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

46 THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYINGWhen I arrived I found that one of his first American studentswas there, receiving some instruction. She was having avery frustrating time, as there was no translator with Englishgood enough to translate teachings on the nature of mind.When he saw me come in, Dudjom Rinpoche said: "Oh! Youare here. Good! Can you translate for her?" So I sat down andbegan to translate. In one sitting, in the course of about anhour, he gave an amazing teaching, one that embraced everything.I was so moved and inspired there were tears in myeyes. I realized that this was what Jamyang Khyentse hadmeant.Immediately afterward, I requested Dudjom Rinpoche togive me teachings. I would go to his house every afternoonand spend several hours with him. He was small, with a beautifuland gentle face, exquisite hands, and a delicate, almostfeminine, presence. He wore his hair long and tied up like ayogin in a knot; his eyes always glittered with secret amusement.His voice seemed the voice of compassion itself, softand a little hoarse. Dudjom Rinpoche would sit on a low seatcovered with a Tibetan carpet, and I sat just below him. I willalways remember him sitting there, the late sun streaming inthrough the window behind him.Then one day, when I was receiving the teaching and practicingwith him, I had the most astounding experience. EverythingI had ever heard about in the teachings seemed to behappening to me—all the material phenomena around us weredissolving—I became so excited and stammered:"Rinpoche ... Rinpoche ... it's happening!" I will never forgetthe look of compassion on his face as he leaned downtoward me and comforted me: "It's all right... it's all right.Don't get too excited. In the end, it's neither good nor bad ..."Wonder and bliss were beginning to carry me away, butDudjom Rinpoche knew that although good experiences canbe useful landmarks on the path of meditation, they can betraps if attachment enters in. You have to go beyond theminto a deeper and more stable grounding: It was to thatgrounding that his wise words brought me.Dudjom Rinpoche would inspire again and again the realizationof the nature of mind through the words of the teachinghe gave; the words themselves kindled glimpses of the realexperience. For many years, every day, he would give me theinstructions on the nature of mind known as the "pointingout" instructions. Although I had received all the essentialtraining from my master Jamyang Khyentse like a seed, it was