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The Three Principals of the Path by Tsong Khapa . ******************************************************* . \ I bow down to the holy lamas. . \ #1. \ I will explain as well as I can \ The essential meaning of all the Conqueror's scriptures, \ The path praised by the excellent Conqueror Children, \ The port for the fortunate wishing liberation. . \ #2. \ Whoever are not attached to the pleasures of transient existence, \ Whoever strive to make leisure and fortune worthwhile, \ Whoever are inclined to the path pleasing the Conqueror Buddha, \ Those fortunate ones should listen with a clear mind. . \ #3. \ Without a complete intention definitely to leave cyclic existence [renunciation] \ There is no way to stop seeking pleasurable effects in the ocean of existence. \ Also, craving cyclic existence thoroughly binds the embodied. \ Therefore, in the beginning, an intention to leave cyclic existence should be sought. . \ #4.ab \ Leisure and fortune are difficult to find \ And life has no duration. \ Through familiarity with this, \ Emphasis on the appearances of this life is reversed. . \ #4.cd \ If you think again and again \ About actions and their inevitable effects \ And the sufferings of cyclic existence, \ Emphasis on the appearances \ Of future lives will be reversed. . \ #5. \ If, having meditated thus, you do not generate admiration \ Even for an instant for the prosperity of cyclic existence \ And if an attitude seeking liberation arises day and night, \ Then the intention definitely to leave cyclic existence has been generated. . \ #6. \ Also, if this intention definitely to leave cyclic existence \ Is not conjoined with generation of a complete aspiration to highest enlightenment, [Bodhicitta] \ It does not become a cause of the marvellous bliss of unsurpassed enlightenment. \ Thus, the intelligent should generate the supreme altruistic aspiration to become enlightened. . \ #7. \ [All ordinary beings] are carried by the continuum of the four powerful currents, \ Are tied with the tight bonds of actions difficult to oppose, \ Have entered into the iron cage of apprehending self [inherent existence], \ Are completely beclouded with the thick darkness of ignorance, . \ #8. \ Are born into cyclic existence limitlessly, \ And in their births are tortured ceaselessly by the three sufferings. \ Thinking thus of the condition of mothers who have come to such a state, \ Generate the supreme altruistic intention to become enlightened. . \ #9. \ If you do not have the wisdom realizing the way things are, \ Even though you have developed the thought definitely to leave cyclic existence \ As well as the altruistic intention, the root of cyclic existence cannot be cut. \ Therefore work at the means of realizing dependent-arising. . \ #10. [inseparability of samsara and Nirvana] \ Whoever, seeing the cause and effect of all phenomena \ Of cyclic existence and nirvana as infallible, \ Thoroughly destroys the mode of misapprehension of these objects [as inherently existent] \ Has entered on a path pleasing to Buddha. \ 11. [inseparability of the Two Truths] \ As long as the two, realization of appearances— the infallibility of dependent-arising— \ And realization of emptiness—the non-assertion [of inherent existence], \ Seem to be separate, there is still no realization \ Of the thought of Shakyamuni Buddha. . \ #12. [realizing the Union of the Two Truths] \ When [the two realizations exist] simultaneously without alternation \ And when, from only seeing dependent-arising as infallible, \ Definite knowledge destroys the mode of apprehension [of the conception of inherent existence], \ Then the analysis of the view [of emptiness] is complete. . \ #13. [the Middle Way between existence and non-existence] \ Further, the extreme of [inherent] existence is excluded [by knowledge of the nature] of appearances [existing only as nominal designations], \ And the extreme of [total] non-existence is excluded [by knowledge of the nature] of emptiness [as the absence of inherent existence and not the absence of nominal existence]. \ If within emptiness the way of the appearance of cause and effect is known, \ You will not be captivated by extreme views. . \ #14. [from a conceptual understanding to a direct realization] \ When you have realized thus just as they are \ The essentials of the Three Principal Aspects of the Path, \ Resort to solitude and generate the power of effort. \ Accomplish quickly your final aim, my child. . ******************************************************* ******************************************************* ******************************************************* . [THREE MORE TRANSLATIONS:] . . \ Reverence to the Holy Gurus! . \ #1. \ I will explain as best I can \ The essential import of all the Victor's Teachings, \ The path praised by all the holy Bodhisattvas. \ Best entrance for those fortunate ones who seek freedom. . \ #2. \ Listen with clear minds, you lucky people, \ Who aspire to the path that pleases Buddhas, \ Who work to give meaning to leisure