The Six Lamps by Jean-Luc Achard

Author:Jean-Luc Achard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wisdom Publications

2. TEACHINGS CORRESPONDING TO THE SECOND LAMP

In a similar way, the Lamp of the Flesh-Heart (tsi ta sha’i sgron ma) covers teachings corresponding to:

the second practice of the Six Essential Points,

the second chapter of the Precepts in Eight Chapters, and

the ninth Seal of the Twenty-One Seals.

[1]. In the second practice of the Six Essential Points, the text describes how the Base free from obscurations and Awareness free from delusion abide in the practitioner. This actually refers to the sanctuary (gnas) where the natural state really abides within ourselves. This sanctuary is known as the Brown Cornelian Tent (mchong gur smug po), which is also called Shetün Tsadzin (she thun rtsa ’dzin) in the Zhangzhung language, referring to the heart (tsi tta).156

Even though it is not limited by spatial characteristics, this sanctuary appears outwardly as an eight-cornered jewel and inwardly as an eight-petalled lotus. In its very center abides our own natural state in the mode of the Great Primordial Purity (ka dag chen po).

The typical Dzogchen expression referring to this state is “Thumb-Sized Luminous Wisdom” (gsal ba’i ye shes tshon gang), described as being similar to a butter-lamp placed within a sealed vase that contains the sounds, lights, and rays arising naturally from this radiating Wisdom.

In order to contemplate the visionary marvels of this state, which is nothing other than Self-Awareness (rang rig) itself, one needs to apply the key points of practice, relaxing the doorway of the Lamps and gazing directly into one’s own Essence. In this way one will concretely see the natural Clarity of Awareness in its ungraspable mode.

[2]. In the second chapter of the Eight Precepts, similar instructions are revealed by Tapihritsa regarding the abiding mode of Buddhahood within our own continuum. Basically, the natural state abides within the heart in the mode of Bodies (sku) and Wisdoms (ye shes) expressing the true essence of our own Awareness. This state manifests itself in the mode of the Three Bodies (sku gsum), namely:

the Absolute Body (bon sku) abiding as an unceasing and unobstructed Clarity endowed with Wisdoms displayed in the visions of Awareness,

the Perfection Body (rdzogs sku) manifesting in the form of Buddhas with characteristics of the five clans (rigs lnga), etc., and

the Emanation Body (sprul sku) arising in fivefold lights, etc., forming what is known as the marvels of Awareness (rig pa’i cho ’phrul).

All the visions contemplated in this way manifest as pervading both the outer Space157 and the whole of our body, in a transparent (zang thal) manner, embracing channels, eyes, consciousness, etc. In this way, the luminous nature of the Buddha within ourselves cannot be obscured by the materiality of the aggregates since it itself manifests in a totally transparent and unblocked mode. The natural radiance of this state located within the heart arises and springs from the eyeballs in a mode enabling the direct contemplation of its visionary displays. As the arising door of Awareness, the eyes are therefore also an important sanctuary of Buddhahood within ourselves.

At the time of death, the visions

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