Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen: A Commentary on The Quintessence of Spiritual Practice, The Direct Instructions of the Great Compassionate One

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as the state of buddhahood but sometimes also the lower stages of enlightenment of an arhat or pratyekabuddha. Essence Mahamudra (snying po'i phyag chen). The essential view of Mahamudra introduced directly and without being dependent upon philosophical reasoning: 'Sutra Mahamudra,' or yogic practices: 'Mantra Mahamudra.' Essence, nature, and capacity (ngo bo rang bzhin thugs rje). Three aspects of sugata-garbha according to the Dzogchen system. Essence (ngo bo) is primordially pure emptiness. Nature (rang bzhin) is spontaneously present cognizance (gsal ba). Capacity (thugs rje) is their all-pervasive indivisibility. See also 'capacity.' Etemalism (rtag Ita). The belief that there is a permanent and causeless creator of everything; in particular, that one's identity or consciousness has a concrete essence which is independent, everlasting and singular. Exhaustion of phenomena beyond concepts (chos zad blo 'das). The fourth of the four visions of Dzogchen. Same as 'complete and perfect enlightenment.' Experience (nyams). Usually refers to the temporary experiences of bliss, clarity and nonthought produced through meditation practice. Specifically, one of the three stages: intellectual understanding, experience, and realization. Experience and realization (nyams rtogs). An expression used for insight and progress on the path. 'Experience' refers to temporary meditation experiences and 'realization' to unchanging understanding of the nature of things. Experience resembling its cause (myong ba rgyu mthun). The ripening of karma showing itself as directly reaping what one has sown. For instance, one will, for each of the ten nonvirtues respectively, have short life span, be in lack of necessities, have much strife in family life, meet with a lot of slander, have no friends, hear unpleas-

DZOGCHEN

ant words, hear pointless talk, have no result from one's hopes, always have fear, and meet with wrong views. Fasting-silence (bsnyun gnas) A two day Vajrayana practice of combined silence and fasting based on a sadhana of Lokeshvara. Fifty-eight herukas (khrag 'thung lnga bcu nga brgyad). The 58 wrathful deities. For a description, see Liberation Through Hearing in the Bardo, Shambhala Publications. Five aggregates (phung po lnga). The five aspects which comprise the physical and mental constituents of a sentient being: physical forms, sensations, conceptions, formations, and consciousnesses. Five buddha families (rigs lnga). The families of buddha, vajra, ratna, padma, and karma. Five buddhas (rgyal ba rigs lnga). The five families or aspects of victorious ones; Vairochana, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha and Amoghasiddhi. Five elements (khams/ 'byung ba lnga). Earth, water, fire, wind and space. Five female buddhas (rgyal ba yum lnga). Dhatvishvari, Mamaki, Lochana, Pandara Vasini, Samaya Tara. Five male buddhas (yab lnga). Same as 'Five buddhas.' Five paths (lam lnga). The paths of accumulation, joining, seeing, cultivation and nolearning. The five paths cover the entire process from beginning Dharma practice to complete enlightenment. Five perfections (phun sum tshogs pa lnga). The perfect teacher, retinue, place, teaching, and time. Five poisons (dug lnga). Desire, anger, delusion, pride and envy. Five sense consciousnesses (sgo lnga'i mam shes). The five functions of cognizing the sense objects of visual form, sound, smell, taste and texture. Fixation ('dzin pa). The mental act of holding on to a material object, experience, concept or set of philosophical ideas. Formless Realms (gzugs med kyi khams). The abode of an unenlightened being who has

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practiced the four absorptions. See 'four formless realms.' Forty-two peaceful ones (zhi ba bzhi bcu zhe gnyis). For a description, see Liberation Through Hearing in the Bardo, Shambhala Publications. Four continents (gling bzhi). The four continents surrounding Mount Sumeru: Superior Body, Jambu continent, Cow Enjoyment, and Unpleasant Sound. Four empowerments (dbang bzhi). The empowerments of vase, secret, wisdomknowledge and precious word. Four extremes (mtha' bzhi). Existence and nonexistence, both and neither. Four Formless Realms (gzugs med kyi khams bzhi). The four unenlightened meditative states of dwelling on the thoughts: Infinite Space, Infinite Consciousness, Nothing Whatsoever, and Neither Presence Nor Absence [of conception]. Four joys (dga' bzhi). Joy, supreme joy, nonjoy, and innate joy. Four mind-changings (blo ldog mam bzhi). 1) The freedoms and riches comprising the precious human body that are so difficult to find. 2) Impermanence and death. 3) Karma, the law of cause and effect. 4) The sufferings of samsara. Reflecting on these four topics regarding the facts of life, causes one's mind to change and be directed towards Dharma practice. Fqur modes (tshul bzhi) are the literal (tshig), general (spyi), hidden (sbas), and the ultimate (mthar thug). Four perception-spheres of the Formless Realms (gzugs med kyi skye mched bzhi). See 'Four Formless Realms.' Four philosophical schools (grub mtha' bzhi). Vaibhashika, Sautrantika, Mind Only, and Madhyamika. Four pure notions (dag pa'i 'du shes bzhi). Regarding oneself as a sick person, the teacher as a doctor, the teaching as a medicine and the practice as the act of following the cure. Four sections of tantra (rgyud sde bzhi). Kriya, Charya, Yoga, and Anuttara Yoga.

LI.ZOGCHEN

The experiences of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, textures and mental objects. Six Syllables (yi ge drug pa). The mantra of Avalokiteshvara: OM MAN! PADME HUNG. Six tantra sections (rgyud sde drug). The three outer tantras of Kriya, Upa and Yoga and the three inner tantras of Maha, Anu, and Ati. Six transcending actions (pha rol tii phyin pa drug). See 'six paramitas.' Six Yogas (mal'byor drug). See 'Six Doctrines ofNaropa.' Sixfold taking as path (lam khyer drug). Skillful means (thabs Ia mkhas pa). Ingenuity in application. Special inner preliminaries of four times one-hundred thousand (thun min nang gi sngon 'gro 'bum bzhi). Same as 'special preliminaries.' Special preliminaries (thun min gyi sngon 'gro). Taking refuge, arousing bodhichitta, recitation and meditation of Vajrasattva, mandala offerings, and guru yoga. For fur. ther details see Torch of Certainty, Shambhala Publications, or The Great Gate, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 1988. Spontaneous presence (lhun grub). One of the two main aspects of Dzogchen teaching, the other being 'primordial purity.' Stillness (gnas pa). Absence of thought activity and disturbing emotions, but with subde fixation on this stillness. Stillness, occun:ence and awareness (gnas 'gyu rig gsum). The preparatory meditation practice of developing mindfulness: noticing whether or not thoughts are arising. Sukhavati (bde ba can). 'Blissful Realm.' The pure realm of Buddha Amitabha. Superknowledges (mngon par shes pa). Usually refers to five or six 'higher perceptions' including clairvoyance, knowledge of other's minds, recollection of past lives etc. Supported shamatha (rten bcas zhi gnas). See 'shamatha with support.' Supreme and common siddhis (mchog dang thun mong gi dngos grub). Enlightenment and mundane accomplishments.

Supreme nirmanakaya (mchog gi sprul sku). An emanation to appear as a fully enlightened buddha enacting twelve ·deeds. Sustain the essence (ngo bo skyong ba). An expression used in Mahamudra and Trekcho teachings as a substitute for 'meditation.' Sutra (mdo). Discourse or teaching by the Buddha. Also refers to all the causal teachings that regard the path as the cause of enlightenment. Sutra and Tantra (mdo rgyud). Sutra refers to the teachings of both Hinayana and Mahayana. Tantra refers to Vajrayana. Sutra means taking the cause as path. Tantra means taking the result as path. Sutra Mahamudra (mdo'i phyag chen). The Mahamudra system based on the prajnaparamita scriptures and emphasizing shamatha and vipashyana and the progressive journey through the five paths and ten bodhisattva bhumis. Svabhavikakaya (ngo bo nyid kyi sku). The 'essence body.' Sometimes counted as the fourth kaya, the unity of the first three. Tantra (rgyud). The Vajrayana teachings given by the Buddha in his sambhogakaya form. Literally 'continuity,' tantra means the buddha nature, the 'tantra of the expressed meaning.' Generally the extraordinary tantric scriptures that are exalted above the sutras, the 'tantra of the expressing words.' Can also refer to all the resultant teachings that take the result as the path as a whole. Tantra Mahan)udra (sngags kyi phyag chen). Same as Mantra Mahamudra. Tashi Ozer (bkra shis 'od zer). 1836-1910. An abbot of Paljor monastery and a student ofJamgon Kongtiiil the First. Tathagata-garbha (de bzhin gshegs pa'i snying po). Same as 'buddha nature' and sugata-garbha. (nyams). See Temporary experiences 'experience.' Temporary stains (glo bur gyi dri rna). The obscuration& that are not intrinsic to the sugata-garbha, like clouds are not inherent in the sky.

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Ten bhumis (sa bcu). The ten bodhisattva levels: The Joyous, the Stainless, the Radiant, the Brilliant, the Hard to Conquer, the Realized, the Reaching Far, the Unshakable, the Good Intelligence, and the Cloud of Dharma. Ten bodhisattva stages (byang chub sems dpa'i sa bcu). The ten levels of a noble bodhisattva's development into a fully enlightened buddha. On each stage more subtle defilements are purified and a further degree of enlightened qualities is manifested. For their names see 'ten bhumis.' Ten riches ('byor ba bcu). The five riches from others are: a buddha appears, teaches the Dharma, the teachings remain, there are followers, and there are teachers with the kindness to teach. The five riches from oneself are: Being a human, hom in a central country, having the physical and mental faculties intact, not having a perverted livelihood, and having trust in the Three Jewels. Ten unvirtuous actions (mi dge ba bcu). Killing, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, lying, divisive talk, harsh words, idle gossip, covetousness, ill-will, and wrong views. Tengyur (bstan 'gyur). The Translated Treatises. A collection of several hundred volumes of scriptures explaining the Kangyur, the Translated Words of the Buddha. Tarnal gyi shepa (tha mal gyi shes pa). The Tibetan for 'ordinary mind.' Thatness (de nyid). The nature of phenomena and mind. Thirteen bhumis (sa bcu gsum). According to the New Schools there are an additional three stages which are actually degrees of manifesting complete enlightenment. See Tsele Natsok Rangdrol's Lamp of Mahamudra, Shambhala Publications,

paramita etc., as well as Abhidharma, and Madhyamaka. Three incalculable aeons (bskal pa grangs med gsum). 'Incalculable' refers to the number ten followed by 52 zeros. Three defects of the vessel (snod kyi skyon gsum). When listening to a Dharma talk: Not paying attention, not remembering, being mixed with impure motivation. Three inner tantras (nang rgyud sde gsum). Maha, Anu, and Ati Yoga. Three Jewels (dkon mchog gsum). The Precious Buddha, the Precious Dharma and the Precious Sangha. Three kayas (sku gsum). Dharmakaya, sambhogakaya and nirmanakaya. The three kayas as ground are 'essence, nature, and capacity,' as path they are 'bliss, clarity and nonthought,' and as fruition they are the 'three kayas of buddhahood.' Three kinds of ignorance (rna rig pa mam gsum). Single identity ignorance, coemergent ignorance and conceptual ignorance. Three kinds of obscurations (sgrib pa gsum). The obscuration of disturbing emotions, the cognitive obscuration, and the obscuration of tendencies or habitual patterns. Three outer tantras (phyi rgyud gsum). Kriya, Upa, and Yoga. Three poisons (dug gsum). Attachment, anger, and delusion. Three realms (khams gsum). The samsaric realms of Desire, Form and Formlessness. Three types of ignorance (rna rig pa gsum). The ignorance of single identity, coemergent ignorance, and conceptual ignorance. Three vehicles (theg pa gsum). Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Three yanas (theg pa gsum). The three levels of Buddhist teaching; Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Threefold miraculous actions (cho 'phrul mam

1989.

gsum).

