GURU RINPOCHE

 

Yeshe Tsogyal PHURBA

 

This phurba or phurbu (phur ba/bu) is said to be used by Khandroma Yeshe Tsogyal, The Dakini Victorious Wiisdom, consort of Padmakara.

LakeJang Shabbulung, 2009

AS FUTILIDADES

 Master Padma said:

When practicing the Dharma, there are twenty-one types of futility.

The lady Yeshe Tsogyal asked: What are they?

The master said: It is futile to generate bodhicitta

if you have not given up causing harm to sentient beings.

It is futile to receive empowerments if you do not keep the samayas.

It is futile to learn many teachings if they do not benefit your own mind.

It is futile to perform roots of virtue if they are mixed with evil deeds.

It is futile to follow a master if you always engage in misdeeds.

It is futile to become a teacher who gives up Dharma practice and commits misdeeds.

It is futile to carry out a task that promotes the eight worldly concerns.

It is futile to follow a teacher who is always hostile to sentient beings, who are your own parents.

It is futile to claim that you have fear of the hells

if you constantly engage in evil deeds.

It is futile to perform acts of generosity if you do not embrace them by bodhicitta and have no faith.

It is futile to take vows if you lack the determination to keep them.

It is futile to practice patience

if you do not embrace your anger by the right remedy.

It is futile to practice meditation

if your mind is always involved in either dullness or agitation.

It is futile to exert yourself with a diligence

that does not aim toward the path of enlightenment.

It is futile to develop perverted knowledge

that increases envy and the other five poisons.

It is futile to practice a Mahayana teaching

that lacks the path of compassion.

It is futile to practice a meditation state

that lacks understanding of the nature of your mind.

It is futile to receive oral instructions

if you do not put them into practice.

It is futile to act for the benefit of beings

without having embraced those acts with bodhicitta.

In any case, although these things are futile and although there is no need for many such activities, childish people will not listen.

~ Padmasambhava, Guru Rinpoche (Dakini Teachings)