collected them and wrote
them down in groups of three, seven, and twenty-one Tantras.
Jam-pal Shey-nyen, the son of King Zhon-nu-pal of Cey-
lon, became [Ga-rab Do-je's] principal disciple and the
source of these Tantras. Although he was able to attain lib-
eration as soon as he was shown a mere sign of the doctrine,
he was given the initiations and transmissions of all the Tan-
tras and secret techniques so that he would hold the entire
Buddhist doctrine. Later, when his Guru dissolved himself
into a mass of light at the source of the River Dhanti, he
received books [of his Guru's] Testament, which descended
from the center of the light. This made [Jam-pal Shey-nyen]
realize insight equal to that of his Guru [Ga-rab Do-je]. He
then summarized the 6,400,000 Tantras into three classes:
Sem-de, Long-de, and Men-ngag-de. The most important of
all the important teachings [of the Men-ngag-de] is the Nying-
t'ig, which he classified into She-gyu" and Nar-gyu.'? He
committed the latter to writing, but considered the former
too precious to be propagated, and hence concealed them at
Bodhgaya as a hidden treasure.
10 rgyal.thabs spyi.blugs kyi dban

11 bsad.rgyud
12 rnar.brgyud
Preface xv
[Jam-pal Shey-nyen] lived at the So-sa Ling [charnel-

ground] for 129 year~ and had twenty-five great panditas as
disciples, headed by Sri Simha, who was from China. Nagar-
juna, one of the best among them, attained the rainbow body
after transmitting the teaching to Aryadeva, After imparting
teachings to Sri Simha for a period of twenty-five human
years, Jam-pal Shey-nyen ultimately took a miraculous rebirth
in western India, and came to be known as the Later Jam-pal
Shey-nyen. It was he who transmitted many tantric teachings
to U-gyen Rin-po-ch'e.P and held Sang-gyay Ye-shey as his
disciple, teaching him the Jam-pal Zhal-Iung. This is not dif-
ferent from Dzog-ch 'en in essence, and is widely known
among the followers of the tantric teachings that were intro-
duced [in Tibet] at a later period.
Sri Simha, having received the liturgical tradition of the
Nying-t'ig teaching, classified the teaching about t'ig-le'" into
four groups: outer, inner, secret, and supreme. Of these, he
concealed the first three as a hidden treasure; concealing the
last one in his mind, he went to the Sil-jin charnel-ground and
remained there. His disciples included Padmasambhava, Vi-
malamitra, and so on. Chief among them was Jnanasutra, to
whom he offered the entirety of the initiations, lineal trans-
missions, and secret teachings.
When Sri Simha entered nirvana, he gave [Jnanasutra] his
Testament, The Rays of Seven Lights, together with the secret
techniques. Furthermore, when Vimalamitra received a
prophecy from a Dakini, he paid a visit to Jnanasutra, who
gave him the entirety of the secret teachings. After [Jnanasu-
tra] dissolved his body into a rainbow, his Testament
descended to Vimalamitra. This enabled [Vimalamitra] to
attain primordial wisdom equal to that of Jnanasutra.
These were the teachers who attained the supreme spiri-
tual accomplishment and vanished into rainbows, without
leaving their mortal bodies behind. They were the Rig-dzins
13 i.e., Guru Padmasambhava

14 thig.le
xvi Preface
who held the Gesture Tradition. 1s The ways in which the

aforesaid three tantric traditions were transmitted, and the
number of Tantras expounded to elucidate each of the yogas
individually, are unfathomable. Because of the enormity of
the writing involved, I am afraid to deal with them in detail.
The Ear-to-Ear Tradition ofHuman Beings
The manner in which the teachings appeared in Tibet is as

follows.
King Tr'i-song Deu-tsen invited the Abbot Santaraksita
and Guru Padmasambhava [to come to Tibet from India].
[The king then] built the Sam-yay Mi-gyur L'un-drub monas-
tery and provided its contents, the emblems of Buddhism,
which were formally blessed and consecrated by [the Abbot
and the Guru] for the people to worship. [Later, the king]
dispatched three emissaries- Ma, Nyag, and Ch'og-to the
king of India with a royal letter and much gold, [requesting
that a great pandita be sent to Tibet]. In response, the king
of India sent Vimalamitra, one of the foremost of five hun-
dred great panditas, The great pandita Vimalamitra
preached the general Buddhist teachings of the Sutras and
Tantras. By widely exposing the particular teaching on the
secret Dzog-ch 'en Nying-t'ig to fortunate, suitable followers,
he caused it to flourish. Most of the followers of this tradi-
tion attained rainbow bodies. The continuity of this doctrine
has been maintained through an unbroken chain of oral
teaching from Guru to Guru. It is known as the Ear-to-Ear
Tradition of Human Beings.!" and is the Nying-t'ig Ka-ma.
According to the Nying-t'ig Ter-ma tradition, the doctrine
was transmitted by Sri Simha to Guru Padmasambhava, who
had to consider four points: that the doctrine would not dis-
appear; that its teaching would not be mistaken; that its
blessings would not disappear; and that its tradition would be
maintained by a close lineage. With these views in mind, he
15 rig-dzin da-gyu / rig.'dzin brda'.brgyud

16 gang-zag nyen-gyii / gan.zag snan.brgyud
Preface xvii
formulated secret teachings, showing the method of attaining

perfection'? through the Tantras, the method of achieving the
core techniques'" through perfection, and instructions on how
to put the core techniques into Rractice.19 With the bless-
ings,20 the authority of initiation, 1 credentials of authority.P
future prophecy.P and so on, these [secret teachings], which
were assigned to fortunate individuals who would excavate
them in the future, [were concealed in small boxes]. The
boxes that contained the main subject-the essential, secret
teachings of the self-existence of the Three Kayas; the conti-
nuity of the [holy] books that contain the words traditionally
used to indicate the meaning; the sacraments that bring liber-
ation upon tasting; and the emblems of the body, mind, and
speech -were sealed with the five elements and buried at dif-
ferent places of concealment. Later, when the appropriate
time came to help the sentient beings, a series of blessed, for-
tunate individuals unearthed these treasures and propagated
the doctrine.
Of these treasures concealed in the earth and in the mind,
in conformity with the former method, the [Nying-t'ig] doc-
trine concealed by Vimalamitra at U-ru Sha-yi L'a-k'ang was
unearthed by Nay-ten Dang-rna L'un-gyal; it came to be
known as the Vi-rna Nying-t'ig. [The Nying-t'ig doctrine] con-
cealed by [Guru] Padmasambhava at Thong-lung Tr'a-mo
Drag was unearthed by Pe-rna Lay-dral Tsal; it came to be
known as the K'a-dro Nying-t'ig. These two are known as the
two mother Nying-t'igs. Their elaborate explanation and the
exposition of their secret meanings in a condensed manner
are called the La-ma Yang-t'ig and the K'a-dro Yang-t'ig, and
their combined secret essence is called the Zab-mo Yang-t'ig.
17 drub-t'ab / sgrub.thabs
18 men-ngag / man.nag
19 lag-len / lag.len
20 man-lam / smon.lam
21 wang-kur / dban.bskur
22 te-gya / gtad.rgya
23 lung-ten / lun.bstan
xviii Preface
When the third is not counted separately, the [La-ma and

K'a-dro Yang-t'ig] are known as the two Nying-t'ig bu (chil-
dren). The secret teachings received by Kun-k'yen Dri-me 6-
zer24 (1308-1363) as treasures concealed in the mind 25 are
known as the Earlier Nying-t'ig tradition."
Now, the manner in which the Later Nying-t'ig tradition."
Long-ch'en Nying-t'ig, came into being [is as follows]. Among
the eighteen different kinds of hidden treasures, the best is
the one secretly concealed in the mind. The most superior
manner of [its] revelation is through direct insight while in
the awakened stater" the mediocre manner is through experi-
ential knowledge; and the inferior manner is through dreams.
Being moved by the Lotus-Born Buddha's-? request for his
mercy, Ga-rab Do-je, the expounder of the Dzog-ch 'en doc-
trine, once again manifested in the world for the benefit of
the sentient beings of Tibet as Rang-jung Do-je Jig-me Ling-
pa, the Second Kun-k'yen (1729-1798). Once, when the kun-
zhi 30 of his mind transformed into the clear Dharrnakaya
state, Jig-me Ling-pa found himself in the; bliss and clarity of
the non-conceptual state, which reflected an external projec-
tion of cognizant clarity. At that point, he had a glimpse of
the path that circled the Ja-rung K'a-shor stupa in Nepal.'!
upon which he met a Jnana Dakin! who presented him with
actual writings that indicated the vastness of [inner] clariti'
He also experienced the actual blessings of the Jnanakayas 2
of the great U-gyen [Rin-po-ch'ej" and Long-ch'cn Do-je Zi-
24 also known as Long-ch'en Rab-jam-pa

25 gong-ter / dgons.gter
26 nying-t'ig gong-rna / rrlin.thig gon.ma
27 nying-t'ig og-ma / rnin.thig 'og.ma
28 tog-pa / rtog.pa
29 i.e., Guru Padmasarnbhava
30 kun.gzi
31 the great stupa at Bauddha, on the outskirts of Kathmandu
32 wisdom-bodies
33 i.e., Guru Padrnasarnbhava
Preface xix
ji,34 and they accepted him as their follower. This filled him
with inspiration, and hence he received the class of doctrines
of the treasure store of space-gong-ter-known as Dzog-pa
Ch 'en-po Long-ch 'en Nying-t'ig, This doctrine has the secret
techniques of the zung-juf?5 of Ka-ma and Ter-ma, the redis-
tilled essence of the ocean-like Gyu-de and Drub-de of the
Nga-gyur Nying-ma tradition, having four rivers of transmis-
sion lineage. Even with a single one of these techniques one
can realize Buddhahood, without depending on any other
dharmas. This profound, direct path, difficult to find in this
world, like the udcmbara" flower, is embodied in Jig-me
Ling-pa's work in nine volumes."
Its lineal tradition, which is backed by the initiations for
maturity and liberation, has been held by Jig-me Ling-pa's
direct disciples-e-Ch'o-dag Do-drub Jig-me Tr'in-lay O-zer;
Jig-me Gyal-way Nyu-gu; Chag-sarn-pa Ye-shey L'un-drub;
Pra-ti Ngag-ch'ang Tr'in-lay Do-je; Jig-me Kiin-drol; Jig-me
Lo-sal O-zer; Jig-me Ngo-ts'ar; and so forth - and by their
disciples-Gyal-say Zhen-p'en T'a-yay; K'en-ch'en Padma
Vajra; Jam-yang K'yen-tsey Wang-po; Jig-me Kal-zang; Pe-
rna Tra-shi; Tra-shi Gya-ts'o; Lo-dro Dri-me; A-lag Ten-dar;
Mi-gyur Nam-k'ay Do-je; Ch'o-ying Tob-den Do-je; Re-pa
Dam-tsig Do-je; Do K'yen-tse Ye-shey Do-je; and so forth.
Out of this outburst of a huge nest of scholarly saints, the
chief disciple of Dza Tr'a-ma La-ma-" was Dza Pal-triil 39
(1808-1887), whose spiritual attainment equaled that of his
teacher. It was he who wrote down his Guru's oral instruc-
tions on the preliminary practices, in the work called Kun-
zang La-may Zhal-lung,
34 i.e., Long-ch'en Rab-jam-pa

35 zun.jug
36 S. udumbara
37 Nga:gyur Nying-may Sung-tab Series, Volumes 29-37
38 i.e., Jig-me Gyal-way Nyu-gu
39 i.e., O-gyen Jig-me Ch'o-kyi Wang-po
xx Preface
Gyal-say Chang-ch'ub Do-je, [also known as] Lung-tog

Ten-pay Nyi-ma Pal-zang-po, followed Dza Pal-trul for
twenty-eight years and received a vase full of secret teachings
from him. My unparalleled rescuer, the Lord of my cakra of
bliss, O-sal Rin-ch'en Nying-po Pe-ma Lay-dral Tsal (1879-
1941),40 who had been offered this name by his tutelary deity,
followed [Gyal-say Chang-ch'ub Do-je] for over six years.
The oral, secret, doctrinal method was transmitted to him
through an effective, practical instruction, and he was conse-
crated as the Dharma-Regent.
After following him for seven years, I, Nag-k'yim Sang-
gyay Do-je, received the entire doctrine that brings maturity
and liberation, with the backing of initiations belonging to
both the Earlier and Later Nying-t'ig traditions. In particular,
I received the oral tradition of Kiin-zang La-may Zhal-lung
three times, and the notes on it, known as Zin-dri, thirteen
times, and committed them both to memory. Except for me,
all the Gurus of the lineage were miraculous, noble beings
who attained unique perfection. None of them were ordi-
nary; they were all Vajradharas who held the Three Tradi-
tions. I am describing them as such not just because I feel
like doing so-but because their attainment tallies with their
fame.
As for me, I am just struggling to follow the above lineage.
Having little karmic connection and not being favored by
fortune, I am involved in family life and living among the
people of the Kaliyuga," unscrupulously enjoying black re-
munerations.f
I am writing this introduction at the present time because
my disciple, Son am Kazi, has translated Kiin-zang La-may
Zhal-lung from Tibetan into English. Since I do not know
English, I could not check the English translation; but what-
ever the English composition may be, I have full confidence
40 also known as Ka-t'og K'en-po Ngag-wang Pal-zang

41 this present. degenerate time
42 offerings received in connection with teaching the Dharma
Preface xxi
and belief that he has not made major errors with respect to
the meaning of the words or their connotations. I feel that if
the Buddhist doctrine is translated into all the prevalent lan-
guages of the world, it will be like opening the door for Bud-
dhism to offer its benefit and help to those, both now and in
the future, who have interest or faith in Buddhism and would
like to put it into practice. As English is known throughout
the world, I am sure that maximum benefit can be derived
through an English translation.
For many years, undermining all difficulties, Sonam Kazi
has taken ardent interest in the Dharma. This has resulted in
the present wholesome work as its fruit, for which I am
expressing my full appreciation and thanks.
This is written on the fifteenth day of the first month of the
Fire Rabbit Tibetan year at Mr. Sonam T. Kazi's request,
made in person and through correspondence received in the
past. May this bring peace and happiness to all.
Cha-tral Sang-gyay Do-je

Introduction
I am very grateful to the most revered Guru Cha-tral Sang-

gyay Do-je Rin-po-ch'e for his lucid description of the entire
lineage of the Earlier and Later Dzog-ch 'en Nying-t'ig. As de-
scribed by him, the Second Kun-k'yen, Jig-me Ling-pa (1729-
1798), excavated the buried teachings of the Earlier Dzog-
ch 'en Nying-t'ig. This became known as the Later Dzog-cb 'en
Nying-t'ig, or Long-en 'en Nying-t'ig. The First Do-drup-ch'en,
Jig-me Tr'in-lay O-zer (1745-1821), one of his foremost disci-
ples, was regarded as the Ch'o-dag, who received and com-
piled the doctrine.
The Excellent Path to Omniscience (Nam-k'yen Lam-zang)
is the liturgy written by Kun-k'yen Jig-me Ling-pa as the
preliminary to Dzog-ch 'en Nying-t'ig. One of his eminent dis-
ciples, Jig-me Gyal-way Nyu-gu, gave an excellent oral com-
mentary (zhal-lung) on it. .
This unparalleled oral commentary was vividly remem-
bered by Jig-me Gyal-way Nyu-gu's most eminent disciple,
Dza Pal-trul Rin-po-ch'e. Later, at the request of his col-
leagues, he unerroneously committed it to writing. His
unique skill in writing further enhanced the value of the
commentary. Since Dza Pal-trul Rin-po-ch'e regarded his
Guru as no other than Kun-tu Zang-po (Samantabhadra
Buddha) Himself, he gave the work the title Kiin-zang La-
may Zhal-lung.
The commentary was extremely popular with innumerable
followers in all walks of life, in Tibet and elsewhere, for it
xxiii
xxiv Introduction
presented the highest teaching in a simple and lucid language,

and was filled with interesting short stories and effective
analogies. Numerous relevant sayings of the Buddha and
other well-known Indo-Tibetan teachers of the leading Bud-
dhist schools were cited so that the teaching would go deep
into the heart of seekers. The number of people who have
succeeded in understanding the Dzog-ch 'en teaching by fol-
lowing this preliminary instruction is astounding.
These instructions were given in conformity with the say-
ing, "the best instructions are those that hit at the heart of
one's defects." Its criticisms, given with great compassion,
did not spare seekers at all levels, whether lamas or laymen,
incarnates or relatives of high lamas, parents or children,
businessmen or officials, rich or poor, male or female, so long
as their sole intention was to attain immediate relief from the
sufferings of the world.
Kun-zang La-may Zhal-lung consists of thirteen chapters.
Chapters One to Six deal with the common outer preliminary
practices for all the Yanas, Chapters Seven to Twelve deal
with the unique inner preliminary practices for the
Paramitayana and Vajrayana only, and Chapter Thirteen
deals with P'o-wa, the method of transferring one's con-
sciousness to a higher level.
This volume, Volume IV of the Nga-gyur Nying-may Sung-
rab English Translation Series, presents the common outer
preliminary practices, and Volume V will present the unique
inner preliminaries and the chapter on P'o-wa.
Each of the six chapters of the common outer preliminary
practices consists of two sections:
1. the manner of listening to the teaching;
2. the teaching itself.
The manner of listening to the teaching consists of a set of
extremely important techniques which have to be used not
only as a preparation before beginning every new chapter, but
also as a guiding principle in following Buddhism. Ultimate
Introduction xxv
success depends on these profound secret techniques of the

Paramitayana and Vajrayana. These techniques can be
summed up as the development of universal love and
compassion, called Bodhicitta, the understanding of the doc-
trine of Sunyata, and the goal of the attainment of Buddha-
hood by all the sentient beings.
The following are the essential teachings of the six
chapters:
Chapter One explains the most valuable leisure, having
eighteen endowments that are difficult to obtain, that pro-
vides us with the great opportunity to work for our freedom.
Chapter Two reminds us of the impermanence of life-the
precarious nature of our existence. If we fail to take advan-
tage of this most valuable leisure, we will be destroyed by
death and miss the opportunity to liberate ourselves and
others.
Chapter Three teaches us that if we fail to obtain freedom,
hereafter we will again suffer in one of the six regions of sam-
sara. Knowledge of the miseries of samsara should therefore
prevent us from accruing the causes for reappearing in it.
Chapter Four shows us the causes for the ephemeral happi-
ness and unhappiness that shackle us forever in samsara. We
should stop earning such karma and earnestly look for eter-
nal freedom.
Chapter Five explains that the only way to escape sarnsara
is to attain our innate eternal life and happiness. This will be
attained the moment we realize nirvana-whether it be the
Hinayanic nirvana or the Mahayanic nirvana.
Chapter Six teaches us how to find a real Guru, how to fol-
Iowa Guru, and how to attain the ultimate goal by knowing
the Guru's mind. It is for this reason that the Guru should be
a realized person. Even if all the qualifications of a Guru
mentioned in the Sutras and Tantras are not present, the
Guru should at least have fully-developed Bodhicitta in order
to be able to help the sentient beings.
xxvi Introduction
Thus, Chapters One through Four of the first volume con-

tain the four important instructions that teach us to develop
strong aversion for the main causes of misery. They are col-
lectively called Lo-dog Nam-zhi. If these are not thoroughly
understood, we cannot transcend the misery of samsara even
for a moment. Hence, to attain nirvana is out of the ques-
tion. Chapters Five through Six teach us the importance of
nirvana and how to find a realized Guru to guide us.
While studying each chapter, in order to gain the real
benefit, one should read Kun-zang La-may Zhal-lung with
genuine respect and interest, and meditate on the teachings
point by point, so that one understands them spiritually. No
benefit will be obtained if one reads the whole volume in a
few hours as an intellectual pastime. The purpose of studying
Kun-zang La-may Zhal-lung is to make one really feel the
nature of samsara, and the urgent need of seeking liberation
for oneself and others.
For this reason, the Tantric teaching is not only to be fol-
lowed by those in monasteries, but by sincere lay devotees
who properly maintain the secret vows and understand the
special injunctions. One should also remember that the
secret Tantric teachings strictly warn against exposing the
teachings to those who have no foundation and real under-
standing. These warnings are given for the benefit of both
the giver and receiver, so that neither will suffer untoward
consequences, and so that the Dharma perpetually maintains
its efficacy.
It is also necessary that the ending prayers of every chapter
be repeated thousands of times with deep contemplation, so
that they act as constant reminders. Proper prayers and dedi-
cation after finishing the reading should be done. If one
takes the time to let the teachings sink into one, one's mun-
dane nature will be dramatically transformed.
The first edition of Kiin-zang La-may Zhal-lung that I read
was the personal book used by the late Most Reverend
Shug-seb Je-tsiin Lo-ch'en Rin-po-ch'e of Tibet. She had
Introduction xxvii
given this to my wife, Mrs. Tsede Kazi, one of her most

devout followers, as a souvenir. It was this very book with
which the late Lo-ch'en Rin-po-ch'e had blessed me for the
first time in 1949 at the Shug-seb retreat in Tibet. She not
only showed great kindness to my wife and me by giving initi-
ations of the principal teachings of Long-ch 'en Nying-t'ig, but
also blessed us by reincarnating in our daughter. It was His
Holiness, the late Sixteenth Kar-rna-pa, who discovered her
as the heart reincarnation of the late Lo-ch'en Rin-po-ch'e.
This was very graciously confirmed by His Holiness the Four-
teenth Dalai Lama, the highest Buddhist authority, respected
by all as the Buddha of Mercy reincarnated in human form,
whose sole intention is to reinforce peace and happiness in
this world.
In doing this translation, I consulted two other editions of
Kun-zang La-may Zhal-lung, One was the xylograph copy
from His Holiness the late Sixteenth Kar-ma-pa's center in
Rumtek, Sikkim. The costs of the wooden blocks for this edi-
tion were assumed by the late Dzog-ch'en Pon-lob Rin-po-
ch'e, brother of His Holiness the Sixteenth Kar-ma-pa. The
other edition I consulted was from the Pal-trill Sung-bum, the
collected works of Dza Pal-trul Rin-po-ch'e, consisting of six
volumes. These belonged to the private library of His Holi-
ness the late Du-jorn Rin-po-ch'e. He kindly lent them to me
for publication in the Nga-gyur Nying-may Sung-rab Series in
Tibetan. Kun-zang La-may Zhal-lung corresponds to Vol-
ume 42 of this series, published in Gangtok in 1971. The
page numbers given in brackets (-> in the English transla-
tion correspond to this edition.
In translating Kun-zang La-may Zhal-lung into English, I
have tried to follow the Tibetan text as closely as possible.
Wherever I found major or minor mistakes, typographical or
otherwise, which I am sure were not in the original text, I
have inserted corrections and provided a footnote accounting
for the change.
The term "Dzog-ch 'en" (S. Mahasandhi) has been left in
Tibetan throughout. It is the duty of one's Root-Guru to
xxviii Introduction
explain what it really means. Proper names have not been

translated into English. Sanskrit words which are familiar to
all, such as samsara, nirvana, and Bodhicitta, are used instead
of translating their Tibetan equivalents into English.
In conformity with the time-honored tradition in Tibet,
Pal-trul Rin-po-ch'e has given acknowledgments, dedications,
a detailed account of how he wrote the book, and so on, in a
Colophon at the end of the second volume. Accordingly, I
have gratefully acknowledged those who have helped me in
editing and typing the manuscript for this book at the end of
the second volume.
The following is the uninterrupted, pure Nying-t'ig lineage
that Cha-tral Rin-po-ch'e holds:
Kun-k'yen Jig-me Ling-pa
1. Jig-me Gyal-way Nyu-gu
2. Jig-me Ch'o-kyi Wang-po (Dza Pal-trul)
3. Nyu-shul Lung-tog Ten-pay Nyi-rna
4. Abbot Ngag-wang Pal-zang
5. Cha-tral Sang-gyay Do-je
I received the oral transmission as well as the explanation
of Kun-zang La-may Zhal-lung from my gracious Guru, Cha-
tral Sang-gyay Do-je Rin-po-ch'e.
May the humble service that I have offered in translating
Kun-zang La-may Zhal-lung contribute to the perpetuation of
the paramount Dzog-ch 'en teaching. Mayall the realized Gu-
rus live long, and accomplish their compassionate mission.
Mayall the sentient beings of this world live long and enjoy
peace and happiness. May they quickly attain the state of
Samantabhadra Buddha.
February 5, 1989 Sonam T. Kazi

Kerhonkson, New York
Plate 1. Sa kyamuni Budd ha
Plate 2. Guru Padrnasambhava, Abbot Santaraksira,
and K ing Tr'i-son g D eu -tsen
Platc 3. Guru Long-ch 'en-pa
' .LJ .JiU-Il1L
l' l.uc 4. Gu: c- , l _ing-pa
~
DZOG-PA CH'EN-PO LONG-CH'EN NYING-TIG-GI
NGON-DRO TR'I-YIG
KUN-ZANG LA-MAY ZHAL-LUNG
ZHEY JA-WA ZHUG-SO
[HEREIN] IS CONTAINED THE INSTRUCTION ON

THE PRELIMINARY PRACTICES OF
DZOG-PA CH'EN-PO LONG-CH'EN NYING-TIG
CALLED
"THE ORAL INSTRUCTION OF KUN-ZANG LA-MA"
Homage to all the revered Gurus, who possess great

non-conceptual mercy.
The Buddha's mind [lineage]; the Rig-dzin's gesture lineage;

[And the oral lineage] of persons who - their fortune being
superior to that of ordinary people-
Followed the Noble Ones and attained the dual
accomplishment:
To all the Gurus of these three lineages, I pay homage.
He attained the Dharmakaya mind in the sphere of dissolved
phenomenal appearances;
He saw the manifestations of the Sarnbhogakaya paradise in
the clear-light emptiness;
In the eyes of his followers, he performed the duties of a
Nirrnanakaya [by liberating] sentient beings:
To the Omniscient Dharma-King [Long-ch'en-pa], I pay
homage. <3>
1
2 Kiin-zang La-may Zhal-lung
Through his [dual] transcendent wisdom, he saw the ultimate

truth in all knowable things;
His rays of compassion shined as inspiration to his followers;
He elucidated the teaching of the paramount vehicle, the
profound method:
To Rig-dzin Jig-me Ling-pa, I pay homage.
An Avalokitesvara in the guise of a spiritual teacher,
He established on the path of liberation all those who heard
his voice,
[By] showing limitless actions to [suit the needs of] his
followers:
To my gracious Root-Guru [Jig-me Gyal-way Nyu-gu],' I pay
homage.
The entire Buddhist doctrine transmitted through the
Kun-k'yerr' tradition, <4>
The essence of the secret techniques, is the Dharma that
yields Buddhahood in one lifetime.
The outer and inner preliminary practices of the path,
Together with the ejection [of consciousness V a direct path
[to realization] that complements the main instructions,
Are unique, secret techniques that are clear and easy to
understand.
These instructions of my unparalleled Guru,
In the manner I recall them in my mind, are unerroneously
related here.
Gurus and deities, bless me please.
lOne of Jig-mey Ling-pa's eminent disciples, who gave the oral

commentary which forms the text of this translation.
2 Long-ch'en-pa
3 p'o-wa / 'pho.ba
Kiin-zang La-may Zhal-lung 3
According to my notes, the outer and inner preliminary

practices" of Dzog-pa Ch'en-po Long-ch'en Nying-tig,5 as
exactly explained by my unparalleled Guru, have three divi-
sions:
Part One
The Common Outer Preliminary Practices"
Part Two
The Unique Inner Preliminary Practices?
Part Three
The Instruction on the Ejection of Consciousness,"
a direct method that complements
the main practice of meditation.
4 ngon-dro / snon/gro
5 rdzogs.pa chen.po klon.chen snin.tig
6 t'un-mong ch'i ngon-dro / thun.mon phyi'i snon/gro
7 t'un-min nang-gi ngon-dro / thun.min nan.gi snon/dro
8 p'o-way Tr'i / 'pho.ba'i khrid
PART ONE
The Common Outer

Preliminary Practices
[The explanation of the common outer preliminary

practices is set forth in six chapters:]
1. The Difficulty of Obtaining Leisure and Endowment;
2. The Impermanence of Life;
3. The Misery of Samsara;
4. The Cause and Effect of Karma;
5. The Benefit of Freedom;
6. Following a Spiritual Teacher.
5
CHAPTER ONE
The Difficulty of Obtaining

Leisure and Endowment
The instruction on the difficulty of obtaining [a human

state with] leisure and endowment! is twofold:
1. The Manner of Listening to the Instructions;
2. The Categories of the Dharma to Be Explained.
1 THE MANNER OF LISTENING TO THE

INSTRUCTIONS
[The section on the manner of listening to the instructions]
is twofold:
1. Motivation;
2. Conduct.
1.1 MOTIVATION 2
There are two types [of motivation]:
1. The Broad-minded Bodhicitta Motivation;
2. The Secret Tantric Motivation with a Wide Range of
Techniques.
1 dal-jor nye-ka-wa / dal.'byor rned.dka'iba

2 kiln-long / kun.slon
7
8 Kun-zang La-may Zhal-lung
1.1.1 THE BROAD-MINDED BODHICITTA

MOTIVATION3
[The broad-minded bodhicitta motivation is based on the
idea that] there is not one out of all the sentient beings who
dwell in samsara <5> who has not been your parent in [the
course of] beginningless time. When they were your parents,
they treated you with great affection and provided you with
the best food and clothes [they could afford]. They were very
kind in bringing you up with loving care. These gracious
beings yearn for happiness, but they do not know how to
practice the ten virtuous Dharmas, the causes of happiness.
They dislike suffering, but they hardly know how to avoid the
ten vices," the causes of suffering. The ends they desire from
the core of their hearts and the means they follow become
contrary. Bewildered, on a wrong path, they find themselves
as helpless as blind men abandoned in the middle of a plain.
Develop pity for them, and think thus, "If I now listen to a
profound Dharma and practice it, I can help them achieve
their goal. These sentient beings, my parents who are
afflicted by the suffering and pain of the six regions.l must be
rescued from all the karmic sufferings and habits pertaining
to each of those six regions. I must help them attain the state
of omniscient Buddhahood." This is the thought [called "the
broad-minded bodhicitta motivation"].
Having this sort of motivation is very important while
listening to religious discourses, while putting them into prac-
tice, and, in fact, while doing everything [for the attainment
of Buddhahood]. While earning virtuous merit, whether
large or small, you must: [1] ensure it with skillful means, by
developing bodhicitta; [2] to protect the merit you have
earned <6> from quick dissipation by destructive causes, prac-
tice non-conceptual meditation-the principal step; and [3] to
3 sam-pa gya-ch'e-wa ch'ang-ch'ub sem-kyi kiln-long / bsam.pa

rgya.che.ba byan.chub sems.kyi kun.slon
4 See Chapter Four for an explanation of the ten virtues and the ten
vices.
5 See Chapter Three for an explanation of the six regions.
The Difficulty of Obtaining Leisureand Endowment 9
multiply its virtue infinitely, conclude fully with prayers of

dedication [to all sentient beings]. Thus, you cannot do with-
out these three perfect principles."
Therefore, while listening to a discourse about Dharma,
not only is the manner in which you listen important, the
motivation with which you listen is even more important.
As it is said:
It is the virtuous or unvirtuous thought that makes the

difference,
Not the extent of the physical manifestation of virtue or
vice.
Accordingly, no matter how much you may listen to the

Dharma, as long as you are motivated by pride, a sense of
superiority, or other attitudes directly concerned with mun-
dane life, you are not considered to be following the Dharma
properly.
So, to start with, it is highly important that you turn inward
and shape your motivation. If your motivation is properly
shaped, your virtuous deeds will be well-founded and will
lead to the Great Being's 7 path of immeasurable merit. If
your motivation is not properly shaped, the acts of listening
to and practicing the Dharma will tend to be mere formali-
ties. Therefore, while listening to the Dharma, putting it into
practice, visualizing the deities, uttering mantra, doing pros-
trations or circumambulations, or even saying a single word
of [the mantra] oJ?1 mani padme hUJ?1, it is important that
everything be motivated by bodhicitta.
6 dam-pa-sum / dam.pa.gsum
7 i.e., the Buddha's
1.1.2 THE SECRET TANTRIC MOTIVATION WITH A

WIDE RANGE OF TECHNIQUES8
From the Ts'ul-surn Dron-me:
Although identical in purpose [to the Sutrayana],

It is unobscured, has many methods, requires no
effort, <7>
And is meant for those having sharp mental acumen;
Therefore, the Mantrayana? excels in its superiority.
Thus, the esoteric Vajrayana'? has many entrances, many

methods for earning good merits, and many effective tech-
niques for achieving the fruit [of Buddhahood] without
undergoing much hardship. Again, the root of these methods
. is based on the shaping of attitude.
It is said:
All things are [created by] causes;

These [in turn] depend entirely on the focal point of
one's attitude.
Thus, you should not regard [such things as] the place
where the Dharma is preached, the teacher who preaches it,
and so on, as common, ordinary things that are [usually] seen
by obscured eyes. Rather, assume them to be like five perfect
things,'! and listen with this changed attitude.
Assume the nature of the place to be the perfect Dharma-
dhatu Palace in the Og-min 1 Paradise; the teacher to be the
perfect Dharrnakaya Samantabhadra; and the followers to be
perfect {holders] of the Buddha's mind tradition, Wisdom-
Holders 3 of the gesture tradition, male and female Bodhisat-
8 t'ab gya-ch 'e-wa sang-wa ngag-kyi kiln-long / thabs rgya.che.ba gsang.ba

snags.kyi kun.slon
9 i.e., Tantric Buddhism
10 i.e., Tantric Buddhism
11 the perfect place, teacher, disciples, doctrine, and time
12 'og.min / S. Akanistha
13 rig-dzin / rig.'dzin ..
The Difficulty of ObtainingLeisureand Endowment 11
tvas, and gods and goddesses. Or, assume the nature of the
place where the Dharma is taught in fact to be the Pe-ma 6
Palace on Zang-dog Pal-gyi Ri-wO;14 the Guru who is preach-
ing the Dharma actually to be O-gyen Pe-ma Jung-nay." and
we followers who are hearing the Dharma to be the eight
Wisdom-Holders, the twenty-five disciples, and dakas and
dakinls, Or, assume the nature of the place to be the perfect
<8> Ngon-par ga-wa" Paradise in the east; the teacher to be
the perfect Sambhogakaya Vajrasattva; and the followers to
be the host of deities of the Vajra race and male and female
Bodhisattvas. Or, assume the nature of the place to be the
perfect De-we-chen'? Paradise in the west; the teacher to be
the perfect Buddha Amitabha; and the followers to be the
perfect host of deities of the Padma race, male and female
Bodhisattvas, and gods and goddesses.
Whichever assumption [you make], have firm faith in the
wheel of the Mahayana Dharma, which has been turning con-
tinuously since time immemorial. Regarding these [visualiza-
tions], know that you are visualizing what actually exists as it
is; you are not visualizing non-existent things as existing.
The Guru embodies in himself all the Buddhas of the
three times.!" As, in essence, his body is the Sangha, his
speech is the Dharma, and his mind is the Buddha, he
embodies the Three Jewels.'? As his body is the Guru,2O his
speech is the Deva." and his mind is the l?akini,22 he
embodies all the Three Basic Divinities.P As his body is the
Nirmanakaya, his speech is the Sarnbhogakaya, and his mind
14 bzan.ldog dpal.gyi ri.bo / the Glorious Copper-colored Mountain

15 Guru Padmasambhava
16 mnon.par dgaba / S. Abhirati
17 bde.ba.can / S. Sukhavatl
18 the past, present, and future
19 kon-ch'og-sum / dkon.mchog.gsum
20 la-ma / bla.ma
21 yi-dam / yid.dam
22 k'a-dro / mkha'.'gro
23 tsa-wa-sum / rtsa.ba.gsum
is the Dharrnakaya, he embodies all the Three Kayas.24 He is

the incarnation of all the past Buddhas, the source of all the
future Buddhas, and the regent of all the present Buddhas.
<9> Because he delivers the beings of this deteriorated
period, who could not be rescued even by the thousand
Buddhas of the Superior Aeon, from the standpoint of his
grace 25 and kindness, he is even more important than all
those Buddhas.
It is said:
The Guru is the Buddha; the Guru is the Dharma;

Likewise, the Guru is the Sangha.
The Guru is the doer of all.
The Guru is the glorious Vajradhara.
So it is like that. We followers who hear the Dharma from

him also have the Buddha-Essence as the basis, the valuable
human state as the support, and spiritual teachers as the
cause [of our enlightenment]. Upheld by the methods of this
secret tantric method, we are the future Buddhas.
From the Tag-nyi Tantra:
Although sentient beings are intrinsically Buddhas,

They are obscured by adventitious defiJement.
Remove the defiJement, and there is the real Buddha.
And so it has been said.
1.2 CONDUCT26
[The instruction on conduct] is twofold:
1. Conduct That Should Be Abandoned;
2. Conduct That Should Be Adopted.
24 a Buddha's body, speech, and mind

25·i.e., blessmgs
.
26 kiin-cho / kun.spyod
The Difficulty of Obtaining Leisure and Endowment 13
1.2.1 CONDUCT THAT SHOULD BE ABANDONED

[The conduct that should be abandoned] is threefold:
1. The Three Defects of the Vessel;
2. The Six Defilements [of the Vessel];
3. The Five Wrong Ways of Apprehending.
1.2.1.1 THE THREE DEFECTS OF THE VESSEL

[The three defects of the vessel] are:
1. To be defective like an upside-down vessel, by not
lending your ear;
2. To be defective like a vessel with a leaking bottom, by
not remembering what you have heard;
3. To be defective like a vessel contaminated with poison,
by mixing [what you have heard] with delusive views.
1.2.1.1.1 [TO BE DEFECTIVE LIKE AN UPSIDE-DOWN

VESSEL]
While listening to the Dharma, without letting your ear-
consciousness be distracted elsewhere, <10> you must focus
on the sound communicating the Dharma and listen. If you
do not listen thus, it will be like pouring an essential
substance" into a vessel which has been set upside down.
Although you are physically present in the religious gather-
ing, you will not hear a single word of the Dharma.
1.2.1.1.2 [TO BE DEFECTIVE LIKE A VESSEL WITH A

LEAKING BOTTOM]
If you treat whatever Dharma you hear casually and do not
retain it in your mind, it will be like pouring an essential sub-
stance into a vessel with a leaking bottom: however much is
27 chu / bcud / also means "contents" in relation to a container; i.e., the

listener, the vessel, should take in the Dharma, the essential contents.
put in, the vessel will retain nothing. You will not be able to
put the teachings into practice, whatever amount of Dharma
you hear.
1.2.1.1.3 [TO BE DEFECTIVE LIKE A VESSEL

CONTAMINATED WITH POISON]
If you listen to the Dharma with defective motives, such as
the desire to promote your own position and fame; or, if you
listen under the influence of the five poisons-lust, hatred,
delusion, [arrogance, and jealousy]-the Dharma will have no
beneficial effect on your mind. In fact, the Dharma will then
become anti-Dharma. This will be like putting a precious
substance into a poisonous vessel.
On this point, Dam-pa of India said:
When listening to the Dharma, you should be like a wild

animal listening to a sound.
When thinking [of the Dharma], you should be like a
northerner shearing [wool from a] sheep.
When meditating [on the Dharma], you should be like a
dumb man enjoying a taste.
When intensely putting the Dharma into practice, you
should be like a hungry yak devouring grass.
When [you attain] fruition, you should be like the sun
set free from clouds.
As he said, when you listen to the Dharma, you should be

like a wild animal listening spellbound to the sound of a harp,
oblivious to a hunter shooting a poisoned arrow at it from the
side. <11> You should hear the Dharma with an ecstasy that
makes the hairs of your body stand on end and your eyes fill
with tears, with your hands in a folded position, and with your
mind uninterrupted by any other thoughts.
On the other hand, although you may be physically seated
in a religious gathering, if your mind runs after other thoughts
and engages in endless gossip, or if your mouth and eyes are
engaged in something else, no purpose can be served. When
listening to the Dharma, you should stop other religious
activities, such as praying and bead counting, and do nothing

but hear the Dharma. Even after listening in this manner,
bear in mind whatever meanings have been explained, and do
not forget to practice them constantly.
Lord Buddha said:
I show you the way to liberation,

But know that liberation rests with you.
Accordingly, a Guru's instructions to a disciple [are given

simply] to teach him how to listen to the Dharma, how to
practice [the Dharma], how to renounce vice, how to acquire
virtue, and how to take [the Dharma] to heart. A disciple
must remember the [Guru's instructions] and follow them
thoroughly. If you do not take them to heart, although some
minimal benefit may result from listening to the Dharma, you
will not understand the meaning of the words at all, and there
will be no difference between your having heard them or not.
Although you may take the instructions to heart, if you mix
them with delusion, they will not be the pure Dharma.
Nyam-me Dag-po Rin-po-ch'e said: <12>
If the Dharma is not followed as Dharma,

The Dharma itself may be the cause for going to hell
again.
Accordingly, antagonism toward the Guru and the Dhar-

ma, which are both at an exalted level; bearing critical views
toward religious friends, who are at your own level; and arro-
gance, disregard for karmic effects, and similar types of
immoral thoughts-these will cause you to fall into the lower
regions. Therefore, they should be avoided.
1.2.1.2 THE SIX DEFILEMENTS [OF THE VESSEL]

From the Nam-she Rig-pa: 28
[1] Arrogance,
[2] Lack of faith,
[3] Lack of interest,
[4] External distraction,
[5] Inward withdrawal, and
[6] Listening with regret
Are the defilements.
As it is said, arrogance, which is the thought, "I am even

greater than the Guru who is preaching"; lack of faith in the
Dharma and the Guru; lack of interest in the Dharma;
engaging the mind entirely in external objects; inwardly with-
drawing the five sense organs; and [listening with] regret [by
having such thoughts as], "the teaching is taking too long"-
these are the six defilements you must abandon.
1.2.1.2.1 [ARROGANCE]
Of all the delusive hindrances, arrogance and jealousy are
the two most difficult to recognize; hence, you should observe
your mind minutely. If you are proud of the small spiritual or
temporal knowledge you have obtained and become attached
to it, you will not be able to see either your own inner defects
or others' merits. Therefore, abandon arrogance and always
hold fast to an attitude of humility.
1.2.1.2.2 [LACK OF FAITH]

The absence of faith closes the door of the Dharma. Of
the four types of faith, acquire unchangeable faith. 29 <13>
28 rnam.bsad rig.pa
29 ch'ir mi-dog-pay de-pa / phyir mi.ldog.pa'i dad.pa / The four types of
faith are explained in Part Two, Chapter One.
TheDifficulty ofObtaining Leisure and Endowment 17
1.2.1.2.3 [LACK OF INTEREST]

Taking interest in the Dharma is the foundation of all
knowledge. Dharma-followers of great, mediocre, and ordi-
nary grades are the products of great, mediocre, and ordinary
interest in the Dharma. Dharma will never grow if you do
not take interest in it. Even ordinarily, it is said, "Dharma,
while free, is really for the hard worker." Indeed, while
seeking a single, four-word phrase of Dharma, our Lord
Buddha had to burn a thousand lamps by pouring seed-oil
into holes dug into His own flesh, jump across a ditch full of
fire, drive a thousand nails into His body, and endure hun-
dreds of other hardships.
[A Siitra states]:
Crossing over bonfires and sharp blades,

The search for Dharma continued to the very brink of
death.
Hence, as stated, you should hear the Dharma with such

great interest that you overcome all difficulties, such as heat,
cold, and any other obstacles as well.
1.2.1.2.4 [EXTERNAL DISTRACTION]

The indulgence of consciousness in the six external sensual
stimulants'" is the root cause of all illusory concepts and the
source of all suffering. For example, because their eye con-
sciousness craves form, moths die in flames. Because their
ears crave sound, wild animals are killed by hunters. Because
their noses crave scent, bees are entrapped in flowers. Be-
cause their tongues crave taste, fish are hooked. Because
their bodies crave touch, elephants sink into mud. Further-
more, whenever you are listening to, teaching, or practicing
the Dharma, you should avoid retracing past impressions,
<14> anticipating future delusions, and indulging your present
attention in extraneous matters.
30 touch, sight, sound, taste, smell, and concepts

Gyal-say Rin-po-ch'e said:
Past pain and pleasure are like drawings on water.

The past leaves no trace; do not try to track it.
If you insist on remembering, consider the decline of
wealth into poverty, and of meeting into separation.
Hark, Mani-wa! Is there anything other than Dharma
on which you can depend?
Preparation for the future is like setting a fishing net in
a dry riverbed.
Give up ambitious aims that miss the desired end.
If you insist on anticipating, consider the uncertainty of
[the time of] death.
Hark, Mani-wa! Have you time to spare for anything
save Dharma?
Present activities are like housekeeping in a dream.
Let them go, for your worldly endeavors wiH achieve
nothing.
The food permitted by Dharma can be gotten by a
hundred unattached means.
Hark, Mani-wa! Active involvement [in worldly affairs]
has no intrinsic meaning at all.
Until all appearances of thought are transmuted into
the Dharmakaya,
Training to recognize the three poisons in the post-
meditative state
Cannot be done away with; therefore, remember this
when necessary.
Hark, Mani-wa! Do not let iHusory thoughts spread
uncontrolled.
At another time, the same Guru said:
Do not anticipate the future.

If you anticipate the future,
You will be like Da-wa Drag-pa's father.
Once upon a time, a poor man found a good deal of bar-

ley, which he put into a bag and hung from his ceiling. Lying
beneath it, he began to daydream, "Now, based upon this
barley, I will acquire a great amount of wealth. <15> Then I
will marry. My wife will surely give birth to a son. What
name shall I give my son?" Just then, the moon shone. He
concluded that his son should be named Da-wa Drag-pa (Re-
nowned as the Moon). At that very moment, having been
gnawed through by a mouse, the rope holding up the bag gave
way and the bag fell, killing the man.
Thus, the innumerable plans of past and future seldom
turn out as expected. Because they waste your time, you
should thoroughly abandon them. Listen [to the Dharma]
with remembrance, watchfulness, and self-control.
1.2.1.2.5 [INWARD WITHDRAWAL]

If you are inwardly withdrawn to excess and merely attend
to an occasional sentence of Dharma, you will listen like a
wild dog digging up a nest of rats. As soon as it catches one,
it sees another and forgets about the first. [Consequently], it
never has time to catch them all. Excessive withdrawal also
induces sleep, obscures consciousness, and develops many
other defects. Therefore, you should maintain moderate
attention, neither too taut nor too slack.
Long ago, Kun-ga-wo!' taught Dro-zhin-kyeyf how to
meditate. A perfect meditation would not grow in him, for
he either would tense his mind too much or relax it too much.
When the Buddha was told of Dro-zhin-kyey's problem, He
asked him, "Living man, you were very expert at tuning the
lute when you were yet at home, were you not?"
"Yes, Lord, extremely expert."
. "How did you get the melody from your lute-by exces-
sively tightening the strings, or by excessively loosening
them?"
31 kun.dga'ibo, / S. Ananda
32 gro.biin.skyes / S. Srona
"By doing neither of those. I obtained it by tightening and

loosening the strings in just the proper way." <16>
"Then your mind should also [be dealt with] like that."
With this advice, [Dro-zhin-kyey] obtained the result.
Also, Ma-lab-dron said, "Concentrate intensely, yet
release yourself and relax. Therein lies a secret of compre-
hending the doctrinal view." Just as she said, do not draw
your mind in too tensely-attain a moderate equilibrium, and
keep your senses relaxed.
1.2.1.2.6 [LISTENING WITH REGRET]

You should not feel regret and lose devotion in listening
to the Dharma due to pangs of hunger or thirst on account of
the [teaching] session being lengthy, or because you are dis-
tressed by wind, sun, or rain. On the contrary, think as fol-
lows, "At present, I have a well-endowed human body, have
met a recognized Guru, and therefore am happy since I can
learn the profound spiritual techniques. This [opportunity] is
the outcome of merits earned during innumerable aeons.
The chance to hear the Dharma is like a feast which comes
only once in a century. For the sake of this Dharma, I am
ready to undergo any sort of hardship-heat, cold, whatever."
Bearing this in mind, you should hear the Dharma with
happiness and pleasure.
1.2.1.3 THE FIVE MISAPPREHENSIONS

[The five misapprehensions] are:
1. To apprehend the words, but not the meaning;
2. To apprehend the meaning, but not the words;
3. To apprehend the words, but with a wrong
interpretation;
4. To apprehend the words in an inverted order;
5. To apprehend the wrong meaning of the words.
The Difficulty of ObtainingLeisure and Endowment 21
1.2.1.3.1 [NOT TO APPREHEND THE MEANING]

If you pay attention only to beautiful words that are sweet
to hear, and neglect to determine the important meaning, you
are like a child picking flowers. The sound of the words <17>
will not benefit your mind.
1.2.1.3.2 [NOT TO APPREHEND THE WORDS]

You may regard the narrative as the dregs of the dis-
course, intentionally ignore it, and clutch at the important
meaning. But since there is no meaning that is not based on
words, the words and the meaning will separate.
1.2.1.3.3 [TO MISINTERPRET THE TEACHING]

There are varieties of teachings that reveal the truth, some
systematically or directly, others indirectly.P If you inter-
pret the [latter] wrongly [i.e., literally], you will confuse the
words and the meanings, and they will be contrary to the pure
Dharma.
1.2.1.3.4 [TO INVERT THE ORDER OF THE WORDS]

If you apprehend the words in an inverted order, they will
contradict the systematic progression of the Dharma. This
contradiction will continue at all times, whether you are lis-
tening, teaching, or meditating.
1.2.1.3.5 [TO APPREHEND THE WRONG MEANING]

If you apprehend the wrong meaning, by being continually
accustomed to wrong ideas, the nature of your mind will be
impaired, and you will bring disgrace to the Dharma.
Thus, you should avoid all these erroneous [ways of
apprehending]. The right meaning implied by the words, the
33 dem-gong /Idem.dgons
22 Kiin-zang La-may Zhal-Iung
proper sequence-you should learn everything in a correct

and orderly way. Do not, through laziness, give up trying to
grasp things because they are difficult or extensive. Rather,
grasp them with diligence. And do not take lightly whatever
is easy or brief; hold it firmly so that you do not forget it. Do
not be mistaken with regard to the proper sequence of words,
and learn all the words and meanings thoroughly.
1.2.2 CONDUCT THAT SHOULD BE ADOPTED

[The conduct that should be adopted] is threefold:
1. To Make the Four Assumptions;
2. To Practice the Six Paramitas;
3. To Follow Various Other Modes of Conduct.
1.2.2.1 TO MAKE THE FOUR ASSUMPTIONS

From the Dong-po Ko-pa:
Nobly born child:

[1] Assume yourself to be the patient; <18>
[2] Assume the Dharma to be the medicine;
[3] Assume the spiritual teacher to be a skilled
physician;
[4] Assume constant practice to be the treatment that
will certainly cure the disease.
As it is said, you who have been in this ocean of samsaric

suffering since time immemorial are like a patient stricken by
disease, the causes of which are the three poisons and the re-
sults of which are the three sufferings.
For example, a patient stricken with a severe disease will
rely on a skilled physician; he will do whatever the physician
advises and take whatever medicine is prescribed because he
strives for the happiness of being free from disease. Simi-
larly, you must follow the instructions of a true Guru, who is
like a skilled physician, and take the medicine of the sublime
Dharma in order to be freed from the diseases of karma,
misery, and suffering. Although you may find a Guru, if you

do not follow his instructions, the Guru will be like a doctor
who has no means to help, since the patient does not follow
his instructions. If you do not personally take the medicine of
the sublime Dharma and put it into practice, you are like a
patient who has piles of medicine and innumerable prescrip-
tions by his pillow, but who does not take the medicine [or
use the prescriptions], and thus cannot benefit from them.
In general, people these days harbor great hope in the
merciful help of the Guru, while they [continue to] engage in
irreligious activities. They think that they need not suffer the
results of their demeritorious deeds <19> because the grace
of the Guru can transport them to Heaven as easily as the
flinging of a stone. However, what is called "being held by
the Guru's grace" is this: he leads you with his compassionate
grace; he teaches you the profound techniques; he opens your
eyes to discern what is to be adopted and what is to be aban-
doned; and he shows you the path to liberation in conformity
with the teaching of the Buddha. Apart from that, there is no
additional grace. Depending on that grace, it is up to you
whether or not you travel the path to liberation.
On this occasion, you have obtained the state of a human
being with leisure and endowment, and you know the tech-
nique for acquiring [virtue] and abandoning [vice]. At this
time, the power of decision is in your own hand. This [very
moment] is the dividing line between your making a good or
a bad choice. Therefore, following the exact instructions of
the Guru, it is important that you settle the question of saJ!1-
sara and nirvana,
Village priests [sit] near the head of a corpse and give in-
structions, saying, "This is the crossroads of journeying up or
journeying down; it is like turning a horse with a bridle."
However, unless you were previously well-trained [in medita-
tion], at this time you will be driven from behind by the red
wind of karma, led in front by the darkness of fear, pressed
on both sides by the long, narrow passage of the bar-do/" and
chased by innumerable attendants of Yama, who shout, "Kill,
34 bar.do / the intermediate state entered after dying

24 Kun-zang La-mayZhal-lung
kill! Hit, hit!" <20> You will fail to find a place to run to, a
place to hide, a protector, or one in whom you can place your
hope or trust. How can a time when you do not know what to
do be a crossroads of journeying up or journeying down?
The great O-gyen Rin-po-ch'e said:
Conferring initiation on the paper effigy

Comes too late when one's consclousness'"
Is running like a mad dog in the bar-de,
Leading [the consciousness] to the higher regions is
indeed a difficult task.
Therefore, the crossroads of journeying up or journeying

down, like turning a horse by its bridle, is this very occasion
when you are alive. While in this human state, a meritorious
deed done for rising [to a higher region] is more effective in
its [degree of] virtue than merits earned in any other state.
You should take care that this valuable life is not wasted.
Likewise, as for accumulating evil deeds that lead you down-
ward, you are more capable of performing them than any
other sentient being. Thus, you certainly can produce the
cause for inescapably [entering] the depths of the lower re-
gions. Now is the time when you have met a Guru, who is
like an expert doctor, and have found the noble Dharma,
which is like the medicine that restores you to life. Thus, now
is when you must make these four sublime assumptions and
take the road to freedom by putting into practice the Dharma
that you have heard.
You must also avoid the four contrary assumptions, their
opposites.
From the Yon-ten Dzo:
An insincere disciple
[1] Deceives with a humble tongue,
[2] Treats the Guru like a musk deer,
35 nam-shey I rnam.ses
[3] Obtains the sublime Dharma like a booty of musk,

and afterwards,
[4] Forfeits the bond of trust, <21> since he is exceed-
ingly fond of hunting.
As stated, you should not receive and practice the Dharma

by assuming the Guru to be a musk deer, the Dharma to be
musk, yourself to be a hunter, and the repeated [pretense] of
practice to be attempts to kill the musk deer with an arrow or
snare. You who do not appreciate the Guru's kindness are
earning sins through the Dharma. You are making your-
selves into cornerstones of hell.
1.2.2.2 TO PRACTICE THE SIX pARAMITAs36

The conduct to be adopted should have the following
characteristics of the six paramitas. The Ngon-par Tog-pa
Tantra, which contains all the secret instructions concerning
the conduct aspect of Dharma, states:
[1] Offer things like flowers and cushions;

[2] Maintain the place of Dharma instruction and
control your conduct;
[3] Do not harm any living beings;
[4] Be fully devoted to the Guru;
[5] Listen attentively to his instructions;
[6] Pose questions to clarify doubtful points-
The listeners should possess these six aspects [of
paramita],
Thus, you should set the throne of Dharma with cushions,

and offer mandalas, flowers, and the like. This is the offering
of alms.'?
36 lit. to cross to the other side; i.e., from the conceptual to the non-
conceptual
37 jin-pa / sbyin.pa
Thoroughly clean [the place of instruction], keep down the

dust, and correct any errors, such as disrespectful behavior.
This is the observation of morality/"
Avoid harming even the smallest insects and bear with
endurance hardships such as heat, cold, and so forth. This is
forbearance.P
Avoid feeling any antipathy toward the Guru and the
teaching, and cheerfully listen to the Dharma <22> with gen-
uine faith. This is perseverance."
Listen to the instructions of the Guru by focusing your
attention nowhere else. This is steadiness of mind."
Ask questions to clarify all doubtful points. This is tran-
scendent wisdom. 42
Thus, the listener should possess the six paramitas.
1.2.2.3 TO FOLLOW VARIOUS OTHER MODES OF

CONDUCT
From the Dul-wa Lung:
Do not preach to those who have no respect.

Those whose heads are covered although [they are] not
sick,
Those who use umbrellas or carry a stick or a weapon,
And those whose heads are wrapped are not to be
taught.
From the Kyey-rab:
Take the lowest seat,

Manifest the signs of having disciplined [your mind],
And look up with cheerful eyes.
38 ts'id-t'rim /tshul.khrims
39 zo-pa / bzod.pa
40 tson-dru / brtson.'grus
41 sam-ten / bsam.gtan
42 shey-rab / ses.rab
As if drinking the nectar of the words,

Listen to the Dharma with full attention.
Thus, as stated, give up all habits which show disrespect.
2 THE CATEGORIES OF THE DHARMA TO BE

EXPLAINED
The instruction on the difficulty of attaining leisure and
endowment" is fourfold:
1. Contemplation on Leisure," the Main Subject;
2. Contemplation on the Special Dharma Called
Endowmentr"
. ,
3. Contemplation on Examples Showing the Difficulty of
Obtaining [a Human Body];
4. Contemplation on the Numerical Improbability [of
Obtaining a Human Body].
2.1 CONTEMPLATION ON LEISURE, THE MAIN

SUBJECT
Generally speaking, "leisure" means not to be born in [any
of] the eight inopportune'" states that permit no leisure, but
rather to be born in a state that allows the practice of the
noble Dharma. "Inopportune" refers to the eight states in
which there is no time [to practice Dharma]. <23>
It is said:
[1] Hell-beings,
[2] Pretas,"
[3] Animals,
43 dal-jor / daI.'byor
44 dal-wa / dal.ba
45 jor-pa / 'byor.pa
46 mi-k'om-pa / mi.khom.pa
47 yi-dag / yi.dvags / hungry ghosts
[4] Barbarians,
[5] Long-lived gods,
[6] Heretics,
[7] Those born in periods devoid of Buddhas, and
[8] Mutes48 -
These eight have no leisure.
Thus, as stated, if you are born in hell, there is no oppor-

tunity to follow the Dharma because you must always suffer
the pains of heat and cold.
Born in the region of pretas, there is no opportunity to
follow the Dharma because you are constantly occupied with
the sufferings of hunger and thirst.
There is no opportunity to practice the Dharma in the
animal region because animals suffer from being exploited
and from harming each other.
The long-lived gods pass their time in a non-perceptive
state and have no opportunity to practice the Dharma."
If you are born in a barbarous country, because there is no
Buddhism, there is no opportunity to practice the Dharma.
If you are born as one akin to the evil heretics, because
your mind is contaminated with antagonistic views, there is
no opportunity to practice the Dharma.
If you are born during a dark aeon, you will not hear even
the sound of [the words] "Three Jewels." Because you can-
not distinguish virtue from vice, there is no opportunity to
practice the Dharma.
If you are born mute, your consciousness is not service-
able. Hence, there is no opportunity to practice the Dharma.
48 kug-pa / lkugs.pa / lit. mute, one who cannot speak; however, as

explained below and in section 2.1.6, this state also includes those whose
mental faculties are defective.
49 The usual sequence places "barbarians" before "long-lived gods." In
this particular passage, however, the order is reversed.
2.1.1 [THE STATES OF HELL-BEINGS, PRETAS, AND

ANIMALS]
Beings born in the three lower regions of these eight inop-
portune states incessantly suffer from heat, cold, and hunger,
the karmic reactions that result from their own wrongdoing in
the past. Hence, they have no leisure to follow the Dharma.
<24>
2.1.2 [THE STATE OF BARBARIANS]

The word "barbarian'P'' refers to the barbarians of the
thirty-two [Tibetan] border areas such as Lo-k'a-t'ra and so
forth, and [also] those who regard the infliction of pain [on
others] as Dharma. Although these barbarians of the border
areas are human beings, they do not turn their minds towards
the noble Dharma. They follow their ancestral tradition,
which has profane practices such as making a bride of one's
own mother, and hence their behavior is contrary to the in-
structions of the Dharma. Because they are especially expert
in demeritorious acts, such as killing living beings and hunting
wild animals, upon dying there are many who must immedi-
ately go to hell. Therefore, [this state] is inopportune.
2.1.3 [THE STATE OF LONG-LIVED GODS]

The long-lived gods live in a non-perceptive state. Those
who practice the dhyanaS1 in which neither virtue nor vice is
perceived and who regard this as the ultimate liberation are
reborn as non-perceptive gods. They enjoy this dhyana for
many great [cycles of] aeons. When the karma that has ele-
vated them to the [god-realms] is exhausted, they repudiate
their belief [in liberation]. Because this antagonism causes
them to be reborn in hell, they have no opportunity to prac-
tice the Dharma.
50 la-lo / k1a.klo
51 sam-ten / bsam.gtan / steadiness of mind
2.1.4 [THE STATE OF HERETICS]

Those who are outside of the Buddhist faith hold contrary
views, for they hold either eternalism or nihilism as their doc-
trinal view. They have no opportunity to develop pure faith
to practice the Dharma because their minds are preoccupied
with these contrary thoughts. <25> Because the Second Bud-
dha, O-gyen Rin-po-ch'e, assigned the twelve guardian sis-
ters 52 to protect Tibet, [until recently] Tibet was impregnable
to heretics. 53
Being similar to heretics, those who hold views which are
antagonistic to the perfect Dharma and to its followers also
have no opportunity to follow perfectly the sublime Dharma.
They are like the monk Leg-pay Kar-ma. 54 Although he
served Lord Buddha for twenty-five years, because he had not
the slightest faith in Him but rather regarded Him with scorn,
he was ultimately reborn in a garden as a hungry ghost.
2.1.5 [THE STATE OF THOSE BORN IN A DARK AEON]

A period with no Buddhas is called a dark aeou." If you
are born in a world devoid of Buddhas, you will not even hear
the sound of [the words] "Three Jewels." Because you will
have no idea of the noble Dharma, it is an inopportune state.
2.1.6 [THE STATE OF THE MUTE]

If you are born mute.l" your mind will not be suitable for
listening to, teaching, or meditating upon the Dharma. In
general, "mute" refers only to one who cannot speak and
therefore suffers from an inopportune state, but since human
characteristics include [both] knowing words and under-
standing their meaning, those who on account of the mute-
52 ten-ma chu-nyi / bstan.ma bcu.gnis

53 mu-teg-pa / mu.stegs.pa
54 legs.pa'i skar.ma / S. Sunaksatra
55 man-kat / mun.bskal .
56 kug-pa / lkug.pa
ness of their mental faculties have become extremely stupid,

and cannot understand the implications of the Dharma, are
also in an inopportune state. <26>
2.2 CONTEMPLATION ON THE SPECIAL DHARMA

CALLED ENDOWMENT
The special Dharma called [favorable] endowment
[comprises]:
1. The Five Endowments Found within Oneself;
2. The Five Endowments Resting with Others.
2.2.1 THE FIVE ENDOWMENTS FOUND WITHIN

ONESELF57
As Nagarjuna said, they are:
[1] To be a human being;

[2] Born in a central country;
[3] With perfect faculties;
[4] Engaged in a proper vocation;
[5] [And] having faith in the abode [of the Dharma].
If you do not obtain a human state, you will have no

chance to meet with the Dharma. Therefore, a human body
is a [favorable] endowment.
If you are born in a border country, where no Dharma is
practiced, you will not meet with the Dharma. Therefore, to
be born as you are now-in a central country where the Dhar-
ma is currently prevalent-is a [favorable] endowment.
If you are born with defective faculties, they will hinder
you. Since you now are free from such defects, you have the
endowment of favorable faculties.
A wrong vocation always involves harmful activities, which
cause you to turn away from the Dharma. As you now are
57 rang-jor nga / ran/byor.lna

following a proper vocation to earn good merits, you have the

special endowment of a reverent mental attitude.
If you have no faith in Buddhist doctrine, the object
toward which your faith is to be directed, you will not be
attracted to the Dharma. You now are capable of turning
your mind toward the Dharma, so you have the [favorable]
endowment of faith.
Thus you must possess these five [endowments], which are
known as "the five fortunate endowments found within
oneself."
2.2.1.1 [TO BE BORN AS A HUMAN BEING]

Thus, in order to actually practice the real, pure Dharma,
you must certainly be a human being.
If you do not obtain a human body, the best of the three
lower regions is the animal region. Animals in the human
world may be beautiful, valuable, and so on, but no matter
how superior <27> they are in quality, if you were to tell them
that they would become Buddhas if they were to utter [the
man tram] om mani padme hum once, they could neither hear
the words, understand their meaning, nor utter them. Even
when they are about to die of cold, they merely remain still;
they can conceive of no means to keep themselves warm. Yet
no matter how weak he may be, a man knows how to go to a
cave or the foot of a tree, how to collect firewood, and how
to make a fire to warm his hands and face. If an animal can-
not do even that, what need be said of its thinking to practice
the Dharma?
Divine beings are supposed to have the best physical sta-
tus, but their systems are unsuitable for receiving perfect, self-
liberating VOWS. 58 Therefore, the gods have no luck in
acquiring the Buddhist doctrine in its entirety.
58 so-t'ar-gyi dom-pa / so.thar.gyi sdom.pa

2.2.1.2 [TO BE BORN IN A CENTRAL COUNTRY]

What is called a central country has two aspects, geo-
graphical and spiritual. The former refers to Bodhgaya in
India, which is regarded as the center of the world, a holy
place where the thousand Buddhas of the Superior Aeon will
be enlightened. [It is said that] it will survive the destruction
of the aeon and the cataclysmic forces of the elements, and
will remain like a sickle hanging in the air, with the Bodhi
tree at its center. With Bodhgaya as their hub, [all] the other
cities of India are regarded as geographically central coun-
tries.
In the spiritual sense, <28> a central country is one in
which the Buddhist Dharma prevails, Countries other than
these are called borderlands/" Thus, although India was
regarded as a central country both in the spiritual and geo-
graphical sense from the time the Buddha appeared on this
earth until the Buddha-Dharma disappeared from India, at
this time even Bodhgaya has been seized by heretics, and
Buddhism is said to be found there no morc/" Hence, as
regards the Dharma, India too is now a borderland.
As for Tibet, the land of snow-mountains, when Buddha
visited this world, it was scarcely inhabited by human beings.
Hence it was known as Tibet, the country of borderlands.
Later, human beings and miraculous kings gradually
appeared.
During the reign of L'a-t'o-[t'o]-ri Nyen-tsen." a religious
book called the Pang-kong Ch'ag-gya-pa, a mold for sa-tsa,62
and other [Dharma objects] were found on the roof [of the
Yum-bu L'a-k'ar palace], marking the start of the Dharma [in
Tibet]. It was predicted that their significance would be
understood during the reign of the fifth king to follow.
59 t'a-k'ob I mtha'.'khob
60 Bodhgaya has since been restored and placed under Buddhist
supervision.
61 approximately 350 C.E.
62 a small, cone-shaped image of a stupa cast in clay from a mould
Accordingly, during his reign, King Song-tsen Gam-po.f

an emanation of Avalokitesvara, sent the interpreter T'on-mi
Sam-bho-ta to India, where he studied Sanskrit, philology,
and so on. When [the interpreter] returned, he introduced a
system of writing, which Tibet previously had lacked.
Twenty-one Siitras and Tantras dealing with Avalokitesvara,
the Nyen-po Sang-wa, and other [works] were translated into
Tibetan. <29> The king, using various miraculous manifesta-
tions, and his minister Gar-tong-tsen, using diplomacy,
insured the defense of the country by receiving one princess
from China and another from Nepal. These queens brought
with them, as dowries, two statues of the Buddha as well as
many other tokens of the Dharma. Beginning with the main
cathedral of Lhasa,64 many t'a-dul and yang-dul temples'<
were built at important places to subdue demonic forces.
Thus the Dharma was established.
It was during the rule of T'ri-song De'u-tsen/" five reigns
[later], that he who was unparalleled in the three realms-the
great Tantric Guru Pe-ma Jung-ney, Abbot of O-gyen-and
108 other panditas were invited to Tibet. Cathedrals, such as
Sam-yay Mi-gyur L'un-gyi Drub-pay Tsug-lag-k'ang, were
built as repositories for representations of the Buddha's form.
The great interpreter Vairocana and the 108 others were
trained as translators. They translated the noble Dharma-
principally, whatever Siitras, Tantras, and Sastras prevailed in
the holy land of India-to represent the Buddha's speech.
Seven spiritually awakened people were ordained as mem-
bers of the Sangha to represent the Buddha's mind. Thus
Buddhism was made to shine in Tibet like the sun.
From that point until now, although the Buddhist doctrine
has passed through various vicissitudes, the Buddha's tradi-
63 born 618 C.E.

64 ra-sa t'rid-nang-gi tsug-lag-k'ang / ra.sa 'phrul.snan.gi gtsug.lag.khan
65 Regarding its physical features, Tibet was considered to be a demon
lying on her back. The fa-dill and yang-dill temples were built to pin down
her major and minor limbs.
66 born 790 C.E.
The Difficulty of ObtainingLeisureand Endowment 35
tions of oral transmission and insight-experience'" have been

preserved unimpaired. <30> Hence, in the sense of Dharma,
[Tibet] is a central country.
2.2.1.3 [TO BE BORN WITH PERFECT FACULTIES]

If any of your five [sense] faculties is defective, you are not
fit to receive the vows of a monk. You do not have the for-
tune of seeing the forms of the Buddha and the like, which
are objects of reverence, or of reading or hearing the holy
books, which are objects that facilitate learning and thinking.
Therefore, you cannot be regarded as an absolutely perfect
receptacle of the Dharma.
2.2.1.4 [TO BE ENGAGED IN A CORRECT VOCATION]

"To have a wrong vocation by birth" refers only to game
hunters, harlots, and so forth, who are led on a wrong path
from youth. But, in fact, all those whose physical, vocal, or
mental actions are irreligiously directed are involved in a
wrong vocation. Although you may not be born into a
wrongly oriented family, there is every possibility that you
may subsequently adopt an improper activity. You must see
that your mind is not involved in anything contrary to the
sublime Dharma.
2.2.1.5 [TO HAVE FAITH IN THE DHARMA]

If you lack faith in the doctrine of the Buddha, which is
worthy of devotion, even deep faith in powerful worldly gods,
serpent spirits, and the like, or in heretical teachings, will not
be able to save you from samsara and the sufferings of the
lower regions. If you have developed faith in Buddhism by
reason of its propounding traditional precepts and insight-
experience, you can regard yourself as a perfect receptacle
for the sublime Dharma.
67 lung-tog / lun.rtogs
2.2.2 THE FIVE ENDOWMENTS RESTING WITH

OTHERS68
As it is said, they are:
[1] The Buddha appears;

[2] He preaches the Dharma; <31>
[3] The Dharma abides;
[4] [The Dharma] is followed; and
[5] The kindness of [a Guru] who has compassion
for others [is found].
If you are not born in an enlightened aeon, during which a

Buddha visits the world, you will not even hear the name of
the Dharma. At present, having been born during an aeon
visited by a Buddha, you have the special endowment of the
Teacher.69
Although [a Buddha] may visit [this world], if He does not
teach the Dharma, you cannot benefit from it. Since
[Gautama Buddha] taught the Dharma in three stages, you
have the endowment of the noble Dharma having been
taught.
Although the Dharma may be taught, if the teaching dis-
appears, you cannot benefit from it. At this time, since the
time-span of the Dharma is not complete, you have the
endowment of the [present] period.
Although the Dharma may prevail, if [others] have not
embraced it, you cannot benefit from it. You who have
embraced it [after observing and following their example]
have the endowment of this good fortune of others.
Although you may embrace the Dharma, if you are not ac-
cepted by a spiritual teacher, which is indispensable, you can-
not understand the essence70 of the Dharma. Being helped
by such a guide, you have the endowment of his extraordinary
compassion.
68 zhen-jor nga / gian.'byor.lila

69 i.e., the Buddha
70 de-nyi / de.nid
Because you must depend on others to acquire these five

endowments, they are called "the five endowments resting
with others."
2.2.2.1 [TO BE BORN DURING AN ENLIGHTENED

AEON]
An aeon71 is a time-period measured by the formation,
subsistence, destruction, and disappearance of a universe. An
aeon during which a Buddha comes into the world is called
an enlightened aeon; if no Buddhas come, it is called a dark
aeon. <32> In bygone times, thirty-three thousand Buddhas
came during the great [cycle of] aeons 72 called Ngon-par Ga-
wa. This period was followed by one hundred dark aeons.
After these [aeons], ten million eighty thousand Buddhas
came during the Dzog-den aeon. This period was followed by
one hundred aeons [suitable only] for the barbarians. After
these [aeons], ten million eighty-four thousand Buddhas came
during the Zang-den aeon, which was followed by five hun-
dred dark aeons. Then ten million eighty thousand Buddhas
came during the T'ong-na Ga-wa aeon, which was followed
by seven hundred dark aeons. Then sixty thousand Buddhas
came during the Ga-den aeon, which was followed by the pre-
sent [aeon], the Superior Aeon.
Before the formation[-phase] of the present aeon, the bil-
lion world-systems73 were filled with water, in which a thou-
sand-petalled lotus blossom was found. The Pure Land gods,
who were disposed to enlightenment, examined it with their
foreknowledge and found it to be a sign of the coming of one
thousand Buddhas during this aeon. Consequently, they
named this aeon Kal-pa Zang-po.I" the Superior Aeon. From
the advent of the Buddha called K'or-wa Jig, when man's life
span was eighty thousand years, until the coming of the Bud-
71 S. kalpa
72 S. mahakalpa
73 tong-sum / ston.gsum
74 bskal.pa bzan.po
dha Mo-pa, when men will live <33> an enormous number of

years, one thousand Buddhas will visit Bodhgaya in this
world, will attain full enlightenment, and will turn the wheel
of Dharma. Hence, this is an enlightened aeon. It will be
followed by sixty barbarous aeons [populated by beings] of
inferior race, and those in turn will be followed by the Drang-
den aeon, which will be visited by ten thousand Buddhas.
Then will follow ten thousand aeons of inferior race. Thus,
enlightened aeons and dark aeons will alternate.
If you are born during a dark aeon, you will not even hear
the sound of the words "Three Jewels." Moreover, the Vaj-
rayana teaching-Tantric Buddhism-will appear only rarely.
During the Kun-ko aeon of the first great [cycle of]

aeons, the Buddha Ngon-jung-gi Gyal-po made Tantric
Buddhism widely known. Tantric Buddhism [also] pre-
vails during the present time of the Buddha Sikyamuni.
One million aeons from now, an aeon called Me-tog Ko-
pa will follow. A Buddha named Maiiju~ri, akin to the
present Buddha, will then appear; he too will teach Tan-
tric Buddhism widely. Only these three aeons will con-
tain suitable sentient beings. <34> Tantric Buddhism
will never be known in times other than these three
aeons, because the sentient beings will not be suitable.
As he said, during this Superior Aeon, when the life span

of man is one hundred years, Lord Sakyamuni visited this
world; hence this is an enlightened aeon.
2.2.2.2 [TO BE BORN WHEN A BUDDHA HAS TAUGHT

THE DHARMA]
Although Buddhas may comet if they sit in meditation and
do not preach, there is no light of the Dharma. [Therefore,
such an aeon] does not differ from a period lacking a Bud-
dha's visit to this world.
After fully attaining Buddhahood at the foot of the Bodhi

tree in Bodhgaya, our Lord Buddha said:
Deep, peaceful, unshaped, luminous, uncompounded,

Ambrosia-like Dharma have I found.
No one to whom I teach it will understand it.
Without speaking, I will remain in the forest.
After saying this, He remained without preaching the

Dharma for seven weeks, until Indra and Brahma begged him
to turn the Dharrnacakra.P
Furthermore, if [spiritual] leaders who know the Dharma
do not teach it and study it, sentient beings cannot really be
benefited. For example, Dharmaswami Smrtijnana of India
visited Tibet to help his mother, who he saw had taken
rebirth in <35> an indeterminate hell,76 On the way, his inter-
preter died. Srnrtijnana wandered over K'am, [a region of
eastern Tibet], and since he did not speak the language, he
even had to work as a shepherd. Before he could bring any
spiritual benefit to sentient beings, he died. When Atisa
Dipanjkara] Sri Jnana?? later visited Tibet78 and heard the
story, he said, "Alas! You Tibetans are unfortunate. Both in
eastern and western India there are none among the panditas
greater than Smrtijnana." He folded his hands [to show
respect] and wept.
During this period, the Buddha Sakyamuni taught the
Dharma at three [different] levels; and consistent with the
mental development of the beings meant for enlightenment,
He showed innumerable physical manifestations to liberate
sentient beings by [means of] the nine doctrinal classes of
Dharma.
75 i.e., to preach the Dharma

76 This story is related in Chapter Three.
77 known as Jo-wo-je L'a-chig
78 1042 C.E.
40 Kim-tang La-may Zhal-lung
2.2.2.3 [TO BE BORN WHEN THE DHARMA ABIDES]

Although Buddhas may come and teach the Dharma, if the
Dharma thereafter disappears because its time-span comes to
an end, such an age does not differ from a dark aeon. When
the teaching of the previous Buddha has come to an end and
that of the succeeding Buddha has yet to appear, such a peri-
od is regarded as being without a Buddha. Although Praty-
ekabuddhas visit some fortunate areas endowed with good
merits, they do not practice the teaching and hearing of the
Dharma.
The present Buddhist period of Sakyamuni will last for five
thousand years. Out of this period, the Teaching of the Mind
of Samantabhadra, or the Teaching of the Goal, lasted <36>
for fifteen hundred years; its [intensive] practice lasted for
[another] fifteen hundred years; its oral transmission will last
for [still another] fifteen hundred years; and the preservation
of its mere symbols will persist for an additional five hundred
years. Of this period, we have now passed through thirty-five
hundred or four thousand of the five thousand years.
Although we have entered the period of the five degenera-
tions.?? which are [decreasing] life span, [increasing perversity
in doctrinal] views, [increasing] delusion, [decreasing quality
of beings, and degeneration of the aeon], the teachings of
oral transmission and insight-experience have not yet actually
disappeared. Therefore, we still have the endowment of the
sublime Dharma.
2.2.2.4 [TO TRULY ENTER THE DHARMA]

Although the Dharma prevails, if you do not embrace it,
you will not be able to realize Buddhahood based on the tra-
ditions of oral transmission and insight-experience. For
example, [the Dharma] is like the sun: although it shines over
the earth, if one is blind, one will not receive the slightest
benefit from it. Or, it is like an ocean[-sized lake]: although
79 nyig-ma-nga / snig.ma.lna
one may arrive at its shore, if one does not drink from it,
one's thirst will not be quenched.
Although you may enter [the Dharma], if you embrace the
teaching in order to assuage disease, evil spirits, or other
[dangers] in this life, or simply through fear of the sufferings
of the lower regions in the next life, this is called "Dharma as
a refuge from fear."so [Such a motivation] is not suitable for
truly entering the path. Or, if you embrace the teaching in
order to obtain worldly goods in this life, or divine and
human pleasures in the next life, this is called "Dharma in
expectation of benefit"! Having known the entire samsara
to be essenceless, however, if you enter the door of Dharma
in order to attain the path of freedom, this true entering into
the path is called "entering the door of the teaching." <37>
2.2.2.5 [TO BE GUIDED BY A GURU]

If you are not led by a spiritual teacher, even entering
Buddhism will not help.
From the Dii-pa:
The Buddha's Dharma depends upon a spiritual

teacher;
So said the Buddha, who had the best of all superior
virtues.
Because the Buddha's teachings are vast and the oral tra-
ditions innumerable, in fact there is no end to the knowledge
that one may acquire. Without the secret instructions of the
Guru, you cannot know the technique of putting the essence
of all the Buddhist teachings into practice.
When Atisa came to Tibet, three followers-namely K'u,
Ngog, and Drom-inquired, "For a person to attain Buddha-
hood, which is more important: following the main teachings
of the Ka-gyur and Ten-gyur or the instructions of the Guru?"
so jig-kyob-kyi ch'o / jigs.skyab.kyi chos

81/eg-m6n-gyi cn'o / legs.smon.gyi chos
"The Guru's instructions are more important," Atisa

replied.
"Why is that so?"
"Although one may be able to recite the Tripitaka from
memory and may know the exposition of all the Dharmas, if
one has had no practical experience with the Guru's instruc-
tions, one will stray from the proper path," responded Atisa.
"If the Guru's instructions are summed up, which is better:
to abide by the three moral precepts, or to engage one's body,
mind, and speech in meritorious work?" they again inquired.
"Those would not be of much benefit," said Atisa,
"Why is that so?" <38>
"Even if one abides by the three vows and practices purifi-
cation, if one's mind is not withdrawn from the three realms
of samsara, such activity will cause re-entry into samsara.
Although one's three doors of action 82 may be engaged in
meritorious activities day and night, if one does not know
how to dedicate this merit for the attainment of Buddhahood,
any contrary thought can easily wash away one's entire stock
of merit. Although one may be a monk skilled in teaching
and meditating, if one's mind has not turned away from the
eight worldly dharmasj" whatever one does will be for this
world, and one will not find future liberation," was his reply.
Therefore, as he said, it is very important to have a Guru
and spiritual teachers.
2.2.3 [SIXTEEN OTHER INOPPORTUNE STATES]

Thus, if on inspection you find in yourself the eight
leisures'" and ten endowmentsv-e-eollectively the eighteen
leisures and endowments'v-eyou are regarded as having a
well-endowed human status.
82 body, speech and mind

83 attachment to gain, pleasure, praise, good tidings; aversion to loss,
pain, blame, and bad tidings '--
84 dal-wa gye / dal.ba.brgyad
85 jor-pa chu / 'byor.pa.bcu
86 dal-jor cho-gye / dal. 'byor bco.brgyad
Still, the great, omniscient Dharma-Lord [Long-ch'en-pa],

in his Yi-zhin Dzo, mentions other disadvantages which ren-
der the mind too preoccupied to practice the Dharma. They
are the eight inopportune states due to suddenly arising con-
ditions'" and the eight inopportune states due to mental par-
tiaiity.88 It is very important to be free from these influences
as well.
From the Yi-zhin Dzo:
[1] [To be mentally disturbed by] the five poisons;

[2] To be ignorant and stupid;
[3] To be influenced by an evil person;
[4] To be lazy;
[5] [To experience] the breaking forth of the ocean of
bad karma;
[6] To be in the power of others;
[7] [To use the Dharma as] protection from danger;
[8] To feign interest in the Dharma-
These are the eight inopportune states due to suddenly
arising conditions.
And also:
[1] To be fettered by the rope [of attachment];

[2] To have very bad behavior;
[3] To have no remorse for samsaric existence;
[4] To have not the slightest faith; <39>
[5] To perform unvirtuous and sinful acts;
[6] To lose interest in the Dharma;
[7] To violate the vows;
[8] To rend the bond of trust89 -
These are the eight inopportune states due to mental
partiality.
87 t'ral-jung kyen-gi mi-k'om-pa gye / 'phral.byuil rkyen.gyi mi.khom.pa

brgyad
88 ri-ch'e lo-yi mi-k'om-pa gye / ris.chad blo.yi mi.khom.pa brgyad
89 dam-ts'ig / dam.tshig
Thus they are stated.
2.2.3.1 [THE EIGHT SUDDENLY ARISING

CONDITIONS]
Those of you who are under the coarse influence of the
delusions of the five poisons, such as that of having hate for
your enemies and love for your relatives, may have sporadic
intentions to practice properly the perfect Dharma. How-
ever, since the five poisons in your mind are so powerful,
most of you will be largely under their influence. Thus you
will not be able to truly practice the Dharma.
You who are extremely ignorant and have not the slightest
ray of intelligence will not be able to understand even the
slightest meaning of Dharma. Although you may embrace
the Dharma, you will have no occasion to hear it, consider it,
or meditate upon it.
If you are influenced by a devil of a "spiritual teacher"
who follows a contrary theory and practice, you can be led to
follow a wrong path that will set you against the noble Dhar-
ma.
Although you may desire to learn the Dharma, if you are
lazy and without an iota of diligence, you will fall prey to your
habits and procrastinate, and so fail to practice it.
Although you may follow the Dharma diligently, if you
have sins and obscurations within you that oppose the growth
of [spiritual] knowledge, you will lose faith in the Dharma.
[When you face] the breaking forth of the ocean of bad
karma, you will not understand this to be the result of your
own [bad] karma. <40>
Those of you who have no personal independence may in-
tend to pursue the Dharma, but you will not be permitted to
do so.
If you adopt the Dharma to earn food and clothing or be-
cause you are afraid of being harmed by others, you will not
understand the Dharma in the core of your heart. Because of
your past habits, you will continue to indulge in irreligious
activities.
The Difficultyof Obtaining Leisure and Endowment 45
You who assume the outer trappings of the Dharma in or-

der to amass wealth, respect, and fame are but mere shadows.
You may appear religious in the eyes of others, but in your
hearts you are concerned only with this life and so are sev-
ered from the path of liberation.
These eight suddenly arising conditions are inopportune
for practicing the Dharma.
2.2.3.2 [THE EIGHT MENTAL PARTIALITIES]

You who have a deep attachment to the present life's
material wealth, children, relatives, and so on are distracted
by preoccupation with providing for them. Hence, you will
find no time to practice the Dharma.
If, because of ill-nature, your good character is not even
the size of a sesame seed, you cannot make any progress.
This is like the saying of the great teachers of the past, "The
intellect of a disciple can be enriched, but not his intrinsic
character." So, even if you meet a proper, virtuous instruc-
tor, it will be difficult for him to turn you to the noble path.
If you are not frightened by the instructions on the disad-
vantages of the lower regions [in particular] and of samsara
[in general], or by the [various] kinds of suffering in this life,
<41> withdrawal from saJ11sara90-the cause for entering the
Dharma-will never be born in you.
If you have not the slightest faith in the perfect Dharma
and the Guru, the entrance to Buddhism will be blocked, and
you will not be able to enter the path of liberation.
If you are fond of sinful habits and thus cannot subdue the
actions of your body, mind, and speech, you will lose your
noble qualities and turn away from the Dharma.
If you do not see the value of virtue and the nobility of the
Dharma, [your interest will be] like that of a dog when a
bunch of grass is put before it [as food]. Because you will
take no pleasure in following the Dharma, knowledge will not
grow within you.
90 ngey-jung / nes.'byun / the strong desire to exit from samsara, being

fed up with its endless sufferings and transitory pleasures .
If you embrace the ~eneral Buddhist teachings and then go

against the motivation 1 and vows,cn you will go nowhere but
into the lower regions, where escape from the inopportune
states is impossible.
If you enter Tantric Buddhism and then break the bond of
trust between yourself and your Guru and spiritual friends, it
will be disastrous for you and for others. The opportunity to
obtain the ultimate result?' will end.
These eight [mental partialities] will take you far away
from the Dharma; this is known as "the dying of the flame of
freedom."
If you do not properly check [yourself for] these sixteen
preoccupations during the present degenerate age, you will
possess a mere shadow of leisure and endowment and the
pursuit of Dharma. Rulers on thrones, Gurus with umbrellas
and followers, meditators in their retreats, renunciate yogis
who travel from place to place and regard themselves as great
-all are influenced by the causes of these preoccupations.
<42> This is why, although they pretend to practice the Dhar-
ma, they fail to tread the sublime path.
Therefore, rather than rushing prematurely toward an
image of Dharma, first examine yourself thoroughly to see
whether or not these twenty-four aspects of leisure and en-
dowment" are fully present within you. If they are, be happy
and think, "Now I should not waste this leisure and endow-
ment, which is so difficult to obtain, and should put my effort
into practicing the real, noble Dharma." Think this way from
the depth of your heart, again and again. If they are not pre-
sent, take every possible measure to obtain them. You
should always make it a point to see whether or not you have
the qualities of leisure and endowment. If you do not make
91 sem-kyey / sems.bskyed
92 dom-pa / sdom.pa
93 ngo-drub / dnos.grub / S. siddhi
94 The number "twenty-four" refers to having the eight dal-wa, as well as
to being free from the sixteen other inopportune states.
such an inspection and [thus] lack even a single one, you will
not have the fortune to practice the Dharma in its true form.
When fulfilling even the small, immediate requirements of
worldly people requires so many causal factors, is there any
reason why you would not need as many interdependent
factors to follow the Dharma, which leads to the ultimate
goal? For example, a traveler may wish to make salted tea.
Many factors, such as a pot, water, fuel, and fire are required
to boil the tea. <43> Out of these factors, single out the fire.
It cannot be produced without many additional contributing
factors: a piece of iron, a flint, tinder, a pair of hands, and so
on. If out of these, say, tinder is not available, the presence
of the rest will not bring about the smallest result, and the
idea of boiling tea must be completely abandoned. Similarly,
the absence of a single quality of leisure and endowment
fundamentally eliminates the opportunity to practice the
Dharma. Therefore, if you examine yourself thoroughly,
surely it is difficult to find all aspects of the eighteen leisures
and endowments within yourself.
The full complement of ten endowments is even rarer than
leisure. Although you may be born as a human being, in a
spiritual center, and with perfect sense organs, if you have
taken a wrong vocation and have no faith in the Buddhist
doctrine, you have only three [of the five endowments found
within oneself). Even if you acquire one of the other two fac-
tors, you will have only four factors in all. Of these [five en-
dowments], to have a proper vocation is the most difficult. If
your three doors of activity are engaged in vice and whatever
you do is done for mundane life only, although you may earn
the fame of being honorable, learned, and so on, in fact you
will have taken a wrong vocation.
Of the five endowments resting with others, you may have
the endowments of the appearance of the Buddha, His
teaching, and the continued availability of the doctrine. But
if you do not undertake [to follow] the Dharma, only those
three factors are present. <44> Even if you do undertake [to
follow] it, merely learning the Dharma or receiving it does
not count as having entered the Dharma. To find the
entrance to the path of liberation, you must have the genuine
desire to leave sarnsara, having seen it to be essenceless in its

entirety.
To follow the Mahayana path, you must have genuine-not
feigned - bodhicitta within you. Without minimally possess-
ing a heartfelt, strong faith in the Buddha, Dharma, and
Sangha, which you are unwilling to abandon even at the pain
of death, you should not regard yourself as a follower of the
Dharma merely because you chant prayers and dress in a
yellow robe. Thus, for the purpose of [self]-examination, it is
very important that you correctly understand the exact nature
of leisure and endowment.
2.3 CONTEMPlATION ON EXAMPLES SHOWING THE

DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING [A HUMAN BODY]
Lord Buddha said:
It is even more difficult to obtain a human body than it

is for a tortoise, living at the bottom [of an ocean]
which is disturbed by the turbulence of powerful waves,
to pass its neck through the hole of a yoke [drifting] on
[the surface of] that ocean.
For example, [assume that] the great oceans of the three

realms of samsara become one, and upon it there floats a
single-holed piece of wood, called a yoke, such as is used for
keeping oxen horn by horn while ploughing. [The yoke] trav-
els on without ceasing for a moment, for the eastern waves
drive it to the west and the western waves drive it to the east.
At the bottom of the ocean lives <45> a blind tortoise that
rises to the surface once every hundred years. It is extremely
difficult to imagine the [two] meeting. The inanimate yoke
possesses no mind to find the tortoise. The blind tortoise has
no eyes to look for the yoke. There would be a chance of
their meeting were the yoke to remain in one place, but it
never comes to rest for even a moment. Likewise, were the
tortoise constantly to rise to the surface of the ocean, there
would be a chance of its meeting with [the yoke], but it rises
to the surface only once every hundred years.
Although it is very difficult [to foresee] them meeting, we

cannot rule out the possibility that, by chance, the tortoise's
neck will enter the hole in the yoke. But it is said in the Su-
tras that to obtain a human body endowed with leisure and
endowment is even more difficult.
Lord Nagarjuna explained the meaning as follows:
For a hole in a wooden yoke tossing on a great ocean

To meet [the neck of] a tortoise is more likely than [for
one] to be born as an animal,
[Compared to which], to be born as a human being is
extremely difficult Your Majesty,
By having practiced the noble Dharma, be able to reap
its fruit.
Thus he instructed King De-cho. 95

Also, Santideva said:
Like a tortoise's neck entering the hole

Of a yoke tossing on a great ocean,
Obtaining the human state is said to be extremely
difficult.
Other examples- how difficult it is to find a pea remaining

on a wall <46> after having been thrown at the wall's smooth
surface, how difficult it is for even a single bean [to remain]
standing on the tip of an upright needle over which beans
have been heaped, and so forth-are mentioned in the Maha-
parinirvana Sutra, They should be referred to and under-
stood.
_95 bde.spyod / Gautamiputra Satakarni, one of the Satavahana kings of

Andhra
2.4 CONTEMPlATION ON THE NUMERICAL

IMPROBABILITY [OF OBTAINING A HUMAN
BODY]
If you consider the variety and number of sentient beings,
your attaining a human body is only a remote possibility. The
number of beings in hell is as great as the [number of] stars
seen at night. Comparatively, the number of pretas is [as few]
as the [number of] stars seen in the daytime. Considering the
pretas to be as numerous as the stars seen at night, the
number of beasts is like the number of stars seen in the day-
time. If the number of beasts is like the [number of] stars
observed at night, [the number] of beings in the upper regions
of comfort is comparable to the [number of] stars seen in the
daytime.
Again, beings in hell are as [many as] the particles of earth
of the great land mass; pretas are as many as the grains of
sand of the Ganges Valley; the number of beasts is like the
[number of] malt dregs [that remain after] beer is pressed;
[the number of] demi-gods is comparable to the number of
[snowflakes in] a snowstorm; gods and men are as [few as]
the dust particles on the back of a fingernail.
In general, although obtaining a physical body in the upper
regions is very rare, to obtain a human body with leisure and
endowment is even rarer. If you lift a clod of earth in the
summertime, you will observe so many living beings within it.
No human family on earth has as many members as ants have
in their anthills. Thus, the number of human beings in rela-
tion to other animals is obviously [small]. <47> Among hu-
man beings also, considering those of the border areas where
no idea of Buddhism prevails, those born where Dharma
flourishes are extremely few. Even rarer are human beings
having leisure and endowment, only one or two among many.
Considering these facts, you should feel happy that you have
the complete [set of] leisures and endowments.
Thus, if you have the full complement of all the qualities
of leisure and endowment, the possibility of calling yourself a
"precious human being"96 should be fully obvious from today

onward. If any are missing, although you may be well-
accomplished with regard to intelligence or cleverness from
the worldly point of view, [from the spiritual point of view],
you are not a precious human being. You are termed an
ordinary human being," a human being merely in name." an
ill-fated human being," a heartless human being,lOO or one
who returns empty-handed.P! This is like wasting a wish-
fulfilling gem that is in your hand, or like returning from an
island of gold empty-handed.
It is said:
Finding a gem does not equal

Attaining a precious human body.
Yet haven't you seen it being wasted
By men who have no remorse?
Obtaining a kingdom does not equal
Meeting a noble guru.
Yet haven't you seen him being treated as an equal
By men who have no faith and respect?
Attaining mundane leadership does not equal
The shaping of motivation and the taking of vows. <48>
Yet haven't you seen those with no compassion
Throwing them [away] like a stone from a sling?
Achieving royal power does not equal
Receiving the tantric initiations.
Yet haven't you seen them being thrown in rivers
By men who do not honor the bond of trust?
Seeing a Buddha does not equal
Seeing the Primordial Mind Itself.
96 mi-li; rin-po-ch'e / mi.lus rin.po.ch'e

97 p'al-pa / phal.pa
98 tsam-po-pa / tsam.po.pa
99 jur-po / byur.po
100 nying-me-po / snin.med.po
101 tong-log-k'en / stoit.log.mkhan
Yet haven't you seen men with no diligence

Letting their minds sutter from illusion?
This type of leisure and endowment is acquired neither

accidentally nor by sheer good luck. It is the fruit of dual
merit l O2 accrued during many aeons.
Pan-ch'en Drag-pa Gyal-Ts'en said:
This kind of human body with leisure and endowment

Is not obtained because of one's cleverness;
It is the result of the good merits one has earned.
Although you have obtained a human body merely [in

name], if, without any idea of Dharma, you completely
indulge in sinful activities, this is even worse than being in the
three lower regions.
Je-tsun Mi-la said to [the hunter] K'yi-ra Gon-po Dor-je:
Generally, it is said that a human body having leisure

and endowment is rare;
However, it is not rare at all to see a human like you.
As he has said, no power is stronger than the power of

humans for laying the foundation-stone of the lower regions.
At present, you have the power to do whatever you wish.
It is said:
If well used, this body serves as the boat of liberation.

If badly used, this body serves as the cornerstone of
samsara, <49>
This body is the servant of all merits and sins.
Thus, a human body with the eighteen leisures and en-

dowments is obtained by the force of good merits acquired in
the past. Its essential purpose should be to follow the noble
Dharma - it is meaninglessly wasted if it is used merely to find
food and clothing and to accomplish the eight worldly dhar-
102 ts'og-nyi / tshogs.gnis

mas of this life. One who discovers this mistake at the time
of death beats his chest with his fists in remorse. This should
not be the behavior of one born as a human being. This is
not at all a good outcome.
It is said in the Bodhicaryavatara:
To attain such a basis of leisure,

And then not contemplate on meritorious work:
There can't be any self-deception worse than this.
Thus, this present life is the crossroads for your attaining a

good or bad achievement. If you do not attain realization in
this life, it will be difficult to obtain such an opportune
human life hereafter. If you take rebirth in the lower regions,
you will have no conception of the Dharma. Being ignorant
of what should and should not be done, you will fall deeper
and deeper into the boundless lower regions. At this time
you should determine to work hard in conjunction with the
proper mental attitude, non-conceptual meditation, and dedi-
cation - the three perfect principles.
Meditate upon [the difficulty of obtaining leisure and
endowment] again and again. Having done so, you should
measure [the degree to which] it has grown in your mind <50>
in accord with [the experience] of Ge-shey Chen-nga-wa.
When he even gave up sleeping in order to engage in merito-
rious activities, Ge-shey Ton-pa said to him, "Son, you had
better brrak for a little rest, else there is the possibility of get-
ting fed tip."
"You are right," replied Ge-shey Chen-nga-wa, "I should
break for a rest. But when I think of how difficult it is to
obtain leisure and endowment, I can hardly find any time to
rest."
It is said that he repeated the mantra of Mi-yo-wa103 nine
hundred million times and hardly slept throughout his life.
103 mi.g-yo.ba / S. Acala

Thus, until the sense of leisure and endowment grows in

your mind, you should contemplate on it.
Although I have obtained leisure, I am stricken with a

poverty of the essential Dharma.
Although I have entered the door of the Dharma, I am
distracted by non-Dharmic activities.
May I and sentient beings like me, who are deluded,
Be blessed to acquire the essence of leisure and ~'
endowment.
This is the instruction on the difficulty of obtaining leisure

and endowment.
CHAPTERlWO
The Impermanence of Life
Observing the three realms, impermanent and illusory in

nature,
He renounced worldly affairs like droplets of spit;
By undertaking ascetic practices, he followed in the steps of
his predecessors.
At the feet of my unparalleled Guru, I pay homage.
The instruction on the impermanence of life! [consists of]

the manner of listening to the Dharma, which corresponds to
that of [the previous chapter on] the difficulty of obtaining
leisure and endowment, and the Dharma to be explained,
which is sevenfold:
1. Contemplation on Impermanence by Considering the
Universe, the Outer Container;
Beings, the Inner Contents; <51>
3. Contemplation on Impermanence by Considering
Noble Beings;
Temporal Leaders;
Various Analogies;
Uncertain Causes of Death;
1 ts'e mi-tag-pa / tshe mi.rtag.pa
55
7. Contemplation on Impermanence by Intensely

Remembering It Always.
1 CONTEMPlATION ON IMPERMANENCE BY
CONSIDERING THE UNIVERSE, THE OUTER
CONTAINER
The outer universe, which is formed by the common good
merit of all sentient beings, contains worlds [that consist of]
four continents, a cosmic mountain, and divine realms, as
well as a very strong [encircling] fence that lasts for aeons.
[All] these are impermanent, however, and ultimately seven
conflagrations and one deluge- will certainly destroy them.
When this great [cycle of] aeons nears its destruction, all
the living beings, the inner contents of the lower regions;' will
gradually migrate [to the higher regions], until not a single
being remains [in any region] up to [and including] the first
divine region of dhyana." Then, in succession, seven suns will
appear in the sky. The first sun will burn down all the fruit
trees and forests. When the second sun shines, all the brooks
and ponds will dry up. The third sun will dry up all the big
rivers. The fourth will dry up even such large lakes as Mana-
sarowar. The fifth will evaporate the oceans <52> to a depth
of one hundred, two hundred, seven hundred, one thousand,
ten thousand, and eighty thousand fathoms-and also the
remaining depths-until ultimately [the last remaining bit of]
water, a quantity which could be contained in a hoofprint, will
evaporate. As the sixth sun rises, the land masses along with
the snow-mountains will be burned away. The seventh sun
will burn away [in every world-system]: the cosmic mountain,
2 In other texts, the conflagrations and deluges are variously enumer-

ated as seven series of seven and one, or eight series of seven and one.
3 Samsara is divided into three realms characterized by desire, form, and
formlessness. Here, "lower regions" refer to the regions of hell-beings,
pretas, animals, human beings, demi-gods, and the gods of the first six
divine realms, all of which are within the realm of desire.
4 The form realm is subdivided into the four divine regions of dhyana,
comprising seventeen divine realms. The formless realm, which has no
location, comprises the four infinities of meditative equipoise.
The Impermanence ofLife 57
the four continents, the eight sub-continents, and the seven

golden mountains, along with the encircling iron fence.
Everything will end up as one tongue of fire. When the
tongue of fire whirls around, blazing downward, it will burn
away all the regions of hell. When it turns upward, the empty
palaces of the Brahmas will also be consumed. The young
children of the region called O-sel will become frightened
and exclaim, "Look, a great fire is burning!" The elder gods
will comfort them by saying, "This fire came up to the
Brahma world in the past and then retreated. Don't be
frightened." Then, after the universe has been ravaged by
fire seven times, a cloud bearing the essence of rain will form
in the second divine region of dhyana, It will produce a
shower of raindrops, [with each raindrop] about the size of a
yoke and plough, <53> and everything up to [and including]
the region called O-sel will be destroyed, like salt dissolving
in water.
Then, when the seventh destruction of water has taken
place.' the crossed vajras of the air beneath [the universe] will
turn upright, and the areas up to [and including] the third
divine region of dhyana will be destroyed, like dust scattered
by the wind.
Thus, [each world-system consisting of] four continents,
the cosmic mountain, the divine regions, and the like-all that
is included in the three layers of the one billion world-systems
in this universe-will crumble and will ultimately vanish into
one void space. When such is the extent of the destruction,
you should contemplate from the core of your heart on this
question: "What is permanent and on what can I depend in
my human body, which is no better than the body of a sea-
sonal insect?"
5 implying seven series of destructions, each comprising seven

destructions by fire and one by water
CONSIDERING THE LMNG BEINGS, THE INNER
CONTENTS
Of the sentient beings that exist between the summit of the
world and the bottom of hell, not a single one can escape
death.
From the Nya-ngen Sel-way Tring-yig:
Have you seen, heard, or even doubted

That anyone born on earth or in the upper regions did
not die?
Thus, when there is birth, death is inherent. From the

divine regions downward, no one has ever seen or heard of a
person who did not die after being born. <54> There is not
even the slightest doubt that anyone born ever failed to die.
This is especially true of those born on this earth, where life
is uncertain, and where, since the end of the aeon is nearing,
one dies [relatively] very young. From the night you are born,
you move nearer and nearer to death. Your life admits of no
addition: it keeps decreasing. Like an [ever-lengthening]
shadow [cast by] the setting sun, the demon of death never
rests, not even for a moment; he continuously comes nearer
and nearer.
Therefore, you cannot be certain when or where you are
going to die. You may die tomorrow or even tonight. You
may even die just now, between the inhalation and exhalation
of your breath. There is no certainty about [the time or cir-
cumstances of] a human being's death.
The Ch'ey-du Jo-pay Ts'om states:
Who knows, you may even die tomorrow.

Do today what you have to do.
That formidable demon of death
Cannot be taken as your friend.
Nagarjuna said:
If one's life, [which faces] many dangers,

Is even more impermanent than a water-bubble buffeted
by the wind,
To have the time to inhale, exhale, and awaken from
sleep
Is a matter of great wonder.
There is no certainty that a person attached to the bliss of

sleep will not die between the moments he slowly inhales and
exhales. <55> Therefore, it is a matter of great wonder that
he has the opportunity to wake up alive. Even if you have a
vague idea that you will die one day, the feeling of death's
certainty is not sharply present in your mind. Hence, being
attached to belief in permanent existence, you lose yourself in
the hopes and fears of planning for the future.
While you are deeply engaged in craving for the comfort,
happiness, and fame of this life, the demon of death suddenly
arrives before you, holding a black rope, biting his lower lip,
and showing his teeth with an air of vanity. Then, neither an
army of heroes, the force of authority, the wealth of a rich
man, the talk of experts, a beautiful figure, nor speed in run-
ning can be of any help. You may be enclosed in a seamless
iron box that is guarded by hundreds of thousands of armed
heroes, the tips of whose arrows and spears point outward,
but there is nothing of you they will be able to guard or hide,
not even the tip of a hair.
The demon of death places the black rope around your
neck and takes you along the broad way to the next life, and
you-with your face turning blue, tears in your eyes, and your
hands and legs trembling spasmodically-must follow the
demon. At that time, mighty heroes can do nothing for you,
nor can authority wield power, nor can wealth ransom you.
You can neither escape nor hide. There is no protection or
protector, <56> nor is there a helper, supporter, friend,
means, or favor that can help you anymore. Even if the King
of Physicians were to come in person, he would not be able to
delay the departure of one who has no more life to live.
So, at this very moment, without being influenced by lazi-

ness or procrastination, you must contemplate on the inten-
tion to practice the real Dharma-that which will definitely
help you at the time of death.
3 CONTEMPLATION ON IMPERMANENCE BY
CONSIDERING NOBLE BEINGS
During this present enlightened aeon, seven Buddhas have
already appeared-namely, Nam-par-zig, Tsug-tor-chen, and
so forth-accompanied by an unimaginable number of Sra-
vakas and Arhats" as their followers. Although they helped
innumerable suitable beings by preaching three types of doc-
trines, only the last phase of Sakyamuni Buddha's teaching
now remains. All those Buddhas have entered nirvana, and
their Dharmas, except for [Sakyamuni Buddha's teaching],
have gradually disappeared as well. Also, during the time of
the present Buddhist teaching, there have been many great
Sravakas, each of whom has been followed by a group of five
hundred Arhats. Yet all of them gradually attained nirvana,
leaving behind no mortal remains.
Besides these, there were the five hundred Arhats in India
who held council and compiled the teachings of Buddha, <57>
the Six Ornaments? and Two Excellent Ones," the Eighty
Mahasiddhas, and so on. Although they all attained the wis-
doms of the spiritual path, had foreknowing powers, and per-
formed miracles with great ease, the fact that such [great]
beings once visited the earth is now known to us only as his-
tory. Not a single one of them actually exists anymore.
In Tibet, the land of snow-mountains, at the time when the
Second Buddha of O-gyen preached the Dharma that effects
spiritual maturity and liberation, the [Second Buddha's]
6 classes of practitioners in the Hinayana Schools

7 gyen-drug / rgyan.drug / Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Asanga, Vasubandhu,
Dignaga, and Dharmaklrti
8 ch'og-nyi / mchog.gnis / Gunaprabha and Sakyaprabha
TheImpermanence ofLife 61
twenty-five disciples." eighty siddhas of the Yer-pa [medita-

tion center], and so forth were eminent. Later, an inconceiv-
able number of exceedingly learned saints appeared in
Tibet-So, Zur, and Nub of the Nying-ma'" tradition, Mar-pa,
Mi-la, and Dag-po of the Sar-ma'! tradition, and so forth.
Almost all of them were enlightened persons. They had con-
trol over the five elements. They worked such incredible
miracles as changing the material into the non-material and
the non-material into the material. Fire could not burn them,
water could not carry them away, earth could not bury them,
they did not fall from precipices. They were all beyond the
reach of harm by the elements.
For example, when Je-tsun Mi-la was observing silence in
the Katya Cave at Nye-shang in Nepal, a band of hunters
came and asked him whether he was a man or a ghost. He
remained silent, focusing his eyes in a certain manner. <58>
First they shot him with many poisoned arrows, which would
not pierce him. [Then] they threw him off the cliff into the
river, but he floated up the hill and regained his original seat.
[Finally], when they piled wood on his body and set it ablaze,
the fire did not burn him.
Such perfected persons came, but ultimately they demon-
strated the nature of impermanence. If even they now exist
only in stories, this stone-pile'f of an illusory body-created
by our bad karma, operated by the bad habits of the air 13 of
bad conditions, tied by the rope of the four elements, the con-
tinuity of whose mind depends on an impure mechanism - has
no certainty as to when and where it will be destroyed.
Therefore, immediately think of engaging your body, mind,
and speech in virtuous action.
9 lit. the ruler, subject, and great siddhas [who make up] the twenty-five
[disciples of Guru Padmasambhava]
10 lit. ancient; the original school of Buddhism in Tibet
lllit. new; the later schools of Buddhism in Tibet
12 t'o-yor / tho.yor / a cairn used as a boundary marker
13 lung/ rlun / flux
CONSIDERING TEMPORAL LEADERS
Even well-accomplished gods and sages, who can live for
aeons, cannot escape death. Powerful lords such as Brahma,
Indra, Visnu, and Siva can live for aeons, have bodies 5,000
leagues tall, and possess glamour that outshines the sun and
moon, but even they cannot escape death. <59>
From the Yon-ten Dzo:
Brahma, Indra, Siva, mighty lords,

Cannot think of the means to dodge the demon of death.
Others, such as gods and the sages among men who have
the five foreknowing powers and the miraculous power to
travel through space, ultimately cannot escape death either.
From the Nya-ngen Sel-wa Surra:
Great sages with the five foreknowing powers

Who can fly far away in the sky-
Even they cannot go to that place
Where there is eternal life.
In this world of human beings as well, there have been ex-

tremely wealthy and powerful universal monarchs. In India,
the holy land, the [number of] kings of the Mahasarnrnata dy-
nasty, which ruled the entire world of India, was inconceiv-
able. Furthermore, there were the Three Palas, the Thirty-
Seven Candras, and so on, who were among the many rich
and powerful kings who ruled in eastern and western India.
In Tibet, the land of snows, Lord Nya-tr'i Tsen-po, an incar-
nation of the Divine Dynasty, [was followed by six series of
kings known as] the Seven Thrones of the Sky, the Six Good
of the Earth, the Eight Groups of Space, the Five Who Were
Strict with Words, <60> the Thirteen and One-Half Happy
Dynastic Successors, and the Five Exceedingly H~py Dynas-
tic Successors. During the reign of Ch'o-gyal! Song-tsen
14 chos.rgyal / the dynasty founded by Nya-tr'i Tsen-po

TheImpermanence ofLife 63
Gam-po, the area from northern Nepal up to the Chinese

[border] province was subjugated by [the King's] miraculous
armed forces. During the reign of Prince Tr'i-song Deu-tsen,
two-thirds of that part of the eastern world was dominated
[by Tibet]. During the reign of Ch'o-gyal Ral-pa-chen, an
iron pillar was erected on the bank of the River Ganges to
serve as an Indo-Tibetan boundary. [Tibet] had great influ-
ence over India, China, Ge-sar, Tag-zig," and so on. These
countries were obliged to send emissaries to Lhasa, [the Ti-
betan capital], timed to arrive on New Year's Day, in order to
take part in the [New Year's] celebrations.
When we think that even such great prosperity as this is
now reduced to a mere fairy tale, and that our present homes,
prosperity, servants, power, and so forth-no matter how
highly we may think of them-are like a mere beehive com-
pared to those that existed in the past, what permanence can
we expect from what we have? Contemplate on this question.
CONSIDERING VARIOUS ANALOGIES
When you consider the evolution and devolution of this
aeon, it too is impermanent. <61> In the days when the aeon
began, all men radiated their own light, for there were no sun
and moon in the sky. They could travel in space by their
miraculous power, their bodies were many leagues in height,
and for food they had ambrosia. As regards pleasure, happi-
ness, and prosperity, they challenged the gods. The effects of
delusion and evil deeds, however, have gradually reduced us
to what we are now.
As the delusion in men becomes more and more coarse,
our longevity and fortune will continue to deteriorate, until
our life span reaches a maximum of ten years. [One after an-
other], three ages of virulent disease, [the invention of new]
weapons, and famine will flourish, causing most of the beings
of this world to disappear. Then the Dharma prohibiting the
15 Tadzhikistan, or Persia
killing of animals will be taught by an emanation of Maitreya

Buddha16 to those [beings] who remain. This will cause man's
height to increase by a length equal to that of the distance
from the elbow to the top of the middle finger, and his life
span to increase gradually to twenty years.
Finally, when men live for eighty thousand years, Maitreya
Buddha will come, attain Buddhahood, and set the wheel of
Dharma in motion. Thus, when eighteen cycles of progress
and regress have come to an end, men will live innumerable
years. Then the Buddha Mo-pa will come. <62> He will live
as long as all his predecessors [lived], the one thousand Bud-
dhas of this Superior Aeon. He will also help beings as much
as all those Buddhas [did]. Toward the end, this aeon too will
suffer destruction. Thus, when you consider its evolution and
devolution, an aeon also fails to transcend impermanence.
When observed, the changeable nature of the four seasons
also indicates impermanence. In summer, the grass looks
bluish green, drops of rain fall like nectar, and everyone en-
joys the splendor of happiness and comfort. Flowers blossom
in white, yellow, red, and green, creating a celestial scene. In
autumn, a touch of bleak wind arises, the green grass changes
color, and all the flowers and crops gradually begin to wither.
During winter, the entire earth becomes as hard as stone, all
the rivers turn to ice, and the already chill air becomes even
colder. Then, even if one searches for many days on horse-
back, it will be impossible to find even a single blossom such
as was found in summer. Thus, autumn follows summer, win-
ter follows autumn, and spring follows winter in progression.
The former state of affairs changes into something entirely
different in each ensuing phase, thereby revealing imperma-
nence. <63>
Observe the changes between yesterday and today, this
morning and this evening, and this year and last year. Every-
thing progressively changes; it is impossible to depend on
anything [to remain the same]. Notice this especially in the
country or the monastery where you live. Those who once
were wealthy and prosperous are now in a condition of
16 the Buddha who will appear next in this aeon

poverty. Those who formerly were poor and weak now have
fame, power, and wealth. All these changes are within the
realm of impermanence.
In our individual families as well, all of our ancestors who
were ever born are dead, reduced now to mere names. OUf
own sisters, brothers, and many other [relatives] have passed
away. They have fallen prey to [the passing of] time, and it is
now difficult to know anything of their whereabouts. There
are many powerful and wealthy men who were seen last year
waving their fame like a banner and being regarded as the
ornament of the country, who this year have completely dis-
appeared, leaving only the traces of their names behind. No
one can tell if those of might and wealth who just now are
enjoying public appreciation will be found in the same posi-
tion at this time next year, or even next month! <64>
How many of your domestic animals-goats, sheep, dogs,
and so on - have died in the past, and how many have you
now? If you consider what ultimately will happen to the
remainder, you will find that they too have an impermanent
nature. Of those people who were alive one hundred years
ago, none can now be found who have escaped death. All the
living beings of the present world will also die within one
9.
hundred years, without a single one remainin Therefore, it
is obvious that neither the outer container! nor the inner
contents'f has a permanent nature or any dependable quality
as such.
All that is born is impermanent; it will die.

All that is accumulated is impermanent; it will be
depleted.
All that is gathered is impermanent; it will be
dispersed.
All that is built up is impermanent; it will collapse.
All that looks high is impermanent; it will fall.
17 no / snod / i.e., the world

18 chil / bcud / i.e., the sentient beings
Similarly, friends and foes, happiness and sorrow, [percep-

tions of] good and bad, and all [other] thoughts as well are
indeed impermanent. You may be as high as the sky, as
mighty as a thunderbolt, as rich as a serpent-spirit,'? as beau-
tiful as a god, or as glamorous as a rainbow, but whatever
may be the case, when death comes, there is no power within
you [that can delay it] for even a moment. You must go
naked, your bare hands folded under your armpits, leaving
behind all your riches, relatives, followers, disciples, subjects,
subordinates, food and drink-your entire prosperity-with a
strong sense of reluctance in being separated from them.
Leaving them behind, you depart like a strand of hair
pulled from butter. <65> You cannot take a single monk,
even if you are the Lama of a monastery with thousands of
monks. You cannot take a single servant, even if you are the
lord of millions of subjects. You may own all the wealth and
property in the world, but you cannot take even a needle and
thread. You have to go, leaving even your beloved body
behind.
At that hour, the body that was dressed in swathes of silk
and brocade, and whose mouth was always drenched with tea
and other drinks while alive, the body of a great person, the
body that may have been as beautiful as the image of a god, is
then called a corpse. Dark and terrible merely to look at, it
turns into a putrescent, heavy lump.
J e-tsun Mi-la said:
That thing called "corpse,"

The sight of which causes fear,
Is here with you now.
At that time, your body will be bound with a cord, hidden

behind a curtain, and kept on earth and stone, and your cup
will be placed upside-down near your head. However dear
and affectionate you may have been, [your body] will then be
treated as something fearsome and repulsive. Now, while you
live, you lie down on lambskin-lined garments with piles of
19 1u / klu
sleek furs as a pillow, yet you feel discomfort and change

sides after every phase of sleep. But when you die, there will
be only a lump of stone or mud beneath your cheek, and you
will lie on it enveloped in the stench of mud. <66>
You may be the breadwinner or head of a family, and
hence worry that, when you die, your survivors will surely also
either die of hunger or cold, suffer from enemies, or be killed
by flood. You may think that you provide all the happiness
and other [comforts] your dependents now enjoy. But after
you die, they will seek comfort in anxiously striving to dispose
of your dead body quickly, by cremating it, throwing it in
water, or bringing it to a cemetery. There is nothing more
than that. Then, after death, without any friends and entirely
alone, you must roam in the bar-do. At that time, only the
Dharma can help you. Hence, starting right now, think seri-
ously again and again of how you can practice even a single
aspect of the noble Dharma.
Similarly, all that is accumulated [will manifest] the phe-
nomenon of depletion. A universal monarch may reach a day
when he becomes penniless. At times, those who were rich
earlier in life are later seen dying of hunger; those who last
year owned many hundreds of cattle are now begging, due to
a heavy snowfall or unforeseen losses; <67> a rich man yes-
terday may be a beggar today, having suffered at the hands of
enemies. Such incidents are known to us. Because no one
can control his wealth forever, think again and again of using
what you have to earn the merit of charity.
All that is gathered will also disperse in impermanence.
At a great world trade center, or at a place where religious
sermons are delivered, people from various parts of the world
assemble by the thousands or tens of thousands; yet they
ultimately break up and return to their respective countries.
Similarly, [as for] our present meetings of Guru and disciple,
employer and employee, religious friends, family members,
and husbands and wives who exchange love and affection-
ultimately there is no way for us not to separate. There is no
certainty of our not being parted, even at this very moment,
by death or a sudden catastrophe. Therefore, religious
friends, life partners, and others who now are gathered
68 Kim-sang La-may Zhal-lung
together separate moment by moment. Hence, do not be

angry, argumentative, and quarrelsome [with others], for
there is no certainty of being with them for long. Think of
treating them lovingly in this brief present moment. <68>
P'a-dam-pa said:
Family life is impermanent, like friends meeting at a

marketplace.
Don't recount bad deeds and quarrel, 0 Dlng-ri folk!
All that is built will also collapse. Prosperous cities and

monasteries of the past, now empty ruins, were also [each
individually] owned by a noble person. At present, they have
become nests for birds and mice. Even the Sam-ye Monas-
tery, which was constructed with three tiers and turrets by
miraculous builders during the reign of the Royal Prince Tr'i-
song Deu-tsen, and which was blessed by the Second Buddha
of O-gyen, was gutted by fire in one night. The Red Palace of
[Kin§J Song-tsen Gam-po, which was like a Castle of Vic-
tory, is now gone, with not even a cornerstone to be seen.
Hence, what can you expect from taking special care of your
village home and monastic buildings, which are no better
than the nests of insects?
Therefore, as mentioned in the biographies of the
founders of the Ka-gyu lineage:
Turn your back on your fatherland;

Readily accept a foreign land;
Prefer the base of a rock for an abode;
Take wild animals for friends.
Thus, at the cost of your food, clothes, and fame, [follow

the famous instructions of the Ka-dam-pas]:
Take the Dharma as the ultimate resort of the mind;

Take asceticism as the ultimate resort of the Dharma;
20 a particular architectural style having three different levels, each with

a pagoda-like roof
Take death as the ultimate resort of asceticism;

Take a desolate valley as the ultimate resort of death.
Think from the core of your heart that you will accomplish
these four resorts of the Ka-dam-pa teachers. <69>
The privileges enjoyed by a great person and the might of
a heroic force are impermanent. Even so powerful a king as
Nga-Iay-nu.P who ruled the four continents as a universal
monarch of the golden [age], who held supremacy even over
the Trayastrimsa heavens, who sat on the same throne with
Indra, and who had the power to turn away the attacks of the
demi-gods, ultimately fell to earth and died with his desires
still unsated. No king, official of a spiritual or temporal
leader, provincial administrator, or the like has ever con-
stantly enjoyed the same high fame and position. There are
many cases when a powerful official who interpreted the law
for others the year before, this year finds himself sleeping
behind bars! What will you do with impermanent power and
prestige? It is better to determine to attain Buddhahood, a
state that is never affected by deterioration or degeneration,
a state worthy of worship by all sentient beings, including the
gods.
Similarly, friend and foe are also impermanent. When
Arya Katyayana once went out for alms, he saw a house-
holder holding a baby on her lap, <70> relishing a fish, and
throwing stones at a bitch that was snapping at the
[discarded] bones. Through his intuition, the Arya saw that
the fish had been her father in this life, her mother had been
reborn as the bitch, and that the baby was an enemy she had
killed in her previous life,22 who was now reborn as her child
for reasons of karmic retribution. So he said:
While eating her father's flesh and beating her mother,

Her terrible karmic enemy is seated on her lap.
21 S. Mandhata
22 The text literally refers to the baby as being an enemy who had killed
the mother in her previous life, rather than an enemy who had been killed
by the mother. The logic of the story indicates the latter reading; hence,
the text is assumed to contain a calligraphic error here.
The wife snaps at her husband's bones.

Worldly dharma makes me laugh!
Many of this life's enemies later become friends and mat-

rimonially connected relatives, superseding other close
friendships. Even parents and brothers will quarrel just for
the sake of a tiny bit of wealth or property and then try to
harm each other as much as they can. There are instances of
people killing each other over a trifling cause, although they
are married or related. You must repeatedly think of treating
all beings with equal love and compassion, for there is no
permanence even as regards friends and foes.
The states of happiness and sorrow are also impermanent.
People who are wealthy and happy early in their life are very
often found to be poor and unhappy later in life, and many
who are unhappy early in their life are found to be happy
later in life. <71> Many who begin as beggars become kings
towards the end of their lives. There are an unimaginable
number of cases like that of Je-tsun Mi-la's uncle, who cele-
brated the happy reception of his [son's] bride in the morning
and ended the day wailing in sorrow. [Many] who have
undergone penance and sustained many kinds of suffering
ultimately have attained transcendental happiness and plea-
sure-for example, the enlightened Gurus of the past and Je-
tsun Mi-la Re-pa.
You can enjoy the happiness created by wealth question-
ably earned, but eventually you suffer endlessly. It is said that
once in the past, the kingdom of Nyi-og" first received a
week-long shower of grain, followed by a week-long shower
of clothes, followed by a week-long shower of precious
gems." But finally a shower of earth followed and buried
everyone beneath it, and all the victims were reborn in the
lower regions.
Do not, out of hope and fear, be attached to impermanent
happiness and sorrow. Discard all the happiness and wealth
of this worldly life as you would a droplet of spit. For the
2J nyi.'og / S. Aparanta
24 The sequence of showers is different in other references to this event.
sake of Dharma, accept suffering cheerfully and patiently,

and from the core of your heart contemplate on the intention
to follow the path of the Buddhas of the past. <72>
[Perceptions of] good and bad are also impermanent.
Even from the worldly point of view, oratory and conversa-
tion, intelligence and ingenuity, and bravery and dexterity will
all degenerate. When the merit [you have accumulated] in
the past is exhausted, perverse thoughts will grow, all the
works you undertake will fail, people will criticize you, you
will suffer personally, and others will always take advantage
of you. There are many who find that the little original virtue
they possessed is soon exhausted and that they are left with
nothing. Many who were regarded as dunces, thoughtless
people, frauds, or liars in the past gain access to wealth and
prosperity later in life. There is a saying:
A veteran swindler becomes a social leader when

fortune returns;
Others will confide in him, and regard him as noble and
wise.
Even in the religious quarter [there are unfortunate exam-

ples, such as in the saying]:
A spiritually developed old sage becomes a beginner;

An old renunciate becomes an amasser ofweaJth;
An old [celibate] preacher becomes a family head.
There are ascetics who completely renounce the world

early in life, but later become avid for wealth. There are
those who preach the Dharma to others early in life, but later
become hunters, thieves, or robbers. There are those who
are abbots, upholders of the Vinaya rules,25 early in life, but
later become family heads with many children. There are
many who do nothing but commit sins early in life, <73> but
later, absorbed only in the Dharma, either attain perfection
25 rules governing the ethics and conduct of Buddhist monks, nuns, and
novices
or find the path to higher stages of evolutionary rebirth at the

time of death. Thus, there is no stability or reliability in our
momentary perceptions of good and bad.
One who observes within himself the slight development
of both withdrawal from samsara and the feeling of remorse/"
may superficially engage in practicing the Dharma, and thus
the world may regard him as holy. Then when benefactors
and disciples lift him up from his feet without having first
examined his character, he puffs himself up by arrogantly
imagining, "I am such and such a person." His thinking
becomes confused, and he goes wild with the idea, "I can do
whatever I like." Such a train of thought proves that, in real-
ity, he is deceived by Mara.
Root out self-attachment.F Give birth to the wisdom of
non-self.F' Until you attain the transcendental stages [of the
Bodhisattvasl." your conceptions of good and bad will be
unstable. Always contemplate on death and impermanence.
Know your own defects. Always seek a humble seat.
Develop withdrawal from samsara and the feeling of
remorse. Learn to be peaceful, subdued, and discreet. Think
of the impermanent nature of all compounded objects.
Contemplate on the sufferings of samsara and learn to have a
constant twinge of sadness in you.
Je-tsun Mi-la Re-pa said:
In a cave at a place without human beings,

The feeling of sadness never leaves, <74>
Nor does devotional feeling for the Guru,
The Buddha of the three times, ever depart.
26 kyo-shay/ skyo.sas / the feeling of regret for the sufferings you have
experienced hitherto and for the sufferings you will continue to experience
until you attain realization
27 dag-dzin / bdag.'dzin
28 dag-me-kyi ye-shey / bdag.med.kyi ye.ses
29 p'ag-pay sa / 'phags.pa'i sa
You should practice as he has said. If you do not, since

your present thoughts are also impermanent, you do not
know into what form they may change.
Once there was a man who took to the Dharma to escape
the harassment of his relatives. He came to be known as
T'ang-pa, the well-attained monk. Having achieved full con-
trol over his mind and vital air, he could fly in the sky. One
day, when many pigeons gathered to eat the tor-zen/" he had
made, he thought, "If I had formerly had that many troops, I
could have routed my enemies." One [such] bad thought
caused him to fail [in progressing further], and he later
returned to his village and became an army officer.
Similarly, some understanding of the Dharma can appear
because of [contact with] Gurus and religious friends. How-
ever, since the feelings of unenlightened people are imper-
manent, you should guide your progress by the light of the
Sun of the Dharma. Think of practicing the Dharma for as
long as you live.
Thus, when you consider these different analogies, it
should be clear that, from the universe's highest summit to its
lowest hell, there is nothing that is permanent or reliable.
You must believe that [all that exists is subject to] change,
transformation, growth, and decay. <75>
CONSIDERING THE UNCERTAIN CAUSES OF DEATH
Although death is certain for the human beings of this
earth from the moment of birth onward, the manner, cause,
and time of death are uncertain. When, where, how, and
from what one will die are indefinite for everyone. There are
more causes of death than there are causes to live in this
world.
30 gtor.zan / small balls made of roasted barley flour that are offered to
the pretas, usually accompanied by milk and water
Guru Aryadeva said:
The causes of death are very many.

The causes to live are very few,
And they too become the causes of death.
As he has said, there are many causes of death-s-fire,

water, poison, precipices, yetis, wild animals, and so forth-
but very few causes to live. There are incidents when even
food and clothing, which were greedily regarded as means of
survival, have turned out to be the causes of death. There are
many cases [of people] having eaten poisonous food, or even
when the food was not [poisonous], when that which they
greedily believed would benefit their health became poi-
sonous or disagreeable and thus caused their death.
Particularly at the present timet almost everyone craves
meat. There is hardly any tumorous disease or affliction
caused by blood-thirsty evil spirits that is not based on the
unrestrained consumption of flesh and blood. <76> Further,
innumerable deaths are caused by dropsy." dyspepsia.F and
tumors, which develop due to bad habits of eating and living.
Similarly, innumerable deaths are caused by crossing rivers
carelessly, going too close to ferocious animals, and fighting
enemies on the battlefield [in an attempt] to gain wealth and
fame.
Due to a variety of causes, death occurs at unexpected
times. Some die while in their mother's womb; some die as
soon as they are born; some die when they start to crawl;
some die in their youth; some die after becoming very old;
some die instantly, giving neither priests nor doctors the
chance [to aid them]; some die after years of being bedridden
with illness, their dying eyes still wistfully looking at the
living, their bodies completely emaciated; some collapse sud-
denly while eating, talking, or working; and there are some
who kill themselves.
31 fluid retention, or heart disease

32 stomach acidity
Thus, amidst so many causes of death, your life is very

weak, like the flame of a candle burning inside a cage. There
is no certainty that death will not come <77> right now, and
that tomorrow you will not find yourself reborn as an animal
with a pair of tusks in your mouth or with horns on your
head. Therefore, you must firmly believe that the time of
death and the place of rebirth are uncertain.
INTENSELY REMEMBERING IT ALWAYS
Under all circumstances, contemplate on death alone.
While walking, sitting, and lying down, always think, "This ac-
tivity may be my last worldly activity." Express this vocally, as
well. Mentally also, meditate deeply on it. When you are
traveling to another place, think, "It is possible that I may die
there and hence never return to my starting place." While
you travel, or when you are tired and sit on a roadside bench,
think, "I may die at this very place." Wherever you sit, pre-
sume that you may die at that very spot. When going to
sleep, think, "It is uncertain whether I will wake up tomorrow
morning or not, since I may die in this bed this very night."
When you wake, think, "It is doubtful whether or not I will
sleep again this evening, for I may die during the day." Thus,
from the core of your heart, intensely contemplate on death
alone.
In the past, when the Ka-dam-pa Ge-sheys went to bed at
night, they were never sure if they would need fire the fol-
lowing morning; therefore, they never preserved their fire
under ashes. <78> They even kept their cups upside-down.
They anticipated death from moment to moment. Do as they
did.
However, contemplation on death alone is not enough. It
is only the noble Dharma that can benefit you at the time of
death. Always [act] in conjunction with remembrance'" and
33 dren-pa / dran.pa / remembering what should be practiced and what

should be avoided
watchfulness.P and understand the entirety of worldly affairs

as impermanent and essenceless. Hence, you should spur
yourself on to practice the pure Dharma.
As, in general, the aggregate of mind and body is

impermanent,
Do not own the borrowed thing.
As the road you walk is impermanent,
Move your steps towards Dharma."
As the place in which you live is impermanent,
Think of a Pure Paradise.
As the food, drink, and things you use are
impermanent,
Eat the perfect meditative absorption as food.36
As the sleep you experience is impermanent,
Transform illusion into clear light.
As the wealth you find is impermanent,
Acquire the seven treasures of the Aryas.J7
As relatives, friends, and worldly establishments are
impermanent,
Encourage withdrawal from sarpsara [by being] in
solitude.
As great authority and fame are impermanent,
Look for the humbler seat.
As uttered words are impermanent,
Use them for reciting [mantra] and prayer. <79>
34 shey-zhin / ses.bzin / knowing if you are actually practicing what should

be practiced and avoiding what should be avoided
35 The text here includes this annotation: "From the DO-pa: 'Your mind
will be free from distraction if you keep your gaze at a yoke's length as you
walk.'''
36 ting-nge-dsin / tin.ne/dzin / S. samadhi
37 faith, morality, charity, knowledge, modesty, self-control, and wisdom
As faith and withdrawal from samsara are

impermanent,
Persevere in maintaining firm vows.
As perceptions and concepts are impermanent,
Learn to be good-natured.
As spiritual experiences and insight are impermanent,
Reach the fully dissolved, ultimate state.
Then, at that time, the interfering hand of birth and death

will collapse. You will gain confidence in facing death. You
will attain the deathless, secure state, which is like a vulture
crossing the heights of the sky. From that time onward, you
will not have to contemplate on the remorseful thought of
death.
Je-jtsun] Mi-la said:
Frightened by death, I ran to the hills.

Because I continuously meditated on the uncertain time
of death,
I attained the deathless, primordial, secure state.
Now I have abandoned the fear of death.
Nyam-me Dag-po Rin-po-ch'e said:
First, being driven by the fear of birth and death, you

should run away, like a stag escaping from an
imprisoning pit.
Second, even if you die, you should have no regret, like a
farmer facing the time of harvesting.
Lastly, you should have the satisfaction of a person who
has accomplished a great task.
First, you should know that you have no time, as if an
arrow had struck your vital organs.
Second, your contemplation should be unremitting, like
the sorrow of a mother who has lost her only child.
Lastly, you should understand that there is nothing to

be done, as [in the case of] a cowherd whose cattle
have been driven away by enemies.
Until you have this understanding, you should contemplate

on death and impermanence alone. <80>
Also, Lord Buddha has said:
If you contemplate more on impermanence, you will be

making offerings to all the Buddhas.
If you contemplate more on impermanence, all the
Buddhas will inspire you.
Buddhas will give you guiding predictions.
Buddhas will bless you.
For example, of all footprints, that of the elephant is the

largest. Similarly, it is said that of all the Buddhist meditative
perceptions, the perception of impermanence is the best.
In the Dul-wa Lung, [Lord Buddha further said]:
Rather than offering midday meals along with money to

a hundred of my precious disciples - Sariputra,
Maudgalyayana, and so forth - who are like excellent
vases [of Dharma], the best thing to do is to remember
the impermanence of an aggregate thing, even for a
moment.
Similarly, a certain lay-disciple once asked Ge-shey Pu-to-

wa, "Of all the Dharmas, which is the most important to
practice?"
"Of all the Dharmas," Pu-to-wa replied, "the most impor-
tant is to contemplate on impermanence, for if you contem-
plate on death and impermanence: first, it offers the cause
for turning toward the Dharma; second, it offers the cause for
urging you to do meritorious deeds; <81> lastly, it aids lOU

in
understanding the essential sameness" of all dharmas.'
"Again, if you contemplate on impermanence: first, it
offers the cause for breaking the attachments to this life; sec-
ond, it offers the cause for counteracting attachment to all
worldly activities; lastly, it aids you in entering the path to
nirvana.
"Again, if you contemplate on impermanence: first, it
offers the cause for generating faith; second, it offers the
cause for developing perseverance; lastly, it aids the birth of
wisdom.
"Again, if you contemplate on impermanence and it grows
in you: first, it offers the cause for searching for the Dharma;
second, it offers the cause for practicing the Dharma; lastly, it
aids you in successfully accomplishing the Dharma.
"Again, if you contemplate on impermanence and it grows
in you: first, it offers the cause for generating the armor-like
[motivation] to persevere; second, it offers the cause for
applying the perseverance; lastly, it aids you in developing
irrevocable perseverance."
Also, P'a-dam-pa said:
If impermanence is born in the mind:

First, it offers the cause for entering the Dharma;
Second, it works like the whip of perseverance;
Eventually, it makes you attain the enlightened
Dharmakaya.
Thus, unless a genuine sense of impermanence has grown

in your mind, whatever effort you make to learn and practice
the Dharma will ultimately breed the causes for having con-
tempt for the Dharma. <82>
[P'a j-dam-pa [also] said:
Of the Dharma-practitioners in Tibet, I don't see any

who believe they will die. Yet I don't see anyone living
38 nyam-pa-nyi / mnam.pa.nid
39 conceptual ideas with regard to anything in this world
80 Kiln-zang La-may Zhal-lung
forever. Generally, aren't those in yellow robes who

express pleasure in hoarding wealth trying to pay Yama
with food and money? The way they acquire the
choicest wealth, aren't they trying to bribe Hell? Ha,
ha! It is really ridiculous to see the monks in Tibet! He
who has learned more has more arrogance. He whose
meditation is better hoards [more] food and wealth. He
who lives in solitude [becomes involved in] more social
gatherings. He who leaves his country loses his sense of
shame. Such people are immune to the Dharma. They
are fond of sin.
He said that their mistake is not remembering their own

death on observing the death of others. Therefore, contem-
plation on the perception of impermanence opens the pre-
liminary door for practicing all the Dharmas.
When Ge-shey Pu-to-wa was once asked the technique for
dissolving unfavorable causes, he said:
You should think more of death and impermanence. If

you are convinced of it, you wiIJ find no difficulty in
avoiding sin, nor will you find any difficulty in doing
meritorious deeds. In addition to that, contemplate
more on loving kindness'" and compasslon." <83> If
they grow in your mind, you will find no difficulty in
working for the cause of living beings. In addition to
that, contemplate more on emptiness, the ultimate
nature of all phenomena. If [an understanding of this]
grows in your mind, you will find no difficulty in
dissolving illusion.
Thus, if impermanence is born in your mind, you will with-

draw your attachment to all the worldly affairs of this life, as
a jaundiced patient [recoils] when served oily food.
40 jam-pa / byam.pa
41 nying-je / snin.rje
The Impermanence of Life 81
Je La-ma [Jig-me Gyal-way Nyu-gu] too said, again and

again:
The reason why I am not attracted to worldly splendor,

power, riches, or glamour of any sort, and am instead
drawn to the biographies of the great Gurus of the past,
is that a small sense of impermanence has grown in my
mind. I have no more advice to offer other than this.
The growth of the sense of impermanence [in your mind]

should be comparable to that which was found in Ge-shey
K'a-rag Gom-ch'ung,
[The Ge-shey] went to meditate at the retreat of Jo-mo
K'a-rag in Tsang. At the entrance to the cave there was a
thorny bush that snagged his clothes. At first he thought of
cutting it, but later he thought that he might perhaps die in-
side the cave and thus not have to leave it again. He found it
more beneficial <84> to engage in meditation. With this idea,
he did not cut it. As he walked out, a similar incident oc-
curred, but he doubted that he would live to reenter the cave.
Thus, he lived there for many years, and even when he left
after attaining perfection, the thorny bush remained uncut.
Similarly, Rig-dzin Jig-me Ling-pa had a pond near his
hermitage at Ton-ri-kyi, He experienced great difficulty in
crossing over it, for there was no bridge. When he was
offered a bridge for it, he said, "I don't know whether 1 shall
sleep here next year or not. What's the use of taking such
trouble?" It is said that he always talked about imperma-
nence.
Therefore, until some such thought is born in our minds,
we too must: [1] develop the bodhicitta motivationr'? [2] as
the main practice," use all means to contemplate on imper-
manence until a genuine sense of it is born in our minds; [3]
and conclude our practice with the act of dedication." Thus,
42 jor-wa sem-kyey dam-pa / sbyor.ba sems.bskyed dam.pa

43 ngo-zhi mig-me dam-pa / dnos.gzi dmigs.med dam.pa
44 je ngo-wadam-pa / rje bsno.ba dam.pa
82 Kun-zang La-may Zhai-lung
through all available means, follow in the steps of the noble

Gurus.
Although impermanence is evident, I regard things as

permanent.
Although ranking senior-most in age, I think of myself
as young.
May I and sentient beings like me, who have contrary
ideas,
Be blessed to have the sense of impermanence born
within us.
This is the instruction on the impermanence of life.

