Sayings of Guru Phadampa Sangay

 

May blessings rest on this!
      [The disciple] Dhampa Tsharchhen approached Phadampa Sangay and supplicatingly said, "Reverend Phadampa, you are growing old and going on . . . but what are we ourselves to do?"
      The guru said:

 

1. To give oneself to the cause of Holy Truth, is the best and highest occupation [243].

2. Wealth and riches are illusory; show not over-fondness for them [243].

3. One's kindred are alluring mirages; sever the knot of sentiment [243].

4. Ever be alert and watchful [244].

7. Abstain from even the smallest wrongful act [244].

9. Ever transient, all things change [244].

10. The rhinoceros, deep in a jungle, thinks he is immune from harm; but look, the jungle is afire! is he safe now? [244]

The jungle is the jungle of worldliness, aflame with fires of lust, hatred, and ignorance. Like a rhinoceros man thinks himself immune from harm. - from a note by W. Y. E.-W.

11. Build even now the Vessel that can cross to the other side. [244]

12. Five armed bandits* often waylay one on the Path. [244]

They are hatred, pride, lust jealousy, and stupidity.

14. Firmly fix your faith [245].

16. He who has the most of power may have most of evil deeds [245].

17. Hesitate not, lest you fail to gain the goal [245].

18. None can tell when grim Death will come; even now make preparations for his coming [245].

19. Hasten onward [245].

20. Prepare the means to baffle Death [245].

21. Flowers fade and die in autumn; likewise does this transient body pass [245].

24. Even now prepare efficient safeguards against Illusion [246].

29. Waste no time in foolish talk [247].

31. Think not your life a lasting good [247].

35. Drink deeply of the Stream of Consciousness [247].

36. Seek as your son the immortal (Child of) Wisdom. That is the best, never dying [247].

37. The Spear of Reason . . . has no frontier [247].

38. Guard against distraction, calm of mind, never slothful [247].

39. Draw strength from the Unobstructed; let the Stream flow naturally; no suppression should there be [247].

40. Do not hope for results while contemplating as deeply as you can [cf. 248].

41. The Sangsara and Nirvana have their source in the One Mind that is of neither form nor substance [248].

44. Robbers prowl; hidden gold they seek [248].

46. There is no need to cling to remembered desires [249].

48. Like the zephyr is the Free Mind [249].

The Free Mind is unattached Mind in its True State, calm and transcending thought-processes.

49. The seeing of Reality cannot be described [Till it is experienced, none can know it as it is] [249].

Only by realization the Thatness can be known.

50. Blissful is the dawn of Wisdom [249].

51. Know objective forms and the Voidness [sunyata] to be one in essence, without circumference [249].

53. Like the frame of a violin is illusive bliss somehow [cf. 249].

54. All creation is in one's own [deep] mind [250].

56. A free and endowed human life is indeed a great Boon. [250].

58. Devote yourselves earnestly to the Dharma. [250].

59. Practise endurance in your youth and in your prime, for habit is difficult to change [for the better] when one is old [251].

62. Don't be idle, and don't give time to worthless works [251].

63. Dharma is like the sunshine: Know that now there is such Sunshine: use it wisely [251].

64. Within oneself are found the roots and causes [and antidotes] of [a great many] sorrows [252].

67. Associates who act well, help one on the Virtuous Path [252].

69. By neutralizing all the Poisons, keep in your hearts the antidote; and ever apply it [252].

The Poisons are sloth, anger, lust, arrogance, and jealousy. In Buddhism, the antidote for sloth is diligence, for anger, love, for lust, self-control, for arrogance, humility, for jealousy, selflessness.

71. Long entertained propensities give direction to one's acts [252].

72. If you fail to grasp a meaning, pray [to the Guru, or a Dhyana Buddha in order to know aright]; then that understanding will come [252].

 

 

Ebu: Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica 2007 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD. London: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2007.
     

The book referred to by page numbers above, is:

Evans-Wentz, W. ed: The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation or the Method of Realizing Nirvana through Knowing the Mind. London: Oxford University Press, 1968.