Chapter 11 Chapter 9 The Spiritual Path

In the book "Table Talk" by Sufi master Rumi, there is this fierce and straightforward statement: The master said that there is one thing in this world that must never be forgotten.If you forget other things and only that one, you don't have to worry about it; conversely, if you remember, participate in, and accomplish other things but forget that one, then you are doing nothing.It's as if the king sent you to a country to do a special job.You went, and you did a hundred other things, but if you didn't accomplish your task, you didn't do anything.Every human being comes into the world with one specific thing to accomplish, and that is his purpose.If he didn't do that, he didn't do anything.

All of humanity's spiritual teachers tell us the same thing: the purpose of life on Earth is to unite with our basic, enlightened Self. The "King" has sent us into this strange, dark realm with the task of realizing and embodying our true being.There is only one way to accomplish the task, and that is to embark on a spiritual journey to transform ourselves with all our passion, wisdom, courage and determination.As Death said to Nachiketas in the Katha Upanishad: There is the path of wisdom and there is the path of ignorance.They are far apart, and their destinations are different... A fool is deep in ignorance, thinking he is smart and knowledgeable, just like a blind man led by a blind man, walking aimlessly.That world beyond life shines no light on the childish, careless, or infatuated with wealth.

Find your spiritual path: In other ages and in other civilizations only a few could embark on this path of spiritual transformation; but today, if we are to preserve the world from dangers both internal and external, the majority of humanity must seek the path of wisdom. road.In the current era of violence and disintegration, spiritual vision is no longer a luxury of the elite, but a matter of our survival. To follow the path of wisdom has never been more urgent and difficult than at present.Our society is almost entirely devoted to the glorification of the self, the sad illusions of success and power, and of the forces of greed and stupidity that are destroying the planet.In human history, it is currently the most difficult to hear the voice of truth that does not flatter, and once we hear it, it is even more difficult to follow it: because the world around us does not support our choices, and the society we live in seems to be are negating every notion of divine or eternal significance.So, in times of crisis and uncertain future, we as human beings find ourselves most confused, trapped in a nightmare of our own creation.

Yet there is one important source of hope in this tragic situation, and that is the spiritual teachings of all the great mystical traditions that still exist.Unfortunately, there are very few qualified masters who pass on these teachings, and those who seek the truth have little choice.The West has become a haven for mental liars.For scientists, you can verify who is really an expert and who is not, because other scientists can check their background and test their findings.But in the West, because of the lack of a rich and complete set of norms for wisdom culture, the authenticity of the so-called "guru" can hardly be established.Anyone can seem to present themselves as a guru and attract disciples.

But this is not the case in Tibet, it is much safer to choose a particular method or teacher to follow.People who come into contact with Tibetan Buddhism for the first time often don't understand why they attach so much importance to the continuous transmission from teacher to teacher.Lineage is an important safeguard: it maintains the authenticity and purity of the teachings.People know a guru by who his guru is.It is not a question of preserving some old, ritualized knowledge, but of passing on from heart to heart, a vital and living wisdom, and its skillful and powerful practice. Identifying a real guru is a delicate matter that requires special care; in our age of entertainment, simple answers, and quick results, the quieter, less dramatic practice of kung fu may not attract much attention. Notice.And our notion that the sacred should be pious, dull, and gentle may blind us to the vigor and liveliness of the enlightened mind.

As Patrul Rinpoche writes: "Great men who hide themselves, whose extraordinary qualities may be hidden from mere mortals like us, despite our best efforts to examine them. Another On the one hand, even ordinary quacks are good at pretending to be saints to deceive others.” If Patrul Rinpoche could have written this sentence in Tibet in the last century, it is not difficult to find this sentence in the current chaotic spiritual supermarket. It looks more realistic! So how do we discover the trust we so desperately need on our spiritual path in today's age of profound untrustworthiness?What criteria can we use to judge whether a guru is a true guru?

I vividly remember one time when I was with a master, he asked the students what attracted them to study with him?Why did they believe him?A woman said: "I understand that what you really want is to teach us to understand and apply Buddhism, and I also understand how skillfully you teach us." A man in his fifties said: "It touched me. It’s not about your knowledge, but that you do have an altruistic and kind heart.” A woman in her late forties admitted: "I've tried to make you my mother, my father, my therapist, my husband, my lover; you quietly go through all these dramatic projections. , but never gave up on me.”

An engineer in his twenties said: "What I found in you is that you are really humble, you really want us all to be good, you are not only a teacher, but you have never forgotten to be a student of your great master. "A young lawyer said: "For you, the teaching is the most important thing. Sometimes, I even think that your ideal is to disappear yourself, but just try your best to pass on the teaching selflessly. .” Another student said shyly, "At first, I was afraid to open my heart to you. I had been hurt so much. But as I started doing it, I noticed that I did change, and slowly Yes, I appreciate you more and more, because I realize how much you try to help me. Then I find that my trust in you is so deep, deeper than I ever imagined."

Finally, a computer operator in his forties said, "You are such a wonderful mirror to me, showing me two things: my relative self and my absolute self. I can look at you , and then clearly see all my relative chaos - not because of who you are, but because of what you reflect back to me. But I can also look at you, and then see the nature of mind reflected in you, everything Everything arises from the nature of mind all the time.” These answers tell us that true teachers are kind, compassionate, tirelessly wanting to share the wisdom they have received from their guru with their students, not thinking of their own interests, but only working hard to spread the teachings, forever Be humble.A man who really possesses all these qualities, after long observation, will give you confidence.You will find that this trust becomes the foundation of your life, supporting you through life and death.

In Buddhism, we judge whether a teacher is a true guru by whether he instructs his students according to the teachings of the Buddha.We want to emphasize again: the most important thing is the truth of the teaching, not the teacher.This is why the Buddha reminded us to "Four Reliances": Not according to the law: Yiyibuyanyu; Obedience to righteousness but not non-compliance with righteousness; Relying on wisdom but not on knowledge. So, we should remember that the real teacher is the spokesperson of truth, the compassionate "wisdom display" of truth.In fact, all the Buddhas, teachers and prophets are the embodiment of this truth, manifesting in countless skillful and compassionate forms, guiding us back to our true nature through their teachings.So in the beginning, it was more important than finding a teacher to find and follow the truth of the teaching, because when you get in touch with the truth of the teaching, you will find that you are in touch with the guru.

How to do it: We all have the karma of encountering some kind of spiritual path, and I would like to encourage you from the bottom of my heart to follow the method that most enlightens you with all sincerity. Read the great spiritual scriptures of all traditions, learn what some of the masters mean by liberation and enlightenment, and find out which path to Absolute Reality really appeals to you and works best for you.In your search, be as selective as you can; for the path of practice, as it concerns the highest truth, requires more intelligence, calm understanding, and finer discernment than any other science.Use your common sense at all times.When embarking on a spiritual path, take it easy and be aware of the baggage you bring with you: your flaws, fantasies, flaws and projections.Knowing what your true nature is, and being utterly humble, comes with a clear understanding of how far you have come on the spiritual path and what is still waiting to be understood and fulfilled. Most importantly, don't fall into the "shopping mentality" that I see everywhere in the West: shopping around from one guru to another, from one teaching to another, unwilling to continue or Practice any kind of Dharma door wholeheartedly.The great spiritual masters of almost all traditions agree that the most important thing is to master a practice, to follow a tradition with all your heart until the end of the spiritual journey, and to treat all others with openness and respect wisdom.In Tibet we often say: "Know one, and you've accomplished everything." The popular modern concept, such as: keep all choices and don't have to stick to one end, is the biggest and most dangerous delusion in our culture, and it also hinders self-cultivation. the most effective way. As you go on searching, the searching itself becomes a stubborn idea that overwhelms you.You become a practice tourist, running around without any achievement.As Patrul Rinpoche said, "You leave the elephant at home, but you go to the forest to find its tracks." To specialize in a teaching is not to limit you or monopolize you with jealousy, but a kind of Compassionate and skillful methods allow you to focus on the spiritual path amidst obstacles that will eventually arise in you and the environment. So when you have explored the mystical traditions, choose a guru and follow him.It is one thing to embark on a spiritual journey, quite another to discover the patience, wisdom, courage and humility to follow through to the end.You may discover the karma of the teacher, but then you have to create the karma of following the teacher, because very few of us know how to really follow the teacher, which is an art in itself.So, no matter how great the teaching or the guru is, it is important that you discover the wisdom and skills for yourself in order to learn to love and