Counsels from My Heart (eBook)

Translator'sNote Themain part of this book consists of a series of discourses given by KyabjeDudjom Rinpoche. One of them dates from as early as 1962, but on the whole,they were delivered during the 1970s, some in the East and some in the West.The talks were recorded, and were later transcribed and published in a smallvolume, probably in Kathmandu. A copy of this book was given to Padmakara witha request from Dudjom Rinpoche's consort, Sangyum Rigdzin Wangmo, for it to betranslated. Thus it is thanks to her, and with her gracious permission, thatthese wonderful teachings are being made available to Western readers. Unlikethe other three schools of Tibetan Buddhism, which sprang up in the periodfollowing the persecution of King Langdarma and which are organized, in themain, around a particular leader or hierarch, the Nyingmapas, whose traditiongoes back to the foundation of Buddhism in Tibet, did not form a singlemonolithic body. Elaborate institutions and complicated administration aresomewhat foreign to the Nyingma spirit. The tradition evolved in a loose,uncentralized manner, producing a wide spectrum of teaching and practice,principally associated, as Dudjom Rinpoche says, with six great monasteries andtheir innumerable branch monasteries. This at least was the situation beforethe Chinese invasion. But then disaster struck, the monasteries were destroyedand those who were able escaped to India. As a means of preserving theintegrity of the tradition, it was thought necessary to nominate a singleleader around whom the scattered remnants could rally. This was a new departurefor the Nyingmapas, and yet it posed no problem. As a master of immenselearning and realization, as a tertn,asan unquestioned authority on the Nyingma teachings and especially the GreatPerfction, and as the acknowledged representative of Guru Padmasambhavahimself, Dudjom Rinpoche was the unanimous choice. He was the object ofspontaneous and universal veneration, and was duly recognized by the Dalai Lamaas the leader of the Nyingmapas. Itwas only indirectly, of course, that we Westerners, beginners in the practice,could vaguely glimpse the extent of his spiritual authority and hisaccomplishment as a master of the Great Perfection—,the revered guru of manydisciples who were themselves accomplished masters. But despite the humilityand relaxed lightheartedness of Rinpoche's bearing, no one, when with him,could be unaware of being in the presence of a very great master, an embodimentof the teachings. As we often heard from the mouths of lamas and khenpos alike,'He simply wasGuruRinpoche.' Allthe more amazing then, that in addition to laboring tirelessly for thepreservation and practice of the teachings among Tibetans in India, Nepal, andBhutan, Dudjom Rinpoche took such a lively and compassionate interest in'foreign' disciples, both Eastern and Western. As the years passed,he traveled not only to the countries of South Asia and the Far East, but alsoto Europe and America. Like Guru Padmasambhava in Tibet, he established theDharma in 'distant barbarous regions,' and according to the exactingstandards of an authentic tradition. Finally, it was in Dordogne, France, thathe chose to reside on a permanent basis. There, in January 1987, he passed awayamid many marvelous signs, letting fall a stream of blessings that is stillpalpable. Forus Westerners, he was indeed a loving father. And although, as occasionrequired, he did not mince his words, and could speak sternly and to the pointin appropriately colorful and graphic language, he was the personification ofgentle kindness. His presence was a source...