and opportunity, \ Who are not addicted to the pleasures of cyclic life. \ Lust for existence chains all corporeal beings- . \ #3. \ Addiction to the pleasures of the life-cycle \ Is only cured by transcendent renunciation (1). \ So seek transcendence (1) first of all! . \ #4. \ Leisure and opportunity are hard to get, \ And there is no time to life; keep thinking on this, \ And you will turn off your interest in this life! \ Contemplate the inexorability of evolutionary effects \ And the sufferings of life-over and over again- \ And you will turn off interest in future lives! . \ #5. \ By constant meditation, your mind will not entertain \ A moment's wish even for the successes of life, \ And you will aim for freedom all day and night- \ Then you experience transcendent renunciation (1)! . \ #6. \ Transcendence without the spirit of enlightenment (2) \ Cannot generate the supreme bliss \ Of unexcelled enlightenment-therefore, \ The Bodhisattva conceives the supreme spirit of enlightenment (2). . \ #7-8. \ Carried away on the currents of four mighty streams, \ Tightly bound by the near-inescapable chains of evolution, \ Trapped and imprisoned in the iron cage of self-concern, \ Totally wrapped in the darkness of misknowledge, \ Born and born again and again in endless life-cycles, \ Uninterruptedly tormented by the three miseries- \ Such is the state of all beings, all just your mothers- \ From your natural feelings, conceive the highest spirit (2)! . \ #9. \ Even though you experience transcendent renunciation (1) \ And cultivate the spirit of enlightenment (2), \ Without the wisdom from the realization of emptiness (3), \ You cannot cut off the root of the life-cycle- \ So, you should strive to understand relativity. . \ #10. \ Who sees the inexorable causality of all things \ Both of cyclic life and liberation \ And destroys any sort of conviction of objectivity- \ Thereby enters the path pleasing to Victors. . \ #11. \ Appearance as inevitably relative, \ And emptiness as free of all assertions- \ As long as these are understood apart, \ The Victor's intent is not yet known. . \ #12. \ But, when they are simultaneous without alternation, \ The mere sight of inevitable relativity \ Becomes sure knowledge rid of objective habit-patterns, \ And the investigation of authentic view is complete. . \ #13. \ Further, while appearance eliminates absolutism, \ Emptiness eliminates nihilism, \ And you know emptiness manifest as cause and effect- \ Then, you will not be deprived by extremist views. . \ #14. \ When you realize the essentials \ Of the three principles of the path, \ Rely on solitude and powerful efforts, \ And swiftly achieve the eternal goal, my son! . by Venerable Ribur Rinpoche . ******************************************************* ******************************************************* ******************************************************* . \ Prostration to the Venerable Gurus. . \ #1. \ I will explain to the extent that I am able \ The essence of all the teachings of the Conqueror, \ The path praised by the Conqueror's holy children, \ The entrance for the fortunate ones who desire liberation. . \ #2. \ Listen with clear minds, you fortunate ones, \ Who rely on the path that pleases the Conqueror, \ Strive to make your freedoms and endowments meaningful, \ And are unattached to the pleasures of cyclic existence. \ Embodied beings are bound by the longing for existence. . \ #3. \ Without pure renunciation (1), there are no means to pacify \ The aspiration for pleasant results in the ocean of existence. \ Therefore, at the beginning, seek renunciation (1). . \ #4. \ Counteract clinging to this life by familiarizing your mind \ With the difficulty of finding the freedoms and endowments \ And with the fleeting nature of this life. \ Counteract clinging to future lives by repeatedly contemplating \ The infallibility of action and result \ And the sufferings of cyclic existence. . \ #5. \ By familiarizing yourself in this way, \ When you do not desire the perfections of samsara for even an instant \ And continually aspire for liberation, day and night, \ At that time, you have developed renunciation (1). . \ #6. \ However, renunciation without pure bodhicitta (2) \ Cannot result in the perfect happiness \ Of unsurpassed enlightenment. \ Therefore, the wise generate the supreme mind of enlightenment (2). . \ #7-8. \ Swept away by the four torrential rivers, \ Bound by the tight bonds of actions, so difficult to escape, \ Caught in the iron net of self-grasping, \ Totally enveloped by the thick darkness of ignorance, \ Born and reborn in boundless existence, \ Incessantly tormented by the three sufferings -- \ Reflecting upon this state of all beings, your mothers, \ Generate the supreme mind of enlightenment (2). . \ #9. \ Even though you familiarize yourself with renunciation (1) \ And the mind of enlightenment (2), \ Without the wisdom realizing emptiness (3), \ You cannot cut the root of existence. \ Therefore, strive to realize dependent arising. . \ #10. \ Whosoever sees the infallibility of