The-Tibetan-Book-of-Living-and-Dying

NOTES 4058. From the Guru Yoga in Jikmé Lingpa's famous preliminary practiceto his cycle of Dzogchen teachings: Longchen Nyingtik,9. Dilgo Khyentse, The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel, 83.10. THE INNERMOST ESSENCE1. The Ngöndro is divided traditionally into two parts. The OuterPreliminaries, beginning with the Invocation of the Lama, consist ofcontemplation on the uniqueness of human life, impermanence,karma, and the suffering of samsara. The Inner Preliminaries are TakingRefuge, Generating Bodhicitta (the Heart of the EnlightenedMind), Vajrasattva purification, Mandala Offering, and then finally,Guru Yoga, followed by the Phowa (the Transference of Consciousness)and the dedication.2. This is not the place to explore in detail these preliminary practices.I hope in the future to be able to publish a full explanation ofthem for those who are interested in following them.3. Dzogchen Monastery was a monastic university founded in theseventeenth century in Kham, eastern Tibet, which was one of thelargest and most influential centers of the tradition of Padmasambhavaand the Dzogchen teachings until its destruction by the Chinese in1959. It had a renowned study college, and produced scholars andteachers of the very highest caliber, such as Patrul Rinpoche (1808-87)and Mipham (1846-1912). With the blessing of the Dalai Lama, themonastery has been rebuilt in exile by the Seventh DzogchenRinpoche in Mysore in the south of India.4. Quoted in Tulku Thondup Rinpoche, Buddha Mind, 128.5. A mandala usually means the sacred environment and dwellingof a buddha, bodhisattva, or deity, which is visualized by the practitionerin Tantric practice.6. One sure way I have found of discerning whether you are inthe state of Rigpa is by the presence of its sky-like Essence, its radiantNature, and its unimpeded Energy of compassion, as well as thefive wisdoms, with their qualities of openness, precision, allembracingequality, discernment, and spontaneous accomplishment,as described on page 157.7. Through the practice of Tögal, an accomplished practitioner canrealize the three kayas in one lifetime (see Chapter 21, "The UniversalProcess"). This is the Fruition of Dzogchen.8. From a teaching given in Helsinki, Finland, in 1988.11. HEART ADVICE ON HELPING THE DYING1. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, On Death and Dying (New York: Collier,1970), 50.2. Dame Cicely Saunders, "I Was Sick and You Visited Me," ChristianNurse International, 3, no. 4 (1987).