Wisdom from an Old Lady
For ninety-nine years, I have worked for the benefit of beings.
Now this work is almost complete.
I will not take birth again in this human realm in a physical form, nor will I leave behind any remains or relics.
But my emanations in the world will be innumerable, and many will recognize them.
They will be perceived in different ways, depending on karma, pure or impure.
In the same way, mind itself has no support, has no object; let it rest in its natural expanse without any fabrication.
When the bonds (of negative thoughts) are released, you will be free; there is no doubt.
As when gazing into space, all other visual objects disappear, so it is for mind itself.
When mind is looking at mind, all discursive thoughts cease and enlightenment is attained.
As in the sky all clouds disappear into sky itself: wherever they go, they go nowhere, wherever they are, they are nowhere.
This is the same for thoughts in the mind: when the mind looks at mind, the waves of conceptual thought disappear.
This body of ours is impermanent, like a feather on a high mountain pass.
This mind of ours is empty and clear like the depth of space.
Relax in that natural state, free of fabrication.
When mind is without any support, that is mahamudra.
Becoming familiar with this, blending your mind with it - that is buddhahood.
Supreme view is beyond all duality of subject and object.
Supreme meditation is without distraction.
Supreme activity is action without effort.
Supreme fruition is without hope and fear.
This old lady has no instructions more profound than this to give you.
~ Machig Labdron
Machig Labdron Wisdom from an Old Lady
Machig Labdron Wisdom from an Old Lady
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
Re: Machig Labdron Wisdom from an Old Lady
Vajra fangs deliver vajra venom to your Mara body.
-
- Posts: 1494
- Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:01 am
- Rinchen Dorje
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 5:42 pm
Re: Machig Labdron Wisdom from an Old Lady
Duuude....way cool!
"But if you know how to observe yourself, you will discover your real nature, the primordial state, the state of Guruyoga, and then all will become clear because you will have discovered everything"-Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche
Re: Machig Labdron Wisdom from an Old Lady
This is wonderful! It seems to be a condensed version of Machig's Last Instructions. As it happens, I was just reading that text earlier today in the Jérôme Edou book Machig Labdrön and the Foundations of Chöd.
Here is Lama Tsultrim Allione reading a few selections from Edou's translation as an aid to meditation:
https://taramandala.org/wp-content/uplo ... odcast.mp3
Here is Lama Tsultrim Allione reading a few selections from Edou's translation as an aid to meditation:
https://taramandala.org/wp-content/uplo ... odcast.mp3
Neither person nor skandha
but unstained wisdom is buddha.
In its knowing, ever serene—
I go for refuge therein.
but unstained wisdom is buddha.
In its knowing, ever serene—
I go for refuge therein.
Re: Machig Labdron Wisdom from an Old Lady
kirtu wrote: ↑Sat Aug 18, 2018 7:42 pmWisdom from an Old Lady
For ninety-nine years, I have worked for the benefit of beings.
Now this work is almost complete.
I will not take birth again in this human realm in a physical form, nor will I leave behind any remains or relics.
But my emanations in the world will be innumerable, and many will recognize them.
They will be perceived in different ways, depending on karma, pure or impure.
In the same way, mind itself has no support, has no object; let it rest in its natural expanse without any fabrication.
When the bonds (of negative thoughts) are released, you will be free; there is no doubt.
As when gazing into space, all other visual objects disappear, so it is for mind itself.
When mind is looking at mind, all discursive thoughts cease and enlightenment is attained.
As in the sky all clouds disappear into sky itself: wherever they go, they go nowhere, wherever they are, they are nowhere.
This is the same for thoughts in the mind: when the mind looks at mind, the waves of conceptual thought disappear.
This body of ours is impermanent, like a feather on a high mountain pass.
This mind of ours is empty and clear like the depth of space.
Relax in that natural state, free of fabrication.
When mind is without any support, that is mahamudra.
Becoming familiar with this, blending your mind with it - that is buddhahood.
Supreme view is beyond all duality of subject and object.
Supreme meditation is without distraction.
Supreme activity is action without effort.
Supreme fruition is without hope and fear.
This old lady has no instructions more profound than this to give you.
~ Machig Labdron
Thank you for this, Kirt.
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2024 9:55 pm
Re: Machig Labdron Wisdom from an Old Lady
This is a fascinating teaching.
I'm looking for the original script of in Tibetan (not a translation).
Do you know where I can get it?
I'm looking for the original script of in Tibetan (not a translation).
Do you know where I can get it?
Re: Machig Labdron Wisdom from an Old Lady
Yes, that is correct although I have no idea where I got a condensed version from.
For the full text: From The Concise Life Story of Machig Labdrön by Kunpang Tsöndrü Sengé (13th century), fols. 445-457.
Translation by Jérôme Edou: Machig Labdrön and the Foundations of Chöd, Ithaca/New York 1996, 165-17
There is also a full (or at least fuller) version online: https://www.taramandala.org/wp-content/ ... ook5-1.pdf
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
Re: Machig Labdron Wisdom from an Old Lady
Can anyone vouch for the translation - is it good?kirtu wrote: ↑Thu Mar 07, 2024 3:35 am
Yes, that is correct although I have no idea where I got a condensed version from.
For the full text: From The Concise Life Story of Machig Labdrön by Kunpang Tsöndrü Sengé (13th century), fols. 445-457.
Translation by Jérôme Edou: Machig Labdrön and the Foundations of Chöd, Ithaca/New York 1996, 165-17
There is also a full (or at least fuller) version online: https://www.taramandala.org/wp-content/ ... ook5-1.pdf
Re: Machig Labdron Wisdom from an Old Lady
Jérôme Edou appears to be a respected translator. In addition Tara Mandala would not post the pdf translation if they did not have confidence in it.PeterC wrote: ↑Fri Mar 08, 2024 4:46 amCan anyone vouch for the translation - is it good?kirtu wrote: ↑Thu Mar 07, 2024 3:35 am
Yes, that is correct although I have no idea where I got a condensed version from.
For the full text: From The Concise Life Story of Machig Labdrön by Kunpang Tsöndrü Sengé (13th century), fols. 445-457.
Translation by Jérôme Edou: Machig Labdrön and the Foundations of Chöd, Ithaca/New York 1996, 165-17
There is also a full (or at least fuller) version online: https://www.taramandala.org/wp-content/ ... ook5-1.pdf
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche