Rigpa as Quantum Coherence
A "quantum coherent state" is one where a condition of perfect symmetry and part-less wholeness abides. This is our "natural state" of rigpa awareness.
It seems that only concepts can interfere or create an incoherent state of rigpa called dualistic mind (sem) as samsara. The decoherence and loss of symmetry is experienced as discomfort, egoic selfing, and a sense of separation and isolation.
When the conceptualizing mind is allowed to become inactive, the natural state of coherence as rigpa, arises spontaneously.
It's like holding an inflated ball under water; whenever you let go of it, it pops back to surface effortlessly. We hold the mind "under water" in dualistic decoherence continuously through engaging in conceptualizing, daydreaming and thinking.
When the mind ceases conceptualizing and thinking, the quantum coherent state of rigpa automatically reappears and pops back into surface consciousness, as that consciousness. Then continuous insightful wisdoms, bliss and unconditional love are automatically appearing as the intrinsic qualities of our naturally coherent state.
This is why it's agreed amongst all Buddhist traditions that nirvana is a non-conceptualizing state.
The Buddha: MN 140 Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta:
" ‘He has been stilled where the currents of conceiving do not flow. And when the currents of conceiving do not flow, he is said to be a sage at peace.’ Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said?
Monk, “I am” is a conceiving. “I am this” is a conceiving. “I shall be” is a conceiving. “I shall not be” ... “I shall be possessed of form” ... “I shall be formless” ... “I shall be perceiving ” ... “I shall be non-perceiving” ... “I shall be neither-perceiving-nor-non-perceiving” is a conceiving. Conceiving is a disease, conceiving is a cancer, conceiving is an arrow. By going beyond all conceiving, monk, he is said to be a sage at peace.
Furthermore, a sage at peace is not born, does not age, does not die. He is unagitated, and is free from longing. He has nothing whereby he would be born. Not being born, how could he age? Not aging, how could he die? Not dying, how could he be agitated? Not being agitated, for what will he long?
So it was in reference to this that it was said, ‘He has been stilled where the currents of conceiving do not flow. And when the currents of conceiving do not flow, he is said to be a sage at peace.’"
Nagarjuna: "What language describes is non-existent. What thought describes is non-existent. Things neither arise nor dissolve, just as in Nirvana."
"Thought is bondage; the immeasurable openness of empty awareness is freedom."
Dzogchen Master Nyoshul Khenpo
One of the greatest realized Indian Buddhist masters the planet has known is Tilopa. He lived almost a thousand years ago. He realized the non-dual state of Awareness, which is called Mahamudra in his tradition. Here are his Six Points of Practice advice for entering Mahamudra directly:
"Don't recall.
Don't imagine.
Don't think.
Don't examine.
Don't control.
Rest."
Let's take a look at what two Dzogchen masters have to say, starting with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and then Longchenpa.
He says in his book: Present Fresh Wakefulness:
"Give up thinking of anything at all, about the past, the future or the present. Remain thought-free, like an infant."
"Innate suchness is unobscured the moment you are not caught up in present thinking."
"That which prevents us from being face to face with the real Buddha, the natural state of mind, is our own thinking. It seems to block the natural state."
"Rigpa, the Natural State, is not cultivated in meditation. The awakened state is not an object of the intellect. Rigpa is beyond intellect, and concepts."
"This is the real Buddhadharma, not to do a thing. Not to think of anything. Like Saraha said, "Having totally abandoned thinker and what is thought of, remain as a thought-free child."
"Thinking is delusion."
"When caught up in thinking we are deluded. To be free of thinking is to be free."
"That freedom consists in how to be free from our thinking."
"As long as the web of thinking has not dissolved, there will repeatedly be rebirth in and the experiences of the six realms (of suffering)."
"The method: But if you want to be totally free of conceptual thinking there is only one way: through training in thought-free wakefulness. (rigpa)."
"Strip awareness to its naked state."
"If you want to attain liberation and omniscient enlightenment, you need to be free of conceptual thinking."
"Being free of thought is liberation."
"This is not some state that is far away from us: thought-free wakefulness actually exists together with every thought, inseparable from it... but the thinking obscures or hides this innate actuality. Thought free wakefulness (the natural state) is immediately present the very moment the thinking dissolves, the moment it vanishes, fades away, falls apart."
"Simply suspend your thinking within the non-clinging state of wakefulness: that is the correct view."
Longchenpa wrote: "A Buddha with a thinking mind is an ordinary sentient being (unenlightened) , but a sentient being without a thinking mind is a Buddha."
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche:
"One sign of having trained in rigpa, the awakened state, is simply that conceptual thinking, which is the opposite of rigpa, grows less and less. The gap between thoughts grows longer and occurs more and more frequently. The state of unfabricated awareness, what the tantras call "the continuous instant of non-fabrication," becomes more and more prolonged. The continuity of rigpa is not something we have to deliberately maintain. It should occur spontaneously through having grown more familiar with it. Once we become accustomed to the genuine state of unfabricated rigpa, it will automatically start to last longer and longer. By simply allowing the expression of thought activity to naturally subside, again and again, the moments of genuine rigpa automatically and naturally begin to last longer. When there are no thoughts whatsoever, then you are a Buddha. At that point the thought-free state is effortless, as well as the ability to benefit all beings."
One of this century's greatest Dzogchen masters was Tulku Urgyen. He wrote on this topic often and with great emphasis. Here is a quote from his book titled As It Is, volume 2, pages 168 and 169:
A student asks: Can there be thinking during Rigpa?
Rinpoche: "It is essential to resolve the fact that there is no namtog (thought) whatsoever in the state of rigpa; it is impossible. Darkness cannot remain when the sun rises. A hair cannot remain in a flame. It is only in a moment of distraction that you lose the continuity of rigpa. It is only out of that loss, which is marigpa, unknowing, that thinking can possibly start to move. This loss of continuity, in the sense of forgetting and being distracted, is called co-emergent ignorance. To reiterate, thinking means to conceptualize out of the state of unknowing. Thinking only begins after marigpa sets in, at the loss of rigpa! During the non-distraction of rigpa, no thought can begin. I cannot emphasize this enough - there is no thought during the state of rigpa!"
OGMIOS: