An Exhortation to read The Seven Treasuries

An Exhortation to Read

The Seven Treasuries,
the Excellent Writings of
Omniscient Longchen Rabjam

Paltrul Rinpoche

Nama sarva jnanaya–Homage to the Omniscient One!

The infinite realm, genuine and tranquil from the beginning,
is dharmakaya's expanse of timeless awareness that never wavers.
Its mode is perfect manifestation, the supreme energy of enlightened intent.
I pay homage to this omniscient lama.

Listen! It is in the nature of sublime qualities
that if you don't rely on sacred texts, you won't create them.
Rare jewels come from the great ocean.
How would they be obtained from a lesser domain?

Timeless awareness, born of realization bright as the sun, will definitely come
from the pith instructions of a lama whose lineage blessings are undiminished.
But those who meditate on voidness are casting stones in the dark;
few will reach the genuine state on the excellent path.

If you don't study, it is a great defect in your life.
But to study erroneous ideas can cause greater harm.
Now, when you can read the writings of a learned master,
wouldn't it make sense to open your eyes and study them?

In conditioned existence, the precious scriptural tradition
of the omniscient lama is the sole wish–fulfilling gem.
If buddhahood is not found anywhere other than here,
who wouldn't take great delight in it?

The precious treasury of meaning intended by the myriad tantras
is the sublime vajra heart essence, the highest spiritual approach.
The treatment is extensive; the meaning discussed is profound.
To see this is to behold the face of the real Samantabhadra.

You will comprehend the meaning of six million tantras.
You will understand the way of abiding of conditioned existence
and the state of peace–samsara and nirvana in their entirety.
You will realize extraordinary qualities intended by the profound path of the pinnacle approach.
Therefore, study this scripture assiduously.

The treasury of Samantabhadra's enlightened intent beyond cause and effect
is the dharmakaya's way of abiding, in which there is nothing to protect.
If elaboration is not cut off with such an excellent text,
who could destroy the perverse fixations of intellectual approaches?

Summarized in groups of six, the perfect treasury of sacred dharma
distills the heart essence of all pith instructions.
Even if you were to meet the actual Victorious One,
wouldn't it be hard to hear teachings on such an excellent path all at once?

The entire Buddhist teachings are completely explained in just
one treatise–the precious treasury of philosophical systems.
An excellent text like this never appeared before
in either India or Tibet and will never come again.

The treasury concerning study, reflection, and meditation on all methods of dharma–
what to accept and reject in every situation–beautifully shows how to fulfill one's wishes.
Reading this, you will understand the principles of all instructions;
you will be trained in hundreds of texts all at once.

The meaning intended by the highest spiritual approach is excellently summarized
in a single treasury of practical key points of pith instructions
that spins their import into eleven chapters of words and their meanings.
It is singularly powerful in cutting through the root of conditioned existence.

Especially, the precious treasury of the basic space of phenomena–
the most profound of all–is the depth of mind of the omniscient lama
that beautifully reveals the meaning of dharmakaya, genuine mind itself,
to be naked awareness, with nothing to be added or dispelled.

It is authentic dharmakaya appearing in the form of a text.
An excellent text like this is an actual buddha-
it directly reveals the enlightened intent of victorious ones,
accomplishing their deeds in this world.
Even if you met a buddha, you would not find more than this.

An excellent text like this is a treasury of all sacred dharma.
The consummate content of all teachings
is nakedly revealed as timeless awareness of dharmakaya.
Even if all teachings were compared, there would be nothing more than this.

Such an excellent text is the enlightened mind of all the exalted sangha.
The timeless awareness realized by buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats
throughout the three times does not go beyond this.
The timeless awareness of exalted ones is not other than this.

It is the complete perfection of the three jewels in a shrine of dharmakaya–
the unsurpassable path blazed by all victorious ones,
the representation of the omniscient lama's realization.
Those who encounter this will have their last lifetime in samsara.

Even hearing a single word of an excellent text like this
has the power to shred the manifestation of conditioned existence to tatters.
If you gain the good fortune to read it completely
and you waste it, what could you be thinking?

