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The Inner Refuge In The Fundamental Nature Of Our Own Mind As Indivisible From Buddhahood
The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
Excerpted from the transcript of "Refuge" (Vermont 1996)
Originally published in Bodhi
Issue 1
Part 4 of 5 | 1
, 2, 3, 4
, 5 The Buddha The innermost sense of refuge is the discovery of our own basic nature of mind which is the nature of
Buddha's wisdom. In the context of absolute truth, we go for refuge to the fundamental nature of our own mind which is indivisible from the jewel of the Buddha. The nature of Buddhahood itself is luminous, naturally
cognizant wisdom, usually referred to as the dharmakaya, or the body of essential qualities. Our fundamental state of mind is totally awake, totally in the state of fully awakened heart. Rediscovery of that heart,
making a connection with that heart, again, is what we call taking refuge in the Buddha. You know, that's what Buddha is. Buddha is basically the wisdom of awakened mind, and that awakened mind is nothing "outside" but
is within this very nature of our mind. Making a strong connection with that discovery is what we call taking refuge. It is an extremely, extremely close connection. That connection is basic confidence, basic faith,
basic trust that we develop through our discovery.We're making a commitment to discover our own basic nature as being the wisdom of Buddha, to uncover that, to work on the development of our basic potential of
Buddha, the dharmakaya Buddha. Dharmakaya is always within our being, within all sentient beings. We possess the basic qualities of the Buddha from beginningless time. On the one hand, we are Buddha from the
beginningless time. But, on the other hand, this Buddha quality potential is covered by our defilements, our obscurations. The klesa mind and cognitive obscurations are covering our basic Buddha qualities. So we
make a commitment that we are going to work on clearing these obstacles and generating our basic Buddha quality up to the extent that we can fully radiate this quality outside as an historic Buddha. That is the
fundamental notion of taking refuge in the Buddha as being within our own nature. Now, to recognize that the nature of our mind is Buddha Nature is the beginning of the process of revealing that nature. By
revealing that nature, then we can dispel all the sufferings and all of the fears of samsara. So to recognize that our mind's nature is Buddha Nature, to have confidence or faith in this, and to have the
aspiration and commitment to reveal this is the internal way of going for refuge. The Dharma Taking refuge in the Dharma in the more sane sense is becoming one with the path of fully developing this discovery of essence, this discovery of seed. Whatever we have
discovered, at this point, as an enlightened heart is not yet fully grown, is not yet at the stage of fully grown enlightened mind. Our discovery is a little shaky at this point. It is a very, very profound discovery
but, at the same time, it's very shaky, and it's very tricky. At a certain point, it becomes very clear, and we're very confident. And then, on the other hand, we have lots of doubts. We have lots of shaky states that
we go through which means we have not fully developed this discovery. We have not fully mastered or familiarized ourselves with the new discovery that we have made or the new connection, or reconnection that we have
started. Therefore, the path in this case is the Dharma, taking refuge in the Dharma, which is the genuine path. And that genuine path is nothing but your realization on the path. It is the internalization of Dharma,
making yourself one with the Dharma instead of looking at Dharma as path which is outside you. That is the inner-most sense of taking refuge in the Dharma, becoming one with the path, becoming one with the teachings.
Going beyond the language and words of Dharma and simply being Dharma, being in the state of Dharma, being in the state of path is what we call taking refuge in Dharma. That taking refuge in Dharma involves a complete
trust, a complete confidence, and complete sense of being which we talked about the other day as the mindfulness of mind.The Ultimate Dharma , the refuge of Dharma connected with absolute truth, is the arisal of
Dharma in your mind, which is to say, the point at which your mind and the Dharma are totally mixed, and you become the Dharma. Ultimately, it is the mixing of the meaning of Dharma with your mind such that your actions
and state of body, speech and mind are always in accordance with the Dharma. So the real Dharma is realization and, as an ultimate source of refuge, is not anything outside you or separate from your mind. Nevertheless,
in order to increase one's realization of ultimate Dharma, one goes for refuge to the Dharma which is a commitment to generating and increasing this realization. Although Buddha Nature is present within you, it is
not revealed. It is still hidden or obscured. It's presence, and the recognition of its presence, or trust in its presence are not in themselves enough to dispel the sufferings of samsara. In order to actually dispel
those sufferings, you have to fully reveal this Buddha Nature. You have to make it's qualities manifest. Now the process of revealing it, or the methods by which it can be revealed, are what we call Dharma. To train in
these profound methods for gradually revealing your own Buddha Nature, which involves enhancing or developing both wisdom and compassion, is going for Refuge in the genuine Dharma. The Sangha The third refuge is taking refuge in the Sangha. Taking refuge in the Sangha is the
outcome of the first two. After you have discovered this basic heart of enlightenment, after you have familiarized yourself with that, internalized it as the path, then whatever comes out of it as a product and as a
result is what we call the Sangha. What manifests from these two first discoveries of enlightened heart and the path of enlightenment is a complete sense of compassionate heart. The warmth, the loving heart
which manifests out of these two first discoveries is what we call taking refuge in Sangha. So that is the companion. Our companion is loving-kindness, our companion is bodhicitta, our companion is love for
others, our companion is compassion for others. That is the notion of Sangha here and of taking refuge in the Sangha in the inner-most sense. That is the true refuge that we are taking. There is no form involved.
It is a simple, genuine, straightforward heart that you have discovered, and re-strengthening that heart is what we call taking refuge.When we become one with the Dharma and are in the process of generating
this basic Buddha quality, then we are a part of the Sangha. The actual refuge of the Sangha arises when we realize the qualities of the truth of cessation and are then able to help and instruct others. The ultimate
Sangha is what happens to our mind when we enter and progress on the path of Dharma, and Dharma starts to become actualized within us. Through engaging in this process of revealing our own fundamental nature, our
compassion for other beings as well as our natural wisdom increases and flourishes. As a result, we become able to benefit both ourselves and others. This act of benefiting others is what is meant by going for refuge to
the Sangha. Part 4 of 5 | 1
, 2, 3, 4
, 5 | Talk Index |
