Advice For Abu Shri
by Paltrul  Rimpoche

You sit on a full moon cushion of white light
In the full lotus bloom of youth. 
Master, sole deity, 
Think of me, Vajrasattva,
You who remain unmoved within the manifest display 
Of empty bliss that is Mahamudra.

Bad-karma Abu Shri!

You who are completely distracted,
Obscured, and for so long
Beguiled and entranced,
Fooled by delusion: 
Keep that in mind!  Got it?

Right now, when you're
Under the spell of mistaken perception
You have to watch out!
Don't get carried away by this false and empty life,
Your own mind spinning round
About doing a lot of useless things-
It's a waste! Give it up!

Thinking about the hundred things to accomplish
With not enough time to do them
Just weighs down one's mind.
Completely distracted
By all the doings that never come to an end,
Spreading out like ripples in water,
Don't make such a fool of yourself!  Relax!

Listening-you've heard hundreds of teachings,
But you haven't grasped even one of them,
So what's the point?
Reflecting-even when you've listened,
If you can't remember the teachings when you need them,
There isn't any point!
Meditating-when your practice isn't curing
The obscuring states of mind-forget about it!
You've calculated just how many mantras you've done-
But you aren't accomplishing the development stage visualization!
You sometimes get the form of the deity nice and clear-
But you don't put an end to subject and object!
You tame what appear to be evil spirits and ghosts,
But your own mindstream isn't tamed!
Your four fine sessions of sadhana practice,
So meticulously arranged-
Forget about them!

When you're in a good mood,
Your practice seems to have lots of clarity-
But you just can't relax into it!
When you're depressed,
Your practice seems steady enough,
But there's no brilliance to it!
You're focussing so strongly
That you seem to have awareness-
But it's just like a stick stuck in the ground.
That way of gazing-it only seems stable.
You've concentrated mind by keeping it tethered!!
Forget about that!!

Dharma talks sound nice enough-
But it doesn't benefit the mind.
So keen and so sharp,
The path of logical reasoning-
But that's delusion, good-for-nothing goat-shit.
The oral instructions seem so very profound-
But you don't put them into practice.
Looking over those books that just distract your mind
And make your eyes sore-forget about it!

You beat your little drum-ting, ting-
Just because your audience thinks it's nice to hear!
Though you say you're giving away your body and blood,
You still haven't stopped holding them dear.
You just make your little cymbals go cling, cling-
Without having any real purpose in mind.
All these pretentious items
That seem so fine and attractive-
Get rid of them!

Right now, they're all studying so very hard,
But in the end, they won't keep it up.
Today, they seem to get the idea,
But later on, there's not a trace left.
Even if one of them does learn a little,
He never applies his learning to himself!
These students who look so elegant-
Get rid of them!

This year, they really care about you,
Next year, it's not like that.
At first, they seem modest,
Then they grow exalted and pompous.
The more you nurture and cherish them,
The more distant they grow.
These dear friends
Who show such smiling faces to begin with-
Get rid of them!

Her smile seems so full of joy-
But who knows if that's really the case?
One time, it's pure pleasure,
Then it's nine months of mental pain.
It might be fine for a month,
But sooner or later, there's trouble:
People teasing; your mind entangled-
Your lady friend-get rid of her!

This endless talking, talking-
It's just attachment and aversion-
Good-for-nothing goat-shit.
It seems marvelous and entertaining,
But you're just spreading around the errors of others.
Your audience seems to be listening politely,
But then they grow bored.
Useless conversation that just makes you thirsty-
Forget about it!

Giving teachings on meditation
Without yourself having 
Gained experience in practice,
Is like reciting a dance-manual out loud
And thinking that's dancing.
People may be listening to you with devotion,
But it just isn't the real thing.
Sooner or later, when your own actions contradict the teachings, 
You'll be ashamed just mouthing the words,
Giving dharma explanations that sound so eloquent-forget it!

When you don't have a book, you want it;
When you have it, you don't use it.
The number of pages seems small enough,
But it's a bit hard to find time to copy them all.
Even if you wrote down all the books on earth,
You wouldn't feel satisfied.
It's a waste of time to copy down books-
You're not even getting paid for it!!
So forget it!

Today, they're happy as clams-
Tomorrow, they're furious.
With all their good moods and bad moods,
These people will never be satisfied.
Or even if they're nice enough,
They won't come through when you really need them,
Disappointing you even more.
All this fawning flattery,
Wearing a pleasing, praising face-forget about it!

Worldly and religious work
Is the province of gentlemen.
Abu, my boy-that's not for you, fellow.

Haven't you noticed?
An old bull, once you've borrowed him,
Has just one desire-to go back to sleep.

So you just sleep, eat, piss, shit-
There's nothing else you've got to do!
Don't be concerned with anything else;
It's none of your business!
Just do what you have to, keep quiet, and sleep.

In the three-fold universe,
When you're lower than your company,
You should take the low seat.
Should you happen to be superior,
Don't get arrogant.
Since you're better off keeping to yourself,
You don't need lots of close friends.
When you don't have any worldly or religious duties,
Don't keep hankering after them.
To just let go of everything-
Everything, everything-
That's the real point!

These words were written by the practitioner Trimë Lodrö as a scholding for himself, in order to give advice that is tailored exactly to his capacity. Such oral instructions should be put into practice. Though you might not know how to practice, give up everything, everything-that's really want I want to say! Even if you aren't able to succeed in dharma practice, don't get angry.
May it be virtuous.

[Paltrul Rinpoche (1808-1887) was one of the foremost scholars of his time. He was known not only for his scholarship and learning but also for his example of renunciation and compassion. His most famous works include Kunsang Lamé Shellung (The Words of My Perfect Teacher) and his commentary on Tsigsum Nedreg, (Three Lines That Strike the Vital Point) the epitome of the Dzogchen teachings. His root Guru was Gyalwé Nyugu and his primary disciple was Lungtok Tenpé Nyima. A great nonsectarian master of the 19th century, he was the speech emanation of Jigmé  Lingpa.]