Virupa's Treasury of Doha's
Homage to Sri Vajrasattva
Homage to Blessed Nairatma
E ma ho!
The mahamudra is completely pure by nature like space.
Since the reality of the demonstrated object does not exist,
it cannot be expressed through the medium of conventional words,
the essence without proliferation by nature is free from all dependent phenomena,
cannot be investigated or examined, free from demonstrative examples,
also not abiding in freedom from examples, beyond the domain of the mind,
not eternal, not annihilated, not samsara or nirvana,
not apparent, not empty, not real, not unreal, not non-arising,
not the original dharmata, and also not beyond mind,
also not non-being because being and non-being cannot be expressed with the mind,
not connected with any dualistic phenomena, originally homogenous.
Even the explanation of the activities of defining the essence,
equivalent with the fallacy of those false horns of a rabbit being sharp or dull,
all phenomena are not different from that characterization.
The relative phenomena of the world however they appear
are without essence, mere names, mere sounds, mere designations,
not the slightest bit of difference between names and meanings exists,
innate from the beginning, not to be sought elsewhere,
the nature of the mind, without a name, mahamudra free from proliferation,
it is equivalent with the nature of space, without a name from the beginning,
non-arisen by nature, free from the proliferation of signs,
all-pervading, unmoving and unchanging like space,
empty throughout all time and always selfless,
not the characteristic of concept, like a mirage of a river,
not bound, not liberated, having never moved from the original state.
All sentient beings are emanations of mahamudra,
the essence of those emanations is the forever non-arising dharmadhatu,
also all characteristics of dualistic appearances, happiness, suffering and so on,
are the play of mahamudra, the original dharmata.
Because there is no truth and nothing on which to rely in play itself,
reality never transcends the seal of emptiness.
Some are completely tortured with empowerment rites,
some always count their rosary saying hum phat!
some consume shit, piss, blood, semen and meat,
some meditate the yoga of nadi and vayu, but all are deluded.
E ma ho!
Having been connected with a sublime Guru,
one should realize as follows:
because there is some kind of delusion,
true realization does not exist,
free from any extremes of partiality or bias
since there is nothing to realize and no realization,
the homogenous original state is neither with nor without [extremes].
If one realizes in this way there is definitely no-one else to ask.
Since diversity appears as the dharmakaya,
a mind that accepts and rejects never arises.
There is nothing to meditate or not meditate,
and nothing is covered with characteristics,
one should never depend on apparent and non-apparent objects,
a mind with action and agent does not exist,
free from all objects,
a mind with hope and fear does not exist,
turned away from all attachments,
if one realizes the original reality shown by the Guru,
the diversity of recollection and awareness
automatically dissolves into the dharmadhatu,
consciousness does not remain on an object,
since one is free from all attachment and grasping,
all phenomena are liberated
in the uncontrived original state.
If one is not attached to anything,
free from the stain of pride and so on,
devoted, totally connected with the sublime ones,
and free from mental activity of any kind,
there is no doubt one will be immaculate,
because one is purified of a knower
and objects of knowledge,
the direct perception of dharmata will arise.
If one has not realized original mahamudra,
since one is always attached to everything
because of the power of dualistic grasping,
thoughts arise in the mind
like the stream of the variety of blurred vision,
not abiding in the non-erroneous ultimate,
one cycles and wanders in samsara.
Because of attachment and grasping
to all the fame and offerings,
and the arising of great hearing, reflection,
and intellectual comprehension, good experience,
siddhis, blessings, and the signs of power,
the contrived path is ultimately a stain,
the wise do not entrust their minds to them.
If one is interested in those things
and falls into the two extremes,
because it is the root of cycling
in the cycle of samsara,
look, what is the mountain of the mind
that is the root of everything?
If one becomes free from the mind
because it is not seen when looking,
liberation is certain.
Since the mind does not indicate
“The dharmadhatu is this”,
both meditation and an object of meditation
do not exist in that,
rest in the undistracted state
without any concepts of existence and non-existence.