CHAPTER THREE
The Misery of Sarpsara
He considered worldly activities to be essenceless;

With great compassion he worked solely for the sake of
others;
Unattached to nirvana and samsara, he practiced the
Mahayana doctrine as prescribed;
The instruction on the misery of sarnsara! is also twofold.

First is the manner of listening to and teaching the Dharma,
which is the same as before, and second is the Dharma to be
explained, which is [again] twofold:
1. Contemplation on Worldly Sufferings in General;
2. Contemplation on the Sufferings of Each of the
Six Varieties of Beings in Particular.
1 CONTEMPlATION ON WORLDLY SUFFERINGS IN

GENERAL
As described in the previous [chapter], even if you acquire
the difficult-to-obtain leisure and endowment, [eventually],
with no chance to live longer, you will come under the influ-
ence of impermanence and death. After dying, if you were
like an extinguished fire or evaporated water, that would be
the end of it; however, you do not disappear after death.
1 k'or-way nyey-mig / 'khor.ba'i fies.dmigs
83
You have to be reborn, and once reborn you will still be in

samsara.
This thing called samsara (k'or-wa) is like a potter's wheel,
a water pulley, or like a bee inside a pot, moving from one
point to another. When a bee is enclosed within a pot, no
matter where it flies, it still remains inside the pot- it cannot
go elsewhere. <86> Similarly, wherever you are born,
whether in a higher or lower region, you are not beyond the
different parts of this samsara, The upper portion of the pot
is like the superior regions of gods and men; the lower por-
tion is like the three lower regions. Worldly karma.! whether
meritorious or demeritorious, causes you to travel the six
regions, from one to another, in successive births. Thus,
[samsara] is called k'or-wa, that which rotates.
You have been lost in samsara throughout beginningless
time. Among all the beings of samsara, there is not a single
one who has not formerly played three different roles with
every other being, namely, father or mother, friend or foe,
and one who is neutral.
A Sutra states:
If this entire earth were made into mud pellets the size
of an Indian juniper seed, and they were then used to
count the number of mothers in a single being's mater-
nal lineage, by saying, "This is her mother, this is her
grandmother, this is her great-grandmother... ," and so
on, the earth would be exhausted, but not the members
of that being's chain of ancestral mothers.
Lord Nagarjuna explains the meaning as follows:
Even if the earth were rolled into pellets as small as

Indian juniper seeds,
There would not be enough to reach the end of one's
maternal lineage.
2 zag-chay-kyi lay / zag.bcas.kyi las

The Misery ofSamsara 85
Accordingly, throughout the beginningless samsara up

until now, there is hardly any [type of being] in whose form
you have not been born. The occasions on which [others,
motivated] by desire, cut off your head and limbs are also
innumerable. <87> If the limbs of the ants, insects, and other
tiny beings in whose [forms] you have been reborn could now
be heaped in one place, [the pile] would be even taller than
Mount Sumeru. If the tears you shed in the past while suf-
fering from hunger, thirst, and cold had not dried up, their
quantity would be greater than [the waters of] the great ocean
that bounds [the world].
Although, the amount of molten copper alone that you
drank during your past rebirths in hell is greater than the
waters of the four oceans of the cardinal directions, without
even a moment's regret, those of you who are still bound to
samsara by attachment will suffer in this endless samsara
even more than you did before. If by chance you succeed in
acquiring a tiny bit of virtuous merit, you may attain the well-
accomplished status of Indra, the Lord of the Gods, who
enjoys long life, excellent health, power, and wealth; yet your
lifetime will still be limited by death, and after dying, you will
suffer miserably in the lower regions.
If that is so, the minor pleasures, such as power and health,
that this body enjoys for a few years, months, or days are a
deception. When the effect of the cause that brought the
happiness of the upper regions is exhausted, you will either
become very poor and miserable, or you will undergo, against
<88> your will, the unbearable sufferings of the lower regions.
What essence is there in [experiencing] present pleasure and
happiness, which is like waking [momentarily] while having a
dream?
The seemingly pleasurable and happy state you are now
experiencing is the result of a trifling meritorious deed [done
in the past]. But once the transporting power of its karma! is
exhausted, you will be powerless to continue in this state for
even a moment. Even the lords of the gods, who sit on
precious thrones spread with celestial cloth and whose five
3 p'en-je-kyi lay I 'phen.byed.kyi las

sensual desires are entirely fulfilled, reach the limit of their

lives. In a mere wink of an eye, they fall head over heels onto
the burning iron ground in hell and suffer.
The sun and moon illuminating the four continents with
light are also at times eclipsed by the earth's shadow, and
then you cannot even see the movement of your limbs. Thus,
because seeming worldly pleasure is unworthy of trust, think
of escaping from the ocean of samsaric misery, and of
attaining, through all means, the eternal happiness of Bud-
dhahood in this very life. Contemplate on the Dharma in the
complete sense of the three perfect principles.
2 CONTEMPLATION ON THE SUFFERINGS OF EACH

OF THE SIX VARIETIES OF BEINGS IN PARTICULAR
[The six regions are:]
1. [The First Lower Region: Hell-Beings;]
2. [The Second Lower Region: Pretas;]
3. [The Third Lower Region: Animals;]
4. [The First Upper Region: Human Beings;]
5. [The Second Upper Region: Demi-Gods;]
6. [The Third Upper Region: Gods.]
2.1 [THE FIRST LOWER REGION:] HELL-BEINGS4

[This region] <89> has eighteen divisions [comprising eight
hot hells, one set of neighboring hells, eight cold hells, and
one set of indeterminate hells].
2.1.1 THE EIGHT HOT HELLS

The eight hot hells range in descending order, [like the
sub-basements of a building], from the Reviving Hell [at the
top] to the Maximum Torture Hell [at the bottom]. All their
bases and perimeters are like the red-hot iron in a black-
4 nyal-wa / dmyal.ba
TheMisery ofSamsara 87
smith's shop, and when one sets foot there, one finds no
pleasure. They are a mass of tongues of fire, always burning
furiously.
2.1.1.1 THE REVIVING HELLs

The Reviving Hell is a mass of impure fire burning on a
ground of red-hot iron, upon which the sentient beings of this
hell, innumerable as the snowflakes in a blizzard, are gath-
ered together by the force of karma. These beings have been
cast there by their deeds done in anger. In agreement with
the cause of those deeds, [their anger], they are again moti-
vated by anger and regard each other as enemies. Thus, they
fight. Their hands hold innumerable weapons created by
their karmic illusion, and they all die by fighting with each
other. But when a voice from the sky says, "Come back to
life againl'" they immediately revive and fight as before.
[Thus], they suffer from successive deaths and resurrections.
Their life span [is calculated as follows]. Fifty human
years equal one day? of the Gyal-ch'en Rig-zhi8 gods. <90>
[Counting] thirty days as one month and twelve months as
one year, five hundred years of these gods equal one day of
the Reviving Hell. [Counting] thirty of these days as one
month, and twelve months as one year, the beings of this hell
suffer here for five hundred of their own years."
2.1.1.2 THE BLACK MARKING-THREAD HELLlO

The attendants of Yama place the bodies of the sentient
beings of this hell, which are like pieces of charred wood, on
a base of red-hot iron. With a black marking-thread they
S yang-so / yan.sos
6 yangso-pargyur-chig / yait sos.par gyur.cig
7 as used here, "day" means 24 hours
8 rgyal.chen rigs.bzi / S. caturmaharajika
9 1,620,000,000,000 human years
10 t'ig-nag / thig.nag
mark the bodies with lines-four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two,

and so on - and then cut them with fiery steel saws. Again
and again, the severed portions spontaneously rejoin and are
sawed. Thus they are tortured.
Their life span [is calculated as follows]. One hundred
human years equal one day of the Sum-chu-tsa-surn 11 gods.
One thousand years of these gods equal one day of the beings
of the Black Marking-Thread Hell. They must remain here
for one thousand of their own years.P
2.1.1.3 THE COLLECTION-DESTRUCTION HELL13

The attendants of Yama cast the countless sentient beings
of this hell into [innumerable] iron mortars, each as large as a
country, and pound them, brandishing red-hot iron hammers
as big as Mount Sumeru. <91> Suffering unimaginably from
having their vital organs cut, in an utter chaos of fear and
terror, they die with roaring cries. When the hammers are
lifted, they revive, only to suffer again as before. All the
mountains surrounding the country turn into the animals they
killed in the past-stags, antelopes, goats, sheep, and so on-
and with horns flaming, the animals butt against each other.
The force of karma drives these innumerable hell-beings
between the clashes, and they are killed. When the charging
beasts withdraw, the [beings] revive, only to be destroyed
again as before.
They must suffer for a period calculated by reckoning two
hundred human years as one day of the T'ab-draI 14 gods, and
two thousand years of these [gods] as one day of the Collec-
tion-Destruction Hell. They suffer here for two thousand of
their own years. 15
11 sum.cu.rtsa.gsum / S. trayastrimsa
12 12,960,000,000,000 human years
13 dii-jom / bsdus.joms
14 'thab.bral / S. yama
15 103,680,000,000,000 human years
2.1.1.4 THE HOWLING HELL16

The beings in this hell suffer the torture of being roasted in
a doorless building made of red-hot iron. They scream, hav-
ing lost all hope of ever escaping from it.
Calculating four hundred human years as one day of the
Ga-den 17 gods, and four thousand years of these [gods] as one
day of the Howling Hell, the beings remain here for four
thousand of their own years.IS
2.1.1.5 THE LOUD HOWLING HELL19

Many frightful, armed attendants of Yama drive the innu-
merable hell-beings [here] into a chamber within a chamber,
both made of flaming iron, <92> and beat them with iron
hammers. The seams of the doors of both the inner and
outer chambers are plastered with molten steel. The beings
scream loudly, for they realize that even if they could escape
from the inner chamber, they could not escape from the
outer.
Their life span [is calculated as follows]. Eight hundred
human years equal one day of the T'riil-ga 2O gods. Eight
thousand years of these [gods] equal one day of the Loud
Howling Hell. [Beings are trapped here for] eight thousand
such years."
2.1.1.6 THE HEATING HELL22

The innumerable beings in this hell suffer from being
boiled in molten bronze, which is contained in a huge iron
pot as large as the one billion world-systems. Whenever [the
16 ngu-bO / nu.bod
17 dga'.Idan / S. tusita
IS 829,440,000,000,000 human years
19 ngu-bo ch'en-po / nu.bod chen.po
20 'phrul.dga' / S. nirmanarati
21 6,635,520,000,000,000 human years
22 ts'a-wa / tsha.ba
beings] appear on the surface, [Yama's] attendants seize them

with iron hooks and strike them on the head with hammers,
causing them to lose consciousness. Their subsequent insen-
sibility to the pangs of suffering can be regarded as the only
slight happiness they experience. They suffer greatly.
Sixteen hundred human years equal one day of the Zhen-
t'rul Wang-je-' gods, and sixteen thousand years of these
[gods] equal one day of the Heating Hell. Beings suffer here
for sixteen thousand of their own years. 24
2.1.1.7 THE INTENSE HEATING HELL25

[In this hell], in a blazing metal chamber, [Yama's] atten-
dants pierce [the beings] with a burning iron trident, which
[enters] both sales of the feet and the lower orifice, and
which emerges through both shoulders and the crown of the
head. <93> They are wrapped in red-hot iron blankets and
suffer tremendous torture.
The life span here is half an intermediary cycle of an
aeon." beyond measurement in human years.
2.1.1.8 THE MAXIMUM TORTURE HELL27

In an iron chamber of blazing fire, surrounded by the six-
teen neighboring hells, the attendants of Yama place the
innumerable beings of this hell in the midst of iron blocks,
which are heaped like red-hot coals as high as a mountain.
Using bellows made of tiger and leopard skins, [they make
both] the bodies and the flames burn as one. Although [the
beings] perpetually desire to escape, there is never a chance.
At times, the flames subside a bit. The beings attempt to run
away, but [Yama's] attendants strike them with large arrows,
23 gzan.phrul dban.byed / S. paranirrnitavasavartin

24 53,084,160,000,000,000 human years
25 rab-tu t'sa-wa / rab.tu tsha.ba
26 an aeon comprises twenty i~termediary cycles
27 nar-me / mnar.med
The Misery of Samsiira 91
sticks, and hammers, pour boiling molten bronze into their

mouths, and so on. Thus, these beings undergo sufferings
that include all the tortures of the seven hells previously
mentioned.
The life span here is one intermediary cycle of an aeon.
Since no hell can be more torture-filled than this, it is called
the Maximum Torture Hell. It is for beings who have com-
mitted the [five] deeds of the most serious consequence'" and
for those who adopt the tantric path and later develop antipa-
thy towards their Vajra Gurus. <94> No other karma can
make one take rebirth in this hell.
2.1.2 THE NEIGHBORING HELLS29

[Four sets] of four neighboring hells surround the Maxi-
mum Torture Hell, [one set] at each of the four [cardinal]
directions:
1. A Burning Bed of Live Coals;
2. A Marsh of Putrefied Corpses;
3. A Meadow of Weapons;
4. A Forest with Leaves Like the Blades of Swords.
A set of these four is located at the eastern, southern,
western, and northern directions, [making sixteen altogether].
At each of the southeastern, southwestern, northwestern, and
northeastern points there is also:
5. A Hill of Iron Trees That Have Sharp, Pointed Leaves.
28 ts'am-me-pa / mtshams.med.pa / killing one's mother, killing one's

father, killing an Arhat, intending to shed the blood of a Buddha, and
causing a schism in the Sangha / The reactions of these sins cause one to
suffer in this lowest hell without any intermediary bar-do stage.
29 nye-k'or / iie.'khor
2.1.2.1 THE BURNING BED OF LIVE COALS 30

As those who have less karma left to suffer emerge from
the Maximum Torture Hell, they observe a far-off, dense
shadow of darkness. They go happily towards it, but they fall
into a hot bed of ashes that has an impure fire burning furi-
ously beneath it. This burns their flesh and bones, and thus
they suffer.
2.1.2.2 THE MARSH OF PUTREFIED CORPSES31

In the same way, these [beings then] observe a far-off river.
As they have been roasting in fire since the disintegration and
destruction of the previous great [cycle of] aeons, they are
very thirsty. They are happy to see the water, but when they
approach it to drink, they do not find water. Instead, they
sink head deep into a marsh composed entirely of dead bod-
ies - human corpses, the carcasses of horses and dogs, and the
like-which are rotting, putrid, and crawling with maggots.
They are eaten by insects that have sharp, iron mandibles,
and thus they suffer.
2.1.2.3 THE MEADOW OF WEAPONS32

Again, <95> after escaping [from the marsh] they see a
delightful green meadow. Approaching it, they come upon a
field of weapons and find the entire meadow overgrown with
red-hot, grass-like, iron blades. When they put down their
right feet, their right feet are pierced. When they put down
their left feet, their left feet are pierced. [Their feet] heal
when lifted, but when they put them down, they are cut as
before, and thus [these beings] suffer.
30 me-ma-mur-gyi ob / me.ma.mur.gyi 'obs

31 ro-nyag-kyi dam / ro.myags.kyi 'dam
32 ts'on-ch'ay t'ang / mtshon.cha'i than
2.1.2.4 THE FOREST OF SWORDS33

Again, after escaping [from the meadow] they see a
delightful forest. They run towards it, but they do not find an
inviting forest there. Instead, they come upon a forest with
leaves made of swords: on iron trees, many swords grow like
leaves. As the wind moves them, the swords cut the beings'
bodies into pieces. The [pieces] rejoin as before, and thus
they suffer the pain of being [repetitively] cut.
2.1.2.5 THE HILL OF IRON TREES THAT HAVE SHARP,

POINTED LEAVES 34
This is where adulterers and reprobate monks who have
broken their vows of celibacy are born. As the force of their
karma draws them before the dreadful Hill of Iron Trees,
they see their former lovers calling to them from the top of
the hill. As they ascend, all the leaves of the iron trees point
downward and pierce them. <96> On reaching the top of the
hill, hawks and vultures pluck out their eyes. Again [they
hear] enticing voices, but [this time] at the foot of the hill.
When the [descending] victims approach as before, all the
leaves of the trees point upward and pierce straight through
the center of their chests and out their backs. As they move
towards the foot of the hill, dreadful male and female iron
figures embrace them and chew their heads in their mouths.
The beings suffer the torture of seeing their own white brain
tissue oozing from the corners of these monsters' jaws.
Thus, you should thoroughly examine the afflictions meted
out in these eight [hot] hells, the sixteen complementary
neighboring hells, and the Hill of Iron Trees. Then, after
going to a solitary place, close your eyes and visualize that
you are actually in these hells. When you actually feel the
fear and suffering, then tell yourself, "I have not even been
born there now, yet even the mere thought of the suffering of
33 ral-dri to-may nag-ts'al / ral.gri lo.ma'i nags.tshal

34 chag-kyi shal-ma-ri dong-po / Icags.kyi sal.mari'i sdon.po
these places is terrifying and tormenting. Right now, innu-

merable sentient beings have been born there. All of them
were my parents in previous births. There is no certainty that
my parents, relatives, friends, and other [acquaintances] of
this life who have died, have not been reborn there. <97>
The principal cause for their havin~ taken rebirth in these
areas is the action of deep hostility.' In my present and for-
mer lives, I too have committed innumerable acts motivated
by deep hostility." Hence, there is every possibility that in a
future life I will take rebirth in the hell regions. At present, I
have obtained a human state with leisure and endowment,
met an authentic Guru, and learned the profound techniques
of the Dharma. Therefore, when the possibility of attaining
Buddhahood now exists, I should endeavor to find the ways
and means to see that henceforth I shall never have to be
reborn in the regions of hell."
Thus you should think, again and again. With deep repen-
tance, atone for the bad deeds you have committed in the
past. Take a strong vow that, in the future, even at the cost of
your life, you will not commit any sin that will cause you to be
reborn in these hells. Contemplate on having extreme com-
passion'? for the sentient beings who have been born there
now, offer prayers, such as "Let all attain instantaneous free-
dom from these infernal regions," and put the instructions
into practice by keeping the three perfect principles intact.
2.1.3 THE EIGHT COLD HELLS38

The eight cold hells all have similar physical features.
They are basically lands composed of snow-]covered] moun-
35 the-dang / ze.sdan
36 N.B. Although the quotation in this paragraph begins and ends in the
first person singular ('1'), in this sentence it shifts to the first person plural
('we'). For uniformity, this translation has used 'I' throughout the
quotation.
3? nying-je / snin.rje
38 drang-nyal-gye I gran.drnyal.brgyad
tains and ice-filled valleys, where a constant blizzard furiously

rages.
2.1.3.1 THE BLISTERING HELL39

Afflicted by the cold in this hell, the naked beings grow
weaker physically, and blisters rapidly appear on their bodies.
2.1.3.2 THE BLISTER-BURSTING HELL40

[Here it is so cold that] <98> the blisters burst and ulcer-
ate.
2.1.3.3 THE TEETH-CHATTERING HELL41

The unbearable, biting cold [in this hell] makes the beings'
teeth chatter. Hence the name.
2.1.3.4 THE OH! COLD! HELL42

[It is so called because the beings here] scream ceaselessly,
[owing to the affliction of cold].
2.1.3.5 THE UTTERING-OF-"ALAS!" HELL43

Losing the strength of their voices, [in this hell] the victims
can produce only sighs of "Alas! Alas!"
39 ch'u-bur-chen I chu.bur.can
40 ch'u-burdol-wa I chu.bur rdol.ba
41 so t'am-t'am-pa I so tham.tha~.pa
42 a-en'u-cn'u I a.chu.chu
43 kyi-hu don-pa I kyi.hud 'don.pa
2.1.3.6 THE CRACKING-LIKE-A-BLUE-POPPY HELL 44

The outer skin [of the beings here] turns blue and cracks
into four parts, like [the petals of] a blue poppy.
2.1.3.7 THE CRACKING-LIKE-A-LOTUS HELL45

[In this hell], frozen by the cold, the inner red flesh
beneath the [beings'] skin is exposed and cracks into eight
parts, like [the petals of a red] lotus.
2.1.3.8 THE CRACKING-LIKE-A-LARGE-LOTUS HELL 46

Since the skin [of the beings here] further turns red and
black, and cracks into sixteen, then thirty-two, and then
innumerable parts, [this hell is called] "Cracking-Like-jthe-
Petals-of'[-a-Large-Lotus." Many maggots with iron mandi-
bles enter the wounds caused by the cracks and feed there.
Thus, the [beings] suffer from the tortures of the cold.
These eight different kinds of suffering are known by eight
different names; hence, they are called "the eight cold hells."
The life span of those [who dwell here] can be reckoned by
taking a platter which holds twenty measures of ten dray of
Kosala City47 and filling it with sesame seeds. When the dish
has been entirely emptied by removing one seed every hun-
dred years, the life span of [an inhabitant of] the Blistering
Hell comes to an end. The life span and miseries of the rest
of the cold hells increase progressively by a factor of twenty.
That is, the beings of the Blister-Bursting Hell live twenty
times longer than those of the Blistering Hell, the beings of
the Teeth-Chattering Hell live twenty times longer than those
of the Blister-Bursting Hell, and so on. <99>
44 ut-pal targay-pa/ utpalltar gas.pa

45 pe-ma targay-pa / padma Itar gas.pa
46 pe-ma ch'en-po-tar gay-pa / padma chen.po.ltar gas.pa
47 one Kosala dray equals approximately one pint
As before, you should mentally take the sufferings [of

these beings] upon yourself and contemplate on the miseries
of these [cold hells]. When, in the winter of this human
world, you cannot bear even for a mere moment the torture
of the cold wind on your naked body, how could you stand to
be born there? Think of this, confess your mistakes, and vow
[not to repeat them]. Contemplate on having compassion for
the sentient beings born in these regions, and practice as
before, abiding by the three perfect principles in full.
2.1.4 THE INDETERMINATE HELLS48

[Here], neither the place nor the type of suffering is cer-
tain. [Beings born into these hells may be] pressed between
rocks, embedded in stones, frozen in glaciers, cooked in
boiling water, or burned in fire. When a tree is cut, such
beings feel as if their limbs and vital parts are being cut, and
thus they suffer. Because they regard pestles, broomsticks,
pots, doors, pillars, hearthstones, ropes, and the like-things
that are always in use-as their bodies, they experience suf-
fering. They are like the fish that Dro-gon Ling-je Rey-pa
saw in Yar-drog Lake, for example, or the frog that Drub-tob
Tang-tong Gyal-po observed in a stone.
In the past, when K'a-dro Ye-shey Ts'o-gyal was perfecting
her meditation, <100> a Bon-po tossed one Zh0 49 of red gold
[at her]. It turned into Yar-drog Lake, one of the four
famous lakes [of Tibet]. Its beginning touches the Lung-gang-
chen snow-mountain, and its end touches Zay-ma Gya-ru. It
takes many days to walk around the lake.
Once, looking into the lake, the great yogi Ling-je Rey-pa
broke into tears and said, "Oh! Alas! Don't take any remu-
neration from others! Don't take any!"
"Why is that?" he was asked.
48 nyi-ts'e-waI ni.tshe.ba
49 1I1Oth of a sang, a unit of currency; lessthan one ounce
"The mind of a Lama who took much remuneration has

taken rebirth in an indeterminate hell in this lake and is expe-
riencing many sufferings," he replied.
Being requested to show this, he wrought a miracle that
dried up the lake in an instant, revealing a huge fish that
spanned the length of the lake. Innumerable insects were
eating it from all sides, and it was writhing in unbearable
pain.
When the yogi was asked whose bad rebirth it was, he
replied, "It is the rebirth of Tsang-Ia Ta-nag-chen. That
Lama had tremendous vocal power to effect blessings. He
could cure those who were possessed by spirits simply by
looking at them. Because of this, he became a priest of the
U-Tsang-Ru-Zhi provinces of Tibet. But whenever [he was
asked] to help [the consciousness of] a deceased person, he
just uttered [the mantram] 'Phet' and took away many horses
and other objects [as remuneration]. And there he is now."
[Similarly], <101> the yogi Tang-tong Gyal-po was once
performing his yogic exercises atop a huge boulder. The
stone broke in two, and he found a large frog being eaten by
countless, small, clinging insects, its mouth gasping with
unbearable pain. Asked what that meant, he said it was the
rebirth of a priest who had performed animal sacrifices.
There are Lamas whose benefactors now entertain them
by killing stout, fat sheep. The gullet, spleen, and other
[internal] parts are cooked with the flesh and blood, and
placed on the rump portion of the mutton. When it is
offered, the Lamas pull their shawls up over their heads and
eat the entrails, as if they were infants sucking at the breast.
Picking up a knife, they slowly consume the outer portion of
the flesh. When they have finished eating, the area around
their mouths looks as if it had been lavishly oiled. Steam
rises from their heads! With beards now glistening unlike
before, they seem to raise their heads [with full confidence].
Since the debt they incur by eating [others] in this life will
have to be paid for with their [own] bodies in the future, [they
should remember] the great hardships that exist in the inde-
terminate hells.
Similarly, when Ngor K'en-ch'en Pal-den Cho-kyong was

living in De-ge, he [once] said, "Whatever floats down the
Ngul-da River today should not be allowed to pass by."
Having said this, <102> he sent many monks to wait there.
Towards evening they saw a huge log floating down the river.
They took it to him and said, "Other than this, there was
nothing else."
"That is it," he said, and asked them to split the log.
Within the split log there was a huge frog, which was being
eaten by many insects. He performed purifying ceremonies
and so on for it, and said that it was the rebirth of Po-gyay, a
steward of De-ge.
Thus, influential officials who enjoy the income of
provinces may be quite powerful just now, but they should
ponder over these hells and take care.
Similarly, during the time of Lord Buddha, a butcher from
a certain village took a vow not to slaughter any animals at
night. He was [subsequently] reborn in an indeterminate hell.
By night he found himself in a delightful, palatial building
tended by four attractive girls who entertained him with food
and drink and made him exceedingly happy. By day the
building turned into a house of red-hot iron, and the four
women changed into four ferocious dogs which devoured
him.
Again, there was an adulterer who vowed to abstain from
sex during the day. [When he was reborn in an indeterminate
hell], he therefore experienced happiness and sorrow in the
opposite way. This was observed by Dro-zhin-kyey Na-wa Je-
wa-ri, <103>
Again, some five hundred monks [were seen] in a beautiful
temple. At midday the sound of the beating of the gaI)9i50
was heard. As they gathered for lunch, the temple changed
into a red-hot iron house; their begging bowls, cups, and so
on turned into weapons; and they began to fight with each
other. When the lunch hour was over, they reverted to their
50 A hardwood beam, approximately 6'x4"x2", which is struck with a

wooden stick. It is used in a monastery like a gong for gathering the
monks in the monastery's assembly hall.
100 Kiln-zang La-may Zhal-lung
original states. This is explained as the karmic reaction of the

debates that formerly took place during the lunch hour
among the monks in the time of [the Buddha] 6-sung. 51
Such are [the stories that are told].
Thus, the eight hot hells and the eight cold hells make six-
teen, and the two [sets of] indeterminate and neighboring
[hells] makeeighteen, They are thus called "the eighteen hell
regions." You should thoroughly comprehend their number,
the life spans [of their beings], their sufferings, the causes of
taking rebirth in them, and so forth. Develop compassion for
the beings who have been born there, and adopt the means
that will prevent you [and all others] from taking rebirth in
these regions. Otherwise, if you leave what you have heard
and learned at this and do not put it into practice, it will
become the cause of generating [both] contempt for the
Dharma and arrogance. [You who do this] will become the
objects of reproach by the Noble Ones and of disapproval by
the learned.
A monk who had excellent manners and a large ego once
came to visit Lama Zhang Rin-po-ch'e, who asked him,
"What Dharma do you know, monk?" <104>
"I have attended many religious discourses," he replied.
"Well then, what are the eighteen hells?"
"The eight hot hells and the eight cold hells make sixteen,
and the two Kar-ma-pas [who respectively wear] red and
black hats make eighteen," answered [the monk].
It is not that he counted the Kar-ma-pas along with the
hells because he had no reverence for them. He simply for-
got the names of the indeterminate and neighboring hells.
Since both the Red Hat and Black Hat Kar-ma-pas were at
the height of their fame, he seems to have [remembered their
names and] replied at random. If that sort of thing happens,
it is shameful evidence that not a word of Dharma has been
understood, to say nothing of its having been practiced.
51 'od.srun / S. Kasyapa Buddha

2.2 THE SECOND LOWER REGION: [PRETAS]52

Considering the sufferings of the pretas, [you should know
that], in general, [pretas] are of two kinds:
1. The Pretas That Dwell on Earth;
2. The Pretas That Travel in Space.
2.2.1 THE PRETAS THAT DWELL ON EARTH

The pretas that dwell on earth [are of three kinds]:
1. The Externally Obscured;
2. The Internally Obscured;
3. Those Obscured by Being Used by Others.
2.2.1.1 THE EXTERNALLY OBSCURED53

For many hundreds of years, [these pretas] do not even
hear the name of water. Suffering greatly from hunger and
thirst, they wander constantly in search of food and drink, but
cannot get a bit of it.
At times they see blue water flowing at a great distance.
Even though their frail limbs cannot support their enormous
bellies, they walk [towards it with great hope] until they are
thoroughly exhausted, and thus they suffer. <105> On nearing
it, they find that the water has evaporated, leaving only peb-
bles, and so they suffer all the more. Again, they see green
trees nine stories tall and approach them as before. Nearing
them, they find the trees withered and changed into large,
dried trees. Again, they see food and drink in great quantity.
As they approach it, however, they see that it is guarded by
many armed people who drive them away with weapons that
cause tremendous suffering. Even the moon turns hot and
burns them in summer. Even the sun turns cold and freezes
them in winter, torturing them all the more.
52 yi-dag / yi.dvags
53 chi-yi drib-pa-chen / phyi'i sgrib.pa.can
102 Kim-zang La-may Zhal-lung
Once, when he visited the region of the pretas, Dro-zhin-

kyey was afflicted by the heat of the pretas' poison of avarice
and became very thirsty. Standing at the door of a huge iron
house was a terrible-looking, dark person with red eyes.
"Where can one find water?" [Dro-zhin-kyey] inquired.
Looking like burnt blocks of wood, many pretas gathered
together and said, "Great man, highly accomplished one, do
find [us] some water."
"Even I cannot find water. Why don't you search for it?"
"What are you saying?" they replied. "Although we have
been in this country for twelve years, <106> we have not even
heard the name of water until now."
So, this is their situation.
2.2.1.2 THE INTERNALLY OBSCURED54

With mouths as tiny as the eye of a needle and necks as
narrow as a strand of hair from a horse's tail, these [pretas try
to] drink water from the great ocean. But before the water
can enter their throats, their oral poison causes it to evapo-
rate. Even if a little water does enter their throats, it cannot
fill their bellies, which are as large as a whole country. If a
tiny bit of food gets into their stomachs, at night it creates a
fire that burns their hearts, lungs, and all their entrails, caus-
ing them enormous suffering. As they try to walk about, their
limbs, as frail as blades of grass, cannot support their enor-
mous bellies, and so they suffer.
2.2.1.3 THOSE OBSCURED BY BEING USED BY

OTHERS 55
These pretas [are the victims of] other pretas who use their
bodies as an abode, and who [ultimately] eat them. Besides
this, the various indeterminable sufferings [they undergo] are
unimaginable.
54 nang-gi drib-pa-chen / nan.gi sgrib.pa.can

55 go-k'ur-gi drib-pa-chen / sgos.khur.gi sgrib.pa.can
The Misery of Samsara 103
Once, when visiting the region of the pretas, Dro-zhin-kyey

Na-wa Je-wa-ri saw a celestial building in which there was a
woman. She was physically well-formed, beautiful, attractive,
fully ornamented with precious jewelry, and had four pretas
tied to the four legs of her throne. Giving Dro-zhin-kyey
some bread, she told him, "Don't give a bit of it to the pretas,
even if they beg for it."
As he ate the bread, the pretas pleaded with him. <107>
To one he gave a piece which, [when eaten], turned to husks.
Again, to another he gave a piece which turned into an iron
hammer when eaten. Similarly, the bread [he gave to the
third preta] changed into its own flesh, and [that which he
gave to] the fourth [changed] into pus and blood.
The woman returned and said, "Didn't I tell you not to
give it to them? Is your compassion greater than mine?"
"How are they related to you?" he asked.
"This was my husband. This was my son. This was my
daughter-in-law. This was my maidservant."
"What karma brought them here?"
"It will be difficult for a man of the human world to
believe," she replied. "In fact, he won't."
"When I am actually seeing it, why shouldn't I?"
"I was a Brahmin woman in my village. Items of fine food
had been prepared on a certain astrologically auspicious day.
[That day,] the great Arya Katyayana came for alms. I was
overcome with devotion and offered him alms.
"Thinking that it would be better if my husband were [also]
to offer alms with full appreciation, I asked him to offer alms
to the great Bodhisattva Arya Katyayana. But he became
angry, saying, 'Before the Brahmins have been fed and the
relatives entertained, have you offered the first part of the
food in alms? <108> Why doesn't the shaven-headed monk
take husks?' When I told my son to do the same thing, he
also became angry and said, 'Why shouldn't this shaven-
headed monk take a red-hot iron hammer?'
"That night my relatives sent us dishes of excellent food.
My daughter-in-law helped herself to the best of it and gave
me what was not good. When I asked her if she had eaten
the best food and given me the worst, she lied to me and said,
'I would rather eat my own flesh than eat your food.' Simi-
larly, the food I sent to my relatives was eaten by my maid-
servant. When I questioned her, she said, 'Why shouldn't I
take my own pus and blood rather than steal your food?'
"I thought, 'May I be reborn in the same place [as they] to
watch these beings reaping the fruit of their individual kar-
ma.' So I was born as a powerful female preta. Otherwise,
since I had offered alms to the Arya, I would have been
reborn as a god in the Trayastrimsa Heaven.
"If you happen to visit the village where I lived, please
speak to my daughter, who leads an indecent life. Tell her
that you saw her parents, who asked you to inform her that
the fruits of her karma will be ugly, and that she should give
up her unwholesome and sinful vocation. If she does not
believe that you [really spoke with me], tell her that in the
house of her former father are [hidden] four iron pots filled
with gold, a gold walking stick, <109> and a water-purification
vessel." From time to time, she should offer [portions of]
that [wealth] as alms to the great Arya Katyayana [and
request him] to dedicate the merit by calling our names. That
will make this karma lessen and exhaust it entirely."
This was what she said.
In the same way, when Guru Dze-ta-ri went to the country-
side, an ugly female preta, the mother of five hundred chil-
dren, said to the Guru, "My husband left for Bodhgaya twelve
years ago in search of food but has not yet returned. If you
go that way, please tell him that if he does not return at once,
all the children will die of hunger."
"What does your husband look like? Since all pretas look
alike, how will I recognize him?"
"You will never mistake him," she replied. "He has a big
mouth, a dented nose, [half-]blind eyes, and he is branded
with the nine marks that make a body ugly."
56 chi-lug / spyi.blugs / A small, long-necked flask containing pure water,

which is used by monks for purification after answering a call of nature.
At Bodhgaya, when a novice monk walked off after dis-

posing of a ch'u-tor offering.t? many pretas pounced on it.
Among them the Guru saw her husband, to whom he deliv-
ered the message. The preta replied, "Except for a small
quantity of spit which a perfect monk once expectorated, I
have not found anything, despite having searched for the past
twelve years. <110> Even this I obtained only after squab-
bling over it with many other pretas."
The Guru later related that this preta had sustained many
injuries meted out to him by other pretas during that wran-
gling.
In the same way, wherever [beings] are born in this region
of the pretas, they are tortured principally by hunger and
thirst, [as well as] by various other kinds of misery. Mentally
visualize the way in which they suffer. Appreciate how mis-
erable you are if you merely miss your breakfast! What
would you do if you were born in a place where even the
mere name of water was not heard for many years? The
principal causes of taking rebirth in this region are avarice
and miserliness. Think thus, "Since I also have committed
such sins innumerable times, I must now make up my mind to
act in such a way that I may never take rebirth in that kind of
region." Contemplate on this from the core of your heart, in
accord with the three perfect principles.
2.2.2 [THE PRETAS THAT TRAVEL IN SPACE]

The sky-travelers are the demonic spirits called tsen, gyal-
po, shi-dre, jung-po, ma-mo, leu-rang, and so forth. These
spirits live continually in fear, terror, and illusion. They
always have evil thoughts and endeavor to bring harm to
others. Immediately upon their death, many of them drop to
the bottom of the lower regions. In particular, at the end of
each week, they suffer the same pain they experienced earlier
when they died from illness, weapons, strangulation, and so
on, whatever the cause. < 111>
57 tor-ch'u-dang tor-zen / gtor.chu.dan gtor.zan / an offering consisting of

water and balls of dough, made to the thirsty and hungry pretas
These pretas try to transfer their sufferings to others. No

matter where they go, they cause harm to others without
finding any relief for themselves. Even when they happily
approach their former friends and relatives, they bring them
disease, insanity, and many other hateful miseries. Powerful
tantric [practitioners] perform ceremonies to bury them, burn
them, and chase them away. When they are buried under the
earth, they remain buried for aeons. They are burned in sac-
rificial fire ceremonies. When they are exorcised by being hit
with charmed mustard seeds and granules of stone, their
heads crack into a hundred pieces and their bodies into a
thousand. They constantly suffer from such miseries. They
also experience the reversed feelings typical of all pretas; e.g.,
they perceive the sun to be cold in the winter and the moon
to be hot in the summer. Some pretas [also] exist in the
forms of birds, dogs, and the like that possess very ugly
bodies.
[Thus], the kinds of suffering that pretas must endure are
unimaginable. Take their sufferings upon yourself, and con-
template on [developing] loving-kindness, compassion, and
the like for the beings born in this [region], in the full sense of
the three perfect principles.
2.3 THE THIRD LOWER REGION: ANIMALS58

[Animals] are of two kinds:
1. [The Animals] That Live in Water;
2. [The Animals] Scattered [Elsewhere].
2.3.1 [THE ANIMALS] THAT LIVE IN WATER

In the great oceans, <112> fish, crocodiles, mollusks, frogs,
insects, and so on are [as numerous] as the dregs of wheat
that are discarded after beer has been pressed. [In size, they
range from] the largest snakes, crocodiles, and so on, which
58 dis-dro / dud.'gro
can wind around Mount Sumeru many times, [to beings] as

small as an atom or -the tip of a needle.
The larger ones devour the smaller ones whole, and the
smaller ones feed on the larger ones by gnawing through their
bodies. Many smaller ones make nests in the body of a larger
one and then feed on it. Many of them are born in areas
between the continents, where sunlight cannot penetrate [the
lower depths of the water]. Thus they suffer, for they cannot
even observe the extension and contraction of their primary
and secondary limbs.
Stupid, ignorant, and incapable of discriminating between
what is to be accepted [as virtue] and rejected [as vice], these
animals are born in a state where suffering is endless.
2.3.2 [THE ANIMALS SCATTERED ELSEWHERE]

The [animals] found in the human and divine realms are
also stupid and foolish. They always suffer miserably from
servitude and exploitation.
Serpent-spirits suffer from the predatory actions of the
garuda/" They receive showers of hot sand and are foolish,
ignorant, malicious, and venomous. Hence they are
distressed.
In particular, the undomesticated, wild animals found in
the human realm live only in danger and fear. While taking
even a morsel of food, they eat anxiously. They devour each
other, and there are many [beings that seek] to kill them-
human hunters, predators, and so forth. For example, falcons
prey on birds, and birds on insects. <113> [Animals] continu-
ally accumulate only the bad karma of killing each other.
Hunters and others are proficient in the task of killing
[animals] in a painful way, using nets, snares, traps, guns, and
many other harmful means to end the [animals'] lives instan-
taneously. Some animals are killed for the sake of things that
grow on their bodies, such as horns, fur, and skin: oysters are
killed for pearls; elephants are killed for tusks, bones, and so
59 a mythical bird of enormous size

on; tigers, leopards, otters, and foxes are killed for fur; musk
deer are killed for musk; wild asses, wild yaks, and so on are
killed for flesh and blood. It is exceedingly miserable for
them to be born in bodies that simply provide the cause of
their death.
Those animals that are dependent on human beings are so
foolish and stupid that even when butchers approach them
with knives in order to kill them, the [animals] simply look at
them with innocent eyes, and do not even have the sense to
run away. Similarly, they are milked, loaded with burdens,
castrated, pierced through the nose, used for ploughing, and
subjected to many other kinds of servitude and exploitation.
In fact, not a single animal escapes experiencing all of
these tortures. Although the backs of pack horses may be
entirely covered with sores, they are still used for carrying
loads and for riding. <114> When they are unable to walk
[any further], they are beaten with whips and stones. That
they might have difficulty or pain is not even considered.
Cattle and sheep are exploited until they are on the verge of
death due to old age. When they grow old, they are either
killed by their owners or sold to butchers. Thus, almost all of
them are slaughtered, and hardly any of them die a natural
death.
[The extent to which animals] experience these kinds of
suffering is inconceivable. Therefore, when you see these
suffering beings, imagine that you are they, and consider care-
fully the magnitude of their suffering. In general, contem-
plate on having strong compassion for those born in the
animal region, and, in particular, if you have dependent
domestic animals, treat them with love and affection. There
are no [animals], including tiny beings like insects and flies,
that fail to feel pleasure and pain, and all have played the
role of your parent. Hence, practice the development of
loving kindness and compassion towards all of them, in the
full knowledge of the three perfect principles.
Thus, wherever [beings] are born in the three lower
regions, they suffer many different kinds of severe torture for
long periods of time. Since such beings are foolish and igno-
rant, they have no notion of Dharma, and so they do nothing

but earn further causes for visiting the lower regions again.
<115> If you are born in these areas, it will be difficult to
attain liberation in the future.
You have done many things in this life and in previous
lives that will certainly cause you to be reborn in the lower
regions. Therefore, from the core of your heart, try to con-
fess your past sins with regret, and vow not to repeat them.
Contemplate with strong compassion on the living beings
born there. Dedicate all the virtuous merit you have earned
in the three times to all the sentient beings born in the lower
regions. Offer prayers for them, so that they.can free them-
selves from those unwholesome realms, and develop your
motivation by thinking, "I am in contact with Mahayana Bud-
dhism in this life. Therefore, I have the opportunity to work
for others as well as for myself. I should accept hardship and
practice the Dharma diligently in order to deliver the beings
in the lower regions to the transcendental regions of purity."
Think of the Guru and the Three Jewels, and invoke their
blessings to enable you to do so. Offer prayers to the Deva
and the Guru for their friendly assistance, and dedicate the
merits you earn thereby to the cause of [liberating all] sen-
tient beings, in the full sense of the three perfect principles.
You may tend to think that, since there is nothing but suf-
fering when one is born in the three lower regions, the three
upper regions must be [filled with] comfort and happiness;
<116> however, there is no happiness even in the upper
regions.
2.4 [THE FIRST UPPER REGION: HUMAN BEINGS]

