Inspired by Malcolm Smith’s Wisdom Academy course: Dzogchen: Ten Key Terms I’ve been reflecting a lot recently on the terms he focuses on, as they are so crucial to Dzogchen understanding and realisation. In a series of posts I want to share my favourite quotes from the Dzogchen source texts, so they can speak for themselves on what each of these key terms points to.
This time around I’m focussed on the Primordial Ground, or Gzhi in Tibetan. You could say in a way that it’s the most important term as it’s pointing to what we are aiming to recognise and realise, and perhaps even more importantly – to what we really are. Recognition is seeing things are they truly are, and the stabilisation of this recognition leads to us fully being what we really are. Unlike many of the Buddhist approaches, in Dzogchen we are not aiming to cultivate qualities and experiences in order to reach a state which is entirely unlike how we experience the world now. It’s not getting somewhere other than where we already are – in a sense. It’s more a recognition of our ground, our true nature. We already are these qualities, this nature – we just don’t recognise it, nor live fully from it. Our nature is awake. We don’t need to create awakening.
Having said that, we usually don’t recognise this and typically contract around experiences, thus experiencing an us and them, a subject and an object as being inherently real. This is ignorance or delusion. Seeing through this contraction, and recognising the wide open sky of empty awareness, and the magical display of appearances as being inseparable and nondual from that empty luminosity is just this awakening.
You could say that this primordial ground, this empty, groundless ground represents the fundamental state of reality, and is the source or basis for all phenomena and experiences. It is pure, timeless and beyond all dualistic distinction. It’s not a metaphysical construct or concept – it’s the essence of our own nature, innately clear, luminous and aware.
The three main qualities of the Ground or Basis
In Dzogchen teachings, the Ground or Basis (gzhi) is characterized by three main qualities:
- Essence (ngo bo) – The Ground is empty and without inherent existence, representing a state of emptiness, much like the concept of śūnyatā in Mahayana Buddhism.
- Nature (rang bzhin) – This quality refers to the clarity or luminosity of the Ground. Although empty, it has the capacity for awareness, making it the basis of consciousness and perception.
- Energy or Compassion (thugs rje) – The Ground is dynamic, manifesting as spontaneous energy or compassion. This quality represents the expressive aspect, through which phenomena and experiences arise in a natural, unimpeded way.
All the practices of Dzogchen aim to directly recognise and rest in this nature, to awaken to this ground and thereby lead to liberation.
No more from me – I’ll let the Dzogchen source texts speak for themselves on this fundamental, non-dual nature of reality. I’ve chosen my favourite quotations from Dzogchen Tantras, from key historical Dzogchen masters, as well as from more recent masters. I’ve even as a bonus thrown in some quotes from Bon Dzogchen teachings, which shine an interesting light on the Primordial Ground from a parallel perspective.
I truly pray that reading, reflecting and meditating on these quotations leads you to full awakening!
Quotes from Dzogchen original sources on the Primordial Ground (Gzhi)
The Ground (gzhi) is the pure and total presence of the basic space of phenomena, uncontrived and beyond elaboration. It is free from extremes of existence and nonexistence and remains unstained by conceptual thought. All appearances arise within this Ground, but it is not affected by them.
Longchenpa
The Precious Treasury of the Basic Space of Phenomena (Chöying Dzöd)
Richard Barron (Padma Publishing, 2001)
The Ground is primordially pure (ka dag) and spontaneously present (lhun grub), beyond effort or contrivance. It is the unconditioned nature of reality, vast and open like the sky, where all appearances arise as the self-expression of its clarity.
Longchenpa
The Treasury of Natural Perfection (ngal gso skor gsum)
Keith Dowman (Natural Perfection, Wisdom Publications, 2010)
The Ground (gzhi) is the natural state of mind, empty and radiant, like a flawless crystal. It is unchanging and indestructible, beyond arising and ceasing. Recognizing this Ground reveals the inseparability of samsara and nirvana.
Padmasambhava
Self-Liberation through Seeing with Naked Awareness (Rigpa Rangshar)
John Myrdhin Reynolds (Snow Lion, 2000)
The Base (gzhi) is beyond the duality of existence and nonexistence. It is self-originated wisdom, free from causes and conditions. From this Ground, all phenomena arise spontaneously, yet it remains untainted and unchanged.
The Tantra of the All-Creating King (Kunjed Gyalpo)
The Supreme Source
Adriano Clemente and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (Snow Lion, 1999)
The Ground is the original purity (ka dag) of all phenomena, luminous and naturally free from constructs. It is the uncreated essence of mind, where samsara and nirvana are inseparable as one taste.
Dudjom Lingpa
The Enlightened View of Samantabhadra
Alan Wallace (The Dzogchen Primer, Shambhala, 2002)
The Ground (gzhi) is naturally luminous awareness, self-perfected and beyond elaboration. It is not something to be attained but is the timeless essence of reality, ever-present and unchanging.