If one intellectualizes emptiness,
non-arising, beyond mind,
freedom from extremes and so on in any way,
not dwelling in actual reality,
one will be very distracted.
Rest in a relaxed state disregarding empty or not empty.
Letting go in the state of independence
without meditating or not-meditating,
be just like a zombie, without a mind that accepts or rejects.
If one dwells in my state through knowing reality as it is,
the traces of the characteristics of dualistic appearances
will be quickly destroyed.
If one is distracted by characteristics
without dwelling in the state of realization,
one will not be able to avert the traces
of the characteristics of dualistic appearances,
though it seems a particle
is in the eye of one with ophthalmia,
the ophthalmic appearance cannot be repaired
without curing the eye disease.
Intellectualizing reality,
attachment to meditation experience,
cultivating and meditating on the actual true state
are causes of deviation.
Because attachment and aversion arose
towards conducive conditions,
one is bound.
All negative disharmonious conditions are sublime siddhis,
since negative conditions intensify the yogin’s experience,
since one understands the true state of negative conditions
without avoiding them, train in them,
maintain that, and practice until coming to the conclusion
of experience and realization,
just as a good horse is encouraged by a quirt.
If yogis with good experience lack the companion of conduct,
as that is not possessed, it is like people without feet.
Train in the actual ultimate real state free from attachment,
giving up nothing, accomplishing nothing, attached to
nothing, purifying nothing, rejecting nothing,
the best of the very best behavior is whatever feels good to one’s body.
Though relatively, the Buddhas have the great confidence of a dead body,
they diligently do whatever possible without abandoning
the great mass of sentient beings.
Though fearless, without fearful thoughts towards samsara,
refrain from even the slightest wrong action.
Though phenomena are realized to be empty like space,
free from an origin,
give up attachment and aversion
having destroyed all strong attachment.
Though one realizes the meaning
of the great transparent Dharmata free from extremes,
while one has not attained stability
keep one’s experience and realization secret from others.
Though one realizes that ultimately
both self and other do not exist,
relatively, think on the great benefit of migrating beings.
Though one has the confidence
that does not depend on the guidance of others,
place the very kind Guru on the crown of one’s head.
The one with attachment and grasping will debate everyone,
contrary conduct not in conformity with tradition is a deviation.
Since there is no object of perception and no perceiver,
difference is liberated in its own state.
Since the experiencer is destroyed,
one is free from all effort and practice.
Since the result to attain is destroyed,
one is liberated from all hope and fear.
Having totally uprooted I and mine,
one is victorious in the war with Mara.
Since realism is destroyed in its own state,
one is liberated from samsara and nirvana.
Since Rigpa is pure in the basis,
it is called “Perfect Buddhahood.”
Since phenomena and mind are exhausted in the state of exhaustion,
therefore it is explained as “nirvana”,
uncontrived, unchanging,
totally liberated from everything
to be given up or to attain.
E ma ho!
That great profound term “mahamudra”,
whatever its basis of designation is, also has the label “empty”;
as moments are empty by nature, who realizes selflessness?
There is no realizer, just a name, a term, a label.
Also that is not perfect, a projection of disciples**,
also in disciples there is no self,
similar with illusions and emanations
“Mahamudra” is a mental imputation of the childish.
“Delusion” and “non-delusion” are mere names, mere labels,
who is the person to feel or be aware of delusion?
If not even an iota of the result, nirvana, exists, and is not perceived,
“liberation and non-liberation” is an adventitious reification,
Nothing exists in peaceful and pure space,
so what is the path of liberation?
“Ultimate and relative” are also just emphatic labels,
but the two truths don’t exist in the dharmadhatu,
the dharmadhatu does not exist.
The Treasury of Dohas composed by the lord of Yogis, Virupa, is complete.
( Doha: Song of Realization).
Reproduced by kind permission of Lama Tseten Migmar
**"disciples" are a reference to Sravakas i.e. Hinayana.
Virupa's Treasury of Doha's | Translated by Lama Tseten Migmar and Loppön Malcolm