follow the guru and the teaching. It's not easy.Things can't be perfect, because we are still in samsara!Even if you choose a guru and follow the teachings as sincerely as possible, you will often encounter difficulties, setbacks, conflicts and shortcomings.Don't give in to obstacles and little difficulties, which are just childish emotions of the ego; don't let them fool you into the importance and eternal value of your choices.Do not let impatience cause you to give up your commitment to the truth.I have been heartbroken over and over again to see how many people pick up a teaching or a guru with enthusiasm and promise, only to get discouraged at the inevitable obstacles and then stagger back into samsara and old habits, wasting few days. years or possibly a lifetime. As the Buddha said when he first turned the wheel of Dharma, all our suffering in samsara comes from ignorance.Unless we are liberated from ignorance, ignorance seems endless; even when we are on the path, our search is still bewildered by it.However, as long as you remember and keep the teachings in mind, you will gradually discern the chaotic aspects of ignorance without jeopardizing your commitment or losing your perspective. As the Buddha told us, life is fleeting; but Wordsworth also said, "The world can't take us anymore: we get and spend, we waste our power." There is nothing sadder than to squander our power, to go against our essence, and to give up this life (the natural bardo) that gives us the unique opportunity to recognize and manifest awareness.The master has been reminding us not to fool ourselves: If we don't know who we really are at the moment of death, what have we learned? It is well said in "Bardo Hearing and Teaching Dedu": My mind wanders here and there, not expecting death to come, doing these meaningless activities, To return empty-handed now would be confusion; You need to certify the practice method, So why not practice the path of wisdom right now? Sent these words from the mouth of the saint: If you don't keep your master's teachings in mind, Don't you become your own liar? Guru: The Buddha said in a Tantra: "Among all the Buddhas who have been enlightened, there is not one who has not been enlightened by relying on the teacher; among the thousand Buddhas who will appear in this kalpa, there is no one Enlightenment is achieved only by relying on the guru.” In 1987, after my beloved teacher Dudjom Rinpoche passed away in France, I took a train back to Paris from the south of France where he lived.His various acts of generosity, tenderness and compassion came to mind; I couldn't help but burst into tears, and I kept telling myself, "If it wasn't for my master, how could I possibly understand?" With a warm and intense feeling that I have never felt before, I realized why the teacher-student relationship is so sacredly emphasized in our traditions, and how important this relationship is to the living transmission of truth (heart to heart).Without my masters, I could not have realized the truth of the teachings: I cannot imagine how I could have come to such a shallow level of understanding as I have. In Western countries, many people are skeptical of gurus - usually for good reason, unfortunately.I need not list here how many horrific and disappointing examples of stupidity, greed, and fraud have occurred since the arrival of Eastern wisdom in the West in the 1950s and 1960s.However, the strength of all great wisdom traditions, whether Christianity, Sufism, Buddhism, or Hinduism, rests on the master-student relationship.What is urgently needed, therefore, is this: to understand as clearly as possible what a true guru is; what a true student or disciple is; Nature. Perhaps the most touching and accurate description of the true nature of my guru has come from my guru, Jamyang Khyentse.He said that even though our true nature is the Buddha, it has been obscured by a cloud of ignorance and delusion since time immemorial.However, this true nature, or Buddha-nature, never completely surrenders to ignorance; in some places, the true nature always resists the domination of ignorance. Therefore, there is a positive aspect to Buddha nature, which is our "inner teacher".From the moment we are captivated, this "inner teacher" has been working tirelessly for us, trying to bring us back to the brilliance and etherealness of our real life.Jamyang Khyentse said that the "inner teacher" never gives up on us for a moment.It has infinite compassion like all buddhas and all enlightened beings, and in its infinite compassion, it is constantly working for our evolution - not only in this life, but in all our past lives - using all kinds of goodness It uses clever convenience and