The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa: Volume Seven (50 page)

Vajra is associated with anger, which is transmuted into mirrorlike wisdom. In the cloudiness, possessiveness, and aggression of anger, there are qualities of brilliance, lucidity, great energy. Seeing these qualities clearly in the vajra yidam, the essence of anger is spontaneously transmuted into openness and precision. Transmutation is not performed deliberately but automatically follows upon clear insight.

Vajra is associated with the element of water. Cloudy, turbulent water symbolizes the defensive and aggressive nature of anger. Clear water suggests the sharp, precise, clear reflectiveness of mirrorlike wisdom. The color white, also associated with vajra, expresses both the all-pervading ice storm of anger and the brilliant reflectiveness of mirrorlike wisdom. Vajra’s direction is the east, which is connected with the dispassionate clarity of dawn. The symbol of the vajra family is the vajra (T.: dorje; Tt.: rdo rje), the thunderbolt scepter which betokens indestructibility and precision.

The energy of ratna, when expressed neurotically, is pride or arrogance, which can be transmuted into the wisdom of equanimity. Ratna is connected with the element earth and is alive to the quality of solidity or substantiality. Taking this from the neurotic angle of samsara or ego, there is the constant anxiety of not being substantial enough; so one tries to build a tower of pride that will obviate all challenge. In the enlightened energy of the ratna yidam, one comes in contact with the quality of inexhaustible richness. Seeing this, pride is spontaneously transmuted into the wisdom of equanimity. The wisdom of equanimity, imbued with generosity, sees all situations equally as ornaments of basic being.

Ratna is associated with the warmth, full sunshine, and lushness of the south. Its color yellow can express either the putrescence of pride or the richness and well-being of gold. The ratna family symbol is the jewel which fulfills all wishes.

The energy of the padma family is associated with the element of fire. Distorted by ego, it expresses itself as passion. Passion can be transmuted into discriminating wisdom. A neurotic sense of insufficiency creates the ambition to possess particular aspects of the phenomenal world, to consume like flame their quality of otherness. Through experiencing a sense of total compassion in the padma yidam, passion is transmuted into an energy of enlightened relationship, which sees with warmth and clarity precisely what exists to be related to.

Padma is connected with the west and with the brilliant display of the colorful qualities of existence expressed in the sunset. Its color red evinces the seduction and heat of passion or the all-pervading warmth of compassion. The symbol of the padma family is the lotus of compassion, the purified form of passion.

Karma family energy manifests neurotically as jealousy and on the awakened level as all-accomplishing wisdom. It is the energy of the element of wind which is present everywhere, touching all corners of space. Therefore, in the neurotic manifestation, it is aware of all facets of situations as something it has to keep up with or that it is left out of. If, through relating with the karma yidam, ego’s reference point is overwhelmed, the same energy becomes active in every area of situations, doing whatever needs to be done and destroying all obstacles to the fulfillment of enlightenment.

Karma is connected with the cold, stormy, energetic quality of the north. Its color is green, expressing either envy or the energy of all-pervading action. The karma family symbol is either a sword or a double vajra, both of which denote the fulfillment of all actions.

The buddha energy is that which creates stupidity through the ability to play deaf, dumb, and blind to anything that threatens the low-level stability created by ego. This same uncanny ability to be aware of everything in order to turn away from it can be stripped of the turning-away or ignoring function. Through the insight that comes from relating to the totally awakened form of the buddha yidam, ego’s game is exposed and stupidity transmutes into the wisdom of fundamental all-pervading awareness.

The buddha family’s color is the blue of its element space, which can either be just dull and blank or alive with the ubiquity of intelligence. A wheel is the symbol of the buddha family, indicating all-pervading rule.

1
. The text and catalog of the exhibition use the following abbreviations: Tt.: Tibetan transliteration; T.: Tibetan pronunciation; S.: Sanskrit.

S
ELECTED
P
OEMS

The Spontaneous Song of Entering into the Blessings and Profound Samaya of the Only Father Guru

Shri Heruka, the unchanging vajra mind,

The primordial buddha, all-pervading, the protector of all,

Padma Tri-me, you are the lord, the embodiment of all the victorious ones.

You are always reflected in the clear mirror of my mind.

In the space of innate ground mahamudra,

The dance of the self-luminous vajra queen takes place,

And passion and aggression, the movements of the mind, become the wheel of wisdom;

What joy it is to see the great ultimate mandala!

The confidence of the unflinching youthful warrior flourishes,

Cutting the aortas of the degraded three lords of materialism

And dancing the sword dance of penetrating insight;

This is the blessing of my only father guru.

Inviting the rays of the waxing moon, Vajra Avalokiteshvara,

The tide of the ocean of compassion swells,

Your only son, Chökyi Gyatso, blossoms as a white lotus;

This is due to the limitless buddha activity of my guru.

In the vast space of mahashunyata, devoid of all expression,

The wings of simplicity and luminosity spread

As the snake-knot of conceptual mind uncoils in space;

Only father guru, I can never repay your kindness.

