[Buddha-l] Help in translation

[Alex Wilding]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com [mailto:buddha-l-
> 
> I am reading a text of Longchenpa and I found this passage
> "These manifest in our perception as distinct from one
> another, but their nature is this...complete purity.
> These do not fall outside of the view of this pervasive state
> of timeless perfection, that of dredging this pit of
> samsara and nirvana"
> 
> I did not get the meaning of the senctence
> "that of dredging this pit of samsara and nirvana"
>  in the contest of the  precedent words
> Is it  an idiomatic expression ? .Someone can explain me

It looks just like a version of a fairly standard image of "stirring the pit
of samsara". The implication is that when, as a result of practice, you are
liberated for yourself, you have a job to do: that of liberating all the
sentient beings who are mired in the foul pit that is the cycle of
suffering. You have to get down in there and shake it up a bit!

I agree that, in the words you quote, the linkage to the previous idea is
not clear. That could be because a) the original is not clear b) there is a
bit missing c) the translation is bad d) we are not clever e) you have not
given us enough context. I can only speculate that the meaning could be that
one should not think that adopting "the view of this pervasive state of
timeless perfection" means that you can sit back on your cloud - getting
down into the pit is all part of it. But that is only guesswork.
                                    
All the best
Alex Wilding
Blog: http://chagchen.org /