The Changeless Nature

This determines three main phases of evolution; (a) an impure phase(that of ordinary beings), where there is a strong presence of affects,(b) a phase of partial purity (that of the mahabodhisattvas) and(c) a phase of total purity (that of buddhas). The concept of thebuddha essence is vital to this idea.The essence of enlightenment is called the tathagatagarbha, thegarbha (core or essence) of the tathagata (integration with the essence= buddhahood). It is also called the hridaya (heart or essence). Thisessence of enlightenment, or buddha-nature, is the principal topic ofthe uttaratantra.96. STYLES OF EXPLANATIONThere exist many ways of presenting this text, from the intellectualapproach based on the explanation-transmission from Loden Sherabto a very direct spiritual approach where the meaning is graspedthrough mahamudra meditation.ABOUT THIS BOOKThe present translation is based upon a xylographic Tibetan translationprinted at Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim. The awesome task ofputting Maitreya's meaning into English has been undertaken at therequest of His Holiness the XVIth Gyalwa Karmapa, after KhempoTsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche had shown him our rough translation.This work is meant to make a first translation publicly available. Itcontains little of interest to linguists, or scholars seeking commenton the root text. However, it is hoped that it will give that insight intobuddha-nature which is so necessary for the proper practice of vajrayanaand mahamudra. Titles have been added according to Khempo'sinstructions as well as a few words to ease the syntax.One hopes that the reader will use these words as themes formeditation and contemplation, so that their meaning, otherwiseobscure, be savoured and that this poor contribution to the