Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

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WuMing
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Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by WuMing »

In this http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=13886 recent discussion Malcolm Namdrol-la made some very clear statements which I found very illuminating. So I wanted to share them and point to them again in this separate post (hope you do not mind Honorable Malcolm-la).
Anyway, thank you!

So, here they come:
The suffering of samsara is horrible.

Actually understanding what the term "rig pa" means is important for those who wish to end their suffering, since all Dharma paths, both Hindu and Buddhist, define the cause of suffering as ignorance (avidyā, ma rig pa) and the cause of liberation as knowledge (vidyā, rig pa).

Understanding the distinction between Mahāmudra and Dzogchen is important for those who wish to follow one path versus the other, for whatever their personal reasons may be. For others the distinction may not be important.
In the grand scheme of things there is almost nothing one can do to stem the suffering of others in samsara. Not even Buddha can remove the suffering of others. However, one can remove one's own suffering. And for this reason these sorts of conversations, in the grand scheme of things, are critically important.
Yes, rig pa can be called "recognizing the nature the mind". You always have "the nature of mind".

Of course, there are Dzogchen teachings which criticize this approach however, because it is held that buddhahood cannot be found in the mind.

So calling rig pa "the recognition of the nature of the mind" is quite provisional.
Life is great and death has to be just as great as life.
- Mike Tyson
People not only don't know what's happening to them, they don't even know that they don't know.
- Noam Chomsky
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WuMing
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by WuMing »

There is no afterlife, just one long bardo that begins with delusion and ends with awakening.
taken from http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.ph ... f6b#unread
Life is great and death has to be just as great as life.
- Mike Tyson
People not only don't know what's happening to them, they don't even know that they don't know.
- Noam Chomsky
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gad rgyangs
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by gad rgyangs »

WuMing wrote:
There is no afterlife, just one long bardo that begins with delusion and ends with awakening.
taken from http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.ph ... f6b#unread
I like that one too. I've never seen it put quite that way before.
Thoroughly tame your own mind.
This is (possibly) the teaching of Buddha.

"I must finally conclude that this proposition, I am, I exist, is necessarily true whenever it is put forward by me or conceived in my mind."
- Descartes, 2nd Meditation 25
Malcolm
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by Malcolm »

gad rgyangs wrote:
WuMing wrote:
There is no afterlife, just one long bardo that begins with delusion and ends with awakening.
taken from http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.ph ... f6b#unread
I like that one too. I've never seen it put quite that way before.

Can't take credit for it, it comes from Nyi ma 'bum, 11th century.
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WuMing
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by WuMing »

One must distinguish Dharma from culture, yes, even in sutras.
source: Was Nāgārjuna a misogynist?
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by Virgo »

Great idea.

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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by Virgo »

I've had the incredible fortune to read Malcolm for almost a decade. It's hard to express how beneficial it has been for me. That's the truth.

Kevin
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by Simon E. »

Me too.
“You don’t know it. You just know about it. That is not the same thing.”

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by Huseng »

Virgo wrote:I've had the incredible fortune to read Malcolm for almost a decade. It's hard to express how beneficial it has been for me. That's the truth.

Kevin
If you want to see some old stuff from 96 onward, search the usenet archives:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searc ... |sort:date
AlexanderS
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by AlexanderS »

Perhaps this is something that should be discussed in another thread. But when I read quotes like this

"In the grand scheme of things there is almost nothing one can do to stem the suffering of others in samsara. Not even Buddha can remove the suffering of others. However, one can remove one's own suffering. And for this reason these sorts of conversations, in the grand scheme of things, are critically important."

It kind of feels somewhat discouraging. I mean isn't the blessings from the 3 jewls and the 3 roots akin to a protective benelovent force that can aid us immensely? Basicly it can feel somewhat pointless to truly and wholeheartedly take refuge if we are repeadly to told "basicly, you are on your own".
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WuMing
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by WuMing »

Great, that this thread finds some echo!

Malcolm's contributions here on Dharmawheel are very valuable and indeed very illuminating!
It is always a joy to read them and to follow his reasonings!
Life is great and death has to be just as great as life.
- Mike Tyson
People not only don't know what's happening to them, they don't even know that they don't know.
- Noam Chomsky
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WuMing
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by WuMing »

AlexanderS wrote:Perhaps this is something that should be discussed in another thread. But when I read quotes like this

"In the grand scheme of things there is almost nothing one can do to stem the suffering of others in samsara. Not even Buddha can remove the suffering of others. However, one can remove one's own suffering. And for this reason these sorts of conversations, in the grand scheme of things, are critically important."

