Some Advice to Take to Heart

from The Essential Amrita of Profound Meaning: Oral Instructions and Practical Advice Bestowed Upon Fortunate Followers, Eye-Opener to What is to be Adopted and Abandoned

by Chokgyur Lingpa

If you don’t trust the Three Jewels,
what’s the use of taking refuge?

If you don’t give rise to altruism and compassion,
what’s the use of proclaiming bodhicitta?

If you don’t see the good qualities of the guru,
what’s the use of reciting supplications?

If you don’t choose your actions based on karmic cause and effect,
what’s the use of receiving oral instructions?

If you don’t subdue the afflictions,
what’s the use of receiving mind teachings?

Forget about attaining awakening;
there’s no certainty you won’t go to the lower realms.

Many people, high and low, powerful and weak,
asked me to write a supplication,
though I don’t see any benefit in doing so.
Faithful ones, take this to heart instead!

Chokgyur Lingpa wrote this at Evam Dharma Camp.

Source Text

• mChog gyur gling pa, “rJes ’jug skal bzang rnams la bstal pa’i zhal gdams bslab bya nyams len gyi skor spang blang mig ’byed zab don snying gi bdud rtsi.” In mChog gling bka’ ’bum skor. Vol. 36 of mChog gling bde chen zhig po gling pa yi zab gter yid bzhin nor bu’i mdzod chen po, 87. Kathmandu, Nepal: Ka-nying Shedrub Ling monastery, 2004.