The sufferings of human beings are:
1. The Three Great Basic Miseries;
2. The Four Great Rivers of Misery: Birth, Old Age,
Sickness, and Death;
3. The Misery Caused by the Possibility of Meeting
Aggravating Enemies;
110 KUn-zangLa-may Zhal-lung
4. The Misery Caused by the Possibility of Separation

from Loved Ones;
5. The Misery Caused by Not Achieving What Is Desired;
6. The Misery Caused by Encountering Undesired
Calamities/"
2.4.1 THE THREE GREAT BASIC MISERIES

The three great basic miseries are:
1. The Misery of Change;
2. The Misery That Follows Misery;
3. The Misery That Gathers Misery.
2.4.1.1 THE MISERY OF CHANGE61

The misery of change is the first of the three [great] basic
miseries. Momentary happiness may suddenly change into
misery. While enjoying the happiness of eating nourishing
food, an acute pain may develop due to a parasitic worm in
your stomach, and suddenly cause misery. While enjoying
happiness, enemies may take your cattle, your house may
catch on fire, you may suddenly fall ill or be seriously afflicted
by malevolent forces, or you may hear extremely bad news.
All of these instantly cause misery.
In the regions of this samsara, none of what seems to be
pleasure, happiness, or fame contains even an iota of perma-
nence or reliability. You should feel deep sorrow for all
those who cannot ultimately transcend misery. <117>
2.4.1.2 THE MISERY THAT FOLLOWS lVIISERy62

This is the additional misery which develops before the
first misery has come to an end. For example, consider a
60 N.B. The last two subsection headings have been interchanged so that
they correspond to the order in which the subsections appear in the text.
61 gyur-way dug-ngal / 'gyur.ba'i sdug.bsnal
62 dug-ngal-gyi dug-ngal / sdug.bsrial.gyi sdug.bsnal
The Misery of Samsara 111
leper who suffers from boils that subsequently break open,

the death of your father followed by that of your mother, the
death of your loved one while you are being chased by your
enemies, or other such [circumstances]. In whatever part of
samsara you may be born, your entire life will be spent suf-
fering misery after misery, with hardly a moment free for
happiness.
2.4.1.3 THE MISERY THAT GATHERS MISERy63
Although it does not appear as such, whatever we greedily

regard as present pleasure is, in fact, a cause for future
misery. The food we eat; the clothes we wear; our houses,
wealth, and ornaments; the feasts we offer-all are gathering
the causes of misery. All of our movements and engagements
are nothing but sinful, and their results will be nothing but
misery.
For example, take Tibetan tea and barley meal. Tea is a
plant grown in China. Countless insects are killed when the
tea seeds are planted and when the leaves are cut. Up to the
province of Dar-tse-do [in China], men are used as the means
of transport, with each man carrying a load of sixty bricks of
tea. Since they carry it on their backs with the help of a rope
around their heads, the skin on their foreheads gradually
wears through. <118> Even when white bone is visible, they
must continue to carry their loads. From Dar-tse-do onward,
dzO,64 yaks, mules, and so on are used as the means of trans-
port. During the journey, all of them develop sores on their
backs and sides, their hair falls out, and they undergo
unimaginable torture due to their state of servitude and
exploitation. When the tea is sold, the traders pay no heed to
oaths or a sense of honesty. The trade is transacted in a spirit
of deception and argument, and they barter for [the tea]
mostly with sheep's wool, lambskin, and the like, [which are
also causes of misery].
63 du-je-kyi dug-nga/ / 'du.byed.kyi sdug.bsnal

64 the offspring of a yak and a cow
112 Kun-zang La-may Zhal-Iung
[The story of sheep's wool is as follows.] In the summer,

many insects, such as lice, and those called zho-kyey, breed in
such great number that their population [per sheep] becomes
no less than the number of [hairs of the sheep's WOOl]. When
the wool is sheared, most of these insects are killed by having
their heads chopped off, their waists cut, or their entrails
ripped out. Those left alive are cruelly suffocated to death by
being rolled up in the wool.
It is the same with lambskin. Soon after [the lambs] are
born, when they have fully-developed sense organs, can feel
pleasure and pain, and their bodies have just started to
grow-in short, when they are just enjoying the first pleasures
of their life-they are immediately killed. Dumb though ani-
mals are, they nonetheless feel reluctant to die and rejoice in
living. They must suffer from the experience of having their
vital organs cut. It is evident that the ewes whose lambs are
killed suffer sorrow just as a [human] mother suffers when
her only child dies. Thus, when you think of that kind of sub-
stance, [i.e., tea], even a swallow <119> provides a cause for
descending to the lower regions.
It is the same with barley meal. First, when the field is
ploughed, all the worms beneath the earth are brought to the
surface, and all the worms on the surface are buried under
the earth. The crows and birds follow wherever the pair of
oxen go, their never-still beaks busily plucking up the worms.
Similarly, when the field is irrigated, all the aquatic insects
are exposed on dry land, and all [the insects] that live on dry
land are killed by the water. In the same way, countless
insects are killed when the seed is sown, when the crop is
harvested, and when the grain is threshed. When these cir-
cumstances are reviewed, it is clear that we are simply eating
a powder of insects and flies.
Similarly, the three white [substancesj'" along with the
three sweet [substancesj'? are [usually] considered to be pure
and without sin. [However], most of the to-le." young calves,
65 butter, milk, and yogurt

66 honey, molasses, and sugar
67 the calves of a female dzo
and lambs [whose mothers are being milked in order to make

dairy products] are killed. As for those that are not killed, a
string is tied around their necks as soon as they are born,
denying them the chance to suck a mouthful of their beloved
mothers' sweet milk. While they live, they are [kept within a
pen], tied by the leg with a long rope, and when they are let
out, they are linked to each other, again with a rope, [in order
to prevent them from drinking their mothers' milk].
They are robbed of their mouthful of milk, which is their
food and drink, and we use it as our own essential drink. The
mothers are robbed of the essence of their body and the chil-
dren of the strength of their life, thus making it difficult for
them to die and equally difficult to live. <120> The old dri 68
becomes so weak in the spring that she can hardly regain her
legs after sitting down to sleep. Most of the sheep become
famished and die. Those who survive become emaciated,
frail, weak, and move in a fumbling manner, with bodies that
resemble ayog-to,69 as if they were about to die.
Thus, if you think about wealth and property, the food you
eat, the clothes you wear-whatever you regard as the source
of all your present happiness-you will find that all of it has
been acquired through wrongdoing. The outcome of all this
wrongdoing is the boundless misery that you will ultimately
have to suffer in the lower regions. Thus, all that you
presently perceive as happiness is the misery that gathers
misery.
2.4.2 [THE FOUR GREAT RIVERS OF MISERY]

[The four great rivers of misery are:]
1. [The Misery of] Birth;
2. [The Misery of] Old Age;
3. [The Misery of] Sickness;
4. [The Misery of] Death.
68 a female yak
69 a thin stick wrapped with cloth at one end, used as a stirrer for
roasting barley
114 Kiin-zang La-may Zhal-/ung
2.4.2.1 THE MISERY OF BIRTH

The human beings of this world are born from the womb."
therefore, your dri-za 71 consciousness, [one of the five] skan-
dhas, enters into the center of your parents' semen and blood.
As you undergo the different sta~es of gestation-oval, ob-
long, lumpish, solidifying, circular, 2 and so forth -you expe-
rience suffering. At the stage when all your limbs, members,
and sense organs are fully developed, you find the interior of
your mother's womb confining and evil-smelling; in darkness,
you experience suffering as though you were being thrown
into prison. <121> When your mother eats hot food, you suf-
fer as though you were being burnt in fire. When she eats
something cold, you suffer as though you were being thrown
into cold water. When she sleeps, you suffer as though you
were being crushed by a mountain. When she has eaten fully,
you suffer as though you were being pressed between [two]
rocks. When she is hungry, you suffer as though you were
being dropped from a precipice. When she walks, sits down,
or moves about, you suffer as though you were being carried
away by the wind. Such are [the sufferings you experience in
the womb].
When the months [of gestation] are complete and the time
of birth arrives, the karmic wind of samsara 73 turns you head
over heels and forces you through the birth canal. You suffer
as though a man of great strength had seized you by the legs
and slammed you against a wall. When you are passing
through the pelvic girdle, you suffer as though you were being
drawn through the hole of an iron slab.74 You may even die
if the birth canal is too narrow, or both mother and child may
70 the four types of birth are birth from a womb, birth from an egg, birth
from warmth and moisture, and miraculous birth
71 S. gandharva I a non-corporeal being that feeds on odors I An analogy
is being made between a dri-za and the consciousness skandha, both of
which are devoid of a physical body.
72 mer-mer I mer.mer IInur-nur I nur.nur II tar-tar Iltar.ltar II t'rang-gyur I
mkhran.gyur /I gor-mo I gor.mo
73 si-pa lay-kyi lungI srid.pa las.kyi rlun
74 such an iron slab is used for making leather thongs
die together. Even if both of you do not die, you will experi-
ence suffering equivalent to death.
Both mother and child take half a step towards the land
of the dead.
Except for the mother's jaw, all the other joints of her
body will open.
Even after the delivery, when you fall onto the mattress,
[you suffer as though you were] being dropped into a thorny
ditch. When the membranes are removed from your back,
[you suffer as though you were] being skinned alive. < 122>
When your excrement is cleansed, [you suffer as though you
were] being lashed with a thorny whip. When your mother
takes you in her lap, [you suffer as though you were] a bird
being carried away by a hawk. When your head is anointed
with butter, [you suffer as though you were] being tied up and
thrown in a ditch. Thus, you experience all these kinds of
misery. Later, when you are kept upright, you are enveloped
in a slush of filth. Whether you are hungry, thirsty, or sick,
whatever sufferings you may have, you can do nothing but cry.
Once you have been born and have entered the prime of
youth, you feel as if you are physically growing. But, in fact,
your life is growing shorter day by day, as you come nearer
and nearer to death. You then engage yourself in worldly
business that has no completion or end, like ripples of water
that follow one after the other. Since all such activities are
connected with sin, they offer the cause for visiting the lower
regions, and hence they bring nothing but extreme misery.
2.4.2.2 THE MISERY OF OLD AGE

While thus engaged in essenceless and endless worldly
activities, unaware that your life is being exhausted, you
encounter the miseries of old age. All your physical strength
gradually deteriorates, and you cannot digest the delicious
food that you eat. The organ of sight deteriorates; hence, you
cannot see distant or small objects. The organ of hearing
deteriorates; hence, you cannot hear sounds clearly. <123>

The organ of taste deteriorates; hence, you cannot sense the
taste of food, and your speech becomes incoherent. The
organ of memory deteriorates; hence, the power to remem-
ber becomes dull, and forgetfulness and the feeling of
drowning in unconsciousness increase. Your teeth fall out;
hence, you cannot chew your food, and your speech becomes
indistinct. You lose the power of bodily warmth; hence, if
your clothes are thin, you feel cold. You lose the power to
lift; hence, you cannot bear any weight. Although fond of
sensual stimulants, you are powerless to enjoy them. The
nerves and psychic air of the body deteriorate; hence, you
become oversensitive emotionally, and your capacity for
patience diminishes. Since people look down on you with
scorn, you grow dejected and miserable. Since the five ele-
ments of the body become disturbed, you suffer from various
diseases and ailments. You walk, sit, and move about halt-
ingly and with difficulty.
Je-tsun Mi-Ia said:
One, when the style of rising resembles pulling a peg

[from the ground];
Two, when the style of walking resembles crouching to
catch a bird;
Three, when the style of sitting down resembles the
falling of stone and earth -when these three
conditions become obvious, at that time,
Grandmother, the deterioration of your transitory body
makes you sad.
One, when externally there are wrinkles of gathered
skin;
Two, when internally there are protuberances caused by
decaying flesh and blood;
Three, when medially a dumb, idiotic, deaf, blind,
confused and tottering state [appears] -when these
three conditions become obvious, at that time,
Grandmother, you show ugliness with your wrathful
wrinkles.
TheMisery of Samsara 117
One, when clothes become heavy and tattered; <124>

Two,when food and drink become cold and mashed;
Three, when the bed is made with four pillows for
support-when these three conditions become
obvious, at that time,
Grandmother, you behave as if realized, for men and
dogs walk over you [without your protesting].
As he stated, when you are unable to rise in a natural way

and must place your hands on the earth in order to get up,
[rising] is like pulling the peg [of a tent] from hardened
ground. Since your back is bent [with age], when you walk,
you cannot lift your head. You cannot walk rapidly, but
[must] move stealthily as do children trying to catch birds.
Because you have pains in all the joints of your legs and
hands, you cannot sit down slowly when you take your seat.
Instead, when you sit down, you collapse the way [a pile of]
earth and stones would collapse.
Your flesh wears out, so the outer layer of your skin puck-
ers up, and your entire face and body become covered with
wrinkles. Your inner flesh and blood decay; hence, all your
joints become visible. Your jawbone and the balls and sock-
ets of your joints protrude. Mental awareness diminishes, so
you become dumb, idiotic, deaf, and blind. With a clouded
mind, you sit in a semi-conscious state.
Since your physical strength is gone, and your aspiration
for beauty has waned, your clothes become heavy and tat-
tered. You consume cold, dirty, leftover food and drink,
without any taste on your tongue. Your body becomes heavy,
and you find no comfort no matter what you do. <125> You
must depend on support from four sides and can never rise
from your bed. At that time, since your external, transitory
body has deteriorated, inwardly you feel dejected and very
miserable. The beauty and glamour of your face have faded
away. The wrinkles of your skin are so numerous, you display
a wrathful, ugly mask of furrows. Everybody treats you disre-
spectfully. You cannot rise [in protest], even when others
walk over your head: you must remain as though you had
118 Kiin-zang La-mayZhal-lung
transcended the concept of purity and impurity, like a real-

ized saint.
Being unable to bear the miseries of old age, you yearn for
death; however, at the same time, you are very much terrified
by the nearness of death. Thus, you must endure the miseries
of old age in much the same way that the beings in the lower
regions must endure their sufferings.
2.4.2.3 THE MISERY OF SICKNESS

The body is an assemblage of four elements.P When their
balance is disturbed, various ailments like weakness, bilious-
ness, and acidity?" develop, and a sense of misery arises. You
may be a giant of a man in the prime of youth, enjoying a
good physique, sound organs of sense, strength, and glamour.
Yet as soon as you fall ill, like a bird hit by a stone, you lose
your strength and fall onto your bed. Even to move your
body becomes difficult. When you are asked from what you
are suffering, you do not even have the strength to give an
immediate reply. [When you do], <126> you speak from the
depths of your bowels, as though the sounds will not emerge.
On whichever side you are placed, right or left, front or back,
you find no occasion to feel comfortable. You lose your ap-
petite for food and drink, and you cannot sleep at night. You
find the day longer during the daytime and the night longer at
nighttime. The bitter, hot, and sour tastes of medicines, the
puncturing of veins, the placing of fire on the body, and other
such [medical treatments] -you must endure all these suffer-
ings, no matter how much you [wish to] recoil from them.
Because of the illness, you also think that death may come
suddenly, and you [experience] fear and terror. Because of
the influence of inflicting, interfering, and instigating evil
spirits, you cannot control your thinking. Usually preoccu-
pied with illusory thoughts, your mind [now] becomes wholly
75 earth, wind, fire, and water

76 lung I rlun IIt'ti-pa I mkhris.pa IIbay-ken I bad.kan
involved in illusory mental conceptions; hence, among other

things, you may even commit, or attempt to commit, suicide.
Those who have leprosy, paralysis, and other such [dis-
eases], although alive, are almost dead. Dropped from
human society, they [can only] observe their own [deplorable]
condition.
In general, patients cannot look after themselves. Their
illness makes them angry, and they dislike the things done
[for them] by others. Their temper becomes worse than
before. If you are sick for a long time, the nurses become
vexed and disobedient. Always afflicted with pain, you suffer.
2.4.2.4 THE MISERY OF DEATH

Your body sinks into the bed, and you cannot rise.
Although you see food and drink, you dislike them. Tyran-
nized by perceptions of death, you feel unhappy. Human
vanity and arrogance <127> give way. Illusory visions greet
you. A great transference is about to take place. Even the
relatives and friends who surround you cannot hold you back.
You must suffer the pain of death alone. You may possess a
great deal of wealth, but you have no power to take it [with
you]. You cannot bear to leave it behind, but it cannot possi-
bly follow you. As you remember your past sins, you feel
regret. On comprehending the sufferings of the lower
regions, you become terribly frightened. Because death has
come suddenly, you are shocked and full of despair. As the
living thoughts subside, your conscience becomes chilled.
A sinful man dies reproachfully, beating his chest with his
fists and covering it with marks from his nails. He does this
because he remembers his past sinful karma and is frightened
by the tortures of the lower regions. He deeply regrets that,
when he had the opportunity in the past, he did not practice
the Dharma, which could have helped him at the hour of
death. He suffers a shooting pain in his heart, claws his
breast with his hands, covering his chest with marks from his
nails, and dies.
It is said:
When one sees a sinner dying,

[H works like] a Guru showing the cause and effect of
karma.
Such a person is greeted by visions of the lower regions

even before his death. His only conceptions are of terror and
fright. Everything that he perceives is misery. The physical
elements of his body withdraw. His breathing becomes
strained. <128> The limbs of his body move at random. His
senses suffer from illusion. As his eyes roll up and the whites
of the eyes appear, he crosses into the next world. The atten-
dants of Yama receive him. The visions of the bar-do dawn.
At that point he has neither protector nor defender.
There is no certainty that the very moment when you go
naked and empty-handed may not confront you this very day.
If anything can help you at that moment, it is the noble Dhar-
ma. Nothing else can offer protection.
It is said:
While in your mother's womb, develop a feeling for the

Dharma.
As soon as you are born, think of the Dharma of death.
Because death comes suddenly to everyone, young or old,

from the time you are born, you should practice the Dharma
that will be helpful at the time of death. Previously, you did
not think of death, and so you engaged in subduing enemies,
looking after relatives, caring for the place in which you lived,
and gathering material wealth. You spent your time entirely
under the influence of greed, hatred, and stupidity. You
should now think that it was really all a colossal waste of
time.
2.4.3 THE MISERY CAUSED BY THE POSSIBILITY OF

MEETING AGGRAVATING ENEMIES
Although you are busy being a guard during the day, a
watchman at night, and a breadwinner always, this cannot
really benefit you. All your wealth and property will eventu-
ally be shared with enemies, for robbers, thieves, wild dogs,
wolves, and other wild animals may suddenly come and de-
prive you of it. <129> In general, no matter how much wealth
you may have, you must suffer [a corresponding] amount of
misery to acquire, protect, and increase it.
Nagarjuna said:
Stricken by acquisition, protection, and multiplication,

Be it known that wealth is an endless source of disaster.
Also, Je-tsun Mi-la said:
At first, wealth makes one happy and others envious;

But the desire for it is insatiable, however much one
owns.
In the middle, it ties one with knots of avarice;
One cannot afford to spend it on meritorious projects.
Being the beckoner of enemies and ghosts,
Whatever one earns will be enjoyed by others.
Ultimately, it is a devil in one's life;
The custodian of his enemy's wealth has a worried
mind.
I abandon the deceptive stone of the world;
I do not like the devil's deception.
As he has said, the more wealth you have, the greater the
worry you suffer. For example, suppose you have a horse.
You must concern yourself [with the possibility] that it may
be taken away by an enemy, stolen by a thief, or that grass
and fodder may be in short supply. Misgivings like these cre-
ate worries as large as the horse itself. Similarly, if you have
a sheep, you will have misery as large as the sheep. Even if
you have only a piece of brick tea, you will certainly have
misery of that size as well. [It is said], "Have no wealth and

you are free of foes."
If you possess no wealth, as expressed in this saying, you
will be both free from enemies and happy. <130> As
recorded in the biographies of the Buddhas of the past,
attachment to wealth and property should be severed at the
root. Taking what is available, as do the birds, contemplate
on the need to practice only the noble Dharma.
2.4.4 THE MISERY CAUSED BY THE POSSIBILITY OF

SEPARATION FROM LOVED ONES
All the sentient beings of samsara love their own circle of
associates and hate the opposite circle. You are attached to
relatives, followers, subjects, lovers, and friends. For their
sake, you suffer many miseries. However, associates, rela-
tives, and friends are impermanent and subject to separation.
In general, when they die, leave for other places, suffer at the
hands of enemies, or come to other harm, the misery you suf-
fer on their account is greater than if you had to face the situ-
ation yourself.
Parents have special love and affection for their children.
They always suffer the anxiety of thinking that their children
are cold, hungry, thirsty, sick, or are going to die. They love
them so much that they prefer their own death to that of their
children. Similarly, beings also suffer because they are afraid
they will themselves be separated from their relatives and
loved ones.
Also, if you examine them closely, relatives are not neces-
sarily beneficial. Although parents claim to have affection
for their children, their affection takes a wrong turn and
eventually causes < 131> harm to the children. Parents pro-
vide their children with wealth and property, and find them
their life partners, binding them with the rope of samsara,
They teach them how to commit many demeritorious deeds-
how to subdue enemies, how to defend relatives, how to
increase their wealth, and so forth -making it impossible for
The Misery of Saf1}S4ra 123
them to get free from the depths of the three lower regions.
Nothing can be more harmful than this.
As for the children themselves, first they take the physical
essence [of their mothers' milk], then they take the food from
[their parents'] mouths, and finally they take the wealth from
their parents' hands. You may show them affection, but you
will be rebuffed. Even if you give them, without attachment,
all the wealth you have earned throughout your life by under-
going suffering, misery, and enduring hostile words, they will
not be grateful. If you give your son the gift of a silver ingot
as large as a teapot, he will not feel the amount of happiness
a common person feels over the gift of a handful of tea
leaves. He will only think, "Sure it's mine, it's my father's
wealth." Also, sons and daughters vie for their own family's
wealth. You receive no gratitude for giving them wealth. If
you give them wealth, they will demand more. They will even
take a beautiful glass bead counter from your rosary by beg-
ging for it. If things turn out well, a daughter brings glory to
others and no benefit to her own family. If things go wrong,
she flops at the door of her parents or cousins and creates
misery. <132>
All your other relatives look on you as a god when you are
wealthy, happy, and have everything. They help you as much
as they can. Even if you do not want anything, they offer you
food and wealth. But if your fortune diminishes, even though
you have not done them wrong in the least, they will look on
you as an enemy. They will harm you [in return] for the help
you gave them. Thus, in sons, daughters, and other relatives
there is not the slightest essential value.
Je-tsun Mi-la said:
In the beginning, a son is a handsome, heavenly child;

The affectionate mind has no way to restrain itself.
In the middle, he is a pressing creditor,
Insatiable even if one gives him all,
Bringing someone else's daughter in,
Driving his gracious parents out,
Not even answering his father's calls,
Not responding even ifhis mother calls.
In the end, he is an unafTectionate neighbor;

Disaster comes from having a deceitful neighbor.
The enemy born of oneself breaks one's heart.
I abandon the delaying rope of samsara:
For worldly sons and nephews I have no desire.
And also:
A daughter at first is a smiling celestial child,

A powerful female who takes whatever wealth one has.
In the middle, she is the unrepayable karmic creditor,
Taking from her father by begging,
Stealing from her mother unnoticed,
Unappreciative of whatever she is given,
Creating mental disturbance for her kind parents.
In the end, she is a red-faced ogress. <133>
At best, she promotes others' glory;
At worst, she gathers one's misfortune.
The disastrous ogress breaks one's heart.
I abandon this never-ending misery:
A daughter, the cause of disaster, I don't desire.
And also:
At first, meeting relatives brings happiness, and seeing

them brings smiles.
The air is filled with, "Here, come this way, be seated!"
Later, they [reciprocate by exchanging] meat and wine:
If you give them one, they will return one.
Lastly, they become a contesting ground for greed and
hatred.
Miserable friends, the root of contention, break one's
heart.
I renounce the friend who shares food in happy days:
For worldly kin I have no desire.
It is just as he has said.

2.4.5 THE MISERY CAUSED BY NOT ACHIEVING

WHAT IS DESIRED
In samsara, everyone wants their own comfort and happi-
ness, yet no one gets what they desire. Some build houses
hoping for pleasure, but are killed when the building col-
lapses. Some eat with the hope of eliminating hunger, but the
food causes a life-endangering illness. Some go to the battle-
field with the hope of victory, but instead are instantly killed.
Some journey on business stirred by the hope of gain, yet they
are plundered by enemies and find themselves in poverty.
<134>
No matter what efforts you make to gain comfort, happi-
ness, and prosperity in this life, unless you have favorable kar-
ma, it will be impossible for you to find even enough food to
satisfy your immediate hunger. Your efforts will only bring
suffering to you and to others. You will achieve nothing but
the certainty of creating conditions that make escaping from
the lower regions impossible. Therefore, to acquire a speck
of merit is better than to put forth enormous mundane effort.
What will you accomplish with never-ending worldly activi-
ties? However much effort you have spent in this sort of
work throughout the beginningless time of samsara, the result
you have achieved [thus far] is nothing but suffering. If you
had put the worldly effort you previously made into practicing
the noble Dharma, even if you had not been able to attain
Buddhahood, by now you certainly would have achieved the
power to release yourself forever from suffering the miseries
of the lower regions. At this time, when you know the dis-
tinction between what should be followed and what should be
avoided, instead of hoping for unattainable worldly goals, you
should contemplate on following the real, noble Dharma, the
goal of which is attainable.
2.4.6 THE MISERY CAUSED BY ENCOUNTERING

UNWANTED CALAMITIES
No single being in this world wants to suffer all the differ-
ent kinds of misery described above. Yet everyone, no matter
126 Kim-zang La-may Zhal-Iung
how much they may dislike them, must suffer nothing but
these. Because of their past karma, royal subjects, serfs, and
the retinue of the wealthy have not a moment of indepen-
dence. <135> Against their wishes, they are dominated by
their masters. If they are tortured enormously for a trifling
mistake, they have no recourse. Even if they are led to the
gallows, they cannot help going along, as they are powerless
to run away. One always meets with things one does not
want.
The great Kun-k'yen [Long-ch'en-pa] said:
Eternally unseparable association with [your] mate and

relatives is desired,
But separation is inherent.
Eternally unseparable use of [your] excellent abode and
bed is desired,
But departure is inherent.
Eternally unseparable enjoyment of comfort, happiness,
and wealth is desired,
Eternally unseparable [life for your] well-endowed
human body is desired,
But death is inherent.
Eternally unseparable hearing of the Dharma from
[your] noble Guru is desired,
Eternally unseparable association with [your] best
friends is desired,
From today onward be armed with diligence, for the
time has come to depart
For the Land of Great Bliss.
Friends who feel regret [for samsara] from the core of
their hearts are thus reminded,
By this beggar who has no Dharma.
Therefore, if you have previously earned merit, which is

the cause for having wealth, possessions, pleasure, happiness,
fame, and so on, <136> even if you do not desire [such
results], they will come automatically. If you do not have
[such merit], no amount of effort and search will fulfill your
desire; you will only encounter things you dislike. Therefore,
if you do not practice the completely pure Dharma by relying
on the inexhaustible wealth of contentment, but embrace the
Dharma and then engage in acquiring worldly achievements
of this life, you will suffer and be viewed with disfavor by the
Noble Ones.
Je-tsun Mi-la said:
In general, the Buddha, supreme among men,

Taught the Dharma in order to destroy the eight
worldly dharmas.
But [consider] those who currently proclaim themselves
learned-
Haven't their eight [worldly] dharmas grown bigger?
What the Buddha [said about] observing morality
Was said so that one would renounce worldly activities.
But [consider] present-day monks who observe the
moral laws-
Haven't their samsaric affairs increased?
The behavior of the ancient sages
Was intended to sever the bond with relatives.
But [consider] the behavior of present-day sages-
Isn't it an attempt to strengthen the bond?
In short, without remembering death,

Whatever you practice of the noble Dharma will be of
no use.
In general, human beings born in all the worlds having

four continents-and in particular, those born in [our] world
during this degenerate aeon-always suffer. They do not
have even a hair's breadth of [real] happiness to enjoy. <137>
In addition, you can see progressive decay in everything-in

time, in aeons, in the Buddhist faith, in the happiness and
comfort of living beings-with the passing of the years and
months, the nights and days, and the mornings and evenings.
Develop remorse by contemplating this. This world operates
on karma. Hence, noble and ignoble, happy and unhappy,
good and bad, high and low, Dharma and non-Dharma-all
these are uncertain. Having actually seen their [ephemeral]
nature, you should discern which activities you should adopt
and which you should abandon.
The Guru Kun-k'yen [Long-ch'en-pa] said:
At times, watch the friendly causes that agree with your

concepts;
When you know your own concepts, friendly experiences
will dawn.
At times, watch the concepts that are unfriendly and
harmful;
This teaches a great technique for withdrawing
attachment to illusion.
At times, watch your friends, and the Gurus of others;
This is an incentive to meditate, for you know the good
from the bad.
At times, watch the phenomenal display of the four
elements in the sky;
You will know how industry and endeavor disintegrate
in the Mind-Itself.
At times, watch your country, home, and property;
You will know them as hallucinatory, and you will
dislike attachment to illusory ideas.
At times, watch others who have wealth and property;
You will know them as [objects of] compassion, which
will make you give up desire for samsara,
In short, on knowing the nature of all the phenomenal

things,
Belief in their true existence dissolves.
You should practice <138> in accord with what he has said.
2.5 THE SECOND UPPER REGION: DEMI-GODS

Consider the miseries of the demi-gods77 in the second
upper region. In general, they have wealth and prosperity
comparable to that of the gods. Because they were formerly
habituated to demeritorious deeds of jealousy and fighting,
the force of karma has flung them into this region. The
moment they assume the demi-god form, their sense of jeal-
ousy grows strong [again]. Even within their own realm,
there is fighting between countries and communities. Since
there is no unity, all their time is spent in arguing and in
fighting among themselves.
As the demi-gods look [up] towards the gods, they see
them fully accomplished in valor, wealth, and prosperity, and
getting whatever they desire from the Wish-Fulfilling Tree. 78
When the demi-gods see that the tree is rooted in their own
country, jealousy grows in them. Girding themselves with
armor and taking up their weapons, they go to fight with the
gods.
Then the gods go to their armory, the Thicket of Rough-
ness, and obtain their arms. On the thirty-two [secondary]
heads of Rab-ten, the divine elephant, ride thirty-two of
Indra's ministers." Indra, the king of the gods, rides the
central head. Surrounded by an unimaginable number of
divine warriors, they proceed with war cries and unbearable
splendor. <139>
As the battle starts, the gods hurl showers of vajras,
wheels, short lances, and giant arrows. With their miraculous
power, the gods move huge mountains onto their laps and
77 lha-min / Iha.min
78 pag-sam-shing / dpag.bsam.sin
79 nye-wang / ne.dban
fling them [at the demi-gods]. Because of the force of past

karma, the gods are seven times larger than the demi-gods.
The gods do not die until their heads are severed, because
with the help of ambrosia they can recover from any wound
they receive on their bodies. Like human beings, the demi-
gods die when any vital point is hit; for the most part, they
lose the battles. Kun-kyong, the mad elephant of the gods, is
let loose with a wheel of swords tied to its trunk, and many
hundreds of thousands of demi-gods are killed. The dead
bodies roll down the side of Mount Sumeru and fall into the
great cosmic ocean/" turning the water red with blood.
Thus, the [demi-gods] are constantly engaged in fighting
and arguing. That even the region of the demi-gods is not
free from misery should be contemplated from the core of
your heart.
2.6 THE THIRD UPPER REGION: GODS

During their lifetime the gods indulge only in the pursuit
of happiness, pleasure, and prosperity; they have no desire to
practice the Dharma. Although they live for aeons, <140>
because of their habit of indulging in an oblivious state of
mind, they do not have even a moment's thought [about the
Dharma]. Their life wears away, and they come to the stage
of death. Counting from Gyal-ch'en Rig-Zhi, [the first], to
Zhen-t'rul Wang-je, [the sixth], in whichever of the six realms
of the sensual gods they may be [living], they must suffer the
miseries of transference and death.
As the gods near death, they notice the following [five]
changes in themselves. Originally, [1] the radiance of their
own Ibody] cast light for a distance of a pag-ts'e" to a gyang-
drag, 2 but now their body's splendor and radiance decrease;
[2] there was no unhappiness in sitting on their divine cushion
for any length of time, but now they do not feel like sitting on
80 rot-pay ts'o / rol.pa'i mtsho

81 dpag.tshad / approximately one mile
82 rgyan.grags / approximately two miles
The Misery ofSaTf}SlJra 131
it, for it creates discomfort and makes them unhappy; [3]

their divine flower garlands never aged over any length of
time, but at this point the garlands fade; [4] the clothes worn
by the gods never smelled bad no matter how long they were
worn, but now the clothes have a bad odor; [5] the gods oth-
erwise did not sweat, but at this stage they do. When these
five signs of death occur in them, they understand that the
end is coming; hence, they become miserable.
A god's wife and lovers also know that he is going to die,
so they dare not go near him. From a great distance they
throw flowers, and after praying, "May you be reborn in the
human realm after passing away from here. May you earn
merit so that you may again take rebirth in the divine
realms," they depart.
The dying god is then left alone in extreme misery. He
looks with his divine eyes to see where he is going to take
rebirth. <141> If he sees that he is going to be reborn in a
region of suffering, before he can recover from the sorrows of
approaching death, he suffers from the sorrows of approach-
ing rebirth. In a state of depression in which his sorrows
double and triple, he remains wailing for a god's week. A
week in the Trayastrimsa region of the gods is equal to seven
hundred human years. During that period, although he
remembers the comfort and happiness he enjoyed in the past,
he knows that he has no power to remain [a god]; therefore,
he suffers from the sorrows of transference. Upon seeing the
place of his future birth, he becomes terrified; hence, he suf-
fers from the sorrows of rebirth. These two types of sorrow
that he suffers mentally are even more terrible than [the tor-
tures] of hell. Although a god in the two upper regions does
not actually experience the sufferings of [the physical process
of] death and transference, when the power of the karma that
transported him [to these higher regions] is exhausted, he is,
as it were, awakened from sleep to find himself dropped into
the lower regions. Thus, he suffers from misery.
Nagarjuna said:
Brahma, having attained the bliss that is free from lust,

Again becomes the firewood of the Maximum Torture
Hell,
Showing the unending continuity of misery.
Thus, in whichever of these six regions of samsara you may

be born, their nature is misery, their movement is misery, and
their whole mechanism is nothing but misery. They are like a
bed of fire, a country of ogresses, the wideness of oceans, the
tips of weapons, <142> or a house of filth in which there is
not even a hair's tip of happiness.
The Dren-pa Nyer-zhag states:
Hell-beings are destroyed by hell-fire,

Pretas are destroyed by hunger and thirst,
Animals are destroyed by eating each other,
Humans are destroyed by the shortness of life,
Demi-gods are destroyed by fighting and arguing,
Gods are destroyed by heedlessness.
Samsara is like the tip of a needle:
No happiness has ever existed there.
Lord Jam-pa'i' said:
Just as no sweet smell is found in a latrine,

No happiness is found within the five types84 of beings.
It is said that "this samsara has never contained even

as much as a needle's tip of happiness," and even that
tiny [bit of] happiness contains the misery of change.
You should contemplate on these instructions. You

should think and understand that in this samsara, from the
83 byams.pa / S. Maitreya
84 The gods and demi-gods are treated as one here.
summit of the universe above to the bottom of hell below, no

matter where you may be born, there is not the least chance
for you to enjoy pleasure and happiness. [Samsara] is void of
essence. Therefore, you must feel a strong sense of repug-
nance from the core of your heart, just as a person suffering
from jaundice is repelled by greasy bread. Do not treat the
sufferings of samsara casually by thinking that you have heard
them and learned them. You must sincerely take these suf-
ferings upon yourself mentally and actually feel their torture
in order to develop a firm belief in them. If you believe in
them, you will give up sinning <143> and will automatically
develop the feeling of happiness in doing things which are
meritorious.
Long ago, when Chung-ga-wof refused to take the monk's
ordination because of his deep attachment to his wife, the
Buddha used various methods to ordain him. But he refused
to follow the teachings on the moral laws and was about to
run away. Then, through a miracle, the Buddha took him to
the Himalayas and showed him a female ape with defects in
her eyes.
"How do you compare this female with your wife, Pundari-
ka?" asked the Buddha.
"She is not even worth a hundred-thousandth part of my
wife. My wife is more attractive," he replied.
"Well then," said the Buddha, "let's visit the divine
region."
So saying, the Buddha took him to the realm of the gods.
The Buddha stayed aside and told Chung-ga-wo to go look
around. Chung-ga-wo saw the gods enjoying themselves with
many celestial girls in the midst of the pleasure, comfort, and
luxury of their palaces. He also noticed a palace with many
celestial girls who had no god with them.
"Why is this so?" he asked them.
"Chung-ga-wo, a follower of Lord Buddha, is observing
the moral laws in the human world and therefore will be
reborn among the gods; hence, this palace is reserved for
him," they replied.
85 gcun.dga'ibo / S. Nanda
134 Kiin-zang La-may Zha/-/ung
Very pleased, he returned to where Lord Buddha was.

"Have you seen the country of the gods?" asked the
Buddha. < 144>
"Yes," [he answered].
"Who is more beautiful, your wife or a celestial girl?" the
Buddha then asked.
"Of course, the celestial girls are prettier," he replied.
"The difference is as great as that which I noticed earlier
between the female ape and Pundarlka."
Thus, Chung-ga-wo came back to earth and observed the
moral laws very closely.
The Buddha said to the other monks, "Chung-ga-wo took
the monk's ordination in order to take rebirth in the upper
regions. You all took the monk's ordination with the thought
of attaining nirvana, and so you have taken a separate course.
You must not converse with Chung-ga-wo. You must not
have friendly dealings with him. You should not even sit on
the same carpet."
All the monks did as they were bidden. At this, Chung-ga-
wo became very miserable. He told himself, "Other monks
may shun me, but since Kun-ga-wo'" is my brother, perhaps
he will have affection for me."
Thinking thus, he went to see him. But Kun-ga-wo, too,
arose from his seat. He was about to leave when Chung-ga-
wo asked him the reason. Kun-ga-wo told him what the Bud-
dha had said. Chung-ga-wo was overwhelmed with grief.
Then the Buddha appeared and inquired, "Chung-ga-wo,
would you like to see the hell region?"
"Yes, I would like to," he said.
Miraculously, he was taken to the hell region. <145>
Chung-ga-wo visited and sawall the hells. In one corner he
observed an empty copper pot. It was in blazing flames and
surrounded by many of hell's executioners.
"Why is there no being in that pot?" asked Chung-ga-wo.
"Chung-ga-wo, a follower of the Buddha, is observing the
moral laws only in order to enjoy celestial pleasure. After he
takes rebirth in the region of the gods and his enjoyment
86 kun.dga'.bo / S. Ananda
there terminates because of the exhaustion of the meritorious

fruit, he will be reborn in this pot," they responded.
[Chung-ga-wo] was terribly frightened to hear this and
came back. He then came to understand that it is worthless
to take birth in heaven, since ultimately one will be reborn in
hell. This [insight caused] the thought of withdrawal from
samsara to develop in him. Since he had actually seen hell,
he carefully observed even the minutest moral laws.
The Buddha taught that this is the best of all the con-
trollers of the doors of the five senses. If you have actually
seen hell, infractions of the moral laws become out of the
question. Even looking at mere paintings of hell, let alone
actually seeing it, can develop the fear which urges you to
leave samsara. Therefore, the Buddha ordered the five-part
wheel of life87 to be painted next to the door of the monas-
teries where the monks lived.
Also, Nagarjuna said:
If merely seeing pictures and hearing descriptions of

hell can create such fear,
What about those who are there, experiencing the
unbearable karmic nemesis?
In this way, <146> from various points of view, you should

consider the miseries of samsara again and again, so that
from the very core of your heart you develop antipathy for
samsaric activity. If you do not absolutely free yourself from
mundane thoughts while practicing the Dharma, you are not
[actually] practicing the pure Dharma.
As Atisa was dying, a yogi asked him, "After you depart,
should I meditate?"
"Of course, meditation is also counted as practicing the
Dharma."
"Then should I preach?" he inquired.
Atrsa answered as before.
"Then what should I do?"
87 depicting the regions of hell-beings, pretas, animals, humans, and

demi-gods and gods combined
"All of you should follow the Buddha and give up attach-

ment to this life," was Atlsa's reply.
Once, while circumambulating at Ra-dreng, a monk met
with Ge-shey Ton-pa,
"0 monk!" said Ton-pa, "Circumambulation is quite good,
but wouldn't it be better if you practiced the Dharma itself?"
The monk thought, "Perhaps it might be more profitable
to read the Mahayana Siitras than to circumambulate," and
thus he began to read from the Siitras in the courtyard.
"Reading the Dharma is also good," said Ton-pa, "but
wouldn't it be better for you to practice the Dharma itself?"
Again the monk thought, "Instead of reading, perhaps
meditation would have a wider scope." Giving up his read-
ing, he sat on his bedding with half-closed eyes. <147>
Ton-pa again remarked, "Meditation is good, but wouldn't
it be better if you practiced the real Dharma?"
The monk, finding nothing else to be done, said, "Ge-shey-
la, if that be the case, what sort of Dharma should I now prac-
tice?"
"0 venerable one, forget about this life. Forget about this
life," said Ton-pa.
The affairs of this worldly life will permanently involve
you, never giving you a chance to escape from the miseries of
the different regions of samsara, Except for well-attained
Gurus, no one can advise you on how to cut the string of
attachment to this life and how to realize ultimate Buddha-
hood. You should discard attachment to your parents of this
life, your relatives and friends, and your wealth and property
as you would discard a droplet of spit. Be content with what-
ever food and clothes you have, and spend your time accom-
plishing the practice of Dharma.
Dam-pa of India said:
Since material things are like clouds and mist,

Do not regard them as permanent.
Since all fame is like an echo, it should not be sought;
Search instead for the Dharmadhatu.
The Misery ofSamslira 137
Since beautiful clothes are like a rainbow,

Wear ordinary clothes and practice meditation.
Since the body is a bag of blood, pus, and serum,
Do not have affectionate attachment to it. <148>
Since even when delicious food is eaten, it ends up as
filthy excrement,
Do not be choosy about food.
Since your conceptions will create problems,
Sleep in the monastery of the mountains.
Since the thorn of illusion pricks the mind,
Practice having an equanimic attitude towards
everything.
Since all your desires come from within yourself,
Rule your mind.
Since the priceless gem is within you,
Do not hanker after food and wealth.
Since talkativeness is the cause of contention,
Remain mute.
Since your mind gets involved in action,
Do not let your mind run after food.
Since blessings come from your mind,
Pray to the Guru and tutelary deities.
Since, if you stay too long in one place, you will find
defects even in the Buddhas,
Do not dwell long in one place.
Behave humbly and cast off the pride of a great man,
And as you cannot live for a long time, attain perfection
quickly.
Since this life is like a guest [who will depart],
Do not construct a house at a resting place.
Since, in general, nothing you do is of any help,

Meditate to obtain perfection.
Since the worms will devour your body, and it is
uncertain when it will vanish,
Do not occupy yourself with thoughts of this life.
Since relatives and friends are like birds on a tree,
[ready to flyaway],
Do not be attached to them.
Since faith built on firm belief is valuable, like good,
fertile soil,
Do not let delusion allow it to lie fallow.
Since human life is like the priceless wish-fulfilling
gem, <149>
Do not dispatch it to hostile enemies.
Since the [tantric] bond is like a watchtower,
Do not let it be stained by the breach of vows.
When the Vajra Guru is alive, do not leave the Dharma
due to laziness.
Do you understand?
Thus, in order to practice the noble Dharma perfectly, at

the very least you must understand that the entire realm of
samsara is essenceless/" That kind of understanding will
develop in your mind only under one condition, and that con-
dition is found only in contemplating on the miseries of
samsara, You should contemplate on them until you under-
stand them from the core of your heart. The standard by
which you judge the result of your contemplation on the mis-
eries of samsara should be the attainment of Ge-shey Lang-ri
Tang-pa.
Lang-ri Tang-pa was told by his disciples that other Lamas
had nicknamed him Lang-ri Tang-pa (Gloomy Faced). He
88 nying-po me-pa / sriin.po med.pa

inquired, "Can you have a cheerful face when you think of

the sufferings of the three realms of samsara?"
It is said that once a mouse was tempted by a piece of tur-
quoise that he had on his mandala, but the mouse could not
lift it. It then signaled another mouse, saying, "Tsig! Tsig!"
One of the mice pulled the turquoise from the front, and the
other pushed it from the rear. That is said to be the only
occasion on which Lang-ri Tang-pa was forced to smile in his
whole life!
Therefore, contemplation on the miseries of samsara helps
you to enter the noble Dharma. <150> It leads you to
develop faith in the cause and effect of karma. It detaches
you from this transitory life. It generates love and compas-
sion in you for other sentient beings, and so on. It is the
foundation for all the virtues of the path.
Even Lord Buddha, who preached the Dharma at three
levels, first of all began by saying, "Hark, monks! This is suf-
fering." Thus, He started His preaching by asking them to
know what suffering is. You should contemplate upon it until
you understand it thoroughly.
Although I see the sufferings of samsara, my love for it

and my attachment to it grow.
Although I fear the precipice of the lower regions, I
indulge in demeritorious activity.
May I and those beings like me, who have mistaken the
path,
Be blessed to renounce the activities of this life.
This is the instruction on understanding samsara to be

misery.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Cause and Effect of Karma
He accepted virtue and rejected vice in conformity with

the teaching of cause and effect;
His conduct was in agreement with the doctrine of
gradual ascent from below;
Having the pure doctrinal view, he had no attachment
to anything.
The instruction on the cause and effect of karma 1 [consists

of] the manner of teaching and listening, which is the same as
before, and the Dharma to be explained, which is threefold:
1. Demeritorious Actions to Be Abandoned;
2. Meritorious Actions to Be Undertaken;
3. Everything Shown to Be the Nature of Karma. <151>
1 DEMERITORIOUS ACTIONS TO BE ABANDONED2

