Dudjom Rinpohce

When Remembering My Mother

~ DudjomTersarNgondro
Sangyum Rikzin Wangmo with
Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje

by Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol

Listen now, Tsokdruk Rangdrol!

You say that your mother, who bore you
In her womb in this life, was kind.
But why, then, do you not consider even once
The kindness of other beings who helped you,
Your parents from countless lives in the past?

Now all these past mothers of yours are suffering
From intense heat and cold, hunger and thirst, and servitude,
They are crippled, destitute, and sick—
So how could you forget them all?

All living beings have been your kind mothers,
And if it is true, as the Buddha himself said,
That there’s no difference between your present mother
And those of your previous lives,
Why do you persist in making distinctions
Between mothers of earlier and later lives?
What could be the point of such discrimination?
Consider it well!

To neglect all your mothers from the past,
And remember only one is a form of attachment.
So don’t think that you’ve truly aroused compassion!
For as long as you have partiality and attachment,
There will be no liberation from saṃsāra.
For as long as you have attachment,
Don’t claim to have renounced the affairs of this life!

To forget all those who have been your mother in the past,
While shedding tears at the thought of your old mother now,
Would, if seen by your teacher, or the buddhas and their heirs,
Prove nothing but a source of embarrassment!

Consider the kindness of your mothers from the past!
If you should weep while contemplating their plight,
The teacher, the buddhas and their heirs will all rejoice.

Just as you think of your mother in this life, therefore,
Contemplate the suffering and hardship
Of all those poor beings who were your mothers before,
And shed tears for them all, again and again.

Just as you feel love for your mother in this life,
Generate love for all beings, your mothers from the past,
And arouse compassion and bodhicitta too—
With this, you will enter the ranks of the Mahāyāna.

Again and again, bring to mind all the kindness
Of beings of the six classes, your own kind parents.
If you care for them like your mother of this life,
They will love you too, as their very own child.

Tsokdruk Rangdrol spoke these words to himself on one
occasion when remembering his mother.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Sign of Practice

~ DudjomTersarNgondro
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!
Dudjom Rinpoche
Counsels from My Heart
Shambhala

What is Mind? ~ continued

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

A mind that is not agitated by thoughts concerning the past, present,and future, a mind that is thought-free, is a state that is stunningly vast and open. It is full of joy. Even when the mind’s nature is recognized, it is impossible to describe. It is empty. It rests in awareness. But this resting in the radiance of awareness does not last long. There is nothing permanent about it, for thoughts will certainly arise, strong and clear. We talk about “arising” because thoughts flash into appearance like lightning in the sky, or swell like waves on the ocean. They are in constant movement. At the outset, thoughts appear and disappear in endless continuity. So, when beginners like us meditate, we must recognize thoughts as they arise. If we fail to recognize them, their movement continues unnoticed below the surface and we are carried away by them. Meditating like this is of no help to us. If you are able to continue meditating properly, certain signs will appear. For instance, some people experience a kind of physical well-being. Others, because of the particular disposition of their subtle channels and energies, experience a powerful sense of bliss. For others, it is more like a deep sleep or an all-engulfing darkness. Whether you experience bliss or clarity, avoid any kind of expectation. Do not think to yourself, “Oh, my meditation is working. I’m making progress. If only I could have more of these experiences!” On the other hand, if you experience a kind of darkness, a thoughtless blankness, clear it away over and over again. If you don’t, your meditation will sink slightly. Some people have lots of thoughts when they meditate—an unstoppable flood. If this happens to you, don’t get upset and think that your meditation is a failure. It is just a sign that you are becoming aware of all the thoughts that under ordinary circumstances pass unnoticed. So don’t let it bother you. Don’t think you have to suppress or eliminate your thoughts. Whatever happens, it is said that you must meditate without hope or fear, doubt or expectation. That’s the main thing. It is thanks to the blessings of the Lama that realization will dawn. Therefore pray to him, mingling your mind with his. If you do, there will come a moment when you will see that what is called the Buddha is not different from your own awareness, and that there is nothing to subdue or master other than your own thoughts. The sign that your meditation has hit the mark is that your devotion to the Lama will deepen and your compassion for beings will gain in strength. You will be your own witness and you will gain great confidence in the practice. If you gain control over your mind, then even if you are at the point of death, you will understand that it is only because of a particular thought that there is an impression of dying—but that the nature of the mind is utterly beyond both birth and death. It would be excellent if you could gain this confidence. So keep this little, essential, instruction in your hearts. This conviction and confidence is what we call the Dharma—the inner qualities that you gain. If you vacillate and think of Dharma as something extraneous to you, thought up by somebody else, you will not benefit from it.  Instead, do yourself a favor and get out of samsara! Be convinced that your mind must separate from samsara, with its karma and defilements. If you do, everything will be fine. Please practice. Pray constantly that you will have no obstacles on your path and that you might be able to capture, in this very life, the primordial citadel.  And I will add my prayers to yours.

Dudjom Rinpoche
Counsels from My Heart
Padmakara Translation Group
photo:  unknown photographer