various situations to educate and wake us up, and guide us back to the truth. When we have prayed, waited and longed for the truth for a long time, after many lifetimes, and our karma has been purified quite a bit, a miracle happens.This miracle, if understood and harnessed, can lead us to end ignorance forever: the inner teacher who has been with us all along, manifests almost miraculously in the form of an "outer teacher" with whom we are connected. Meet at the teacher.This meeting is the most important event in any lifetime. Who is this external teacher?It is nothing but the embodiment, voice and representation of our inner teacher.In our lives, our beloved guru, whose form, voice, and wisdom are nothing more than the outer manifestation of our mysterious inner truth.In addition, what else can explain that our relationship with him is so deep? At the deepest and highest level, the guru and the disciple are never and cannot be separated; the work of the guru is to teach us to accept the clear message of the inner teacher without confusion, leading us to realize the eternal existence of this supreme teacher .I pray that all of you will taste this most perfect joy of friendship in this lifetime. The Guru is not only the direct spokesman for your inner teacher, but also the holder, channel and transmission of all enlightened beings and all blessings.Therefore, your guru can have extraordinary power to illuminate your heart.He is the embodiment of the absolute truth, or you can compare the guru to the telephone through which all Buddhas and all enlightened beings talk to you.He is the crystallization of the wisdom of all the Buddhas and the symbol of the compassion of all the Buddhas, always taking care of you: they shine the sunshine of the universe, directly shining on your heart, in order to help you to be liberated. In my tradition, we respect our gurus because they are even more compassionate than all the buddhas.While the compassion and power of all the Buddhas are ever present, our karma prevents us from meeting them face to face.Instead, we can meet the guru; he is a living being, breathing, speaking, moving, right in front of us, showing in every possible way the path of the buddhas: the path to liberation.For me, my masters have always been the embodiment of living truth, who undeniably showed that enlightenment can happen in this life, this world, here, now; at the same time, in my practice, work, life And on the journey of liberation, they have been my highest inspiration.To me, the gurus symbolize my sacred vow to make enlightenment my number one priority until I am truly enlightened.I am fully aware that their true nature and their infinite generosity, love and wisdom can only be fully realized after enlightenment. I would like to share with you this beautiful prayer, the words of Jigme Lingpa, and the Tibetan prayer for the guru to appear in our hearts: O compassionate master, from the center of my heart, In the blooming lotus of the reverent mind, arises, My only refuge! I am tormented by past behaviors and annoyances: I beg you, Protect me in my misfortune, For ever to be a jewel upon my head, Mandala of great joy, Induce all my mindfulness and awareness. Respectful refinement: As the Buddha said, among all the Buddhas who have been enlightened, there is no Buddha who has achieved it without relying on the guru. He also said: "Only through devotion can you realize the absolute truth." Absolute truth It cannot be realized in the mind of an ordinary person.All the great wisdom traditions have told us that the way beyond the ordinary mind must go through the mind.The way to cultivate the mind is to respect the mind. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche wrote: There is only one path to liberation and enlightened wisdom: to follow a true spiritual master.He is a guide to help you cross the sea of ​​samsara. The sun and moon are reflected in the clear, calm water right now.In the same way, the blessings of all the Buddhas are always present in those who have perfect faith.The sun shines equally everywhere, but only where it shines through a magnifying glass can the dry grass light a fire.As the all-illuminating light of Buddha's compassion shines through the magnifying glass of faith and devotion, the flame of blessing is lit in your life. Therefore, you must know what true devotion is.It is not mindless worship; it is not abdication of your duty to yourself, or indiscriminate submission to a person or a whim.True devotion is an unbreakable acceptance of truth.True reverence comes from the gratitude of awe and reverence, but this gratitude is transparent, solid and wise. When a guru is able to open the deepest part of your