Samsara

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 all 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

We have been wandering in delusion in samsara since beginningless time, like being trapped in a dream. The dharma is the method that the Buddha taught to wake us up from this dream. For that purpose he taught the 84,000 teachings of the dharma for beings of lesser and medium capacities, and the 6,400,000 tantras for disciples of the highest faculties. They all have one purpose, to tame the five passions of desire, anger, ignorance, jealousy, and pride in each individual being’s mindstream. The teachings are extremely vast, but the condensed essence of all of them, the pith instruction that encompasses all spiritual traditions, is Ngondro.

All Buddhist and non-Buddhist spiritual traditions see samsara as not a good place to remain and seek to end suffering according to their own capacities and methods. The outer preliminary practices are the four ways to turn the mind to dharma and away from samsara (four thoughts).

The inner preliminary practices begin with going for refuge, the foundation of the path of liberation from Hinayana through Vajrayana. The essence of the path from Mahayana through Vajrayana is to arouse in the mind the thought of supreme enlightenment, Bodhicitta.

In order to attain enlightenment we need to perfect the two accumulations, and mandala offering is the method to quickly accomplish this. The outer mandala offering is the billionfold universe, the inner mandala offering is one’s own body, enjoyable possessions, and accumulations of virtue, and the secret mandala offering is the Dharmadhatu Clear Light Vajra Essence Buddhafield. Actually, everybody needs to accumulate merit, it is not just for those who want to attain Buddhahood. It is the foundation of all worldly happiness, and it gathers the favorable circumstances for attaining enlightenment.

In order to purify unfavorable circumstances we do Vajrasattva meditation. It is a complete tantric practice that includes shamatha and vipassana according to the Vajrayana tradition of the two stages of creation and completion.

Guru yoga is the heart of all practices in the Great Perfection tradition which is the essence of all dharmas and spiritual paths.

Ngondro also includes Phowa, a Great Perfection teaching for swiftly transforming consciousness at the moment of death, even if one dies before being able to accomplish the creation and completion stage practices.

Chod is the practice of severing all types of clinging such as the four maras which create obstacles to samadhi, wisdom, accomplishing meditation practice in this life, and attaining Buddhahood.

As Dudjom Rinpoche said, “This profound revealed treasure, this preliminary practice arranged here, is the noble path which leads swiftly and easily to the level of the union of the Four Kayas. It is a chariot, perfectly clear and easily entered, that is brought up here. All fortunate ones, enter now with joy!”

Written by Lama Sonam Tsering Rinpoche and Translated by Cyril Kassoff – March 2015

Escape from Suffering

~ DudjomTersarNgondro
Repost from • Ngondro preliminary or foundational vajrayana practices Facebook Page

At present, if you have any physical illness or mental disturbance, or are in an undesirable situation, you panic and are totally upset and paranoid about everything, like someone overcome by nausea. So how will it be when you experience the sufferings of the three lower realms? Alas!

Now the only means of escape from these sufferings is to accomplish the ultimate goal of the supreme dharma; otherwise, there is no way out.

You can hardly bear light pain, such as the prick of a thorn or a mild burn from a spark. If something goes against your desires, if you lose money or find yourself in an unpleasant situation, you get upset. You suspect that everyone wants to harm you, and you become so obsessed with your problems that you even lose your appetite. If you can’t bear even such insignificant sufferings, what will happen when you encounter the inconceivable sufferings of hell?

If someone speaks unkind words to you — even if it’s no more than “You are a liar” — it pierces your mind like an arrow and you think, “How dare he say that to me! I’m not going to let him get away with that!” Even if you come down with a very benign illness, you feel so uneasy and rush to the doctor.

So the only way to put an end to samsara is to practice the dharma. The dharma is offered to you, ready to be used. Therefore, it is up to you whether or not you practice it; the teacher cannot practice it for you.

If you practice with full dedication, you can achieve liberation in the span of this present life; if not, you can prepare the ground for achieving it within a few lifetimes, or at least you will acquire some affinity for the dharma that will eventually lead you along the path.

~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche –
A Wonderful Ocean of Advice – Collected Works Vol3 –
Shambhala Publications

 

Get Out of Samsara!

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

‘…..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 Jigdral Yeshe Dorje