Passage

mdor na ye shes la sgrib byed ni sems kho na yin pas de nyid rang rgyud ldan du yod ring la sems can zhes bya ste/ sems ni phung po lnga dang 'brel pas des....

Note

The term sems can, according to 'Jigs med gling pa, implies a person in whom the light of primordial awareness is obscured by sems which has become something of an autonomous complex (rang rgyud ldan) within the overall psychic life of an individual. This definition occurs in the context of elucidating the distinction between sems and ye shes among other central Rdzogs chen distinctions.

by David Higgins

Passage

22. dris lan nyer gnyis pa [129.3]

[sems dang ye shes gnad nyid ci]

sems zhes bya ba 'khrul rtog la
ngo bo 'jug cing khyab pa la
dran bsam rnams kyi gzhi ma'o
dbye ba dag dang ma dag pa
nges tshig bsam pa dran yul skye
de yang gang la sems dang gang gis sems
gang sems pa dang gang phyir sems
ye shes rtog pa ma yin te
ngo bo rang gsal snying po'i don
dbye ba dag ni gsum du 'dod
nges tshig ye nas dag pa'i don
de ltar shes pas ye shes te
de nyid dbye ba'i don bstan pa
dus dang thabs dang dpe dang tshad [130]
dgongs pa so so'i 'bras bu dang
ye shes rtogs pa'i mtshan nyid ni
lus dang ngag dang sems kyis kyang
rtags dang tshad dang 'jug pa dang
mtshan nyid 'gyur bar shes pa dang
mnyam nyid rdzogs pa'i bye brag go

Note

In response to the twenty-second question in chapter two of Sgra thal 'gyur {115721}, the seminal Rdzogs chen distinction between sems and ye shes is elucidated. For the parallel distinction between kun gzhi and chos sku, see under the terms kun gzhi and chos sku.

by David Higgins

Passage

II.2. gnyis pa sems dang ye shes kyi gnad la gnyis te:

i. thun mong gi dbye ba spyir bstan pa dang/

ii. so so'i rang bzhin bye brag tu bshad pa'o/

II.2.i. dang [56a] po la

a. khyad par dngos/

b. ma shes pa'i skyon/

c. shes par gdams tshu/

d. de gnyis kyi ngo bo/

e. so so'i gnas dang lnga las/

II.2.i.a. dang po khyad par ni sems gang yin 'khor ba'i chos te las dang bag chags kyi rang bzhin dri mar skyes pa'i skyon de rig pa la ldan dus sems can zhes btags shing/ sems des 'gro drug so sor 'khrul par byed la/ rig pa de sems dang bral dus glo bur dri bral gyi sangs rgyas zhes bya'o/ ye shes gang yin mya ngan las 'das pa'i chos te las dang bag chags bsregs pas me dang 'dra zhing kun tu rtog pa thams cad dang bral ba stong gsal nam mkha'i rang bzhin can te/ mu tig phreng ba las/

sems ni bag chags kun gyi gzhi
lus can rnams kyi dri ma yin
gzung ba yul la 'dzin pa sems
de phyir 'khor ba'i chos nyid do
sems de bral na sangs rgyas pa
lus can kun gyi dri ma dag
'gro ba rnams ni sems des 'gro
de min 'gro bar nus min te
de phyir 'gro rnams 'khrul 'khor bzhin
thugs ni bskyod pa kun bral ba
bems po lta bu ma yin te
shes shing reg la gsal byed snang
rnam par rtog pa kun bsregs te
ye shes nyid ni me bzhin za
nam mkha' nyid dang mtshungs pa yin
stong gsal rig bcas nyid yin no
de phyir ye shes snang bar ston
'byed med thugs rje rang shar bas
khyab cing kun 'brel chos kun rdzogs
dran pa nyid ni dran med pas
ye shes [56b] dran gzhi nyid dang bral/ zhes so/

