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“The most secret, absolute Guru Padmasambhava—the true nature of mind—is the essential teaching of the Buddha. The principal beneficial activity of the Buddha is his teaching. Applying the teachings is what removes the obscurations that have bothered us for so long. These obscurations can’t be removed in any other way. Even the great teacher Buddha can’t wash away our obscurations with water, sweep them away with a broom, or remove them with physical force. Instead, it is the teaching— specifically the teaching on the true nature of the mind—that clears away every obscuration. It is the teachings that awaken us.
The Buddha does not and cannot purify or forcibly remove our obscurations for us. Each living being is responsible for his or her own mind. Each one of us must clean our own mind. Mind itself cleans the obscurations of mind. These obscurations are the stains of negative karma that have developed over many lifetimes of indulging in negative emotions. The Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava teach us the techniques and methods that we can use to clean these stains. Their teachings are the conditions. When we combine these conditions with our own efforts, we can change. We can wake up to our true nature.
In order to activate this, we need devotion. When we have devotion along with joyful effort and bodhichitta, as we practice the teachings of the Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava, a great powerful force sizzles within us, and the ice-cold residue of negative emotions and dualistic thinking begins to melt. This is how we receive blessings. Blessings come very easily when we prepare ourselves like this.
But if we don’t prepare ourselves, even when blessings come from great enlightened beings, they won’t penetrate our minds. They won’t benefit us at all; they will just fade away. No matter how much water you pour onto a bowl turned upside down, it will not be filled.”
—
Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches
Vajra Sound of Peace: Practicing the Seven Chapter Prayer of Guru Padmasambhava (pgs 19-20)
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