Rebirth in the upper or lower regions of samsara is caused
by the accumulation of your own meritorious or demeri-
torious actions. Because samsara arises from action and
operates through the effects of action, no other agent [is re-
sponsible] for your going to the upper or lower regions, nor is
your going to the upper or lower regions due to chance.
1 laygyu-dray I las rgyu.'bras II The cause and effect of action (S. karma).
2 pang-ja mi-ge-way lay I span.bya mi.dge.ba'i las
141
Therefore, you must always observe the cause and effect of

meritorious and demeritorious [actions], abandon those
[actions] that are demeritorious, and strive to perform those
that are meritorious.
1.1 THE TEN DEMERITORIOUS ACTIONS3

There are ten demeritorious actions that must be
abandoned.
Three are committed through physical actions:
1. Killing;
2. Taking What Is Not Given;
3. Sexual Misconduct Due to Lust.
Four are committed through vocal actions:
1. Lying;
2. Slander;
3. Harsh Words;
4. Idle Talk.
And three are committed through mental actions:
1. Covetousness;
2. III Will;
3. Contrary Views [Regarding the Dharma].
1.1.1 ](J~~IN(;4
Killing implies the intentional destruction of another's life,

human or animal. Like a warrior slaying an enemy in battle,
some kill out of anger. Desiring to eat the flesh of wild ani-
mals, or to ornament themselves with furs, some kill out of
attachment. Not knowing the cause and effect of merit and
sin, or, like heretics, thinking that to kill is a virtue, some kill
out of stupidity. Worse than these [acts] are the killing of
3 mi-ge-wa chu / mi.dge.ba bell

4 sog-cho / srog.geod
The Cause and Effect ofKarma 143
one's father, the killing of one's mother, <152> or the killing

of an Arhat. Such acts are called "[those that permit] no gap
between [this life and the next],"s because [the perpetrator]
goes directly to the Maximum Torture Hell [upon dying].
At present, since we do not destroy any lives with our own
hands, we feel that we are not stained by the sin of killing.
But on the whole-whether of high or low [position], rich or
poor-each of us has committed innumerable sins by killing
tiny sentient beings under the soles of our feet.
In particular, when Lamas and their monks visit the homes
of their benefactors, they are fed with the meat and blood of
animals [that the benefactors] have killed. With no compunc-
tion or compassion whatsoever for the animals thus slaugh-
tered, [but with] attachment to the taste of meat and blood,
they voraciously devour them. Without distinction, both
benefactors and Lamas will suffer for [having committed] the
sin of destroying life. [Similarly], wherever they go, great
lords and high officials are entertained with the flesh of
innumerable slaughtered animals. The sheep of the flocks
owned by the wealthy are ultimately slaughtered one by one,
and only one or two die a natural death. Thus, innumerable
lives are destroyed.
Furthermore, during the summer, <153> sheep and cattle
in turn kill flies, ants, fish, and frogs, devouring them with the
grass [they eat] and trampling on them with their hooves;
those killed by being buried under horse dung, urine, and so
forth are innumerable. The sins these [animals] commit fall
on their owners as well.
Compared to horses and cattle, sheep in particular should
be viewed as inexhaustible sources of sin, for they eat many
snakes, frogs, nesting birds, and tiny insects along with their
fodder. When their wool is sheared in summer, some one
hundred thousand insects living on their backs are also killed.
When their lambs are born in winter, about half [of them] are
immediately killed [for fleece]. The ewes are exploited,
milked, and bred for lambs until they grow old and feeble,
whereupon all are slaughtered for their flesh and skin. The
S ts'am-me-pay lay / mtshams.med.pa'i las

castrated rams and the like are also destined solely for
slaughter. When sheep are infested with lice, about one bil-
lion insects on the back of each sheep are killed. Thus, one
who owns a flock of one hundred sheep will surely take re-
birth in hell at least once.
Countless sheep are killed for a girl when she celebrates
her wedding, when the dowry is offered, and when she is
taken to the bridegroom's home. <154> Thereafter, when-
ever she visits her parents' home, [a lamb or other] sentient
being is invariably killed. Accordingly, if she is served any
vegetarian food when her friends and relatives entertain her,
the hypocritical girl shows displeasure, eating it as though she
does not know how to move her jaws. But when a fat sheep is
killed, and a considerable quantity of its breast, entrails, and
so forth is placed before her, with great pleasure she picks up
a knife and begins to eat, making loud munching noises, like
a red-faced ogress. On the following day, she returns to her
home, carrying the bloody carcass like a hunter. She is even
worse than a hunter, though, for when she goes out, she never
returns empty-handed.
Also, intentionally or otherwise, children kill countless
living beings while playing. During the summer, innumerable
beings are killed during the various steps of cultivation.
Hence, like demons, we human beings spend our time killing.
Think about the dri,6 who are exploited throughout their
lives, to whom you owe gratitude for having been fed with
their milk, as though from your own mother. Even they are
eventually killed so that humans can enjoy their flesh and
blood. Thus, we are even worse than demons.
The act of killing is accomplished by the four conditions of
sin. <155> For example, take a hunter killing an animal.
When he actually sees a wild animal, such as a stag or a musk
deer, he makes no mistake in discerning that it is this or that
animal. Thus, [1] he knows that the object [to be killed] is a
sentient being. Developing the desire to kill it, he generates
[2] the intention to kill. The bullet, arrow, or the like that
strikes the vital point fulfills [3] the means adopted for killing.
6 female yaks
The vital mechanism of the animal in question is instantly

stopped, separating its mind from its body, which ultimately is
known as [4] the act of killing.
As a further example, take the killing of a domestic sheep.
When the master tells his servant or a butcher to kill a sheep,
he is [1] fully conscious of the fact that the object to be killed
is an animal called a sheep. When he thinks of the particular
sheep to be killed, he has generated [2] the intention to kill.
The butcher then grabs hold of a rope and goes to catch the
sheep that is to be killed instantly. Throwing it to the ground
and onto its back, he ties the sheep's legs and mouth with the
rope; this entire process is [3] the means adopted to kill it.
At that time, along with the severe suffering [the sheep expe-
riences in] having its life cut off, the continuity of its breath-
ing is broken. Its eyes turn blue <156> and run with tears, and
its body is dragged inside the house. This is called [4]
"blocking the mechanism of life," [i.e., the act of killing].
When its skin is immediately removed with a knife, the flesh
can be seen to quiver. This is a sign that its all-pervading
psychic air? has not yet had a chance to unlock itself from the
body; it is as if the sheep were still alive. If you consider the
effort that is made to eat it immediately, by burning it on a
fire or cooking it on a hearth, [eating it immediately] is
equivalent to eating it alive. Thus, we are no different from
ferocious animals.
Suppose you think, "I want to kill an animal today," or you
go on to express this vocally, even though you take no further
action. At that moment, since you are aware that the object
[to be killed] is an animal and you have generated an inten-
tion to kill it, two factors of the sin are already complete.
Although the reaction will not be as serious as if you had
completed the main action of killing, nonetheless, like the
appearance of an image in a mirror, you are already con-
taminated by [the idea of] the sin.
In addition, it is tgenera\\y1 assumed that the actual kiUer-
and not the one who has asked him to kill-suffers for the sin,
or that even if [the instigator] does [so suffer], he suffers less.
7 k'yab-je-kyi lung / khyab.byed.kyi rlun

Not only are people who ask someone else to kill equally
responsible [for the sin], but so also are all those who express
satisfaction over the accomplishment of the action. Under-
stand that the sin of killing one animal is not divided among
many people: rather, each individual involved bears the total
sin of killing that animal. <157>
1.1.2 TAKING WHAT IS NOT GIVEN8

Taking what is not given is threefold:
1. Taking by Force;
2. Taking by Stealth;
3. Taking by Deceit.
1.1.2.1 [TAKING BY FORCE]9

Any illegitimate appropriation [of another's property] by
violent means, outright seizure [of another's property] by
force of war, or other similar [actions] are called "taking by
force that which has not been given," or, "taking by might."
1.1.2.2 [TAKING BY STEALTH] 10

Acquiring and appropriating another's property without
the owner's knowledge, such as is done by thieves, is called
"taking by stealth that which has not been given."
1.1.2.3 [TAKING BY DECEIT] 11

Telling lies to deceive others while doing business, or
acquiring others' wealth by using incorrect measuring instru-
8 ma-jin-par len-pa / ma.byin.par len.pa

9 wang-gi len-pa / dban.gis len.pa
10 jab-bu len-pa / 'jab.bus len.pa
11 yo-gyu len-pa / g-yo.sgyus len.pa
ments, is called "taking by deceit that which has not been

given."
These days, we [tend to] think, "As long as I do not openly
steal, there is no penalty for obtaining something through
[unscrupulous] business [practices] or through other decep-
tive means." However, whatever profit there is in business
that is earned through deceptive means is no different from
[money] that is actually stolen.
In particular, at present, there are priests and monks who
fail to regard their involvement in business as wrong and de-
fective. They engage their entire lives in it, presuming them-
selves to be shrewd, but there is no force more powerful for
wasting the minds of priests and monks than their indulging
in business. <158> Because they tend to engage in it con-
stantly, they lose interest in studying and in the performance
of penance to dissolve their sins. They do not even have the
time. Since they must think of their business accounts until
they fall asleep at night, the very roots of faith, repentance,
compassion, and so forth break within them. They are con-
stantly under the influence of external illusory thoughts.
Once Je-tsun Mi-la visited a monastery. He passed the
night in the vestibule of a monk's cell. Inside, lying in bed,
the monk was calculating the selling price of the flesh and
hide of his cow, which was to be killed the following morning.
He was estimating that the head would fetch this much, the
shoulder of this front quarter would bring that much, the
haunch of this shoulder, the foreshank of that shoulder, and
so forth. Thus he was appraising all the parts of the cow. He
was so busy that he did not get a wink of sleep. Day broke
when he had assessed all but the tail of the cow. Immediately
rising from his bed, he began to say his prayers and to per-
form the ritual called tor-rna. Je-tsun Mila was still asleep.
The monk approached Je-tsun Mi-la and hurled a sarcastic
remark: "What an ambitious monk you are! Have you no
prayers to say or beads to count? Are you still asleep?"
"Ordinarily, I don't sleep so late," Je-tsun Mi-la replied,
"but last <159> night I was thinking about how to dispose of a
cow I have, and there was no time to sleep. So I overslept
this morning."
This struck at the heart of the monk's mistake.

As in that example, you who are involved day and night
solely in business are even now completely deluded by your
accounts, and when you die, you will die in the same deluded
state. Furthermore, although the goods you sell may be bad,
you still must praise them in every way. You must say, "Some
days ago, such and such a person offered me so much for this,
but I did not exchange it for that, because when I purchased
it, I paid such and such." Thus you are forced to tell nothing
but lies. Similarly, if you see two people doing business over
an object, and you are interested in acquiring it for yourself,
you must disrupt the others' business with slanderous talk.
You must use derogatory words to disparage the things that
belong to others. Using harsh words, you must dispute over
goods given on credit. You must indulge in idle talk,
demanding unreasonably high prices [for your goods] and
inquiring about the prices [of others' goods], even though you
do not intend to make a purchase. Because you desire oth-
ers' property, you commit the sin of covetousness. Because
you intend to outdo others, you commit the sin of bearing ill
will towards others. If you buy livestock and sell it to butch-
ers, you commit the sin of killing. With the exception of
[holding] contrary views and [indulging in] sexual misconduct,
in doing business, you actually are committing all of the ten
demeritorious actions. <160>
If your business proves a failure, it wastes both your own
and others' wealth, and causes suffering. Ultimately it brings
harm to you and to others; you may even die of hunger. If
[your business] is slightly successful, the more wealth you
acquire, the more discontented you become. Even if you
command the wealth of Kubera, the God of Wealth, you still
feel like indulging in wrongful business. Being entirely
seduced by it, you waste your entire life. At the time of
death, you will beat your chest with your fist [in remorse].
Later you will become a cornerstone in hell. Therefore,
nothing is as powerful as business for propagating continual
wrongdoing and for wasting your life. You always have to
think cunningly, making your desire to deceive others as
sharp as the point of a dagger, awl, or needle, whichever is
the sharpest. Indulging constantly in evil thoughts, you have

to act contrary to the benevolent thought called bodhicitta,
and your demerit increases boundlessly.
The act of taking that which is not given also has the four
components of sin mentioned previously, [with regard to the
act of killing]. Even those who contribute the least assistance
to one who hunts or robs are equally accountable for the
offense of destroying life or [the offense of] taking that which
has not been given.
1.1.3 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT 12

This is the law for householders.
In ancient times in Tibet, when the ten meritorious laws
were framed during the reign of the Dharma-King Song-tsen
Gam-po, there were laws that were observed by householders
and [laws] that were observed by monks. <161> This section
pertains to those [laws] that constrain the conduct of house-
holders. Thus, even if you are a householder, you must have
rules to go by, while those who are ordained must fundamen-
tally give up sexual activity.
The most serious sexual transgression is that which causes
the destruction of another's vows. Other prohibitions include
masturbation; [relations] with someone else's spouse;
[relations] with one who has already been hired or paid for by
another; [relations] in the daytime, even with your own part-
ner; [relations] with one observing a retreat; [relations] with
one who is sick, pregnant, in mourning, menstruating, or not
fully recovered from delivery; [relations] at a place where
there are monuments of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha;
[relations] with one's parents and relatives; [relations] with
one who is too young for sexual activity; oral and anal inter-
course; and so forth. Thus the sin of sexual misconduct
includes various aspects of the action, such as the partner,
place, time, and circumstance.
12/og-yem / log.g-yem
1.1.4 TELLING LIES 13

[Lies are of three types]:
1. Ordinary Lies;
2. Great Lies;
3. Lies Told by "Lamas" for Mundane Gain.
1.1.4.1 [ORDINARY LIES] 14

An ordinary lie is anything said to another with the inten-
tion to deceive.
1.1.4.2 [GREAT LIES] 15

Saying that virtue brings no benefit, vice has no bad conse-
quences, the Pure Lands have no happiness, the lower
regions have no suffering, and Buddhas have no accomplish-
ment <162> are called "great lies," since there are no greater
untruths than these.
1.1.4.3 [LIES TOLD BY "LAMAS" FOR MUNDANE

GAIN] 16
Telling others that one has attained the spiritual stages,

although one has not attained them; pretending that one has
the power of foreknowledge, although one does not possess
it-in fact, all claims to spiritual attainment which one pre-
tends to have acquired, even though one has not-are known
as "lies told by 'lamas' for mundane gain."
At present, impostors have greater market value than
noble persons. People have very suggestive minds, which are
very easily influenced. Some renowned, so-called "lamas" or
"yogis" are particularly interested in cheating others through
13 dzun I rdzun
14 dzun p'al-pa I rdzun phal.pa
15 dzun ch'en-po I rdzun chen.po
16 mi-en'o la-may dzun I mi.chos bla.ma'i rdzun
The Cause and EffectofKarma 151
[various] deceptive means. Some say that they have seen the
gods, and therefore the gods should be worshiped. Some say
that they have seen the evil spirits, and therefore these
[spirits] should be punished. Almost all these [statements]
are lies, entirely intended to deceive others.
Do not heedlessly place your confidence in impostors.
Rather, with regard to the problems of this life and the next,
it is vital that you depend on a knowledgeable and simple
Dharma practitioner who manifests externally what he is
internally. While a slight foreknowing power of the worldly
type can be attained at the mundane level, its [manifestation]
will be of an intermittent nature and its accuracy will vary.
Transcendental foreknowing power is only possessed by those
who have attained the higher spiritual levels. Such persons
are extremely rare.
1.1.5 SLANDEROUS SPEECH 17

Slanderous speech is of two types:
1. Slanderous Speech Made Openly;
2. Slanderous Speech Made Secretly.
1.1.5.1 [SLANDEROUS SPEECH MADE OPENLY] 18

In general, a powerful person can openly tell one of two
people, [when both are present], "He secretly said this and
that against you and did this and that to damage you. But
today he is behaving as if nothing had happened between you,
isn't he?" Such slanderous speech <163> made quite directly
is called "slanderous speech made openly."
17 t'ra-ma / phra-ma
18 ngon-t'ra / mnon.phra
1.1.5.2 [SlANDEROUS SPEECH MADE SECRETLY] 19

[This is committed] by going to one of a pair of good
friends and telling him, "Although you value [your friend]
very much, he says this and that about you." Thus, slanderous
speech is used to create conflict between two people. This is
called "slanderous speech made secretly."
The heaviest offenses [of slanderous speech] involve cre-

ating disunity among monks, and, in particular, using slander
to separate Gurus who teach the Tantric Dharma from their
disciples or from their religious friends and associates.
1.1.6 HARSH WORDS 2O

An example of the sin of using harsh words would be to
criticize directly the defects of an ugly person, or, for exam-
ple, to call a person with defective eyes "blind," one who is
hard of hearing "deaf," and so forth. Finding fault with
others, speaking ill of them in any way that disturbs them
mentally-even if your words are mild-all come under the
category of using harsh words. Saying various unpleasant
things in the presence of Gurus, spiritual teachers, and noble
persons is also sinful.
1.1.7 IDLE TALK21

All irrelevant talk-discussing non-Buddhist, Brahmanic
tantra as though it were the Dharma; talk concerning harlots;
the singing of lustful songs; <164> talk of war and robbery;
and so forth-breeds attachment and aversion, and is idle
talk. In particular, engaging in irrelevant talk with those who
are reciting prayers and mantra makes them forget what they
Ilkog.phra
19 kog-t'ra
20 ts'ig-tsub
I tshig-rtsub
21 ngag-kyall nag.kyal
The Causeand Effect ofKarma 153
are doing and hinders them in earning good merits. There-

fore, it is a heavy transgression.
Idle talk of various kinds may seem to be simple, harmless
recreation, but if you examine it closely, it is mostly moti-
vated by lust and hatred. The more you rouse these in your-
self and others, the heavier the transgression. If the saying of
prayers and the reciting of mantra are mixed with gossip, no
matter how many times you pray and recite, you will achieve
no result. In particular, if you talk idly in an assembly of
monks, the good merit that should have been earned by the
entire congregation is blocked by one single person, and the
benefactor's expectation of earning good merit [as a result of
sponsoring the recitation] is ruined.
In India, and indeed [elsewhere], one who is entitled to
[receive] donationsf should in general either be a suffering
being or a realized being. Although the Buddha has not per-
mitted it other than [in these two cases], at present, soon
after you learn to conduct one or two tantric ceremonial rites,
you seem to swallow the offerings of black23 donations indis-
criminately. <165> You who accept donations for performing
tantric rituals must have received initiations," have observed
the [tantric] bond of trust, be expert in Mahayoga 25 and Anu-
yoga26 meditation, and have perfected the recitation of man-
tra. Otherwise, the improper practice of the Tantra distorts it
into Bon;27 that is a great transgression. A black donation is
like a pill [made] of red-hot iron. Unless you are no longer
an ordinary person, but rather one who has a bronze jaw
22 kor / dkor
23 i.e., wrongfully acquired
24 wang / dban
25 kye-rim / bskyed.rim / to create systematically from emptiness and to
withdraw again into that very emptiness towards the end; the process of
Mahayoga meditation
26 dzog-rim / rdzogs.rim / to deal with the already existing psychic air
(lung) as the basis of practice, dissolving finally into emptiness; the process
of Anuyoga
27 the pre-Buddhist, indigenous religion of Tibet
made by the unification of Mahayoga and Anuyoga medita-

tion,28 it will burn your mind and bring destruction upon you.
It is said:
Black donations are a razor to your life;

If you take too many, they cut the artery of liberation.
Thus, not to speak of knowing what Mahayoga and

Anuyoga meditation means, you do not utter properly even
the words you do know! Although the most important
moment in a ritual ceremony occurs when the mantra are
repeated, when this juncture arrives, you open a bag full of
idle talk. You waste the entire period with various kinds of
irrelevant talk stained with lust and hatred. This brings disas-
ter on yourself and on others. Thus, Lamas and monks
should always refrain from idle talk. It is important that you
stop talking, and that you devote yourself to offering prayers
and counting your beads.
1.1.8 COVETOUSNESS 29
To covet is to think repeatedly of possessing attractive
things that belong to others, and also, to contemplate on ways
to acquire those objects. <166> It includes even the smallest
mental hungering for another's property.
1.1.9 ILL WILL30

III will, motivated by hatred and anger, is thinking that you
would like to bring specific harm to other people; feeling
unhappy when you see others enjoying power and prosperity;
desiring that others not be so comfortable and happy; consid-
ering how wonderful it would be if others did not have so
28 kye-dzog zung-dujug-pa / bskyed.rdzogs zun.du 'jug.pa / the yogic pro-

cess in which both Mahayoga and Anuyoga are practiced simultaneously
29 nab-sem / brnab.sems
30 no-sem / gnod.sems
anyone; that thorns that have sharp points are not sharpened
by anyone; and that the colored spots of peacock plumes are
not painted by anyone-these [things] exist this way on their
own. Similarly, whatever one perceives in this world-good
or evil, happiness or unhappiness-[must also] exist this way
on its own.
According to this faith, previous karma, previous life, life
hereafter, and so forth, do not exist. To hold such scriptures
as authentic and to follow them, or even if one does not, to
harbor the doubt that any of the teachings of the Buddha, the
oral traditions of the Guru, or [their transcriptions] in the
literature of the learned might not be true, and to' disparage
them, are all contrary views.
Thus, of these ten demeritorious actions, killing and the

holding of contrary views are the greatest sins.
H is said:
Above the action of killing, there is no other sin.

Of the ten demerits, holding contrary views is the
heaviest.
With the exception of hell-beings, no one welcomes death.

<168> Nothing is dearer to you than your own life. Hence,
killing is all the more sinful. For taking the life of one ani-
mal, you must repay the [karmic debt] five hundredfold: "For
killing a single animal, one must remain in hell for an inter-
media:;r cycle of an aeon," states the Dren-pa Nyer-zhag
Sutra.' The sin committed by killing animals under the pre-
text of constructing monuments to the Three Jewels is even
heavier. P'a-dam-pa said: "One who constructs representa-
tions of the Three Jewels through sin and suffering throws his
future life into the air."
Similarly, enthusiastic to be earning good merits, benefac-
tors invite Lamas to their homes and feed the congregation
of monks on the flesh and blood of slaughtered sentient be-
36 S. Saddharmasmrtyupasthanasutra
ings. Both monks and benefactors alike will bear the penalty
for killing. The food offered by the benefactor should be re-
garded as impure charity; [subsequently] it becomes improper
food for those who accept it. It brings more demerit than
merit. Unless one has achieved the power of instantaneously
restoring life to the dead, there is no way to escape being
contaminated by the sin of taking life. [Accepting such of-
ferings] will certainly bring harm to the lives and prosperity of
the Lamas. <169> Unless they can guide the consciousness
[of the slaughtered animal] to the Heaven of Great Bliss, they
should try their best to shun the karma of killing.
If you hold contrary views even for a moment, all your
vows will be destroyed. You will not be admitted into the
Buddhist fold. Your body [that enjoys] leisure will change
into one without [leisure]. Once your mind has been affected
by contrary views, even meritorious deeds will not take you
on the path to liberation, and there will be no one from
whom you can ask pardon" for the sins you have committed.
1.2 THE EFFECTS OF THE TEN DEMERITORIOUS

ACTIONS 38
Each of the ten demeritorious actions has a fourfold
effect: ~
1. The Fully-Matured Effect;
2. The Effect That Corresponds with Its Cause;
3. The Effect That Matures as the Environment;
4. The Effect of the Generative Power of Karma.
1.2.1 THE FULLY-MATURED EFFECT39

Whichever of the ten demeritorious actions you commit,
being motivated by hatred will cause you to be born as a hell-
37 the Guru, Vajrasattva, the Buddhas of Confession, etc.

38 mi-ge-way lay chu-pode-dag-gi dray-bu / mi.dge.ba'i las bcu.po
de.dag.gi 'bras.bu
39 nam-min-gyi dray-bu / rnam.min.gyi 'bras.bu
being; being motivated by lust will cause you to be born as a

preta; and being motivated by stupidity will cause you to be
born as an animal. Having been born in these lower regions,
you must then suffer the miseries found in each of them.
Furthermore, there is what is called "the great [demeritor-
ious] motivation." If you have been accumulating [bad]
karma for a long time under the very strong influence of the
three poisons," you will take rebirth in hell; under less influ-
ence, among the pretas; under still less influence, among the
animals.
1.2.2 THE EFFECT THAT CORRESPONDS WITH ITS

CAUSE41
Once you have completed your stay in the lower region
into which you were thrown by the fully-matured .effect [of
your demeritorious actions], < 170> you experience this
[effect] in the human world. However, even in the lower
regions, there are innumerable varieties of suffering which
correspond with each individual action.
The effect that corresponds with its cause is twofold:
1. Behavior That Corresponds with Its Cause;
2. Experience That Corresponds with Its Cause;
1.2.2.1 BEHAVIOR THAT CORRESPONDS WITH ITS

CAUSE42
This means that you are reborn behaving as you behaved
previously. For example, if a man was accustomed to killing
in a former life, he will enjoy killing in this life as well; if he
was accustomed to taking what was not his in a former life, he
will delight in stealing in this life; and so forth. Thus, begin-
ning at an early age, some people kill whatever worms and
40 lust, hatred, and stupidity

41 gyu-t'un-pay dray-bu I rgyu mthun.pa'i 'bras.bu
42 je-pa gyu-t'un I byed.pa rgyu.mthun
flies they happen to see. This fondness for killing corre-

sponds with their previous actions of killing.
Similarly, from childhood on, people differ because of the
influence of their former actions. Some like to kill, others
like to steal, while still others are uninterested in such
behavior and instead take pleasure in [performing] deeds of
virtue. These facts reveal either an uncompleted portion of
their former activities, [which they continue to perform in this
life], or [behavior which is] the effect that corresponds with
their [previous] actions.
It is said:
What you have done in the past is known by examining

your present life;
Where you will be reborn in the future is known by
observing your present activities.
Furthermore-even among animals-falcons, wolves, and

the like are fond of killing, while rats and the like are fond of
stealing. Thus, an individual's behavior corresponds with his
previous actions.
1.2.2.2 EXPERIENCE THAT CORRESPONDS WITH ITS

CAUSE43
Each of the ten demeritorious actions produces two differ-
ent effects. <171>
Due to acts of killing in the past, you will live a short life
and suffer from many illnesses. That some babies die imme-
diately after being born is the reaction of their past sins of
killing. In most cases, they will have to die as soon as they
are born, over many [successive] lives. Similarly, there are
people who suffer from many kinds of disease, right from
childhood. They will suffer from illness until they die of old
age. This is due to the maturation of their acts of killing and
beating others in the past. Instead of thinking of many ways
of immediate treatment, they should rather ask pardon for,
43 nyong-wa gyu-t'un I myon.ba rgyu.mthun

and regret, their past sins, and vow not to repeat them in the
future. As an antidote for bad karma, you should endeavor
to earn merit, avoid committing sin, and so forth.
Because you took what was not given, you suffer from
poverty. Even if you have a little wealth, it will be snatched
away or stolen, or you will have to share it in common with
your enemies. Hence, it is better that those who have no
property and wealth earn a spark of good merit, rather than
make mountain-like efforts to [obtain] wealth. If, in the past,
you did not give in charity-which would have provided the
enjoyment of wealth in this life-at present, even great efforts
[to obtain wealth] will not help.
Consider the amount of wealth that most robbers and
thieves obtain on a single occasion. If they were always suc-
cessful, they could not possibly find a place on earth to store
it [all]; <172> but professional robbers and thieves ultimately
die of hunger. Similarly, we see that those who engage in
business or who live on gifts for spiritual services, no matter
how great an amount [they may collect], do not find [their
wealth] to be of much help. [On the other hand], since they
have the fruits of previous charity to enjoy, many people
make no effort at all, yet throughout their lives their wealth
never leaves them. If you seek wealth, you should make
offerings [to those who have transcended samsara], and give
charity [to the needy].
In this world of karma, whatever you do in the early part
of your life will largely bear fruit in the later part of your life.
If your action is connected with something extraordinary, you
can experience an instantaneous effect as well. Therefore, if
you engage in unfair business practices, stealing, and so forth
with the hope of gaining wealth, this is called "action contrary
to your wishes." You will not escape the region of the pretas
for many aeons. Eventually, in this very life as well, you will
experience in advance the [future] effects of your bad actions.
You will become poorer and more unfortunate. Even if you
have some wealth, you will be powerless to enjoy it. Because
of greed, the more you get, the more you will feel your
poverty and need. Your wealth will become the cause for
further sinning. You may have wealth, but, like a preta

guarding a store of treasure, you will not be able to use it.
Although some people may appear to be wealthy, <173> if
on close inspection you find they do not use their wealth for
happiness and comfort in this and the next life, spending it
neither for food, clothes, rest, nor leisure, then they are even
poorer than paupers. From this very moment onward, those
who behave like pretas are experiencing the effect of the im-
proper use of wealth.
It is said that the effect of sexual misconduct motivated by
lust is that you will have an ugly, lazy, and hostile partner.
We usually attribute the constant quarreling, arguing, bearing
grudges, and fighting of most married couples to the ill-
nature of either the husband or wife; but, in fact, this is a
reaction experienced in accord with their sexual misconduct
in the past. Rather than hating each other, they should rec-
ognize the maturation of their past bad karma, and exercise
patience.
Je Dam-pa Rin-po-ch'e said:
Married life is impermanent, like the meeting of

acquaintances at a marketplace.
o Ding-ri folk! Don't recount past mistakes and
quarrel.
Due to telling lies, the experience that corresponds with its

cause is that you will suffer often from being criticized and
deceived by others. Therefore, if you suffer from undue
blame or criticism, you should realize that this is the effect of
the lies you told [in the past]. <174> Neither hate those who
criticize you, nor quarrel with them. Feel happy, and be
grateful to them for enabling you to dissolve the effects of
many evil deeds.
Rig-dzin Jig-me Ling-pa said:
The antagonism of enemies promotes one's meditative

experience.
The undue blame [of enemies] acts like a whip, urging
one to virtue.
They are like Gurus, destroying attachment and

prejudice.
Please understand that their kindness can never be
repaid.
The effect that corresponds with the cause of slanderous

speech is that there will be no unity among your followers or
servants. They will revolt against you. Among monks in the
monastery of a Lama, attendants of officials, and paid
servants of a family, there will, in general, be no unity. No
matter how much you instruct them, they will disobey you and
revolt against you. When most of the paid domestic servants
are asked to do some easy work, they will pretend two or
three times not to hear [the order]. Eventually, when their
employer becomes angry and rebukes them harshly, they will
slowly and unwillingly attend to the task. They will never
even report that the work has been done, and they will always
be ill-tempered. These are the matured effects of the slan-
derous speech that the master himself committed in the past.
Therefore, you should repent your evil deeds, and strive to
reconcile the disunity between yourself and others. <175>
Because you spoke harsh words, you will always hear
unpleasant things. [Similarly], whatever words you speak will
also be perceived as quarrelsome. The use of harsh words is
the worst of the demeritorious deeds committed vocally.
Even the worldly saying says, "Although words have neither
arrows nor swords, they cut the human mind to pieces."
[Harsh words] can instantly create anger in the minds of
others. In particular, if you utter even a single bad word to a
realized person, you will not be able to escape from hell for
many rebirths.
Long ago, a Brahmin named Ser-kya'" called the monks of
a-sung Buddha many names, saying, "You horse heads! You
bull heads!" and other, similar things. He was therefore born
as an alligator-ftsh" with eighteen heads. He could not attain
44 ser.skya / S. Pandu
i
45 ch'u-sinnyay-rtg chu.srin na'i.rigs / a creature having the upper body
of an alligator and the tail of a fish
freedom for aeons, and even after leaving that life, he is said
to have been reborn in hell. Again, one nun called another
[nun] a bitch. As an effect, she was reborn as a bitch five
hundred times. There are many such instances.
Learn how to speak gently at all times. In particular, [re-
member that] it is difficult to say where extraordinary beings
and Bodhisattvas are to be found. Therefore, it is advisable
that you learn to treat everyone as a pure being, to speak of
their virtues, and to praise their good qualities. <176> If you
criticize or speak badly of a Bodhisattva, the penalty incurred
is said to be even heavier than that [incurred] for killing the
beings of the three realms.
It is said:
Greater than killing all the beings of the three realms,

Is the sin of backbiting Bodhisattvas.
Ask pardon for grave sins committed for no reason.
The effect that corresponds with the cause of idle talk is

that your words will carry no weight, and you will lack
courage. Others will not believe you, even when you speak
the truth, and you will have no courage to speak in a large
gathering.
The effect that corresponds with the cause of covetousness
is that your wishes will [remain] unfulfilled; instead, you will
receive undesired things.
III will results in danger, fear, and many afflictions.
Contrary views will keep you attached to a wrong doctrinal
theory, the deceptive [outlook of which] will disturb your
mind.
1.2.3 THE EFFECT THAT MATURES AS THE

ENVIRONMEN~
Because of killing, you will find yourself reborn in an un-

pleasant, frightful land filled with precipices that endanger
your life.
46 wang-gi dray-bu / dban.gyi 'bras.bu

Because of taking that which was not given, you will be re-
born in a land where crops are exposed to constant blight and
hailstorms, where trees do not bear fruit, and where famine
prevails.
Because of sexual misconduct, you will live in a place
where things are unsanitary, and where there are swamps and
unwholesome conditions. <177>
Because of telling lies, your wealth will be unstable, your
mind will always be nervous, and you will meet with threat-
ening conditions.
Because of slanderous speech, you will live in a place that
has precipitous gorges, making it difficult to travel.
Because of harsh words, you will be reborn in an unpleas-
ant place where there are rocks, rubble, and things such as
thorns.
Because of idle talk, you will be reborn in a place that
yields no harvest, despite cultivation, and where the seasons
are irregular and undependable.
Because of covetousness, you will be reborn in a place
where harvests fail, and where many sufferings arise because
of bad circumstances.
Because of ill will, you will be reborn in a country that
always suffers from many dangers and afflictions.
Because of contrary views, you will have a life with little
wealth and few protectors and friends.
1.2.4 THE EFFECT OF THE GENERATIVE POWER OF

KARMA47
The effect of the generative power of karma is that you
repeatedly perform whatever [demeritorious] act you have
committed, thus causing an endless chain of suffering during
the course of countless rebirths. It further makes [the scope
of your demeritorious] activities grow greater and greater,
and it leads you to wander the boundless samsara.
47 kyey-bu je-paydray-bu / skyes.bu byed.pa'i 'bras.bu

2 MERITORIOUS ACTIONS TO BE UNDERTAKEN48

In general, it is said that knowing the penalties for the ten
demeritorious actions and earnestly vowing not to commit
them comprise the ten meritorious actions. Thus, they are
not to kill, not to take what is not given, and so forth. It is
not necessary that you take a vow [to practice them] before a
Guru or an Abbot. <178> [For example], you can decide for
yourself that you will not kill forever, or at certain places and
times, or that you will not take the life of a particular sentient
being, and so forth. [All] these are meritorious deeds. If you
do undertake [a vow] in the presence of a Guru, spiritual
teacher, or symbol of the Three Jewels, it will be exception-
ally powerful; [however], a general thought such as, "I will
not kill," will not do. Whatever the case may be, you must
vow with the intention of not committing the demeritorious
act. For this reason, householders who cannot avoid killing
forever should vow not to kill during a certain time of the
year, such as the first month of the year, the month of mira-
cles," or the fourth month, called Sa-ga" Or, one can vow
not to kill during the full moon and new moon days, and so
on, of every month. If you take vows for a period of years,
months, or days, you can reap greater benefits.
It is as in the [following story]. Long ago, a butcher of the
village where Arya Katyayana lived took vows not to kill at
night. When he was reborn in an indeterminate hell,
although he was put into a burning iron house to suffer by
day, at night he enjoyed a palatial building attended by four
heavenly maidens. <179>
48 drub-jage-way lay / bsgrub.byadge.ba'j las

49 ch'o-t'rul da-wa /cho.'phrul zla.ba .
50 sa-ga da-wa / sa.ga zla.ba •
2.1 [THE TEN MERITORIOUS ACfIONS] 51

Thus, [to perform] the ten meritorious actions means to
avoid the ten demeritorious actions and to practice their
antidotes.
Therefore, you must give up killing and protect the lives of
sentient beings. This is the first physical merit.
You must give up taking that which is not given and prac-
tice charity. This is the second physical merit.
You must give up sexual misconduct and practice the
moral precepts. This is the third physical merit.
You must give up telling lies and speak the truth. This is
the first vocal merit.
You must give up slanderous speech and reconcile those
who oppose each other. This is the second vocal merit.
You must give up using harsh words and speak gently.
This is the third vocal merit.
You must give up idle talk and recite prayers. This is the
fourth vocal merit.
You must give up covetousness and practice generosity.
This is the first mental merit.
You must give up ill will and contemplate on benevolence.
This is the second mental merit.
You must give up contrary views and hold the purest doc-
trinal view in mind. This is the third mental merit.
2.2 [THE EFFECTS OF THE TEN MERITORIOUS

ACfIONS]
[As with the ten demeritorious actions, each of the ten
meritorious actions has a fourfold effect.]
2.2.1 THE FULLY-MATURED EFFECT

[The fully-matured effect] causes you to be reborn in any
of the three upper regions, [the regions of humans, demi-
gods, and gods].
51 ge-way lay chu / dge.ba'i las bell
2.2.2 [THE EFFECT THAT CORRESPONDS WITH ITS

CAUSE]
[As with the ten demeritorious actions, the effect IS
twofold.]
2.2.2.1 BEHAVIOR THAT CORRESPONDS WITH ITS

CAUSE
[The behavior that corresponds with your previous actions]
is that you will be happy to perform meritorious deeds
throughout your entire course of rebirths, and this will
increase your merit even more.
2.2.2.2 EXPERIENCE THAT CORRESPONDS WITH ITS

CAUSE
By giving up killing, you will live long and have little
illness. <180>
By giving up taking that which is not given, you will be
wealthy and undisturbed by enemies and thieves.
By giving up sexual misconduct, your partner will be beau-
tiful and will have little hostility.
By giving up telling lies, you will gain praise and affection
from all.
By giving up slanderous speech, your servants and follow-
ers will show obedience.
By giving up harsh words, you will hear sweet words.
By giving up idle talk, your words will have weight.
By giving up covetousness, your wishes will be fulfilled.
By giving up ill will, you will obtain deliverance from
danger.
By giving up contrary views, sublime views will grow in
you.
2.2.3 THE EFFECT THAT MATURES AS THE

ENVIRONMENT
[The effect that matures as the environment] reverses the
effects of previous demeritorious actions. changing them into
the three accomplishmentsf and enriching them with all
virtues.
2.2.4 THE EFFECT OF THE GENERATIVE POWER OF

KARMA
[The effect of the generative power of karma] is that it
increases enormously whatever meritorious deeds you have
done. Virtue will flow without stopping.
3 EVERYrHING SHOWN TO BE THE NATURE OF

KARMA53
From the summit of samsara down to the base of hell,
each of all the inconceivable varieties of pleasure and suffer-
ing that beings individually experience evolves entirely from
the effects of those beings' previously accumulated meritori-
ous and demeritorious karma.
The Lay-gya-pa Sutra states:
The happiness and unhappiness of beings

Is caused by karma, the Buddha said. <181>
Since karma is of various kinds,
It creates a variety of sentient beings,
Setting them otT on various incessant wanderings.
So huge is this karmic net!
However great your power, prestige, wealth, or prosperity

may be now, not one of these will follow you when the time
of death comes. Only the merit and demerit you have earned
52 grace, glory, and wealth

53 t'am-che lay-kyi rang-zhin-du ten-pa / thams.cad las.kyi ran.bzin.du
bstan.pa
throughout your life will accompany you, and it is the power

of their [effects] that will determine whether you are born in
the upper or lower regions of samsara.
The Gyal-po-la Dam-pa Sutra states:
When the expiration of time forces the king to depart,

Wealth, friends, and acquaintances will not follow him.
From wherever and to wherever a man goes,
Karma, like a shadow, follows him.
Thus, when you now perform meritorious or demeri-

torious deeds, although an effect may not immediately mani-
fest as a result of a particular action, an action never goes to
waste: at the right moment, when the [necessary] factors
coincide, each individual will experience the corresponding
effect.
The Lay-gya-pa states:
The actions of embodied beings

Never go to waste, even for a hundred aeons;
In due course, when the [necessary] factors coincide,
These [actions] mature into effects. <182>
The Yon-ten Rin-po-ch'ey Dzo states:
The shadow of a vulture soaring high above the earth

May not be seen for some time;
But since a shadow never leaves the body [that casts it],
In due course, when the [necessary] factors coincide, it
manifests its prominence all the more.
For example, when a bird flies very high in the sky, its
shadow seems to be invisible; however, it is not that the
shadow does not exist. Eventually, wherever [the bird]
alights, there the dark shadow will appear. Similarly, the
effects of good and bad actions may not be evident at the
moment; but, eventually, inevitably, they will descend upon
you. When even Buddhas and Arhats, who have dissolved all
the obscurations of karma and delusion, must suffer for their
[former demeritorious] actions, there is no possibility that we

ordinary beings will not also have to do so.
In the past, when the soldiers of King P'ag-kycy-po'"
entered Kapilavastu and killed eighty thousand Sakyas, the
Buddha also suffered, [but only] from a headache. His fol-
lowers inquired about the cause. The Buddha said, "When
the Sakyas were fishermen in the past, they killed many fish
and ate them. One day they caught two large fish that they
did not kill immediately, but fastened to a pillar. The fish,
out on dry land and gasping in pain, thought, <183> 'As these
fellows are killing us although we have done no wrong, let us
be able to kill them although they will have done no wrong.'
The effect of that action was that the two large fish took re-
birth as King P'ag-kyey-po and his minister Ma-la-no, and the
[other] fish that [the Sakyas] had killed were reborn as the
soldiers. The Sakyas have been wiped out today. Born then
as a child among those fishermen, I laughed at the two large
fish as they gasped in agony on the earth. That has resulted
in my headache today. If I had not attained a virtuous Dhar-
ma of this sort, I too would have been slain by P'ag-kyey-po's
soldiers today."
Similarly, when the Buddha was a Bodhisattva in the past,
a splinter of acacia wood pierced his leg. This was attributed
to his having killed [the pirate] Mi-nag Dung-t'ung.
In the past, Arya Maudgalyayana was the foremost of all
the Sravaka followers of Lord Buddha. Despite the fact that
he could perform miracles, he was killed by the Kun-tu-gyu'"
heretics because of his karma. It is said that both Arya Sari-
putra and the great Maudgalyayana at times used to pay visits
to hell and to the regions of the pretas, in order to work for
the sentient beings there. One d~y they visited hell. <184>
They saw that the heretic teacher O-sung Dzog-je" had been.
reborn there after his death and was suffering various kinds
of tortures. He said to them, "Should both of you great be-
ings return to the human world, please give my disciples this
54 'phags.skyes.po / S. Virudhaka
55 S. parivrajika / a sect of wandering mendicants
56 'od.srun rdzogs.byed / S. Purana Kasyapa
message: 'Your teacher a-sung Dzog-je, who is now reborn

in hell, says that the Kun-tu-gyu have no ascetics. They are
found among the Sakyas. Our religion proves to be wrong.
You should abandon your religion and follow the path shown
by the prince of the Sakyas. When you worship the stiipa
made from my bones, I receive a shower of red-hot iron
here.' Please tell them to stop doing that."
The two superior ones returned to the human world. Sari-
putra went first. Although he conveyed the message, the her-
etics did not have the karmic connection to hear it. Maudgal-
yayana came after Sariputra and inquired if he had delivered
a-sung Dzog-je's message. Sariputra said that he had, but
that no one had responded to it. Maudgalyayana said,
"Probably they did not hear it. I will tell them." He went to
give the message sent by a-sung Dzog-je. <185> The heretics
became furious at this and said, "Not only is he talking pro-
fusely against us, but he is also insulting our teacher. Let's
finish him." So saying, they crushed his body like a reed.
Previously, it would have been impossible for the Kun-tu-
gyu to strike him; the united might of the three worlds could
not have moved [so much as] the tip of a hair on his head.
But this time he was overwhelmed by the effect of his past ac-
tions, and he failed even to think of dodging [their blows], to
say nothing of performing miracles; he proved to be no dif-
ferent from an ordinary human being. Wrapping him in a
monk's robe, Sariputra brought him to the Jetavana Park, and
said, "When even hearing of the demise of a friend is un-
wanted, how can one stand to see him dying?" and with that
Sariputra expired, along with many Arhats. Instantly, Maud-
galyayana also passed away.
Again, there once was a Kashmiri monk named Rawati
who had obtained foreknowing and miraculous powers. He
had many followers. Once, in a forest, he was boiling his
monk's robes. A nearby householder went in search of a lost
calf. Noticing smoke in the forest, he approached and found
the monk making a fire. <186>
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm boiling my robe," replied the monk.
The householder lifted the lid of the pot, looked in, and
said, "It's meat!"
The monk also saw it as meat. Taking the monk and
handing him over to the king, the householder said, "He has
stolen my calf. Punish him."
The king put the monk into a pit. Some days later [the
householder's] cow found her calf. The householder re-
quested the king to release the monk, for apparently he had
not stolen the calf. But the king forgot to pass the orders,
and Rawati was not released for six months. Many of his dis-
ciples, who had obtained miraculous powers, then flew in the
sky, came to the king, and said, "This monk is free from
blame. Please release him."
The king then went to release him. When he saw the
monk suffering terribly, he became very regretful.
"My delay has made me earn a great sin," he said.
"It's all right. The mistake was my own," replied the
monk.
"What sort of bad action did you perform?" inquired the
king.
"When I was born as a thief in the past," said the monk, "I
stole a calf. As its owner chased me, I ran away and left the
calf in front of a Pratyekabuddha meditating in the forest.
The Pratyekabuddha was arrested and put into a ditch for six
days. The fully-matured [effect of my bad action] caused me
to experience the miseries of the lower regions for many re-
births. In this life, too, I have experienced misery. <187>
This is the last of the fully-matured [effect]."
Likewise, in India, the son of King De-cho was given a
seamless brocade cloth by his mother. At this he said, "I
won't wear it yet. I'll wear it when I obtain the kingdom."
"You will have no occasion to acquire the kingdom," his
mother replied. "Normally, when a king dies, his son gets the
kingdom; but your father has the same life span as Guru
Nagarjuna, As long as Nagarjuna does not die, neither will
[your father]. Since Nagarjuna has control over his life, his
life is unlimited. Hence, many of your grandchildren will die
without acquiring the kingdom."
"Is there any remedy for this?" asked the son.
"Since Nagarjuna is a Bodhisattva, if you beg him to give

you his head, he will give it to you. Other than that, there is
no way."
The son went to Nagarjuna and asked for his head. Nagar-
juna said, "Cut it off and take it."
He struck Nagarjuna's head many times with a sword, but
the sword ran through his neck without cutting it, as if
through space. At this the Guru said, "I already dissolved the
sins committed through the use of weapons five hundred
births ago. Therefore, weapons cannot cut me. However, 1
still have an as yet undissolved sin, due to my killing a worm
while cutting kusa grass. Use kusa grass. That will work."
When the kusa grass was collected and used, his head fell
to the ground. Nagarjuna said, "I will go from here to the
Heaven of Great Bliss <188> and will re-enter this body af-
terwards." So saying, he passed away in peace.
Thus, if extraordinary persons had to suffer these kinds of
effects from their actions, why not we, who have been wan-
dering through the various regions of samsara since begin-
ningless time, committing countless evil acts? If you continue
to accumulate demeritorious reactions, you will have no pos-
sibility of escaping from the lower regions, not to speak of
escaping from samsaral Therefore, always, at every moment,
avoid demeritorious actions, no matter how infinitesimal they
may be. If you do not do this, it is possible to commit a
demeritorious act in a second that will cause you to remain in
hell for many aeons. Hence, you should not underestimate a
demerit because of its negligible size.
The Bodhisattva Santideva said:
If even a sin committed in a moment

Can place one in the Maximum Torture Hell for an
aeon,
Need it be said that the sins one has accumulated
throughout the beginningless samsara
Will prevent one from going to the upper regions?
The Dzang-lun Siitra states:
Do not ignore sins merely because they are small.

