Precious Jewel of Atisha Dipankara

As the savior of beings (Atisha Dipankara) was departing to Tibet He bestowed on me this most precious jewel
This sky is devoid of cause and conditions, my son Who would grasp that it does [have a cause] and who it does not? Know this to be true also of all phenomena my son For there are numerous pitfalls if you fail to. Remain in equipoise on this space like nature my son.
When rainbows spread across the sky they seem so real and beautiful my son. Yet no one has observed their causes and conditions. This is but a dependent origination my learned son.
Rainbows appear in the sky and they disappear in it too. No one has observed the causes and conditions for this. This is but a dependent origination my learned son. If you probe well the rainbows are like the sky itself. Is there any separation or division my learned son?
In phenomena’s primordially empty mode of being Pulsates unbearable compassion that reaches out to beings. When compassion arises it does so from the ultimate expanse And when it ceases it does so within the ultimate expanse my son.
All phenomena of samsara and nirvana are but your own mind None has observed the causes and conditions for these. When probed and analyzed they are like the rainbows in the sky. So just like the sky and the rainbows across it Should you understand emptiness and compassion my son.
From within an ocean deep and expansive Rises high and mighty waves. When waves appear they do so in the ocean itself And when they subside they do so in the ocean itself my son.
Between the dancing waves and the vast ocean None has observed any separation or division. Similarly from the spontaneous coemergence of emptiness Arises compassion that touches beings and stirs the heart. When compassion arises it does so from emptiness And when it ceases it does so in emptiness too my son.
On the surface of a mirror free of blemishes Varieties of forms appear in stark diversity. Do they come from the mirror or from the external objects? Do they come from elsewhere or from no cause at all? When probed they cannot be posited They’re mere dependent origination.
Between the face that never existed and its reflection None has observed any separation or division. Likewise from the emptiness that resembles a mirror Forms appear though they were never real before. Just so must you relate to emptiness and compassion my son.
On the surface of clear unperturbed water One may experience like seeing a duality The illusion of a crystal-like reflection of the moon No one has observed that such a duality exists.
From emptiness that resembles a clear sky Arises unbearable compassion toward sentient beings. As compassion grows it does so from within emptiness And when it ceases it does so in emptiness my son.
From the body of towering rocky cliffs Echoes reverberate in succession What separation exists between the echoes and the cliffs? Though resounding who would grasp them to exist or not to exist?
Likewise from primordially pure emptiness Reverberates sounds of intense compassion for beings. Just so contemplate emptiness and compassion my son.
On the surface of an unblemished resplendent sun Arises light that actually benefits sentient beings. None has observed the sun to be separate from its rays.
Though emptiness and great compassion appear as forms Compassion too is mere emptiness. For no savior has ever taught of compassion That is separate from emptiness my learned son.
Ah! Listen to me while in the state of emptiness. That beings eliminate their suffering Is only due to emptiness be cognizant of this. Though there exist countless remedies it is emptiness alone So engage in its meditation Though what is to be relinquished and its antidotes seem distinct Practice both in your meditation path by purifying the three aspects Though countless people who fail to understand this are attracted to you What need is there to shun them?
View them as emptiness and compassion How can this be confusion? Is not compassion itself empty my learned son? Does not emptiness dawn as compassion my discriminating one? Is there a difference between emptiness and compassion?
Even when anger rises in me like a windstorm I perceive it undifferentiated from emptiness. Likewise I see the countless instants of conceptualization As emerging definitely from emptiness.
When I look nakedly at these conceptual thoughts I do not see them established as either true or false. When I let go of them freely from within emptiness I do not see even the rising of mere concepts.
So I see no difference or contradiction Even the size of an atom between emptiness and compassion. What need is there to say of the indivisibility of the two?
Ah! From here on, whether you are walking or sitting That very spot is the wilderness my learned son. The mind’s abiding in the middle way is emptiness’s true mode of being my learned son.
Meditating on compassion while in this state Is the yoga of indivisibility my son. When you practice compassion with such knowledge Then even when in intense compassion it is sheer emptiness.
There is no emptiness meditation not permeated by compassion For the practice of compassion is solely the practice of emptiness. As for emptiness even those seeking tranquil abiding must practice it. For this vehicle however emptiness is compassion And the self-nature of this compassion is emptiness. So understand that compassion is the essential nature.
Though you may command many disciplines of knowledge I reveal to you this great root practice of many essential points From my teachings as my heart’s final counsel. Now I shall linger no more and begin my journey to Tibet.
All activities are like day molds and wax imprints The construct called life fluctuates like the flickering of lightning The meeting of body and mind too resembles a guesthouse and its guests Though it is possible I may return to this part of the country It is nature’s law that meeting ends in separation.
You’ll indeed be my son if you take these instructions to heart. You’ll enjoy lasting joy if you follow these words of advice. Soon I shall depart to the presence of Maitreya I shall depart to the Joyful realm to realize fully The words and meaning of the Perfection of Wisdom. On your part you too should pray to reach his presence To discourse with him after this present life ends.
O all the buddhas and their children in all ten directions! Pray attend to us here today with great compassion. Whatever virtuous deeds we’ve engaged in with our three doors In the three times throughout all lives in this cycle of existence I dedicate them towards the attainment of supreme enlightenment Until we realize the Buddha bodies and the enlightened activities Regardless of whatever forms we assume in our births May we apply our three doors to the practice of the ten perfections And may we please our gurus and enhance their enlightened activities.