Thinley Norbu - White Sail: Crossing the Waves of Ocean Mind to the Serene Continent of the Triple Gems

Shambhala Publications, Inc.

Horticultural Hall

300 Massachusetts Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02115

www.shambhala.com

1992 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.

White sail: crossing the waves of ocean mind to the serene continent of the triple gems / Thinley Norbu1st ed.

p. cm.

eISBN 978-0-8348-2756-1

ISBN 978-0-87773-693-6 (paperback original: acid-free paper)

ISBN 978-1-57062-778-1

I. BuddhismDoctrines. 2. Religious lifeBuddhism. I. Title

BQ4150.T48 1992 92-50129

294.342dc20 CIP

While briefly lent this precious human bodys white sail

Pushed by clean intentions gentle wind

Without turning back toward miserable samsaric deserts

And making the error of missing this chance

Try to receive virtues jewels by crossing the waves of ocean mind

To the serene continent of the Triple Gems

Since doing this is more meaningful than anything else

Contents

Publishers Note

This book contains Sanskrit diacritics and special characters. If you encounter difficulty displaying these characters, please set your e-reader device to publisher defaults (if available) or to an alternate font.

All beings are aroused from the darkness of ignorant sleep

By the youthful, sun-colored dawn of your entrancing, noble body.

The ego net of their dualism is slashed into stainless awareness

By just raising your awesome, keen, flaming wisdom sword.

Most all-knowing Majur,

I, the one named Jewel of Activity,

With amaranthine faith,

Offer ornaments to adorn you.

Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit

Of my precious Buddha nature.

All beings sorrowful twilight miseries are dispelled

By the moonbeams of your serenely exquisite wisdom body.

Even the lyrical song of young beloveds heartwhispering

Cannot be compared to the soothing, resonant melody of your delicately fingered, celestial tamboura

That awakens the dusky habit of dullness into harmonious awareness.

Most comforting of comforters, Saraswat,

I, the one named Jewel of Activity,

With amaranthine faith,

Offer ornaments to adorn you.

Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit

Of my precious Buddha nature.

All beings endless karmic defilements are purified

By just seeing the perfection of your pearl rosary smile.

The murky swamp of sasra is cleansed

By the flowing crystal waves

Of your pristine treasure river of knowledge.

Most kind of kind Buddhas,

Our guide in this degenerate age, Buddha akyamuni,

I, the one named Jewel of Activity,

With amaranthine faith,

Offer ornaments to adorn you.

Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit

Of my precious Buddha nature.

All fortunate beings are guided on the miraculous path to the lotus field of Buddha Amitabha

By the blessing of your divine, magical activity.

The longing and sadness of all samsaric reminiscence cease

By just remembering your glorious, blossoming lotus face.

Embodiment of ineffable wisdom ecstasy of all Buddhas and diadem of all saints,

Wisdom dakinis surround you, flowering with flawless exaltation.

Most wondrous lotus-born vajramaster, Padmasambhava,

I, the one named Jewel of Activity,

With amaranthine faith,

Offer ornaments to adorn you.

Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit

Of my precious Buddha nature.

All beings, desperate orphans lost in sasras wilderness from lack of faith,

Are nurtured and enlivened by the vast panacea of the milk of your unconditioned love.

You prayed and prayed to emanate in countless feminine manifestations to create Triple Gems appearances for all beings,

Leading them to purelands beautified with unfading trees of turquoise leaves.

Wisdom mother of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, great liberator rya Tr,

You appear again as the inexpressible great bliss wisdom consort of Padmasambhava and supreme treasure holder of his speech.

Most compassionate Yeshe Tshogyal,

I, the one named Jewel of Activity,

With amaranthine faith,

Offer ornaments to adorn you.

Please illuminate the radiant wisdom spirit

Of my precious Buddha nature.

Those who truly intend to benefit others through holy teachings

Do not use elaborate terms and poetry.

The pure path is shown with the simple words of the laity.

That is the sublime method of the Bodhisattvas.

G LORIOUS E MANATION J EWEL , F EARLESS P OWER OF D HARMA , P ATRUL R INPOCHE , J IGMED C HHKYI W ANGPO

At many different times and in many different places, many people have asked me questions. This book is composed of a few of the answers, such as the answer to Roger Weils request to establish the basis for learning how to enliven and increase positive phenomena by transforming the limited, tangible, finite deception of the nihilist delusion into the vast, intangible, infinite appearances of enlightenment. There are also other subjects which are answers to other peoples questions about sectarianism and nonsectarianism, philosophy, karma, faith, the basic idea of deities, the kyas, and so on.

The nihilist point of view is often mentioned in this book in order to show what it actually is. This is not done for the purpose of insulting nihilists. According to the Mahyna teachings, all sentient beings have Buddha nature and are potentially and ultimately the same as Buddha, whether they are nihilists, eternalists, or Buddhists. In order to show people how to recognize Buddha so they can keep from building and remaining in nihilist habits for many lives, it is explained with good intention what it means not to believe in the immeasurable qualities of wisdom spirituality. But some people who are loyal to their strong, karmic, nihilist habits and have misconceptions about spirituality may think this book is too critical.

Buddhists have always analyzed the differences between the doctrines of nihilism and eternalism in order to establish the point of view of Buddhist philosophical teachings and to guide us to the path of enlightenment. This is not done to deprecate others or to build ones own Buddhist ego, but only to liberate all sentient beings through impartial compassion from the views of these two extremes to enlightenment.

For those of us who are trying to practice Buddhism, it is important to introspect and identify the nihilist habit of our own minds. Then we can watch this habit and see that it does not make sense. There is no reason not to believe in anything. Instead of defending a nihilist point of view that has no ultimate benefit, we had better try to believe in Buddha nature and let wisdom blossom for the benefit of the enlightenment of all beings.

Sublime beings of ancient times have left many noble signs of their activity as examples for us to follow, so that we can open our wisdom energy and qualities. But because of nihilist habit, most people have closed minds and do not want to hear even one word of their precious teachings.

Some of us like to hear and read their teachings, but if our intention is not pure, we only think of them as temporarily interesting and use them for ordinary purposes, such as intellectual entertainment. Because of this, there is probably no benefit in writing. Patrul Rinpoche said: