This post is an exploration of Primordial Purity, or Kadag in Tibetan (ཀ་དག་). It is sometimes also translated as “original purity” or “alpha purity.” The concept of Kadag is central to Dzogchen. It refers to the inherent, unconditioned purity of the nature of mind and reality itself. Kadag is not something to be created or attained but is the recognition of the unconditioned and always-present nature of reality. It is the very foundation for realizing the natural state in Dzogchen practice.
When you rest in recognition of Primordial Purity, there is a purity that is utterly stainless, utterly beyond all comings and goings, beyond all characterisation, in truth. Saying ‘purity’ makes it sound like the opposite of impure, but it really isn’t that. It’s a primordial purity that lies beyond pure and impure. Pure and impure relate to the contents of mind. But this is mind’s nature itself. Whatever beautiful, peaceful and seemingly pure states of mind that come up – that’s not it. Kadag is an aspect of the nature of mind. That means it never arises or ceases, it is not conditioned by anything else, and is entirely ungraspable by mind’s cognitive focus or attention.
Utterly pristine, utterly pure, utterly beyond. It’s something so beautiful that names fail in describing it. Utterly Ineffable.
The Dzogchen ten key terms series of posts
This post is a the second of 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.
The first post focussed on ‘What is the Primordial Ground, or Basis (Gzhi)?‘, where I gathered over 100 quotations from the Dzogchen source texts.
Kadag in relation to other key Dzogchen concepts
In Dzogchen teachings, the Ground or Basis (gzhi) is characterized by three main qualities:
- Essence (ngo bo) – empty and without inherent existence.
- Nature (rang bzhin) – clarity or luminosity of the Ground. Although empty, it has the capacity for awareness.
- Energy or Compassion (thugs rje) – the Ground is dynamic, manifesting as spontaneous energy or compassion. This quality represents the expressive aspect.
Kadag is very much related to the Essence aspect of the Ground. It is the pure, unchanging ground of reality, beyond duality, concepts, or effort. Recognizing and abiding in this nature is central to Dzogchen practice.
The term “ka” in Tibetan refers to the first letter of the alphabet, signifying that this purity is primordial or original. “Dag” means pure.
Kadag describes the empty essence of mind that is:
- Free from adventitious defilements and conceptual elaborations.
- Empty of inherent existence.
- Primordially pure and unstained from the very beginning.
When you rest in this pristine purity neither defilements or concepts make any mark at all. They appear to arise, but actually, it’s impossible to say that they do arise – even though you are aware of their presence. This non-arising arising does not in any way touch the pristine purity of the vast emptiness. It’s not that the pristine purity arises or is created. It is prior to all that seems to arise. Not prior in the sense that it happened before the arising, but prior in the sense that it is entirely outside of time, and indeed, time occurs within this pristine purity.
Primordial Purity is closely related to other key Dzogchen concepts:
- It is one of the two main aspects of Rigpa (pure awareness), along with Spontaneous Presence (Lhundrub) – sometimes translated as Natural Perfection.
- It corresponds to the empty essence of mind, while Spontaneous Presence relates to mind’s cognizant nature.
- Together with spontaneous presence, it comprises the ground of being that is the basis for both Samsara and Nirvana.
Kadag in relation to the practice
In Dzogchen practice:
- Recognizing the primordially pure essence of mind is a fundamental aspect of Trekchö practice.
- It provides the basis for Tögal practice, which works with Spontaneous Presence.
- Realizing the unity of Primordial Purity and Spontaneous Presence is considered the ultimate path in Dzogchen.
Understanding and directly experiencing Primordial or Original Purity is thus a crucial aspect of Dzogchen view and meditation. It points to the fundamentally pure and undefiled nature of mind that practitioners aim to recognize and abide in.
To practice Trekcho is to practice recognising and resting in this Primordial Purity. You can see mind, but there’s absolutely nothing there. This vast, open emptiness has no characteristics whatsoever. Yet, at one and the same time it’s absolutely inseparable or nondual from Spontaneous Presence, and the whole magical display of appearances.
You don’t fabricate this Kadag through effort or even enhance it through practicing virtue or meditation. It’s the timeless ground where all appearances arise and dissolve, yet which remains entirely free, entirely pure, and utterly stainless.
