Why Guru Padmasambhava Left Tibet
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Next, Master Padmakara turned his attention toward the rakshasas living on Lankapuri, the Land of Rakshasas, which is like the axe handle of the Jambu continent and lies near the country of Uddiyana. He saw that the rakshasas would invade and destroy all of India, Nepal, Tibet and so forth, murdering the human race. Master Padma saw the need to guard against the rakshasas in order to bestow the gift of fearlessness to the people of the Jambu continent. He decided to leave glorious Samye and go instead to the summit of the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain (Zangdog Pairi). At this time, Prince Mutig Tsenpo and other Tibetan kings, the ministers, male and female ordained practitioners, spiritual teachers, tantrikas, meditators, yogis, healers, copyists and reciters, chieftains, women, male and female benefactors-- in short, all the people of Tibet--beseeched him to remain, but he did not consent. Instead, he sang this song of feeling weariness with Tibet. NAMO RATNA-GURU Lord Amitabha and Avalokitesvara Your compassion encompasses all beings. In this land of Tibet, a realm shrouded in dense darkness, I have made the sun of Dharma shine and established all beings in both happiness and well-being. Since then, the king of Tibet passed away. Now I shall not remain in Tibet. I am leaving; I am going to India! The Tibetan king and ministers and I do not agree! They do not rule the kingdom according to the Dharma. Instead the ministers control the Dharma king. I am tired of kings who engage in evil deeds. I am leaving; I am going to India! The Tibetan monks and I do not agree! They do not keep the discipline pure, but in secret enjoy meat, wine, and women. I am tired of hypocritical people. I am leaving; I am going to India! The Tibetan teachers and I do not agree! They do not explain the Buddha's words and the treatises correctly, but fool people with distorted teachings. I am tired of people who falsify the Buddha's words. I am leaving; I am going to India! The Tibetan meditators and I do not agree! They do not mingle the meditation state with postmeditation, but make mere intellectual understanding their experience and realization. I am tired of practitioners who focus on inert stillness. I am leaving; I am going to India! The Tibetan tantrikas and I do not agree! They do not keep the sacred commitments pure. Instead they let both Mahayana and Secret Mantra stray into shamanism. I am tired of samaya violators. I am leaving; I am going to India! The Tibetan yogis and I do not agree! They do not possess the meaning of view and meditation in their Dharma practice, but fool themselves with boastful platitudes. I am tired of bragging people. I am leaving; I am going to India! The Tibetan chieftans and I do not agree! They do not mingle social affairs with the divine Dharma, but waste the teachings and the kingdom with evil intentions. I am tired of evil-minded people with negative intent. I am leaving; I am going to India! The Tibetan benefactors and I do not agree! They do not practice generosity free from prejudice, but always create the causes for rebirth among hungry ghosts. I am tired of deceitful and tight-fisted people, I am leaving; I am going to India! The Tibetan women and I do not agree! They do not take faith and compassion to heart, but follow charlatans with hollow faith. I am tired of unfaithful, lustful women. I am leaving; I am going to India! At this the Tibetan disciples all felt ashamed of themselves. With aching hearts, their eyes filled with tears and, tormented by deep despair, they made full prostrations. They placed Padmakara's feet at the crown of their heads, clutched his robe, and prayed, "Listen, great master! If you leave for India we will have no way to clear our outer and inner misconceptions. Formerly, when King Trisong Deutsen was alive, your kindness was immense. Now, please continue to care for By all means, please stay!" In reply to their request, Master Padma said, "During the reign of the king, I made the Buddhadharma spread and flourish. You, my followers, the king and subjects, should uphold my tradition exactly as it is, as benefactors and objects of respect." "Since I am going to India, there will not be anyone to clear your outer and inner misconceptions. But unless the rakshasas are vanquished, they will overflow from their land, Lankapuri, and eat all the humans of the Jambu continent. The time has arrived for me to subjugate them so I must take leave. " Having spoken, he sang this song: "Lord guru who grants the blessings, I, Padmakara of Uddiyana, Untainted by the defilement of a womb, At first, in the realm of Uddiyana, Next, in the different parts of India, Diligent in learning, reflection, and meditation, Finally, I came to the land of Tibet. In this age that is the time It is rare, in general, People fall prey In particular, Such are the rakshasas of aggression, My body is the indestructible vajra body My voice has accomplished the attainment of My mind has realized the state of Thus I have actualized the mind essence In order to bestow the gift of fearlessness Through love, compassion, and bodhicitta, I am leaving to establish everyone All you, Tibetan king, subjects, and disciples, I have achieved the body I have attained mastery over Having fully mastered Having fully mastered the teachings King, subjects, and disciples remaining here, I will hold you Then we will meet again. Since he did not consent to stay on,
SOURCE: ADVICE FROM THE LOTUS BORN, A collection of Padmasambhava's Advice to the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal and other close disciples from the terma treasure revelations of Nyang Ral Nyima Ozer, Guru Chowang, Pema Ledrel Tsal, Sangye Lingpa, Rigdzin Godem, & Chokgyur Lingpa, translated from the Tibetan by Erik Pema Kunsang, edited by Marcia Binder Schmidt, Ranjung Yeshe Publications, 1994. This reading is from Chapter 23, telling how the Tibetan king and subjects tried to dissuade Guru Padmasambhava from leaving Tibet, but were unsuccessful in obtaining Master Padma's consent when he intended to leave for the southwestern continent.
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