Dudjom Lingpa
The Sharp Vajra of Awareness Tantra (Rigpa Rangshar)
B. Alan Wallace (Wisdom Publications, 2012)
The Ground is the vast expanse of primordial purity (ka dag), beyond birth and cessation. It is free from mental elaborations and the distinctions of samsara and nirvana. In this Ground, clarity and emptiness are inseparably united.
Jigme Lingpa
Yeshe Lama
Gyurme Dorje (A Treasure Trove of Scriptural Transmission, Snow Lion, 2010)
The Ground is the unconditioned and luminous essence of mind, beyond dualistic concepts. It is the indivisible union of emptiness and clarity (stong gsal dbyer med), spontaneously present and free from effort.
Mipham Rinpoche
Beacon of Certainty (Nges shes sgron me)
John Pettit (Wisdom Publications, 1999)
The Ground is the naturally pure base (gzhi ka dag), the essence of all phenomena. It is uncreated and free from duality, like the expanse of space. All phenomena arise within it as its spontaneous display, yet it remains unaltered.
The Tantra of the Cuckoo of Awareness (Rig pa’i khu byug)
Translated excerpt
Keith Dowman (The Flight of the Garuda, Wisdom Publications, 1988)
The Ground (gzhi) is the unchanging essence of all that exists, naturally free from birth, abiding, and cessation. It is the indivisible expanse of primordial purity (ka dag) and spontaneous presence (lhun grub), where samsara and nirvana are one.
The Seventeen Tantras of Dzogchen Semde
Quoted in The Crystal and the Way of Light
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (Snow Lion, 1999)
The Ground of all phenomena is a state of equality, originally pure, naturally arising, and completely free of dualistic perception. It is not a domain of conceptual elaboration, nor is it a focus for clinging or rejection. From this Ground, the manifestations of cyclic existence and nirvana arise like illusions, yet the Ground itself remains unaltered, a state of luminous clarity.
Longchenpa
The Precious Treasury of the Way of Abiding (Tshig don mdzod)
Richard Barron (Padma Publishing, 2007)
The Base (gzhi) is the infinite, all-pervasive expanse of primordial purity (ka dag). Within this expanse, appearances manifest spontaneously as the display of awareness, yet the Base itself is never compounded or subject to fluctuation.
Longchenpa
The Treasure Trove of Scriptural Transmission (Lung gi gter mdzod)
Gyurme Dorje (2010)
The Ground is without beginning or end, a state of primordial purity (ka dag) and all-pervading vastness. It is unconditioned by causes or circumstances and transcends the constructs of samsara and nirvana. All phenomena arise from this Ground as its display, yet it remains unstained, like a crystal reflecting light.
The Tantra of the Self-Awareness of Samantabhadra (Kun tu bzang po rang rig gi rgyud)
Translated excerpt
John Myrdhin Reynolds (Unpublished translation)
The Ground is unborn and indestructible, a vast expanse of clarity free from all limits or dimensions. It is the intrinsic nature of mind, the all-encompassing source of appearances. Recognizing the Ground as your own nature is the key to liberation.
Padmasambhava
Dakini Teachings
Erik Pema Kunsang (Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 1990)
The Base (gzhi) is luminous, self-arising awareness, beyond concepts of existence or nonexistence. It is free from birth and destruction, dwelling as an eternal expanse of purity and perfection. All appearances arise within it, yet the Ground itself remains unchanging.
The Tantra of the Blazing Lamp (sGron ma ‘bar ba’i rgyud)
Translated excerpt
David Germano (in Tibetan and Himalayan Religions and Culture, 2004)
The Ground of all phenomena is the original purity (ka dag) of the expanse of reality. It is untainted by mental constructs and not dependent on causes or conditions. Within this expanse, the clear and unobstructed display of awareness arises spontaneously, like light emanating from the sun.
Mipham Rinpoche
The Lion’s Roar of the Great Perfection (Dzogchen Sengé Ngaro)
Malcolm Smith (Translation Group, 2021)
The Ground is naturally radiant and clear, the union of emptiness and luminosity. It is the primal purity of all existence, uncreated and unceasing. From this Ground, all appearances manifest as the playful display of awareness, yet it remains unstained and unaltered, like a mirror reflecting images without being affected.
Dudjom Lingpa
The Vajra Essence (rDo rje snying po)
Alan Wallace (Wisdom Publications, 2020)
The Ground is the great perfection of primordial purity (ka dag chen po), the original nature of mind, unchanging and ever-present. It is free from elaboration and conceptual grasping, like a sky free of clouds. All phenomena arise within this Ground as its display, inseparable from its nature.
Dudjom Rinpoche
A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom (Gsal bar ston pa’i sgron me)
Padmakara Translation Group (Shambhala, 2011)
The Base is the natural state of being, timeless and beyond causation. It is the radiant clarity of awareness, untainted by duality or limitation. The Ground itself does not change, even as the infinite display of phenomena arises within it.
The Seventeen Tantras of Dzogchen Semde
Translated excerpt
Herbert V. Guenther (The Teachings of Padmasambhava, 1996)
The Ground is naturally pure and spontaneously present, free from elaboration and all conceptual constructs. It is self-existing awareness, vast and open, where all appearances arise as the natural display of its clarity.
Padmasambhava
The Tantra of the Great Perfection of Awareness (Rig pa chen po’i rgyud)
Tulku Thondup (Buddhahood Without Meditation, 1994)
The Ground is the unchanging essence of reality, primordially pure and spontaneously present. It is not created by causes and conditions, and it transcends all notions of arising, abiding, and ceasing. The Ground is like the sky—vast, open, and unaffected by clouds.
Longchenpa
The Precious Treasury of the Genuine Meaning (Tshig don rin po che’i mdzod)
Richard Barron (Padma Publishing, 2007)
The Ground is the essence of all phenomena, a state of intrinsic purity (ka dag) and spontaneous presence (lhun grub). It is unconditioned, beyond the constructs of existence and nonexistence. From this Ground, all manifestations arise naturally, yet it remains untouched and unchanging.
Dudjom Rinpoche
The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism
Gyurme Dorje and Matthew Kapstein (Wisdom Publications, 1991)
The Ground is the uncontrived, natural state of awareness, free from mental elaborations and conceptual activity. It is luminous and empty, like a stainless mirror that reflects all appearances without being affected by them.
Mipham Rinpoche
A Lamp to Dispel Darkness (Mun sel sgron me)
Malcolm Smith (Snow Lion, 2012)
The Ground is self-existing and eternal, an infinite expanse of luminous clarity. It is unconditioned and beyond dualistic distinctions. From this Ground, the entire universe arises as its spontaneous display, like rainbows appearing in the sky.
The Tantra of the Six Spheres of Samantabhadra (Kun tu bzang po klong drug)
Translated excerpt
David Germano (2004)
The Ground is the natural state of reality, a vast expanse of primordial purity and spontaneous presence. It is the unconditioned basis of all phenomena, beyond birth and cessation. From this Ground, clarity and emptiness arise as a single, indivisible expanse.
Jigme Lingpa
The Treasury of Precious Qualities (Yon tan rin po che’i mdzod)
Padmakara Translation Group (Shambhala, 2010)
The Ground is an expanse of infinite openness and clarity, primordially pure and naturally luminous. It is unchanging and free from all elaboration. Within this Ground, all appearances arise as its natural radiance, inseparable from its essence.
Longchenpa
The Treasury of Natural Perfection (ngal gso skor gsum)
Keith Dowman (Natural Perfection, Wisdom Publications, 2010)
The Ground is unconditioned awareness, free from arising, abiding, and ceasing. It is self-originated wisdom, unchanging and luminous, where all dualities are resolved. This Ground is the essence of all existence, like space, untouched and vast.
The Tantra of the Union of the Sun and Moon (Nyi zla kha sbyor rgyud)
Translated excerpt
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (1986)
The Ground is the natural purity of awareness, free from mental constructs and limitations. It is luminous and empty, like the sun radiating light. Within this Ground, all phenomena arise as its creative energy, yet it remains unaffected and unchanging.
Dudjom Lingpa
The Sharp Vajra of Awareness Tantra (Rig pa rang shar)
Alan Wallace (The Dzogchen Primer, Shambhala, 2002)
The Ground is the ultimate reality, a state of primordial purity and radiant clarity. It is beyond causation and dualistic thought. All manifestations arise from this Ground as its display, like waves arising on the ocean, yet the Ground itself is never disturbed.
The Seventeen Tantras of Dzogchen Semde
Translated excerpt
Herbert V. Guenther (The Teachings of Padmasambhava, 1996)
The Ground of being is the vast expanse of primordial purity, beyond arising, abiding, and ceasing. It is unconditioned and free from elaborations, a state of infinite openness and intrinsic clarity. From this Ground, all phenomena arise naturally, like reflections in a mirror, without affecting its essence.
Longchenpa
The Treasury of the Supreme Vehicle (Theg mchog mdzod)
Tulku Thondup (The Practice of Dzogchen, 1996)
The Base is the original purity of awareness, self-arising and self-sustaining. It is neither created nor destroyed, transcending birth and death. Within this Base, all appearances arise spontaneously, inseparable from its nature, like light radiating from the sun.
Padmasambhava
The Tantra of the Great Perfection That Teaches the Self-Arising Nature
Erik Pema Kunsang (The Tibetan Book of the Dead, 1991)
The Ground is the naturally present purity of mind, free from the stains of conceptual constructs. It is luminous and empty, a state of indivisible clarity and openness. All appearances arise within this Ground as its radiant display, inseparable from its essence.
Jigme Lingpa
The Treasury of Precious Qualities (Yon tan rin po che’i mdzod)
Padmakara Translation Group (Shambhala, 2010)
The Ground is the nature of mind itself, a state of infinite clarity and openness. It is uncreated and unceasing, beyond the dualities of existence and nonexistence. From this Ground arises the spontaneous display of phenomena, which are inseparable from its essence.
