Timeless Rapture: Inspired Verse from the Shangpa Masters

Meditate, meditate with the mind on Great Seal:
Having meditated on Great Seal,
You see that like a spreading forest fire
Whatever appears helps you.
Turn, turn the mind to begging aimlessly:
Having begged aimlessly,
You’ll see that like snow falling on a lake
Your thoughts dissolve straightaway.
Thirteen disciples of [the Doctor from] Dakpo came to this noble master
and asked for instruction in Great Seal to prevent harm from discursive
thoughts. He replied with these words:
In the nature of reality that neither comes into being nor ceases,
What can be called a thought?
States with and without thought should be viewed
Like water and water bubbles.
With this and other instructions, they realized thought to be without a
source or a root.
One géshé from Lo-wo asked for a technique to see the face of whatever
deity he practiced. Rinchen Tsöndru replied with these words:
Banish worldly activity from your mind.
Without doubt or divided attention,
Meditate on the deity’s form,
Clarity without discursive thought.
Don’t engage in endless conversations;
Recite mantras—sound and emptiness.
If you do this, you will quickly see the deity’s form.
Have no doubt!
A Sea of Blessings 93
This advice inspired strong certainty in the géshé; after three months of
meditation, he saw Tara’s face.