Even Still

« In the nature of the mind devoid of concepts, while meditating, remain in the equality of non-meditation; even if you still meditate, remain naturally, without conflict. Distracted, remain stable in non-distraction; even if you are still distracted, remain freely, without conflict. While looking , remain suspended without looking;, even if you still look , remain fixed, and without conflict. While projecting [the deity], remain alert without exteriorizing; even if you still project, remain anchored without conflict. While concentrating, remain clear without concentration; even if you are still concentrated, remain collected without conflict. In effort, remain open without forcing; even if you are still in effort, remain sober without conflict. While correcting [the mind-stream], remain lucid without correcting; even if you still correct, remain pure and without conflict. While accompishing the practice, remain without the effort of accomplishing; even if you still accomplish, remain spontaneous and without conflict. While suppressing (thoughts), remain spontaneous without denying them; even if you still deny them, remain in the unborn without conflict. While being limited [by trials], remain alert and without fearfulness; even if you are still limited, remain luminous and without conflict. While applying yourself, remain relaxed without effort; even if you are still in effort, remain in the energy which springs forth, without conflict. While establishing yourself [in meditation], remain free of any basis and without settling yourself; even if you are still established, remain vast and without conflict. » -Padmasambhava Alain Larochelle (2007)

Aum Ah Hum

A « nirdesha-doha »... By Padmasambhava, quoted by Longchenpa, translated from Tibetan to French by Philippe Cornu, then to English by me.

For many years i've had in front of my desk a 'poem' by Padmasambhava that i had found in Longchenpa's Rang gRol sKor gSum, the trilogy of natural freedom. Recently i found out it had not all been translated to english, so i thought it would be a nice dharma-task for me to tackle. Well... usually one should translate to it's own language. Anyhow, here is my rendition of those instructions i have been contemplating for so long. My licences are bracketed, except that i've « simplified » an issue: a verse like « even if you still […] meditate » should have read: « because even while […] meditating ». In my present understanding that because explains nothing... I have had a few glimpses of insight for a more precise meaning, or guessed-out structure of the original, but have not come to any better conclusion yet.

Longchenpa, La liberté naturelle de l'esprit. Présentation et préface de Philippe Cornu, préface de Sogyal Rinpoché. Éditions du Seuil, coll. « Points. Sagesses » n° 66, Paris, 1994. 395 p. / p. 247 ISBN 2-02-020704-4

Alain Larochelle (2007)