However small sparks may be,
They can burn haystacks as big as mountains. <189>
Similarly, you should not ignore a small meritorious act,

for it can bring great results. When King Nga-lay-nu'" was
born as a pauper, he took a handful of soybeans and went to
look for a bride. On the way he met a Buddha named So-
kyab who was going to the city. Moved by great devotion, he
threw the handful of soybeans to the Buddha.
Four [of the beans] fell into His begging bowl, and two
touched His heart. The effect of this action was that [Nga-
lay-nul took rebirth in this world as a universal monarch. Be-
cause four of the beans fell into the begging bowl, he ruled
over the four continents for eighty thousand years. As for the
two beans that touched the Buddha's heart, one made [Nga-
lay-nu] the overlord of the four great cardinal kings for eighty
thousand years, and the other made him the ruler of half the
Kingdom of Indra in the Trayastrimsa heaven until thirty-
seven Indras had [come and] gone. If you toss even a single
blossom skyward for the Buddhas, you will acquire enough
merit to become [both] Indra and a universal monarch.
The Dzang-lun states:
Do not ignore small merits,

Thinking that they are not beneficial.
By accumulating tiny drops of water,
Large vessels are filled. <190>
The Yon-ten Dzo states:
From a seed as small as a mustard [seed],

Banyan trees in time bear fruit;
A single branch alone covers about a mile.
57 na.las.nu / S. Mandhata
But [even] this example is inadequate to show

How the forms of virtue and sin develop.
Although a banyan tree has seeds that are smaller than

mustard seeds, the annual growth of its spreading branches
covers a mile. Even this is not a good example of how the ef-
fects of virtue and sin grow. The very slightest transgression
of the moral precepts initiates an enormous number of nega-
tive consequences.
E-lay-dab,58 the Serpent-King, once called on Lord Bud-
dha, appearing in the guise of a universal monarch.
"You caused damage to the doctrine of a-sung Buddha,"
Lord Buddha told him. "Are you now trying to damage my
doctrine also? Why don't you listen to the Dharma in your
own form?"
"There are many who harm me. I dare not come in my
own body," he replied.
At this Lord Buddha ordered Vajrapani to protect him.
[E-Iay-dab] then appeared in the form of a huge snake, his
body trailing behind for many leagues. He was suffering
greatly from the pressure of a large mimosa tree that was
growing on his head, and from the innumerable worms that
were eating at its roots. <191>
Asked the cause of all that, the Buddha answered, "In the
past he was a monk who followed the teachings of a-sung
Buddha. While on the road, his clothes were caught by a
huge mimosa tree, and he became very angry. Transgressing
his vows, he cut down the tree. This is the penalty for that."
It is your motivation'? that plays the major role in deter-
mining the quality-meritorious or demeritorious, white or
black, heavy or light-of all deeds, such as those [mentioned
in the above stories]. For example, if the roots of a large tree
are medicinal, then its trunk and leaves will also be medici-
nal. If the roots are poisonous, then the leaves and trunk
must [necessarily] be poisonous. It is not possible for [a tree
with] poisonous roots to have leaves and other [parts] that
58 e-la'i-dab / S. Elapattra
59 kiln-long / kun.slon
176 KUn-zang La-may Zhal-lung
are medicinal. Similarly, if your mind is defiled by bad mo-

tives, attachment, or hatred, the action that follows-however
virtuous it may seem - turns, in essence, to vice. If your mind
is pure, the action that follows may appear to be vice, but it is
still virtue.
The Yon-ten Dzo states:
If the root is medicinal, the sprout is also medicinal.

If the root is poisonous, nothing need be said of the
sprout.
It is the virtuous or unvirtuous [character of one's]
thought that makes the difference,
Not the extent to which the [thought] manifests
physically as virtue or vice.
Thus, if they maintain purity of mind by having no per-

sonal interest whatsoever, <192> there are instances when the
scions of the Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas, are actually allowed
[to commit] the three physical and four vocal demeritorious
actions. For example, take the compassionate sea captain
who killed Mi-nag Dung-t'ung, or take Karma, the son of a
Brahmin, who copulated with a Brahmin girl. Their stories
are as follows.
At one time, when our Lord Buddha was born as a com-
passionate sea captain, He happened to take five hundred
merchants aboard His ship. During the trip, a notorious
pirate named Mi-nag Dung-t'ung came to attack the five hun-
dred merchants. The captain thought, "These five hundred
merchants are all Bodhisattvas who have attained the spiri-
tual stage of Never Returning/" If one man kills them all, he
will have to remain in hell for a great many aeons. He de-
serves compassion. If I kill him, I will save him from going to
hell. Even if I go to hell myself, it cannot be helped." With
this broadmindedness, He killed the pirate.
This [deed] earned the Buddha merits that otherwise
would have taken Him seventy thousand aeons to earn.
Seemingly, the story indicates that a Bodhisattva actually
60 ch'ir mi-dog-pa / phyir mi.ldog.pa

killed a man; however, [the act of killing] was a meritorious

act because the Buddha had no personal interest, instantly
saved the lives of five hundred merchants, and, from the ul-
timate point of view, saved Mi-nag Dung-t'ung from the tor-
tures of hell. <193> Thus, it proved to be a meritorious deed
of great magnitude.
Similarly, for many years the Brahmin boy Karma-la Ga-
wa had observed celibacy in the forest. [One day], when he
was going to town for alms, a Brahmin girl fell so deeply in
love with him that she was on the verge of death. Out of
compassion he slept with her. He earned merits that would
have taken him forty thousand aeons to earn.
Thus, the taking of life and sexual misconduct are permit-
ted under valid circumstances such as these, but such license
is not given to one who is motivated by lust, hatred, or stu-
pidity, [and who acts] for the sake of satisfying his own desire.
Taking what has not been given is also permitted to Bodhi-
sattvas of great mental power who have no personal, vested
interest. They can steal [goods] from a wealthy miser for his
own good, to use as offerings to the Three Jewels, or to give
as alms to beggars.
Telling lies is also permitted in order to save the life of a
being on the verge of death, or to protect the property of the
Three Jewels. To deceive another for your own purposes is
not permitted.
Slanderous speech may be permissible. For example, if
there are two intimate friends, one virtuous and the other a
sinner, it is possible that the latter, who is more influential,
will cause the former to deviate from his meritorious course.
Slanderous speech may be used to separate them, <194> but it
is not permitted merely to disrupt the friendship between two
people.
When mild words are ineffective, harsh words may be used
to force a listener to turn his [attention] to the Dharma.
They are permitted so that the instructions can counteract the
listener's defects. Lord Atisa said, "The best Gurus attack
[their disciples'] faults. The best instructions strike at these
faults." It is as he has said. However, harsh words are not
permitted for the purpose of scorning others.
178 Kisn-zang La-may Zhal-lung
Idle talk is permitted as a means of inducing those who are

fond of talking to enter the Dharma, but it is not permitted as
a pastime to entertain yourself and others.
As regards the three mental transgressions, the motiva-
tions, [which are already meritorious], cannot be transgressed
to become meritorious. When a bad thought appears, the
motivation becomes demeritorious. Therefore, no one is
permitted to break these.
Mind61 is the doer of meritorious and demeritorious
deeds. Even before an action is expressed through body and
speech, in many instances the thought has already generated
great effects-virtuous or unvirtuous-[at the mental level].
Therefore, always examine your mind. If your mind is virtu-
ous, <195> feel happy and promote the virtue. If it is unvir-
tuous, you should immediately ask for pardon. Think thus:
"How terrible! What a shame! I still have such thoughts
even after hearing so much Dharma. From now on I must
strive to have no such concepts." Also, before you perform a
virtuous work, first examine your motivation thoroughly. If
your motivation is meritorious, then proceed with the activity.
If your motivation is based on competing with others,
hypocrisy, desiring fame, and the like, correct your motiva-
tion again and again so that it is based on bodhicitta. If, at
any cost, you cannot correct your motivation, you had better
give up that sort of "virtuous" work.
Once, in the past, Ge-shey Ben was to be called upon by
many benefactors. That morning, he arranged exceedingly
beautiful votive [offerings] before the symbols of the Three
Jewels [on his altar]. On checking his motivation, he found
that he had done this to make a good impression in the eyes
of his benefactors. Thus, finding his motivation to be impure,
he threw a handful of dust on the offerings, and said, "Monk,
you had better remain dispassionate." When P'a-dam-pa
later heard this he exclaimed, "Nothing could be better than
Ben Gung-gyal's handful of dust for the ritual objects of Ti-
bet!" <196>
61 sem / sems
Thus, at all times and under all circumstances, thoroughly

examine your mind. If it is committing sin, recognize this
immediately. Ask for pardon, vow [to avoid such thoughts],
and so forth, so that your heart does not befriend demerit. It
is impossible, however, for an unrealized person to have no
ill thoughts in his mind.
Again, Ge-shey Ben once was staying in the home of one
of those [aforementioned] benefactors. When all the bene-
factors were out, he thought, "I have no tea leaves. I had bet-
ter steal some tea leaves so that I can make tea when I return
to my hermitage." So thinking, no sooner had he put his
hand into the bag of tea than he came to his senses and
shouted for the members of the benefactor's family, saying,
"Look what I'm doing! Cut off my hand at the wrist!"
Similarly, Lord Atisa said:
I was not contaminated by the slightest moral offense

after taking the pratimoksa vowS,62 although I tres-
passed once or twice in relation to the bodhicitta vows.
But after taking the tantric vows, I committed sins right
and left. However, I have never spent a single night
contaminated with the sins of transgression.
It is said that when he was traveling, as soon as a bad

thought arose, he would take out his wooden mandala to ask
for absolution, and immediately rejuvenate his vows.
Likewise, when many Ge-sheys who had assembled at
P'en-ytil-gyal were treated to yogurt, <197> Ge-shey Ben
found himself sitting in the middle of a row. He observed
that others, sitting at the heads of the rows, were being sump-
tuously fed with good yogurt. Thinking that the yogurt was
excellent, he feared that he might not get any of [the good]
portion. At once, he detected his motive and said to himself,
"What a greedy yogurt-eater you are!" So saying, he placed
his cup upside-down. When the serving monk came and
62 so.so.thar.pa'i sgor tugs / lit. entering the door of personal liberation;

i.e., becoming a monk
asked him to take yogurt, he refused, saying, "My evil mind

has already taken the yogurt."
There was no demerit in his expecting an equal share of
what was being offered to upright monks. He refused to eat
simply because he had a selfish motive, wanting a serving for
himself out of the better portion. Thus, if you always observe
your mind and continue to acquire merit and renounce de-
merit, your mind will become congenial and turn completely
meritorious.
Once there was a Brahmin named Dra-k'en who always
observed his mind. He would put aside a black pebble when-
ever a bad thought occurred in his mind, and a white pebble
whenever a good thought [occurred]. At first he found only a
heap of black pebbles. He made an active effort to reject evil
thoughts and to accept only good thoughts. Then he found
an equal proportion of white and black pebbles. Finally there
were only white pebbles. Thus, at all times and under all
circumstances, use remembrance and watchfulness. <198>
Strive to [perform actions that will] generate meritorious in-
fluences, and see that you are not contaminated by even the
slightest demeritorious deed.
You may not have committed any sin in your present life,
but the bounds of the effects of actions that you have accu-
mulated throughout beginningless time are imperceptible.
You have an inconceivable amount of that kind of karma, the
reactions of which you have yet to experience. [Even] those
who presently are engaged solely in meritorious actions and
in meditation on sfInyata have karma lying dormant that
would [normally] cause them to be born in the lower regions.
However, the remedial force [of their good actions and medi-
tation causes the latent karma] to arise and manifest, and to
mature in this life and cause misery.
The Do-je Ch6 63 states:
The Bodhisattva who practices Praji'iaparamita sutTers,

and suffers very severely, because the effects of actions
63 rdo.rje gchod.pa / S. Vajracedikasutra

that would have produced sufferings in the future are

matured in this very life.
Similarly, although some people indulge in nothing but sin,

they still enjoy themselves. This is due only to the present
maturation of [the effects of their past] good actions, that
were hitherto dormant. It is said that in the past, the king-
dom of Nyi-og64 first received showers of jewels for a week,
and then in succession received showers of clothes and grain.
Eventually, however, it received showers of earth which
buried everything, and the beings destroyed there took re-
birth in hell. Therefore, when virtuous people suffer [pain]
and unvirtuous people enjoy pleasure, <199> it is completely
attributable to the maturing of the effects of their past karma.
Whatever action you perform, meritorious or demeritori-
ous, its effect will manifest either in your next life or in a life
after that. It is important that you always believe in this sys-
tem of cause and effect, and consider what to do and what to
avoid. Dharma discussions about high doctrinal views should
not undermine [your observance of the law of] cause and
effect.
Great King! This secret doctrine of mine regards the

doctrinal view65 as the chief thing. But do not act 66 in
accord with the doctrinal view. If you do, you will tend
to follow what is called "the black, nihilistic theory of
Mira," which holds that virtuous deeds are as empty as
sinful ones. Again, please do not hold a doctrinal view
in accord with your actions. If you do, belief in the idea
of the real existence of things will bind you so solidly
that you will have no occasion to find liberation.
64 ni.'og I S. Aparantaka
65 ta-wa Ilta.ba
66 cho-pa I spYod.pa
He further said:
Therefore, the doctrinal viewis higher than the sky;

The cause and effect of karma is even finer than the
flour [used for baking] bread.
As he said, the more you realize the real nature of the ul-
timate truth,67 the more cautious you should be in dealing
with the law of cause and effect.
P'a-dam-pa Rin-po-ch'e was asked, "Will sinful actions
bring any harmful result if they are committed after the real-
ization of sunyata?"
"If sunyata has been realized, there is no reason to sin.
Realization of sunyata and the birth of compassion should be
simultaneous," he replied.
Therefore, if you want to follow the completely pure Dhar-
ma, you should pay attention principally to adopting [good
actions] and renouncing [bad] actions, <200> and to observing
the doctrinal view and [proper] conduct harmoniously.
You should measure the growth of your understanding of
the explanation of the cause and effect of karma by Je-tsun
Mi-la's attainment. His followers said to Je-tsun Mi-la,
"From what we see of your activities, they seem beyond the
understanding of an ordinary person. Je-tsun Rin-po-ch'e,
from the very beginning, you must have been a reincarnation
of either Vajradhara, or the Buddha, or a Bodhisattva.
Please be kind enough to tell us."
"Your remark that I must be a reincarnation of either Vaj-
radhara, the Buddha, or a Bodhisattva is an expression of
faith in me," Je-tsun Mi-la replied, "but there can be no
greater derogatory remark against the Dharma than this. To
begin with, I committed such heavy sins by means of black
magic and hailstorms that I thought I would certainly be re-
born in hell. Therefore, I practiced the Dharma with one-
pointed effort. Because [I employed] the most powerful
tantric methods, extraordinary virtue grew in my mind. You
fail because you lack diligence and belief in the cause and ef-
67 ta-wa (i.e.) nay-lug-kyi don / Ita.~a (i.e.) gnas.lugs.kyi don

The Cause and Effect of Karma 183
fect of karma. If heartfelt belief in the cause and effect of

karma is developed, any ordinary being can produce the dili-
gence I had. Then virtue will grow in your mind, <201> and
you will feel as though you could be the reincarnation of Vaj-
radhara, the Buddha, or a Bodhisattva."
The absolute conviction that the sin he had accumulated in
the beginning would cause him to be reborn in hell arose in
Je-tsun Mi-la because of his belief in cause and effect. De-
pending on that, he followed the Dharma diligently. It would
be very difficult to find any biographies from either India or
Tibet that tell of an asceticism and industry that parallel his.
Therefore, from the core of your heart, cultivate faith in
the cause and effect of karma. At all times and under all cir-
cumstances, strive to earn the minutest of good merits in
complete awareness of the three perfect principles. Vow not
to commit even an iota of sinful action, even if you must lose
your life.
When you rise from bed in the morning, do not rush out,
like cattle from a pen. While still in bed, relax your mind,
turn your attention inward, and thoroughly examine your
mind. If you have committed any sins in the previous night's
dreams, repent and ask pardon. If you have performed meri-
torious acts, be happy and dedicate them for the sake of all
sentient beings. Think, "Today, so that an unlimited number
of sentient beings may attain Buddhahood, I will earn as
much good merit as I can and I will avoid as many sins as I
can." <202> Generate this motivation.
When you are falling asleep, do not sink all at once into
unconsciousness. Relax in bed and introspect, as you did be-
fore [in the morning]. See what, in essence, you have
achieved in the course of the day-what meritorious things
you have done. If you have performed some [meritorious
acts], be happy. Dedicate the merits earned thereby to all
sentient beings, for their realization of Buddhahood. If you
have committed demeritorious actions, deplore them. Think
that you have already harmed yourself that day, and repent.
From the core of your heart, confess [your sins], and vow that
you will not repeat them hereafter.
At all times and under all circumstances, live with remem-

brance and watchfulness. Do not adhere to the belief that the
contents (sentient beings) and the container (the phenomenal
world) truly exist. Train your mind to consider phenomena
as illusory manifestations, devoid of truth. Always keep your
mind on the straight, meritorious track that will make it suit-
able [for pursuing the ultimate realization].
In short, the essential purpose of the four chapters pre-
sented hitherto is to instruct you on how to withdraw your
mind from samsara, If you adhere to these instructions,
whatever meritorious acts you perform will remain consistent
with the three perfect principles.
It is said:
Virtue is like a medicinal plant;

Whoever touches it will be benefited.
Vice is like a poisonous plant; <203>
Whoever touches it will be destroyed.
As stated, you can turn anyone with whom you have con-
tact toward the sublime Dharma through the pure power of
your virtuous mind. Great merits for yourself and others will
increase continuously. During all your future births you will
never be born in the lower regions into which heretics fall.
You will acquire the unique physical bodies possessed by the
gods and men in the upper regions. At the least, wherever a
person who has Dharma resides, merit, goodness, and the
protection of the gods will always prevail.
Although I know the varieties of cause and effect, my

faith is weak.
Although I have heard the noble Dharma many times, I
leave it unpracticed.
May I and sentient beings like me, who behave badly,
Be blessed to merge our minds with the Dharma.
This is the analytical instruction on the cause and effect of

karma.
[Preface to Chapters Five and Six]
Many learned saints accepted him as a follower;

Carrying out the instructions of his Gurus, he put [the
teachings] into practice;
He showed [his followers] the unmistaken, supreme
path of freedom;
The instructions in [Chapter] Five, The Benefit of Freedom,

and [Chapter] Six, Following a Spiritual Teacher, [consist of]
the manner of listening to [the Dharma], which is the same as
[before], and the main subjects to be explained.
185
CHAPTER FIVE
The Benefit of Freedom
"Freedom" means to be liberated from this great ocean of

samsaric suffering. To attain any of the [liberated] states
achieved by the Sravakas, Pratyekabuddhas, or Bodhisattvas
is freedom. [The instruction on the benefit of freedom 1] is
twofold:
1. The Cause [of Attaining the State of Freedom];
2. The Result: [The State of Freedom].
1 THE CAUSE [OF ATTAINING THE STATE OF

FREEDOM]
First, beginning with the difficulty of obtaining leisure and
endowment, the four kinds of practices that turn the mind
[away from samsaraF should make your mind suitable for the
practice [of Dharma]. As regards the specific instru ctions of
the subsequent chapters, beginning with the taking of refuge
that lays the foundation-stone for all the paths, up to the en d
of all the chapters which cover the accomplishment of the
main subject of the path;' they will be expounded, along with
their benefits, as the chapters are dealt with individually.
1 t'ar-pay p'en-yon / thar.pa'i phe n.yon

2 lo-dog nam-zhi / blo.ldog rnam.bzi / i.e., the subjects of Part O ne,
Chapters One through Four
3 i.e., the subjects of Part Two, Chapters One thr ough Six, and Part
Three
187
2 THE RESULT: [THE STATE OF FREEDOM]

To obtain any of the Sravakas', Pratyekabuddhas', or
Bodhisattvas' three ultimate goals is to attain peace, tran-
quility, and freedom from the narrow passages of worldly
suffering. Hence, how happy you should be! Since you have
encountered Mahayana [Buddhism] in this life, you should
practice everything-the ten meritorious actions, the four
immeasurable virtues," the six paramitas, the four kinds of
dhyana," the four kinds of formless dhyana," sarnatha and
vipasana meditation," and so on -with the sole intention to
achieve the perfect enlightenment.
While thinking thus, perform your practices with remem-
brance of the three perfect pri nciples: [1] mental preparation
by developing bodhicitta; [2] the main practice of non-con-
ceptual meditation; and [3] subsequent dedication of the
merits with proper prayers.
4 see Part Two, Chapter Two

5 sam-ten zhi / bsam.gtan bzi / see Part Two, Chapter Two
6 zug-me zhi / gzugs.med bii
? zhi-l'ag nyi / ii.lhag gnis / concentration and insight
CHAPTER SIX
Following a Spiritual Teacher
With regard to the instruction on following a spiritual

teacher,' <205> in all the Sutras, Tantras, and Sastras, there is
no account that tells of anyone who attained Buddhahood
without a Guru. Also, it is obvious that no one has achieved
the virtues of the spiritual stages and paths through guess-
work and self-concoctions: [lacking a Guru], all sentient be-
ings, yourself included, will simply follow a wrong path. As
regards the path of freedom and omniscience, you are like a
blindman bewildered on a desolate plain. [Similarly], there is
no example of anyone who obtained gems from a jewel-island
without relying on a sea captain. Spiritual teachers and spiri-
tual friends are the real guides to the freedom and omni-
science [of Buddhahood] . Therefore, you must rely on them
with respect. To do so, [you must know] three things:
1. How to Examine the Guru;
2. How to Follow the Guru;
3. How to Learn [the Manner in Which the Guru] Thinks
and Acts.
1 HOW TO EXAMINE THE GURU

In general, because ordinary people are easily changed by
immediate conditions, such as [the influence of] friends, at all
times and under all circumstances, they should rely on spiri-
tual teachers and spiritual friends. For example, if a log of
1 shey-nyen ten-pay t'ri/ bses.grien bsten.pa'i khrid
189
ordinary wood remains in a sandalwood forest for many

years, <206> it too will acquire a sweet aroma. Similarly, if
you rely on, and abide by, a virtuous, noble person, the sweet
aroma of his virtue will suffuse you, and the whole of your
behavior will become like his.
As it is saidr'
Just as in a dense forest of sandalwood trees,

Where even the stray log of ordinary wood
Acquires the fragrance of sand alwood from the constant
touch of the moist branches and leaves,
Things acquire the qualities of that with which they
associate.
During the present deteriorated period, finding a Gu ru

who is perfectly endowed with all the characteristics de-
scribed in the precious Tantras is difficult. Nevertheless,
whoever he may be, the Guru on whom you rely must defi-
nitely have all these qual ities: a pure lineage, due to the fact
that his [behavior] is not contrary to the allowances and pro-
hibitions of the three vows, which are the outer vow of indi-
vidual liberation, the inner vow of bodhicitta, and the secret
tantric vow; clear and wide understanding of the subjects of
the Sutras, Tantras, an d Sastras: a mind saturated with affec-
tion and kindness for the boundless sentient beings, [each of]
whom he regards as his only child; expertise in the exoteric
methods of the Tripitaka and the esoteric rituals of the four
classes of Tantra; clear evidence that, as a result of having
put the meaning [of the Dharma] into practice, he has fully
attained the extraordinary virtues of the insight [that stems
from] abandoning [the obscurations];' and [the ability] to
draw fortunate followers by the power of the four attractions:
charity, soothing speech, serving the causes of others, and
acting in accord with the Dharma. <207> These he must
have.
2 This verse is from Jig-me Ling-pa's Yon-ten Rin-po-ch'ey Dzo, as are

the majority of unci ted verses that follow throughout the chapter.
3 pang-tog / spans.rtogs
Following a Spiritual Teacher 191
One who has perfected all the methods of the noble

Dharma is,
Due to the power of this deteriorated time, difficult to
find.
Yet, since he has purified his [mental] ground by
[observing] the allowances and prohibitions of the
three vows,
Has moistened [it] with learning and great compassion,
Is expert in dealing with the ocean-like Pitakas and
Tantras,
Is enriched by the undefiled fru it of the wisdom of
ins ight [attained after] abandoning [obscuration],"
And with the four essences of attraction, a multi-col ored
blossom,
Gathers fortunate followers like bees -he shoul d be
followed.
In particular, a Guru who imparts the profound instru c-

tions of the esoteric Vajrayana should, as described in the
precious Tantras, have been matured through receiving an
unbroken chain of initiations; have fully observed the obliga-
tions and vows he undertook when receiving those initiations;
be tranquil and disciplined, because he suffers from fewer
miseries and superstitions [than ordinary people]; have com-
prehensive knowledge of the meaning of the basis, path, and
goal of all the secret Vajrayana Tantras; have had visions of
the tutelary deities and so on, which are the indications of
having completed the cycle of mantra recitation and of hav-
ing obtained perfection in meditation; have attained self-lib-
eration, because he fully understands the real meaning of the
ultimate truth; strive only to benefit others, because his mind
is filled with compassion; have little to do, because he has
abandoned attachment to this worldly life; be earnestly inter-
ested in the Dharma, because he is concerned with the life
hereafter; <208> have remorse and encourage others as well
to have remorse, because he sees samsara as misery; be ex-
4 pang-tog ye-shey / spans.rtogs ye.ses

pert in attracting disciples with means suited [to their indi-

vidual natures]; and should possess the blessings pertaining to
his spiritual lineage, because he has obeyed his Guru. It is on
such a [Guru] you should rely.
It is said:
In particular, the Guru who imparts the secret

techniques [of the Vajrayana]
Should have received initiations, have maintained the
[tantric] bond, and should be extremely peaceful.
He should be well-versed in the basis, path, and goal [of
the Tantras],
Should have the signs of having completed the mantras
and perfected the practices of meditation,
And should have liberated himself through insight.
He should have limitless compassion and care only for
others,
Have little to do and intensely think of the Dharma,
Have great remorse and encourage it in others also,
Be resourceful in means, and have the blessings of his
spiritual lineage.
If you follow someone like that, you can quickly [attain]
accompllshment.l
On the contrary, you should abandon a so-called "guru"

who has the following characteristics: one who has not the
slightest knowledge of hearing, contemplating, and meditat-
ing on [the Dharma], yet thinks, "Being the royal son or
cousin of such and such a Guru, I am superior to others;
furthermore, my family lineages are also superior" -like a
Brahmin preserving his caste; or, one who has some slight
knowledge of hearing, contemplating, and meditating on [the
Dharma], but has acquired it not with a pure motivation, [that
is], for the purpose of life hereafter, <209> but rather for the
sake of this life, fearing that his [own] Guru's center, at which
place he resides, will decl ine in importance. One who does
such things is said to be like a wooden grinder, [Which is inca-
5 ngo-drub / dnos.grub / S. siddhiphala

pable of grinding a hard substance]: he cannot transform the

wild mind of a student.
Although [such a "guru"] has no knowledge that distin-
guishes him from an ordinary person, because some fools
show faith in him without scrutinizing him, he acquires a high
place. Honor and gifts make his ego swell to such an extent
that his' mind becomes filled with arrogance, and hence he
cannot appreciate the noble qualities [of others]. Such a per-
son is called "a frog in a well."
There once was an old frog who had lived all his life in a
well. A sea frog once paid him a visit.
"Where do you come from?" asked the frog in the well.
"I come from the great ocean," replied the other.
"How big is your ocean?"
"It's very large," came the reply.
"Could it be one-fourth the size of my well?"
"Bigger than that."
"Half of it?"
"No, bigger than that."
"Well then, is it as large as this well?"
"There is no comparison."
"Such a thing could not possibly exist. I must see it."
They went off together, and when the frog from the well
saw the ocean, it is said that he fainted, cracked his head, and
died.
Becau se [a false "guru"] has not studied with a learned
Guru and has not practiced the Sutras and Tantras, he has lit-
tle learning. Because he has coarse mental delusions and is
lacking in remembrance and watchfulness, <210> he breaks
his vows and betrays the [tantric] bond. Although his [level
of] spiritual development is lower than that of a common
person, he acts as if he were a realized yogi. Hence, he
behaves in a lofty manner. Because of his hatred and his
malicious criticism [of others], his towrope of loving-kindness
and compassion is broken. Such a "spiritual teacher" is
called "a mad guide": he will lead you on a wrong path.
In particular, a "guru" whose knowledge does not exceed
your own and who lacks loving-kindness and compassion-
bodhicitta - is called "a blind guide." [Such a "guru"] cannot
open your eyes to what you should adopt and what you
should renounce.
It is said:
One who, like a Brahmin, preserves his caste,

Or, one who fears for his center's decline,
Learns and thinks with an improper aim, which is like
bathing in a [contaminated] tank [in the hope of
being purified].
A guide who is like a wooden grinder,
Although his nature does not transcend that of a
common person,
Secures [an honored] place because of the unfounded
faith of fools.
Becoming arrogant due to the wealth and respect he
receives,
Such a "spiritual teacher" is like a frog in a well;
His learning being little, he betrays the vows and
[tantric] bond.
One whose understanding is inferior, yet whose
behavior floats beyond the earthly level,
One whose towrope of loving-kindness and compassion
is broken-
Such a mad guide propagates sin.
In particular, as he has no more virtue than do you,
If the fame of he who has no bodhicitta leads you to
follow him, <211>
You will make the great mistake of having a blindman
for a guide;
Associating with an impostor, you will go astray in the
dense darkness [of ignorance].
Therefore, the great O-gyen Rin-po-ch'e said:
Having an unexamined Guru is like drinking poison;

Having an unexamined disciple is like jumping ofT a
clifT.
Because the Guru is the one on whom you must depend

throughout many rebirths [in the future] and the one who
shows you the things you should avoid and those you should
adopt, if you find a false "guru" through lack of proper
examination, you will ruin the meritorious virtues you may
have earned during a whole lifetime as a faithful follower.
The favorable state you have obtained in this life will be ren-
dered useless. For example, this is like mistaking the coil of a
venomous snake at the foot of a tree for shade, so that you
are killed when you approach the tree.
It is said:
Therefore, if the noble teacher is not carefully

examined,
The devotee's virtuous merits will be wasted.
You who have found [this] one opportunity of leisure
Will be deceived by mistaking
A poisonous snake for the sh ade of a tree.
Hence, you must thoroughly examine the Guru so that you

make no mistake in finding one with the aforementioned
qualities. And, having found him, you should not fail to treat
him as a real Buddha. Such a fully qualified Guru is [in fact]
the compassionate wisdom of all the Buddhas of the ten di-
rections, <212> manifesting in human form solely for the sake
of those sentient beings who are ready to be delivered.
It is said:
A Guru endowed with all these qualities

Embodies the compassionate wisdom of all the
Buddhas.
Appearing in human form in the world of discip les,
He is the paramount root of all accomplishments.
For the sake of promoting his followers through skillful

means, such a Guru may, at present, be behaving like a com-
mon man. But in the real sense, his mind equals that of the
Buddha, and therefore he is altogether different from an
ordinary person. All his actions are done solely in order to
adjust to the nature of his followers, and you should definitely

regard them as thoughtful conduct which is superior to that of
others. Expert in eliminating doubt, and patient with the
misconduct, dejection, and fatigue of his followers, he acts
like the mother of an only child.
It is said:
In the sense of the gradual method, he accords with all;

In the sense of the abrupt method, he is altogether
contrary to all;
Because of his profound insight, he surpasses all.
Expert in eliminating doubts, he is patient with
misconduct, dejection, and fatigue.
Such a Guru, one well endowed with all virtues, is like a

great ship that crosses the ocean of sarnsara; like a navigator
who makes no mistakes in charting the way to freedom and
omniscience; <213> like a rain of nectar that extinguishes the
massive, blazing fire of karma and delusion; like the sun and
moon that clear the dense darkness of ignorance and br ing
the light of Dharma; like the earth that can accommodate dif-
ferent views and actions, and endure ingratitude and despon-
dency; like a [wish-fulfilling] tree, the source of all virtues,
that provides benefit for the present life and comfort for the
next; like an excellent vase that stores an inconceivable num-
ber of doctrinal schools and views, and answers all needs; like
a wish-fulfilling gem, forming the ocean-like source that pro-
vides accomplishment in the four different types of action;"
like a loving parent, treating the boundless number of sen-
tient beings impartially-making no distinctions, whether they
are close relations or strangers, [deserving of] love or hatred;
like a river, for his compassion is great, being mindful of sen-
tient beings equal to the limits of the sky, and especially swift
to flow to suffering beings who have no protector; like Mount
Sumeru, for his sympathetic joy remains unchanged by jeal-
ousy and unshaken by the wind that mistakes falsehood for
6 pacifying, increasing, wielding authority, and applying force

truth; like a rain-bearing cloud, for his impartiality is unper-

turbed by attachment and hatred.
It is said:
Like a great ship that crosses over the ocean of

samsara;
Like a true sea captain who is undeluded as to the best
course;
Like a rain of nectar that exti nguishes the fire of bad
karma and delusion; <214>
Like the sun and moon th at dispel the darkness of
ignorance;
Like the earth th at has enormous forbearance;
Like the wish-[fulfilling] tree that is the source of
benefit and pleasure;
Like a noble vase that holds a treasure of Dharma;
Like something that surpasses even the all-producing,
wish-fulfilling gem;
Like a loving parent who has equal affection for all;
Like a river of compassion, swift and mighty;
Like Mount Sumeru, [whose] happiness is unchanging;
Like a rain-bearing cloud whose impartiality is
unperturbed....
From the standpoint of grace and blessings, such a Guru is

equal to all the Buddhas. A good relationship [with him] will
provide Buddhahood in one lifetime, and a bad one will pro-
vide liberation toward the end of the world.
It is said:
Such a Guru equals all the Buddhas.

If even one who harms him makes contact with the path
of bliss,
Upon a person who follows him with genuine faith,
The virtues of his exalted state and highest good
will shower like rain.
2 HOW TO FOLLOW THE GURU

From the Don-po Ko-pa:
Nobly born child, assume yourself to be a patient. , , ,
There are many such analogies. For example, an ailing

patient seeks expert doctors; a traveler journeying on a dan-
gerous road engages heroic escorts for protection; <215>
those who are facing thieves, robbers, ferocious animals, and
other [dangers] seek [body]guards for protection; seafarers
need the help of the navigator; those who intend to cross a
river in a boat depend on the boatman. Similarly, to protect
yourself from the dangers of birth , death, and delusion, you
must depend on a Guru and on spiritual teachers.
It is said:
Just as patients [depend] on a doctor,

Travelers on an escort,
Those facing danger on a pro tector,
Merchants on a sea cap tain,
And passengers on a boatman,
One who fears the enemies- bir th, death, an d delusion -
should depend [on a Gu ru ].
You should have a great armor of courage, so that you do

nothing con trary to the wishes of your Guru and spiritual
teachers, even at the cost of your life. You must possess ex-
tr eme ly well-founded wisdom, so that no incidental causes
can change your views. [You should] sacrifice your life an d
bo dy for the sake of caring for your Guru an d obeying his
words, without considering yourself at all. Such a devotee at -
tains liberati on solely thro ugh devotion to the Guru.
Having a great armor [of courage] and firm wisdom,

Offering service heedless of body and life,
Obeying [the Guru's] instructions without thinking of
himself-
Such a person is liberated by devotion alone.
Your faith should be great, <216> so that you can see the
Guru as a real Buddha. Your intelligence and [ability to]
learn should be great, so that you can understand how the
mental behavior of [such a] resourceful expert functions and
can grasp whatever sublime Dharma he teaches. You should
have great, affectionate compassion for those who suffer
from miseries and have no protector. You should respect the
vows and [tantric] bond with which the Guru has entrusted
you. Your body, speech, and mind should be peaceful and
subdued. You should be able to accommodate any behavior
that the Guru and your spiritual teachers [may manifest].
You should be a great offerer, for you should spend whatever
you have for the sake of the Guru. Since your mind should
not have the defect of bad thoughts, you should always have a
transcendent outlook." You should know that if you do any-
thing demeritorious, you will incur the displeasure of the no-
ble Guru, and hence you should behave discreetly. In these
aforesaid ways, you should follow the Guru.
It is said:
One who has devotion, transcendent wisdom, [the

ability to] learn, and great compassion,
Respects the vows and [tantric] bond, is disciplined in
body, speech and mind,
Is broadminded, generous, of transcendent outlook,
modest. ...
Thus, in this way, at all times and under all circumstances,

your behavior and manner of doing things should conform to
his views.
You should be expert in restraining yourself from doing
whatever will not be to his liking. Like an excellent horse,
even if he reprimands you fiercely, do not become angry and
quarrelsome. Like a ferry, have no complaints while doing
errands for your Guru. <217> Like a bridge, be tolerant of
whatever kind of work the Guru may assign you, whether
7 dag-nang / dag.snan / to view all conceptual things as pure, as they are

seen by an undeluded mind
good or bad. Like a blacksmith's anvil, forbear while dealing

with all kinds of difficulties, [such as] cold and heat. Like a
serf or servant, be obedient. Like one who sweeps the floor,
have no arrogance, but be humble. Like a bull that has lost
its horns, abandon vanity [and be respectful to all]. It is
stated in the Don-po Ko-pa and other Sutras that you should
follow the Guru with all these kinds of humility.
Like a hero, he protects the Guru extremely weH;

Like an excellent horse, he does not react to the Guru's
reproach;
Like a boat, he expresses no sorrow in going back and
forth [on errands];
Like a bridge, he forbears everything, whether good or
bad;
Like an anvil, he can tolerate heat and cold;
Like a serf or servant, he obeys whatever the [Guru]
commands;
Like one who sweeps and cleans, he is free of arrogance:
Like a hornless bull, he has no vanity;
"Follow the Guru in this way," the Pitakas state.
You should please the Guru by making three kinds of of-

ferings. The best [offering] is called "the offering of prac-
tice," which refers to practicing all of whatever Dharma you
have been taught by your Guru, while enduring hardship with
perseverance. The intermediate [offering] is that of body and
speech, <218> which refers to rendering physical. vocal, and
mental services to the Guru. The inferior way to please the
Guru is through making liberal offerings of material things
such as food and wealth.
It is said:
If you have wealth, offer it to the Fourth Jewel.

Homage, reverence, the use of vocal and physical
services, and the like,
WilJ never go to waste.
Of the three [ways to] please him, practicing [the
Dharma] is the best.
In whatsoever incomprehensible manner the Guru may

behave, you should know that it [represents] skillful behavior
[which is being manifested for the sake of meeting some
need], and you should regard it as perfect.
Long ago, when the Pandit Naropa was functioning as a
learned and well-attained scholar, his tutelary deity said to
him, "The superb being Tilopa is the Guru of your chain of
previous lives. Go to eastern India [and find him]."
He immediately left for the east, but he did not know
where to find Tilopa. When he inquired of the local people,
they said, "We do not know who Tilopa is."
"Was there ever one named Tilopa in this area?" he in-
sisted.
"There is a beggar called Tilopa, Tilopa the Destitute,"
came the reply.
At this, Naropa told himself, "That might be he, since
there is no certainty about the way in which a realized person
may behave." So he inquired further, asking, "Where does
that beggar, Tilopa, live?"
"Over there," they responded, "in that ruined foundation
of a building where you can see smoke."
When Naropa went there, he saw Tilopa sitting with a dish
full of dead and live fish before him. <219> He observed
Tilopa picking up a fish, roasting it in the fire, and simultane-
ously snapping his fingers as he put it into his mouth. He
prostrated to Tilopa and requested to be taken as a disciple.
"What do you mean? I am only a beggar," said the Guru.
But, after he persisted in his request, Tilopa accepted him.
Tilopa's behavior did not mean that he was hungry, had
nothing to eat, and was killing the fish. Rather, the fish were
beings of bad karma who had failed, due to their stupidity, to
choose right over wrong. Tilopa had the spiritual power to
liberate them [from the lower realms]. Therefore, he used
their material bodies [to make] a karmic connection [with
them], and then transported their consciousnesses to the Pure
Lands. Similarly, Sarahapa pretended to be an arrow-maker,
Savaripa to be a hunter, and so forth. Thus, almost all the
highly realized sages of India were found in the form of fish-
ermen or people in extreme destitution. In whatever way
Gurus behave, do not view them with any antipathy; you must
practice [maintaining] a solely transcendent outlook.
It is said:
Whatever be their behavior, do not view them with

antipathy.
Most of the great sages of India appeared as fishermen,
outcasts, sinners, and ordinary beings.
Not only did they appear dissipated, they even appeared
to be extremely degenerate.
If, on the contrary, you observe [a Guru's seeming] mis-

takes with an antagonistic view, "through long association
you will see faults even in a Buddha." <220>
As in that saying, even He who was a Buddha was viewed
as having faults. In the fast, Lord Buddha's half brother, the
monk Leg-pay Kar-ma, served the Buddha for twenty-four
years. Although he could recite the twelve Pitakas by heart,
he found all Lord Buddha's activities to be deceitful. Devel-
oping unmanageable antipathy, he thought himself the equal
of Lord Buddha in everything, except for the light rays an
arm-span in length [that emanated from the Buddha's body].
For twenty-four years have I served You.

Except for Your body that [emanates] an arm-span's
length of light,
I do not see any knowledge even the size of a sesame
seed in You.
I am more learned in Dharma.
I see no reason to serve my equal.
So saying, he left.
Kun-ga-wo, a disciple of Lord Buddha, asked where Leg-
pay Kar-ma would be reborn. [The Buddha] said that Leg-
pay Kar-ma would die in a week's time and be reborn as a
preta in a flower garden. Kun -ga-wo paid a visit to Leg-pay
Kar-ma and told him what the Buddha had said. Leg-pay
8 legs.pa'i skar.ma / S. Sunaksatra

Kar-ma reflected tha t, at times, the "lies" told by the Buddha

had turned out to be true. He decided to be very careful for a
week, so that once the week had passed [and he was still
alive], he could criticize Him. Thinking thus, he did not eat
for a week. On the night of the seventh day he felt thirsty,
<221> drank water which he could not digest, and died. He
was reborn as a preta with nine ugly marks on his body.
Thus, if you see defects in the behavior of the noble Guru,
you sho uld reproach yourself. You should think as follows,
"[This illusory defect] is due to my own eyes and mind, which
are not clear. There can not be an iota of defect or fault in his
behavior." Thinking thus, you should develop greater faith
and a faultless view [towards the Guru].
It is said:
Lacking in th e power of self-control, the faul t-finde r

suffered immeasurable retri bution.
The way in which the monk Kar-zang." who knew the
twelve Pita kas by heart,
Was st ru ck by the power of sin and viewed the Buddh a' s
activi ties as deceitful should be well-considered.
Think carefully and reform yourself.
Similarly, you may feel that the noble Guru is particularly

hostile towards you. Instead of becoming angry, think that he
finds it necessary to assume that rough attitude in order to
deal with the defects he sees in you. When he calms down, go
to him, confess your mistakes, and rejuvenate your vows.
It is said:
If you see hostility in the Guru ,

He has perceived your defects and is subduing them
harshly, <222>
Knowing the time to be appropriate;
[Therefore], confess and [renew] the vow.
An intelligent person does not fall under Mara's
influence.
9 i.e., Leg-pay Kar-ma

Usually, when you are in the presence of the Guru, you

should not remain seated when he rises; you should get up at
once. You should inquire about his health and provide him
with whatever things he may need.
If you are accompanying him when he goes out, do not
walk before him, because you will be showing him your back.
If you walk behind him, you will be treading on his footprints,
which you should not do. If you walk to his right, you will be
occupying the head of the row, which you should not do.
Therefore, as a follower, walk respectfully on the Guru's left
side, a little to the rear. If there is danger [on the road, in or-
der to protect him], with his permission, there is no mistake
in walking ahead of him.
Regarding the Guru's carpets and horses, neither tread on
the former nor ride on the latter. Even the doors [of his
house] should be closed and opened gently, not forcefully.
You should neither overly display physical beauty nor mani-
fest a grumpy face. Avoid telling him what is not true, <223>
talking at random without careful observation, joking, play-
ing, laughing, and [engaging in] meaningless and irrelevant
gossip. Have a sense of respect and [an attitude of] reveren-
tial fear, and do not be disdainful; rather, cultivate a peaceful
manner.
It is said:
When the Lama gets up, do not remain seated.

