Thinley Norbu - Magic Dance: The Display of the Self-Nature of the Five Wisdom Dakinis

THINLEY NORBU

M AGIC D ANCE

The Display of the Self-Nature of the Five Wisdom Dakinis

SHAMBHALA

Boston & London

2012

Shambhala Publications, Inc.

Horticultural Hall

300 Massachusetts Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02115

www.shambhala.com

1981, 1985, 1998 by Thinley Norbu

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Thinley, Norbu.

Magic dance: the display of the self-nature of the five wisdom dakinis / Thinley Norbu.1st Shambhala ed.

p. cm.

eISBN 978-0-8348-2783-7

ISBN 978-0-87773-885-5 (pbk.: alk. paper)

1. BuddhismDoctrines. 2. kni (Buddhist deity) I. Title.

BQ4160.T47 1998 98-20349

294.3420423dc21 CIP

I bow to my own Wisdom Mind,

which is my best wisdom teacher,

the source of all visible and invisible qualities.

Sentient beings are always in time and place.

If sentient beings are in time,

my wisdom teacher dances magically in time.

If sentient beings are in place,

my wisdom teacher dances magically in place.

If really examined, you never remain anywhere.

You are only display.

To whatever never remains,

to you, my best wisdom teacher, I bow.

Contents

T HIS BOOK is not written according to any one tradition. Countless traditions of writing based on endless ordinary dualistic conceptions, on sublime intelligent compassion, and on nondualistic wisdom pervade everywhere, so readers can choose whatever tradition they like.

Some people like to pick flowers and put them on an altar in a beautiful vase to offer to the gods. Others like to pick flowers and put them in a beautiful vase to decorate their home. Some people like to weave flowers into a garland to wear around their neck, and others like to weave them into a crown to wear on their head. Still, some people prefer not to pick flowers at all, but rather to leave them to grow naturally in an open sunlit meadow.

No matter what tradition we choose, it always comes from the five elements, returns to the five elements, and remains in the five elements. I have written this book in order to establish in a simple, natural way the basis, path, and result of tradition, which are the elements.

I began this book in my friends samadhi shrine rooms in New York, the most crazy lively city in the world, appearing like a splendid whirling mountain. I finished this book in my friends samadhi shrine room in Paris, the most elegant paradise city in the world, appearing like a beautiful fantasy mandala. In both these cities, my loyal friends showed me their generosity, their kindness, their integrity, and their nobility.

Buddha Shakyamuni said, All phenomena arise from circumstances. Because good circumstances can arise through good intention, whatever we pray for will appear. So may all sentient beings, especially those who helped me with this book, learn to use the pure secret essence of the elements energy to attain enlightenment.

Five Wisdom Sisters,

If we do not complement you,

You become five witches,

Making us ill and bringing us suffering.

Because we cannot banish you,

Always our fate depends on you.

Five Wisdom Sisters,

If we do complement you,

You become five angels,

Making us healthy and bringing us happiness.

Because we cannot separate from you,

Always our fate depends on you.

Five Wisdom Sisters,

Nothing can be done without depending on your mood.

Farmers cannot grow their crops,

Politicians cannot rule their countries,

Engineers cannot work their machines,

Doctors cannot heal their patients,

Scientists cannot do their research,

Philosophers cannot make their logic,

Artists cannot create their art,

Without depending on your mood.

Five Wisdom Sisters,

Nothing can be known without depending on your grace.

Tibetan lamas cannot chant with cool highland habit,

Indian gurus cannot sing with warm lowland habit,

Japanese roshis cannot sit with dark cushion habit,

Muslim sheikhs cannot dance with bright robed habit,

Christian priests cannot preach with loud-voiced habit,

Jewish rabbis cannot pray with soft-voiced habit

Without depending on your grace.

Five Wisdom Sisters,

Even the most mysterious miracles cannot occur

without complementing your purity.

Buddha Shakyamuni cannot rest with the tranquil

gaze of his lotus eyes underneath the Bodhi tree,

Guru Padmasambhava cannot play magically with

countless sky-walking dakinis,

Lord Jesus cannot walk weightlessly across the water,

Prophet Moses cannot see the radiantly burning bush,

Brahmin Sarahapa cannot straighten arrows, singing

wisdom hymns with his arrowmaker girl,

Crazy saint Tilopa cannot eat fish and torture Naropa,

Greatest yogi Milarepa cannot remain in his cave,

singing and accepting hardships

Without complementing your purity.

You are so patient.

Whoever wants to stay,

If you dont exist,

Cannot stay.

Whoever wants to go,

If you dont exist,

Cannot go.

Whoever wants to taste or touch,

If you dont exist,

Cannot taste or touch.

Whatever our actions,

You are always supporting

Patiently without complaining.

But we ignorant beings

Are always ungrateful,

Stepping on you,

Calling you Earth.

You are so constant.

Whoever wants to be purified,

If you dont exist,

Cannot be purified.

Whoever wants to quench their thirst,

If you dont exist,

Cannot quench their thirst.

Whoever wants to hear,

If you dont exist,

Cannot hear.

Whatever our actions,

You are always flowing

Ceaselessly without complaining.

But we desiring beings

Are always ungrateful,

Splashing you,

Calling you Water.

You are so clear.

Whoever wants to fight,

If you dont exist,

cannot fight.

Whoever wants to love,

If you dont exist,

Cannot love.

Whoever wants to see,

If you dont exist,

Cannot see.

Whatever our actions,

You are always glowing

Unobscuredly without complaining.

But we proud beings

Are always ungrateful

Smothering you,

Calling you Fire.

You are so light.

Whoever wants to rise,

If you dont exist,

Cannot rise.

Whoever wants to move,

If you dont exist,

Cannot move.

Whoever wants to smell,

If you dont exist,

Cannot smell.

Whatever our actions,

You are always moving

Weightlessly without complaining.

But we envious beings

Are always ungrateful,

Fanning you,

Calling you Air.

You are so open.

Whoever wants to exist,

If you dont exist,

Cannot exist.

Whoever doesnt want to exist,

If you dont exist,

Cannot cease to exist.

Whoever wants to know phenomena,

If you dont exist,

Cannot know phenomena.

Whatever our actions,

You are always welcoming

Spaciously without complaining.

But we ignorant beings

Are always ungrateful,

Emptying you,

Calling you Space.

You are our undemanding slave,

Tirelessly serving us,