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Mahamudra and Time

Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche    
Quote of the Week   
March 4, 2011




Mahamudra and Time

Within the essential self-nature of mahamudra, time does not exist. In relation
to the concepts of a practitioner, however, there is time; a practitioner needs the
thought of the future. From the point of view of mahamudra resting within itself,

time is necessarily transcended. In relation to the concepts a practitioner has, he

or she makes plans and preparations for the future. For example, if you want to do
retreat this year, you had to make preparations last year. Until concepts are
exhausted, there is time and you make preparations; however, you should not
grasp onto time as truly existent, and you should know that within the essential
nature of mahamudra, time does not exist. In verse:


        Within mahamudra, true nature of the mind, there is no delusion of time
As the three times are dependent on concepts.
        So until they're exhausted, every one,
        The delusion of time is unending.


-From Mahamudra Shamatha and Vipashyana, Karmê Chöling,
Summer, 1991,
p.26. Translated by Michele Martin.