The Questions of Gangpa Muksang
121
When to Sever Them Again Gangpa asked Machik, “Are these four devils severed all at once, or is there a particular sequence, or is there a difference between early on and later [in regard to these] four devils?” In answer, Machik replied, “Son, the material devil and the immaterial devil are devils at the time of the cause. The devil of inflation is a devil while on the path, and the devil of exaltation is a devil at the time of fruition. “An individual who has not attained [any of the ten bodhisattva] levels and dwells in the Path of Accumulation and below the Path of Application is still on the worldly path. As such, the container — that is, the body — is more in control. The mind contained therein is not much in control. Due to that, sickness and other undesired mundane sufferings afflict such individuals uncontrollably. Since these individuals have no psychic or magical abilities, actual things with characteristics, such as the four elements, really impede them. So at the time of the paths of Accumulation and Application, it is difficult for them to have the capability to really sever the material devil. At that time, you should practice training with the mind.7 “When the first level is gained, the mind is more in control and you have control over psychic and magical abilities. By that power, you have the ability to actually sever the material devils, all the actual things with characteristics, such as the four elements, poison, weapons, precipices, and so on. At that time, the internal body and all the actual things exist without valid reality. But, however freed of the characteristics of actual things you are, until you reach buddhahood you still need ascetic practice. However much hardship you endure, you will not experience physical or mental suffering. “Up to and including the Path of Application, the immaterial devil should be severed. The apparitions of gods and demons, disease, suffering, passion, aggression, the eight worldly concerns, and so on are sensations arising in the mind. Even if a person has not attained the bodhisattva levels, if he or she is in possession of a powerful remedy, this devil can be severed. And it is imperative to do so. “From the outset of Chöd, the ignorant mind and its coemergent ego-fixation, the root of all problems, the basis of all discursive thinking, the deluded intellect that gives rise to all afflictive emotion, is the inflated object. That ignorant, dark mind is to be severed by the timeless wisdom of inflating