Evermore

Sole unfailing and unchanging Refuge, Lord of the Mandala
Most precious and kind Root Guru, hold me with compassion
When I squander the freedoms and endowments
Ignoring death, providing only for this life.
This fleeting human life like a dream
It it’s happy that is alright, if it’s unhappy, that’s alright.
Without concern for happiness or sorrow
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This mortal existence, like a candle in the wind,
If it’s long that’s alright, if it’s short that’s alright…
Without intensifying the tight grip of the ego,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These intellectual judgments, like the lure of a mirage
If they’re suitable that’s alright, if they’re not that’s alright
Discarding like hay, talk that carries the eight worldly concerns
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This entourage like a flock of birds in a tree
If it’s assembled that’s alright, it it’s scattered that’s alright
Without letting others lead me by the nose
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This illusory body like a hundred year old house
If it survives that’s alright, if it collapses that’s alright
Without becoming entangled with obsessions for food, clothes and medicine
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This religious position like a child’s game
If it’s kept up that’s alright, if it’s dropped that’s alright
Without deceiving myself with numerous diversions
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These gods and demons, like reflections in a mirror
If they are helpful that’s alright, if they are harmful that’s alright
Without perceiving my own hallucinations as the enemy
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This delusive talk, like a trackless echo
If it’s pleasing that’s alright, if it’s unpleasing that’s alright
Taking the Three Jewels and my own mind as witness
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
That which is useless at the time of need like the antlers of a deer
If it’s known that’s alright, if it’s unknown that’s alright
Without simply relying on the various sciences
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These religious possessions like virulent poisons
If they are acquired that’s alright, if they are not that’s alright
Without devoting my life to sinful, unwholesome means of survival
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This form of greatness like dog shit wrapped in brocade
If its obtained that’s alright, if it’s not that’s alright
Having smelled the rottenness of my own head
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These relationships like gatherings on a market day
If they are loving that’s alright, if they are spiteful that’s alright
Cutting the ties of passionate attachment from deep within the heart
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This rank like a little bird perched in a tree
If it’s high that is alright, if it’s low that is alright
Without concentrating on that which actually brings sorrow
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This black magic like a sharpened weapon
If it’s successful that is alright, if it’s not that is alright
Without buying the blade that will cut off my life
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These recitations like a parrot’s six syllables
If they are repeated that’s alright, if they are not that’s alright
Without counting the numbers of the various practices
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
Mere religious discourse like a mountain cascade
If it’s eloquent that’s alright, if it’s not that’s alright
Without thinking of this glibness as Dharma
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The mind quick to judge like a pig’s snout
If it’s sharp that’s alright, if it’s dull that’s alright
Without uselessly digging up the rubble of anger and attachment
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The yogi’s experience like a stream in spring
If it expands that is alright, if it recedes that’s alright
Without chasing rainbows like a child
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These pure visions like rain on a mountain top
If they happen that’s alright if they don’t that is alright
Without giving credence to illusory experiences
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching
The freedoms and endowments like a wish-fulfilling gem
If I do not obtain them there is no way to accomplish Dharma
When I have them in hand without letting them spoil
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The glorious Guru, light on the path of liberation
If I do not meet him there is no way to realize the true nature
When I know the way to go without jumping into the precipice
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The holy Dharma like a cure that removes sickness
If I have not heard it there is no way to decide
What to give up and what to take up
Distinguishing the beneficial from the harmful without swallowing the poison
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The alternation of happiness and suffering
Like the changing of summer and winter
If I do not recognize it there is no way to develop renunciation
Being certain that I will suffer in turn
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This immersion in samsara like a stone in water
If I do not get out of it now I will not be free of it later
Holding on to the lifeline of the compassionate Three Jewels
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The qualities of liberation like an island of jewels
If I am unaware of them there is no way to develop diligence
Seeing the unending benefits to be gained
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The life stories of the great saints like the essence of nectar
If I am unacquainted with them there is no way to awaken faith
When I recognize the real gains and losses
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The aspiration towards enlightenment like a fertile field
If I do not cultivate it there is no way to attain Buddhahood
Without becoming indifferent to the accomplishments of this great goal
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These thoughts of mine like a monkey’s antics
If I do not tame them there is no way to eliminate my negative emotions
Without falling into all kinds of crazy mimicry
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This attachment to ego like an inherent shadow
If I do not give it up there is no way to reach the peaceful land
When I recognize the enemy without befriending it
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The five poisons like glowing embers in the ash
If I do not extinguish them I cannot abide in mind’s self nature
Without breeding venomous baby snakes in my bed
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This temperament of mine like the stiff hide of a buffalo-bag
If I do not soften it the Dharma and my mind will never blend
Without indulging the child that is born from myself
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These ingrained bad habits like the course of a river
If I do not eliminate them I cannot part from the profane
Without delivering weapons into the hands of the enemy
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
These distractions like the ceaseless rippling of water
If I do not reject them there is no way to become steadfast
When I have the freedom of choice without devoting myself to samsara
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The Guru’s blessing like the warming of water and earth
If I do not receive it there is no way to recognize my own true nature
When I step on the short path without turning in circles
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The solitary place like a summer valley of medicine plants
If I do not dwell there, there is no way for the good qualities to grow
When I stay in the mountains without wandering off to samsaric cities
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This desire for comfort like a greedy ghost lodged at the hearth
If I do not part from it painful efforts will never cease
Without making, as to a god, offerings to a hungry demon
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This alert mindfulness like the key to a fortress
If it is not relied upon the movements of delusion will never stop
At the time the thief arrives without leaving the latch unfastened
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
The true nature like the unchanging space
If I do not realize it the ground of the view will not be found
Without chaining myself in iron fetters
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This awareness like a stainless crystal
If I do not see it, the concept and effort of meditation cannot dissolve
When I have this inseparable companion without searching for another
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
This natural mind like an old friend
If I do not recognize it all my activities will be deluded
Without fumbling around with my eyes closed
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
In short, if I do not abandon the concerns of this life
There is no way to apply the teachings for the benefit of the next life
Having resolved to be kind to myself
May whatever I do become the Supreme Teaching.
To doubt the Guru’s instructions that accord with the Dharma
To feel bitterness toward the deity when bad karma emerges
To discontinue the sadhana and so forth when adverse circumstances arise
May such obstacles not occur as accomplishment approaches.
All this doing has no more meaning than walking around a desert
All these efforts make my character rigid
All this thinking just reinforces my delusions
What worldly beings consider to be Dharma is the cause of binding myself.
All this exertion produces no result
All these ideas bring not a single actualization
All the numerous wants will never be fulfilled
Abandoning activities may I be able to meditate on the oral instructions.
If you think you want to do it, take the Victorious One’s words as witness
If you think you will really do it, blend your mind with Dharma
If you think you can practice, follow the example of the past saints
You spoiled ones, is there any other way?
Taking a humble position rich with the treasure of contentment
Free from the binds of the eight-worldly concerns
Firm and strong hearted in practice
Receiving the Guru’s blessing realization becomes equal to space
May we attain the Kingdom of the All Good.

Thus having united the meaning of the diamond words of the past saints, I have written this as my own prayer. ~ Dudjom Rinpoche (Jigdral Yeshe Dorje)