The Fearless Lion's Roar: Profound Instructions on Dzogchen, the Great Perfection by Nyoshul Khenpo

Author:Nyoshul Khenpo [Khenpo, Nyoshul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Published: 2015-07-27T21:00:00+00:00

7. INTRODUCTION TO LONGCHENPA’S

Resting at Ease in Illusion

WHEN WE SPEAK of the buddha’s teachings found in both the sutras as well as in the tantras of Secret Mantra, these must always be taught with the five perfections (phun sum tshogs pa lnga) of the perfect teacher, retinue, place, teaching, and time.

Resting at Ease in Illusion (Gyuma Ngalso; Sgyu ma ngal gso) was written by Longchen Rabjam, who was like the sun in his ability to illuminate the teachings of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. In Longchenpa’s writings there are both the vast treatises and the profound oral instructions, and many of his writings are of both categories. The vast approach of the pandita or learned scholar presents the stages of the path containing all the teachings of the Buddha. A treatise (shastra; bstan bcos) represents the vast type of written work and is written in the manner of the commentaries on the Buddha’s teachings composed by the Indian masters. The profound type of written work refers to texts containing the oral instructions (men ngak; man ngag) needed for the practice of view and meditation.

The introduction to a treatise traditionally has five sections: the author, the subject of the text, the category of the text, the purpose for which the text was written, and the place in which the text was composed. Resting at Ease in Illusion is a treatise of oral instructions, meaning that it possesses the qualities of a treatise and at the same time contains the oral instructions necessary for putting the teachings into practice.

To summarize the five sections of the introduction to Longchenpa’s Resting at Ease in Illusion, the third volume in his Trilogy of Resting at Ease (Ngalso Kor Sum; Ngal gso skor gsum):

The author of this text is Gyalwa Longchen Rabjam (1308–63), one of the greatest Buddhist masters in the history of Tibet.

The subject of this text is the nature of emptiness (stong pa nyid kyi rang bzhin), which is the essential meaning of all the teachings of sutra and tantra. The natural state of all phenomena is dharmata, and dharmata is illustrated here through the eight examples of illusion.

Regarding the category of the text, Resting at Ease in Illusion belongs to the category of the gradual path (lam rim) teaching cycles. Since the complete teachings of the Buddha from those of the first turning of the wheel of dharma up to the Great Perfection are expressed in this text, it is thus said to be of the gradual path category.

The purpose for which the text was written was for Longchenpa’s disciples. It was also written for future beings who would live hundreds and even thousands of years after, right up until the time when the teachings of the Buddha will disappear from this world.

Finally, the place where the text was composed is the retreat place of Longchenpa called “Gangri Tokar” or “White Skull Snow Mountain.” Gangri Tokar is known as the Tibetan Five-Peaked Mountain, after the famed Five-Peaked Sacred Mountain of Wutaishan in China. Mount Wutaishan is the very abode of the bodhisattva Manjushri in this world.

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