Source Text

We will discover in the pages of this book what is meant by “relaxation” in Dzogchen, and how it is possible to “practice” without either renouncing anything, or having to commit oneself to any activities that might be incompatible with one’s normal daily life.

The written Dzogchen teachings are divided into three sections: the Series of the Nature of the Mind (sems sde),‘the Series of Primordial Space (klong sde), and the Series of Secret Instructions (man ngag sde).

Chapter

Realization is considered to be arrived at in the extinction of the individual’s illusory ego, which is the root of all desires and conflicts.

Vajra means “indestructible,” and refersto the primordial condition of the individual, which is beyond birth and death.

To receive this type of transmission, it is therefore necessary to have the capacity to perceive the subtle dimension of light.The essence of the elements is light, or colour, but this is not a matter of material colours, visible to everyone.

But a realized being, who has purified his or her karma, and has reintegrated the material manifestation into the pure dimension of the elements, spontaneously manifests his or her wisdom through colour and light. To have contact with this pure dimension one needs to develop one’s innate clarity to the highest degree, and to purify the obstacles of karma and of ignorance.

The visual representation of a manifestation of transformation is called a mandala, which is one of the fundamental elements of the practice of tantra. The mandala could be said to be like a photograph taken at the moment of the pure manifestation of the divinity. At the center of every mandala one finds the central divinity, who represents the primordial condition of existence, corresponding to the element of space. At the four cardinal points, represented by the colours of the other four elements, there will be the same number of forms of divinities, symbolizing the functions of wisdom which arise as the four actions.’

The tantric practitioner, however, is aware of how energy functions, and knows that blocking energy can cause disturbances to the body as well as to the mind. He or she does not put the brakes on the flow of energy, does not repress it, but uses it as a means for transformation. To do this, however, requires a highly developed capacity of practice.

AI Summary

Dzogchen by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu presents key insights from the Dzogchen tradition. The 10 passages above capture the essential teachings.

Core Themes:

[To be expanded]

Key Passages: Highlights 1, 3, and 10 are particularly representative.

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