The ineffable tale of that final simple state: it’s utterly different. It can’t be weighed on a scale, can’t be whittled down. It doesn’t feel heavy and doesn’t feel light. It has no rain, no sea, no sun or shade. It doesn’t contain creation or destruction. No life, no death exist in it, no grief, […]
Kabir – The Final Simple State Read Post »
This post is an exploration of Natural Perfection or Lhungrub in Tibetan (ཀ་དག་) – the third of a series of posts on Dzogchen key terms. Natural Perfection is pointing to the natural, effortless manifestation of phenomena from the ground of being (Gzhi). It is the dynamic aspect of the mind that allows for the continuous arising of
In Dzogchen, what is Natural Perfection / Spontaneous Presence (Lhungrub)? Read Post »
I turn to Ryokan’s poetry over and over again. For me, nobody captures in poetry the magical essence of the spiritual life, indeed, of life like he does. How wonderous his words, painting pictures – pictures that rest in the heart, illuminating form and emptiness, and their interplay. When all thoughts are exhausted When all
Reflections on Ryokan’s Zen Poems – The Butterfly and the Flower Read Post »
Rest in natural great peace This exhausted mind Beaten helpless by karma and neurotic thought Like the relentless fury of pounding waves In the infinite ocean of samsāra. Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang DorjeNatural Great Peace So clear, so direct. This is the start and the end of it. Rest in natural great peace, the nature of
Natural Great Peace by Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang Dorje Read Post »
The Six Vajra Verses of Vairotsana Hey, Mahasattva, Magnificent Being, listen! The nature of multiplicity is Nondual and things in themselves are pure and simple; being here and now is construct-free and it shines out in all forms, always all good; it is already perfect, so exertion is redundant and spontaneity is ever immanent. VairotsanaOriginal
Vairotsana’s Wonderful Cuckoo’s Song Of Awareness Read Post »
This Rigpa which is pointed to is nothing like the words used to point to it. Yet beings cannot help trying to point to it with words! No matter that any concept that forms in your mind is not ‘it’ in ‘itself’. Any object, any subject, any this or that is not it. Beyond all
Pointing Out the Nature of Mind – Dudjom Rinpoche Read Post »
Garab Dorje (Wylie: dga’ rab rdo rje) is a seminal figure in Tibetan Buddhism, and is renowned as the first human teacher of Dzogchen – the Great Perfection of Ati Yoga. His life and teachings have profoundly shaped the Dzogchen tradition in particular and more widely the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. The legend of
Early Masters of Dzogchen: Garab Dorje Read Post »
Today I came across Longchenpa’s final testament – The Immaculate Radiance. I found it profoundly moving, reading the words of this incomparable Dzogchen master who was giving his final teaching, just before he died. What a life he led. How could you begin to estimate his contribution, perhaps unlike that of any other? At the
Immaculate Radiance: A Testament – Longchenpa Read Post »
I’ve been reflecting back quite a bit recently about my journey, and how I’ve taken many approaches at different times – I believe because they’ve each been appropriate at the time. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a ‘one size fits all’ type attitude when it comes to whatever this strange thing that we
A Dzogchen Guide to Buddhist Yanas Read Post »
The Terton Karma Lingpa discovered the Self-Liberation through Seeing with Naked Awareness on top of Mount Gampodar when aged 15, together with the text commonly known in the west as the Tibetan Book of the Dead – more correctly called Liberation Through Hearing During the Intermediate State The Self-Liberation through Seeing with Naked Awareness is
Reflections on Verse 13 – Self-Liberation through Seeing with Naked Awareness Read Post »
