by Lord Jigten Sumgön
Ratnashri Meditation Center, Stockholm, Sweden
Once when Jigten Sumgön was residing at Drikung Thel, he gathered his students in a meadow behind the monastery and asked them to perform displays of their miraculous powers. All but one were able to comply with their guru's request. This disciple, Rinchen Drak, suddenly died of shame.
When the undertakers tried to dismember his corpse in order to feed it to the vultures [in a "sky burial," see prior post for explanation], the body resisted the knife. Jigten Sumgön placed his walking stick on the heart-center of the corpose and sang this song:
"I bow at the feet of glorious Phagmo Drupa.
Listen, Rinchen Drak, my son.
Ka! At the time of death...
Worldly activities are a lie.
The eight worldly dharmas [1] are like the color of a rainbow.
Think, can you put your trust in them?
[1: gain, loss, pleasure, pain, fame, disgrace, kind and harsh words]
When you see the separation of gathered friends,
The affection of relatives and friends is a lie.
Heartfelt words are like an echo [2].
Think, can you put your trust in them?
[2: the attachment to affection and heartfelt words}
When you see the growth and decline of the four elements of the body,
The illusion of strength and ability is also a lie.
The spring flower of youth –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
When you see the gathering and consumption of wealth,
Clinging and painful accumulation are also lies.
Food and wealth are like dew on a blade of grass.
Think, can you put your trust in them?
When you see the suffering of birth and death,
The happiness of the assemblies of [devas] and [humans] is a lie.
The joy and suffering of the Wheel of Samsara –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
To bodhicitta [3] that gives unbiased protection like the father and the tree,
The bias of disciples is a lie.
Nonvirtuous and misleading friends –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
[3: "enlightened mind" or the "spiritual mindstuff" according to Thomas Ashley-Farrand]
When you understand that all sentient beings are your parents,
Attachment to self-cherishing is a lie.
The Shravakas’ [4] vehicle of self-liberation –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
[4: "recluse," in Pali the samana, in a sense the shamanistic hermit]
When you become convinced of the cause and result of karma,
The instruction of non-effort is a lie.
Thunder without rain in an empty sky –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
For the guru who has the realization of power and blessings,
The obstacle of maras [5] and error is a lie.
Chattering prayers like a parrot –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
[5: literally "killers" -- demons, corrupters, spiritual obstacles]
When you realize the nature of your mind,
The three limitless kalpas are also a lie.
The deceptive vehicle of relative truth –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
In the cemetery, Gathering Relics [6], are you sad, son, at being alone?
Since nothing lasts and all must die, Rinchen Drak, don’t be attached.
If your mind is still attached, transfer it to your guru’s heart.
"I bow at the feet of glorious Phagmo Drupa.
Listen, Rinchen Drak, my son.
Ka! At the time of death...
Worldly activities are a lie.
The eight worldly dharmas [1] are like the color of a rainbow.
Think, can you put your trust in them?
[1: gain, loss, pleasure, pain, fame, disgrace, kind and harsh words]
When you see the separation of gathered friends,
The affection of relatives and friends is a lie.
Heartfelt words are like an echo [2].
Think, can you put your trust in them?
[2: the attachment to affection and heartfelt words}
When you see the growth and decline of the four elements of the body,
The illusion of strength and ability is also a lie.
The spring flower of youth –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
When you see the gathering and consumption of wealth,
Clinging and painful accumulation are also lies.
Food and wealth are like dew on a blade of grass.
Think, can you put your trust in them?
When you see the suffering of birth and death,
The happiness of the assemblies of [devas] and [humans] is a lie.
The joy and suffering of the Wheel of Samsara –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
To bodhicitta [3] that gives unbiased protection like the father and the tree,
The bias of disciples is a lie.
Nonvirtuous and misleading friends –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
[3: "enlightened mind" or the "spiritual mindstuff" according to Thomas Ashley-Farrand]
When you understand that all sentient beings are your parents,
Attachment to self-cherishing is a lie.
The Shravakas’ [4] vehicle of self-liberation –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
[4: "recluse," in Pali the samana, in a sense the shamanistic hermit]
When you become convinced of the cause and result of karma,
The instruction of non-effort is a lie.
Thunder without rain in an empty sky –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
For the guru who has the realization of power and blessings,
The obstacle of maras [5] and error is a lie.
Chattering prayers like a parrot –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
[5: literally "killers" -- demons, corrupters, spiritual obstacles]
When you realize the nature of your mind,
The three limitless kalpas are also a lie.
The deceptive vehicle of relative truth –
Think, can you put your trust in them?
In the cemetery, Gathering Relics [6], are you sad, son, at being alone?
Since nothing lasts and all must die, Rinchen Drak, don’t be attached.
If your mind is still attached, transfer it to your guru’s heart.
Richen Drak’s body was then cut open and found to contain numerous relics. There were so many of these that they had to be swept together with brooms.
[6: The cemetery where this miracle occurred was thereafter referred to as Ten Chak Gang (“Gathering Relics”). There, Jigten Sumgön opened a mandala for the purification of the lower realms, which was placed under a large slab of stone. Under that slab, he also created a light which will burn until the end of this kalpa ("age" or aeon), and which benefits the minds of those whose bodies are brought there, causing them to be free from birth in lower realms.]
[6: The cemetery where this miracle occurred was thereafter referred to as Ten Chak Gang (“Gathering Relics”). There, Jigten Sumgön opened a mandala for the purification of the lower realms, which was placed under a large slab of stone. Under that slab, he also created a light which will burn until the end of this kalpa ("age" or aeon), and which benefits the minds of those whose bodies are brought there, causing them to be free from birth in lower realms.]
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