Counsels from My Heart

The root of dharma

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

The root of Dharma is your very mind.
Tame it and you’re practicing the Dharma.
To practice Dharma is to tame your mind ~
And when you tame it, you will be free!

 

Dudjom Rinpoche
Counsels from My Heart
Shambhala
Photographer unknown

 

 

Mindfulness Meditation

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

When thoughts come while you are meditating, let them come; there’s no need to regard them as your enemies.

When they arise, relax in their arising.

On the other hand, if they don’t arise, don’t be nervously wondering whether or not they will. Just rest in their absence.

If big, well-defined thoughts suddenly appear during your meditation, it is easy to recognize them. But when slight, subtle movements occur, it is hard to realize that they are there until much later. This is what we call namtok wogyu, the undercurrent of mental wandering. This is the thief of your meditation, so it is important for you to keep a close watch. If you can be constantly mindful, both in meditation and afterward, when you are eating, sleeping, walking, or sitting, that’s it – you’ve got it right!

 

~ Dudjom Rinpoche

Counsels from My Heart

 

 

The Essence of the Path

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

To my Lord of Dharma, peerless, kind,
My glorious Lama, homage!

His lotus feet I place
Upon my chakra of great bliss.

Here is my advice,
Some counsel useful for your mind.

Not to keep yourself from evil actions Is to have no pratimoksha.
Not to work for others’ welfare Is to have no bodhicitta.
Not to master pure perception Is to have no Secret Mantra.
If illusions don’t collapse, There is no realization.

If you opt for one side or the other, That is not the View.
If you have a goal in mind, That is not the Meditation.
If your conduct’s a contrivance, That is not the Action.
If you hope and wish, You’ll have no Fruit.
Those with faith will go for refuge;

Those who have compassion will have bodhicitta;
Those with wisdom will gain realization;
Those who have devotion harvest blessings.
Those who have a sense of shame are careful how they act;

Careful in their actions, they are self-possessed;
Self-possessed, they keep their vows and pledges;
Keeping vows and pledges, they will have accomplishment.
Peaceful self-control: the sign of one who’s heard the teachings!

Few defiled emotions are the mark of one who meditates.
Harmony with others is the sign of one who practices.
A blissful heart is witness to accomplishment.
The root of Dharma is your very mind.
Tame it and you’re practicing the Dharma.

To practice Dharma is to tame your mind—
And when you tame it, then you will be free!

HH Dudjom RInpoche
Counsels from My Heart
Shambhala