Entering the Way of the Great Vehicle: Dzogchen as the Culmination of the Mahayana

954 Pages·2017·1.75 MB·English

by  Rongzom Chok Zangpo (Author)

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Entering the Way of the Great Vehicle
Dzogchen as the Culmination of the Mahāyāna
Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo
TRANSLATED AND INTRODUCED BY
Dominic Sur
Snow Lion
An imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc.
4720 Walnut Street
Boulder, Colorado 80301
www.shambhala.com
Cover art: Shakyamuni Buddha with Two Bodhisattvas, Thirty-Five Buddhas of Confession, and Seventeen
Arhats, Tibet, 1450–1500. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond. Nasli and Alice Heermaneck
Collection. Gift of Paul Mellon. Photo by Travis Fullerton. ©Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
© 2017 by Dominic Sur
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 Names: Rongzom Chos-kyi-bzang-po, 1012–1088,
author. | Sur, Dominic, translator.
Title: Entering the way of the great vehicle: dzogchen as the culmination of the Mahāyāna / Rongzom
Chökyi Zangpo; translated and introduced by Dominic Sur.
Other titles: Theg pa chen po’i tshul la ’jug pa. English Description: First edition. | Boulder: Snow Lion,
2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Translated from Tibetan.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016019345 | eISBN 9780834840454 | ISBN 9781611803686 (hardback: alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Rdzogs-chen—Early works to 1800. | Mahayana Buddhism—Doctrines—Early works to
1800. | BISAC: RELIGION / Buddhism / Tibetan. | RELIGION / Buddhism / Sacred Writings.
Classification: LCC BQ7662.4 .R6613 2017 | DDC 294.3/420423—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016019345
C
ONTENTS
Publisher’s Note
Acknowledgments
Translator’s Introduction
The Audacity of Rongzom’s Work
The Context for Rongzom’s Work
The Story of Rongzom’s Life
Rongzompa’s Entering the Way of the Great Vehicle
Summary of Chapter 1
Summary of Chapter 2
Summary of Chapter 3
Summary of Chapter 4
Summary of Chapter 5
Summary of Chapter 6
On the English Translation
The Commentarial Treatise Entitled Entering the Way of the Great Vehicle by
Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo
1. The Reality of Affliction
The Śrāvaka System
The Pratyekabuddha System
The Yogācāra System
The Madhyamaka System
The Madhyamaka and Guhyamantra Systems
Conclusion
2. Objections and Replies
First Objection: Concerning the Reality of Illusions
Second Objection: Concerning the Reality of Causality
Third Objection: Concerning the Reality of Pure Phenomena
Fourth Objection: Concerning the Reality of Sa sāra
ṃ
3. Distinguishing the Perfected System of the Illusory in the Great Perfection
from the Other Vehicles That Retain the Nomenclature of Illusion
First Objection: Concerning the Reality of Confused Appearances
Second Objection: Concerning Reality in an Illusory World
Third Objection: Concerning the Yogācāra View of Concepts
Some Supplementary Explanation concerning the Differences between the
Aforementioned Views with respect to Limitations and Power
Great Perfection as a Vehicle
Great Perfection as a Transmission
Great Perfection as a Doctrinal Discourse
Great Perfection as a Continuum
Great Perfection as a Hidden Intention
Great Perfection as Intimate Advice
4. The Great Perfection Approach to the Path Is Not Undermined by Reason
Bodhicitta
Conceptual Frameworks, Appearance, and Nature
General Systems for Such Things as the Establishment and Negation of
Identity and Difference
On the Two Methods of [Establishing] Proofs
Grammatical Treatises
Logical Treatises
Conclusion
5. Writings on Great Perfection
The Nature of Bodhicitta
The Greatness of Bodhicitta
Deviations and Obscurations
Methods for Settling Bodhicitta
From the Writings of Great Perfection
Eight Additional Rubrics
All Phenomena Are Seen to Be Perfected within the Single Sphere of
Bodhicitta
All Confused Appearance Is Seen as the Play of Samantabhadra
All Sentient Beings Are Seen as the Profound Field of Awakening
All Domains of Experience Are Seen as Naturally Occurring Self-
Appearing Gnosis
All Phenomena Seen as Perfected within the Nature of the Five Types of
Greatness
The Six Great Spheres
The Elimination of Deviations and Obscurations
Twenty-Three Points of Deviation
The Seven Obscurations
The Three Beings
The Three Great Assurances
The Three Fundamental Esoteric Precepts
Resolution through Bodhicitta
What Is Resolved in Great Perfection
The Disclosure of Methods for Consolidating Bodhicitta
Disclosing Those Points through Scriptural Sources
On Critical Impediments to Concentration
Criteria for the Attainment of Mastery over the Ordinary Mind
On the Signs of Warmth
On the Qualities of Bodhicitta
6. Instructions on Paths Encountered through Methods Connected with Effort for
Those Who Are Unable to Remain Effortlessly within the Natural State
according to the Great Perfection Approach
Other Paths as Doors to Great Perfection
Six Faults Connected with Concentration
Conceptuality
Nine Obscurations Associated with the Path
The Eightfold Concentration That Eliminates the Five Faults
Six-Limbed Yoga
Five Signs of Mental Stability
After Attaining Such Signs of Mental Stability
Closing Verses
Appendix: Tibetan Names in Phonetic and Transliterated Forms
Abbreviations
Notes
Works Cited
Index
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P N
UBLISHER’S OTE
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A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
THE STORY OF my involvement with Rongzom begins with James Gentry, who
introduced me to Rongzom in the fall of 2009 and suggested that I might be
interested in Entering the Way of the Great Vehicle. I am very grateful for all the
help and encouragement James has given me, before and since. His example of
Tibetological scholarship has been an inspiration. Before that time, and since,
many other people have also assisted and collaborated with me and I would like
to thank several in particular.
First, I’d like to thank my parents, especially my mom, Maggie—who never
quit on me. And I would like to thank the Di Zinno and Sur families for the
support they’ve offered over the years.
Within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, I would like to thank my first teacher,
Khenpo Lama Chönam of Golog, a scholar, poet, and practitioner for whom I
have the deepest admiration. Also, let me offer my sincere gratitude to some of
the many people who gave their time and assistance to this project: Matthieu
Ricard introduced me to Khensur Tsering Dorji Rinpoche, who transmitted
Entering the Way to me and answered many questions. Khenpo Sangye
Phuntshog and my good friend, the Venerable Gelong Tenzin Jamchen (Lama
Sean Price) of Shechen monastery, were also very generous with their time and
erudition. The Venerable Sean, in particular, has been very generous and
deserves my thanks. I must also thank Pema Tharchin Rinpoche and Khenpo
Gaden of Serlo Monastery for their hospitality and much-needed help in
translation. I must also express gratitude for the help of Sogan Rinpoche (Tulku
Pema Lodoe of Golog). I also owe many profound thanks to Khenpo Tsultrim
Lodoe and Tenzin Gyatso of Serta Larung Gar monastery, for taking time to
answer my questions about Rongzompa’s Entering the Way. Additionally,
Khenpo Nawang Jorden of the Sakya International Buddhist Academy, Geshe
Tashi Dhondup, and Lama Kunkhen of Kopan Monastery deserve my thanks.
My old friend Geshema Namdrol Phuntsog, of Kopan Nunnery, was also
generous with her time and erudition.
Within academia, I must thank David Germano, my primary academic advisor