Brief Interview with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche

Editors' Note: On May 25, 2001, in Seattle, Washington, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche met with the editors of Bodhi. We presented our questions to Khenpo Rinpoche through Elizabeth Callahan, who was assisting as translator. We requested that Khenpo Rinpoche explain to us the meaning of "bodhi "and how meditation practice relates to "bodhi." Without hesitation, we received this reply:

- - - - - - -

The Meaning of Bodhi

Awakened means samsara has been brought to an end.

How to Attain Bodhi

To attain awakening, we must meditate.

First, we meditate on that which involves delusion:

Impermanence, suffering, and so forth.

Second, we meditate on that which lacks delusion:

The lack of a truly existent self-entity, emptiness, and so forth.

But to transcend all conceptual elaborations

Those involving delusion, those lacking delusion, and so forthis supreme.

It is the ultimate of all meditations.

Yah! This describes the three stages of meditation. First, we meditate on that which involves delusion, which is quite easy. Then, we progress to the second stage where we meditate on that which doesn't involve any type of mistaken perception. And third, we transcend both meditating and not meditating. If this way of meditating is understood, it will be beneficial to everyone, those of the lowest capability, those of intermediate, and those of supreme.

O.K. Sarva Mangalam! Deleg pe! Ah!

This interview is part of the contents published in Bodhi Issue 8 (Fall 2001). You can purchase this issue or subscribe to Bodhi at the Bodhi Dharma Store.