Gter-ston Bdud-ʼjoms-gliṅ-pa - A clear mirror: the visionary autobiography of a Tibetan master

PADMASAMBHAVA
Treasures from Juniper Ridge Advice from the Lotus-Born Dakini Teachings

PADMASAMBHAVA AND JAMGN KONGTRL
The Light of Wisdom, Vol. 1The Light of Wisdom, Vol. 2

YESHE TSOGYAL
The Lotus-Born

GAMPOPA
The Precious Garland of the Sublime Path

DAKPO TASHI NAMGYAL
Clarifying the Natural State

TSELE NATSOK RANGDRL
Mirror of MindfulnessEmpowermentHeart Lamp

CHOKGYUR LINGPA
Ocean of AmritaThe Great GateSkillful Grace

JAMGN MIPHAM RINPOCHE
Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, & Vol. 3

TULKU URGYEN RINPOCHE
Blazing SplendorRainbow PaintingAs It Is, Vol. 1 As It Is, Vol. 2 Vajra Speech
Repeating the Words of the Buddha

KHENCHEN THRANGU RINPOCHE
Crystal ClearSongs of NaropaKing of SamadhiBuddha Nature

CHKYI NYIMA RINPOCHE
Present Fresh WakefulnessIndisputable TruthUnion of Mahamudra & Dzogchen
Bardo GuidebookSong of Karmapa

TSIKEY CHOKLING RINPOCHE
Lotus Ocean

TULKU THONDUP
Enlightened Living

ORGYEN TOBGYAL RINPOCHE
Life & Teachings of Chokgyur Lingpa

DZIGAR KONGTRL
Uncommon Happiness

TSOKNYI RINPOCHE
Fearless Simplicity Carefree Dignity

DZOGCHEN TRILOGY COMPILED BY MARCIA BINDER SCHMIDT
Dzogchen Primer Dzogchen Essentials Quintessential Dzogchen

ERIK PEMA KUNSANG
Wellsprings of the Great PerfectionA Tibetan Buddhist CompanionThe Rangjung Yeshe
Tibetan-English Dictionary of Buddhist Culture

MARCIA DECHEN WANGMO
Confessions of a Gypsy Yogini

ADEU RINPOCHE
Freedom in Bondage

TRAKTUNG DUDJOM LINGPA
A Clear Mirror

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Copyright 2011 Anne Holland
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P UBLICATION D ATA:
Traktung Dudjom Lingpa
Full Title: A Clear Mirror, The Visionary Autobiography of a Tibetan Master
Foreword by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche.
Translated from the Tibetan by Chonyi Drolma (Anne Holland).
eISBN: 978-1-58394-348-9
Religious Life Buddhism. 2. Buddhism Doctrines.
3. Vajrayana Tibet.

Cover design by Maryann Lipaj

v3.1_r2

M Y TEACHER , one of the highest, most realized lamas in Tibet, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, gave this advice: If you want to engage in Buddhist practice to attain fully enlightened buddhahood, its very important to read the life stories of past sublime beings. You will come to understand how they attained realization, what practices they did, and what kind of realization they gained. You can then follow their example. If you aim to accomplish your practice, these sublime beings words and stories will act as your witness.

Following Dudjom Rinpoches advice, I read many life stories, and they proved to be the most effective, profound teachings. Such stories offer models on two levels: how these masters practiced and the level of realization they gained. I would always measure where I was against these two examples, my aim being to emulate those masters integrity in practice and their profound realization.

This doesnt apply only to me all past masters have followed the path of sublime beings before them. We say in Tibetan, In life, we imitate others; whoever is the best imitator succeeds. Similarly, because all Buddhists imitate the Buddha, whoever imitates him best will become a buddha.

These days, however, people have become disconnected from the source of their practice the lama. Patrul Rinpoche once said, In ancient times, people would sit around drinking tea and chatting. Mostly they discussed things like, My lama says this, my lama does that. These days when people sit together and have tea, all they talk about is, My horse is better, my gun is better. They never talk about their practice or lama anymore.

Generally, according to the Vajrayana point of view, the sole source of happiness is the sublime teachings the Dharma yet what is the source of all teachings? It is the lama. The lamas qualities are equal to those of all buddhas, yet in terms of kindness in relation to us, the lama is kinder than any buddha. To explain, the lamas qualities are equal to those of all buddhas because he or she has completely realized the dharmakaya level of enlightenment, beyond sentient beings field of experience. The lamas kindness exceeds that of all buddhas because he or she makes their experience available to us in a tangible form, the nirmanakaya. We can see them and hear their teachings. Therefore, talking about the lama, thinking about the lama, and following the lamas example is most important for us.

Almost all lamas have received their education and training from other human teachers, yet Dudjom Lingpas story is completely shocking and unique. Particularly now, among this generation, he remains a most powerful master. No human guide educated Dudjom Lingpa; his connection came straight from different buddhas teachings and empowerments. His lineage is truly direct, unlike any other. He didnt even learn to read and write from a human lama, but from Yeshe Tsogyal. In his visions, he was like Yeshe Tsogyals child and Yeshe Tsogyal was like his mother. In his autobiography, Dudjom Lingpa describes how, even as a baby, he traveled to various pure lands and buddha fields.

Now, especially in this degenerate time, we dont have such a model. Although we have plenty of intellectual, knowledge-based models for our lives, realization models are very rare. Before Dudjom Lingpas time, his life was prophesied in the ancient treasure texts of twenty treasure revealers. What follows is a brief account of those predictions.

One day in Tibet, Guru Rinpoche and Yeshe Tsogyal were talking as they walked up a mountain. At one point, they sat and meditated. Yeshe Tsogyal heard Guru Rinpoche say, Ah ka ka! which means Oh no!

Rinpoche, she asked, Why did you say Ah ka ka!?

Guru Rinpoche answered, In this degenerate time, sentient beings afflictive emotions are very wild and turbulent. Such gross emotions are difficult to subdue by any buddhas and any teachings. A really terrible time will come in the future.

Hearing this, Yeshe Tsogyal offered prostrations to Guru Rinpoche, respectfully placed his feet on her head, and cried as she requested, Since these kinds of wild sentient beings are impossible to tame, please send an emanation powerful enough to subdue them!

Guru Rinpoche said, Yes my daughter, youre right to ask this. Among my twenty-five main disciples all mahasiddhas, realized beings the most powerful one, with realization equal to my own, is Drokben Kye-u Chung Lotsawa. Therefore, he will be this emanations body aspect. Yeshe Tsogyal, you and I have a connection over many lifetimes, and in this lifetime, youre my consort. I have given you every teaching and prophecy, and Ive empowered you to teach my entire doctrine now and for future generations. Ive asked you, my heart student, to seal these teachings as treasure texts. You are powerful, so you will be his speech aspect. As Padmasambhava, I will be his mind aspect. Among Guru Rinpoches eight manifestations, Dorj Drol riding on a tiger will emanate in Eastern Tibet as Traktung Dudjom Dorje.