Khenpo Namdrol 2008 Teachings on Buddha Nature

{{Article
|ArticleLayout=Alternate Source
|ArticleTitle=Khenpo Namdrol 2008 Teachings on Buddha Nature
|Frontcoverimg=File:KhenpoNamdrolAndGyurme RigpaShedra 2008.jpg
|AlternateSourceLink=[http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Khenpo_Namdrol_2008_Teachings_on_Buddha_Nature rigpawiki.org]
|AuthorPage=People/Khenpo Namdrol
|PubDate=2008
|ArticleContent=Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche teaches the Rigpa Shedra on Mipham Rinpoche's work on buddha-nature (Skt. ''sugatagarbha''): [[Texts/Bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng%2Bge%27i_nga_ro|''The Lion's Roar: A Commentary on Sugatagarbha'']].<br>
Recorded during Shedra East 2008-2009 in Pharping, Nepal. Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche Teaches in Tibetan and Gyurme Avertin translates into English.
==='''Study Material'''===
*[[Duckworth, Douglas]]. ''[[Mipam on Buddha-Nature: The Ground of the Nyingma Tradition]]''. State University of New York Press, 2008. The translation is contained in [https://archive.org/details/mipanmonbuddhanaturethegroundofthenyingmatraditiondouglassamuelduckworthsunny_828_E/page/n181/mode/2up Appendix 1].
* The Tibetan is contained in Mipham Rinpoche's collected works (''gsung 'bum''), Volume 4, p. 563-608. [[Texts/Bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng%2Bge%27i_nga_ro|''bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro'']].


==='''The Lion's Roar: A Commentary on Sugatagarbha'''===
By Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche


===='''Prologue'''====
'''''1st teaching, 16-Dec-2008''''': How is buddha nature taught in sutra, tantra and Dzogchen?
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===='''Introduction'''====
'''''2nd teaching, 17-Dec-2008''''': Our teacher the Buddha has taught on buddha nature emphasizing sugatagarbha's essence (Wyl. ''ngo bo'') by teaching on emptiness. On other occasions, he gave clarifications on its nature (Wyl. ''rang bzhin'') by explaining its primordially present qualities. It is crucial to understand that those two aspects are in union.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 564-565.<br>
[[File:001-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-TBRC-W23468-2007-pp-563-565.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/d/d7/001-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-TBRC-W23468-2007-pp-563-565.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth,  p. 147-148<br>
<br>
'''''3rd teaching, 18-Dec-2008''''': Accuracy of scriptures can be examined by the three types of investigation and understanding establishes irreversible trust by means of the three types of valid cognition.<ref>(Wyl. ''tshad ma gsum'') Another expression for the three types of investigation.</ref> How can buddha nature (''tathagatagarbha'') be established in this way, as being empty in essence while cognizant in nature?<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 566-567.<br>
[[File:002-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-566-567.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/a/ab/002-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-566-567.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth, p. 148-149<br>
===='''1. Proof of the Presence of the Tathagatagarbha in all Sentient Beings'''====
The Uttaratantra Shastra says:

::27. ''Because the perfect buddhas’s kaya is all-pervading,''
::''Because reality is undifferentiated,''
::''And because they possess the potential,''<ref>The alternative translation for potential (Tib. ''rig''; Wyl. ''rigs'') used during the teachings is nature or the Sanskrit ''gotra'' (here ''go'' comes from ''guna'', quality. ''Tra'' means to protect. So gotra means to protect the qualities (Wyl. ''yon ten skyob pa'') [RY])</ref>
::''Beings always have the buddha nature''.<ref>''Sublime Continuum'', I, 27. Translation Adam Pearcey, ''Compendium of Quotations'' VI, p. 49</ref><br>

=====1.1 The Mistaken Apprehension of Others=====
'''''4th teaching, 19-Dec-2008''''': A refutation of the position of early Tibetan commentators concerning the interpretation of the meaning of the Uttaratantra Shastra verse. Neither is the fact that the dharmakaya pervades everything sufficient for the existent of the nature (Tib. ''rigs'') nor can suchness be simply understood as mere emptiness in the sense of the approximate ultimate.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 567-569.<br>
[[File:003-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-567-569.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/b/b9/003-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-567-569.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth,  p. 149-151<br>

=====Nature (''rigs'') as the union of the two truths=====
'''''5th teaching, 20-Dec-2008''''': The sugatagarbha is the indivisible union, beyond any possibility of being united or separated, of the primordial purity of the cause and effect of samsara, and untainted appearances which are natural and spontaneous clear light.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 569-572.<br>
[[File:004-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-569-572.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/4/40/004-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-569-572.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth,  p. 151-153<br>

