Selections from The Sword of Wisdom for Thoroughly Ascertaining Reality by Mipham Rinpoche (vegetarian) – Verses 66 to 104, Part 1 of 2

Born in the region of Derge in Eastern Tibet in 1846, Mipham Rinpoche was identified as an extraordinary child. At the early age of six, he was already memorizing texts and by the age of 10, he started composing numerous writings. He became an ordinary monk of the Ogmin Ogyen Mindrolling lineage when he was 12. It is said that he fully mastered the extremely difficult Mindrolling system of chanting at the age of 15 or 16, after studying it for only a few days and praying to Manjushri Bodhisattva.

Mipham Rinpoche was a prolific writer, composing more than 35 books on topics ranging from medicine, poetry (in particular the Gesar epics), logic, cosmology, astrology and divination, alchemy, painting, sculpture and engineering. The Sword of Wisdom for Thoroughly Ascertaining Reality is one of his most important works and was written within a day, in 1885. It comprises of 104 verses, encompassing the two truths, the four principles of reasoning, valid cognition, the four reliances and the eight treasures of confidence. Though it is brief, its content is extraordinary. Through the two types of valid knowledge using referential reasoning, one will be able to comprehend the conventional truth and the ultimate truth.

“Whenever you study or contemplate the Dharma, rely not on the words, but on their meaning. If the point is understood, it matters little how eloquently or not the words were spoken.”

“Seeing it to be superior according to the texts and logic, the intelligent seize the definitive meaning like a swan drawing milk from water, and revel in the ocean of Buddhist teachings.”

“One gains the confidence of certainty about reality. Then the supremely intelligent heirs of the Buddhas come to master an inexhaustible treasury of Dharma, as a sign of victory for the teachings of scripture and realization.”

“This has been stated in the sutras. It is not by any assertion or denial that we will put an end to concepts. But once we see without rejecting or affirming, there is freedom. Although it is without any perceiving subject or object perceived, there is naturally occurring wisdom that is aware of itself, and all ideas of existence, non-existence, both and neither have ceased completely – This is said to be supreme primordial wisdom.”

“Yet through scriptures of authentic origin, reasoning that refutes all four conceptual extremes, and the force of the master’s practical instructions, it arises in our experience, like sight that is restored. At that time, with a faith that comes from savoring The nectar-like taste of the Buddhadharma, our eyes open widely in purest joy and we glimpse the Buddhas’ wisdom kaya.”