II.2.i.b. sems dang ye shes gnyis ma phyed na snang ba yul gyi rtsa ba mi chod pas sems kyi yul 'khrul snang 'khor ba las mi thur ba'i skyon yod de/ seng ge rtsal rdzogs las/

sems dang ye shes gnyis su ma phye na
snang ba yul gyi rtsa ba mi chod pas
skyon bral chos nyid don gyis rtogs par dka'/ zhes so/

de la sems kyi yul 'khrul chos nyid don gyis rtogs par dka'/ zhes pa'o/ de la sems kyi yul 'khrul snang 'khor ba'i chos te bsdu na gzugs sgra dri ro reg dang chos te drug go 'di dag sems kyi bag chags las skra shad kyi rnam pa ltar snang ba ste/ gang la snang na 'khrul pa'i sems la snang ba'o/ ye shes kyi yul ni dag pa'i chos nyid nam mkha' lta bu dang/ 'od gsal gyi snang ba sku dang ye shes kyi zhing snang rgya che ba rnams so/ gnyis pa ma shes pa'i skyon ni/ 'di la sems rang ngo shes na ye shes yin/ da lta'i snang ba 'di ye shes kyi 'od gsal yi bya ba dang/ sems rtogs na ye shes yin pas zhes bshad pa'i tshig la 'khrul nas sems mi rtog pa'i cha rkyang pa de ye shes su 'dod pa sogs shin tu mang ste/ 'di yang nor sa shin tu kham che bas gsal ba'i skyon mtha' yas kyang re zhig che long brjod na/ sems 'dzin pa dang bcas pa'i phyir ye shes kyang der thal ba dang/ sems dri bcas yin pa'i phyir ye shes kyang der thal ba dang sems [57a] spang bya 'khor ba'i chos la snang ba'i phyir ye shes kyang der thal te/ bden gnyis las/

sems dang sems byung khams gsum ba'i
sgro btags rnam pa can rtog yin/ zhes so/

yang snang ba 'di 'khrul par snang bas 'od gsal 'khrul snang du thal ba dang/ snang ba sems can phal la mthun snang du yod pa'i phyir 'od gsal mthun snang du grub par thal te/ 'dod na thams cad rnal 'byor pa bzhin du grol bar thal ba dang/ snang ba dang sems la skye shi 'pho 'gyur snang pa'i phyir ye shes dang de'i snang ba yang der thal ba la sogs pa'i skyon mang po dmigs pas/ rmongs pa gti mug las kyang ches gti mug pa dag gi phyogs la brten par mi bya'o zhes gdams nas/ sems la gzhi byas te sangs rgyas kyi 'bras bu 'dod na rgyu 'bras sam gzhi 'bras 'dzol bas phyin ci log tu 'gyur ro zhes bstan pa ni/ rang shar las/

la la dag gi 'dod pa ni
sems la 'bras bu 'tshol bar 'dod
de las bzlog pa 'di lta ste
sems kyi dngos po ji tsam lags
dri lan rgyas par btab pa ni
sems la dngos po med pa'i phyir
'o na sems kyi mtshan nyid ci
dri lan rgyas par btab pa ni
chos nyid gzung 'dzin ga la yod
dper na nam mkha'i mtshan nyid bzhin
gzung dang 'dzin pa med pa'i phyir
de la bzlog pa'i tshig smras pa
sems [57b] la gzung 'dzin yod dam med
dri lan rgyas par btab pa ni
sems la gzung dang 'dzin yod kyang
chos nyid gzung 'dzin med pa'i phyir
de la bzlog pa yang smras pa
gong gi dam bca' nyams par gyur
sems dang chos nyid gcig pa'i phyir
sems la gzung 'dzin byung gyur na
sangs rgyas 'bad pas rnyed par 'gyur
sems la gzung 'dzin yod pa'i phyir
dri lan bzlog ste smras pa ni
gal te sems med sangs rgyas nyid
khyod kyis rnyed dam gang gi phyir
de la dris lan rgyas btab pa
sems la 'bras bu mi 'tshol te
sems la sna tshogs 'byung ba'i phyir/ zhes so/

de yang sems glo bur gyi sgrib pa yin pas sangs rgyas kyi rten dang rgyur mi rung ba dang/ ye shes ye nas yod pas sangs rgyas kyi rang bzhin yin pas gcig tu byed pa ni ha cang mi rung ste/ nyi ma dang sprin phung gcig tu 'dzin pa bzhin no/ 'dir sems la 'bras bu mi 'dod cing ye shes stong gsal dag pa las 'dod de/ de nyid las/

sems la 'bras bu mi 'dod de
rig pa'i ye shes yod pa'i phyir/ zhes dang/

kun tu bzang po thugs kyi me long las/

snang ba chos skur 'dod pa nga la sgrib pa yin
cir snang sems su 'dod pa nga la sgrib pa yin
ye shes sems su 'dod pa nga la sgrib pa yin/ zhes so/

de'ang ding sang [58a] rmongs pa phal pa dag gis snang ba rang gi sems yin/ snang ba chos sku yin/ ye shes sems yin zer te/ mgo 'phong yin/ me chu yin/ mun pa snang ba yin zhes ci rung rung sgra ba'i skyon pa rnams dang khyad med pa las/ de dag las rlom sems slar che bas gti mug par mthong ste/ snang ba sems yin na sems la kha dog la sogs yod par thal la/ khyod med dus khyod kyi sems phyogs 'dir yod par thal/ snang ba yod pa'i phyir dang/ yang gcig skye bas kun skye la gcig shi bas kun 'chi bar thal ba dang/ skye bo bye bas yum pa gcig mthong dus ril sems gcig yin pa bzhin skye bo thams cad sems gcig tu thal ba dang/ sangs rgyas kyi ji snyed mkhyen pa'i yul la chos thams cad snang bas 'khor ba sangs rgyas kyi ye shes su thal ba dang/ sems can gyi sangs rgyas mthong dus/ sangs rgyas de 'khrul par thal te/ sems can gyi sems yin pa'i phyir/ sems can de sangs rgyas su thal te/ sangs rgyas sems can de'i sems yin pa'i phyir ro/ sems skad cig la 'gyu ba lang ma ling du byed pa ltar snang pa 'di yang skad cig la lang ma ling du 'gyur ba thal ba sigs shin tu mang ngo snang ba chos sku yin na/ snang ba 'di snang mi snang las 'das bar thal te/ chos sku snang mi snang las 'das pa'i phyir dang/ chos sku 'khrul snang du thal ba dang/ [58b] chos sku dngos po dang mtshan mar 'dzin par thal ba dang/ snang ba 'di 'khrul snang dang dngos mtshan du 'dzin pa'i phyir/ snang ba 'di 'khrul ngor snang mi srid par thal te/ chos sku 'khrul ngor snang mi srid pa'i phyir te/ don dam yin pa'i phyir/ spyod 'jug las/

don dam blo yi spyod yul min
blo ni kun rdzob yin par brjod/ ces pa dang/

rdo rje gcog pa las/

'dren pa rnams ni chos kyi sku
chos nyid shes bya ma yin te
de ni shes par nus ma yin/ zhes pas gsal lo/

ye shes sems yin pa bkag zin to/ mdor na de skad smra na ba lang gi khyur phyogs gcig tu bzhag ste/ lung rigs kyis bzlog rin mi chog ste/ chos kyi gras pas rnam nges su/

log pa'i lam la mtha' med phyir
de dag 'dir ni spro bya min/ zhes bshad pa bzhin no/

Note

This passage gives Klong chen pa's classic account of the seminal Rdzogs chen distinction between sems and ye shes. For the parallel distinction between kun gzhi and chos sku, see under the terms kun gzhi and chos sku.

by David Higgins

Passage

de ltar chos thams cad sems su gsal ba las blo gzhan du mi'gyur ba ni ye shes yin no/ (elaborated further on 799.4 f.)

Note

This passage offers a definition of the term ye shes. This passage provides the definition of ye shes in conjunction with Padmasambhava's instructions on how to settle into rang byung gi ye shes.

by David Higgins

Passage

iii. ye shes

ye shes rnam pa lnga po re re la'ang [rnam mkhyen shing rta:829] [785]
bzhi bzhi'i 'khor dang bcas pas nyi shu lnga
chos dbyings ye shes g.yo ba med pa ni
nam mkha'i gzugs bzhin shes bya'i mtha' yas 'das
me long ye shes gzung 'dzin rdul bral ni
mngon par 'du byed med bzhin mched pa'i gzhi
mnyam nyid ye shes chos kun mtshan nyid med
srid zhi dbyer med zhi ba'i dbyings su zhugs
sor rtog ye shes chos nyid ji lta [140] dang
chos can shes bya ji snyed rtag thogs med
bya grub ye shes phrin las gzhan phan can
chags thogs spangs pa'i mdzad pa lhun gyis grub/

2iv. sbyang bya

gdul bya'i gti mug la sogs nyon mongs lnga [rnam mkhyen shing rta:833] [791]
gang gi gnyen por che ba'i zhing khams dang
ston par bstan pa'i sku lnga chos rab lnga
gnas 'gyur ye shes rnam pa lnga po yang
mthong lam nas bzung sa bcu rgyun mtha'i bar
rim rdzogs rdzogs pa'i byang chub snying por 'gro/

