Utter Simplicity
Most practitioners and seekers have been mislead into believing that there is a philosophical “view” they need to study, understand and to integrate into their mindset regarding Dzogchen, Mahamudra and Zen.
In fact, any such “information” as data, is not only irrelevant, but is also a cause of intellectual distraction and further conceptual grasping; as though there is some information necessary to learn and know.
ALL that is required is to orient one’s power of attention inwardly, into the consciousness from which the attention is arising. In doing so, that which was seemingly only a latent potential, is brought fully to Light. (the Buddha Mind)
Lopon Tenzin Namdak:
“The introduction is very simple: we just look back at ourselves."
Any other approach is less direct and is actually missing the single most essential point, and may lead the mind astray for eons.
What is being pointed out in Dzogchen, Zen and Mahamudra is a consciousness or awareness that is outside the causal links of thoughts, intention and mental states. It is primordially present without a prior cause.
The traditions mentioned are all attempting to redirect the entranced attention back to its own origin, by “pointing out” the already fully present, uncaused and permanent, primordial Consciousness, the Buddha Mind.
Here is how it’s done in detail:
“Relax into basic space beyond beginning and end,” introduces the nature of mind. Once you recognize it, there is no need to wait for another time in the future. Basic space never began and does not end in any way whatsoever. Rigpa never began and does not end. It is totally endless, utterly beginningless."
Tulku Urgyen
"This wakefulness that is primordially pure is the empty quality of the nature of our mind. In the moment when we recognize our nature, we do not see any ‘thing’ whatsoever. It is already utterly pure and perfect. That is exactly what we call primordial purity. Inseparable from that is a quality of knowing: we are cognizant, at the same time. This is the spontaneous presence. These two aspects are indivisible."
Tulku Urgyen
Direct Introduction to Pure Awareness (rigpa in Tibetan):
Sit in a comfortable posture in a well lit and bright room or outdoor space.
Close your eyes.
Notice the color at your closed eyelids. It will usually seem like an orangey color with brownish or gray tinges. Whatever the color, just observe the color that seems to be in front of your awareness that's noticing the colors.
Now, instead of attention being on the colors at the eyelids; notice that which is the "observing" awareness that knows the colors are present. Retract attention from the object side into the subject side that is doing the observing.
"There is an oral instruction about the way to look. It is said,
“It is as though your eyes were looking through the back of your head instead of looking forwards.” Mingyur Rinpoche
"It is as though your eyes are looking backwards instead of forwards as they usually do. You are looking out with your eyes but are looking back at the same time. Do not try too hard with this though, otherwise you will really make a big mistake. You just sort of look back ..." Mingyur Rinpoche
Notice the empty nature of your own awareness that is observing. There is an empty space of awareness that knows itself, but not as a thing with shape, form or substance.
"The way to do this is just to turn your attention slightly inward, not to look deeply inside, just to turn your focus from outward to inward in a very light way.”
Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Relax attention again and again from the colors or any inner phenomena, so that attention and the empty awareness dissolve into a single state of vivid and undirected awareness without a topic or focus.
It's possible to notice the empty, transparent nature of your own awareness that deepens as one remains empty of attentiveness to any mental or perceptual content other than empty awareness itself.
When attention and awareness dissolve as one vivid, open presence:
"Without any in or any out - utter openness. How is it that ‘openness’? It’s empty, awake, luminous and simple..." Tsoknyi Rinpoche
“This state that we discover is inconceivable and inexpressible. There is nothing to create here, nothing to develop or visualize. It is totally complete and perfected just as it is. That is why we call it Dzogchen or the Great Perfection.”
Bonpo Lama, Tenzin Namdak
Here is an ancient quote from a fundamental Great Perfection Tantra, or scriptural text, called the “The Heaped Jewels.” It completely summarizes the unique method of Dzogchen practice.
"When anyone rests in the natural state without concentration, understanding manifests in that individual’s mind, without someone having to teach all the words by which the mind understands these meanings. As this understanding dawns in the mind, all that is non-manifest and all sensory appearances, which in themselves entail no concepts, are seen to be naturally pure." (From
Longchenpa’s Precious Treasury, Padma Publications.)
Kalu Rinpoche:
"Mind is poised in the state of bare awareness, there is no directing the mind. One is not looking within for anything; one is not looking without for anything. One is simply letting the mind rest in its own natural state. The empty, clear and unimpeded nature of mind can be experienced if we can rest in an uncontrived state of bare awareness without distraction and without the spark of awareness being lost."
"The reason for this is that the ushnisha (upper crown chakra) has no size, but pervades the ultimate expanse. When the mind dissolves into the chakra of the ushnisha (upper crown chakra), buddhahood is attained."
From end notes of "The Treasury of Precious Qualities" by Jigme Lingpa
“As I said earlier, look at who is looking. Just as you looked at the subject, [the “me” thought], so in the same way, look back at that observer, [as an object]. Just as before, you cannot find anything, it is liberated back into the State. There is no object, no subject, nothing you can describe. Your presence is an Unspeakable State. You are not in a deep sleep, nor are you unconscious. Your presence is clear, but it is impossible to explain what is “clear”. There is no thinking, no idea of emptiness,' 'clarity' or anything else. .... That means you are seeing Nature clearly. This Nature is perfect. If you understand - open everything and leave it freely. There is no attachment to any side, to any subject, to any material. There is neither subject nor object, only the experience in this State. That is the View of Dzogchen.”
Lopon Tenzin Namdak
“The Seven Mirrors of Dzogchen”
In daily life:
"It is easy to re-recognize it (rigpa). You just have to drop thinking and it is right there. There is not a lot to be done."
Mingyur Rinpoche