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When a yogi is directly and immediately present, the pressure of his (consciously “plugged-in”) presence generates a force that wants to move. When this force is experienced in its “higher” form as descending (or “crashing-down”) Energy, then he has awakened to the Sambhogakaya in the form of Divine Power, or Clear-Light Energy.
wherein the yogi, applying his conscious presence like a diamond-cutter, attempts to cut through spiritual materialism (meaning all that is not Spirit) to get to the “Other Side,” which is Spirit, the Sambhogakaya. Togal is the “conductivity” aspect of rigpa, wherein the yogi, who is connected to Spirit, channels, or conducts, its radiant Light-Energy current.
Anything that isn’t Spirit, meaning anything that is created, becomes “spiritual materialism” when one’s consciousness, through grasping, becomes bound by it. Whether the object (of one’s attention) is “gross” (meaning physically present) or “subtle” (meaning a mind form),
The Bible says the same thing when God enjoins us to “put no idols before Me.” In other words, any object that “steals” our attention from the Divine becomes a “false idol.” Trekcho is the spiritual practice of breaking through, or free, of these “false idols” (meaning objects of fascination, distraction, and consolation) to get to the “Other Side,” the Sambhogakaya.
The Sambhogakaya is the Dharmakaya, the Divine, in its dimension as Clear-Light Energy, or Spirit-Power. It is the Dharmakaya in its objectified form as perceivable, receivable Radiance. But in order to realize the Dharmakaya in its fullness, as the Trikaya, one must unite one’s consciousness (or citta, or “soul”) with the Sambhogakaya, which is the same Body, or Hypostasis, as Hindu Shakti and the Christian Holy Spirit.
To do this, the yogi must transform his consciousness into a “cutting tool” that penetrates through spiritual materialism. And he does this by assuming and maintaining the asana, or “position,” of direct, immediate presence. Direct, immediate presence is a synonym for rigpa; hence trekcho is simply rigpa applied as a cutting tool.
One way to understand it is as awareness-oneness. In other words, the yogi isn’t just aware, he’s also plugged in to the abstract whole, at-one with existence. Think of it this way: Awareness is like turning a lamp on, but without plugging it in, there is no light or power.
A second way to explain presence is to understand it as relationship. In other words, plugged-in presence is relationship. To be directly, immediately present is to be in, and as, relationship. And to be unqualifiedly related is to be consciousness. Although relationship implies dualism, when it is direct and unobstructed, it spontaneously morphs into nondual being-consciousness.
“Relationship is the discipline.”
Everything and anything. Relationship can be to the abstract whole, to empty space, or to objects (gross or subtle) arising or abiding within space, including one’s body and mind. Ultimately, one cuts through all these and encounters the ultimate Object, Spirit itself. And when one’s consciousness unites with Spirit, relationship morphs into nondual Being-Awareness.
AI Summary
Radical Dzogchen by L. Ron Gardner presents key insights from the Dzogchen tradition. The 10 passages above capture the essential teachings.
Core Themes:
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Key Passages: Highlights 1, 3, and 10 are particularly representative.
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