Larry/Dzogchen

[Guest guest]

Dear Larry,

 

<<

LBIDD (Larry Biddinger)

 

KKT, thank you for this excellent description of Dzogchen. Just reading

and trying to understand is very helpful. Could you say a few words

about how Dzogchen is practiced?

 

thanks again, Larry

>>

 

KKT: If you want a few words to

summarize how Dzogchen is practiced,

I can give these "key" words: PRESENCE

AWARENESS and SELF-LIBERATION.

Presence Awareness is easy to

understand but Self-Liberation is

another story :-) To really appreciate

the wonderful meaning of this word in

Dzogchen, many more words needed

for the explanation :-)

 

Dzogchen divides Buddhist teachings

in 3 different paths depending on how

people on each path practice:

 

(1) The Path of RENUNCIATION is

essentially dualist. One has to

renounce this world to attain the other

shore. This is the path of both Hinayana

& Mahayana. In practice, one uses

good deeds to overcome the bad ones,

for example, compassion over anger.

This path requires many lifetimes to

attain liberation.

 

(2) The Path of TRANSFORMATION

is Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle) or

Tantrism. Instead of overcoming anger

by compassion, for example, the adept

tries to "transform" passions in wisdom.

One can attain liberation in one lifetime

but enormous works are required.

 

(3) The Path of SELF-LIBERATION is

Dzogchen or the Great Perfection. It

is called "great" because there is

nothing more sublime; it is called

"perfection" because no further means

are necessary. Our Primordial State is

for ever self-perfected and needs only

to be recognized, thus nothing is to be

*renounced* or to be *transformed*. The

Dzogchenpas (practitioner of Dzogchen)

continues to live "in the world" and tries

to maintain constantly the PRESENCE

AWARENESS of his PRIMORDIAL

STATE. Whatever manifests in the

field of experience of the practitioner

is allowed to arise just as it is, without

judgment of it as good or bad, beautiful

or ugly. In that very moment, because

there is no clinging, no attachment, no

effort, no volition, whatever it is that arises,

whether as a thought or as a seemingly

external event, automatically liberates

itself, by itself, and of itself. Let things

SELF-LIBERATE is the "key" of

Dzogchen practice.

 

Another interesting question: What are

the similitude and the difference between

Dzogchen and Zen? My personal opinion:

 

(1) Both the paths are non-gradual, direct

approach to enlightenment (but Dzogchen

classifies Zen in the Path of Renunciation)

 

(2) Zen preoccupies with the pre-awakening

while Dzogchen with the post-awakening.

Dzogchen requires the recognition of the

Primordial State right from the beginning.

Thus the role of a Dzogchen master is

extremely important because he introduces

the disciple to experience directly the

Primordial State. In the Ten Oxherding

Pictures of Zen, Dzogchen begins with the

.... 10th picture! :-) The bar is too high, no? :-)

 

 

May all sentient beings recognize their Primordial State :-)

 

 

Namaste,

 

KKT

[Guest guest]

 

PhamDLuan [PhamDLuan]

Friday, February 04, 2000 11:29 AM

NondualitySalon

Cc:

Larry/Dzogchen

 

PhamDLuan

>>

 

KKT: If you want a few words to

summarize how Dzogchen is practiced,

I can give these "key" words: PRESENCE

AWARENESS and SELF-LIBERATION.

Presence Awareness is easy to

understand but Self-Liberation is

another story :-) To really appreciate

the wonderful meaning of this word in

Dzogchen, many more words needed

for the explanation :-)

 

Dzogchen divides Buddhist teachings

in 3 different paths depending on how

people on each path practice:

 

(1) The Path of RENUNCIATION is

essentially dualist. One has to

renounce this world to attain the other

shore. This is the path of both Hinayana

& Mahayana. In practice, one uses

good deeds to overcome the bad ones,

for example, compassion over anger.

This path requires many lifetimes to

attain liberation.

 

(2) The Path of TRANSFORMATION

is Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle) or

Tantrism. Instead of overcoming anger

by compassion, for example, the adept

tries to "transform" passions in wisdom.