=====1.2 Our Tradition=====
=====1.2.1 The Meaning of the First Line: ''Because the perfect buddhas’s kaya is all-pervading''=====
=====1.2.1.1 General Reasoning=====
=====1.2.1.2 Specific Points=====
'''''6th teaching, 22-Dec-2008''''': How to establish by reasoning that the sugatagarbha is already present in all beings?<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 572-575.<br>
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English: Duckworth, p. 153-156<br>

From the Uttaratantra Shastra:

::''The disposition<ref>(Wyl. ''khams''), translated as element during the teachings</ref> is empty of the adventitious stains,''
::''Which are characterized by their total separateness.''
::''But it is not empty of the unsurpassed qualities,''
::''Which have the character of total inseparability.''<ref>''Sublime Continuum'', I, 155. Translation Adam Pearcey, ''Compendium of Quotations'' VI</ref><br>

'''''7th teaching, 23-Dec-2008''''': The nature as the great uncompounded which is unchanging and never separated from it's qualities.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 575-577.<br>
[[File:006-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-575-577.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/d/dd/006-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-575-577.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth, p. 156-158<br>

=====1.2.2 The Second Line: ''Because Suchness is Indivisible''=====
'''''8th teaching, 24-Dec-2008''''': An answer to objections concerning the presence of the essence of enlightenment in all sentient beings. Why the all-pervasiveness of gotra (''rigs'') is not refuted by stating that stones have no nature?<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 577-580.<br>
[[File:007-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-577-580.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/3/32/007-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-577-580.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth, p. 158-160<br>

'''''9th teaching, 25-Dec-2008''''': Individual deluded perception does not contradict the authentic viewpoint that all perceptions appear without ever moving from the primordially enlightened state of dharmata. Answers to objections.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 580-583.<br>
[[File:008-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-580-583.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/9/90/008-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-580-583.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth, p. 160-162<br>

=====1.2.3 The Third Line: ''Because They have the Nature''=====
'''''10th teaching, 26-Dec-2008''''': Each of the three lines relates to one of the first three principles of reasoning thus establishing that all beings have buddha-nature.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 583-585.<br>
[[File:009-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-583-585.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/9/99/009-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-583-585.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth, p. 162-164<br>

'''''11th teaching, 27-Dec-2008''''': The teachings on sugatagarbha focus on the inseparability of the appearance of kayas and wisdom with their empty nature. Both, the teachings of the intermediate turning, which focus more on the emptiness aspect, and the teachings of the final turning, which focus more on the spontaneous presence aspect are therefore definitive teachings and need to be seen in union.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 585-587.<br>
[[File:010-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-585-587.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/4/47/010-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-585-587.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth, p. 164-165<br>

====2. Refuting Some Misconceptions Concerning the Nature of the Element====
'''''12th teaching, 28-Dec-2008''''': How the element (''khams'') abides within the continua of sentient beings. The refutation of some misconceptions concerning the nature of the element.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 587-590.<br>
[[File:011-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-587-590.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/3/37/011-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-587-590.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth, p. 165-168<br>

=====2.1 Refuting the view that the element is truly existent and not empty=====
=====2.2 Refuting the view that the element is an empty void=====
=====2.3 Refuting the view that the element is impermanent and compounded=====
'''''13th teaching, 30-Dec-2008''''': A refutation of misconceptions by scripture and by reasoning: the element is neither truly existent, nor an empty void, nor is it impermanent and compounded.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 590-594.<br>
[[File:012-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-590-594.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/f/f1/012-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-590-594.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth, p. 168-171<br>

'''''14th teaching, 31-Dec-2008''''': For those who have not transformed themselves and have dualistic perceptions, there is the incontrovertible and undeniable appearance of inequality. Yet the fundamental nature abides as the great equality in which arising, ceasing, and dualistic phenomena do not exist.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 594-598.<br>
[[File:013-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-594-598.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/4/48/013-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-594-598.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth, p. 171-174<br>

'''''15th teaching, 01-Jan-2009''''': The benefits and the purpose of studying buddha-nature. The dedication. This concludes Khen Rinpoche Namdrol's teachings on the ''sengge naro'', the ''Lion's Roar'' by Mipham Rinpoche.<br>
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See Tibetan: Mipham ''gsung 'bum'', Vol 4., p. 598-606.<br>
[[File:014-Mipham Rinpoche-bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng ge'i nga ro-W23468-2007-598-606.pdf|400px|link=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/6/62/014-Mipham_Rinpoche-bde_gshegs_snying_po%27i_stong_thun_chen_mo_seng_ge%27i_nga_ro-W23468-2007-598-606.pdf]]<br>
English: Duckworth, p. 174-180<br>
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|CitationOverride=Khenpo Namdrol. "Oral Teachings on Mi pham rgya mtsho's ''Bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng+ge'i nga ro''." 15 pts. English translation by Gyurme Avertin. Audio recorded during Shedra East 2008–2009 in Pharping, Nepal. http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Khenpo_Namdrol_2008_Teachings_on_Buddha_Nature.
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