Passage

a. sems rig don gyi shan 'byed

gang dag sems las 'das pa'i rig pa ni [rnam mkhyen shing rta:636.5, yon tan rin po che mdzod kyi 'grel pa nyi zla'i sgron me:617.3]
rang bzhin rdzogs pa chen po'i khyad chos yin
rtogs pa rnams ni gzhi las rig par grol
ma rtogs sems can de nyid ngang du 'khor/

rnam pas dbye na chu dang chu lbur bzhin
rtog med tsam du sems rig mtshungs na'ang
rig pa rang bzhin med par zang thal la
sems ni lteng ka lta bur 'khyil zhing rmongs/

rig pa gnam stong zla ba gting gsal 'dra
sems ni bco lnga'i zla ba yul 'dres mtshungs
dwangs la yul med rig pa'i yon tan te
yul dang kun nas [127] 'dres pa sems kyi khyad/

b. gnas pa ngo bo'i shan `byed

de bzhin rig pa rang gnas shes rab ste
bsam gtan thabs lam ltos bying rgod bral
sems ni dmigs pa'i yul la rtse gcig pas
ting nge 'dzin dang rten dang brten par 'brel/

c. 'phro ba rtsal gyi shan 'byed

rig pa yul la shar kyang snang ba yi
zil gyi mi non dngul chu sar lhung 'dra
sems ni gzung 'dzin cha dang bcas pa yi
rnam rtog nye bar len ba'i phyogs dang 'dres/

d. grol tshul gnad kyi shan 'byed

rig pas sems nyid gzhan du ma spangs kyang
sems dang rig pa lhan cig mi 'du bas
yul dang rnam par rang dang rdzas gcig pa'i
nyon mongs rnams kyang lhan cig sbran nas bros/

de ltar pas nyon mongs btson ra las [103]
nges par 'byin pa man ngag sde pa yi
khyad par chos te gzhan du nyon mongs tshogs
nyan rang spong zhing byang sems gnyan pos 'dul/

sngags spyir lam gtong sems sder gshis thog dgrol
klong sder chos nyid gcig tu dag byed pa
rig pa'i klong na rang tshugs zhig pa mtshar/

Note

The authors' comments on this and other central Rdzogs chen distinctions (see also under kun gzhi vs. chos sku) must be read in connection with Tshig don mdzod {115736} and Theg mchog mdzod {115751} which are their primary sources.

by David Higgins

Passage

rig pa thugs rje'i ngo bo zang thal rjen gyis rang gsal ba me long g.ya' dag pa 'dra ba de dang/ 'char gzhi las thugs rje'i rtsal zang ma de ma rtogs pas/ rtsal las yul thog tu shar ba shar zin shar ba do'i rtog pa gnyis/ gsal ba dang/ mi 'gag pa'i cha phra ba las gcig tu 'khrul te rig pa 'char ba la ma bzung na ye shes/ bzung na rtog pa zer nas/ shar ba de la glod p'am lta ba ni phyogs ma mthong ba'i stong ldan chen po glang chen bsgyings zhes bya ba yin no/

Note

In chapter five verse twelve of Chos dbyings mdzod, Klong chen pa discusses how the dualistic constructs of "object and subject" first originate, in turn giving rise to the five objective domains and five emotions. So long as the creative energy of Being's resonance with the whole in its subtle and unceasing effulgence is not grasped as something, this is called ye shes. When grasping occurs (the onset of the bifurcation into object and subject), this is called rtog pa. (See continuation under nyon mongs.)

by David Higgins

Passage

gti mug dang ye shes kyi so mtshams ni/ gti mug pa zhes/ blo'i sgrib pa 'thug [716] pos g.yogs nas gang yang mi go ba'o/ ye shes zhes pa ni/ ye ci bzhin pa'i gegs bsal ba'o/ de rgyud la nyams su len pa'i dus mi go zhing/ mi shes pa'i sems la phar bltas pas/ sems la shes pa dang mi shes pa'i yid dpyod mi 'jug pa/ gang gi ngo bor yang ma grub pa/ gsal bar ma bsgribs par 'dug pa de kho na la gti mug rang sar dag pa'i gnad ces so//

Note

In discussing the interface between gti mug and ye shes (ninth of thirty-two), Padmasambhava defines each in the following passage.

by David Higgins

Passage

ye shes thams cad kyi gnad ni/ rang byung gi ye shes yin/ ye shes gzhan ni 'gyur zhing mi rtag pa'o/ rang byung gi ye shes ni/ ye gdod ma nas rang byung/ chos nyid kyi don rang gsal rig med du gnas pa'o/...

Note

In this passage, Padmasambhava identifies rang byung gi ye shes as the gist of all ye shes.

by David Higgins