White Tara said:
“Enlightened buddhas also have samaya!”
I asked:
“What is the samaya of buddhas?”
White Tara replied:
“Great compassion, wisdom of emptiness, unfettered ease, spontaneous accomplishment, perfection.”
I asked:
“When a Buddhist practitioner has already become enlightened, does this individual still have samaya?”
White Tara answered:
Yes.
An enlightened individual fully understands that the “mind is buddha,” “buddha is mind,” and “one’s own mind is buddha.” The buddhas are not separate from oneself, and one is not apart from the buddhas. There is no distinction between them and oneself. They are considered one.
Even though enlightened individuals recognize their own buddha nature, they maintain a deep respect for their root guru, who they have sought guidance from and taken refuge in.
Rendering service.
Making offerings.
Paying homage.
Praying for their root guru’s blessing.
(This is the samaya that exists between an enlightened person and their root guru).
An enlightened individual has realized that all phenomena arise from one’s mind, and knows that when merit is not merit, it is indeed merit.
So-called merit is not having merit, and precisely because of the awareness that there is no merit, only then is it merit.
However, enlightened individuals always continue accumulating the various causes and conditions of merit.
(This is the samaya between enlightened individuals and merit.)
An enlightened individual is fearless of everything. For example, an enlightened individual does not fear reincarnation, descending to the three lower realms, being in dangerous situations, and so on...
They are clearly aware that reincarnation is illusory, the three lower realms are dreams, and dangerous situations are temporary.
However, enlightened individuals abandon even the slightest misdeeds. They do not carry out negative actions no matter how insignificant they seem.
(This is the samaya between enlightened individuals and negative actions.)
Enlightened individuals understand the unexcelled state of perfect enlightenment, and know that many pure lands are also born within oneself.
They know all of the dharma teachings pertaining to arhats, pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattvas, and buddhas.
They know the dharma teachings of Hinayana (Small Vehicle), Dviyana (Twofold Vehicle), Mahayana (Great Vehicle), and Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle).
They know the dharma teachings of Great Perfection.
They know the dharma teachings pertaining to the Three Vehicles, Five Vehicles, and Nine Vehicles.
However, they do not disparage or vilify any dharma teaching.
(This is the samaya between enlightened individuals and dharma teachings.)
Enlightened individuals have already validated and know about many kinds of samadhi states. They are able to enter into samadhi and have ascertained the existence of siddhi.
Enlightened individuals have attained accomplishment on the path of spiritual cultivation. They have validated each of the Ten Bhumis (Ten Stages of Bodhisattvahood).
However, they are not complacent.
They do not boast.
They are not arrogant.
(This is the samaya between enlightened individuals and the actualization of the path).
Enlightened individuals have a deep understanding of the profound principle of equality. They recognize that there is no distinction between oneself and others, between oneself and all living beings. I am a sentient being, and sentient beings are me. This interconnectedness has always existed. Sentient beings and oneself are also transient phenomena.
However, enlightened individuals cannot cease their compassionate nature towards sentient beings.
(This is the samaya between enlightened individuals and sentient beings.)
Enlightened individuals already understand that the two phenomena of reincarnation and nirvana are one in its nature and not two. Hence, samsara is nirvana, and nirvana is samsara; afflictions are bodhi, and bodhi is afflictions.
However, enlightened individuals never stop progressing along “the path of cultivation.”
(This is the samaya between enlightened individuals and cultivation.)
Enlightened individuals have to deeply ponder and contemplate these seven kinds of samaya mentioned by White Tara!