Luminous Emptiness

Niguma’s Vajra Verses of Self-Liberating Mahamudra

18/11/2008 | 2 Comments

Niguma invites us to embrace the nature of mind, cut through illusions, and directly realize liberation with her Vajra Verses of Self-Liberating Mahamudra. The wisdom dakini known as Nigupta, illustrious Narotapa’s sister, was a self-manifest yogini, a powerful lord bodhisattva on awakening’s tenth stage, who received direct instruction from Conqueror Vajra Bearer. She sang these […]

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Mahamudra

Starting from Experience and Starting from Thought

03/07/2008 | Leave a Comment

I’ve recently discovered a blog called if you see the dhamma … written by Joseiem, which I’ve really enjoyed reading, and commenting on. I thought I’d just lift a set of replies I posted to Joseiem’s comments. I’ve used the title of this post to highlight what I’m trying to point at, not to characterise

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The First Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche - Lodro Thaye

Mahamudra

Reflections on Ground Mahamudra – Jamgon Kongtrul – Vajra Song

03/06/2005 | 1 Comment

Since no essence exists anywhere, Its expression is completely unobstructed and manifests everything. Pervading all of samsara and nirvana like space, It is the ground of all confusion and liberation, With its self-luminous consciousness And its alaya-vijnana. As for the cognitive aspect of this neutral state, Its essence is empty and its nature is luminous.

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Dzogchen

Verse 27 – Self-Liberation through Seeing with Naked Awareness – Karma Lingpa / Padmasambhava

19/05/2005 | 3 Comments

Because of the unobstructed nature of the mind, there is a continuous arising of appearances.Like the waves and the waters of the ocean, which are not two (different things),Whatever arises is liberated into the natural state of the mind.However many different names are applied to it in this unceasing process of naming things,With respect to

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Dzogchen

Aspiration of Great Perfection

26/04/2005 | 2 Comments

The limitless expanse of emptinessIs luminous with all-pervading light,In clear mind sky, free from complexities,The rainbow of phenomena shines forth. Where neither confusion nor freedom has ever existed,The father and mother of all, Universal Goodness,Dwell in the secret great bliss beyond thoughtYet reveal the miracles of love’s unceasing play. Whatever the eye sees is sacred

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Mahamudra

2 Days Later

12/12/2004 | Leave a Comment

Outside of meditation, reflecting now, 2 days later … did those thoughts arise at all? Where are they? … Are they any different in nature from the dream I had last night? Where has that gone? They both had a sense of ‘realness’ at the time, but what substance remains of either? Both resonate, and

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Dzogchen

Verse 4 – Self-Liberation through Seeing with Naked Awareness – Karma Lingpa / Padmasambhava

09/12/2004 | Leave a Comment

Emaho! It is the single (nature of) mind which encompasses all of Samsara and Nirvana. Even though its inherent nature has existed from the very beginning, you have not recognized it; Even though its clarity and presence has been uninterrupted, you have not yet encountered its face. Even though its arising has nowhere been obstructed,

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Vajradhara surrounded by smaller figures of Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa and Milarepa Hanging scroll in the Freer Sackler Gallery

Mahamudra

Mahamudra Is Too Easy, Close, Good, Deep

01/12/2004 | 2 Comments

Mahamudra is traditionally said to be difficult to realise due to Four Faults. The nature of our mind is right here, right now for us to recognise, but somehow we may not manage that. The Four Faults are: It’s Too Easy We may have an idea that seeing the nature of our mind must be

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Prajnaparamita, transcendent wisdom as deity, 13th century Buddhist statue from Java, Indonesia

Vajrayana

Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, Nirmanakaya

30/11/2004 | 7 Comments

I used to imagine that the Buddha was so very far away. Enlightenment was so inconceivably difficult to attain, and the path there so very long. With my swirling emotions and obscurations, how long the journey seemed, and how very hard I had to strive in order to reach the state of perfect Awakening. When

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Dzogchen

Longchenpa – Four Themed Precious Garland

21/10/2004 | 1 Comment

The supreme peerless vehicle of the secret Dzogchen, the Great Completeness, functions to bring you directly into the Sphere of that which is spontaneously there. This sphere, which is the foundation, is unchanging…. It need not be sought for because it is spontaneously present from time immemorial. No trying or effort is required. This path

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Thanks for this. I see this as pointing to two things: 1 - Recognising the nature of your mind -…

Thanks Ali, much appreciated. I've used a number of things to help with slipping back into the contraction of conceptual…

Well explained. I found that it is quite challanging to maintain recognition of rigpa because we are easily caught up…

Thanks Paulo, I appreciate it.

This post is excellent, thank you!