EIGHT BLISS FORTRESS
EIGHT BLISS FORTRESS
Namo Guru To the lord so incredible, I bow in respect He is the essence of the Body, Speech and Mind Of the wisdom, excellent qualities and activity Of all of the victors, the buddhas in all the three times. The view that is completely free of all the extremes Settles in the midst of union’s spaciousness The marks of thinking that is dualistic all free in their ground No more splitting into separate sides, oh what bliss! Meditation — just to rest in natural emptiness Settles in the midst of no perceiver, perceived The marks of dullness and agitation all free in their ground Constant bliss that’s emptiness, oh what bliss! Conduct that relaxes within itself relaxed Settles in the midst of no one doing this The marks of doing or not doing all free in their ground No more reference point as a focus to fix on, oh what bliss! Samaya that is naturally pure in and of itself Settles in the midst of no klesha distress The marks of errors and downfalls all free in their ground Samaya that is way beyond all keeping, oh what bliss! Fruition that is simply there spontaneously Settles in the midst of all freedom from change The marks of blocking or producing all free in their ground The end of all looking for attainment, oh what bliss! The genuine Dharma with its plenitude of terms Settles in the midst of no way to express this The marks of something to be learned all free in their ground With nothing more at all to be learned, oh what bliss! The arising of the signs of success on paths and levels Settles in the midst of no arising at all The marks of wanting signs to come all free in their ground Getting over and beyond taking things as real, oh what bliss! The effortless achievement of the benefit of beings Settles in the midst of no sentient beings at all The marks of bringing benefit to wandering beings all free in their ground No one out there to give the help, no one out there receiving it, oh what bliss! This, the song on resting in the Eight Bliss Fortress The fort itself, the fortress of empty pure being As long as you can manage to settle in this kind of fortress This is the bliss experience there’s no way no way you can miss! Composed by the lord Gotsangpa. Under the guidance of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, translated and arranged by Jim Scott, Karme Choling, 25 July 1996, Revised April 2003 and February 2012. Translation copyright 2012, Jim Scott do a complete article
The "Eight Bliss Fortress" is a profound Tibetan Buddhist composition by Gotsangpa, guided by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. This poetic expression explores key aspects of Buddhist practice, emphasizing views, meditation, conduct, samaya, fruition, genuine Dharma, signs of success, and benefiting beings. Let's delve into each section:
Namo Guru (Homage to the Guru): Gotsangpa expresses deep reverence to an extraordinary spiritual teacher who embodies the essence of Body, Speech, and Mind, as well as the wisdom, excellent qualities, and activity of all Buddhas throughout time.
View - Embracing Spacious Union: Describes a view free from extremes, residing in the vastness of union. Dualistic thinking dissipates, leading to an experience of bliss without splitting into separate sides.
Meditation - Resting in Natural Emptiness: Encourages meditation on natural emptiness, where distinctions between perceiver and perceived fade away. Dullness and agitation dissolve, unveiling constant bliss in emptiness.
Conduct - Naturally Relaxed: Advocates a conduct that is inherently relaxed, free from the dichotomy of doing or not doing. It suggests letting go of reference points and fixed focuses, resulting in a state of bliss.
Samaya - Naturally Pure: Highlights a Samaya (commitment) that is inherently pure, unmarred by klesha (afflictions). Errors and downfalls become non-existent, leading to bliss beyond the confines of ordinary constraints.
Fruition - Spontaneous Presence: Describes fruition as a spontaneous and unchanging state, where the pursuit of attainment ceases. The marks of blocking or producing dissolve, culminating in the end of seeking.
Genuine Dharma - Inexpressible Plenitude: Discusses the genuine Dharma, residing in a realm beyond expression. The idea that something more needs to be learned disappears, and one dwells in a state of ultimate bliss.
Signs of Success - Beyond Arising: Reflects on the signs of success in paths and levels, residing in a realm where nothing arises. The craving for signs dissipates, and one transcends the perception of reality as inherently real.
Benefiting Beings - Effortless Achievement: Explores the effortless achievement of benefiting beings in a state where sentient beings cease to exist. The dichotomy of helping and receiving help dissolves into a unified state of bliss.
Conclusion - Blissful Experience in the Eight Bliss Fortress: Gotsangpa concludes with a reminder of the blissful experience achievable by settling in the metaphorical fortress of empty pure being. The repetition emphasizes the profound nature of this state.
This composition, guided by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and translated by Jim Scott, encapsulates the essence of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and practice, offering a roadmap to profound spiritual experiences and ultimate bliss.