heart and allow you to actually glimpse the nature of your own mind, you develop a joyful appreciation for the guru, his life, his teachings, and the truths he presents in his wisdom mind.That sense of authenticity and sincerity is always rooted in repeated and definite inner experiences, and constantly clear and direct recognition of the nature of mind. Only this feeling is what we call respectful heart, which is called mo gu in Tibetan. It means "desire and respect".Because the more you understand the true nature of the guru, the more you will respect the guru; and because you finally know that the guru is the connection between your heart and the absolute truth, and the embodiment of your true nature, the more you desire to go to heaven. Teachers can inspire you. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche tells us: At first, this devotion may not come naturally or spontaneously, so various techniques must be used to help it arise.The main thing is that we must always remember the great qualities of our teacher, especially his compassion for us.By repeatedly generating faith, gratitude, and devotion to the Guru, one day just mentioning his name and thinking of him will stop all our ordinary perceptions and we will see him as a Buddha. Treating the guru not as an ordinary person but as a Buddha can produce the highest blessing.Because as Guru Rinpoche said, "Complete devotion brings complete blessing; deep faith brings complete success." Tibetans know that if you regard your teacher as a Buddha, you will receive Buddha's blessing. ; but if you treat your guru as an ordinary person, you can only get blessings from ordinary people.Therefore, in order to receive the full transforming power of the blessings of the guru's teachings, you must try to develop your greatest devotion.Only when you regard the guru as a Buddha, can the Buddha-like teachings come to you from the guru's wisdom heart.If you don't see your guru as a buddha, but just as a human being, then the full blessing will never come, and you won't be able to receive even the greatest teachings. The more I think about devotion and its place and role in the teaching as a whole, the more I realize that it is a skillful and powerful tool that makes us more receptive to the truth of our guru's teachings.Gurus do not need our praise, but seeing them as living Buddhas allows us to listen to their messages and follow their instructions with the greatest sincerity.So, in a sense, devotion is the most practical way of generating total respect and openness to the teachings that the guru symbolizes and transmits.The more reverent you are, the more open you are able to be to the teachings; the more open you are to the teachings, the more chance they have to penetrate your heart and thus produce a complete spiritual transformation. Therefore, the process of transforming yourself into a living Bodhisattva can only be truly initiated and accomplished by seeing your guru as a living Buddha.For the mysteries of the enlightened mind shown by the guru, if your heart can be fully opened with joy, wonder, understanding and gratitude, the guru's wisdom heart can be passed on to you slowly for a long time, allowing you to see your own Buddha. the splendor of sex, and thus see the perfect splendor of the universe itself. This intimate relationship between the disciple and the master becomes a mirror that represents the disciple's relationship to life and the world at large.The guru becomes the pivotal figure in the continual practice of pure vision, which will eventually cause the disciple to see the guru directly and unquestioningly as a living Buddha, and his every word as the Buddha's words, He regards his mind as the wisdom mind of all Buddhas, his every action as the action of the Buddha, the place where he lives as the Buddha's country, and even the people around the master as the bright display of his wisdom. . When these cognitions become more and more stable and real, the inner miracle that disciples have been longing for for so many lives will gradually happen: they begin to see themselves, the universe and all life as inherently pure and perfect .Finally, they see reality with their own eyes.And the guru is the Tao, the magical touchstone that completely transforms every cognition of the disciple. Devotion is the purest, fastest and easiest way to realize the nature of mind and all things.As we move forward on the spiritual path, the whole process manifests a wonderful interdependence: from ourselves, we are constantly trying to generate devotion, and the devotion that arises itself produces psychic flashes, and these auras Now it will strengthen and deepen our devotion to the guru.In the