The Biography of the Great Orgyen that Naturally Liberates On Sight From The Profound Secret Heart Essence of the Ḍākinī revealed by Dudjom Lingpa

Due to the length of the text, we will post each day with the final part posting on Guru Rinpoche’s Birthday, July 9th, which is the 10th Tibetan Day of the lunar calendar.Translated by Nick Schmidt, with the assistance of Samten, Stefan Mang, Ben Ewing, Lowell Cook, and Jordi Roig, 2017. Edited by Libby Hogg and Susanne Fairclough, 2018. 

Chapter 3

“One day, at the eastern gate of the palace,
was entertained Byḍākasandḍākinıs̄ of the field of timeless awareness.
Conjuring up a great magical city,
They displayed the many permutations of the sufferings of beings
Such that I became weary of domestic life.

“Later, a spectacle occurred at the southern gate:
I saw many manifestations of sick and ailing people.
By seeing the fleeting nature of joy and happiness
I realized the vital point of impermanence, and that the body lacks an inherent nature.

“That same day, I went to the western gate,
Where I saw signs of old age and poverty.
I saw that the activities of saṃsāra have no essence,
And since even the youthful and powerful end up this way,
I was sure that such suffering would fall upon us all.

“When I went to the scene at the northern gate,
I saw many expressions of dead and dying people.
In life there is no certainty; death is the sole authority.
I understood the signs
Of the need to cut my holding
To temporary, dream-like appearances as permanent.

“Then, when I disobeyed the King’s laws
And killed a minister’s son
The King and subjects were cast into distress
And could not agree on whether I should be sent into exile.

“When the King and the hosts of ministers all assembled,
The minister named Zangden [16] said,
“The king, ministers, and subjects unanimously agree
That you have repeatedly broken the royal laws.
Because you act against the law and misbehave like this,
You are unfit to rule and must be exiled!

“‘Even though Uḍḍiyāna would soon be without a king,
Some suggest you be killed, others that you be jailed.
Still others say you must be banished to terrifying lands.
Finally, those who agree with me
Ask where you will be sent to live in exile.’

“In response, I said,
‘Listen, O King, ministers, and upholders of the law!
Where will I go? To the purelands!
Though banished to terrifying places,
I have no fear.
The vajrakāya knows neither birth nor death;
I am not afraid of you killing me.
You may place this apparent body — an illusion of unobstructed awareness —
In a miserable prison, but I will not be subdued.

“‘Whether in the lower realms, on the earth, or in the king’s domain,
All activities are the seeds of suffering.
If I can’t stay here, I will go somewhere else –
To the most terrifying odious Rohakāla. [17]
King and ministers, stay in good health!’

“Then I made preparations to leave, but at my time of departure,
Prabhāvatī said, ‘I must follow you!’
So I then explained to her the unity of view, meditation, and conduct
For one month, and she fully understood it.

“‘Prabhāvatī, you must now remain in the King’s domain.
I am a supreme illusory form of timeless awareness;
I never fear birth or death.
In life, much fear and suffering will come
To this heap of flesh and blood, the basis for the Truth of Suffering.

‘Therefore, why follow in my footsteps?
Don’t despair – we will later meet again.
There is no measure of life besides death, and no stability.
Strive diligently in virtue with your three doors, Noble One!’
With that and other such remarks, I imparted much advice and prophecy.”

This is the third chapter of the biography of Padma that naturally liberates on sight, on the skillful way he left the kingdom.