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Bodhi Vol. 4, No. 1 Spring 2001 (BODHI ARCHIVE)
Commentary onThe Sky Dragon's Profound Roar
- - - - - - -by Venerable Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche
We practice the genuine dharma because it is a method for
clearingaway the temporary stains that obscure our vision of the
true nature ofmind. The abiding nature of our mind is clear light.
It is the buddhanature, the undifferentiability of clarity and
emptiness. In its essence, it isprimordially pure and primordially
free from any stain at all. It has beenfree and pure from the very
beginning. Yet, although this is the basicnature of mind, there are
temporary, adventitious stains, which are not ofthe nature of mind
but which, nevertheless, prevent us from realizingwhat it is.
The fact that the true nature of mind could be this clear light,
the buddhanature that is completely free of any imperfection at
all, and yet beobscured by temporary stains, is called the first of
the "four inconceivable
points" in a text called the Gy Lama. This text presents the
highest viewin the continuum of the Mahayana teachings. Why is this
pointinconceivable? It seems to be quite a contradiction to state
that the basicnature of mind is pure and, at the same time, there
are stains thatprevent us from seeing it. If the true nature of our
mind ispure, why thendon't we realize this?
The situation is like gold that is pure and yet is obscured by
somecoarser mineral; it is like water that is pure in essence, and
yet ismuddied by dirt; it is like the sun that is shining and yet
is blocked fromour view by clouds. The purpose of practicing dharma
is to clear awaythese temporary stains so that the essence of mind
shines forth. At thattime, mind will be like pure gold that is
refined of all impure materials. Itwill be like pure water,
uncontaminated by any trace of dirt. It will be like
the sun shining in a cloudless sky. We can understand how
thisapparently contradictory point is not contradictory when we
consider suchexamples. On the surface, there might appear to be a
contradiction while,fundamentally, there is not.
The qualities of the basic nature of this clear light, or buddha
nature, arethat it is naturally open, spacious and relaxed. When a
person realizesthis directly, they are freed from the bondage of
their conceptuality; theyare no longer bound by conceptual mind.
Further, this realization benefitsnot only those who have
experienced it directly, but it also benefits uswhile we are still
in the process of listening to and reflecting upon theseteachings.
As we develop our understanding, we progressively gaincertainty
that the nature of this mind will help to release us from
thebondage of our thoughts, and from the bondage of our own anger
anddesire.
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This excerpt is part of the contents published in Bodhi Issue 7
(Spring2001). You can purchase this issue or subscribe to Bodhi at
theBodhiDharma Store.
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