Haven't seen such Buddhist images before.
Garab Dorje was a person who brought Dzogchen teachings into human realm. Upon his death, Garab Dorje imparted his last testament to Manjushrimitra. These three precepts, known as the "Three Words that Strike to the Heart of the Essential Point" summarize the whole of the Dzogchen teachings:
* One is introduced directly to one's true nature
* One attains certainty about this natural state
* One continues with confidence in liberation
Garab Dorje
http://groups.msn.com/Dzogchen/garabdorje.msnw
Born 166 years after the Parinirvana of Lord Buddha in Oddiyana northwest of India, Garab Dorje, an incarnation of Vajrasattva, was the first human teacher of the Atiyoga Tantras.
From the age of seven, he defeated the pandits of Oddiyana and India with his teaching that dzogchen goes beyond the law of karma, the law of cause and effect. At his passing into the Body of Light, he gave his disciple Manjushrimitra what have become known as the Three Statements or Three Testaments.
In his book The Crystal and the Way of Light, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche renders them as follows:
1. DIRECT INTRODUCTION to the primordial state is transmitted straight away by the master to the disciple. The master always remains in theprimordial state, and the presence of the state communicates itself to the disciple in whatever situation or activity they may share.
2. The DISCIPLE enters into non-dual contemplation and, experiencing the
primordial state, NO LONGER REMAINS IN ANY DOUBT as to what it is.
3. THE DISCIPLE CONTINUES IN THE STATE of non-dual contemplation, the primordial state, bringing contemplation into every action, until that which is every individual’s true condition from the beginning (the Dharmakaya), but which remains obscured by dualistic vision, is made real, or realized. One continues right up to Total Realization.
A Short Commentary on the Three Statements of Garab Dorje
By H. H. Dudjom Rinpoche
I. As for the direct introduction to one's own nature: This fresh immediate awareness of the present moment, transcending all thoughts related to the three times, is itself that primordial awareness or Knowledge (ye-shes)thatisself-originated intrinsic Awareness (rig-pa). This is the direct introduction to one's own nature.
II. As for deciding definitively upon this unique state: Whatever
phenomena of Samsara and Nirvana may manifest, all of them represent the play of
the creative energy or potentiality of one's own immediate intrinsic Awareness
(rig-pa'irtsal). Since there is nothing that goes beyond just this, one
should continue in the state of this singular and unique Awareness. Therefore, one
must definitively decide upon this unique state for oneself and know that
there exists nothing other than this.
III. As for directly continuing with confidence in liberation:
Whatever gross or subtle thoughts may arise, by merely recognizing their nature, they arise and (self-) liberate simultaneously in the vast expanse of the
Dharmakaya, where Emptiness and Awareness (are inseparable). Therefore, one should
continue directly with confidence in their liberation.
That is pure Dzogchen Atiyoga. A Dzogchen Master STARTS with "direct
introduction" with everyone. If they don't "get it" then one starts
to use all the infinite methods and means to help bring about the experience of
Rigpa. When one has the experience of Rigpa, then one confirms the validity
of one's path now being "remaining with Rigpa" as path. Then, one simply
continues in that state. Rigpa is the view to be experienced, Rigpa is the path
to be followed, and Rigpa is the fruit of the path. There is no change in
Rigpa, either in the beginning, middle or end. The fruit is your first
realization of Rigpa. There are no Stages of Rigpa. Thogel does not modify Rigpa.
