Advice to Drungchen Kunpangpa

Advice to Drungchen Kunpangpa[1]

by Gorampa Sonam Senge

Namo Gurave.
With compassion focused on limitless beings
And the momentum of the right view free from extremes,
You are skilled in traversing limitless saṃsāra—
May you reign victorious, unequaled master, lord lama.

I shall explain the instructions on the view, meditation, and conduct—
Which, when realized, familiarized, and correctly engaged in,
Become like an ascending stairway of the unmistaken path
For reaching the pinnacle palace of complete liberation.

Using the example of how the illusions of dreams arise
From daytime habitual patterns clouded by sleep,
Understand that these appearances too
Are mind’s projections originating from beginningless habits.

Using the example of various magical illusions
Arising through magical substances and mantras,
Know these mental appearances, caused and conditioned by karma,
To be mere appearances, empty of inherent nature.

The view to be realized through hearing and reflection is that
One’s mind, empty by nature, is free from all dualistic extremes,
Such as being existent and non-existent, real and unreal,
Permanent and a nihilty, arising and ceasing, and so forth.

Realizing that view[2] through internally arisen experience,
Based on the wisdom that emerges from empowerments
And from the two stages, and lama’s blessing
Is the tradition of Vajrayāna.

Through unwavering calm abiding,
Having abandoned the faults such as laxity and excitement,
One becomes familiar, in solitude, with the union, luminousity,
And continuity, which is the meditation.

As supporting practices for the realization of reality, the view,
Properly maintaining the commitments of the three sets of vows,
As taught by the Victorious One, without confusion about adoption and rejection,
Is the conduct of beginners.

With such familiarization, when in meditative equipoise,
One levels the eight worldly concerns, reverses the afflictions,
And transcends adoption and rejection through training,
Empowerment, and liberating activity—this is the supreme conduct.

When view, meditation, and conduct are perfected,
Self-arising wisdom realizes the equality of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa
Pertaining to all that is knowable.
This is the supreme result, free from hope and fear.

If attached to this life, meditate on death and impermanence.
If pursuing self-benefit, meditate on exchanging self and others.
If obstacles arise, meditate on guru yoga.
These are the supports for the aforementioned path.

Whatever merit there is in properly offering
These instructions on the essence of the practice
Of view, meditation, conduct, result, and supports of the path,
I dedicate for all beings, equal to space, that they may attain enlightenment.

This was offered by Śākya’s monk Sonam Senge to Drungchen Kunpangpa, who has abandoned worldly activities and is devoted to the cultivation of the supreme path. May it be virtuous!

| Translated by Lopön Sonam Jamtsho, 2024.

Bibliography

Tibetan Edition

bsod nams sengge. gsung 'bum bsod nams sengge, Dehra Dun: Sakya College, 1979, Vol. 13: 650–651.

Version: 1.0-20241126