Dudjom Lingpa
The Vajra Heart Essence (rDo rje snying thig)
Alan Wallace (Open Mind: View and Meditation in Dzogchen, 2007)
The Ground is the infinite expanse of the dharmadhatu, naturally pure and free from elaboration. It is not conditioned by causes or circumstances, and it transcends the dualities of samsara and nirvana. Within this Ground, all phenomena arise spontaneously as the expression of its intrinsic nature.
Longchenpa
The Precious Treasury of the Basic Space of Phenomena (Chöying Dzöd)
Richard Barron (Padma Publishing, 2007)
The Base is the all-encompassing source of all phenomena, primordially pure and free from constructs. It is self-originated wisdom, beyond dualistic distinctions of existence and nonexistence. All manifestations arise within it, inseparable from its unchanging essence.
The All-Creating King Tantra (Kun byed rgyal po’i rgyud)
Translated excerpt
Adriano Clemente and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (The Supreme Source, 1999)
The Ground is the self-arising nature of awareness, intrinsically pure and free from elaboration. It is the essence of all that is, beyond the extremes of duality. From this Ground, all appearances manifest as the spontaneous play of its natural radiance.
The Cuckoo of Awareness Tantra (Rig pa’i khu byug)
Translated excerpt
Keith Dowman (The Flight of the Garuda, 1988)
The Ground is the unconditioned basis of all phenomena, beyond arising, abiding, and ceasing. It is luminous and clear, free from the stains of conceptual elaboration. All phenomena manifest as its natural expression, inseparable from its intrinsic purity.
Mipham Rinpoche
The Beacon of Certainty (Nges shes sgron me)
John Pettit (Mipham’s Beacon of Certainty, 1999)
The Ground is the great expanse of primordial purity, unchanging and ever-present. It is beyond dualistic perception, free from mental constructs and elaborations. Within this Ground, all phenomena arise as the radiant display of its natural perfection.
Dudjom Rinpoche
A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom (Gsal bar ston pa’i sgron me)
Padmakara Translation Group (Shambhala, 2011)
The Ground is the naturally luminous essence of awareness, beyond arising, abiding, and ceasing. It is the unchanging source of all phenomena, an expanse of infinite clarity and openness. From this Ground, all appearances manifest spontaneously as the radiance of its intrinsic purity.
The Tantra of the Blazing Lamp (Sgron ma ‘bar ba’i rgyud)
Translated excerpt
David Germano (2004)
The Ground is a timeless expanse of unconditioned purity, free from the limitations of thought and language. It is the natural state, self-originated and spontaneously present, from which all phenomena arise as the radiance of its clarity, yet without ever altering its essence.
Longchenpa
The Precious Treasury of the Dharmadhatu (Chöying Dzöd)
Richard Barron (Padma Publishing, 2001)
The Base is the ground of all existence, naturally luminous and unchanging. It is free from conceptual elaboration and transcends the dualities of samsara and nirvana. This Ground is self-cognizant, an infinite expanse of awareness that is neither created nor destroyed.
Padmasambhava
Natural Liberation Through Naked Awareness (Rigpa Rangshar)
Alan Wallace (Natural Liberation, Wisdom Publications, 1998)
The Ground is the ultimate nature of reality, an expanse of immutable openness. It is primordially pure and naturally radiant, beyond birth and death. Within this Ground, all phenomena arise spontaneously as the dynamic energy of its intrinsic nature.
Dudjom Lingpa
The Enlightened View of Samantabhadra (Kun tu bzang po’i dgongs pa)
B. Alan Wallace (The Heart of the Great Perfection, 2004)
The Base is the primordial purity of all phenomena, the unchanging essence that pervades everything. It is beyond arising and ceasing, an infinite expanse of self-arising awareness. From this Base, all manifestations arise effortlessly, yet it remains undefiled and unaltered.
The Tantra of the All-Creating King (Kun byed rgyal po’i rgyud)
Translated excerpt
Adriano Clemente and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (The Supreme Source, Snow Lion, 1999)
The Ground is the fundamental nature of mind, free from the stains of dualistic thought. It is an infinite expanse of clarity and emptiness, inseparable and self-luminous. From this Ground, all appearances emerge spontaneously as the expression of its essence.
Mipham Rinpoche
White Lotus (Padma dkar po)
Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen (White Lotus, Snow Lion, 2001)
The Ground is the primordial nature of mind, a vast expanse of purity and clarity. It is beyond conception and duality, unchanging and self-luminous. All phenomena arise as its spontaneous expression, inseparable from its essence of great perfection.
Jigme Lingpa
Yeshe Lama (Ye shes bla ma)
Gyurme Dorje (Treasury of Precious Qualities, 2010)
The Ground is the infinite openness of reality, naturally pure and spontaneously present. It is unchanging, beyond the limitations of thought and dualistic perception. All phenomena arise as the radiant expression of its intrinsic nature, without ever departing from its essence.
Longchenpa
The Treasury of Natural Perfection (Ngal gso skor gsum)
Keith Dowman (Natural Perfection, Wisdom Publications, 2010)
The Base is the primordial expanse of great perfection, unconditioned and free from arising and ceasing. It is naturally luminous, an infinite expanse of awareness. Within this Base, all phenomena arise as its spontaneous display, inseparable from its essence.
The Tantra of the Union of Samantabhadra and Samantabhadri
Translated excerpt
Erik Pema Kunsang (Wellsprings of the Great Perfection, 2006)
The Ground is the unconditioned basis of all appearances, an expanse of intrinsic purity and openness. It transcends birth and death, arising and ceasing, and is ever-luminous. Within this Ground, all phenomena manifest naturally as its radiance, inseparable from its perfection.
Dudjom Rinpoche
A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom (Gsal bar ston pa’i sgron me)
Padmakara Translation Group (Shambhala, 2011)
The Ground is an expanse of eternal luminosity, free from dualistic constructs. It is the unchanging essence of all phenomena, an infinite openness that transcends arising, abiding, and ceasing. From this Ground, all appearances arise spontaneously as its natural radiance.
The Tantra of the Six Spheres of Samantabhadra (Kun tu bzang po klong drug)
Translated excerpt
David Germano (2004)
The Ground of being is the vast expanse of open awareness, naturally luminous and free from conceptual elaboration. It is unborn, unceasing, and undeluded. Within this Ground, all appearances arise spontaneously as its radiant clarity, inseparable from its essence.
Padmasambhava
The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol)
Francesca Fremantle and Chögyam Trungpa (Shambhala, 2000)
The Ground is the fundamental nature of reality, naturally pure and free from elaborations. It transcends causation and duality, a vast expanse of self-existing awareness. All phenomena arise as its spontaneous display, like reflections in a crystal, without altering its unchanging essence.
Longchenpa
The Treasury of the Dharmadhatu (Chöying Dzöd)
Richard Barron (Padma Publishing, 2001)
The Ground is the all-pervasive reality, primordially pure and free from elaborations. It is unconditioned and luminous, an expanse of awareness that transcends duality. From this Ground, the infinite variety of appearances arises effortlessly as its natural radiance.
The Seventeen Tantras of Dzogchen Semde
Tantra of the Union of the Sun and Moon (Nyi zla kha sbyor rgyud)
Keith Dowman (Eye of the Storm, Vajra Publications, 2006)
The Ground is the natural state of reality, free from the limitations of conceptual thought. It is the union of clarity and emptiness, a vast expanse of openness and radiance. From this Ground, all appearances arise spontaneously, inseparable from its essence.
Jigme Lingpa
The Treasury of Precious Qualities (Yon tan rin po che’i mdzod)
Padmakara Translation Group (Shambhala, 2010)
The Base is the primordial source, unchanging and free from arising and ceasing. It is an infinite expanse of pure awareness, luminous and self-sustaining. From this Base, all phenomena arise as its natural expression, inseparable from its essence.
The Tantra of the All-Creating King (Kun byed rgyal po’i rgyud)
Translated excerpt
Adriano Clemente and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (The Supreme Source, Snow Lion, 1999)
The Ground is the ultimate nature of mind, intrinsically pure and naturally luminous. It is beyond birth and death, free from arising, abiding, and ceasing. All appearances manifest within this Ground as the radiant play of its inherent perfection.
Dudjom Rinpoche
The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism
Gyurme Dorje and Matthew Kapstein (Wisdom Publications, 1991)
The Ground is the natural state of awareness, luminous and free from conceptual elaborations. It is the unconditioned basis of all phenomena, an infinite expanse of clarity and openness. From this Ground, the entire world manifests as its spontaneous radiance.
Mipham Rinpoche
Beacon of Certainty (Nges shes sgron me)
John Pettit (Mipham’s Beacon of Certainty, Wisdom Publications, 1999)
The Ground is the unchanging nature of awareness, an expanse of intrinsic purity and luminosity. It is self-arising and free from elaborations, beyond arising, abiding, and ceasing. From this Ground, all appearances manifest effortlessly as its dynamic energy.
Dudjom Lingpa
The Sharp Vajra of Awareness Tantra (Rig pa rang shar)
Alan Wallace (The Dzogchen Primer, Shambhala, 2002)
The Ground is the natural state of all phenomena, vast and open like space. It is primordially pure and spontaneously present, free from dualistic concepts. Within this Ground, all appearances arise naturally as its radiant display, inseparable from its essence.
Longchenpa
The Precious Treasury of the Way of Abiding (Ngal gso skor gsum)
Richard Barron (Padma Publishing, 2007)
The Ground is the self-arising nature of awareness, intrinsically pure and naturally radiant. It is unchanging and beyond dualistic thought. From this Ground, all appearances arise spontaneously, like rainbows in the sky, without ever altering its essence.
