Letter to a Friend: Nagarjuna's Classic Text

Books by Traleg Kyabgon

Integral Buddhism: Developing All Aspects of One’s Personhood, Shogam Publications, 2018

King Doha: Saraha’s Advice to a King, Shogam Publications, 2018

Song of Karmapa: The Aspiration of the Mahamudra of True Meaning by Lord Rangjung Dorje, Shogam Publications, 2018

Moonbeams of Mahamudra: The Classic Meditation Manual, Shogam Publications, 2015

Karma: What it is, What it isn’t, and Why it matters, Shambhala Publications, 2015

Four Dharmas of Gampopa, KTD Publications, 2013

Asanga’s Abhidharmasamuccaya, KTD Publications, 2013

Ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje’s Ocean Of Certainty, KTD Publications, 2011

Influence of Yogacara on Mahamudra, KTD Publications, 2010

The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion through Training the Mind, Shambhala Publications, 2007

Mind at Ease: Self-Liberation through Mahamudra Meditation, Shambhala Publications, 2004

Benevolent Mind: A Manual in Mind Training, Zhisil Chokyi Ghatsal, 2003

The Essence of Buddhism: An Introduction to Its Philosophy and Practice, Shambhala Publications, 2002 & 2014

Photo facing page: Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche the Ninth

Shogam Publications Pty Ltd

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Copyright © Felicity Lodro

First Edition

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Printed in Australia and the United States of America

Edited by Virginia Golding

Designed by David Bennett

National Library of Australia

Kyabgon, Traleg, 1955

Letter to a Friend: Nagarjuna’s Classic Text

Printed book ISBN: 978-0-6481148-2-6 (paperback)

E-book ISBN: 978-0-6481148-3-3

DEDICATION

For Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche

Thank you for illuminating the dark with the vastness of your being

Contents

Foreword by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche IX

Biography of Author

Acknowledgements

Editor’s Introduction

Editor’s Biography

Introduction to Text

Encouragement to Listen to the Teachings

Focus on the Meaning of the Teachings

The Importance of Learning

The Main Body of the Text—Pursuing the Virtuous Life

The Six Reminders

Recollecting the Qualities of the Buddha

Recollecting the Qualities of the Buddha’s Teachings

Recollecting the Qualities of the Sangha

Counsel to Remain Steadfast in One’s Virtuous Conduct

Reflecting on Karma

Recollection of Generosity

Recollection of Moral Precepts

The Practice of Taking Moral Precepts

Practicing the Six Perfections of Mahayana

Remaining Steadfast in Virtue—General Advice for Laypeople Practicing Dharma

Filial Piety

Taking Precepts from Time to Time

Transforming One’s Attitude

Practicing Heedfulness

The Practice of Patience

Preparation for Meditation—Counsel to Laypeople

Giving up Enmity

To Practice Correct Conduct of Body, Speech, and Mind

The Importance of Pleasant Speech

The Four Forms of Migration

The Four Categories of Persons

Refraining From Causing Harm to Others

Protecting the Mind

Uprooting the Cause of Excessive Desire

Mastering the Six Sense Organs

Abandoning Excessive Desires

The Development of Wisdom

The Nature of Reality

Meditation on Dependent Origination

Cultivating the Superior Qualities

Regarding the Eight Worldly Dharmas Equally

Consequences of Negative Karma Cannot be Shared

The Action of Karma

Acquiring the Wealth of the Holy Ones

Preserving Inner Wealth

The Importance of Contentment

The Importance of Having Few Desires

The Practice of Meditation

Cultivating Tranquility

Meditation Before Sleep and Upon Waking

The Four Immeasurables

Contemplating the Nature of Appearances

Contemplating Interdependence

Contemplating Ultimate Reality

The Practice of Shamatha

The Four Levels of Concentration

Cultivating Virtues

The Power of Virtue

The Five Obscurations

The Five Powers

The Importance of Humility

Right View

Be Guided by Right View

The Four Seals

The Nature of the Self and Aggregates

The Nature of Conditioned Existence

Primal Cause Argument

Theistic Argument

No Cause Argument

The Three Fetters

The Four-Fold Truth

Encouragement in the Disciplines of Ethics, Wisdom, and Concentration

Impermanence and the Preciousness of Life

Considering the Excellent Qualities of Nirvana and Practice the Path Resulting in Nirvana

Practice the Path with Urgency

The Three Higher Trainings

The Seven Limbs

The Two Accumulations

The Importance of Avoiding Speculation

The Twelve Links of Interdependent Arising

The Eightfold Path

The Four Noble Truths

Disciplining the Mind Toward Virtue

Maintain Persistence in Applying the Methods

The Fruition of The Path

Concluding Remarks

Notes

Bibliography

Glossary

Foreword

Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend is one of the best loved Buddhist texts. It gives advice applying to everyone, whether householders or monastics, on how to live one’s life in the world and also to practice the dharma. Nagarjuna wrote this as a letter in verse to his friend and patron King Gautamiputra, a wealthy and powerful individual who had great merit and faith in the dharma as well as the many responsibilities that come with power and influence. This letter gave him many instructions on how to inspire himself to practice the dharma in his own busy and distracting position, counsel that is still pertinent to people in the developed societies of our modern era. Just as King Gautamiputra needed to find a way to incorporate dharma practice into his own opulent but busy lifestyle, people in this day and age often have great demands of work and family that they need to fulfill at the same time as they practice the dharma. These verses provide instructions in easy-to-understand verse that clearly communicate how we can bring genuine practice of the dharma into our lives.

