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. s 9 8 7 6 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 T he International Sacred Literature Trust was established to promote 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 8 MANTRAYANA 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