It kind of feels somewhat discouraging. I mean isn't the blessings from the 3 jewls and the 3 roots akin to a protective benelovent force that can aid us immensely? Basicly it can feel somewhat pointless to truly and wholeheartedly take refuge if we are repeadly to told "basicly, you are on your own".
I would suggest to move this to the Mahayana General Forum section.
Life is great and death has to be just as great as life.
- Mike Tyson
People not only don't know what's happening to them, they don't even know that they don't know.
- Noam Chomsky
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WuMing
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by WuMing »

All Buddhist paths lead to buddhahood, some sooner, some later.
from
How is Dzogchen/Mahamudra different from Zazen Samadhi
Life is great and death has to be just as great as life.
- Mike Tyson
People not only don't know what's happening to them, they don't even know that they don't know.
- Noam Chomsky
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WuMing
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by WuMing »

Most important point of practice is to be relaxed but sharp. ... neither agitated nor lethargic.
from
How is Dzogchen/Mahamudra different from Zazen Samadhi
Life is great and death has to be just as great as life.
- Mike Tyson
People not only don't know what's happening to them, they don't even know that they don't know.
- Noam Chomsky
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WuMing
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by WuMing »

Liberation, in Mahāyāna, is merely the realization that "all conditioned things are in a state of nirvana from the beginning".

It means realizing that the nature of the arising, etc., is precisely, non-arising.

As a tantra states:

"Everything arose from non-arising,
even arising never arose."
from Difference between consciousness and the mind
Life is great and death has to be just as great as life.
- Mike Tyson
People not only don't know what's happening to them, they don't even know that they don't know.
- Noam Chomsky
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by Admin_PC »

Just wanted to add my name to the list of people that appreciate Malcolm for explaining things so clearly.
Not sure if it was in fact the "Differences between consciousness and the mind" thread, but one of his recent expositions on Madhyamaka (esp Madhyamaka-Yogacara of Santaraksita) was probably the most lucid explanation of emptiness (& Buddhadharma on the whole) that I've ever seen. The quote "empty all the way down" comes to mind. Learned a lot from that one and it cleared up any Advaita leanings I might've had. Still feel such a philosophical approach and Dzogchen are a bit beyond my capacities at this point, but it was really nice to have some corrective guidance to keep me from going too far off track. Going to have to make more of an effort to read more of his stuff.
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by Rakz »

I have learned a great deal from reading his posts as well. The way he describes things are very concise and clear.
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by Rakz »


"In the grand scheme of things there is almost nothing one can do to stem the suffering of others in samsara. Not even Buddha can remove the suffering of others. However, one can remove one's own suffering. And for this reason these sorts of conversations, in the grand scheme of things, are critically important."
So true. Buddhas are devoid of omnipotence.
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WuMing
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by WuMing »

... we treat buddhahood as if it were a state -- the term state implies something steady -- when one thing changes into another thing, we call that a "change of state". But buddhahood is no more a state that ignorance is. In other words, ultimately there is no buddhahood. Buddhahood is just a name for a relative appearance. When the causes and conditions that support that appearance cease, so does buddhahood.

Buddhahood is just the realization of that principle.
from Attainment of Buddhahood is impossible
Life is great and death has to be just as great as life.
- Mike Tyson
People not only don't know what's happening to them, they don't even know that they don't know.
- Noam Chomsky
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Re: Illuminating Quotes by Malcolm Namdrol-la

Post by Simon E. »

WuMing wrote:
... we treat buddhahood as if it were a state -- the term state implies something steady -- when one thing changes into another thing, we call that a "change of state". But buddhahood is no more a state that ignorance is. In other words, ultimately there is no buddhahood. Buddhahood is just a name for a relative appearance. When the causes and conditions that support that appearance cease, so does buddhahood.

Buddhahood is just the realization of that principle.
from Attainment of Buddhahood is impossible
Sadhu !
“You don’t know it. You just know about it. That is not the same thing.”

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
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