Look! Look now! It’s right there – the stillness that is beyond all movement or stillness. The timeless beyond comings and goings. It’s always there, but we usually always look beyond it, or get lost in the contents of mind. Recognise it, and be liberated.
No more from me – I’ll let the Dzogchen source texts speak for themselves on this inherent, unconditioned purity of the nature of mind and reality itself, this Kadag. Once again I’ve chosen my favourite quotations from Dzogchen Tantras, from key historical Dzogchen masters, as well as from more recent masters. And as in the first post in this series I’ve thrown in some quotes from Bon Dzogchen teachings, again to shine an interesting light on the Primordial Purity from a parallel perspective.
I pray that reading, reflecting and meditating on these quotations leads you to full awakening!
Quotes from Dzogchen original sources on Primordial Purity (Kadag)
The state of kadag is beyond all the limitations of mental elaboration, free from all concepts. It is the natural, unchanging purity of the base, the essence of which is beyond any arising or ceasing.
The Treasury of the Supreme Vehicle
Longchenpa
(Translation by Kenneth B. Smith)
The nature of mind is pure from the very beginning. This purity is not a result of practice, but the innate nature of all things, beyond arising, abiding, and ceasing. It is free from all conceptual elaboration and naturally luminous.
The Kunjed Gyalpo (All-Creating King Tantra)
(Translation by Tulku Thondup)
The nature of the mind is naturally pure and free from contamination. This primordial purity, kadag, is beyond the ordinary perceptions of samsara and nirvana. It is the essence of the ground of all phenomena, untainted by any dualistic views.
Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche
The Crystal and the Way of Light
(Translation by Kenneth S. White)
The base is the luminous emptiness, without beginning or end, free from the distinctions of pure and impure. This is the natural, unchanging purity, called kadag, the essence of all experience.
The Vima Nyingtig (Heart Essence of the Great Expanse)
(Translation by Keith Dowman)
Original purity is the primordial state of all beings, completely free from all mental afflictions. It is neither developed nor lost, but is the unchanging, ever-present, pure nature of mind.
The Yeshe Lama (The Lama’s Heart Essence)
(Translation by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu)
Kadag is the original purity of the mind. It is like the clear, unobstructed sky, from which all phenomena arise and to which they return. Recognizing this purity is not an accomplishment, but a recognition of what is already the case.
As It Is
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
(Translation by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche)
The natural purity of mind is not something created or fabricated. It is the naturally luminous essence of awareness, which is always pure and untouched by conceptuality.
Words of My Perfect Teacher
Patrul Rinpoche
(Translation by The Padmakara Translation Group)
Since all phenomena are embraced by the expanse of dharmakaya, they have no origin or cessation. They are pure from the beginning (kadag), free of any dualistic grasping, like space itself.
The Kunjed Gyalpo (All-Creating King Tantra)
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the nature of the ground, which is uncontrived, uncreated, and spontaneously perfect. It has never been tainted by the delusion of samsara nor purified by the realization of nirvana.
The Dzogchen Tantras
The Supreme Source
(Translated by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and Adriano Clemente)
Kadag is the naturally pure essence of the ground, free of mental constructs, like the sky free from clouds. It is the great expanse of emptiness, utterly beyond elaboration or limitation.
The Treasure Trove of Scriptural Transmission
Longchenpa
(Translated by Richard Barron)
The nature of the ground is originally pure (kadag), free from obscurations and unchanging like space. Recognizing this is the key to liberation, as all appearances are seen as the natural radiance of this purity.
The Vima Nyingtig (Heart Essence of Vimalamitra)
(Translated by Keith Dowman)
Original purity (kadag) means that the base has never been tainted by samsara or purified into nirvana. It is pure from the very beginning, and this is its unchanging nature.
The Yeshe Lama
Jigme Lingpa
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
Kadag is the ultimate nature of reality, utterly pure and free from dualistic constructs. It is the ground from which everything arises, yet it remains unaffected by what manifests.
Beacon of Certainty
Mipham Rinpoche
(Translated by John Pettit)
The ground of all phenomena is primordially pure (kadag). It is devoid of all conceptual elaboration, a vast and luminous expanse, free from arising, abiding, and ceasing.
The Chöying Dzöd (Treasury of Dharmadhatu)
Longchenpa
(Translated by Richard Barron)
The nature of mind is kadag, originally pure and free from all elaborations. It is unchanging and primordially free, like the sky unstained by clouds.
Natural Liberation
Padmasambhava
(Translated by B. Alan Wallace)
The base is the vast expanse of primordial purity (kadag), free from all constructs of existence and nonexistence. It cannot be stained by samsara or improved by nirvana.
The Kulayaraja Tantra
(Translated by David Germano)
All appearances are of one taste in the great expanse of original purity (kadag). Nothing is to be accepted or rejected, for all phenomena remain in the naturally pure state, free from duality.
The Sangwa Nyingpo (The Secret Essence Tantra)
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
In the expanse of primordial purity, there is neither good nor bad, arising nor ceasing. The nature of all phenomena is pure from the beginning, vast like the open sky
The Samantabhadra Prayer
Attributed to Garab Dorje and included in Dzogchen transmissions
(Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang)
The essence of the ground is kadag—naturally pure, timeless, and unchanging. It is not created by effort nor diminished by delusion. It is beyond acceptance and rejection.
The Natural Freedom of the Ground
Longchenpa
(Translated by Tulku Thondup)
Kadag is the pure nature of mind, which has always been free of obscurations. Resting in its natural state, one realizes that all appearances are luminous expressions of this purity.
The Tögal Instructions (Part of Dzogchen Upadesha)
(Translated by Keith Dowman)
The ground is kadag, the naturally pure essence of reality. Like the sky, it cannot be stained or improved. Recognizing this purity, one abides in the great natural state.
The Nyingma Gyubum (Collection of Nyingma Tantras)
(Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the essence of the nature of mind. It is beyond elaboration, the uncontrived, unconditioned state that is present and complete in every moment of awareness.
Counsels from My Heart
Dudjom Rinpoche
(Translated by Padmakara Translation Group)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the natural state of all phenomena, free from all dualistic elaborations. It cannot be improved or diminished, for it is the timeless nature of reality itself.
The Precious Treasury of the Way of Abiding
Longchenpa
(Translated by Richard Barron)
The nature of kadag is emptiness, vast and all-encompassing, beyond mental constructs and inherent existence. It is the ground where samsara and nirvana are inseparably united.
The Tögal Instructions (Dzogchen Menngagde)
(Translated by Keith Dowman)
The essence of mind is empty and pure, primordially pure (kadag). It is free from arising and ceasing, like the sky, which is never stained by the passing clouds.
Self-Liberation through Seeing with Naked Awareness
Padmasambhava
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
Primordial purity is the essence of the ground. It is vast like space, free from all obscurations and dualistic conceptions. It is naturally luminous, neither arising nor ceasing.
The Gyü Lama (Uttara Tantra of Dzogchen)
(Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang)
The nature of kadag is timeless purity. It is not a product of practice nor something to be attained. It is the unconditioned nature of all that appears and exists.
The Kunjed Gyalpo (All-Creating King Tantra)
(Translated by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu)
Kadag is the unchanging essence of reality, the true nature of mind. It is stainless and pure, the ground from which all phenomena arise and to which they return.
The Adornment of the Middle Way
Mipham Rinpoche
(Translated by Douglas Duckworth)
The ground is kadag, naturally pure and unchanging. This original purity is inseparable from the spontaneous presence of luminous clarity, which is the play of awareness.
The Vima Nyingtig (Heart Essence of Vimalamitra)
(Translated by Tulku Thondup)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the empty essence of the ground, beyond all mental constructs. It is the foundation of all appearances, uncreated and free from dualistic extremes.
The Yeshe Lama
Jigme Lingpa
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
Kadag is the natural purity of awareness, unblemished by ignorance. It is not something to be purified or achieved—it is the ever-present state of the ground.
The Rigpa Rangshar Tantra (Self-Arising Awareness Tantra)
(Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang)
The ground is primordially pure (kadag). When you recognize this nature of mind, there is nothing to purify, nothing to reject, and nothing to attain.
The Three Words that Strike the Vital Point
Garab Dorje
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
Kadag is the unconditioned, naturally pure essence of mind, free from all stains. It is not something that needs to be created but is already complete in its natural state.
Rainbow Painting
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
(Translated by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche)
The primordial purity (kadag) of mind is its unchanging essence, free from birth and death, beyond duality. This is the ultimate ground of being.
The Heart of Compassion
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
(Translated by Matthieu Ricard)
Kadag, the natural purity of the ground, is not tainted by thoughts or perceptions. It is the uncontrived essence of reality, like the sun unobscured by clouds.
The Chöying Dzöd (Treasury of Dharmadhatu)
Longchenpa
Kadag is the empty, pure nature of mind. It is beyond all effort and fabrication, naturally present in all beings as the untainted ground of liberation.
The Sangwa Nyingpo (Secret Essence Tantra)
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
Original purity (kadag) is the nature of the ground, empty and stainless. It has never been tainted by ignorance or conditioned by samsaric experiences. Recognizing this nature is the gateway to liberation.
The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism
Dudjom Rinpoche
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
All appearances arise within the expanse of kadag, the pure ground. They do not alter its purity, just as waves do not change the nature of water.
The Dochu Köpa Tantra (Dzogchen Tantra)
(Translated by David Germano)
Kadag is the original nature of mind, vast and luminous, free from all obscuration. It is not something fabricated but the timeless essence of awareness itself.
A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems
Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche
(Translated by Richard Barron)
The ground is kadag, pure and unchanging. It is the essence of all that arises, unstained by samsara and unconditioned by nirvana.
The Lungten Rigpa’i Gyü (Tantra of the Teachings of Awareness)
(Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang)
Kadag, the nature of mind, is like the vast sky—primordially pure and stainless. It is not created by practice, nor can it be tainted by delusion.
Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher
Khenpo Ngawang Palzang (Khenpo Ngakchung)
(Translated by Padmakara Translation Group)
The nature of all phenomena is kadag, the primordial purity of emptiness. It is free from all elaboration, the ground of all appearances, and the essence of ultimate truth.
The Lion’s Roar of Original Purity
Mipham Rinpoche
(Translated by Douglas Duckworth)
Kadag is the essence of the primordial ground, free from mental activity or dualistic constructs. This original purity transcends samsara and nirvana and is naturally perfect.
The Dzogchen Tantras
The Supreme Source
(Translated by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and Adriano Clemente)
The primordial ground is naturally pure (kadag), untainted by arising, abiding, or ceasing. This purity is the unchanging essence of all phenomena, beyond limitation.
The Kunjed Gyalpo (All-Creating King Tantra)
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
The natural state of the mind is primordially pure (kadag), free from grasping and elaboration. It is the empty essence of awareness, like space—vast and unchanging.
The Precious Treasury of the Dharmadhatu
Longchenpa
(Translated by Richard Barron)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the natural state of the ground. It is empty and luminous, free from effort or fabrication, the uncontrived nature of reality.
The Nyingtig Yabshi (Fourfold Heart Essence)
Attributed to Vimalamitra
(Translated by Tulku Thondup)
Kadag, the primordial purity of the mind, is free from the stains of samsaric grasping. It is the natural expanse of reality, beyond elaboration or dualistic constructs.
The Lion’s Roar of Original Purity
Mipham Rinpoche
(Translated by Douglas Duckworth)
The ground is primordially pure (kadag), untouched by the dualities of existence or nonexistence. Resting in this purity is the realization of the natural state.
The Three Words That Strike the Vital Point
Garab Dorje
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
Original purity (kadag) is the essence of mind. It is naturally free from arising and ceasing, the unchanging ground where all appearances arise and dissolve.
Natural Liberation through Naked Awareness
Padmasambhava
(Translated by B. Alan Wallace)
Kadag refers to the natural purity of the ground, untainted by delusion or effort. It is the basis of liberation, already perfect and complete, like the vast sky.
The Yeshe Lama
Jigme Lingpa
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
The nature of mind is pure and stainless, an unchanging ground of being. This is the meaning of kadag: the empty essence that cannot be tainted by phenomena.
The Chöying Dzöd (Treasury of Dharmadhatu)
Longchenpa
(Translated by Richard Barron)
Kadag is the primordial purity of the nature of mind, completely free from duality and elaboration. It is not something to be achieved but is the ground of all experience.
Dudjom Rinpoche
A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
The essence of reality is kadag, naturally pure and unchanging. This is the source of all appearances, free from any division between samsara and nirvana
The Vima Nyingtig (Heart Essence of Vimalamitra)
(Translated by Keith Dowman)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the stainless nature of mind, vast like the open sky. It cannot be tainted by thoughts or actions, for it is the very ground of liberation.
A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems
Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche
(Translated by Richard Barron)
Kadag is the unchanging purity of the ground, free from all concepts of existence or nonexistence. Recognizing this is the key to remaining in the natural state.
Words of My Perfect Teacher
Patrul Rinpoche
(Translated by The Padmakara Translation Group)
Kadag is the vast, luminous purity of the nature of mind. It is not stained by the delusions of samsara nor improved by the realizations of nirvana.
The Sangwa Nyingpo (Secret Essence Tantra)
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
Original purity (kadag) is the natural state of mind, beyond elaboration or contrivance. It is the ground of being, free from any form of conceptual obscuration.
As It Is
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
(Translated by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche)
The purity of the ground (kadag) is not something attained through effort but is naturally present, free from arising or ceasing, like the limitless sky.
The Dochu Köpa Tantra (Dzogchen Tantra)
(Translated by David Germano)
Kadag is the timeless essence of the ground, the pure and stainless expanse of reality. It is not created or destroyed, beyond concepts of existence or nonexistence.
The Longde Tantras (Space Class Tantras)
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
The natural purity of mind (kadag) is free from any fabrication or stain. Recognizing this state is to abide in the natural expanse of liberation
The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
(Translated by Padmakara Translation Group)
Kadag is the innate purity of the ground, free from mental activity or elaboration. It is the natural expanse, where all appearances and awareness are unified.
The Lama Yangtik (Heart Essence of the Lama)
Attributed to Guru Rinpoche
(Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang)
Kadag is the naturally pure essence of the mind, untouched by duality or conceptual elaboration. It is the unchanging nature of all phenomena.
Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher
Khenpo Ngawang Palzang (Khenpo Ngakchung)
(Translated by Padmakara Translation Group)
Kadag is the natural state of the ground, untainted by karmic imprints, concepts, or dualistic perceptions. Like a crystal clear sky, it remains pure even when obscured by clouds.
The Kunjed Gyalpo (All-Creating King Tantra)
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the unconditioned nature of all phenomena, free from any stain of conceptual thought. Recognizing this purity, all elaborations dissolve like dreams.
The Gyuma Ngalso Tantra (Tantra of Relaxing into the Illusory Nature)
(Translated by David Germano)
The original purity of the ground (kadag) is the essence of all appearances and existence. This stainless nature is not something to achieve—it is the ever-present, natural state.
The Treasury of Natural Perfection
Longchenpa
(Translated by Keith Dowman)
Your true nature, the ground, is primordially pure (kadag). It has no birth or death, no coming or going. Recognize this purity, free from all dualistic grasping.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thödrol)
Padmasambhava
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
The ground of being is kadag, utterly pure and devoid of conceptual elaboration. It is the ultimate nature, uncreated and unceasing, from which all phenomena arise as its display
The Nyingtig Yabshi (Heart Essence of the Great Perfection)
(Translated by Tulku Thondup)
Kadag refers to the stainless purity of the ground. This empty nature is free from all concepts of existence or nonexistence and is the foundation of the luminous display of appearances.
The Beacon of Certainty
Mipham Rinpoche
(Translated by Douglas Duckworth)
Kadag is the pure essence of mind, unborn and unceasing, untainted by delusions or dualistic fixations. It is the stainless ground from which all appearances manifest.
The Treasury of Precious Qualities
Jigme Lingpa
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the basis of all that arises in samsara and nirvana. It is like space—vast, unchanging, and untainted by what manifests within it.
The Yangti Nagpo Tantra (Black Quintessence Tantra)
(Translated by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu)
The natural state of kadag is free from the extremes of existence and nonexistence. It is like a stainless mirror, reflecting all appearances without being tainted by them.
The Khandro Nyingtig (Heart Essence of the Dakini)
(Translated by Tulku Thondup)
Kadag, the natural purity of the ground, cannot be tainted by thoughts or appearances. It is the unchanging essence of awareness, ever-present and perfect.
The Golden Letters
Garab Dorje
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
The ground is kadag, utterly pure, free from arising, ceasing, or remaining. This purity is the uncontrived essence of all phenomena, beyond samsara and nirvana.
The Enlightened View of Samantabhadra
Dudjom Lingpa
(Translated by B. Alan Wallace)
Kadag is the natural state of the ground, free from all obscurations. It is the origin of all luminous manifestations and the unchanging essence of reality.
The Dochu Köpa Tantra (The Tantra of the Ground’s Purity)
(Translated by David Germano)
The nature of mind is primordially pure (kadag), untainted by karmic imprints or conceptual elaborations. Recognizing this, appearances and awareness are experienced as inseparable.
The Lama Yangtik (Heart Essence of the Lama)
(Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the vast, open nature of mind, free from any stain of confusion. It is not something to fabricate or cultivate—it is the unchanging essence of awareness.
The Fearless Lion’s Roar
Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche
(Translated by Matthieu Ricard)
The purity of the ground (kadag) is the innate, unconditioned nature of awareness. Like the sky, it remains untouched by what arises within it, neither tainted nor improved.
The Rigpa Rangshar Tantra (Self-Arising Awareness Tantra)
(Translated by Keith Dowman)
Kadag is the original purity of the mind, beyond dualistic thinking. It is the unalterable nature of awareness, completely free from effort or contrivance.
Blazing Splendor
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
(Translated by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche)
Kadag is the vast purity of the ground, naturally free from all afflictions. It is not created or attained—it is the intrinsic nature of all beings.
The Sangwa Nyingpo (Secret Essence Tantra)
(Translated by Gyurme Dorje)
The nature of the ground is pure from the beginning (kadag). It is free from the impurities of conceptual elaboration and is the source of the luminous display of appearances.
The Tögal Instructions (Vision Practices of Dzogchen)
(Translated by Keith Dowman)
Kadag is the uncontrived purity of the ground, free from any fabrications or distortions. This vast expanse is the essence of the natural state of mind.
The Chöying Dzöd (Treasury of Dharmadhatu)
Longchenpa
Original purity (kadag) is the ground of all phenomena, stainless and infinite. Resting in this state, the mind is naturally free from the stains of conceptuality.
The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
(Translated by Matthieu Ricard)
Bon Dzogchen quotations on the Primordial Purity (Kadag)
The base is beyond the range of mental constructs. It is kadag, the natural purity of the mind, which has never been tainted by any obscuration, and it is the state in which all experiences are self-liberated.
The Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyü (Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung)
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
The root of all phenomena is the naturally pure essence, kadag. Like space, it is vast and without limits, and it is the source from which all appearances manifest. It is free from any stain of duality, existing beyond birth and cessation.
Shenrap Miwo (Founder of Bön)
The Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung
(Translation by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche)
The ground is kadag, a purity that has never been defiled by any dualistic perception. It is unchanging, unaffected by the passing of time, like the sky in its vastness, beyond all limitations.
The Bön Dzogchen Texts (The Zhang Zhung Dzöd)
(Translation by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche)
The primordial ground is originally pure (kadag), untainted by dualistic thoughts or karmic stains. Its purity is infinite, like the sky, and cannot be divided into samsara or nirvana.
The Zhang Zhung Nyengyü Tantras (Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung)
Shenlha Ökar (Primordial Buddha of Bon)
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
Kadag, the original purity of the ground, is beyond all elaborations and dualistic distinctions. It is self-existent, unconditioned, and forever free from arising or ceasing.
The Kunzhab Namkha’i Gyalpo (King of Universal Space Tantra)
(Translated by Jean-Luc Achard)
Kadag is the essence of the base (gzhi), the unchanging, stainless purity that is naturally free from all suffering. It is not something to achieve but is your own true nature, timeless and complete.
The True Source of Healing
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
(Translated by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche)
The natural state of all phenomena is kadag, pure from the beginning and free from contamination. This purity is like the limitless space that cannot be divided by anything within it.
The Dzogchen Öd Bar Gyud (Tantra of Blazing Light)
(Translated by Jean-Luc Achard)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the original, unchanging nature of mind, free from dualistic fixations and unaffected by arising or ceasing. This purity is revealed when one rests in the natural state without alteration.
The A Tri Dzogchen Teachings
(Translated by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche)
Kadag, the original purity, is not a state to be attained but is the nature of the ground itself, always pure and free from mental elaboration. It is the source of all appearances and awareness.
Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen
The Golden Letters of Dzogchen
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
The essence of mind is kadag, pure from the very beginning, like a stainless crystal. All phenomena arise as its natural radiance, yet the purity of its essence remains unaffected.
The Zhang Zhung Nyengyü (Oral Tradition of Zhang Zhung)
(Translated by Jean-Luc Achard)
Kadag, the primordial purity of the base, is not created or cultivated—it is the unconditioned, natural state of mind. Realizing this purity is to rest in the effortless state of self-arising wisdom.
Heart Drops of Dharmakaya
Lopön Tenzin Namdak
(Translated by Lopön Tenzin Namdak)
The purity of the ground (kadag) is its unchanging, natural state, free from defilement or duality. It is neither created nor destroyed, beyond all effort and elaboration.
The Kunzhi Gyud (Root Tantra of the Ground)
(Translated by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche)
The essence of all is kadag, stainless and unconditioned, like the unchanging vastness of space. Recognizing this primordial purity is the key to liberation.
The Jewel Treasury of Bon
Shenrap Miwo (Founder of Bon)
(Translated by Jean-Luc Achard)
The natural purity of kadag is the ground of all, inseparable from its luminous nature (lhundrub). It is not attained through effort but is the innate perfection of all existence.
The Nyamgyud Khorlo (Oral Transmission of Experience)
(Translated by Lopön Tenzin Namdak)
Kadag, the primordial purity of mind, cannot be tainted by concepts or dualistic thoughts. Like the stainless sun shining in the sky, its radiance is natural and unchanging.
The Drakpa Korsum Tantra (Three Cycles of Clarity)
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
Kadag is the essence of reality, pure from the beginning and without arising or ceasing. It is the ground from which all manifestations emerge, yet it remains unaltered.
The A Kar Lama’i Gyud (White A Letter Lama Tantra)
(Translated by Jean-Luc Achard)
The ground, kadag, is pure, empty, and without limits. It is the basis for all manifestations and appearances, yet it remains completely unaffected by them.
The Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud Commentary
(Translated by Lopön Tenzin Namdak)
The original purity of kadag is the natural, unchanging ground of existence. To recognize this is to see that all appearances are nothing other than the play of awareness.
The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
(Translated by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche)
Kadag is the naturally pure essence of the ground, beyond dualistic extremes. It is not created by causes nor tainted by conditions, but remains vast and uncontrived.
The Rigpa Rangshar Tantra (Self-Arising Awareness Tantra)
(Translated by John Myrdhin Reynolds)
Kadag, the original purity, is the open, boundless essence of mind. It cannot be tarnished by thoughts or actions, for it is the unchanging ground of all phenomena.
Heart Essence of Luminosity
Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen
(Translated by Jean-Luc Achard)
Primordial purity (kadag) is the stainless essence of the ground, unspoiled by conceptual elaboration or effort. Its natural state is infinite and changeless.
The Lung Gyud Nyen Gyu (Oral Transmission of the Wind Tantra)
(Translated by Lopön Tenzin Namdak)
Kadag, the ground’s original purity, is neither samsara nor nirvana. It is the unconditioned reality that transcends all dualistic distinctions and concepts.
The Ma Gyud (Mother Tantra)
(Translated by Jean-Luc Achard)
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.
The first post – What is the Primordial Ground, or Basis (Gzhi)?
The second post – What is the Primordial Purity (Kadag)?
The third post – What is Natural Perfection (Lhungrub)?
