Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 4
Stanza 4
This is a very important stanza stating that a combination of strong Shamatha meditation accompanied by Vipassyana will completely eradicate the kleshas. Rinpoche emphasises the importance of the insight aspect, or Vipassyana (Tibetan: Lhaktong) without which he says we will not achieve a stable meditation practice. He goes on to discuss the sixth (mind) consciousness, which is what we work on in meditation, and reminds us that we must eliminate attachment to the other five, those of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste which are dependent on mind to retain their power. Shamatha practice helps us to begin the work of detaching ourselves from sense consciousness. As long as we remain attached to these we will be mentally disturbed, distracted by sense objects, and caught in samsara; we will be unable to be at peace, and not achieve the desired liberation.
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Rinpoche
Regarding meditative concentration, verse 3. Not only because of “of loved ones and desire for gain, we fail to turn away from worldly things”. There is a tendency, I would say, in us, in the western culture maybe bigger then otherways, to relay to much on society in the way that we believe that all achivements are possible only as group work, social process and so on.
I have observed that my meditation often stops because of a conviction that great individual achivements like Shantideva, Buddha Shakyamuni, others, were possible only because of other present indiviual’s work and knowledge being available for them contemporary. That way of resoning is disturbing the flow of meditation as consequence. I will not present how but it is opposit to self-confidence. There is even a saying that “a human is a social animal”. Without deprecating the animals in this respect I find that this tendency of the humans is hindering the development of bodhichita and meditation.
How do you see that?
Andrzej
Rinpoche, I have some doubts about stanza number 4. If I understand correctly the descriptions of samsara, we all have realised shine and lost it during rebirths in the form and formless realms. So, if this realisation could be lost, knowing it is very difficult to obtain due to all the distractions we have in this world, my thoughts leed me to think it would be more purposefull to meditate bodhicitta or to accumulate karma in order to access Dewatchen. Could you please comment ?
Question for Q&A Session on 13th December:
Dear Rinpoche: I have two questions:
Question 1 : The Mantra OM MANI PADME HUNG is said to be the King of Mantras and it is the Essence of all Dharmas. I read a book by His Eminence Khentin Tai Situ Rinpoche where Rinpoche said if the only practice one ever does is recite the Mani mantra, still one will become enlightened. Please could you explain the meaning of the Mani Mantra, and how to practice with it and what are the benefits of reciting this? I like to sometimes recite this mantra a little bit and I find it is of great benefit.
Question 2: Please could you explain about the Pure Land of Sukhavati (or Dewachen in Tibetan) and about how to be born there through creating what are called “The Four Causes for Birth in Sukhavati”. Please could you explain who Buddha Amitabha is and why he is called the “Buddha of Limitless Light”
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us, Rinpoche!
Max Yeshe