Alone, following the example of the youthful son of the victorious ones,

Riding the chariot of the limitless six paramitas,

Inviting infinite sentient beings as passengers,

Raising the banner of the magnificent bodhisattvas,

I continue as your heir, my only father guru.

Like a mountain, without the complexities of movement,

I meditate in the nature of the seven vajras,

Subjugating Rudra with the hundred rays of deva, mantra, and mudra,

Beating the victory drum of the great secret vajrayana,

I fulfill the wishes of my only father, the authentic guru.

In the sky of dharmadhatu, which exhausts the conventions of the nine yanas,

Gathering rainclouds thick with the blessings of the ultimate lineage,

Roaring the thunder of relentless crazy wisdom,

Bringing down the rain that cools the hot anguish of the dark age,

As I transform existence into a heavenly wheel of dharma,

Please, my only father, authentic guru, come as my guest.

A Son of Buddha

A son of Buddha, living my life alone,

Riding the chariot of the six paramitas,

Inviting infinite numbers of sentient beings as my passengers,

I fly the great bodhisattvas’ banner and continue the line of Padma Tri-me.

Like the mountain, transcending the complications of movement,

I meditate in the seven types of vajra nature

To subjugate the rudra with the hundred rays of mandala, mantras, and mudra.

Beating the victory drum of the vajrayana,

I fulfill the wishes of my only father guru.

In the space of dharma where the sophistries of the nine yanas are exhausted,

Gathering the rainclouds of the blessings of the lineage,

I am the thunder of unflinching crazy wisdom

Inviting the downpour to assuage the drought of the dark age.

Alternate translation of the last three stanzas of the previous poem, written originally in Tibetan
.

The world is transmuted into the dharma-mandala.

I invite you, Padma, Tri-me, to be my guest and witness.

May 19, 1972

Stray Dog

Chögyam is merely a stray dog.

He wanders around the world,

Ocean or snow-peak mountain pass.

Chögyam will tread along as a stray dog

Without even thinking of his next meal.

He will seek friendship with birds and jackals

And any wild animals.

Garuda Is the Mighty Force

Garuda is the mighty force of creation and destruction.

He acts unerringly and will not hesitate.

The children of Shambhala will follow the pattern of his swooping and wheeling

And the two opposing forces will come to balance one another in perfect harmony.

This is the future of mankind.

November 14, 1967

Samye Ling, Scotland

The Song of the Wanderer

The mood of sadness is inexhaustible;

Trying to end it would be

Like trying to reach the limits of space.

The feeling of longing is sharp and quick

Like an arrow shot by a skillful archer.

Across the sea in an Asian island

There are wildflowers of every kind.

These flowers are inseparable from the yogi’s experience.

This is too realistic to be only a dream,

But if it is really happening

I must say it is rather amusing.

In the land of Bhutan

Where the mountains are clothed in mist

Young Chögyam is wandering like a stray dog.

In the hermitage of the Blue Rock Castle

A pregnant tigress is suckling her young.

There we found the nectar of the new age.

1968

Bhutan

May the Great Revolutionary Banner

May the great revolutionary banner

Blow in the wind of peace.

May it blow in the wind of karma.

May it blow in the wind of fearlessness.

One’s own mind is revolutionized:

There is no need to conquer others.

Like the warriors of ancient times

Going to war by imperial command,

Like seasoned masters of the martial arts,

We will destroy the fortress of erroneous thinking.

We will no longer tolerate the confused way of life

Controlled by the impersonal forces of materialism,

Since these forces may snatch away

The freedom of human dignity.

One must first give up the ego

And enter the war with one’s mind.

That is the first step to freedom.

But we will never be free

By following the voice of desire.

Liberation is only gained

By treading the path of what
is
.

September 1968

Bhutan

The Wind of Karma

Who killed my only father?

Who killed my only mother?

Who caused the rain of blood?

Who gathered the black clouds and the thunderbolts?

Who caused the earthquake that shook the whole world?

I asked these questions in the middle of a crowd

But no one was able to answer.

So I asked a second time and a third,

Shouting at the top of my voice.

My mind was blank and I didn’t know what to think.

Suddenly the great red wind of karma arose;

The king of death appeared on the face of the earth

And raised a fearful hailstorm.

The flag of no-retreat, emblazoned with the knot of eternity,

Unfurls before the storm. Even the wind of karma

Takes delight in blowing it. The truth of the pattern emerges

And unshakable confidence is aroused.

Now I am certain; I am fearless; there is no retreat.

The voice of truth is heard throughout the world.

September 1968

Bhutan

Poem

In the copper mountain cave of Taktsang

The mandala created by the guru

Padma’s blessing entered my heart.

I am the happy young man from Tibet!

I see the dawn of mahamudra

And awaken into true devotion:

The guru’s smiling face is ever-present.

On the pregnant dakini-tigress

Takes place the crazy-wisdom dance

Of Karma Pakshi Padmakara

Uttering the sacred sound of
HUM
.