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Home Teachings Songs and Poems The Sky Dragon's Profound Roar

The Sky Dragon's Profound Roar

A excerpt from a Thangka of the Sixth Dzogchen Rinpoche as rendered for the cover of Bodhi Issue 7

 

Up in the sky's expanse, true being, unborn, forever pure

Beautiful is the world below me--how many colors do I see

But when I look I can't find anything that's born or has a root

So the time has come to meditate on true reality, of ego-clinging free

All my possessions, all that I enjoy, are like rainbows in the sky

Even their smallest parts have no essence--they don't exist at all

So when I enjoy illusory pleasures, empty-appearing tea and beer

It's time to rest in mind's full moon--empty awareness, radiant clarity

The stages of practice of the Tathagata's view and meditation

Are skillful methods that clear away ordinary thoughts

So I train in appearance and mind being without base or root

When sickness and death suddenly strike, I'll be ready, without regret

In the pattern that the world and life's appearances weave

Visions of parents, relatives and friends are like illusions and dreams

Like morning mist, they are fleeting, and at the time they dissolve

That's the time to search for unborn confused mind's basic reality

In the baseless, rootless and empty confused appearances of life

We suffer from heat and from cold and from so many other things

But diligence in Secret Yana's practices, so powerful

Makes fox-like cowardice be free all by itself--the time has come!

To what we beautify with hats and clothing--to this heap of elements

We offer tasty food and many other things--whatever we may find pleasing

But the carelessness and craziness of this life will end one day

So be ready to be fearless of the judgement of the mighty Lord of Death

From the country of great snow mountain--a realm of Dharma

Having crossed many hills and valleys and now flying through the sky

I purify illusory flesh and blood into empty-appearing deity

Paths and bhumis' realizations self liberated--in this I train

Ha Ha! Dechen Rangdrol's conduct that's attachment-free

A Ho! It's time to fly in the expanse of sky of spacious Mother

 

Composed by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche.

Translation © 1998 Marpa Translation Committee.