Other translations:

Work and Meditation

Whatever work a secretary does
It appears while it’s empty, like a dream
It makes sound that is just empty sound, like an echo
Rest in luminosity-emptiness, inexpressible clarity
Know it’s like this and secretary work
Is samadhi beyond sessions and breaks

—June 6, 2004, Wales, United Kingdom.


Whatever work you do in this life,
Know that there is no one working.
Know that the work has no inherent nature.
Know that the thoughts of working neither come nor go, neither arise nor cease.
Think that the mere appearances of these are a dream.


—September 9, 2004, New York City, U.S.A.


Just as the Mahasiddha Tilopa
Worked as a servant of the beer-seller Darima
And while doing so, actualized the realization of Mahamudra,
So should you work in the big city,
And while doing your various kinds of work, meditate on Mahamudra,
Meditate in the samadhi that sees everything to be illusory,
And practice the view, meditation, and conduct together.


—April 6, 2005, Dag Shang Kagyu, Spain.


See your various kinds of work as illusory,
See your various kinds of work as dreamlike,
See your various kinds of work as like a watermoon,
See your various kinds of work as like a rainbow.

Going, wandering, sleeping, or staying somewhere, look at mind,
Not finding anything, settle naturally, let go and relax,
Look nakedly at the relaxed mind’s essence,
Looking nakedly, settle naturally, let go and relax,
Mahamudra practice is like this.

In this day and age, when people fly in the sky like birds,
In this day and age, when people travel under the ocean like fish,
In this day and age, when people see a variety of empty forms,
In this day and age, when people here a variety of empty sounds,
Meditating while in motion makes samadhi increase.


—April 17, 2005, Casa Garuda, Italy.


Work is meditation’s friend.
Work is meditation’s focal support.
Therefore, while you work,
Relax naturally and uncontrived,
Know that memories are self-liberated.
Know that all thoughts are self-liberated.


—August 27, 2005, Karmê Chöling, U.S.A.

This was spoken extemporaneously by the one only called “Khenpo”, Tsultrim Gyamtso.  Translation copyright 2012, Ari Goldfield.