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Clarifying The Two Truths
Clarifying The Two Truths
Clarifying The Two Truths
For those who wish to attain liberation, there is both (I) the teaching on what is to be
realized and (II) the teaching on how to put this into practice.
Moreover, there are two kinds of relative, the incorrect relative and the correct
relative.
All that we perceive before we set out on the path belongs to the category of the
incorrect relative. When we have reached the stage of ‘aspiring conduct’,1 if we can
integrate some realization into our experience, it becomes the correct relative, but
whenever we do not, it is the incorrect relative. Once we reach the bhūmis, all that
appears to the mind is the correct relative—‘relative’ because ‘mere appearances’
have not yet ceased, and [‘correct’] because their falsity is seen directly. These
appearances continue to arise from the first bhūmi until the tenth bhūmi, since the
age-old habit of perceiving things as real has not yet been abandoned, in the same
way that the scent of musk will linger in a container. Eventually, at the level of
buddhahood, when these habitual tendencies have been completely eradicated, there
are no dualistic perceptions whatsoever, and one remains exclusively in the ultimate
sphere, beyond any conceptual elaboration.
Clinging to the ordinary world, both the outer environment and the beings within it,
as real is the incorrect relative. The antidote to this, such as visualizing everyone as
pure deities and the environment as the pure maṇḍala palace, while at the same time
considering them to be a mere illusion, is the correct relative.
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ii. The Absolute Aspect
In essence, the absolute is the basic space of phenomena (dharmadhātu), devoid of all
conceptual elaboration. In its essence, it is without any divisions, but still it is
possible to speak of ‘divisions’ according to whether or not this reality has been
realized. Thus, there are divisions into the absolute which is the basic nature itself
and the absolute which is the realization (or ‘making evident’) of this basic nature.
Then again, there is the division into the absolute that is clarified 2 through study and
reflection and the absolute that is experienced through meditation practice; or the
absolute that is conceptually inferred by ordinary beings versus the absolute that is
experienced directly by noble beings. There is also a division into the conceptual
absolute (namdrangpé döndam) and the absolute that is beyond conceptualization
(namdrang mayinpé döndam).
There are three ways in which we can experience these two truths:
To put it another way, the first stage has both appearance and grasping, the middle
stage has mere appearance without grasping, and at the final stage there is neither
appearance nor grasping.
Ultimately we need to realize the indivisibility of the two truths, but claiming that
the relative refers to existence, while on the absolute level things do not exist, will
never qualify as the view of the Middle Way. When we realize the one genuine
nature of the correct relative, the two truths will merge inseparably, beyond the
conceptual extremes of existing, not existing, permanence and nothingness. As the
Mother Prajñāpāramitā says:
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The real nature of the relative is the real nature of the absolute.
The division into the two truths is only a provisional device, based on the distinct
perspectives of two states of mind, that is made in order to facilitate understanding.
All the various entities which appear to a confused state of mind are labelled
‘relative’, whereas ‘absolute’ refers to a state of mind in which confusion has come to
an end and in which there is not even the slightest trace of any conceptual focus,
even towards non-existence itself. As it is said:
There are two aspects to this: i) gaining provisional understanding in terms of the
two truths, and ii) gaining ultimate understanding in which the truths are
inseparable.
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i. The Provisional Understanding in Terms of the Two Truths
When we understand the natural condition of phenomena in general, and realize that
they are similar to an illusion on the relative level because they appear although they
are not truly existent, whereas they are like space on the absolute level because they
cannot be established as existent or non-existent, and we also understand that
ultimately the truths are inseparable within the great Middle Way—the absolute
space of reality beyond all conceptual extremes—the mind or awareness that has this
understanding is relative. As Śāntideva said:
An intellectual mind that has this kind of understanding can become arrogant and
conceited. This kind of arrogance and conceit are the agencies of mara and will only
spoil our understanding. As The Sūtra Revealing the Inconceivable Realm of the
Buddhas says:
The nature of the relative mind which understands is the absolute. If we look into the
very nature of the awareness or mind or intellect which understands, we can not find
anything real or substantial at all. In fact, it has always been devoid of existence and
non-existence, devoid of arising and ceasing, devoid of coming and going, devoid of
permanence and nothingness, devoid of past, present or future, and therefore it is
absolute reality itself.
Mind is not to be found within. Nor does it exist outside. And it can not be
observed anywhere else.
