Sde snod bcud bsdus man ngag gi snying po
From Buddha-Nature
SOURCE TEXT
Description from When the Clouds Part
This instruction[1] was given by Mönlam Tsültrim at the request of two Geshés, Gönden Ö[2] and Yönten Ö.[3] It explains the paths of the three types of individuals of lesser, medium, and highest capacities. In the context of the latter, we find Mahāmudrā-style instructions and a quotation from the Uttaratantra. These instructions begin by saying that one should cut through thoughts of the three times—not following the past, not anticipating the future, and relaxing and settling the present mind. For thoughts are the cause of saṃsāra, while nonthought is the cause of nirvāṇa. In particular, one needs to cut through all outer reference points in terms of being real and delusive and look at the essence of the mind inside. Through that, a mind to look at is not seen and thus the looker naturally is at peace, relaxes, and settles. It is taught that the mind was not seen, is not seen, and will not be seen by the buddhas of the three times. The nature of the mind is primordially luminous. Since this luminous and empty mind is the dharmakāya, if one realizes it as it is, one will be liberated. As the sūtras say, "The nature of the mind is luminosity." Uttaratantra I.154cd states:
Actual reality is viewed as it really is—
If actual reality is seen, one is liberated.
Though this luminous and naturally empty mind exists intrinsically within one, one wanders in saṃsāra due to not knowing this. The means to put an end to this wandering are that one’s guru demonstrates the true nature of one’s mind as it is. Through that, one sees that the preceding moment of mind is no more after it has ceased, the next one is not there either as it has not arisen yet, and if one searches for the present one, it is without abiding. Nor does one find any shape, color, or essence of this present moment of the mind, but it is empty and transparent. Then, one relaxes and settles within that state. If one rests in that way, one realizes that one had tainted one’s own natural condition before. During subsequent attainment, out of the state of realizing that everything lacks real existence, one solely engages in activities for the welfare of others and dedicates all this to great awakening in a nonreferential manner. (pp. 321-322)