Listen, the doctrines of the tripitaka and the nine stages
are primarily intended for the industrious and diligent.
They say, "Freedom comes through meditation, so practice with effort."
But they do not see timeless awareness, with nothing to be dispelled or added.

This vajra pinnacle is effortless, beyond ordinary mind.
Buddhahood is not cultivated; it is the expanse of naked emptiness and awareness.
Even the indolent can be introduced to dharmakaya these days,
for it is without the fixations of the intellect–effort and sadhana and meditation.

In revealing this path in the transitory world that includes the gods,
the omniscient lama is the unique dharmakaya.
Since it contains a wealth of instructions about dharmakaya,
this Treasury of the Basic Space of Phenomena is the quintessence of dharma.

Therefore, to see such an excellent text in this world
liberates you–it liberates you to hear and to remember it.
Whoever makes a connection with it will become a buddha in the future.
If you discover its enlightened intent, you are a buddha right now.

Since the acute power of the lineage of blessings has not diminished,
by focusing enlightened intent, this text transmits the timeless awareness of the absolute lineage.
It is sealed with a seal of entrustment to future generations,
and so it is equal to the presence of the omniscient lama.

Even if you can't unravel the enlightened intent of the words and their meanings, just as it is,
if you have devotion, the timeless awareness of the lineage of blessings will be transmitted to you.
There is nothing more to the precious word empowerment than encountering this text—
it is the complete empowerment of the dynamic energy of awareness.

When depression, anxiety, or irritation overwhelms,
if you read this text, supremely joyful timeless awareness will arise.
You will be cheerful and in good spirits, your awareness sharp and clear.
The confusion you encounter in perceiving sense objects will be destroyed.

When joyful experiences flourish and great bliss blazes,
if you read this text, attachment to savoring joy will be destroyed.
The infinite and genuine expanse, without the distinctions of acceptance and rejection,
is the profound teaching of the omniscient lama's enlightened intent.

In this life, when you are distressed by yearning and exertion,
if you read this text, attachment to the solidity of your experience will be destroyed.
Regardless of what manifests, you are expansive; whatever you do is all right.
Without the usual reactions of hope and fear, you are relaxed, resting in equipoise.

This is the middle way and the perfection of wisdom,
the practice of cutting through as well as the pacification of suffering,
the real mahamudra and great perfection.
All teachings are subsumed in this, the most exalted of them all.

If you are a follower and heir of the omniscient lama,
never be apart from this excellent text.
It is enough to trust in this, awareness's constant companion.
There will never be anything like this ultimate reliance.

You will gain happiness immediately; in the end, you will attain buddhahood.
You will break the fetters of the intellect and not suffer from exertion.
If you are exuberant, it will make you level; it is a consoling friend if you suffer from depression.
Such an excellent text is unique in that it will never deceive you.

Therefore, sing and chant it as a melodious song.
Utter the words as poetry and read the prose aloud.
If you are never separate from it,
your confused perceptions of samsara will shatter.

Eventually, when the lineage blessings, the key to realization, have passed to you,
inexpressible timeless awareness will be born from within.
You will meet the true face of the omniscient dharmakaya lama.
On the basis of your fundamental state of bliss, your happiness will be uninterrupted.

Besides studying these texts, there is no other practice.
This itself is the heart essence of meditation and sadhana practice.
However long you study these excellent texts,
for that long the enlightened intent of dharmakaya will spontaneously arise.

For that reason, do not magnify the stormy mind of intellectual exertion.
Consider these noble texts in a carefree state.
The profound meaning expressed is not far away.
With a decisive mind, rest in the naturally settled state.

You don't need to scrutinize the meaning of words with precision,
as is the case with pedantic treatises that are difficult to understand.
In the naturally settled state, mingle your mind with these texts
and it will instantly become expansive and nakedly unobstructed.

That is direct introduction.
That is genuine timeless awareness.
That itself is the spiritual advice of the omniscient lama.
That is the main teaching as well as the real bestowal of empowerment.
That practice of the heart essence is sufficient in itself.

Whether or not you elucidate the definitions of the literal meaning,
whether or not you understand the profound meaning of the content,
whether or not you discover the innermost sanctuary of enlightened intent—
read these texts in an undistracted state, cutting through doubts and expectations.

