bodhichitta

What is virtue?

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

What is evil? What is negativity? Evil is action that harms others. Moreover, it is said that not only should we refrain from harming others in the present, we should refrain from doing things to harm ourselves in the future (as the result of evil karma). Again, what is virtue? It is the good heart, the wish to benefit others. This is what we call bodhichitta. If we have a good heart, wishing the welfare of others, and if we bring benefit to others and to ourselves, we are practicing virtue. Virtue depends exclusively on a good heart. We may well recite the refuge prayer, but if we harbor evil thoughts, it is meaningless. As the saying goes, “With good motivation, all the grounds and paths are excellent. With evil motivation, all the grounds and paths are ruined.” 41 A good motivation, a good heart—this is what we must have at all times. This is the Dharma and nothing else. It is not something grandiose or elaborate.

Counsels from My Heart by Dudjom

41.  sa, ground or level, and lam, path. The practice of the Mahayana is divided into five paths (of accumulation, joining, seeing, meditation, and no-more-learning), which are gradually traversed as the practitioner progresses toward buddhahood. The third path, that of seeing, is the point where the practitioner has a direct experience of ultimate reality. There then begins a second system of grounds or levels of bodhisattva realization, which extends from the path of seeing through the path of meditation and culminates in the attainment of the path of no-more-learning, buddhahood.

 

Subdue Self-clinging

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

… the purpose of all the teachings in the Great and Lesser Vehicles can be condensed into a single point: to subdue self-clinging. As we practice, therefore, we should be reducing our self-cherishing. If it does not act as an antidote to the ego, our whole practice of Dharma will be pointless. Whether or not the practice we do is actually the Dharma depends entirely on this, which is why it has been said that this is the scale on which those who practice the Dharma are weighed. Of course, other people who see you may testify to your being an authentic Dharma practitioner, but ordinary, worldly people cannot know what is hidden in your mind. You might feel pleased at having done one or two good deeds, but the real signs of having trained one’s mind in bodhichitta are that one is not ashamed of oneself and that one is always in a happy frame of mind, whatever difficult or painful situations one finds oneself in, because rather than getting depressed about them, one takes them as aids to the practice. Nevertheless, while these may be indications that one has really gone to the heart of the teachings, they do not mean that one does not need to train further. So, until you attain Buddhahood, train in the precepts to make bodhichitta grow more and more.

A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom: Complete instructions on the preliminary practice of the profound and Secret Heart Essence of the Dakini
by Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje
translated by the Padmakara Translation Group.—1st ed.

Every Effort Should Be Made to Complete Ngondro

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

The difference between sentient beings and Buddhas is that the first has obscurations while the other does not. We are sentient beings because we have temporary “defilements” or obscurations to our wisdom mind. All sentient beings are inherently Buddhas, temporarily defiled by gross emotional obscurations and by the subtle obscuration of habit. When these are removed, the Buddha within naturally manifests. According to the Vajrayana path, only two methods exist for removing these two obscurations: first, accumulation of merit and wisdom, and second, the direct transmission from the guru’s mind to the student’s mind. Ngondro uses both methods and includes the essential practices of the Three Yanas (vehicles) Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. The essence of Hinayana practice is refuge. The generation of Bodichitta (enlightened attitude) is the essence of Mahayana practice. Accumulation, purification and the mind transmission of Guru Yoga are the essences of Vajrayana practice. Ngondro is a preliminary practice containing all paths, including the creation and perfection stages of the Vajrayana practice.

Since it contains all paths to the realization of enlightenment, then, every effort should be made to complete Ngondro in order to fully cultivate and realize its profound benefits.“

A commentary on the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro
The Preliminary Practice of the New Treasures of Dudjom
by Lama Tarchin Rinpoche

Photo by
Willie Korman
HH Dudjom Sangye Pema Shepa Rinpoche
with Lamas and Pema Osel Sangha
Vajrayana Foundation Annual Summer Retreat
at the Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center
Santa Cruz Mountains California USA