Padmasambhava’s final condensed instruction to Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal

from Dakini Teachings, Rangjung Yeshe Publications

[We should continually return to the authentic ancient teachings: please note that content in the [  ] is my – hopefully clarifiying! – commentary]

Lady Tsogyal:
“I beseech you kindly to give me an instruction condensing all teachings into one, which is concise and easy to practise.”

The Great Master replied:
“Devoted one, with faithful and virtuous mind, listen to me.

“Although there are many profound key points of body, rest free and relaxed as you feel comfortable. Everything is included in simply that.

“Although there are many points of speech, such as breath control and mantra recitation, stop speaking and rest like a mute. Everything is included in simply that.

“Although there are many key points of mind, such as concentrating, relaxing, projecting [this could mean yidam deity visualisation], dissolving, and focusing inward, everything is included in simply letting it rest in its natural state, free and easy, without fabrication.

“The mind doesn’t remain quiet in that state. If one wonders, is it nothing – like the haze in the heat of sun [appearing to exist] – it still shimmers and flashes forth. But if one wonders, is it something – it has no colour or shape to identify it, but is utterly empty and completely awake. That is the nature of the mind.

“Having recognised it as such, to become certain about it, that is the view.

To remain undistracted in the state of stillness, without fabrication or fixation, that is the meditation.

In that state, to be free from clinging or attachment, accepting or rejecting, hope or fear, towards any of the experiences of the six senses, that is the action [the action is non-action].

“Whatever doubt or hesitation occurs, supplicate your master [traditionally, this is your root teacher, but it could represent any power that you feel is higher than your own]. Don’t remain in places of ordinary people; practise in seclusion [this is traditionally in a forest or cave, but one can be in seclusion in one’s own room]. Give up your clinging to whatever you are attached to, as well as to whomever you have the strongest bond in this life [one can still have loving kindness], and practise. Like that, although your body remains in human form, your mind is equal to the Buddhas.”

…to be continued…

.