The Great Chariot

by Longchenpa | 268,580 words

A Commentary on Great Perfection: The Nature of Mind, Easer of Weariness In Sanskrit the title is ‘Mahāsandhi-cittā-visranta-vṛtti-mahāratha-nāma’. In Tibetan ‘rDzogs pa chen po sems nyid ngal gso’i shing rta chen po shes bya ba ’...

Part 2 - To attain even being Bhrama and so forth is impermanent

Those who are true foundations of wealth within the three levels,[1]
Gods like Bhrama, Shiva, Surya, and Ishvara,[2]
Though they may shine with a radiant gleam of fame and fortune,
Have no chance to vanquish the realm of the Lord of Death

Though they may stay in meditation for an eon,
When their karma has been exhausted, that is their time of death.
Gods and jealous gods, accomplished yogins and sorcerers,
However many rulers and vassals there may be
Throughout their endless births, they are terrified by death.

Bhrama, Maheshvara, Visnu, Indra, the four great world-protecting kings, and so forth fill the world with great rays of light, brighter than a thousand suns. They are more splendid than a vast mountain of gold. The fame of their merits fills the world. They are the highest beings of the three

worlds, below the earth, upon the earth, and above the earth. But, even though they are adorned with all this real wealth, they still have to die. The vinaya scriptures say:

O monks, look on this wealth as being essenceless and subject to loss. Even if the retinue of which I was formerly mindful were to experience the inconceivable lives of Bhramaa, Indra, the world protectors and so forth, becoming as if insatiable, they would be brought down to the lower realms.

Also it says there:

Bhrama, the pure one, wrathful Indra, and thousand-eyed Surya,
As well as desireless Visnu, are impermanent, and passing.
The display of the sun and moon is only for a moment.
This world of four continents is seen to have been emptied.

The gods of the four meditative concentrations (dhyaana), and the other gods, the jealous gods, yogins who have become accomplished through austerities, and all the holders of magical mantra still die. The same text says:

The gods who accomplish absorption, as well as the kinnaras
Jealous gods and sages who blaze with ascetic splendor,[3]
Are impermanent, though they may live a long time or a kalpa.
As for bubble-like human bodies being unconditioned,
What need to say they will be destroyed and disintegrate?

The lords of the four continents, universal monarchs, kings, ministers, and all kinds of ordinary people, monastic renunciates, bhramans, householders and so on, none of them escape death. The Collection of Indicative Verses says:

Kings possessing the seven precious treasures,
Great noble lords and royal ministers
Monks and bhramans, householders and such,
All of these beings are impermanent.
They are like beings experienced in a dream.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

sa gsum: over on and under the earth.

[2]:

Dbang po might also be Indra.

[3]:

They have become brilliantly accomplished through ascetic practice.

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