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As a meditation trainer, many individuals have requested me about Dzogchen meditation. And on this information, I’m glad to share the whole lot that it’s worthwhile to learn about this excellent approach and its corresponding philosophy.
You’ll quickly see why Dzogchen meditation is so useful in relation to reaching enlightenment.
With this information you’ll be taught to take pleasure in Rig Pa, which is a transparent and blissful thoughts. Certainly, that’s the principal objective of Dzogchen meditation.
There are some things I want to point out first. Principally, I’d prefer to clarify that this can be a simplified information to Dzogchen. Dzogchen has all the time been written about in overly complicated ways in which alienate newcomers. I wish to make it potential for the common individual within the West to follow this excellent approach. And so, I a simplifying it from its authentic teachings. Nevertheless, I’ll focus on lots of the classical teachings as properly. included notes on the classical strategies as properly. I hope this pleases each newcomers and traditionalists.
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So, what’s Dzogchen Meditation?
In a nutshell, Dzogchen means seeing the true nature of the thoughts. It’s neither Nirvana nor Samara, each of that are purely states of thoughts. Relatively, it’s the high quality of seeing absolutely the truest nature of the thoughts.
Now, once we speak about seeing the true nature of the thoughts, we additionally imply seeing the true nature of actuality itself, as a result of in Dzogchen thoughts and actuality are one. So, once you follow Dzogchen you’ll be taught to see true actuality.
What does that imply?
Often, our view of actuality is distorted by our ideas, our feelings, and our believes. To see the precise, true nature of actuality, we should transfer past all these ideas and feelings. We should be taught to be pure consciousness, which known as Rig Pa.
And so Dzogchen is about reaching this Pure Consciousness, this Rig Pa.
This may do wonders to your psychological well being as a result of. So lots of the points we expertise are prompted as a result of we don’t see the true nature of actuality. So, once you do the train (under), you possibly can count on it to make you’re feeling a lot better, extra relaxed, extra targeted, extra calm.
It should additionally provide help to to achieve enlightenment. Certainly, many masters have spoke of how highly effective a method Dzogech meditation is for reaching enlightenment, corresponding to Prahevajra, Manjushrimitra, Guru Padmasambhava and Vimalamitra. Many even declare that Dzogchen may cause spontaneous awakening.
The Philosophy of Dzogchen – Core Ideas You Want To Know
Earlier than we get into really doing Dzogchen, you will need to perceive the core ideas.
Firstly, there Rig Pa, which is pure consciousness. That is the thoughts past the realm of ideas and feelings. It’s the purest type of aware consciousness. And that is not one thing that we obtain. It’s one thing that’s current in all of us always. However we have to quieten and calm the thoughts with a view to expertise Rig Pa.
Subsequent, we should always recognise the there may be Dharma Physique, which is the empty essence of the thoughts. Additionally, Enjoyment Physique, which is the radiant thoughts and clear nature of the thoughts. And eventually, Transformation-Physique, which is the common compassion of the thoughts. These are best states of thoughts. So, the thoughts is empty, radiant, and stuffed with compassion. I can be discussing these are we get into our Dzogchen meditation.
How To Do Dzogchen Meditation (My Fashionable Approach)
Begin by saying to your self that you just vow to see with True Thoughts (Rig Pa) and that you just vow to not be deceived be the lies of the thoughts. Basically, which means that you will note the reality as an alternative of seeing a warped model of actuality primarily based on concern / need / feelings / unfaithful beliefs.
Subsequent, we transfer into our meditation. For almost all of this we’re practising a mixture of Anapanasati and Vipassana, each of which you’ll be taught in my guide to Buddhist Meditation. So, start by closing your eyes, respiration mindfully for at least ten minutes.
As soon as you’re feeling calm and targeted, examine the character of your thoughts. As a result of you’ve gotten been meditating, you ought to be conscious of an empty house inside your thoughts. Tune in to that house. Examine it. Discover how this true type of thoughts is empty and silent. It’s pure. Acquaint your self with that pureness.
Subsequent, discover that radiant nature of the thoughts. Discover that vitality that’s just like the solar, radiating its mild outwards. As you grow to be conscious of this pure vitality, realise you could resolve to make use of this vitality in compassionate methods, for the good thing about all.
Spend a couple of minutes right here, investigating the pure and radiant nature of the thoughts. Then steadily return to regular.
Goal to take care of clear consciousness (Rig Pa) in your daily life. A technique to do that is with the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
Determine that you will attempt to reside a lifetime of good and of the Aristocracy. That’s, you’ll do your greatest to all the time act from a spot of compassion, being mindfully conscious of your actions and their karmic affect.
Use compassionate methods to assist others to take pleasure in Rig Pa. A technique you are able to do that is by sharing this text.
That is my fashionable method of practising Dzogchen. I created this technique as a result of I consider that it embraces an important practices of Dzogchen whereas additionally being easy sufficient for newcomers to strive. That stated, allow us to now have a look at conventional Dzogchen.
Conventional Approach Of Doing Dzogchen Meditation
There are quite a few methods of doing Dzogchen, which we are going to now have a look at.
For starters, some individuals (particularly these with superior expertise in meditation) can instantly grasp Rig Pa (that is the Unusual for of Dzogchen).
Nevertheless, most individuals will must be guided to Rig Pa by the Frequent type of Dzogchen, which contains varied meditative practices. This follow ought to start with Samatha (focus meditation) and can embody Buddhist Mahamudra follow (which is, in essence, the follow of acquainting ourselves with each the vacancy of thoughts and the infinite playful vitality of the thoughts).
There are additionally many different workout routines which can be used to grasp Dzogchen. They vary from bodily workout routines corresponding to QiGong to meditation. Conventional there are additionally particular Dzogchen workout routines, such because the contemplative practices of khregs chod (reducing by) and thod rga ‘leaping over’. Khregs Chod is the follow of current in empty thoughts, of realising the pure empty consciousness on the coronary heart of our being. Thod Rga is a extra complicated system of workout routines that features physique postures, respiration methods, and strategies of gazing.
After this we come to Auxillary Dzogchen, the purpose of which is to take care of the Pure State (gnas lugs) always, even when sleeping.
Significantly essential are the 9 Autos of the Nyingma Custom. So let’s check out these.
The 9 yanas of the Nyingma custom
These are 9 “Autos” that support us within the path to awakening. There are Three Outer Autos, Three Internal Autos, and Three Secret Autos of Highly effective Transformative Strategies.
They’re as follows:
Three Outer Autos: These are the Sravaka Automobile, the Pratyekabuddha Automobile, and the Bodhisattva Automobile. On this autos we start by vowing to reside with Rig Pa and to flee Samsara. We then intention to see true actuality, the truth that’s past kind, and this consists of seeing our true, formless self. Subsequent we do meditative practices, which as principally primarily based on Samatha and Vipassana. We additionally follow the twelve ascetic practices and specifically we keep away from over-indulgence and self-punishment (mainly we follow The Center Approach). This then results in one of many phases of awakening you could find out about here. For the Boddhisatva Path, we additionally vow to dedicate our lives to acts of compassion and to ending struggling.
Internal Autos (Tantra Autos)
These are the autos of kriyā tantra, caryā tantra and yoga tantra. These are all about self self-discipline. They contain totally different exterior workout routines. As an example, there are particular forms of diets that we will need to have, in addition to particular methods of preserving clear. The tantra autos do additionally embody particular meditative practices, primarily centred across the 4 realities (actuality of self, actuality of the deity, mantras and rig pa thoughts). I can’t try to offer detailed recommendation on these autos as, in truth, they don’t seem to be a specialty of mine.
Autos of Highly effective Transformative Strategies
These are: the car of mahāyoga, the car of anuyoga and the car of atiyoga. This begins with us visualizing that we’re an important Buddha and that we’re performing noble deeds to assist others, in addition to visualizing that we’ve full Rig Pa and blissful thoughts. This visualization should be carried out with the utmost of focus. After this we should attempt to take care of Rig Pa. We do that in two methods. Firstly, by tsalung, which is the place we’re engaged on purifying the refined winds within the physique. Secondly, tummo, which entails a mixture of respiration methods and visualizations.
Abstract
Dzogchen is a strong method of reaching enlightenment.
Sadly, it’s not as extensively taught as different methods. Certainly, most lamas in Tibet refuse to show Dzogchen till their college students have taken superior coaching in self reflection, karmic purification, and compassion. Nevertheless, there have been some notable exceptions, corresponding to His Holiness Jigme Puntsok, who started educating Dzogchen within the West within the late Nineties.
Nevertheless, even these fashionable teachings normally overcomplicate the method.
I hope that with this information I’ve produced a type of Dzogchen that even newcomers can strive. I’ve carried out my greatest to honor the custom whereas additionally making it accessible. I hope you’ve gotten loved this information. To be taught extra about Dzogchen, guide a web based meditation lesson with me.
Paul Harrison is a passionate meditation trainer who believes in real, genuine meditation. He has greater than 15 years expertise in meditation and mindfulness. He studied meditation in lovely Oxford, UK, and Hamilton Ontario Canada, and earned his diploma at Staffordshire College.
“My purpose is to offer probably the most genuine meditation classes so you possibly can harness the ability of your individual thoughts for private transformation” – Paul Harrison
