And now the Insight:

That which is called samsara is mere conceptualization.

The great wisdom is free from all conceptualization.

At this time whatever arises manifests as completely perfect.

The state of great clear light is continuous day and night.

This fragment, attributed to Mipham Rinpoche (1846–1914), a renowned Nyingma meditation master and scholar, embodies profound insights into the nature of reality and the essence of enlightened wisdom as understood in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It is exactly what you can experience by actively following the Yoga Path of the Inner Light.

Let’s try to understand its essence:

Lets understand this deep poem from the Tibetal Wisdom Source

1. “That which is called samsara is mere conceptualization.”
   • This line highlights a central tenet of Buddhist philosophy: the cyclical existence of samsara arises from the mind’s habitual tendencies to conceptualize and grasp at dualistic perceptions. Samsara is not an inherent reality but a construct of mental projections and attachments. By recognizing this, practitioners can begin to dismantle the illusions that bind them.
2. “The great wisdom is free from all conceptualization.”
   • In contrast to samsara, the great wisdom—referred to here as prajñā or ultimate wisdom—transcends conceptual thought. It is non-dual and directly perceives the nature of reality as it is, beyond labels, distinctions, or mental fabrications. This wisdom is the hallmark of enlightenment.
3. “At this time whatever arises manifests as completely perfect.”
   • This line reflects the Dzogchen view that, in the state of awakened awareness, all phenomena are seen as expressions of the primordial purity and perfection of the ultimate reality. There is no inherent flaw or separation; even ordinary appearances are understood as part of the enlightened mandala.
4. “The state of great clear light is continuous day and night.”
   • The “great clear light” refers to the fundamental luminosity of mind—its innate, unconditioned nature, which remains present and unchanging through all states of being, whether waking, dreaming, or in deep sleep. This recognition is the goal of advanced meditation practices in the Dzogchen and Mahamudra traditions.

Source Context of this Poem

Mipham Rinpoche, a towering figure in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, wrote extensively on Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and tantra. This particular verse of his encapsulates the essence of Dzogchen teachings, which emphasize the recognition of the mind’s true nature as luminous, empty, and inseparable from phenomena.

His poetry often serves as a means to express complex doctrinal ideas in a condensed and accessible form, blending philosophical depth with poetic beauty.

This fragment we referenced is from Mipham Rinpoche’s work, The Beacon of Certainty (Nges shes sgron me), a seminal text elucidating the Dzogchen view within the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Rigpa Wiki

For an in-depth study, you can consider the English translation:

Pettit, J. W. (1999). Mipham’s Beacon of Certainty: Illuminating the View of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. Wisdom Publications.

Buddha Nature

This translation provides comprehensive insights into Mipham Rinpoche’s teachings and the philosophical context of the text.

For further exploration of Mipham Rinpoche’s works, you can visit the Lotsawa House website, which offers translations of his writings.

Lotsawa House

If you have access to academic databases or libraries, you might also search for this text using its Tibetan title, Nges shes sgron me, to find additional translations or commentaries. Here we tried to capture the essence for our culture: