The Spiritual Song of Lodro Thaye

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HIS EMINENCE THE FOURTH jAMGON KONGTRUL RiNPOCHE, LODRO CHOKYI NYlMA

DJe SplRJCUAL SoN~ o~ LooRo DlA~e

HIS EMINENCE THE THIRD ]AMGON KONGTRUL RJ NPOCHE, KARMA LODRO CHOKYI SENGE

Lhe SplRl'CUAL SoN~ o~ LooRo LhAUe by ]AMGON KoNGTRUL, THE GREAT

Commentary by KHABJE KHENCHEN THRANGU R.INPOCHE

Originally Translated by SARAH HARDING

Retranslated by CORNELIA WEISHAAR-GUNTER

Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal Charitable Trust Publicatiom

Ack1wwledgme1tt We would like to thank the many persons who helped make this book possible. First and foremost, Khabje Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche for giving these profound teachings and Clark Johnson for his tireless work in collecting, preserving and making the teachings of Rinpoche avaiable. Also we would like to thank Lodro Zangpo who first transcribed, edited, and published this text in the Profound Path ofPurity. Secondly, we would like to thank Sarah Harding who not only translated the original teaching, but then went back over a large part of the text correcting and editing it. Finally, we would like to thank Cornelia Weishaar-Gunter for her tremendous work in helping us with the translation.

Cover photo. Thangka of Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye from a collection of the Jamgon Kongtrul Lab rang, currently displayed at the Rigpe Dorje Institute at Pullahari Monastery. Photo of the fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche courtesy of Sangye.

May this supreme, peerless teaching, The precious treasure ofthe Victorious Ones, Spread and extend throughout the world Like the sun shining in the sky.

Copyright © 2008 Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche & Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal Charitable Trust All rights reserved. No part of this book, either text or art, may be reproduced in any form, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the Namo Buddha Publications or Thrangu Rinpoche. Published by Namo Buddha Publications 1390 Kalmia Avenue, Boulder, CO. USA Tel.: (303) 449-6608 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.NamoBuddhaPub.com and Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal Publications P.O. Box 6259, Wellesley St, Auckland, NZ Tel.: (649) 268 0786 Email: [email protected] Web site. www.greatliberation.org National Library of New Zealand Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Thrangu, Rinpoche, 1933The spiritual song of Lodro Thaye I by Jamgon Kongtrul, The Great; commentary by Khabje Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche; originally translated by Sarah Harding ; retranslated by Cornelia Weishaar-Giimher. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-877294-40-2 I. Kon-sprul Blo-gros-mtha'-yas, :j:d 1813-1899. Song of LodroThaye. 2. Mahamudra (Tantric rite) 3. MeditationBuddhism. I. Weishaar-Giinter, Cornelia. II. Harding, Sarah, 1951- III. Tide. 294.3443-dc 22

Note Tibetan words are given as they are pronounced, not spelled in Tibetan. Their actual spelling can be found in the Glossary ofTibetan words. We use the convention of using B.C.E. (Before Common Era) for "B. C." and C.E. (Common Era) for "A D."

Table of Contents Foreword by Venerable Choje Lama Shedrup Preface by Clark johnson

11 13

THE SoNG OF LoDRO THAYE

17

INTRODUCTION

29

CHAPTER 1 The Importance of the Lineage Lamas (verses 1 to 40)

29

CHAPTER 2 The View in Mahamudra

45

(verses 41-62) GROUND MAHAMUDRA CHAPTER 3 Ground Mahamudra (verses 63-121)

51

PATH MAHAMUDRA CHAPTER 4 Path Mahamudra

75

(verses 122-153) CHAPTER 5 Obstacles in the Practice of Mahamudra (verses 154-186)

89

THE SPIRITUAL SONG OF LODRO THAYE

10

6 Progress Through the Various Stages (verses 187-233)

CHAPTER

99

FRUITION MAHAMUDRA

7 Fruition Mahamudra (verses 234-273)

CHAPTER

113

APPENDIX

The Six Realms ofSamsara The Five Paths The Bodhisattva Levels Transforming Consciousness into Wisdom

127 128 129 130

Notes Glossary ofTerms Glossary ofTibetan Terms Bibliography Index

131 141 163 167 169

Forer.vord VEN. CHOJE

T

LAMA SHEDRUP

known as the practice lineage, as it is practice above all else that is emphasized. However, practice can only proceed correctly if one has a correct understanding of the view. The path and view of the Kagyu lineage is Mahamudra, which is the very essence and pith of all the teachings of Lord Buddha. What Mahamudra view refers to is the inseparability of all phenomena and emptiness; the radiant display of mind. Realization of Mahamudra will bring about the ultimate benefit for oneselffreedom from samsara and ultimate happiness-and the development of all the qualities of one's potential, which is the ultimate benefit for others. Therefore what is most prized is the direct teachings that point out this view and the instructions that explain the path or means to realize it. Such instructions often come in the form of spiritual songs or dohas spontaneously composed by great siddhas who have realized Mahamudra, such as this doha from Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye. Generally, in order to fully understand dohas an explanation or detailed commentary is required. A correct transmission and explanation can only come about from a being who has practiced and fully realized the meaning of such teachings. Such a being is Khabje Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, a holder of the Kagyu lineage, who through his great compassion and wisdom has blessed us with this detailed line by line commentary. HE I