The Complete Nyingma Tradition from Sutra to Tantra, Books 1 to 10 by Choying Tobden Dorje

Author:Choying Tobden Dorje
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala Publications

THE SIX TRANSCENDENT PERFECTIONS [II]

This chapter has two parts: (1) a brief presentation of equalizing and exchanging self and others and (2) the extensive explanation of the six transcendent perfections.

Equalizing and Exchanging Self and Others [A]

At the outset of training in the six transcendent perfections for the sake of beings,

Recognize that all beings have been your mother and recall their kindness.

Decide to repay their kindness and help them reach happiness.

You have the opportunity to guide them.

Do what you can. Have compassion. Uplift your mind to awakening. See them as the focus of your spiritual practice.

Helping others will accomplish your own goals, please the

buddhas,

Provide aid, and do so without difficulty. Marshal the four forces.

See yourself and others as equals and exchange yourself for others.

Thirteen considerations make spiritual practice for the welfare of sentient beings imperative. What are they?

All sentient beings equally have been my mother and father, again and again. At those times, all they did was to lovingly help me; to repay their kindness, I must serve sentient beings. The Transcendence of Sorrow Discourse states:

This whole earth can be rolled into balls the size of a pea. The number of times a single sentient being has been your mother or father will exceed the number of such balls of earth; the number of times each sentient being has been your mother or father is incalculable.

If I disregard the help given me by sentient beings, I will be crushed by the enormous weight of my ingratitude. To prevent this, I must do what helps sentient beings.

If sentient beings lived in comfort and happiness, it could be said that my help was not needed. However, on my behalf, they committed wrongdoing and are now oppressed by the round of rebirth’s sufferings and miserable realms. Therefore, to alleviate the karma of faults done on my behalf, I must serve sentient beings.

Sentient beings wish for happiness; none wishes for suffering. However, in ignorance of the means to reach happiness and to avoid suffering, they live only tormented by suffering. To change this, I must do what helps sentient beings.

Countless numbers of beings were neither guided nor trained by buddhas of the past. If I do not lead these beings, the great way’s enlightened heritage will come to an end and sentient beings will be left without a sanctuary and protector. Therefore, I must do what helps.

Through the force of clinging to this “I” and sense of self, the winds of my mental afflictions rage and mislead me. However, since it has been said that I can energetically formulate the aspiration to guide beings, I will do whatever I can to help and serve sentient beings.

Since all phenomena are empty and there is no existent self, I must guide with compassion dreamlike sentient beings who have not realized this. If I do not guide them, this undermines compassion: I must serve in whatever ways help others.

I have uplifted my mind to awakening in order to serve sentient beings. If I do not serve them, this contradicts my training: I must do what helps.

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