Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones (eBook)

FromPart One: The Shortcomings of Our Decadent Age

Havingpaid homage to the Three Jewels, Patrul Rinpoche begins the first section ofthe text:

4.TheTrue Rishi, the Munindra, god of gods,
Attainedthe true level through the true path,
And truly showed this true and excellent path to others.
Isn'tthat why he's known as the True Rishi?

Inancient India, rishis were long-haired ascetics living in forest retreats,sustaining themselves with whatever alms might come their way, and remainingaloof from family life, trade, farming, and other ordinary worldly activities.They were called rishi, in Tibetan trangsong,which literally means 'straight' or 'true,' because theirconduct was upright and true and made them worthy of respect and veneration.

Theserishis, of whom some were Buddhist and some were not, varied greatly in theirdegree of accomplishment and realization. There were some who had achievedmiraculous powers through concentration and meditation and were known to livefor a kalpa,tobe clairvoyant, and to be able to fly or levitate with ease. But even suchaccomplished rishis had not yet cut the root of the obscuring emotions, and sothey remained vulnerable to pride and attached to praise and recognition. LordBuddha, on the other hand, the unequaled prince of the Shakyas, totallyeliminated ego-clinging at its very root from the very moment he conceived thethought of enlightenment.Howwas it that he was able to do this? It was because he sought enlightenmentexclusively for the sake of others. That is why he is called the True Rishi.

Whenthe thousand and two Buddhas each made their prayers of aspiration to benefitbeings, Buddha Shakyamuni vowed to help those of our present dark age. He wasundaunted by the fact that this would be the age of the five degenerationsandthat the minds of beings, obscured by gross emotions and tossed by the strongwinds of passion, would be wild and difficult to tame. Such is the nobility ofthis aspiration that, of all the Buddhas of the kalpa, Buddha Shakyamuni standsout like a brilliant white lotus.

Fromthe moment the bodhichitta arose in his mind, he gave up all traces ofselfishness and considered only the welfare of others. For three great kalpasand over hundreds of lifetimes he accumulated merit and helped living creaturesin every possible way with a determination and resourcefulness that knew nolimits. For example, once as a young prince, while walking in the forest, hecame upon a tigress so weakened by hunger that she could not feed her cubs.Overwhelmed by great compassion he offered her his own flesh, but she did noteven have enough strength left to eat it. So he cut his wrists and nourishedher with his own blood, and when she had revived, he gave her his entire bodyon which to feed.

Throughhis extraordinary compassion and unfaltering diligence, he finally attained thefruit, perfect enlightenment. Following the true path to its end, hisego-clinging utterly extinguished, Lord Buddha was like a great sunilluminating the whole universe for the benefit of beings.

Allthis he accomplished solely for the good of others, and it is through hisperfect example and flawless teaching that we now have a chance to blend ourown minds with the true Dharma and attain Buddhahood. By adopting the rightattitude and following the true path we can achieve the true result, like theBuddha, we will no longer be deceiving either ourselves or others. Since LordBuddha himself was true, he spoke the truth as it is. To those with faults hepointed out what was wrong with them. To those who wished to devote their livesto the Dharma he said, 'Go from...