Patrul Rinpoche: Good In The Beginning, Middle and End

Rinpoche teaches on Patrul Rinpoche’s (Orgyen Jigme Chokyi Wangpo, 1808-1887) book, ‘Good In The Beginning, Middle and End‘ at a week long retreat in Chichester. The text has the additional title of “The Practice of View, Meditation, and Action, Which Is The Heart Treasure Of The Enlightened Ones“, and is best known in the West thanks to both the sublime commentary by H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and translation by the Padmakara Translation Group, published by Shambhala in 1992:

“Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones” ISBN 81-7472-033-2

The root text is in the form of a poetic letter from Patrul Rinpoche explaining View, Meditation and Action to one of his students, and is 82 verses in length. A large part of the text is dedicated to explaining the skillfulness of reciting the six syllable mantra: ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུྂ༔.

The direct transmission for this text was passed from Patrul Rinpoche, to Shechen Gyaltsab Rinpoche, to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (who taught this text regularly as the quintessence of teachings), to Ringu Tulku Rinpoche.

This unique teaching, given at BBG Bosham in July 1999, combines the wisdom of three great Tibetan Buddhist teachers from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. They challenge us to examine our materialistic priorities and question whether this is the best way to conduct our lives.

What is Dharma practice? “Dharma Practice” is not something to be kept for special times or special occasions – it is how you lead your life, how you react to adversity, how you interact with others. Are you confronting your attractions and dislikes or are they ruling your life? These three Masters say how you can gain control

It is natural to want peace and joy but this has to come from within. Grasping at happiness creates frustration and anger; worrying helps nothing. You must do your best, but be prepared to accept what comes. Integrate the Dharma with your mind; you don’t need tools – you need motivation.

Each Master speaks with his own unique style and wisdom. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche calls for Questions which he answers with understanding, clarity and compassion demonstrating the wisdom that he himself has learned.

These are the men who practised what they preached, found it good and now pass it on to others. Do we have the wisdom, the sense, to follow their advice and not submit to these degenerating times? Can we develop enough strength and clarity to achieve enlightenment?

Rinpoche has also taught this text in Samye Ling in 1995 and also in Kagyu Samye Dzong Dublin in recent years:

Patrul Rinpoche: Good In The Beginning, Middle And End

Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones

The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones

Transforming the Five Poisons into the Five Wisdoms

The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones

 

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