The Words of My Perfect Teacher, Revised Edition

508 Pages·1998·31.13 MB·English

by  Patrul Rinpoche, Padmakara Translation Group, Dilgo Khyentse, His Holiness the Dalai Lama

R EVISED EDITION
~1 ~~-"~·~~5]~·
~~-tq~'Jl~!!~~~~~"
~~~q~~~~
q~~~~,~~~~
r,~~~n
The Sacred Literature Series of
the International Sacred Literature Trust
Other title in the series
The Recorded Sayings of Zen Master ]oshu
KUNZANG LAMA'!
SHELUNG
The Words of My
Perfect Teacher
PATRUL RINPOCHE
TRANSLATED BY THE
PADMAKARA TRANSLATION GROUP
WITH FOREWORDS BY
THE DALAI LAMA AND DILGO KHYENTSE RINPOCHE
SHAMBHALA
*
Boston
1998
SHAMBHALA PUBLICATIONS, INC.
HORTICULTURAL HALL
300 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02115
http://www.shambhala.com
Translation and introductory matter C 1994, 1998
by Padmakara Translation Group
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by
any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.
9 8 7 6 s 4 3 2
First edition published 1994
Second edition published 1998
Photoset in Classical Garamond by Padmalcara
Printed in the United States of America
This edition is printed on acid-free paper that meets the
American National Standards Institute Z39.48 Standard.
Distributed in the United States of America by Random House, Inc.
and in Canada by Random House of Canada Ltd
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
0-rgyan-'jigs-med-chos-lcyi-dban-po, Dpal-sprul, b. 1808
[Kun Bzan bla ma'i zallun. English]
The words of my perfect teacher/Patrol Rinpoche; translated by
the Padmalcara Translation Group.-Rev. ed.
p. em.
Includes bibliographic references and index.
ISBN 1-57062-412-7 (pblc.: aile. paper)
1. Rdzogs-chen (Rnin-ma-pa) 2. Spiritual Life-Buddhism.
3. Buddhism-China-Tibet-Doctrines. I. Tide.
BQ7662.4.072513 1998b 98-22526
294.3'420423-dc21 CIP
To the teachers
of the past, the present and the future
Patron
HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT
Trustees
Sir Brian McGrath, KCVO (Chair)
Martine Batchelor Dr Narinder Singh Kapany
Dr Muhammad Zaki Badawi Richard Summers
The Duchess of Abercorn Michael Stillwell
Xll
INTERNATIONAL
SACRED
LITERATURE
T R U S T
he International Sacred Literature Trust was established to promote
T
understanding and open discussion between and within faiths and
to give voice in today's world to the wisdom that speaks across time and
traditions.
What resources do the sacred traditions of the world possess to respond
to the great global threats of poverty, war, ecological disaster and spiritual
despair?
Our starting-point is the sacred texts with their vision of a higher truth
and their deep insights into the nature of humanity and the universe we
inhabit. The translation programme is planned so that each faith com-
munity articulates its own teachings with the intention of enhancing its
self-understanding as well as the understanding of those of other faiths
and those of no faith.
The Trust particularly encourages faiths to make available texts which are
needed in translation for their own communities and also texts which are
little known outside the tradition but which have the power to inspire,
console, enlighten and transform. These sources from the past become
resources for the present and future when we make inspired use of them
to guide us in shaping the contemporary world.
Our religious traditions are diverse but, as with the natural environment,
we are discovering the global interdependence of human hearts and
minds. The Trust invites all to participate in the modern experience of
interfaith encounter and exchange which marks a new phase in the
human quest to discover our full humanity.
Xlll
Contents
List of illustrations xxiii
Foreword by the Dalai Lama XXV
Foreword by Dilgo Khyentse runpoche xxvii
Translators' Acknowledgements xxviii
Preface to the Second Edition xxix
Translators' Introduction xxxi
A brief historical introduction to Tibetan Buddhism xl
PROLOGUE 3
PART ONE
THE ORDINARY OR EXTERNAL
PRELIMINARIES
•
Chapter One
The difficulty of finding the freedoms
and advantages
I. THE PROPER WAY TO LISTEN TO SPIRITUAL TEACHING
1. Attitude
1.1 THE VAST ATTITUDE OF THE BODHICITTA 7
1.2 VAST SKILL IN MEANS: THE ATTITUDE OF THE SECRET
MANTRAYANA 8
2. Conduct
2.1 WHAT TO AVOID
2.1.1 The Three Defects of the Pot 10
2.1.2 The Six Stains 12
2.1.3 The Five Wrong Ways of Remembering 15
2.2 WHAT TO DO
2.2.1 The Four Metaphors 16
2.2.2 The Six Transcendent Perfections 18
2.2.3 Other Modes of Conduct 19
xiv