It is also especially helpful for Nagarjuna’s classic text to be accompanied by an explanation by the Ninth Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche. The Traleg Kyabgon first received a thorough education in the traditional Buddhist canon before moving to Australia, where he studied Western Philosophy. He spent many decades in Australia and Western countries, developing a thorough command of English as well as a deep understanding of Western students’ backgrounds. He thus became highly skilled in communicating with them in ways that were easy for them to understand. For this reason, pairing this translation of Nagarjuna’s classic text with Traleg Kyabgon’s explanation will be especially beneficial for English-language readers. We are all fortunate indeed to read this priceless advice from Nagarjuna and Traleg Kyabgon.

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche the Ninth

Namo Buddha

Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery

Nepal 2018

Biography of Author

TRALEG KYABGON RINPOCHE IX

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX (1955-2012) was born in Nangchen in Kham, eastern Tibet. He was recognized by His Holiness XVI Gyalwang Karmapa as the ninth Traleg tulku and enthroned at the age of two as the supreme abbot of Thrangu Monastery. Rinpoche was taken to Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim at the age of four where he was educated with other young tulkus in exile by His Holiness Karmapa for the next five years.

Rinpoche began his studies under the auspices of His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche at Sangngak Choling in Darjeeling. He also studied with a number of other eminent Tibetan teachers during that time and mastered the many Tibetan teachings with the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions in particular including the Havajra Tantra, Guhyasamaja Tantra, and the third Karmapa’s Zabmo Nangdon (The Profound Inner Meaning) under Khenpo Noryang (abbot of Sangngak Choling). Rinpoche studied the Abhidharmakosha, Pramanavarttika, Bodhisattvacharyavatara, Abhidharmasamuccaya, Six Treaties of Nagarjuna, the Madhyantavibhaga, and the Mahayanuttaratantra with Khenpo Sogyal. He also studied with Khenpo Sodar and was trained in tantric ritual practices by Lama Ganga, who had been specifically sent by His Holiness Karmapa for that purpose.

In 1967 Rinpoche moved to the Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, and studied extensively for the next five years. He studied Buddhist history, Sanskrit, and Hindi, as well as Longchenpa’s Finding Comfort and Ease (Ngalso Korsum), Seven Treasuries (Longchen Dzod Dun), Three Cycles of Liberation (Rangdrol Korsum), and Longchen Nyingthig with Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsondru.

When Rinpoche had completed these studies at the age of sixteen, he was sent by His Holiness Karmapa to study under the auspices of the Venerable Khenpo Yesha Chodar at Sanskrit University in Varanasi for three years. Rinpoche was also tutored by khenpos and geshes from all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism during this time.

Rinpoche was subsequently put in charge of Zangdog Palri Monastery (the glorious copper colored mountain) in Eastern Bhutan and placed under the private tutelage of Dregung Khenpo Ngedon by His Holiness Karmapa to continue his studies of Sutra and Tantra. He ran this monastery for the next three years and began learning English during this time.

From 1977 to 1980, Rinpoche returned to Rumtek in Sikkim to fill the honored position of His Holiness’ translator, where he dealt with many English-speaking Western visitors.

Rinpoche moved to Melbourne, Australia in 1980 and commenced studies in comparative religion and philosophy at LaTrobe University. Rinpoche established E-Vam Institute in Melbourne in 1982 and went on to establish further Centers in Australia, America, and New Zealand. For the next 25 years Rinpoche gave weekly teachings, intensive weekend courses, and retreats on classic Kagyu and Nyingma texts. During this time Rinpoche also taught internationally travelling extensively through America, Europe, and South East Asia and was appointed the Spiritual Director of Kamalashila Institute in Germany for five years in the 1980’s.

Rinpoche established a retreat center, Maitripa Centre in Healesville, Australia in 1997 where he conducted two public retreats a year. Rinpoche founded E-Vam Buddhist Institute in the U.S in 2000, and Nyima Tashi Buddhist Centre in New Zealand 2004. In 2010 Rinpoche established a Buddhist college called Shogam Vidhalaya at E-Vam Institute in Australia and instructed students on a weekly basis.

