Source Text
When the individual is only a beginner, even though the mind may continue in a natural self-settled state, still, as part of this calm state, it will not be possible to transcend a condition of attachment to experiences (arising in meditation), such as pleasurable sensations, clarity, and the absence of thoughts.
This interrupts the flow of thoughts, and, since it is critically important to shatter one’s meditation, which has been deliberately created by mental activity, it is necessary to utter the sound PHAT! forcefully and abruptly.
Moreover, it is directly penetrating in this way because it transcends all limitations (and dualities), such as creation and cessation, existence and nonexistence, and so on. This self-existent state that transcends all objects of thought and all efforts of speech and mind represents the essential point of an indescribable primal awareness or knowledge. Therefore, it says in the text: “Nothing arises that impedes it; it is indescribable.”
“One should allow oneself to settle into a state of indescribable Awareness.”
“(Whether there arise experiences) of the calm state, or of pleasurable sensation, or of clarity, or of thoughts proliferating, shatter them again and again.”
one must shatter into fragments these layers of attachment with the ferocious sound of PHAT! This forceful sound PHAT! unites PHA, the letter of skillful means that represents the accumulating of merit, and TA, the letter of…
Moreover, in that individual there exists not even so much as a hair-tip of a cause for meditation, nor is he or she for any moment distracted. As it was said somewhere: “Neither have I ever meditated, nor have I ever been separated from meditation.…
daily activities into the path itself, the deviations of falling away from one’s innate disposition and of irregular habits will arise. Hence, it says in the text: “And divide one’s practice into discrete sessions.”Similarly, having divided one’s practice into discrete sessions, one should practice in a way that relies upon fixating the…
Practicing in this way represents the yoga that is both natural and free from conceptual elaborations; it is the yoga where peaceful calm (Skt. samatha) and higher…
It is the actual gnosis or knowledge indicated in the fourth initiation. It is the special teaching which is the…
AI Summary
The Golden Letters by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu presents key insights from the contemplative tradition. The 10 passages above capture the essential teachings.
Core Themes:
- [To be expanded]
Key Passages: Highlights 1, 3, and 10 are particularly representative.
This entry was generated from Readwise highlights. Expand with additional context as appropriate.