end, devotion arises from wisdom; the experience of devotion and xinxing become inseparable, mutually inspiring each other. Patrul Rinpoche's teacher was Jikme Gyalwe Nyugu, who had been retreating in a cave high in the mountains for many years.One day, when he came out of the cave, the sun was pouring down; he looked out at the sky and saw a cloud drifting in the direction where his master Jigme Lingpa lived.A thought arose in his mind: "My guru is over there." Because of this thought, a great longing and devotion surged up in his heart.The feeling was so strong, so overwhelming, that he passed out.When Jigme Jevinyugu awoke, the blessings of his master's wisdom mind had been fully transmitted to him, enabling him to reach the highest state of enlightenment we call "the exhaustion of phenomenal reality." Blessing flow: Such stories of devotion and the blessings of the guru did not exist in the past.Khandro Tszling Chholong, the greatest female guru of our time, is the wife of my master Jamyang Khyentse. From her, one can clearly see the nobility created in the human spirit by years of devotion and practice. temperament.Although she always retreated behind the scenes, never put herself on the stage, and lived the difficult hermit life of an ancient yogi, her humility, kindness, simplicity, solemnity, wisdom and gentleness are admired by all Tibetans. Jamyang Khyentse was the inspiration for Khandro's life.Their spiritual marriage transformed her from a very beautiful and slightly rebellious maiden into a dazzling dakini respected by other masters.Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche respected her as his "spiritual mother" and often said he was honored because, of all the lamas, she respected and loved him the most.Whenever he saw Khandro, he would take her hand, stroke it tenderly, and slowly bring her hand to his head; he knew that was the only way he could receive Khandro's blessing. Jamyang Khyentse taught Khandro all the teachings, and trained and inspired her to practice.She asked him questions in song, and he wrote songs to answer, teasing and playing.In his later years, he lived in Sikkim. After his death, she continued to live near his stupa to express her devotion to the immortal master.There she continued to live a sober, independent life, chanting the mantra with all her heart.She has slowly read the entire Word of the Buddha and hundreds of volumes of commentaries word for word.Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche always said that every time he returned to Jamyang Khyentse's stupa, he felt as if he had come home because Khandro's presence made the atmosphere so rich and warm.He implied that Jamyang Khyentse still existed and lived in her devotion and life. I heard Khandro say again and again that if your relationship with your guru is really pure, then you will have no problems in your life.Her own life is the most touching and beautiful portrayal.Devotion has allowed her to embody the heart of the teachings and radiate their warmth to others.Khandro did not officially teach the Dharma. In fact, she didn't talk much, but what she said was often full of wisdom, which came true afterwards.Listening to her sincere and joyful chanting of mantras, or doing group meditation with her, can touch the depths of your being.Even walking with her, shopping, or just sitting next to her was like basking in her powerful, serene bliss. Because Kang Zhuo is so dull, her greatness lies in her ordinaryness, so only the truly wise can see her clearly.In this day and age, people who know how to promote themselves are often the most favored, but the truth really lives in people as humble as Khandro.If Khandro has the opportunity to teach in the West, she must be the perfect guru: she is a great female guru, the female embodiment of compassion, and she perfectly embodies the love and wisdom of Tara.If I have her by my side at the time of my death, it will give me more confidence and peace than any teacher by my side. Everything I have attained comes from my reverence for my guru.As I continued to teach, I gradually became humbled and amazed at how their blessings affected me.Without their blessings, I'm nothing, and if there's anything I feel I can do, it's to act as a bridge between you and them.I've noticed over and over that when I mention my masters in my teachings, the respect I feel for them triggers the reverence of the listeners; in those wonderful moments, I feel my masters are there , bless my students and open their hearts to the truth. I remember that in Sikkim in the 1960s, when Guru Jamyang Khyentse passed away not long ago, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was giving the Guru Rinpoche