Manjushri
Mipham Rinpoche
Namo Mañjushriye!
Once you have gone through the training in analysis
And developed confidence in the crucial point
Of how the individual is devoid of self,
Then consider how just as the so-called “I” is
An unexamined conceptual imputation,
All phenomena included within
The five skandhas and the unconditioned are just the same,
Labeled conceptually as this or that.
Although we cling to all these various phenomena,
When we investigate and search for them they cannot be found.
And when we reach the ultimate two indivisibles,
Even the most subtle and infinitesimal can not be established.
It is the same for all that appears through dependent origination.
Entities themselves arise dependently,
Whereas ‘non-entities’ are dependently imputed.
So whether an entity or a non-entity,
Whatever is conceived of uncritically,
Once it is analyzed and investigated,
It is found to be without basis or origin,
Appearing yet unreal, like an illusion, a dream,
The moon’s reflection, an echo or city in the clouds,
A hallucination, a mirage and the like.
Appearing yet empty, empty yet appearing—
Meditate on the way empty appearances resemble illusions.
This is the ultimate that is categorized conceptually.
It has the confidence of a mind of understanding,
And it is indeed the stainless wisdom of seeing
The illusory nature of post-meditative experience.
Yet it has not gone beyond focus on apprehended objects,
Nor have the features of a subjective mind been overcome,
And so since it has not gone beyond conceptuality
The true reality of natural simplicity is not seen.
When this kind of certainty has arisen,
Then even the clinging to mere illusion
Can be understood as conceptual imputation.
There is apprehension, but no essential nature to the perceived,
And even the perceiving mind can not be found,
So without clinging, one is brought to rest in natural ease.
When you remain like this, all experiences,
Both external and internal, are not interrupted.
Within this fundamental nature free from grasping,
All the projections imposed upon phenomena,
Have never arisen and never ceased to be,
And, free from the duality of perceiver and perceived,
One rests in the all-pervading space of equality.
This is beyond any assertions such as ‘is’ or ‘is not.’
And within this inexpressible state of true and natural rest
An experience dawns that is free from the slightest trace of doubt.
This is the actual nature of all things,
The ultimate that can not be conceptualized,
And which can only be known individually,
The non-conceptual wisdom of meditative equipoise.
When you become familiar with this state,
In which emptiness and dependent arising are an inseparable unity,
The ultimate condition in which the two truths can not be separated,
Then that is the yoga of the great
Middle Way
.
Those who wish to realize this swiftly
And make evident non-dual primordial wisdom
Beyond the domain of the ordinary mind,
Should meditate on the pith instructions of secret mantra.
This is the ultimate profound and crucial point
Of the progressive meditations on the
Middle Way
.
So begin by thoroughly refining your conduct,
And then arrive at certainty, experientially and in stages.
With confidence in the illusory nature of empty appearance,
There is nothing to be eliminated or enhanced upon the path,
And within the equality of the all-pervading space of perfect wisdom,
You will come to find complete liberation.
In a place where people suffer drought and dehydration,
Hearing about water will not be enough to quench their thirst,
And it is only by drinking that they will find relief.
The sutras say this is how it is for learning and experience.
Someone with only dry and theoretical understanding,
Who is worn out by all kinds of reasoning and ideas,
Does not need sporadic practice, but meditation in proper stages.
This is how to swiftly gain acceptance of the profound.
Jampal Gyepé Dorje wrote down whatever came to mind,
On the twenty-ninth day of the eleventh month of the Water Dragon year (1892).
May all beings realize the meaning of the profound
Middle Way
!
Mangalam!
Translated by Adam Pearcey
© Adam Pearcey 2004.