cause and result \ Of all phenomena in samsara and nirvana \ And destroys all modes of apprehension \ Enters the path that pleases the Buddha. . \ #11. \ Appearances are infallible dependent arisings; \ Emptiness is free from assertions -- \ As long as these two are understood as separate, \ You have not yet realized the thought of the Conqueror. . \ #12. \ When these two realizations are simultaneous and not alternating, \ The mere sight of infallible dependent arising \ Brings the certainty that destroys all modes of apprehending objects. \ Then, your analysis of the profound view is complete. . \ #13. \ Furthermore, appearances eliminate the extreme of existence \ And emptiness eliminates the extreme of non-existence. \ When you understand the way emptiness appears as cause and result, \ You will not be carried away by extreme views. . \ #14. \ When you have realized the essentials \ Of the Three Principal Aspects of the Path, \ Rely upon solitude and powerful effort \ And swiftly accomplish your eternal goal, my child! . in Zopa - Virtue and Reality . ******************************************************* ******************************************************* ******************************************************* . \ Homage to the venerable Lamas. . \ #1. \ I will explain as well as I can, \ The meaning of the essence of all the Conqueror’s scriptures, \ The path which is praised by the Conqueror’s excellent children, \ And the gate for those fortunate ones desiring liberation. . \ #2. \ Those not attached to the pleasures of existence, \ Who strive to make leisure and opportunity meaningful, \ And have faith in the path that pleases the Conqueror, \ Those fortunate ones listen with a clear mind. . \ #3. \ Without a pure thought to leave [cyclic existence] (1) \ There is no way to stop seeking pleasant effects in the ocean of cyclic existence; \ Also, thirst for existence thoroughly binds the embodied. \ Hence, initially, seek renunciation (1). . \ #4. \ Leisure and fortune are difficult to find and life is not lasting. \ Through familiarizing the mind [with this], reverse emphasis on the appearances of this life. \ If one thinks again and again of karma’s inevitable effects and the sufferings of cyclic existence, \ Emphasis on future lives is reversed. . \ #5. \ After meditating in this way, \ If you do not generate even for one moment \ Admiration for the marvels of cyclic existence, \ And if there is always the thought seeking liberation, \ Then at that time one has generated [the intention] \ definitely to emerge [from cyclic existence] (1). . \ #6. \ Also, if the thought to leave cyclic existence is not conjoined with pure bodhicitta (2), \ Then it will not be the cause of the marvelous bliss of highest enlightenment. \ Hence, the intelligent generate the supreme bodhicitta (2). . \ #7. \ Those carried along the continuum of the four fierce and powerful rivers, \ Bound by means of tight bonds of actions difficult to reverse, \ Who have entered into the iron net of inherently existent self, \ And are covered with dark ignorance’s great darkness . . . . \ #8. \ . . . Are born into limitless cyclic existence, \ And in their births are tortured uninterruptedly by the three sufferings. \ Contemplating the condition of our mothers in such a state, generate the supreme bodhicitta (2). . \ #9. \ If one does not have the wisdom realizing the mode of subsistence (3), \ Then, even though one has developed bodhicitta (2) and renunciation (1), \ One is not able to cut the root of cyclic existence. \ Hence, for the sake of that, strive for the method of realizing dependent arising. . \ #10. \ If Whoever sees the cause and effect of all phenomena of cyclic existence and \ nirvana as completely inevitable, \ And thoroughly destroy the observed object— \ They enter the path that pleases the Buddha.. . \ #11. \ As long as the two, the understanding of appearances--the infallibility of dependent arising, \ And emptiness--the non-assertion [of inherent existence], \ Appear to be separate, there is still no realization \ Of the thought of Shakyamuni Buddha . \ #12. \ When [the two understandings exist] simultaneously without alternation, \ And when, from just seeing dependent-arising to be infallible, \ Definite knowledge destroys the mode of apprehending [an inherently existent] object, \ Then the analysis of the view is complete. . \ #13. \ Further, [knowledge of the nature of] appearances [existing only nominally] excludes the extreme of existence (i.e. much better) \ And [knowledge of the nature of] emptiness [as the absence of inherent existence] excludes the extreme of non-existence. (i.e. much better) \ If [within] emptiness, one knows the mode of the appearance of causes and effects, \ One will not be taken over by extreme views. . \ #14. \ When you have realized just as they are \ The essentials of the Three Principal Aspects of the Path, \ Resort to solitude and generate the power of effort. \ Quickly accomplish your final aim, my son. . in Hundreds . ******************************************************* . [End]