[From a teaching on Life of Guru Rinpoche by Bardor Tulku Rinpoche given in Seattle, WA, in April 2009. Translated by Lama Yeshe Gyamtso, transcribed by Linda Lee, copy-edited by Basia Coulter. Copyright 2009 Karma Thegsum Choling Seattle, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche, and Peter O’Hearn. All rights reserved.] In our practice, we depend upon our teachers […]
Our basic nature—our basic being—is absolutely perfect. It is identical to the basic being or basic nature of buddhas. No distinction whatsoever can be made between the Buddha nature of a sentient being and the buddha nature of a buddha. It is not the case that the buddha nature of buddhas is greater or more than the buddha nature of sentient beings, nor that the buddha nature of buddhas is somehow better or purer that the buddha nature of beings. The only distinction between buddhas and sentient beings is that in the case of a buddha this nature is unconcealed or unveiled, and in the case of sentient beings like ourselves it is temporarily veiled or obscured.
The annuttara yoga tantra tradition that exists in Tibet, and has existed in that country for more than a thousand years, is transmitted through the medium of Tibetan Buddhism. This is not simply the mere name of this tradition. It’s not simply a matter of history such that we can say, “Well, there used to be these wonderful practices that were done in Tibet, and we know about it because the books still exist, but no one actually does this anymore, there is no longer any experiential attainment.” It’s not like that at all. The tradition exists undiminished, it has never been watered down, and its effectiveness and blessings have never been compromised. Down to the present day there still exists the experiential knowledge of all the stages of this path. The qualities of freedom and wisdom that this path produces still exist within the minds of great beings.
