The Great Bundle of Precepts on Severance Outline by Lord Rangjung Dorje

The Great Bundle of Precepts on Severance Outline by Lord Rangjung Dorje

Introduction

Introduction to Machik’s Great Bundle of Precepts

The Great Bundle of Precepts on Severance is considered a source text (gzhung) of the Severance tradition attributed to Machik Lapdrön (1055-1149), the founder of the lineage. According to The Religious History of Pacification and Severance by Khamnyön Dharma Senge (19th c.), it was taught in a single day to a large crowd, which included the three Indians who arrived instantly in Tibet by means of the practice called “swift foot” to investigate the authenticity of Machik and her increasingly popular teachings (30b). As a woman and the originator of a “new” teaching tradition, Machik Lapdrön was under considerable suspicion and often had to prove her worth. In Machik’s Complete Explanation, she explains the meaning of the name “bundle of precepts” as meaning that it is based on the long, middle length, and short precepts of the Buddha Shakyamuni, which she had studied previously (94). In other words, she maintained that the teachings contained herein are nothing other than the authentic words (bka’) of the Buddha.

The commentary and outline are by Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339), the Third Karmapa hierarch, who was an important figure in the Severance tradition. His many works on Chöd are considered authoritative in the Kagyu lineage. The text translated here as found in Kongtrul’s Treasury of Precious Instructions appears under the simple title “Outline”, although it also contains a commentary as a separate text, bearing the Sanskrit name ṭīkā, usually translated into Tibetan as rnam par bshad pa, “Complete Explanation”. It is unusual and quite edifying for a Tibetan author to actually separate out the outline from the commentary, although it does present a few extra problems of consistency. Nevertheless, Rangjung Dorje’s work exhibits his usual precision and brilliance. The text is also found in his Collected Works. The words in parentheses after the headings in the Outline were included by Rangjung Dorje to indicate the beginning word[s] of each verse, and they are repeated in the commentary. However, due to the differences in English grammar, it was not always possible to keep them at the very beginning of each verse in translation, but they will appear somewhere in the first line.

Bibligraphy

Homage to the Perfection of Wisdom {54}
There are three parts to this Great Bundle of Precepts on Severance of Evil:
I. Introduction

A. The Homage (beginning with “unspeakable”)

B. Presentation of the Name (Severance)

C. Brief Explanation (a few)

II. The Source Text

A. Brief Presentation (devils)

B. Extensive Explanation

1. The Particular Four Devils

a. Tangible Devil

i. Identifying that Devils Come from Oneself (tangible)

ii. Ascertaining their Essential Emptiness (form)

b. Intangible Devil

i. Identifying the Sensations (intangible)

ii. Natural Liberation as Realization Dawns (realm of phenomena)

c. Devil of Exaltation

i. Brief Presentation (exaltation)

ii. Extensive Explanation {55}

I) Common

A) If Attached to Qualities it is a Path Devil (haunted places, demons)

B) Taught to be Like a Dream (qualities)

II) Supreme

A) The Path as Devil if Not Understood

1) Identifying the Devil

a) Brief Presentation (supreme)

b) Extensive Explanation (free from elaboration)

2) Liberation if Understood as Symbolic

a) No View or Viewed in the Self-Arisen (view and meditation)

b) No Meditation or Meditator (everything)

c) If Spontaneous Occurrence is Held (zin) in One's View, and Held as Conduct, Conduct is One's Play (one's conduct)

d) Experience is Beyond Intellect (experience)

B) Intellectual Fabrication as Devil

1) Having Desire is the Devil of Result (supreme)

2) If Realized to be Oneself, Nothing to Accomplish. (body, speech, and mind)

d. Devil of Inflation

i. Brief Presentation (devils)

ii. Extensive Explanation {56}

I) The Tangible Devil is Included in Inflation

A) Things not Held in the View are Taught as the Devil (objective things)

B) Knowing [they] are Rootless, Everything is Liberated (objective things)

II) The Intangible Devil is Included in Inflation

A) Identifying Five Devils that come from the Root Devil of Inflation (intangible)

B) Realization of Five Primordial Awarenesses and Emancipation from Six Classes if Inflation is Liberated (aggression)

C) Example of Fearlessness (thus)

D) Even with Realization, it is Bondage if not Severed (even with realization)

E) Becoming Buddha Once inflation is Severed (emaho)

III) The Devil of Exaltation is Included in Inflation

A) Common

1) If Attached to Spiritual Powers it's a Devil (exaltation)

2) If not Attached, it's an Ornament (without attachment)

B) Supreme

1) Excitement as a Devil (three kāyas)

2) Not Inflation if Understood (samsara self-)

2. Ascertaining by Example

a. Explanation of Examples

i. Bondage if Not Carried into One's Being (through example)

ii. Benefiting Others if One Realizes it Oneself (fine cow)

b. View

i. Realizing that Devils are Rootless (great garuda)

ii. Cutting Through by Knowing That (rootless)

c. Meditation

i. Examples of Nonthought (method of resting)

ii. Resting Freely Uncontrived (contrive or adulterate)

iii. Transcending Misery Through Knowing Thoughts [and] Memories are not Validly Existent (intrinsic awareness)

d. Conduct

i. Yogic Discipline Free of Afflictive Emotion (conduct)

ii. Everything as an Ally through Mastering Conduct (by oneself)

e. Results

i. Realizing the Meaning, No [Result] to Establish (results) {57}

ii. Oneself is Buddha for Sure (inflation)

3. Presentation Without Example

a. Deluded Cognition

i. Naturally Deluded (noncognizant)

ii. Deluded Regarding Tenants (single inseparability)

b. Ignorance, Primordial Awareness

i. Stupidity Transformed into Primordial Awareness (therefore)

ii. Whatever Arises is Naturally Occurring (cognition)

c. Unmade Ground

i. Not Made by Buddha (genuine meaning)

ii. Not Realized by Fixation (unmade unconditioned)

d. The Path of no Making

i. Realizing the Four Perception Spheres are Invalid (unmade)

ii. Liberation from Samsara through Realizing the Meaning (form and feeling)

e. Unreal Results

i. The Expedient Method for the Small-Minded (unreal)

ii. Something Established as Real is Meaningless (if real)

iii. If Mind is not Liberated it is Meaningless (of dharma)

iv. Realizing Nonfixation Reveals Body, Speech, and Mind (on body)

III. Conclusion

A. The Meaning of the Name (emaho)

B. Experience

1. Experience Free of Intellect (earnestly)

2. Special Instructions (haunted places )

3. If the Load is Carried it is the View (conditions that appear)

4. The Importance of Wandering in Haunted Places (haunted place)

The condensed meaning of the Great Bundle is complete.