Thirteen major philosophical texts (gzhung Threefold Purity ('khor gsum mam dag). Absence of fixation on subject, object, and acchen bcu gsum). The fundamental treatises on Buddhist philosophy covering the toption. ics of Vinaya, the bodhisattva trainings, Tilopa (Skt.). Indian mahasiddha, the guru of Naropa, and father of the KagyO. lineage. Maitreya's five treatises covering Prajna-

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Togal (thod rgal). 'Direct crossing' or 'passing above.' Dzogchen has two main sections: Trekcho and Toga!. The former emphasizes primordial purity (ka dag) and the latter spontaneous presence (lhun grub). Tong-len (gtong len). See 'giving and taking.' Torma (gtor rna). An implement used in tantric ceremonies. Can also refer to a food offering to Dharma protectors or unfortunate spirits. Transcendent Knowledge (shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa, prajnaparamita). Intelligence that transcends conceptual thinking. Transcendental actions (pha rol tu phyin pa'i spyod pa). See 'paramita.' Transmission (dbang lung, ngo sprod). 1) A name covering both empowerment and reading transmission. 2) Same as the 'pointing-out instruction.' Trekcho (khregs chodl Cutting Through. One of the two main aspects of Dzogchen practice, the other being Toga!. See also 'cutting through.' Tripitaka (sde snod gsum). The three collections of teachings; Vinaya, Sutra, and Abhidharma. Triple-vow vajra-holder (sdom gsum rdo rje 'dzin pa). A master who can keep the vows of each of the three vehicles simultaneously and without conflict. Tsa-tsa (tshva tshva). A small clay image of a buddha stamped from a mold. Tsurphu (tshur phu). The seat of H.H. the Karmapa in Tolung, Central Tibet. Tulku (sprul sku). Literally, 'apparitional body.' Can refer to an incarnated bodhisattva who works for the welfare of sentient beings, or to the nirmanakaya manifested by a buddha. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (sprul sku u rgyan rin po che). A contemporary master of the Kagyii and Nyingma lineages, who lives at Nagi Gompa in Nepal. Tummo (gtum mo, chandali). One of the Six Doctrines of Naropa. Turning the Wheel of Dharma (chos kyi 'khor lo skor ba). Figurative expression for giving Dharma teachings.

Twelve aspects of interdependence (rten 'byung yan lag bcu gnyis). The twelve-fold cycle of causal connections which binds beings to samsaric existence and thus perpetuates suffering: ignorance, karmic formations, consciousness, name and form, six sense bases, contact, sensation, craving, grasping, becoming, birth, old age and death. Two accumulations (tshogs gnyis). The accumulation of merit with concepts and of wisdom beyond concepts. Two truths (bden pa gnyis). Relative truth and ultimate truth. Relative truth describes the seeming, superficial and apparent mode of all things. Ultimate truth describes the real, true and unrnistaken mode. These two aspects of reality are defined by the Four Philosophical Schools as well as the tantras of Vajrayana in different ways, each progressively deeper and closer to describing things as they are. Twofold knowledge (mkhyen pa gnyis). The wisdom of knowing the nature as it is and the wisdom of perceiving all that exists. Knowledge of conventional and ultimate phenomena. Ultimate bodhichitta (don dam byang chub kyi sems). Same as prajnaparamita, the unity of shamatha and vipashyana, self-existing wakefulness, etc. Ultimate truth (don dam pa'i bden pa). The absolute nature of relative truth; that all phenomena are beyond arising, dwelling and ceasing. Understanding, experience, and realization (go myong rtogs gsum). Intellectual comprehension, practical experience, and unchanging realization. Unified level of Vajradhara (zung 'jug rdo rje 'chang gi go 'phang). Synonymous with the state of complete enlightenment. The 'unified' stands for the inseparability of means and knowledge: emptiness endowed with the supreme of all aspects and the unchanging great bliss. Universal monarch ('khor lo sgyur ba'i rgyal po). The highest attainment within the Desire

