🪷 THE EIGHT MANIFESTATIONS OF GURU PADMASAMBHAVA

Part 3: The Limits of Perception and the Vastness of the True Nature

Our present knowledge is limited to the inputs of the six sense consciousnesses. There is a horizon to what you can see. You hear sounds within the spectrum detectable by human ears. The flavors and fragrances you are aware of are within the limits of your senses of taste and smell. What you feel is conditioned by your sensitivity, and what you think reveals the parameters of your mental concepts. We do not really extend beyond that.

These six define the frontiers of our knowledge and comprise the individual point of view. We can ignore what lies beyond our senses and imagine such things cannot exist, but there really is much more to life than what we perceive.

We only notice one percent and habitually ignore the ninety nine percent still to be discovered. Our knowledge is very limited. We shouldn’t block our ability to learn by assuming that what we cannot see does not exist and is not possible. This kind of thinking obstructs further knowledge. It is as if we don’t really want any illumination.

“We block all openings and sit there in the dark.
You must open the door.”

This is the initial form of ignorance to be recognized. It is always necessary to stay open and be aware that there is an infinity of knowledge still to be discovered.

The Limitation of Ordinary Perception

For example, if somebody next to you were threading a needle, it would be pretty obvious what they were doing, whereas from a hundred yards away, you would see neither the needle nor the thread. You might even imagine that there was no needle simply because you couldn’t see it.

This is the limitation on knowledge gleaned through the power of the eye. It doesn’t mean there is nothing there. You just don’t see it. There are a great many things to be discovered beyond our present understanding.

Beings who realize great equanimity discover the infinite energy of the true nature and can perform many beneficial activities using their eyes, ears, nose, tongue and body. They will not always act conventionally or in ways we normally understand. They may do things which don’t fit in with our common perceptions.

Phenomena which seem to go beyond physical limitations are sometimes referred to as miracles. At times, those who have the capacity will display miraculous phenomena in the common world.

People who don’t believe in the possibility of miracles think these stories are myths, metaphors or fairy tales. In truth, there are people who can do amazing things, just as the ancient masters did. Don’t ignore certain aspects of the universe by thinking those are just stories. The universe contains an infinite variety of wondrous qualities and activities.

Beyond Dualistic Thinking

These actions are incomprehensible from the ordinary, mundane viewpoint. They manifest to help destroy all conventional approaches to knowledge. Ego based discriminations and habits have separated the world into samsara and nirvana.

These dualistic notions are the only real cause of unhappiness.

Guru Padmasambhava breaks through that dualistic pattern to lead us into perfect enlightenment, beyond conception.

In order to have a deep understanding of the meaning of Guru Padmasambhava’s activities, it is important to keep an open mind. We must go beyond our present conceptual limitations.

See your tendency to doubt and criticize, and how that fills your mind with contradictions. Don’t restrict your mind to the tyranny of having to affirm or deny.

Most of our decisions are based in simplistic conceptual polarities. We ignorantly believe in the adequacy of this way of thinking and assume that what we don’t see does not exist.

If you create sharp divisions and cling to narrow definitions of subject and object, whatever you see will always appear in the context of those limitations.

When you see something, you can say:

“Yes, that exists,”

but what you do not see in the state of direct perception is easily denied.

In Buddhism such views are known as obscurations or dualistic conceptions. They do not lead to true knowledge or wisdom, but are based in ignorance.

It is ignorance which defines the world and puts limitations on our vision. We have to break through this barrier in order to understand the perfect activities of Guru Padmasambhava’s emanations and the infinite possibilities of the true nature.

Dzogchen and the Vast Openness of Reality

Dissolving fixed conceptions and not clinging to the limitations of sentient perception reveals the vastness of the true nature, the sphere of great equanimity.

By breaking down the walls of rigid thinking, we merge with this evenness, seeing everything as inseparable and flowing in continuous transformation.

This is also known as interdependent origination.

In the Dzogchen teachings, it is called:

“the unimpeded openness of the true nature.”

Dzogchen is the highest teaching, but more precisely, Dzogchen is the real situation, the reality of all phenomena.

Practice helps us break through the walls of ego clinging and merge with the infinite expanse where anything is possible and everything arises perfectly without moving out of the sphere of equanimity.

All of Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings, from the Hinayana on through to Atiyoga, are designed to transcend dualistic conceptions and actualize the full range of marvellous activities that arise within this profound equanimity.

This is the central point of the Dharma and the inspired intention behind the actions of every great master.

Guru Padmasambhava’s teachings offer a direct path to actualize this understanding.

The siddhi of his activity is especially powerful and effective in destroying the solidity of dualistic concepts and fixed opinions, and in awakening us to true freedom.

🌿 To Be Continued…

📚 Full Series:

Source

The Eight Manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava
Teaching by Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche
Translated by Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche
Padma Gochen Ling, Monterey, Tennessee — May 1992.