At the time when the great Lama Sakyapa [1092-1158],
twelve years of age, was performing the six month meditation and recitation of
Arya Manjughosha; at one time actually saw, in the middle of a mass of light,
above a jewelled throne, the Lord Manjushri, orange, with the 'Dharma Teaching'
mudra, seated in a pleasant manner; with a retinue of bodhisattvas standing on
the right and left. The Lord said;
"With attachment to this life - there is no Dharma
practitioner; Attachment to samsara - no
renunciation; Attachment to self-purpose - no Enlightenment
Thought; If grasping arises - there is no
view."
Having been said; he thought - obtaining a special
discernment of all dharmas, analyzing the meaning, the united 'Mind Training' of
the four attachments and the separation are the entire practice of the 'Path of
Perfection.' Samapatamithi.
To the feet of the Holy Guru,
I bow! Generally, having obtained a body of leisure and fortune and met with
the precious teaching of the Buddha; giving rise to an unfabricated mind with
the aim of practicing the unmistaken Holy Dharma, should practice the
'Separation from the Four Attachments.' If asked what that is; non-attachment to
this life; non-attachment to the Three Realms of Existence; non-attachment to
self-purpose; non-attachment to phenomena and characteristics.
To
explain that; this life is like a water bubble and the time of death is
indefinite, it is not worth having attachment.
The Three Realms of
Existence are like poisonous fruit, superficially delicious, eventually
inflicting harm; having attachment to them is deluded.
Attachment to
self-purpose is like cherishing the son of an enemy; though superficial joy may
appear to be like joy, eventually it will certainly inflict harm. Even the
superficial happiness from attachment to self-purpose certainly will eventually
lead to a bad rebirth.
Manifestly attached to phenomena and
characteristics is like grasping for water in a mirage; though a superficial
appearance of water, there is no substance to be drunk. This Existence,
appearing to a deluded mind, when examined with wisdom no entities are found to
exist. Knowing not to rest the mind in the past, not to rest the mind in the
future, not resting the consciousness in the present; know all dharmas to be
free of elaboration.
Practicing like that, with non-attachment to just
this life there will be no bad rebirths; non-attachment to the Three Realms -
not born in Existence; non-attachment to self-purpose - not born as a
shravaka/pratyekabuddha; non-attachment to phenomena and characteristics - to
quickly manifest Complete Perfection.
(The instructions on the
'Separation from the Four Attachments,' the unmistaken heart intention of Pal
Sakyapa Chenpo, written by Sakya Pandita).
SAKYA