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ii. The Ultimate Understanding in Which the Truths Are Inseparable
In the mind’s ultimate nature, the two truths are inseparable. The application of the
two truths to the single nature of the mind is nothing more than a provisional use of
labels or terminology. There is no ordinary mind within the ground or absolute space
of reality, so there is no basis upon which the two truths could be applied. Nor is
there any ordinary mind at the fruition, the wisdom mind of buddhahood, so that too
can not be labelled in terms of two truths. Even in the clarity and emptiness, which is
the nature of the minds of confused sentient beings, we can not find this
[distinction], because there is only clear awareness and emptiness. This is why we
must realize how the two truths are inseparable.
Even so, because the inseparability of the two truths can only be realized once we
have understood the characteristics of each individually, there is still a purpose to
making the twofold division.
In this way, the non-conceptual simplicity that is the natural condition of what is to
be known merges indivisibly with the non-conceptual simplicity of the natural
condition of mind. Within this experience, which is devoid of any notion of an
individual self or phenomenal identity, all outer and inner phenomena are seen to be
like uncreated space, free from any kind of conceptual construct such as existing, not
existing, being permanent or nothingness and so on, and yet the experience is
beyond the duality of something seen and one who sees, or something realized and
one who realizes. Therefore it is perfect, unmistaken realization.
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Following this, [in the post-meditation period] one maintains the dream-like
experience of the unity of the two truths by recognizing how all that is perceived
appears while lacking any true reality. At the same time, with illusory bodhichitta,
love and compassion for all illusory dream-like beings who have not realized this,
one gathers the two illusory accumulations and makes vast prayers of aspiration for
their benefit.
It is said:
The actual mind, which is the experiencer of phenomena, is devoid of any true
reality, and so, in reference to this, we say that there is no self, no sentient being, no
individual, no agent and so on. When we say “no” or “non-existent” in this context, it
signifies that existence can not be established. Yet since existence can not be
established, non-existence can not be established either, and so the term “no”
signifies the non-establishment of both existence and non-existence.
This consciousness that perceives its object is not dependent on the sense faculties. It
does not originate from objects. And it does not remain somewhere in between. It
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exists neither internally nor externally. When it arises it does not come from
anywhere, and when it ceases it does not go anywhere. It is empty as it originates,
and empty as it ceases to be. This is how it is described. In the sūtras, for example,
we find statements like this:
A sūtra says:
And:
Therefore, sustaining the ordinary state free from any dharmas is the
supreme Dharma.
A sūtra says:
The realization that there is nothing in the space-like natural condition of all
phenomena which could be the object of consciousness or wisdom is the view.
Remaining with that recognition—in the manner of ‘non-remaining’—is the
meditation. In the post-meditation, to gather the illusory accumulation of merit for
the sake of illusory sentient beings is the action. The dissolution of mind’s illusory
perceptions within basic space is the ultimate fruition.
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But saying “no” indicates that even the dichotomy of existence and non-
existence is transcended.
It is said that not fearing the profound meaning of emptiness but feeling inspired by
it is the sign of a fortunate being who has heard and trained in the teachings before
and is destined to swiftly reach awakening.
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And:
The nature of mind, empty and clear and beyond conceptual focus, is the genuine
fundamental condition. Since this pure awareness, free from conceptual constructs
and impossible to pinpoint, arises unceasingly8 as the illusory appearances that are
its basic expression, we must put all our trust in this state beyond clinging, this state
in which there is no separation between meditation and post-meditation, and in
which clarity and emptiness are a unity, and take it to heart through practice.
| Translated by Adam Pearcey, 2005, revised 2012. With many thanks to Ringu Tulku Rinpoche for his
clarifications.
Bibliography
Tibetan Editions
Ācārya Sonam Rapten, Mahāyānadarśanapāṭhaḥ Satyadvayaprakāśaḥ of Patrul Ogyen
Jigme Choeskyi Wangpo. Sarnath, Varanasi: Central Institute of Higher Tibetan
Studies. (The Dalai Lama Tibeto-Indological Series XXI). 1997
O rgyan 'jigs med chos kyi dbang po. "theg chen lta khrid bden gnyis rab tu gsal ba/."
In gsung 'bum/_o rgyan 'jigs med chos kyi dbang po. 8 vols. Chengdu: si khron mi rigs
dpe skrun khang, 2003. (BDRC W24829). Vol. 3: 311–322.
Version: 2.3-20230214
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3. Bodhicaryāvatāra, IX, 34. ↩
4. Bodhicaryāvatāra, IX, 2. ↩
6. The Si khron edition has mi bsam. The Vāraṇasī edition has mi gsal. ↩
8. Both Tibetan editions say 'char sgom 'gags pa'i but I am reading this as 'char
sgo ma 'gags pa'i, following the clarification of Ringu Tulku Rinpoche. ↩
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