When he is sitting, inquire of his health and provide
what he wants.
When he moves about, as a follower, go neither before
him, behind him, nor to his right.
The use of his seat and horse, and [indulging in] con-
temptuous talk, diminishes your merit.
Banging doors, displaying vanity, showing a grumpy
face,
Telling lies, gossiping, joking, and laughing should be
abandoned.
Follow him with a calm body, speech, and mind.
If there is someone who speaks ill of the Guru and is hos-

tile towards him, you should not befriend him. If you have
the power to make him alter his view of disregard for the
Guru and his speaking ill of him, you should do so. If you
cannot, then you should avoid the pleasure of talking with
him.
It is said:
If someone speaks ill of the Guru and bear s a hostile

attitude towards him, avoid befriending him;
However, if you can, change his attitude.
If you talk with [such a person] pleasantly, the
influence of sin will genera te a tremendous force,
And will render the [tantric] bond defective.
In the same way, however long you have associated with

the followers of the Guru and your Vajra brothers and sisters,
<224> do not grow vexed and become contemptuous of them.
Rather, be as easily adaptable as a belt. In responding to any
[of their] immediate needs, give up your feeling of superiority
and be as responsive as salt [is to water]. Even if those who
oppose you speak ill of you, quarrel with you, or place an un -
bearable load on you, be as enduring as a pillar and continue
your friendship with them.
It is said:
Be as adaptable as a belt,
As responsive as salt,
And as enduring as a pillar.
Be friendly with the Guru's followers and your Vajra
friends.
3 HOW TO LEARN [THE MANNER IN WHICH] THE

GURU THINKS AND ACTS
Thus, by remembering all the ways of following the Guru,
you should behave like swans that live in an excellent pond,
and without muddying the water, enjoy playing in it; and like
bees that visit a flower garden, and without damaging the
color or fragrance of the flowers, collect the nectar and fly

away. In the same way, without being oppressed or discour-
aged by a sense of dejection or tiredness, you should fulfill
the orders of the Guru and uphold his appreciation [of you].
Depending on the effect of faith and perseverance, your re-
ceiving and absorbing the entire wisdom of learning, thinking,
and meditating that the noble Guru has within him should be
like the pouring of the contents of one perfect flask into an-
other. <225>
Like swans that dwell in a superior pond,

And like bees that taste the nectar of flowers,
With behavior [that shows] amazing and eternal
friendship,
Without sadness or fatigue,
Hold the Guru's appreciation,
And taste the virtues your faith attracts [in turn].
Similarly, when the noble Guru is putting bodhicitta into

practice in order to accrue a tremendous amount of relative
and absolute merit, you yourself should make some small ma-
terial contribution, offer vocal and physical service, or, in the
least, offer appreciation by agreeing with whatever he has un-
dertaken. By so doing, you will obtain the same amount of
merit that the noble Guru has acquired through his unique
motivation.
For example, once there were two travelers who happened
to visit central and western Tibet. For rations, one of the m
had a small quantity of black pea flour, which he mixed with a
quantity of good barley flour belonging to the other man . A
few days later, the man with the greater amount of ba rley
flour sa id to him, "By now your pea flour shou ld be finished."
"I wonder. Let's have a look in the bag," he replied. Th ey
found that the pea flour was still there. In the same way, al-
though they inspected it many times, <226> they could [still]
see the pea flour. Thus, they had to ea t the whole of the
flour together.
As in this example, whatever merits others may be earning,
if you join them by making a small material contribution or
by [performing] a physical or vocal service, you too will enjoy

that merit equally. In particular, immediate services to the
Guru, such as running errands, carrying messages, and in the
least, sweeping the floor of his residence, are an unmistak-
able way to earn merit. Therefore, put forth your best effort
in performing them.
It is said:
When the Noble One is earnestly practicing to earn the

relative and absolute merits,
Behave in an agreeable manner;
Serve, run errands, sweep, and clean:
These are the best methods by which to earn merit that
will bring rewarding fruits of labor.
As an object for taking refuge, and [as a means] for earn-

ing merits as well, there is nothing that surpasses the Guru.
In particular, when he is bestowing initiations, preaching, and
so forth, the supreme merits and blessings of all the Buddhas
and Bodhisattvas of the three times and ten directions enter
him. [At that time,] he is no different from all the Buddhas.
By offering him even a morsel of food at that time, you will
earn more merits than you would by making <227> hundreds
of thousands of offerings at other times.
When visualizing [the forms of] deities during Mahayoga
meditation, if you regard them as the forms of deities, while
recognizing them to be intrinsically no other than your own
Root-Guru, the blessings will enter you speedily. Every [as-
pect of] the growth of primordial wisdom 10 in your mind
through Anuyoga meditation is wholly due to the power of
your devotion to the Guru, [which] draws the blessings of the
insight of his primordial consciousness into you. Since all the
meditative methods, such as the two classes of Mahayoga and
Anuyoga, aim at the attainment of the essence that is em-
bodied in the Guru, all the Sutras and Tantras state that the
Guru is actually a Buddha.
10 ye-shey / ye.ses / the wisdom of the Buddha, as opposed to nam-shey /

rnam.ses, the knowledge of sentient beings
It is said:
Why do taking refuge and the field of [earning] merit

[Depend on] the two processes of Outer and Inner
Guru Yoga?
It is because the essence of the attainment of Mahayoga
and Anuyoga is embodied in him,
For all the SiJtras and Tantras have shown him to be a
Buddha.
Thus, although the noble Guru is the spiritual equal of all

the Buddhas, for the sake of liberating unrealized beings like
ourselves, he has incarnated in human form and is actually
living [among us]. This is the time [when] you should follow
exactly whatever he instructs. By offering him the three kinds
of service, do your best to transform your mind so that it be-
comes identical with his mind.
On the contrary, some do not serve him, respect him, obey
him, <228> and so forth while he is alive. Rather, they claim
to meditate on a picture of him drawn after his death. Others
claim to be meditating on the ultimate nature, but they are
seeking something profound from somewhere other than
[where it can be found]. They do not offer faith, devotion, or
prayers to transfer from their [Guru's] mind to their own the
virtue he has acquired by abandoning [what should be aban-
doned] and realizing [what should be realized]. They are
called "those who confuse the means with the end." Those
who meet the Guru and obtain his guidance in the bar-do do
so because of their immeasurable faith, which meets with the
force of the Guru's mercy and goodwill. As the Guru does
not physically manifest in the bar-do, if you have no faith ,
however powerful the Guru may be, there is no way for him
to lead you through the bar-do.
It is said:
Most fools paint images [of the Guru] and meditate on

them;
They offer him no service when he is actually alive.
Without knowing the Guru's mind, they claim to

meditate on the ultimate nature.
How deluded they are to confuse the means with the
end!
Lacking faith and devotion, how amazing it is to expect
[to meet] him in the bar-dol
At the beginning, be expert in examuung the Guru.

"Examining the Guru at the beginning" means to examine
him thoroughly before you receive initiations and teachings
from him. If he has the complete characteristics of a Guru,
you should follow him; if they are incomplete, <229> do not.
But once you have accepted him as your Guru, view whatever
he does as pure, regard it as entirely virtuous, and develop
faith and a transcendent outlook. If you find fault with him,
you will accrue unimaginable sufferings.
In general, when testing a Guru, you should see that he has
all the qualities of a Guru mentioned in the Sutras and Tan-
tras. But in particular, he certainly should have bodhicitta in
his mind. In short, if you are testing the Guru, your sole cri-
terion should be whether or not he possesses bodhicitta. If
he has bodhicitta, he will show his disciples whatever is best
for them in their present and future lives. Hence, it is impos-
sible that he will not meaningfully serve their purpose. Since
the Dharma shown by that Guru is connected with the Maha-
yana path, in every respect it follows the perfect path. The
"guru" who has no bodhicitta is contaminated with self-
ishness; he will not be able to subdue thoroughly the minds of
the disciples. However secret and wonderful the Dharma he
teaches may appear to be, ultimately you will find that [his
teaching] has been given only for the sake of this life. Thus,
here lies the entire secret criterion for testing a Guru. If his
mind is filled with bodhicitta, <230> however poor his exter-
nal appearance may be, you should follow him. One whose
mind is severed from bodhicitta is not to be followed, no mat-
ter how much he may demonstrate a temporary feeling of
withdrawal from sarnsara, remorse, the signs of tenacity in
practice, and the appearance of excellent behavior.
However, the extraordinary qualifications hidden in the

minds of the great beings who remain incognito cannot be
understood by ordinary beings like us, even with our best ef-
forts in examining them. On the other hand, even ordinary
impostors are expert in deceiving others by behaving exactly
like noble people. The Guru with whom you are connected
from your previous life is important. Meeting with, listening
to, or, at the least, hearing the name of such a Guru will gen-
erate such faith in you that the hair on your body will stand
on end and your mental attitude will be transformed. That
sort of Guru is one with whom you have been connected
throughout your previous lives, and you need not test him.
In the past, Rong-ton L'a-ga told Je-tsun Mi-la , "The Guru
connected with your past lives is in the Dro-wo-lung Monas-
tery in the south. He is known as the superior man, the king
of translators, Mar-pa Lo-tsa-wa. You should go there. "
At that instant, when the Je-tsun heard the name of Mar-
pa, a unique faith grew in the depths of his heart. Even if it
were to cost him his life, he thought, he would go to meet
that Guru and obtain his merciful blessings. <231> When he
went to see the Guru, Mar-pa came to receive the Je-tsun
under the pretense of ploughing his field. As they met on the
road, although the Je-tsun did not recognize him as the Guru,
the Je-tsun said that his mind, which was actively engaged in
thoughts of this world, stopped for a while, and he found
himself in an immobile state.
In general, you will find a Guru depending on whether
your conceptual mind is pure or not, and also through the in-
fluence of karma. In whatever poor state he may be, you
must not fail to regard the Guru to whom you owe gratitude
for teaching you the Dharma and secret instructions as the
real Buddha. If you have no karmic link, you will not have
the fortune to meet with a noble Guru. If your vision is not
pure, even if you meet with a real Buddha, you will not have
the power to recognize him as one who is endowed with
virtues. The Guru you meet because of your previous karma
and from whom you receive kindness is the most important.
Secondly, when you are following the Guru, overcome any
difficulties such as heat, cold, or thirst; fulfill any orders that
the Guru may pass on to you; and offer him devotional and
respectful prayers. While following your present schedule,
consult with the Guru and follow his suggestions. Follow the
Guru by having full faith in him.
Thirdly, "learning [the Guru's] thoughts and actions"
<232> means that you should observe all the acts of the noble
Guru closely, and learn how you can act in exactly the same
way yourself.
As the worldly saying goes:
All things are done by mimicry;

That which is done best [reflects] the most skillful
mimicry.
As in that saying, the practice of the Dharma generally

refers to mimicking the doings of the Buddhas and Bodhisat-
tvas of the past. Wh en a disciple follows a Guru, he is learn-
ing to be like the Guru. Hence, he should learn how to think
an d act exactly like the Guru. For exa mple, a disciple fol-
lowing a Guru should be like taking a sa-tsa fro m its mold.
Just as a clay cast takes on all the patterns of its mold, the full
qua ntity of the virtue in the Guru's mind should be present
[in that of the disciple]. If that is impossible, at least a some-
what similar [amount of] virtue certainly must be present.
Thus, it is said that one who is initially expert in testing the
Guru, secondly expert in foIlowing the Guru, and thirdly ex-
pert in learning how the Guru thinks and acts, will certainly
traverse the sublime path.
First, be expert in examining the Guru,

Second, be expert in following the Guru,
Third, be expert in learning how the Guru thinks and
acts-
Such a person will traverse the noble path.
Therefore, having found a noble spiritual teacher endowed

with all the [requisite] virtues, <233> in the course of follow-
ing him do not consider your body and life; rather, follow him
as the Bodhisattva Tag-tu-ngu'! followed the Bodhisattva

Cho-p'ag;'? as Pan-ch'en Naropa followed the superior being
Tilopa; and as Je-tsun Mi-la followed L'o-drag Mar-pa.
How did the Bodhisattva Tag-tu-ngu follow Cho-p'ag?
Long ago, the Bodhisattva Tag-tu-ngu went to a desolate
place in search of the Prajnapararnita. He heard a voice from
the sky saying, "Son of good family, go to the east and you
will find the Prajnaparamita. Pay no attention to physical fa-
tigue, drowsiness, heat and cold, day and night, and the like.
Keep going, without looking to the right or left. Before you
have gone far, either you will find the Prajnapararnita written
in a book or you will hear it from a preaching monk who em-
bodies it. If the latter happens, nobly born son, you must
conceive of the one from whom you are hearing the Prajna-
paramita as the Buddha, and, venerating the Dharma, you
must follow him. Even if you see him indulging in the five
sensual pleasures, you should know it to be a Bodhisattva's
skillful means, and therefore you should not lose faith in
him." <234>
On hearing those [words], Tag-tu-ngu set off towards the
east, but he had not gone very far when he thought, "I did not
ask the voice how far I would have to go, so I will not know
how to get to where the Prajnaparamita is being pro-
pounded." Then and there he began to weep and wail, say-
ing, "Until I obtain the Prajnaparamita, I will remain without
thought as to physical fatigue, hunger and thirst, torpid sleep,
day and night, and the like." He remained contemplating,
like a mother pining over the death of her only son, [thinking]
of nothing other than when he would hear the exposition of
the Prajnapararnita.
A figure of a Buddha then appeared before him, praising
the manner in which he was searching for the Dharma. That
Buddha instructed him as follows, "At a distance of five hun-
dred leagues from here, there is a city fully developed in all
its amenities, called the City of Incense, which is built out of
11 rtag .tu.nu
/ S. Sadaprarudita
12 chos.'phags / S. Dharmodgata
seven kinds of precious jewels and surrounded by five hun-

dred parks. At its central crossing place lies the mansion of
the Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag. Made of seven precious jewels,
[the mansion] covers an area about one league [square].
Amid parks and other fully developed comforts, the Bodhi-
sattva Mahasattva Cho-p'ag lives with his followers, along
with sixty-eight thousand women. <235> They have [an abun-
dance of] the five sensual stimulants and the power to enjoy
them to the fullest extent. The Prajnapararnita is revealed
throughout all the past, present, and future times to the peo-
ple who Jive there. Go to him. From him you will hear the
Prajnaparamita."
On hearing this, Tag-tu-ngu transported himself [into a
trance]. By remaining with no thoughts in his mind, he had a
vision of that place and heard Cho-p'ag revealing the Prajna-
paramita, He also understood various entrances to medita-
tion, saw innumerable Buddhas preaching the Prajnaparamita
in the worlds of the ten directions, and saw them preaching
the Dharma and praising the Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag, The vi-
sion then disappeared. The Bodhisattva Tag-tu-ngu devel-
oped happiness, faith, and respect for the Bodhisattva Cho-
p'ag, and tried to think of how he could call on the Bodhisat-
tva Cho-p'ag.
[Tag-tu-ngu] was so poor that he had neither the clothes,
jewels , incense, beads, nor other articles used for honoring a
religious teacher with which he could pay homage to the
Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag. <236> Then he thought of paying
homage to the Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag with money realized by
selling [parts of his own] body. He said to himself,
"Throughout the beginningless samsara, an immeasurable
[number] of my bodies have been sold, and as a result of my
desire, innumerably [many] of my bodies have been destroyed
in hell, by being split and chopped. But none at all [have
been lost] for the sake of this type of Dharma or for paying
homage to such a noble personage."
Thinking thus, he went to the marketplace and shouted,
"Who needs a man? Who wants to buy a man?"
In spite of his call, no one responded. Mara the Sinner
had become jealous of the Bodhisattva Tag-tu-ngu's under-
going of penance for the sake of the Dharma, and so had

made his appeal inaudible to all. Finding no one to buy him,
Tag-tu-ngu retreated into a corner and wept continuously.
At this, Indra, Lord of the Gods, decided to test Tag-tu-
ngu's mind. Transforming himself into a Brahmin boy, he
came forward, saying, "I do not need a man; but, for the pur-
pose of performing a ritual, 1 need human flesh, fat, and mar-
row. If you want to sell them, 1 will pay you."
Tag-tu-ngu was only too glad to take a sharp weapon and
pierce his right hand, making it bleed. He cut off all the flesh
from his right thigh, <237> and as he walked towards a wall to
break his bones, a merchant's daughter noticed him from the
top floor of a building. She ran to him and asked, "0 nobly
born son, why do you inflict such pain on your body?"
He related the purpose of selling his body in order t.o pay
homage to the Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag,
"What kind of virtue do you derive from paying him that
much homage?" she inquired.
"He is proficient in the Bodhisattva's methods, and he also
reveals the Prajnaparamita. If I learn that, I will obtain the
omniscient power of the Buddha and gain many other of the
Buddha's virtues. I could then distribute the precious Dhar-
ma to all sentient bein gs," he replied.
"It is worth sacrifi cing bodies equivalent [in number] to
the sand grains of the Ganges Valley to gain even a single
one of those virtues. However, do not inflict this sort of pain
upon yourself. 1 will provide you with whatever you need for
making offerings to the Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag, J would also
like to accompany you, [so that] 1 will meet the Bodhisattva
Cho-p'ag and gather the merits needed to acquire those
virtues," said the merchant's daughter. <238>
Indra, Lord of the Gods, then appeared in his own form
and said to Tag-tu-ngu, "I am Indra, Lord of the Gods. 1
came to test your mind. 1 can grant whatever you wish. Do
ask."
"Give me the supreme virtues of the Buddhas," Tag-tu-ngu
requested.
"Oh! That does not fall within my jurisdiction. 1 cannot
offer them."
"Well, you will not have to take any trouble for the mere
sake of fully restoring my health," replied Tag-tu-ngu, "I will
exercise the blessings of the truth."
So saying, he pronounced, "May the truth by which the
Buddhas predict the power of avoiding re-entry [into sam-
sara], the truth of my having an extraordinary, unwavering in-
tention, and the truth of my words restore me to my original
state of health."
He instantly regained his previous health, and Indra disap-
peared as well. The merchant's daughter then took Tag-tu-
ngu to her parents' home and related the story to them.
Taking many articles for worship, she and her five hundred
maidservants mounted their chariots. Having proceeded to
the east in the company of her parents and many other fol-
lowers, they saw the Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag revealing the
Dharma to thousands of his followers in the City of Incense.
<239> When the Bodhisattva Tag-tu-ngu saw this, he gained
the blissful experience of a monk absorbed in contemplation.
The entire entourage, including the five hundred girls, dis-
mounted from their chariots and went towards the Bodhisat-
tva Cho-p'ag.
At that time, the Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag had on that spot a
palace, built of seven kinds of jewels, which was used to
[house] the Prajnaparamita, [The palace] was ornamented
with red sandalwood, covered with a lattice of pearls, illumi-
nated by four wish-fulfilling gems that were set at its four
corners as lamps, and infused throughout with the aroma of
black aloewood.P which wafted from silver censors. In the
center, in quadruple boxes made of precious jewels, was the
Prajnapararnita, written in liquid lapis lazuli on leaves of
gold, before which the gods and men made offerings.
After inquiring about the reasons [for all that they were
seeing], Tag-tu-ngu, the girl, and her five hundred maidser-
vants worshiped everything fully. They then went to the
Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag, who was expounding the Dharma to
his followers. Having arrived, Tag-tu-ngu and the retinue of
five hundred followers worshiped Cho-p'ag by presenting the
13 a-ga-ru / a.ga.ru
offerings [they had brought], and the merchant's daughter

and her entire entourage developed the supreme thought of
bodhicitta. <240>
Tag-tu-ngu inquired, "The Buddhas I previously met-
from where do they come and to where do they depart?"
Therefore, the Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag expounded the chapter
on "The Buddhas Neither Come Nor Go," and afterwards
rose from his seat, went home, and remained seven years in
one sarnadhi.
During that period, the Bodhisattva Tag-tu-ngu and the
retinue of five hundred women gave up the habit of sleeping
and sitting. They remained on their feet and spent their time
walking. They continuously contemplated, wondering when
the Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag would rise from his samadhi and
reveal the Dharma.
When the period of seven years was nearing its end, Tag-
tu-ngu heard from the gods that in a week from that day the
Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag was to rise from his samadhi and
preach the Dharma. Together with the retinue of five hun-
dred women, he swept the place where the Bodhisattva Cho-
p'ag would preach. Within an area of a league, to keep down
the dust, they began to sprinkle water. At this, Mara the Sin-
ner made the water disappear. <241> The Bodhisattva Tag-
tu-ngu punctured all the veins of his body in order to use his
blood for sprinkling. When the merchant's daughter and her
retinue of five hundred women punctured the veins of their
individual bodies and started to sprinkle their blood, Indra,
Lord of the Gods, blessed all the blood [and transformed it]
into the red sandalwood of the divine realms.
The Bodhisattva Cho-p'ag arrived at that place and sat
upon the lion throne that Tag-tu-ngu and his followers had
perfectly erected. When the Prajnapararnita was expounded,
the Bodhisattva Tag-tu-ngu realized one hundred and sixty
thousand doors of sarnadhi. He saw the faces of countless
Buddhas. From that time onward, he had no dream in which
he did not see the Buddhas. At present, it is said that he lives
with the perfect Buddha Dra-yang Mi-zay-pa Drog-pa.
In the same way, when the Mahapandita Naropa was fol-

lowing Tilopa, he underwent a tremendous amount of hard-
ship. As related earlier, Naropa met Tilopa when [the latter
was living] incognito as a beggar. Naropa requested Tilopa
to accept him as his follower, to which Tilopa agreed. Tilopa
took Naropa wherever he went, <242> but taught him no
Dharma.
One day Tilopa took him to the top of a nine-story build-
ing and said, "To fulfill the Guru's command, is there anyone
who can jump from the top of this building?"
Since no one else was present, Naropa thought that Tilopa
meant him. He jumped from the top of the building, and his
body smashed against the ground, causing him enormous pain
and suffering.
The Guru came and inquired, "Do you suffer from pain?"
"It's not only painful, but I am becoming like a corpse,"
was Naropa's respectful reply. The Guru, blessing him to re-
gain his former health, again took Naropa with him.
[Another time Tilopa] said, "Naropa, make a fire."
When the fire was made, Tilopa applied oil to many long
splinters of bamboo and tempered them by heating them in
the fire. Tilopa, saying that such a penance would also need
to be undertaken in order to fulfill the commands of the
Guru, drove the splinters underneath Naropa's fingernails
and toenails. [Naropa felt as though] all the joints of his body
were splitting open. After creating unbearable pain and suf-
fering, the Guru went away. Suddenly, after a few days, the
Guru returned, removed the bamboo, and drew a great deal
of blood and serum from the wounds. Again, after blessing
him, he took him along.
One day Tilopa said, "Naropa, I am hungry. Beg for some
food and come back."
Naropa went to beg at a place where many farmers were
having their meal. <243> They gave him a skull-cup full of
broth. Returning, he offered it to the Guru, who took it as if
he relished it. When the Guru expressed extreme gladness, it
made Naropa think, "I have served my Guru so many times in
the past, yet never has he been so happy as he is now."
Thinking that if he went begging he might be able to ob-

tain some small [quantity of broth], he went again with his
skull-cup. The farmers had gone to work, leaving behind the
remaining portion of broth. Naropa thought that he had bet-
ter steal the whole of it. As he ran off, the farmers noticed
him, chased him, and beat him until he was almost dead. He
suffered enormous pain and could not rise for many days.
Again the Guru appeared, blessed him, and took him along.
One day Tilopa said, "Naropa, I need much wealth. Go
and steal some."
When he went to steal from a wealthy man, he was discov-
ered, caught, and so soundly beaten that he was on the verge
of death. A few days later, the Guru came and asked him if
he was in pain. Naropa replied as before. The Guru blessed
him and took him along again.
Thus, Naropa suffered such kinds of penance, twelve ma-
jor and twelve minor, twenty-four in all, on his one body.
In this way, after Naropa had accomplished all these hard
tasks, <244> Tilopa one day said, "Naropa, go and get some
water. I shall stay and make a fire."
When Naropa returned with the water, he found Tilopa
kindling the fire. Tilopa got up, approached Naropa, caught
him by the base of the skull with his left hand, and said,
"Naropa, show me your forehead." With his right hand,
Tilopa picked up his sandal, which he had just taken off, and
struck Naropa's brow. Naropa fell into a dark, unconscious
state. On regaining consciousness, he found that the entire
knowledge of his Guru had grown in him, rendering the
insight of the Guru and that of the disciple identical.
Although the twenty-four hardships that Naropa bore
were, intrinsically, predictions of his Guru that turned out to
be the methods by which his obscurations were dissolved,
they appeared to be useless, tiresome toils that had not a sin-
gle aspect that could be [called] religious. The Guru spoke
not a word of the Dharma, nor did the disciple perform a sin-
gle prostration in the name of practicing the Dharma. But,
after finding a developed Guru, Naropa obediently carried
out his [Guru's] demands and underwent all sorts of hard-
ships. Therefore, he dissolved his own sins and generated the

strong power to grow insight in his mind.
Thus, there is no greater practice of Dharma than fulfilling
the commands of the Guru. Fulfilling the Guru's command
has that much beneficial power. <245> Similarly, if even a
minor aspect of his command is disobeyed, the weight of the
offense is especially heavy.
Again, Tilopa once told Naropa not to take on the respon-
sibility of the panditas who guarded [the four] gates of Vikra-
masfla [University]. Later, while Naropa was visiting Maga-
dha, a pandita guarding one of the gates of Vikramasila died.
Everyone said that no one could debate with the heretics bet-
ter [than Naropa]. They insisted that he accept the post of
pandita to guard the northern gate. So he did. A heretic
came to debate. [Nampa] debated with him for many days,
but was losing. When he began to offer prayers to his Guru
one day, Tilopa came to him with beaming eyes.
"You have little kindness," said Nampa. "Why didn't you
come earlier?"
"Didn't I tell you not to serve as pandita guarding the
gate? Now you had better visualize me on top of your head,
make a karana mudra 14 towards the heretic, and debate, "
Tilopa replied. On doing so, Naropa was victorious, com-
pletely routing the entire challenge.
Similarly, the manner in which Je-tsun Mi-la Re-pa sought
aft er L'o-drag Mar-pa was as follows. In the country of Nga-
ri Gung-t'ang there lived a wealthy man named Mi-la Shey-
rab Gyal-ts'en. He had a son and a daughter. The son was
na me d T'o-pa-ga, <246> [later known as] Je-tsun Mi-la,
Their father died while they were still at a tender age.
Yung-dung GyaH s'en, their paternal uncle, robbed them of
all their wealth, causing the mother and her two children to
experience [great] hardship.
After learning black magic and the art of bringing down
hailstones, from Yung-ton T'ro-gyal of Tsang and L'a-je Nub-
ch'ung, respectively, [T'o-pa-ga] killed thirty-five people, in-
14 a gesture of threatening command

c1uding his uncle's son and daughter-in-law, crushing them

under their house, which [he caused to] collapse. And, [in
addition], he brought down hailstones as high as three mud-
walls on those villagers who were hostile to [his family].
Repenting these sinful deeds, an interest in practicing the
Dharma was born in T'o-pa-ga. As instructed by Lama Yung-
ton, he went to seek the Dharma from Rong-ton L'a-ga, a
Dzog-ch'en teacher. The Guru said, "My noble Dzog-ch'en
Dharma is the excellent root to be found, the excellent tip to
be obtained, and is the universal fruit of excellence. If one
meditates on it during the day, one attains Buddhahood dur-
ing the day. If one meditates on it during the night, one at-
tains Buddhahood during the night. He who has a past kar-
mic connection 15 will not have to meditate on it. He can at-
tain liberation simply by hearing it. It is a Dharma for one of
the highest intelligence. I will impart it to you."
When he was given ordination and instruction, Mi-la
thought, "Initially, I gained great perfection in sorcery in
fourteen days, and a week was enough for [me to learn how
to] launch hailstones. Now, this Dharma, which is easier [to
learn] than sorcery or bringing down hailstones, <247> can
help one to realize Buddhahood during the day if meditated
on during the day, during the night if meditated on during the
night, and if one is fortunate, one need not meditate on it at
all. The way I met with a teaching such as this indicates that I
must surely be one who is fortunate."
Thinking thus, he did not meditate, but went to sleep. This
caused the high teaching to separate from the person who
was following it.
A few days later, the Guru said, "You are right in saying
that you are a great sinner. Then too, I bragged of my Dhar-
ma a bit too much. I shall not be able to liberate you. You
had better go to L'o-drag Dro-wo-lung Monastery, where the
personal disciple of the Indian sage Naropa lives, the great
personage and king of translators called Mar-pa Lo-tsa-wa,
He is an accomplished sage of the New Tantric School, un-
15 lay-t'ro-chen / las.'phro.can / one who bears the evidence of having

done the same work in one's previous life
paralleled in the three realms. You have a karmic connec-

tion with him from your previous life. Go to him."
On hearing the name of Mar-pa Lo-tsa-wa, Mi-la devel-
oped inexpressible mental delight, physical joy that stood all
the hairs of his body on end, and immeasurable devotion that
made his eyes shed tears. He set out, thinking of when he
might meet his Guru and behold his face.
Both the Guru and his wife had had several extraordinary
dreams. Knowing that Je-tsun Mi-la was coming, Mar-pa
went down the valley to receive him and awaited him by the
side of the road, <248> pretending that he was ploughing.
Je-tsun Mi-la first encountered Mar-pa's son, Dharma-do-
de, tending cattle. As he proceeded further on his way, he
met Guru Mar-pa, who was ploughing. On seeing his face,
Mi-la felt enormous, inexpressible delight and happiness,
which immediately stopped his worldly thoughts for a little
while. He did not recognize the Guru, so he told him that he
had come to see Mar-pa,
"I will introduce you to Mar-pa," said [the Guru]. "You
take over my ploughing."
So saying, he offered him a pot of barley beer and left. By
the time Je-tsun Mi-la had drunk the last drop of beer and
finished all the ploughing, the Guru's son came to call him.
Mi-la accompanied him, met the Guru, touched the [Guru's]
feet with his head, and said, "0 Guru! 1 am a great sinner
from Nyi-ma La-to. 1 offer you my body, speech, and mind. 1
expect food, clothes, and the Dharma from the Guru. Please
give me the teaching that will make me realize in this life."
"Your pride in being a great sinner has nothing to do with
me," replied the Guru, "for I did not send you to commit
those sins. Anyway, what sins have you committed?"
Mi-la gave him a detailed account.
"Whatever may be the case," said Mar-pa, "offering your
body, speech, and mind is good. Food, clothes, and the
teaching-everything may not be possible. Either 1 give you
food and clothing, <249> and you seek the teaching from
someone else, or I teach you, and you must procure food and
clothing elsewhere. Choose one of the two. If you prefer me
to teach you, whether you can realize in one lifetime or not

depends upon your own endeavor."
"Well then," said Mi-la , "since I have come to the Guru
for the teaching, I will look elsewhere for food and clothing."
He stayed there for a few days and then left [to tour] the
entire upper and lower areas of L'o-drag for alms, collecting
barley weighing twenty-one k'el. 16 For fourteen k'el he pur-
chased a copper pot with four handles. Taking six k'el of
barley packed in a bag along with the copper pot, he went to
offer them to the Guru.
The house shook a bit when he put the load of barley
down upon the floor. At this, the Guru rose up an d said,
"You seem to be a strong young monk! Do you intend to kill
us by pulling the house down on us with the might of your
hand! Take out the load of barley." [Mar-pa pushed it] with
his foot, and [Mi-la] had to take it out. Later, he offered the
copper pot, empty.
One day, the Guru told him, "I have many devout disciples
coming from D and Tsang provinces, but the people of Yar-
drog Tag-lung and Ling-pa ro b them and prevent them from
[traveling here] with their ra tions and presents. Go and
launch a shower of hailstones on each of those [places]. That
too is a Dharma. [Thereafter] I will give you the teaching."
After launching hailstones on those two places, [Mi-la]
asked for the teaching. Mar-pa said, <250> "Do you expect
the teaching that I received from India with hardship just for
the three lumps of hail you have launched? If you need it at
any cost, first use sorcery against [the people of] L'o-drag La-
k'a. Not only have they been robbing my disciples from Nyal-
lo-ron, but they have always taken advantage of me as well.
If the result of the sorcery is proven, I will give you the secret
teachings of Mahapandita Naropa, which enable one to real-
ize Buddhahood in a single life and body."
Subsequently, when [Mi-la] asked for the teaching after
proving the result of his magic, the Guru laughed at him and
said, "Ha! Ha! As a reward for the sin you have committed,
are you demanding the sacred teachings, which are like the
16 One k'el is approximately thirty pounds.

steaming breath of the dakinls, teachings which 1 obtained by

exposing my life and body to danger? This could be tolerable
as a joke. Otherwise, it is ridiculous indeed! If it were some-
one else instead of me, he would have killed you. Now you
had better compensate the people of Yar-drog for destroying
their crops and restore the people of La-k'a to life. If you ac-
complish this, 1 will give you the teaching. If not, don't come
near me again."
Thus Mar-pa scolded him. Finding himself in great de-
spair, Mi-la wept bitterly.
On the following morning, the Guru went to him person-
ally and said, "I quarreled with you too much yesterday.
Don't be sorry. Take it easy. The teaching will be imparted
to you. Don't be impatient. Since you seem to have an apti-
tude for working, construct a house for Dharma-do-de. On
completing it, <251> the teaching will be given. 1 will take
care of your food and clothing."
Mi-la inquired, "What happens if 1 die during that period,
without any teaching?"
"I assure you that you will not die during that period. 1
have no Dharma of which I need to brag. You seem to have
the highest perseverance. So, if you are able to meditate on
my teaching, you will see whether or not you can realize in
this life."
Thus [Mar-pa] spoke in an optimistic manner, and set Mi-
la to building, systematically: a circular house on the ridge of
an eastern hill, a crescent-shaped house to the west, and a tri-
angular house to the north. Every time he half finished con-
structing one of those houses, the Guru scolded him, told him
to pull it down, and made him return the earth and stones [to
the places] from which they had originally been brought.
Because of this, the [skin on] the small of his back cracked
and a sore developed. He thought, "Even if I show it to the
Guru, I will simply be inviting further scolding. If I show it to
the Guru's consort, it will amount to boasting of the service I
have offered." Thinking thus, instead of showing it to her, he
cried and asked for her help in approaching the Guru for the
teaching. When she requested the Guru to teach him, the
Guru said, "Feed him well and bring him to me."
The oral transmission'? of the vows for taking refuge were

imparted to him. The Guru said, "All of these are called exo-
teric teachings. If you want esoteric, tantric teachings, you
must do as follows." He then narrated Naropa's biography in
brief, showing how he underwent difficult penance. <252> He
concluded, "Of course, you won't be able to do that." This
generated such strong devotion in Mi-la that he shed tears
and took a firm mental vow to do whatever the Guru asked.
A few days later, Mar-pa went out for a walk and took
[Mi-la] as his attendant. Walking towards the southeast, as
they arrived at a cul-de-sac, Mar-pa said, "Build a nine-story,
square building with turrets, which will make ten stories.
That will not be demolished. On completing it, the teaching
will be given to you, you will be set to practice it, and your
food will be provided."
Accordingly, when he was laying the foundation of the
building, three of the Guru's great disciples, while frolicking,
rolled down a huge boulder which Mi-la used in the founda-
tion. As the building rose to about two stories, the Guru
came and examined it. He inquired about the above-men-
tioned stone, asking where it had been found. Mi-la told him
its history.
"My disciple-sons who practice meditation at two Ievets"
cannot be your servants," said the Guru. "Pull out that stone
and return it to its original place." Again, the building was
pulled down from the top. The stone was taken back to its
original place.
The Guru said, "Bring the stone again, by yourself." Mi-la
brought the stone back and placed it as before. He then con-
tinued constructing the building. As he completed the sev-
enth story, a large sore appeared on his waist.
Then the Guru said , "Stop further construction of the
building. Build an annex, <253> including a chapel with
twelve pillars, so that it forms a courtyard at the base [of the
main building]."
17 lung / lui!
18 Mahayoga and Anuyoga
On completing the courtyard also, a sore appeared on his

lower back.
On [two] occasions, when Mey-ton Ts'on-po of Tsang-rong
received the initiation of Samvara and when Ts'ur-ton Wang-
de of Dol received the Guhyasamaja initiation, Mi-la hoped
that, since he had completed the house, he too would be
given the initiations. As he took a seat in the row for [those
who were to receive] the initiation, the Guru scolded him,
beat him, and expelled him from the row of initiates.
Although his entire back was covered with sores, and pus
and blood were oozing from three open sores, causing him
pain, he continued with the construction by carrying the bas-
ket [of materials] in front of him. When Ngog-ton Ch'o-dor
of Zhung came for the Hevajra initiation, Mi-la [again] sat in
the row for the initiation. For an initiation fee, Mar-pa's wife
had given him a large [piece of] turquoise which she had in-
herited from her parents. But, as before, Mi-la only received
scoldings, beatings, and no initiations.
Thinking that he was certainly not going to receive the
Dharma, he wandered off until a certain householder of L'o-
drag K'og-pa asked him to read the Prajnapararnita in eight
thousand verses. Within it, he came across Tag-tu-ngu's biog-
raphy, which encouraged him to suffer for the Dharma and to
win the favor of the Guru by complying with his orders, what-
ever they might be. So thinking, he returned. Again, the
Guru gave him only scoldings and beatings.
While thus bewildered, <254> he was sent by Mar-pa's wife
to Lama Ngog-pa. Although he received the doctrine [from
that Lama] and meditated upon it, not the slightest virtue
grew in him, for he had not obtained his Guru's permission.
As instructed by the Guru, Mi-la again went-as an atten-
dant of Ngog-pa-to stay with Mar-pa. One day, during a
ts'og ceremony, Mar-pa gave a terrible scolding to everyone,
including Lama Ngog-pa, and was on the verge of giving them
a good beating. Mi-la thought that due to his heavy sin of
bad karma, not only was he suffering, but he was also causing
Lama Ngog-pa and Mar-pa's wife to suffer greatly. Since,
rather than finding the teaching, he was only earning sin, he
decided to commit suicide.
226 Kun -zang La-may Zhal-lung
As he was about to do so, Lama Ngog-pa intervened. By

then, Guru Mar-pa had also calmed down and had asked
them to come to him. At that moment, Mar-pa took Mi-la
[as his disciple] and told him many auspicious things. He was
given the name Mi-la Do-je Gyal-ts'en. When he was initi-
ated into the De-chog teaching, the sixty-two deities were
shown in their true forms. Zhay-pa Do-je, a secret name, was
conferred upon him. The entire body of initiations and
teachings was given to him, as if being poured from a pitcher.
He subjected himself to great mortification while putting the
teaching into practice, and he obtained both the ordinary and
extraordinary achievements. <255>
Thus, in the past, all the scholar-saints and wisdom-hold-
ers'? of India and Tibet adopted perfect Gurus and spiritual
teachers. Carrying out whatever commands they received,
they eventually achieved perfect mental communion with
their [teachers]. Unless you view the whole of the [Guru's]
behavior without any antagonism and with a straightforward
mind, the smallest lie you tell will accrue very heavy sin.
Once, when a disciple of a great yogi was giving sermons
to a large crowd which he had gathered, the yogi Guru ap-
peared in the guise of a beggar. [The disciple] was ashamed
to prostrate to his Guru in the marketplace and pretended
not to see him. Towards evening, as soon as the congregation
had dispersed, he went [to the yogi Guru] and prostrated to
him.
" Why didn 't you prostrate to me a while ago?" asked the
Guru.
"O h! I didn't see you then."
No sooner had he spoken this reply than both his eyeballs
dropped to the ground. He asked for pardon and related the
truth. The Guru blessed him, and his eyes were restored to
him.
Similarly, the great Indian yogi Nag-po Cho-pa once
boarded a ship with many followers. He was sailing on the
ocean when he thought, "Although my Guru is really well-
19 tig-pa dzin-pa / rig.pa 'dzin.pa / a realized yogi

attained, in mundane respects like wealth and followers, I am

greater than he is." <256>
No sooner had this thought dawned than he found himself
in trouble, for the ship began to sink. Because he prayed to
the Guru, the latter came in person, rescued him from the
waters, and said, "This [misfortune] is due to the great arro-
gance you have developed. I did not try to accumulate wealth
or followers. If I had, I could have become like you."
Although innumerable, indescribably many Buddhas have
come in the past, their mercy could not save you. Hence, un-
til now, you have remained in the great ocean of samsaric suf-
fering. Indeed, you could not have been rescued by the grace
of those inconceivably great personages of perfect attainment
who came in the past, for you did not even have the fortune
to behold their countenances.
At present, a time when the Buddhist doctrine is nearing
its end and the five symptoms of deterioration are manifest-
ing, you are entirely deluded by non-virtuous illusion, even
though you have obtained a nominal human status. When
you are confused by the choice between virtue and vice and
are groping about like an ignorant blindman on a desolate
plain, the noble Guru and spiritual teachers, being strongly
moved by boundless compassion, appear in the form of hu-
man beings in accord with the fortune of their followers. Al-
though their minds abide in the state of Buddhahood, <257>
they act and behave in a manner suited to ordinary beings.
Skillfully drawn by their compassion, you are admitted into
the sublime entrance of the Dharma, your eye for discerning
virtue from vice is opened, and you are shown the best path
to freedom and the state of omniscience, without mistake or
illusion. Hence, [Gurus] are no different from actual Bud-
dhas; furthermore, they treat you personally with more kind-
ness than the Buddhas. Therefore, at all times and under all
circumstances, you must endeavor to follow them properly by
means of the three kinds of faith.
Although I have met a Noble One, I am deceived by my

low conduct.
Although I have found the excellent path, I fall over the
precipice of a wrong path.
May I and beings like me, who are base-natured,
Be blessed to subdue our minds with the Dharma.
This is the instruction on following a spiritual teacher,

which completes the ordinary preliminary practices.
+
I'latc 5. 1'he G rear
, I' andit Ansa
Plate 6. Guru Mar-pa
Plate 7. Je-rsun Mi-Ia Re-pa
Plare x. Je-t sun Mi-la Re-pa

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Kiin-zang La-may Zhal-lung

THE ORAL INSTRUCTION OF KUN-ZANG LA-MA

THE ORAL INSTRUCTION OF KUN-ZANG LA-MA

Translated from the Tibetan and edited by

Copyright © 1989 Sonam T. Kazi

All rights reserved. No part of this book

First Printing, 1989

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Dpal-sprul O-rgyan-'jigs-med-chos-kyi-dbari-po. b. 1808.

Printed in the United States of America by

List of Color Plates Vll

Translation and Pronunciation Notes ix

Preface by Cha-tral Rin-po-ch'e Xl

Kun-zang La-may Zhal-Iung, Part One 1

1 The Difficulty of Obtaining Leisure and Endowment 7

2 The Impermanence of Life 57

3 The Misery of Samsara 85

4 The Cause and Effect of Karma 143

Preface to Chapters Five and Six 189

5 The Benefit of Freedom 191

6 Following a Spiritual Teacher 193

1. Sakyamuni Buddha (fifth century B.c.E.) , the present Buddha.

5. Atlsa Dlpamkara Srijrlana of India (982-1054), the great Buddhist

he had to construct a nine-story building at the command of his gracious

Tibetan, a very concise language, rarely uses the plethora of articles,

k' as in backhand zh as in azure

Beginning with the Primordial Buddha,

This is a brief description of the Three Traditions,' a

The Mind-to-Mind Tradition ofthe Buddhas

Sakyamuni Buddha attained the ultimate realization of

1 gyu-pa sum/ brgyud.pa gsum

In the unblemished, self-created Paradise of Og-min Tug-

The Gesture Tradition ofthe Rig-dzins

The Inner [Tantras] have three divisions, [the outer, inner,

4 gyal-wa gong-gyi1 / rgyal.ba dgons.brgyud

In the Og-min Paradise, Kun-zang Ch'e-ch'og Heruka 7

7 the ferocious aspect of Kun-tu Zang-po

meditating on the beach of the Gold Ocean. She had a

10 rgyal.thabs spyi.blugs kyi dban

[Jam-pal Shey-nyen] lived at the So-sa Ling [charnel-

13 i.e., Guru Padmasambhava

who held the Gesture Tradition. 1s The ways in which the

The Ear-to-Ear Tradition ofHuman Beings

The manner in which the teachings appeared in Tibet is as

15 rig-dzin da-gyu / rig.'dzin brda'.brgyud

formulated secret teachings, showing the method of attaining

When the third is not counted separately, the [La-ma and

24 also known as Long-ch'en Rab-jam-pa

34 i.e., Long-ch'en Rab-jam-pa

Gyal-say Chang-ch'ub Do-je, [also known as] Lung-tog

40 also known as Ka-t'og K'en-po Ngag-wang Pal-zang

Cha-tral Sang-gyay Do-je

I am very grateful to the most revered Guru Cha-tral Sang-

presented the highest teaching in a simple and lucid language,

success depends on these profound secret techniques of the