The Cuckoo of Awareness Tantra (Rig pa’i khu byug)
Translated excerpt
Keith Dowman (The Flight of the Garuda, 1988)
The Ground is the primordial purity of the natural state, free from dualistic elaborations. It is self-originated and unchanging, beyond conceptual mind. From this Ground, the infinite diversity of phenomena arises as its spontaneous expression, yet it remains untouched and unaltered.
Longchenpa
The Treasury of Natural Perfection (Ngal gso skor gsum)
Keith Dowman (Natural Perfection, Wisdom Publications, 2010)
The Base is the uncontrived natural state, pure from the beginning. It is an expanse of self-arising awareness, free from mental constructs. All appearances are its radiant display, inseparable from the luminous clarity of the Ground.The Base is the uncontrived natural state, pure from the beginning. It is an expanse of self-arising awareness, free from mental constructs. All appearances are its radiant display, inseparable from the luminous clarity of the Ground.
Garab Dorje
The Three Statements that Strike the Vital Point (Tsik Sum Né Dek)
Malcolm Smith (Clarifying the Natural State, 2016)
The Base is the original purity of all phenomena, an infinite expanse of self-arising awareness. It is beyond time and space, unborn and unceasing. Within this Base, all appearances manifest spontaneously, like reflections in a mirror, without ever altering its essence
The Tantra of the All-Creating King (Kun byed rgyal po’i rgyud)
Translated excerpt
Adriano Clemente and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (The Supreme Source, Snow Lion, 1999)
The Ground is the natural state of reality, a vast expanse of primordial purity and luminosity. It transcends conceptual elaborations, an unchanging openness that is the basis of all appearances. From this Ground, the dynamic energy of awareness manifests as the infinite play of phenomena.
Jigme Lingpa
The Treasury of Precious Qualities (Yon tan rin po che’i mdzod)
Padmakara Translation Group (Shambhala, 2010)
The Base is the nature of mind, luminous and free from conceptual constructs. It is beyond arising and ceasing, an infinite expanse of clarity and openness. All phenomena manifest from this Base as its dynamic energy, inseparable from its pure essence.
Mipham Rinpoche
Introduction to the Path of Great Perfection (rdzogs chen skor gyi ‘grel bshad)
Erik Pema Kunsang (The Tibetan Book of the Natural Way, Rangjung Yeshe, 1993)
The Ground of being is the vast expanse of open awareness, naturally luminous and free from conceptual elaboration. It is unborn, unceasing, and undeluded. Within this Ground, all appearances arise spontaneously as its radiant clarity, inseparable from its essence.
Padmasambhava
The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol)
Francesca Fremantle and Chögyam Trungpa (Shambhala, 2000)
The Ground is the ultimate nature of reality, an expanse of immutable openness. It is primordially pure and naturally radiant, beyond birth and death. Within this Ground, all phenomena arise spontaneously as the dynamic energy of its intrinsic nature.
Dudjom Lingpa
The Enlightened View of Samantabhadra (Kun tu bzang po’i dgongs pa)
B. Alan Wallace (The Heart of the Great Perfection, 2004)
The Base is the ground of all appearances, free from arising and ceasing. It is an infinite expanse of pure awareness, naturally luminous and unchanging. From this Base, the entire universe arises effortlessly as its luminous display.
The Seventeen Tantras of Dzogchen Semde
Tantra of the Blazing Lamp (Sgron ma ‘bar ba’i rgyud)
Keith Dowman (Eye of the Storm, Vajra Publications, 2006)
The Ground is the unconditioned basis of all appearances, an expanse of intrinsic purity and openness. It transcends birth and death, arising and ceasing, and is ever-luminous. Within this Ground, all phenomena manifest naturally as its radiance, inseparable from its perfection.
Dudjom Rinpoche
A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom (Gsal bar ston pa’i sgron me)
Padmakara Translation Group (Shambhala, 2011)
The Ground is a timeless expanse of unconditioned purity, free from the limitations of thought and language. It is the natural state, self-originated and spontaneously present, from which all phenomena arise as the radiance of its clarity, yet without ever altering its essence.
Longchenpa
The Precious Treasury of the Dharmadhatu (Chöying Dzöd)
Richard Barron (Padma Publishing, 2001)
The ground of all experience is a state of natural perfection, the utterly pure essence of being, like space itself. It transcends all dualistic constructs, unchanging and spontaneously present. From this ground, the entire universe manifests as its unobstructed radiance, yet the ground itself remains free of elaboration.
Longchenpa
The Precious Treasury of the Basic Space of Phenomena (Chöying Dzöd)
Richard Barron (Padma Publishing, 2001)
The base is neither existent nor nonexistent; it is beyond conceptual elaboration. It is not born and does not die. It is an infinite expanse of primordial purity, and from this base, all manifestations arise spontaneously, without effort or cause.