Read them again and again; read by bringing them into your expenence.
Mingling your mind with these texts, seal their marrow in your mind.
From the state of inseparability, chant melodiously, joyful in your experience.
In the blazing dynamic energy of devotion, timeless awareness born of realization will arise.

Listen, these are the very heart of the heart essence.
There is nothing more profound than these.
They are a treasury of blessings.
They are the revelation of the heart essence.
They are the presence of the teacher.
They are holding the buddha in the palm of your hand.

If I were to expound for an eon on the qualities of such texts,
even my small mind's intellect—
let alone the eloquence of others with greater minds–would never be exhausted.
There is nothing like this excellent path to delight the exalted.

Take care–these are like precious gems.
Whoever has the liberty and good fortune to meet with them,
although remaining here in samsara, won't have too much sorrow.
Appreciating them deeply, why wouldn't you become carefree?

Oh, dear friend, cast your mind into these texts
and, with a carefree attitude, find confidence therein.
Your erratic mind, with its contrived plans and actions, will collapse therein.
The elaborate advice of many texts will be resolved therein.

What's the point of numerous philosophical systems with melodious texts?
What's the point of so many profound pith instructions?
What's the point of so many elaborations of practices?
What's the point of so many explanations of how things are?

Easygoing, yet stable concentration–this is it.
Natural freedom in an expansive carefree mind–this is it.
The excellent way of knowing one thing and liberating everything–this is it.
A hundred rivers of pith instructions flowing under one bridge—this is it.

Since it rests in you, don't seek it elsewhere.
Don't collect the bark and throw away the heartwood.
Don't practice with exertion, forsaking what is effortless.
Don't have a lot of plans and activities, having cast away the effortless state.

Once you have taken birth in the lineage of the omniscient lama,
an excellent tradition like this is your inheritance;
such an excellent path was preserved by your forebears.
If you want to relax completely, you can relax in this.

Ah! Ah! I am so grateful to the three lineages.
What great fortune I have to encounter this noble tradition!
How lucky I am to have this excellent path to practice!
It is definitely true–buddhahood is within you.

Therefore, on this excellent path that pleases the victorious ones,
mingle dharma and your mind, my dear friend.
Try to hold this heartfelt advice deeply in your mind.
If you keep this in your heart, you can become the heart essence.

Lost in a valley without a care, I'm just old Uncle Tatters.
How can I presume to preach to others when I don't have anything of my own?
However, I have gained deep confidence in the texts transmitted
by the omniscient Longchenpa–that is my unique experience.

When I met and studied excellent texts such as these–
even for a bad person like me, in whom the five poisons burn,
whose mind is enslaved by distraction,

and for whom it is difficult to dislodge confused perceptions– the appearances of conditioned existence became evanescent.

Therefore, people like you who have pure samaya and good fortune,
stable minds with few thoughts driven by the five poisons,
in encountering these texts, generate again and again your conviction
to definitely attain sublime timeless awareness of the blessing lineage.

Whoever is touched by the illumination of blessings
of the omniscient lama–that perfect buddha—
will directly experience simultaneous realization and freedom.
The omniscient lama is the forefather of one hundred siddhas.

The great Lhatsun, a powerful lord among those who are realized,
Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa, who revealed the expanse of enlightened intent,
and Terchen Lama, master of the Buddha's teachings, as well as others,
obtained the blessings of the lineage from the texts of omniscient Longchenpa.

Dear friend, please think on these things.
From perceiving the meaning of the sublime and beautiful writings
of the omniscient lama in this way, you will realize the timeless awareness of the lineage.
May you be liberated in the expanse of enlightened intent, the basic space of suchness.

Spoken by Paltrul.

Sarva mangalam–May everything be auspicious.

Translated by Susanne Fairclough

From

A Treasure Trove of Scriptural Transmission A Commentary on The Precious Treasury of the Basic Space of Phenomena Longchen Rabjam Translated under the direction of His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche by Richard Barron (Lama Chokyi Nyima) Edited by members of the Padma Translation Committee: Susanne Fairclough, jeff Miller, Mary Racine, and Robert Racine PADMA PUBLISHING 2.001