visualization empowerment that took several months to complete.Many masters came to this monastery in the back hills of Gangdu, the capital, and I sat next to Khandro Tsling Choklon and Lama Chokden (Jamyang Khyentse's assistant and master of ceremonies). At that time, I experienced very vividly how a master passed on the blessing of his wisdom mind to his students.One day, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche gave a lecture on the devotion and deeds of Guru Jamyang Khyentse, which was very moving; the words that flowed from his mouth were beautiful and poetic.When I was listening to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche while visiting him, mysteriously, I vaguely recalled Jamyang Khyentse, and realized that he eloquently uttered the most sublime teachings, as if from hidden sources. And an inexhaustible source.Slowly, I am amazed to realize the truth: the blessing of Jamyang Khyentse’s wisdom mind has been fully passed on to his heart-son Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and at that time, in front of everyone, through him. Say it effortlessly. At the end of the teaching, I turned to Khandro and Tsoding and found them in tears.They said, "We know that Dilgo Khyentse was a great master. We also know how the master transmits the blessings of his wisdom mind to his mind son. But until now, until today, until here, we have not realized the truth of the saying.” When I think of that beautiful day in Sikkim, and of the great masters I have known, I cannot help but think of the words of a Tibetan saint who will always inspire me: "When the sun of great devotion shines on the snow-capped mountains of the master, his The stream of blessings will pour down." I also recalled the words of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, which best expresses the vast and divine quality of the guru: He is like a big ship that carries all beings across the sea of ​​life and death, a perfect captain who guides all beings to land on the land of liberation, a rain that extinguishes the fire of afflictions, a pair of sun and moon that drive away the darkness of ignorance, and a pair that can withstand the forces of good and evil A strong foundation of the wish-fulfilling tree, a wish-fulfilling tree that produces short-term happiness and ultimate joy, a treasure house containing vast and profound teachings, a wish-fulfilling jewel that inspires enlightenment, a father and mother who equally gives love to all sentient beings, A great river of compassion, a mountain that transcends the world and cannot be shaken by the wind of afflictions, and a layer of thick clouds full of rain that can soothe afflictions and pain.In short, he is equal to all Buddhas.Whether it is seeing him, hearing his voice, remembering him, or being touched by his hand, as long as we have a relationship with him, we can lead us to liberation.Developing sufficient confidence in him guarantees progress on the path to enlightenment.The warmth of his wisdom and compassion will melt the ore of our life and extract the gold of inner Buddha-nature. I have become aware that the blessings of my master are dripping on my body and filling my heart almost unconsciously.Since Dudjom Rinpoche passed away, my students have told me that my teachings have become more fluent and clear.Not long ago, after hearing a particularly astonishing teaching by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, I expressed my deep admiration for him and said, "It's amazing how effortlessly and spontaneously these teachings come from your wise mind. Sexually." He leaned towards me gently, a teasing twinkle in his eyes.He said, "I hope your teaching in English comes out in exactly the same way." After that, I didn't make much effort, but I felt that my teaching ability became more and more natural.I consider this book to be a manifestation of the blessings of my masters transmitted from the wisdom heart of the most fundamental and greatest guru, Guru Rinpoche.Therefore, this book is their gift to all beings. Because of my respect for my master, I have the power to teach the Dharma, as well as the openness and acceptance of continuous learning.Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche has always humbly received teachings from other masters, and often from his own students.Therefore, the respectful heart that inspires the power of teaching the Dharma is also the respectful heart that gives humility to continue learning.Gampopa, Milarepa's greatest disciple, asked him when they were about to part, "When can I start teaching students?" Milarepa replied, "When you are no longer what you are now.你，当你全部的认知已经转化，当你能够看到，真正看到在你面前的这位老人与佛陀无差时。当恭敬心把你带到这个认知时，你就可以开始传法了。」 这些教法，由一支不曾断过的上师传承，源自莲花生大士的觉悟心，经过好几个世纪，超过一千年，才传到你身上。每一位上师之所以成为上师，都是因为他们谦虚地学习到要做上师的弟子，而且在最深的意义上，永远是他们上师的弟子。即使是八十二岁的高龄，每当顶果钦哲仁波切提到他的上师蒋扬钦哲仁波切时，都会流下感激和恭敬的眼泪。在他圆寂前写给我的最后一封信中，他自己署名为「最差劲的学生」。这显示出何谓无止尽的真恭敬，而最伟大的证悟会产生最伟大的恭敬心，以及由于最谦卑的缘故，所产生最完整的感激。 上师相应法：与上师的智慧心结合： 一切诸佛、菩萨和觉悟者在每一个时刻都会出现来帮助众生，透过上师的出现，他们的加持才会集中在我们身上。认识莲花生大士的人，都知道他在一千多年前所许下的诺言真实不虚：「我不曾远离那些信仰我的人，或甚至不信仰我的人，虽然他们没有看到我，我的孩子们将永远、永远受到我慈悲心的保护。」 如果我们想获得直接的帮助，只要祈求就可以。基督不也说：「你们祈求就给你们，寻找就寻见，叩门就给你们开门。因为凡祈求的就得着，寻找的就寻见，叩门的就给他开门。」吗？然而，祈求是最难的事。我发现，许多人几乎都不知道如何祈求。有时候是因为傲慢，有时候是因为不愿意祈求帮助，有时候是因为懒惰，有时候是因为心忙于怀疑、散乱和颠倒，以致连简单的祈求都做不到。酗酒或有毒瘾者接受治疗，转折点在于他们承认病症并且寻求协助。就某方面来说，我们都是染上轮回瘾的人；当我们承认上瘾混合祈求的时候，就是我们获得帮助的时刻。 大多数人最需要的是，打从内心深处真正祈求帮助的勇气和谦逊：祈求觉悟者的慈悲，祈求净化和治疗，祈求了解苦难的意义和转化它的力量；在相对的层次上，祈求的生命越来越清明、安详、睿智，并祈求与上师不死的智慧心相结合，以证悟绝对的心性。 如果想启请觉悟者的帮助、发起恭敬心和证悟心性，没有一种法门会比上师相应法（Guru Yoga）来的快速、动人或有力。顶果钦哲仁波切写道：「上师相应法的意思是『与上师的自性结合』，这种法门可以让我们的心与上师的觉悟心结合。」请记住，上师象征一切诸佛、上师和觉悟者加持力的结晶。因此，启请他就是启请全部圣尊；把你的心跟上师的智慧心相结合，就是把你的心跟真理和觉悟的化身相结合。 外在老师把你内在老师的真理直接介绍给你。透过他的教法和启示，你越体悟到外在和内在老师是不可分的。在上师相应法的修行过程中，当你反覆启请而逐渐发现这个真理时，就会产生越来越深的信心、感激和恭敬心，使得你的心和上师的智慧心真正变成不可分。在一次上师相应法的共修会上，顶果钦哲仁波切应我的要求，写了这首偈子： 成就认知的大清净者 是恭敬心，也就是本觉的光辉…… 认识并记得我自己的本觉就是上师-- 透过这个开示，愿你我的心结合为一。 西藏所有的智慧传统都非常重视上师相应法，西藏所有最伟大的上师也都把它当作最核心的修行，理由就在此。Dudjom Rinpoche wrote: 你应该把全部精力都用在上师相应法上，把它当作修行的生命和心脏。如果你不这么做，你的禅修将非常乏味，即使你有一点小进展，障碍还是会源源而至，内心也不可能有真实、纯正的证悟。因此，只要以纯朴的恭敬心热诚祈求，不久之后，上师智慧心的直接加持力将会传递到你身上，加持你从内心深处产生不可言喻的殊胜证悟。 现在，我想教给你一个简单的上师相应法，任何人不管他的宗教或精神信仰是什么，都可以修。 这个美妙的法门是我的主要法门，是我一生的中心和启示，每次我修上师相应法时，我都是观想莲花生大士。当佛陀即将入灭时，他预言在他涅后不久，将有莲花生大士出生弘传密法。诚如我曾经说过的，第八世纪时在西藏建立佛教的就是莲花生大士。对西藏人来说，根本上师莲花生大士象征一个宇宙的、永恒的原则；他是一切法界的上师。他对西藏的上师现身无数次，这些会面和示现都有确切的记录；发生的时间、地点和方式，以及莲花生大士所开示的教法和预言。他也留下几千部伏藏教法给未来世，由许多他所化身的大师陆续揭露；这些伏藏宝典，西藏文称为termas，其中有一部就是《中阴闻教得度》。 当我遇到困难和危机时，我总是向莲花生大士祈求，他的加持和力量从来不曾遗弃我。当我想到他时，我所有的上师都在他身上呈现。对我来说，他活在一切时刻，而整个宇宙也在每一个时刻闪耀着他的美丽、力量和存在。 Oh!根本仁波切，尊贵的上师， 你是一切诸佛慈悲和加持的化身， 众生唯一的保护者。 毫不犹豫的，我要以 我的身体，我的财物，我的心和灵魂皈依你！ 从现在起直到我证得觉悟为止， 不管是快乐或忧伤，顺境或逆境，得意或失意， 我完全依赖你，哦！莲花生大士，你是了解我的上师： 记得我，启示我，指导我，让我与你合而为一。 我把莲花生大士看作我所有上师的体现，所以在上师相应法中，当我把我的心与他结合时，全部上师就都包括在他身上。当然，你也可以观想任何你感到恭敬的觉者、圣贤或任何宗教、神秘传统的上师，不管他们是否还活着。 上师相应法分为四个主要的步骤：一、启请；二、利用上师的心要--咒语，将你的心与上师合而为一；三、接受加持或灌顶；四、最后将你的心与上师结合并安住在本觉之中。 1.启请 静静坐着。从你的内心深处，启请真理的化身--你的上师、圣人或觉者出现在你面前的天空中。 尝试观想上师或佛如同彩虹一般的生动、灿烂和透明。以完整的信赖，相信一切诸佛和觉者的智慧、慈悲和力量的加持和品质全都呈现在他身上。 如果你在观想上师时遇到困难，请把这种真理的化身想象成光，或尝试感觉他就出现在你前面的天空中：一切诸佛和上师的出现。让你那时所感觉到的启示、喜悦和敬畏取代观想。完全相信你所启请的对象确实在那儿出现。佛陀自己说：「谁想到我，我就在他前面。」我的上师敦珠仁波切经常说，如果一开始你无法清楚地观想，并没有关系；比较重要的是你要感觉心中确有你观想的对象出现，而且知道这种出现代表着一切诸佛的加持、慈悲、能量和智慧。 然后，放松，并让你的心中充满上师的出现，以你全部的心力坚决启请他；以完全的信心在内心祈求：「请帮助我，启示我去净化我的一切业障和烦恼，并体悟我的心性。」 然后，以深度的恭敬心，把你的心和上师结合，把你的心安住在他的智慧心中。当你这么做时，把你自己完全交给上师，并告诉自己：「现在，请帮助我，照顾我。让你的喜悦和能量、你的智慧和慈悲充满我。把我收到你智慧心的慈爱中。加持我的心，启发我的智慧。」然后，如同顶果钦哲仁波切说的：「毫无疑问的，加持就会进入你的心中。」 当我们修上师相应法时，它可以直接、善巧而有力地带领我们超越我们的凡夫心，进入本觉的智慧净土里。在那儿，我们可以看见、发现和知道一切诸佛都出现了。 因此，请感觉佛、莲花生大士、你的上师活生生地出现，并把你的心开放给真理的化身，如此确实可以加持和转化你的心。当你启请佛陀时，你自己的佛性就被唤醒而盛开，就像阳光下的花朵那么自然。 2.让加持成熟和加深 当我进行到这一部分的修持，藉着咒语把我的心和上师结合时，我就念嗡阿吽班杂咕噜叭嘛悉地吽（Om Ah HUm VAJRa GURu PADMa SIDDHi HUM，西藏文发音为Om Ah Hung BenzaGuru Pema Siddhi Hung），这个咒语就是莲花生大士本身和一切上师的加持。我想象我整个人都充满着他，我觉得在我念咒（他的心要）时，它就在振动并且渗透我全身，仿佛有几百位小莲花生大士化身为声音，在我的身体里绕行，转化我整个人。 然后，使用咒，以诚挚专一的恭敬心奉献出你的心和灵魂，把你的心和莲花生大士或你的上师结合在一起。渐渐地，你将觉得自己越来越接近莲花生大士，并缩短你和他的智慧心之间的距离。藉着这种修行的加持和力量，慢慢地，你实际上会经验到你的心，被转化到莲花生大士和上师的智慧心：你开始认识到它们是不可分离的。正如同你把手指头伸进水里，它会湿掉；把它放进火中，它会被烧到；因此如果你把你的心投入诸佛的智慧心上，它将转化成他们的智慧心。事实上，你的心将逐渐发现它本身处于本觉的状态中，因为心的最内部性质无非是一切诸佛的智慧心。这就好象你的凡夫心逐渐死掉和消解，而你的清净觉察力、你的佛性、你的内在老师将被显露出来。这是加持的真义--心的转化，超越平凡心，进入绝对的境界。 这个「加持的成熟」阶段是修持上师相应法的中心和主要部分，当你在修上师相应法时，应该在此投注最多的时间。 3.灌顶 现在观想从上师身上射出几千道灿烂的光芒，流向你，贯穿你的全身，净化你，治疗你，加持你，灌顶你，在你身上播下觉悟的种子。 为着让修行尽可能丰富并增加启示作用，你可以把它想象成三个阶段来展开： 首先，一束闪耀的水晶白色光（音「嗡」），从上师的额头射出，进入你的额头的气轮，注满你全身。这道白光代表一切诸佛的身加持，它洗净你的身恶行所累积的一切恶业，它净化你身心系统的气脉，它给你诸佛的身加持，它强化你做观想的练习，它开放你准备证悟遍一切处的本觉的慈悲能量。 其次，一束红宝石光从上师的喉嘴射出（音「啊」），进入你喉嘴的气轮，注满你全身。这道红光代表一切诸佛的语加持：它洗净你的恶语所累积的一切恶业，它净化你身心系统的内部空气，它给你诸佛的语加持，它授权给你持咒，它开放你准备证悟本觉的光芒。 第三，一束闪烁的青金石蓝色光（音「吽」），从上师的心射出，进入你心的气轮，注满你全身。这道蓝色光代表一切诸佛的意加持：它洗净你的恶思想所累积的一切恶业，它净化你身心系统的能量或原创的本质，它给你诸佛的意加持，它授权给你可以做高级相应法，它开放你准备证悟本觉的本初清净。 明白并感觉你现在已经透过加持，受到莲花生大士和一切诸佛金刚不坏的身、语、意灌顶。 4.安住在本觉中 现在让上师溶化成光，在你的心性中由于你合而为一。确信不疑地了解你这个天空般的心性就是绝对的上师。一切觉者，除了在本觉中，在你的心性中之外，还会在哪里呢？ 在那种证悟之中，在那种空灵自在的境界之中，你安住于你绝对心性的温暖、光荣和加持里。你已经抵达本来的基础地：自然纯一的本初清净。当你安住在这个本觉的状态时，你就会了解莲花生大士这句话的真理：「心的本身就是莲花生大士，除此之外，别无禅定。」 我在这里说明上师相应法，当作此生自然中阴的一部分，因为它是我们活着时最重要的修行法门，所以也是临终时最重要的修行法门。诚如你将在第十三章〈给临终者的精神帮助〉所看到的，上师相应法构成颇瓦法（phowa）的基础；所谓颇瓦，就是死亡时意识的转换。因为在死亡时，如果你能信心十足地把你的心与上师的智慧心结合，而后在那种平安中去世，那么我向你保证一切将顺利美好。 因此，我们活着时候的功课，就是要一再练习把我们与上师的智慧心结合，让我们在日常生活中的每一个动作，包括坐、走路、吃东西、饮水、睡觉、做梦和醒来，都能够很自然地越来越溶入上师的存在。慢慢地，经过多年专注的恭敬心，你开始知道并体悟一切现象都是上师智慧的展现。一切生命情境，即使一时似乎是悲剧、无意义或可怖的情境，都将越来越清楚地显示它们是上师和内在老师的直接教诲和加持。诚如顶果钦哲仁波切所说的： 恭敬心是修行的核心，如果我们心中只存有上师，只感觉热诚的恭敬心，不管发生什么事，都看作是他的加持。如果我们能够以这种永远现前的恭敬心来修行，它本身就是祈祷。 当一切思想都充满对上师的恭敬心时，就会产生自然的信心：它将照顾一切事情。一切形状都是上师，一切声音都是祷告，一切粗细的思想都是恭敬心。万事万物当下就在这种绝对性中解脱，就好象结在空中解开一般。