The All-Creating King Tantra (Kun byed rgyal po’i rgyud)
Translated excerpt
Adriano Clemente and Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (The Supreme Source, Snow Lion, 1999)
The ground is the unchanging nature of awareness, an expanse of luminous clarity free from mental elaboration. It is not made or fabricated; it is present from the beginning as the intrinsic purity of all phenomena. From this ground, all appearances arise as its natural expression.
Dudjom Lingpa
Buddhahood Without Meditation (Nang jang)
Alan Wallace (The Dzogchen Primer, Shambhala, 2002)
The ground of liberation is the original purity of your own mind. It is naturally clear, unobstructed, and self-radiant. Recognize this ground and remain in it without distraction, for it is the source of all appearances, yet itself remains unconditioned.
Padmasambhava
Natural Liberation Through Naked Perception (Rig pa rang grol)
Alan Wallace (Natural Liberation, Wisdom Publications, 1998)
The primordial ground is the natural state of mind, an expanse of clarity and emptiness inseparable. It is neither born nor ceases, and all phenomena arise within it as reflections, without ever departing from its pure nature.
Mipham Rinpoche
The Lion’s Roar of the Ultimate Nonduality
Erik Pema Kunsang (The Tibetan Book of the Natural Way, Rangjung Yeshe, 1993)
The base is the fundamental essence of awareness, naturally luminous and free from conceptual fabrication. It is like a vast mirror, in which all appearances arise as spontaneous reflections, inseparable from the clarity of the mirror itself.
The Seventeen Tantras of Dzogchen Semde
Tantra of the Mirror of the Heart of Vajrasattva (rDo rje sems dpa’i snying gi me long gi rgyud)
Keith Dowman (Eye of the Storm, Vajra Publications, 2006)
The ground is the ultimate expanse of reality, naturally pure and luminous. It is beyond the confines of thought and language, an open and uncontrived presence. From this ground, all phenomena arise as its effortless display, without altering its nature.
Jigme Lingpa
Treasury of Precious Qualities (Yon tan rin po che’i mdzod)
Padmakara Translation Group (Shambhala, 2010)
The ground is the unconditioned expanse of reality, beyond arising and ceasing. It is naturally pure and spontaneously present, like a vast sky. All phenomena manifest within this ground as its dynamic energy, inseparable from its primordial purity.
Longchenpa
The Treasury of the Supreme Vehicle (Theg mchog rin po che’i mdzod)
Tulku Thondup (Buddha Mind, Shambhala, 1989)
The base is the self-existing nature of awareness, naturally pure and unchanging. It is like a crystal, clear and untainted, within which all appearances arise spontaneously as its luminous display.
The Tantra of the Cuckoo of Awareness (Rig pa’i khu byug)
Translated excerpt
Keith Dowman (The Flight of the Garuda, Wisdom Publications, 1988)
The ground is the primordial purity of all phenomena, an uncontrived and unchanging state of being. It is the luminous nature of mind, beyond birth and death, within which all appearances arise effortlessly as its dynamic expression.
Dudjom Rinpoche
The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism
Gyurme Dorje and Matthew Kapstein (Wisdom Publications, 1991)
Bon Dzogchen quotations on the Primordial Ground or Base (Gzhi)
The primordial ground is the unconditioned essence, vast and infinite like the sky. It is free from elaborations, naturally luminous, and beyond arising and ceasing. Within this ground, all phenomena arise as its radiant and spontaneous display, yet it remains unaltered.
The Great Garuda in Flight (Khyung chen lding ba)
Bonpo Dzogchen source text
Jean-Luc Achard (The Six Lamps, Brill, 2019)
The Base is the unchanging nature of awareness, pure and infinite. It is not created by causes or conditions and cannot be tainted by delusion. From this Base, the entirety of existence arises effortlessly, like reflections in a crystal.
The Six Lamps (Drug sgron ma)
Bonpo Dzogchen text
Jean-Luc Achard (The Six Lamps, Brill, 2019)
The Ground is the ultimate nature of mind, self-arising and uncontrived. It is free from birth and death, pure from the beginning, and unceasing. This Ground is like an all-encompassing expanse, from which all appearances arise naturally without effort or obstruction.
Tapihritsa
The Heart Drops of Dharmakaya (Chöying nyingpo)
Lopön Tenzin Namdak (Heart Drops of Dharmakaya, Snow Lion, 2002)
The Base is the primordial purity of mind, an open and boundless expanse. It is self-originated and spontaneously perfect, beyond dualistic distinctions. All appearances arise within this Base as its inherent radiance, yet it remains untouched and unchanging.
The Golden Letters (Gser yig)
Bon Dzogchen teachings attributed to Tapihritsa
John Myrdhin Reynolds (The Golden Letters, Snow Lion, 1996)
The Base is the natural state, free from elaboration and beyond conceptual thought. It is like space, vast and infinite, where all phenomena manifest as spontaneous expressions of its dynamic energy. This Base is self-arising, unconditioned, and free from birth and death.
