DISPELLER 4 OBSTACLES The Heart Practice of Padmasambhava PADMASAMBHAVA CHOKGYUR LINGPA TULKU URGYEN RINPOCHE ORGYEN TOPGYAL RINPOCHE LAMA PUTSI Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang DISPELLER OF OBSTACLES The Heart Practice of Padmasambhava Rangjung Yeshe Books ♦ www .rangjung .com padmasambhava ♦ Treasures from Juniper Ridge ♦ Advice from the Lotus-Born ♦ DaJ^ini Teachings padmasambhava and jamgon kongtrul ♦ The Light of Wisdom, Vol. i, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4, & Vol. 5 padmasambhava , chokgyur lingpa , tulku urgyen rinpoche , orgyen topgyal rinpoche , and lama putsi pema tashi ♦ Dispeller of Obstacles yeshe tsogyal ♦ TheLotus-Born dakpo tashi namgyal ♦ Clarifying the Natural State tsele natsok rangdrol ♦ Mirror of Mindfulness ♦ Empowerment ♦ Heart Lamp chokgyur lingpa ♦ Ocean of Amrita ♦ The Great Gate ♦ Skillful Grace ♦ Great Accomplishment traktung dudjom lingpa ♦ A Clear Mirror jamgon mipham rinpoche ♦ Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, & Vol. 4 tulku urgyen rinpoche ♦ Blazing Splendor ♦ Rainbow Painting ♦ As It Is, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 ♦ Vajra Speech ♦ Repeating the Words of the Buddha adeu rinpoche ♦ Freedom in Bondage khenchen thrangu rinpoche ♦ King of Samadhi chokyi nyima rinpoche ♦ Present Fresh Wakefulness tulku thondup ♦ Enlightened Living orgyen tobgyal rinpoche ♦ Life & Teachings of Chokgyur Lingpa dzigar kongtrul rinpoche ♦ 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 Perfection ♦ A Tibetan Buddhist Companion ♦ The Rangjung Yeshe Tibetan-English Dictionary of Buddhist Culture & Perfect Clarity marcia dechen wangmo ♦ Confessions of a Gypsy Yogini compilation ♦ Precious Songs of Enlightenment DISPELLER OF OBSTACLES The Heart Practice of Padmasambhava Padmasambhava Chogyur Lingpa Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo Jamgon Kongtriil Rinpoche Tersey Tulku Karmey Khenpo Rinchen Dargye Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche Orgyen Topgyal Rinpoche Lama Putsi Pema Tashi Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang Compiled and edited by Marcia Schmidt PUBLICATIONS Boudhanath, Hong Kong & Esby 2006 Rangjung Yeshe Publications Flat 5a, Greenview Garden, 125 Robinson Road, Hong Kong Address letters to : Rangjung Yeshe Publications Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery P.O. Box 1200, Kathmandu, Nepal www.rangjung.com Copyright © 2014 Rangjung Yeshe Publications All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical—including photocopying, recording, and duplicating by means of any information storage and retrieval system— without written permission from the publisher. 135798642 First paperback edition published in 2014 Printed in the United States of America Distributed to the book trade by: Publishers Group West Publication data: ISBN 978-962-7341-96-6 (pbk) Dispeller of Obstacles, The Heart Practice of Padmasambhava Padmasambhava, Chokgyur Lingpa, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgon Kongtriil Rinpoche, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Orgyen Topgyal Rinpoche, Karmey Khenpo Rinchen Dargye, Tersey Tulku & Lama Putsi Pema Tashi Translated from the Tibetan, based on the teachings of Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche by Erik Pema Kunsang (Erik Hein Schmidt) Edited and compiled by Marcia Dechen Wangmo [Marcia Binder Schmidt] Photos courtesy of Graham Sunstein Cover photo courtesy of Chris Zvitkovits FIRST EDITION CONTENTS Preface vn Introductions The Heart of Padmasambhava, Jamgon Kongtriil Rinpoche A Short Introduction to the Barchey Kiinsel Cycle, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche xm Padmasambhava, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche xv Removing Obstacles, Orgyen Topgyal Rinpoche xxi Application The Quintessence of Wisdom Openness, Yeshe Zangtal—Fourth Chapter of Sheldam Nyingjang, Padmasambhava i Notes on Arrangement of the Liturgy for the Detailed Practice of Tukdrub Barchey Kiinsel, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo 9 A Seed of the Great Sal Tree, Jamgon Kongtriil Rinpoche 13 The Practice Manual for the Recitation of Approach and Accomplishment, Dzapkyi Koljang—terma root text, Padmasambhava 22 Questions on Dzapkyi Koljang, Lama Putsi Pema Tashi 61 The Short Notes for Performing the Approach, Accomplishment, and Activities, Chokgyur Lingpa 73 Key Points of Practice, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche 81 Teachings on Trinley Nyingpo, Orgyen Topgyal Rinpoche 89 Notes on Completing the Recitation within Thirty-five Days, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo 151 Condensed Teachings on the Trinley Nyingpo Thirty-Five-Day Retreat, Lama Putsi Pema Tashi 155 The Bindu of True Meaning, Karmey Khenpo Rinchen Dargye 199 Source Material 207 Additional Tibetan and English Texts, Audios, Videos, and Photos 211 Appendices The Supplication to the Lineage of Tu^drub Barchey Kunsel, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche 213 The Concise Manual for Daily Practice according to Lamey Tufylrub Barchey Kunsel, Padmasambhava Sphere of Refined Gold, short excerpt, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche 218 The Concise Quintessence, teaching on empowerment, Tersey Tulku 223 Notes 243 CONTENTS PREFACE Marcia Dechen Wangmo This book, Dispeller of Obstacles, The Heart Practice of Padmasambhava, is the first in a new series presented by Rangjung Yeshe Publications. This series will offer videos, audios, photos, and commentaries as supports for the practices of the Three Roots. The Three Roots are the inner practices of tantra connected with sadhanas for the lama, yidam, and dakini. As is often said, “The lama is the source of blessings, the yidam the source of accom plishment, and the dakinis and protectors are the source of activity.” Apparent differences, such as gender or peaceful versus wrathful modes, Hdo not ultimately define these three, because in essence they are identical—the display of the empty, cognizant, awake nature, rigpa. However, due to our varying dispositions as sentient beings needing to be tamed, they manifest in myriad ways to accomplish the utmost benefit. The qualities of each deity are the fully perfected qualities of our bud- dha nature; we undertake this deity training in order to connect with and accomplish that nature. Thus, we should practice whichever deity moves us most profoundly. As Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche said, “True blessings are the oral instruc tions on how to become enlightened in a single lifetime, which you can receive from a qualified master.” In a practical way, we can experience this ourselves, since our guru is the source of guidance, inspiration, and strength for the Vajrayana path. He or she is the most vital, meaningful person in our lives, dispelling hindrances so we may progress in this tra dition. Living in this degenerate age, we must seriously study whatever we intend to practice. These sacred texts, our teachers’ words, and our own intellect and experience need to harmonize, in order to clear away any misconceptions and doubts. The gift of teachings that we receive and apply expands our ordinary way of seeing reality and breaks down our normal, conditioned concepts. Having a direct bond with a qualified, living teacher is our sole means of being introduced to the nature of our minds and being able to recog nize and train in it. In the moment of love for our guru, we experience a gap, an opening free of mental constructs and internal gossip. This space offers the possibility to come into direct contact with the nature of our mind, true awareness. The Nyingma and Kagyii traditions especially emphasize devotion and consider it indispensable. This is another reason why guru practice is so exalted, because we reach enlightenment.by sta bilizing the momentary recognition of our minds nature and by contin ually maintaining that recognition. Without this, although the path may be a very enjoyable one, it will definitely be quite long. Guru practice, offers an infusion of direct insight, whereby each step brings us closer to accomplishing our teacher’s mind, as our teacher is no different from the primary figure in any Three Roots practice. The Tu\- drub Barchey Kunsel cycle of teachings presented here serves as an exam ple and framework, although any other guru practice will suffice. While the specifics relate to this cycle of teachings, which I have chosen because I have the most familiarity and precious material for it, the principles outlined are universal and applicable to all guru practices. Such topics include development and completion stages, with guidance on the three samadhis; the fourfold stakes of recitation; the four recitation intents; and feasts, as well as advice for structuring a retreat. As with guru practices, all sadhanas follow the same basic format; only the liturgies differ. Thus, I have tried to offer teachings and advice that are general to all sadhana practices. This cycle of Tu^drub Barchey Kunsel is a vast and profound terma, “hidden treasure,” a revelation with a rich history that unfolds through out the book. This presentation is special, because it contains not only the root text and classical commentaries by the tenons, “hidden treasure revealers,” Chokgyur Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, but also explanations by modern-day masters, such as Tulku Urgyen and Orgyen Topgyal Rinpoches. This extensive cycle contains teachings and practices that encompass the preliminaries up to and including the Great Perfection. Moreover, the main sadhanas come in varying lengths, ranging from a few pages up to a few hundred pages, and the subsidiary sadhanas consist of separate prac tices for each of the main deities. Linking to a fresh terma has the power to imbue us with hot, juicy blessings that invigorate our being and gener ate profound devotion and joy. Gratitude goes to all the people who have helped to make this book VIII DISPELLER OF OBSTACLES