One can attain liberation in one lifetime

but enormous works are required.

 

(3) The Path of SELF-LIBERATION is

Dzogchen or the Great Perfection. It

is called "great" because there is

nothing more sublime; it is called

"perfection" because no further means

are necessary. Our Primordial State is

for ever self-perfected and needs only

to be recognized, thus nothing is to be

*renounced* or to be *transformed*. The

Dzogchenpas (practitioner of Dzogchen)

continues to live "in the world" and tries

to maintain constantly the PRESENCE

AWARENESS of his PRIMORDIAL

STATE. Whatever manifests in the

field of experience of the practitioner

is allowed to arise just as it is, without

judgment of it as good or bad, beautiful

or ugly. In that very moment, because

there is no clinging, no attachment, no

effort, no volition, whatever it is that arises,

whether as a thought or as a seemingly

external event, automatically liberates

itself, by itself, and of itself. Let things

SELF-LIBERATE is the "key" of

Dzogchen practice.

 

Another interesting question: What are

the similitude and the difference between

Dzogchen and Zen? My personal opinion:

 

(1) Both the paths are non-gradual, direct

approach to enlightenment (but Dzogchen

classifies Zen in the Path of Renunciation)

 

(2) Zen preoccupies with the pre-awakening

while Dzogchen with the post-awakening.

Dzogchen requires the recognition of the

Primordial State right from the beginning.

Thus the role of a Dzogchen master is

extremely important because he introduces

the disciple to experience directly the

Primordial State. In the Ten Oxherding

Pictures of Zen, Dzogchen begins with the

.... 10th picture! :-) The bar is too high, no? :-)

 

 

May all sentient beings recognize their Primordial State :-)

 

 

Namaste,

 

KKT

 

Striking and beautiful KKT. You write and express so well. Thank you for

your gift of sharing your riches. We think great understanding hides behind

great humility. Just like a beautiful diamond sparkles in the light of the

sun, the pure mind sparkles in the Light Awakened to It Self. We bow to this

Light shining everywhere.

 

Love to all

Harsha

[Guest guest]

Dear Harsha-ji et al.,

 

<<

"Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" <hluthar

 

Striking and beautiful KKT. You write and express so well. Thank you for

your gift of sharing your riches. We think great understanding hides behind

great humility. Just like a beautiful diamond sparkles in the light of the

sun, the pure mind sparkles in the Light Awakened to It Self. We bow to this

Light shining everywhere.

 

Love to all

Harsha

>>

 

KKT: You make me think of a story

in the Lotus Sutra :-)

 

There was a bodhisattva-monk named Never Depise. For what reason was

he named Never Depise? Because that monk paid respect to and commended

everybody whom he saw, monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, speaking

thus: 'I deeply revere you. I dare not slight and contemn you. Wherefore?

Because you all walk in the bodhisattva-way and are to become buddhas.'

And that monk did not devote himself to reading and reciting the sutras but

only to paying respect, so that when he saw afar off a member of the four

groups, he would especially go and pay respect to them, commending

them, saying: 'I dare not slight you, because you are all to become buddhas.'

Amongst the four group, there were those who, irritated and angry and

muddy-minded, reviled and abused him, saying: 'Where did this ignorant

monk come from, who takes it on himself to say, "I do not slight you."

and who predicts us as destined to become buddhas? We need no such

false prediction.' Thus he passed many years, constantly reviled but never

irritated or angry, always saying, 'You are to become buddhas.' Whenever

he spoke thus, the people beat him with clubs, sticks, potsherds, or stones.

But, while escaping to a distance, he still cried aloud, 'I dare not slight

you.

You are all to become buddhas.' And because he always spoke thus, the

haughty monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen styled him Never Depise.

 

That bodhisattva Never Depise was the

Buddha himself in a former existence :-)

 

Today (Feb 5) is the first day of the

New (Lunar) Year of Dragon celebrated

in many countries in South-East Asia.

May you all have a happy, safe & healthy

New Year!

 

 

Gassho,

 

KKT