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THE SNOW LION NEWSLETTER
 WISDOM NECTAR
by Ron Garry
a Tsadra Foundation Series book
Cloth, 352 pp.
#WINEDU $29.95
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Striking the Vital Point
Thoughts on the writings of Dudjom Rinpoche in Wisdom Nectar
by Tulku Thubten Rinpoche
The excerpt below entitled "The Sublime Quintessence" is from Wisdom Nectar: Dudjom Rinpoche's Heart Advice, translated by Ron Garry. It was written in verse and given as direct oral advice to Dudjom Rinpoché's disciples. The uniqueness of this poetic advice of Dudjom Rinpoché, Jigdral Yeshé Dorjé is that it does not involve the complexities of fancy words nor philosophical concepts that obscure the simple truth, which is very profound. Instead, the teachings come from a place of direct sharing of his own personal experience of his Dharma practice, and the realization gained. Although this is written in the form of an aspiration prayer, from the perspective of its meaning it can also be considered zhal-dam (direct oral instructions), which is considered to be most profound because this method of instruction tends to be less wrapped-up in fancy ideas, dogma, and jargon. In the case of direct oral instructions the master is handing out his or her direct realization to the students. Dudjom Rinpoche's wisdom goes beyond ideas and beyond dogma. He is expressing the very pure nectar-like essence of Dharma, timeless wisdom.
Dudjom Rinpoche's words are very inspiring, not at all dry, but very rich and juicy. When you read this poem it is as if hearing Dudjom Rinpoche actually speaking these words to you. Although it cannot compare in size to the lengthy commentaries written by scholars found within volumes of treatises, it contains the quintessence of the holy Dharma teachings. It calls out to the student to let go of attachment to all worldly illusions by striking the vital point, the recognition of one's true essence: one's mind is Buddha-mind. This fundamental principle is written in language that is easy to understand by almost anyone. The reader is touched by his wisdom and enthusiasm that encourage all his followers to cut attachment to samsara, the illusory world, by putting their love and heart into the practice of Buddha-dharma. Therefore, this beautiful poem is a prayer you might like to simply recite. It is also a practice guide you can recite, meditate, and reflect upon, and in this way these profound instructions will undoubtedly lead you to the realization your own true nature.
Below is an excerpt from Wisdom Nectar.
The Sublime Quintessence:
An Aspiration Prayer of the Vital Points of Instruction
Infallible and eternal sole refuge, lord of the mandala, precious, most kind root Lama,
I do not think of death but instead waste the leisures and opportunities
I could use for spiritual life.
Please compassionately accept me as your disciple.
This fleeting, dream-like human life
Can be joyful or sorrowful-it doesn't really matter.
Not aspiring for joy or sorrow,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
This human life, a butter lamp in a breeze,
Can be long lasting or short-it doesn't really matter.
So, while not letting ego-clinging tighten further,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
These intellectual judgements, deceptive illusions,
Can be right or wrong-it doesn't really matter.
Tossing away the eight worldly concerns I carry-useless as grass-
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
These friends and helpers, like birds flocked in a tree,
Can be with me or not-it doesn't really matter.
Keeping my own counsel,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
This illusory body, like a hundred-year-old decrepit house,
Can last or collapse-it doesn't really matter.
Not ensnared by effort to acquire food, clothing, or medicine,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Religious rank-what a child's game!
To keep it or lose it-it doesn't really matter.
Not fooling myself with all these trifles,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
These gods and demons, like a mirror's reflections,
Can be helpful or harmful-it doesn't really matter.
Not taking my hallucinations as enemies,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
These thoughtless conversations, fleeting as an echo,
Can be pleasant or not-it doesn't really matter.
Taking the Triple Gems and my own mind as witness,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
The fields of science are unhelpful at the time of need, like a deer's antlers.
If I have intellectual knowledge or not, it doesn't really matter.
Not placing my trust in mere studies,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
These undeserved offerings, deadly poison-
If I receive them or not, it doesn't really matter.
Not spending my human life engaged in wrong livelihood,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
This high social standing, like dog excrement wrapped in silk brocade-
If I have it or not, it doesn't really matter.
Smelling the rot between my own ears,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
These close ties, as temporary as those among crowds on market day,
Be they loving or hostile-it doesn't really matter.
Sincerely cutting the bonds of clinging,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
These possessions, riches in a dream-
If I have them or not, it doesn't really matter.
Not using seeming conformity or flattery to deceive others,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
This status, like a tiny bird alighting upon a tree,
Can be high or low-it doesn't really matter.
So, not wishing for situations that will make me suffer,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Practice of black magic, like a weapon,
Can be successful or not-it doesn't really matter.
Not purchasing a razor to commit suicide,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Reciting prayers, like a parrot repeating OM MANI PEMÉ HUNG-
If I do it or not, it doesn't really matter.
Not keeping score of all I have done,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Irrelevant teachings, like cascading mountain streams-
If I am learned in them or not, it doesn't really matter.
Not meditating on ideas cleverly expressed as the teachings,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
The keen analytical mind, like a pig's snout,
Can be sharp or dull-it doesn't really matter.
Not foraging in the debris of pointless desire and anger,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Experiences in contemplative practice, like an Indian summer's water spring,
Can increase or fade-it doesn't really matter.
Not chasing rainbows like a child,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
This visionary experience, like rain upon a mountain peak,
Can occur or not-it doesn't really matter.
Not taking my delusion as real,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without these leisures and attainments, wish-fulfilling jewels,
Accomplishing the sublime Dharma is impossible.
Not squandering them while they are mine,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without having met my glorious Lama, the light of liberation's path,
Realization of the abiding nature is impossible.
Not falling off a cliff when I know the way to go,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without listening to the sublime Dharma, healing medicine,
Knowing what to reject and what to accept is impossible.
Not swallowing deadly poison when I can tell help from harm,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without noticing joy and sorrow's fluctuations, like summer alternating with winter,
Renunciation is impossible.
Concluding that suffering will return to me,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without casting out now my immersion in samsara, a stone at the river bottom,
A later escape will be impossible.
Seizing the Triple Gems' lifeline of compassion,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without knowing freedom's noble qualities, an island of jewels,
Cultivation of diligence is impossible.
Seeing the gain of lasting victory,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without encountering these sublime stories of liberation, nectar's essence,
Fostering trust is impossible.
Not harming myself when I can tell the difference between success and failure,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without nurturing the mind of awakening, a fertile field,
Enlightenment is impossible.
Not lapsing into complacency toward that very meaningful accomplishment,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without tending to my own mind, a ridiculous monkey,
Renunciation of the passions is impossible.
Not imitating a madman by doing whatever I please,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without relinquishing this ego-clinging, my ever-present shadow,
Reaching exaltation's land is impossible.
Not treating my captive enemy as a friend,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without extinguishing these five poisons, embers under ashes,
Abiding in mind's genuine nature is impossible.
Not feeding venomous baby snakes in my home,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without softening my own mindstream, as stiff as a leather butter-sack,
Merging my mind with the Dharma is impossible.
Not spoiling the child born in me,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without stopping these bad habits, a constant stream,
Freedom from conduct contrary to the Dharma is impossible.
Not putting weapons in the hands of my enemies,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without giving up these distractions, ceaseless ripples on water,
Achieving stability is impossible.
Not creating samsara when I have a choice,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without my Lama's blessings-like earth, water, and warmth [necessary for seeds to grow]-having entered me,
Recognition of my true nature is impossible.
Now that I've come to the direct path, not taking the long way around,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without staying in this remote retreat, like a lush summer region of medicinal plants,
Noble qualities cannot grow.
When staying in the mountains, not wandering among bustling crowds,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without freedom from desire for comfort, like possession by a craving spirit,
To stop energetically creating suffering is impossible.
Not making offerings to starving demons as my personal deity,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without relying upon mindfulness, a castle's sealed gate,
Delusion's traffic will not stop.
Not leaving the gate unlocked when thieves come,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without realizing the abiding nature, like the changeless sky,
I will not ascertain the view's basis.
Not tying myself up,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without seeing awareness, like a stainless crystal,
Meditation with grasping and effort will not collapse.
Not seeking this constant companion elsewhere,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
Without recognition of natural mind's face, like that of an old friend,
All that I do will mislead me.
Not closing my eyes to what I have in my hand,
May I persevere in my practice of the sublime Dharma!
In short, if I do not give up this life's activities,
Accomplishing the sublime Dharma for the next life is impossible.
Giving myself this, the kindest advice,
May all that I do turn into the sublime Dharma!
May my attainment of accomplishments have no impediment, such as
Wrong views toward my Lama when he gives instruction consistent with the Dharma,
Disappointment with the wisdom deity during upheavals of negative karma,
Or postponing spiritual practice if adverse circumstances occur.
All that I've done amounts to meaningless circling of an empty place;
All my efforts have caused my mind to become rigid.
All my thinking has reinforced my delusion.
All ordinary individuals' conceited spiritual activity causes our bondage.
So much done without having produced a single result,
So much thinking without the slightest lasting conclusion,
So many "needs" without time to fulfill them.
Giving up these activities, may I be able to meditate upon the profound instructions!
When I think, "I intend to do this," may the Victorious One's speech be my witness.
When I think, "I am doing [what I intend]," may my mind blend with the Dharma.
When I think, "I am putting [the Dharma] into practice," may I look to previous masters' lives of liberation.
To myself I say, "Spoiled one, why do anything else?"
Lama, grant your blessings that I assume a humble position,
Enrich myself with contentment's wealth,
Loosen my ties to the eight worldly concerns,
Apply myself with an unyielding will,
That my Lama's blessings enter me, that my realization equal the sky's breadth,
And that I enter Buddha Kuntu Zangpo's exalted succession!
I, Jigdral Yeshé Dorjé, synthesized the meaning of the holy past masters' vajra speech in their oral instructions to compose this for my own recitation practice.
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