Throughout his life Rinpoche gave extensive teachings on many aspects of Buddhist psychology and philosophy, as well as comparative religion, and Buddhist and Western thought. He was an active writer and has many titles to his name. Titles include: the best selling Essence of Buddhism; Karma, What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why It Matters; The Practice of Lojong; Moonbeams of Mahamudra; and many more. Many of Rinpoche’s books are translated in to a number of different languages including Chinese, French, German, Korean and Spanish. Rinpoche’s writings are thought provoking, challenging, profound, and highly relevant to today’s world and its many challenges.

Rinpoche was active in publishing during the last two decades of his life, beginning with his quarterly magazine Ordinary Mind which ran from 1997 to 2003. Further, Rinpoche founded his own publishing arm Shogam Publications in 2008 and released a number of books on Buddhist history, philosophy, and psychology and left instructions for the continuation of this vision. His vision for Shogam and list of titles can be found at www.shogam.com.

Rinpoche’s ecumenical approach can be seen in his other activities aimed at bringing buddhadharma to the West. He established the biannual Buddhism and Psychotherapy Conference (1994 - 2003), and Tibet Here and Now Conference (2005), and the annual Buddhist Summer School (1984 to the present).

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX passed into parinirvana on 24 July 2012, on Chokhor Duchen, the auspicious day of the Buddha’s first teaching. Rinpoche stayed in meditation (thugdam) for weeks after his passing. A traditional cremation ceremony was conducted at Maitripa Centre and a stupa was erected on the center’s grounds in Rinpoche’s honor.

It is a privilege to continue to release the profound teachings of Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX given in the West for over 30 years. Rinpoche’s Sangha hope that many will benefit.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to everyone on the Shogam team who helped me so much. As editor, my role was limited in comparison to others who contributed to this book and who are committed to sharing Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche’s precious and beautiful teachings. Claire Blaxell for her time, for her fantastic transcripts, amazing attention to detail, and very helpful suggestions. Felicity Lodro for her dedication to sharing Traleg Kyabgon’s wisdom more broadly and without whom this book would not be, along with her organizational talents, support, and all of her additional contributions to the book, of which there are many. Salvatore Celiento for his keen editorial eyes, suggestions, and the gift of his time, and David Bennett for his beautiful book design and his unique talents in this area. Lastly, to my husband Steve who always said the right things at the right time.

Virginia Golding

Editor’s Introduction

In almost all schools of Mahayana Buddhism, the great Indian master Arya Nagarjuna is considered one of the most important scholars of this tradition (Kalupahana 1986). Nagarjuna is also recognized as one of the greatest philosophers in Asian history, although contemporary scholars know very little detail about his life. It is not clear when he lived, although it is proposed it was somewhere between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD (Westerhoff 2009). In his oral commentary on "The Collection of Middle Way Reasoning, Khen Rinpoche Namdrol (Rinpoche n.d.) states that Nagarjuna was prophesied by the Buddha himself in the Root Tantra of Manjusuri" (Manjusrimula Tantra) and was to be born four hundred years after the Buddha’s own parinirvana and live for six hundred years.

Much of what is known of Nagarjuna has been passed down mostly in the form of legend. What is evident is that he was a monk and the principal Abbot of Nalanda, a large and renowned Buddhist monastery in the ancient kingdom of Guptas or modern-day Bihar, nearby the town of Rajgir in India. Nalanda was first established in the 5th century BC and it is understood the Buddha himself visited the monastery. Nalanda came to be known as a place of great learning during the period in which Nagarjuna resided as Abbot and it was largely due to him that Nalanda’s reputation was established. Nagarjuna is also known for his remarkable ability to summarize and condense the Buddha’s vast teachings, along with his extraordinary capacity to expound their profound meaning (Group 2005).

Nagarjuna was also a prolific writer, with over 116 different texts in the Tibetan Canon attributed to him, which vary enormously in their diversity (Westerhoff 2009). These texts include several commentaries on sutra and tantra, which demonstrates that he was practicing both (Karmapa 2009). Nagarjuna addressed his works to a wide audience despite being a monastic and Abbot of Nalanda. The overriding theme in Nagarjuna’s work considers the way in which a bodhisattva (a person wishing to attain the state of Buddhahood) may travel the path to enlightenment and the merit and wisdom one needs to cultivate to achieve this goal. According to Nagarjuna, wisdom or prajna is the Perfection of Wisdom, which is the knowledge of emptiness or dependent origination (pratityasamutpada). Nagarjuna is credited with transforming the Buddha’s teachings in Perfection of Wisdom sutras (prajnaparamita) into the philosophical system of Madhyamaka. The doctrine of emptiness is a central theme of the Madhyamaka philosophical school and therefore sits within the tradition associated with the Perfection of Wisdom literature of Mahayana Buddhism (Lopez 1998).

It is Nagarjuna’s text entitled the "Root Verses on the Middle Way" (Mulamadhyamakakaraka) that provided the basis from which the entire Madhyamaka is founded. His Holiness the 17th Karmapa (Karmapa 2009), states that there are two accounts of how Nagarjuna came to write this text. The first tells of how the King of the Nagas (water spirits) gave these books to Nagarjuna. The other