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Realm. Unsupported shamatha (rten med zhi gnas). See 'shamatha without support.' Upa (gnyis ka). The second of the three outer tantras according to the Early Translation School. It means 'both' in the sense of combining the view of Yoga Tantra with the conduct of Kriya Tantra. Vaibhashika (bye brag smra ba). One of the two main Hinayana schools of philosophy. Vajra (rdo rje). Literally, 'diamond,' 'king of stones.' As an adjective it means indestructible, invincible, firm etc. There is the ultimate vajra of emptiness, the conventional vajra of material substance with attributes, and the apparent symbolic or labeled vajra of the name. Vajra Guru Mantra (badz ra guru sngags). OM AH HUNG VA]RA GURU PADMA SIDDlfl HUNG. Vajra master (rdo rje slob dpon). A tantric mas-

ter who is adept in the rituals and meaning of Vajrayana. The master from whom one receives tantric teachings. Vajra Varahi (rdo rje phag mo). One of the chief yidam deities of the New Schools. Vajradhara (rdo rje 'chang). 'Vajra-holder.' The dharmakaya buddha of the Sarma Schools. Can also refer to one's personal teacher of Vajrayana. Vajrapani (phyag na rdo rje). One of the eight great bodhisattvas. Vajrasattva (rdo rje sems dpa'). A sambhogakaya buddha who embodies all the five families. He is also a major source of purification practices. Vajrayana (rdo rje Iheg pa). The 'vajra vehicle.' The practices of taking the result as the path. Same as 'Secret Mantra.' Variegated nirmanakayas (sna tshogs sprul sku). Emanations of the buddhas in indefinite forms and manners, even as material objects, to benefit whoever needs, in whichever way is necessary. Vase breath (bum can gyi rlung sbyor). A particular breathing practice to be learned from oral instructions. Vehicle (Iheg pa). The practice of a set of

teachings which 'carries' one to the level of fruition. Victorious ones (rgyal ba, jina). Same as buddhas. Vidyadhara (rig 'dzin, knowledge-holder). One who holds (dhara) or upholds the wisdom of knowledge (vidya) mantra. An accomplished master of the Vajrayana teachings. View (Ita ba). A particular understanding and orientation based on studies of philosophy. In the context of Mahamudra and Trekcho, the view refers to the state of 'ordinary mind' or 'self-existing wakefulness' free from any concept, even of philosophical insight. View, meditation, and action (Ita ba sgom pa spyod pa). The philosophical orientation, the act of growing accustomed to that usually in sitting practice, and the implementation of that insight during the activities of daily life. Each of the 'nine vehicles' has its particular definition of view, meditation and action. Vinaya ('dul ba). One of the three major sections of the Buddha's teachings showing ethics, what to adopt and what to avoid. Vipashyana (lhag mlhong). 'Clear' or 'wider seeing.' One of the two main aspects of meditation practice, the other being shamatha. Virtuous mental states (dge ba'i sems byung). Feelings such as devotion, compassion and renunciation. Vows (sdom pa). The individual pledge to observe the precepts prescribed in one or all of the three vehicles. Wakefulness (ye shes, shes pa). In this book, used interchangeably with 'wisdom.' Wheel of the Dharma (chos kyi 'khor lo). The cycle of teachings given by the Buddha; three such cycles, known as the Three Turnings of the Wheel of the Dharma, were taught by Shakyamuni Buddha during his lifetime. Yama (gshin rje). The Lord of Death. A personification of impermanence, the unfailing law of karma and one's inevitable mortality.

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Yana (theg pa). The 'carrying,' 'vehicle.' A set of teachings which enable one to journey towards rebirth in the higher realms, liberation from samsara or complete buddhahood. Yidam (yi dam). A personal deity and the root of accomplishment among the Three Roots. Yidam practice (yi dam gyi mal 'byor). The main practice which traditionally follows the preliminaries. It includes the two stages of development and completion and is a perfect stepping stone for approaching the more subde practices of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. Yoga (mal 'byor). The third of the three outer tantras: Kriya, Upa and Yoga. It emphasizes the view rather than the conduct and to regard the deity as being the same level as oneself. Yogi (mal 'byor pa). Tantric practitioner.

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