The Zhang Zhung Nyengyud (Zhang zhung snyan rgyud)
The Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung lineage of Bon Dzogchen
John Myrdhin Reynolds (The Oral Tradition from Zhang Zhung, Vajra Publications, 2005)
The primordial ground is the essence of reality, luminous and clear, neither arising nor ceasing. It is free from all mental constructs, a naturally pure openness that pervades everything. Within this ground, all appearances manifest as its unimpeded play, inseparable from its essence.
Lopön Tenzin Namdak
Teachings on the Base in Bon Dzogchen
Oral translation (unpublished)
The Base is the foundation of all existence, infinite and pure. It is not created and cannot be destroyed. All phenomena arise within it as natural expressions of its dynamic energy, like waves on the ocean, yet the Base itself remains unmoving and unaffected.
Nyamé Sherap Gyaltsen
Bon Dzogchen text from the Ma Gyud cycle
Oral translation (unpublished)
The primordial Base is the unchanging nature of awareness, infinite and luminous. It transcends time and space, neither arising nor ceasing. From this Base, the entirety of appearances manifests as its unimpeded clarity, inseparable from its original purity.
The Mirror of the Mind of Samantabhadra (Kun bzang dgongs pa’i me long)
Bon Dzogchen text
Oral transmission via Jean-Luc Achard
The Ground is the self-arising nature of mind, pure and free from elaboration. It is like the sun shining in a clear sky, inherently luminous and unobstructed. From this Ground, the diversity of appearances arises naturally, yet the Ground remains unchanged and unaffected.
Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen
Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse (Klong chen snying thig)
Lopön Tenzin Namdak (Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse, oral commentary)
The Base is the all-encompassing ground of being, naturally pure and vast like space. It is neither created nor destroyed, neither born nor ceasing. Within this Base, all phenomena arise as spontaneous manifestations of its inherent clarity, without departing from its essence.
The Zhang Zhung Nyengyud
Oral Transmission of the Zhang Zhung Lineage
John Myrdhin Reynolds (The Oral Tradition from Zhang Zhung, Vajra Publications, 2005)
The Base is the primordial and unconditioned essence, beyond conceptual elaboration. It is naturally luminous and free from all dualistic distinctions. From this Base, the diversity of appearances manifests without effort, like reflections in a mirror.
Tapihritsa
The Golden Letters (Gser yig)
John Myrdhin Reynolds (The Golden Letters, Snow Lion, 1996)
The Ground is the unchanging expanse of reality, inherently pure and luminous. It is beyond time and space, unaffected by arising or ceasing. All phenomena are its dynamic expressions, like the sky and clouds, inseparable from its nature.
Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen
The Flight of the Garuda (Ka dag rna ba’i rgyal chen)
Keith Dowman (The Flight of the Garuda, Wisdom Publications, 1988)
The Base is the natural state of awareness, infinite and self-arising. It is not constructed by causes or conditions. From this Base, all appearances arise spontaneously, as its radiance and energy, without ever leaving its fundamental purity.
Lopön Tenzin Namdak
Teachings on the Six Lamps
Oral teachings translated by Jean-Luc Achard (unpublished)
The Base is the intrinsic purity of mind, uncontrived and vast. It is free from elaboration, beyond arising and ceasing. All appearances emerge as its dynamic display, inseparable from the Base, yet it remains unchanging and clear.
Nyamé Sherap Gyaltsen
Ma Gyud Cycle of Bon
Oral translation by Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung
The Base is the unchanging, primordial state of awareness, free from duality and elaboration. It is the natural ground of being, luminous and infinite, within which all appearances arise spontaneously, like light shining from a crystal.
The Six Lamps
Bon Dzogchen text
Jean-Luc Achard (The Six Lamps, Brill, 2019)
The primordial ground is the essence of reality, pure and boundless. It is like the vast sky, beyond mental constructs and dualistic thought. From this ground, the entirety of existence arises as its natural and effortless expression.
The Great Garuda in Flight
Bon Dzogchen source text
Oral teachings translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds
The Ground is the natural state of being, infinite and pure. It is the essence of all phenomena, beyond birth and death, unaffected by arising or ceasing. All appearances are its luminous radiance, inseparable from the Ground itself.
The Mirror of the Mind of Samantabhadra
Bon Dzogchen text
Oral transmission via Jean-Luc Achard
The Base is the ultimate reality, naturally luminous and pure. It is beyond conceptual elaboration, uncontrived and self-arising. All manifestations are its spontaneous expression, like reflections in a crystal, inseparable from its essence.
Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen
Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse
Lopön Tenzin Namdak (Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse, oral commentary)
Aspiration Prayer
May all those who have the great good karma to encounter these Dzogchen teachings and quotations recognise their true nature – the Primordial Ground.
And may they rest in that groundless ground, and stabilise that resting, until they are fully Liberated!
The Dzogchen ten key terms series
This is a series of posts inspired by Malcolm Smith’s Wisdom Academy course: Dzogchen: Ten Key Terms. I am sharing my favourite quotes from the Dzogchen source texts so they can speak for themselves on what each of these key terms points to. If moved to please use them as a reference source for reflection and meditation.
