Dzogchen Terms

A
The white Tibetan letter A is the symbol of Shunyata and of primordial
wisdom.

Attitude
Awareness, Non-judging, Patience, Relaxed Mind, Integration, Presence,
Non-striving, Acceptance, Nonduality, Letting Go, Beyond Mind.

Awareness
The awareness (pozornosť) of natural perfection is everywhere, its parameters
beyond indication, its actuality incommunicable; the sovereign view of natural
perfection is the here-and-now, naturally present without speech or books,
irrespective of conceptual clarity or dullness, but as spontaneous joyful creativity
its reality is nothing at all.
— Natural Perfection, Longchenpa’s Radical Dzogchen

Bodhichitta
Relative Bodhichitta is a state of being awake, tender, and genuine. The Sanskrit
term bodhi means “wakefulness” (bdelosť). The ground of nonthought is Absolute
Bodhichitta.

Buddha Nature
The nature of mind, synonym for ‘buddha nature’ or Dzogchen, or the potentiality
of vajra in vajrayana. It should be distinguished from ‘mind’ (sems), which refers
to ordinary discursive thinking based on ignorance. ‘Mind Essence’ is the basic
space from and within which these thoughts take place.

Dharmakaya
Naked and aware emptiness.

Dzogchen
Dzogchen – Great Perfection; the state of contemplation beyond the mind; mental
processes not conditioning awareness.
Dzogchen is about resting in the “primordial state of pure awareness”. The term
also derives from the “highest perfection” of the Vajrayana practice after the
visualization of the deity and the mantra recitation is dissolved and one rests in the
natural state of luminous and pure awareness. Dzogchen – Tibetan Great

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Perfection – is also considered as “The Zen of Tantra”. Dzogchen is a sudden path
with gradual cultivation.
—
There exist three series of Dzogchen teachings: the Mind Series (semde), the
Space Series (longde), and the Secret Instruction Series (mangagde).
The Mind Series (semde) focuses on contemplation, or the Nature of Mind. The
principal method employed is Zhine, or fixating the mind on a single object of
meditation, at first on a visual object, and later on an empty location in space. The
emphasis is on Kadag, or the primordial purity – also called Tregcho, the total
relaxation of body, speech, and mind.
The Space Series (longde) focuses on sky meditation.
The Secret Instruction Series (mangagde) assumes one knows how to get into
contemplation through different means. The emphasis is on Lhundrub, the
spontaneous visible manifestations of energies potential within the Nature of
Mind.
—
The three tregcho guidelines for meditation are: resting one’s mind in
dharmadhatu (semde), resting effortlessly (longde), and resting without accepting
or rejecting (mangagde).
The Dzogchen talks about the eyes as the gates of wisdom. If there is a direct
simplicity of mind, or tregcho, the light chains begin to stay and wait for your
perception. In order to observe the vajra chains, you first have to develop a sense
of carelessness at the Dzogchen level; otherwise, they will not stop. When you
have developed carelessness, noncaring, and spaciousness, they begin to slow
down. If you have not cut through, you cannot see these visions. The more you cut
through, the more these chains wait for you or actually come back to you. It is
connected with the physical setup and speed of the brain. With this practice, you
can actually see your own brain.

Dzogchen Community
Dzogchen Community are people who are interested in the Dzogchen teaching,
want to be beyond mind and also relatively being present, only this.
— Namkhai Norbu

Emptiness, Empty
Without thoughts

Who’s aware of emptiness?

Teravadian: Not me
Mahayanain: Compassion

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Tantric: Bliss
Madhyamakain: Emptiness
Dzogchenpa: Awareness

Essence of mind
Nature of mind is the base of everything, empty and pure with clarity. Shunyata,
the state of emptiness, is the very essence of the mind.

Ground
In Dzogchen ground is the primordial state. It is an essential component of the
Dzogchen tradition. Knowledge of this Ground is called rigpa. Beings are trapped
in samsara by not recognizing the ground.

Guruyoga
“Guru” means teacher, “yoga” means having knowledge or
understanding of one’s own authentic state, the essential
condition in which there is nothing to change or modify. We
are not judging and thinking. This is the state of the guru.
Guruyoga is, then, the main element in the practice of
Dzogchen.

Kadag
Primordial purity

Lhundrub
Spontaneous presence

Main Point
In the mahayana, everything depends on attitude, and everything is done with
diplomacy.
But in vajrayanna, you cut thoughts abruptly, on the spot. You do not even take an
attitude. You just do it. It is very direct and precise. Right away - bang, bang, bang,
on the spot. There is no particular way to do it. Cutting thoughts is the first way of
blowing up the samsaric world.
The main point that runs through every level of vajrayana practice, is that you are
able to cut your mental contents directly and abruptly.

Main Practice
The tantric nyingthik tradition contains Zen-like practices of formless meditation
and exercises that cultivate spontaneous visions of buddhas.
Main practice consists of

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– Trekchö “break through”, recognizing rigpa
– Tögal “leap ahead”, spontaneous presence which is the stabilization of rigpa and
compassionate action.

Natural State
Natural State – we are totally aware and relaxed. The Natural State is not just but
also the dissolving of thoughts. Just leave everything as it is and thoughts will
dissolve by themselves. This state of presence or immediate awareness is the
Natural State (not only in semde).
Look at the gap between thoughts while you are resting. At that time you are not
dull, there is no agitation, there is just a clear presence. That is Nature, and you
must trust and realize this. That is real Nature.
---
The spiritual world is an intangible world (nehmatateľný svet).
The natural state is like the experience of a person who just finished some long
exhausting work, once it is finally over, they experience blissful satisfaction. The
natural state is fresh, vividly open and empty, brilliantly clear and deeply relaxed.
But the natural experience can arise only spontaneously, if there is no capacity of
transcending the three gates, as by means of the Four Chogzhags, it cannot
represent the total meaning. And one gets lost in the negative habitual tendencies,
if attached to them there is no other way for but to turn into emotions trap.

Nirvana
Bhagawan Vajradhara! Please explain to us the meaning of ‘nirvana’.
The Teacher replied: Best Beloved, listen to this! We shall explain to you the
meaning of nirvana. Nirvana is essentially unlocatable all-inclusive awareness.
— Everything is Light, p.219
Nirvana is the extinction of all concepts. It is total freedom.

Nondualistic
Nondualistic – vajrayana insight: it is insight that is free from thinking about
something else, free from perceiving the other. In other words, it is nondualistic; it
is just direct perception.

Open Awareness
Open awareness – rigpa – is the heart of all Dzogchen practices.

Principle
Devotion and Pure Perception that lead beyond confusion to thought-free
wakefulness. Devotion towards the natural state.

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Rigpa
Rigpa is the knowledge of the ground. Pure Awareness. Open/panoramic/direct
awareness; naked/empty vision. A Tibetan word meaning the “essential nature of
mind”, or unchanging, transparent awareness.
Question: Can there be thinking during Rigpa (Buddha Mind)?
Answer: It is essential to resolve the fact that there is no namtog (thought)
whatsoever in the state of rigpa; it is impossible. A hair cannot remain in a flame.
I cannot emphasize this enough – there is no thought during the state of rigpa!
— As It Is, volume 2, p.168

Like transmission after Phat being in guru’s state not judging or thinking. For
tantric rigpa is the knowledge of the essence of energy, the secret sound.
Most esoteric traditions agree that thoughts themselves are not the enemy. On the
other hand, when we are thinking, awareness is dulled and confused.
Thoughts and emotions are different. In Buddhism the word namtog encompasses
both.

Shine
The practice of fixation, with or without a visible object, is equated with shamatha
meditation (zhi-gnas), attaining a state of calm, according to the Dzogchen
viewpoint.
The practice of vision, whether with the empty sky or with sunlight as the support,
is equated with vipashyana meditation, or higher insight (lhag-mthong).

Transcending samsara
In the mahayana, transcending samsara means to do good, whereas in vajrayana,
transcending samsara means play.

Tummo breathing
Tummo breathing is one of the most sacred spiritual practices. Every completion
yoga begins with tummo.

– Simplified, sit in a comfortable position with the eyes closed and the hands on
the stomach. Relax the mind.
– Visualise a small fire inside the stomach bellow the navel.
1. Inhale deeply through the nose. Imagine the breath fuelling the fire inside,
becoming bigger and hotter.
2. Exhale deeply through the mouth. Imagine the flame spreading its heat through
the body.

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3. Repeat about 5x, imagining the heat is building.
4. Inhale and hold the breath below the diaphragm. Contract the pelvic floor
muscles. Hold this breath for longer, then exhale and relax the muscles.
5. Repeat from 1. five times.

Inhale/exhale deeply 5x; inhale and hold the breath longer, contract muscles
bellow – then exhale, relax; repeat 5x.

Vajrayana
This vehicle teaches the practices of taking the result as the path, also known as
Secret Mantra.

Vajrayana Insight
Vajrayana Insight: it is insight that is free from thinking about something else, free
from perceiving the other. In other words, it is nondualistic; it is just direct
perception.

Vajrayana Magic
We are not talking about magic in the style of a conjuring magician on the stage,
but we are talking about fundamental magic. Out of that comes vajrayana magic,
which is that we are able to cut our thoughts abruptly and directly. On the spot!
Cutting thoughts is the first way of blowing up the samsaric world.
— The Tantric Path of Indestructible Wakefulness, p.197

Vajrayana sayings
Vajrayana sayings:
– Rigpa Free from Sem
– Buddha without Breath (insight without mind)
– Meditation without Thought, but Luminous (beyond just emptiness).

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Additional Terms

Clear Light
The fundamental innate mind of clear light is considered to be the nature of mind,
or the root of consciousness.

Contemplation
– The action of looking thoughtfully at something for a long time.
– A kind of inner vision or seeing, transcendent of the intellect, facilitated by
means of practices such as prayer or meditation.
– A content-free mind directed towards the awareness of Divinity as a living
reality.

Difference
Mahamudra and Dzogchen
Differ in words but not in meaning.
The only difference is that mahamudra stresses mindfulness,
While Dzogchen relaxes within awareness.
Guruyoga
At times visualize at the hearth, at the center of a five-colored thigle a clear and
luminous white A, energy of nonduality of the state of the guru and your rigpa.
Otherwise, visualize a white A at the forehead in the middle of a gankhyil at the
center of a triangle.
Four Visions
The Four Visions (snang ba bzhi) of the Leaping Over (thod rgal)
1) The Vision of the Immediate Perception of Reality Itself
(chos nyid mngon sum gyi snang ba)
- Vajra Chains Awareness Vision
2) The Vision of Increasing Experiences (nyams gong ‘phel gyi snang ba)
- Rainbow Lights, Buddha-Bodies Vision
3) The Vision of the Awareness Reaching Its Peak
(rig pa tshad phebs kyi snang ba)
- Perfected Buddha Families Vision
4) The Vision of Exhaustion of Reality Itself (chos nyid zad pa’i snang ba)
- Dissolution of Visions, Buddhahood.
It is related to light visions, light lamps, light channels of awareness.

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---
Concerning Trekchö it is sufficient to just recognize the moment free from
thoughts of the three times, free of concepts. While in the state of Trekchö, you
apply the key points of the instructions of Tögal; do the three postures and the
three gazes, apply the key points, and leave the mind in rigpa. Then you see the
deities, they are visible, but they are intangible (nehmatateľné).
In Atiyoga, the deity is primordially present as our nature without any need to be
created. They are we. That is the short path.
When we experience the ultimate Tögal, the hundred peaceful and wrathful deities
will appear. One realizes that spontaneous presence is self-display.

Four Ways of Cutting Through Thoughts

From the Instruction Manual for the Ground of Tregcho
To rest in the state of empty and luminous awareness is known as the ground of
cutting through. Now do thoughts occur during this state of stillness? Is there
stillness while the thoughts occur? There are thoughts during the state of stillness,
and there are four ways of cutting thoughts relaxed way:
1) Like a cat waiting for a mouse,
Look directly into the essence of the thoughts.
2) Like a brahman threading a needle,
Keep awareness balanced and look into the essence of the thoughts.
3) Like a watchman in a watchtower,
Look into the thoughts within the state of undistracted awareness.
4) Like an arrow flying from an archer,
Look into the thoughts within the state of one-pointed awareness.

Now, as for mingling stillness and thinking:

Stillness is to rest quietly in the state of empty and
luminous mind-nature.
From within that state a thought suddenly occurs.
By looking directly into it, it completely disappears in
the continuity of this mind-nature.
This is called mingling stillness and thinking in the
continuity of mind-nature.

Wakefulness that is primordially pure in essence

Is free from all unawareness and thinking.

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By relying on the primordial purity, the emptiness, to bring forth the intrinsic
awareness nakedly, free from elaboration, and to dissolve (the phenomenal
existents into the) ultimate nature, the emptiness (is Thregcho).
— Jigme Lingpa, The Practice of Dzogchen, p.69
Luminosity
Emptiness and Luminosity Shamatha-vipashyana is sometimes referred to in
vajrayana terms as the indivisibility of emptiness and luminosity. Emptiness is
connected with shamatha, we try to avoid discursive thoughts. Luminosity is
connected with vipashyana. It means seeing brightly and clearly. By means of
luminosity, awareness begins to pick up what needs to be done.
Maha-Ati
Maha-Ati refers to Atiyoga or to higher tantric yanas (Mahayoga, Anuyoga, and
Atiyoga). Maha-Ati teachings may be complex, but they are in fact simple, pure,
and immediate.
Meditation
In Dzogchen it is simply resting undistracted in natural state.
It is free from all mental constructions, while remaining fully relaxed, without any
distraction or grasping.
How do we know when it is rigpa and when it is not? If you are in an unaltered
state, it is rigpa. If not contriving or manipulating the mind in any way, but simply
resting in an unaltered state of pure and pristine awareness.
When one past thought has ceased and a future thought has not yet risen, in that
gap, in between, there is a consciousness of the present moment; fresh, virgin,
unaltered naked awareness. Another thought suddenly arises. This is if recognized,
the self-radiance of that rigpa awareness.
---
In cutting through, the practitioner rests in attention and lets that attention cut
through the confusion of thought and projection to the natural purity of timeless
awareness itself.
As soon as a thought arises, rest and relax the posture. Then look again. Work with
this alternation, the looking and the resting.
Samaya
The essence of Samaya in Dzogchen teaching: “not to meditate or to practice
something with the mind” and yet never to be distracted, for one remains
uninterruptedly in the self-perfection of the single state of rigpa or truth.

Present / Mindful / Awareness

Present: The present time is associated with the events perceived directly and for
the first time, not as a recollection or speculation. It is a period between the past
and the future.

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Mindful: Focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the
moment, without interpretation or judgment.
Awareness: Being conscious of itself.

Stillness, Occurence, Awareness

According to the oral instructions of the realized ones, leave out various logical
investigations.
Stillness is when you look into your mind, direct
yourself inward, and remain devoid of any kind of thinking.
Occurrence is when various kinds of thoughts arise.
Awareness is your mind being conscious of either of these.
There is nothing easier than this recognizing awareness, but it is essential to
practice.
The moment you realize you are not present, you are present. It is not about
eliminating thoughts but illuminating them.

Vacant state
Most esoteric traditions agree that thoughts themselves are not the enemy. On the
other hand, when we are thinking, awareness is dulled and confused.
The vacant state of not thinking of anything
Is itself the cause of ignorance and confusion.
But there is a thought-free knowing (rigpa) that is totally open like a clear sky that
is your own nature. Indescribable, awareness, or knowing (rigpa). Then the
wakefulness of knowing your nature will dawn. The difference is like having
eyesight and being blind.
Merely recognizing this nature of knowing however is not enough; you must
stabilize familiarity with this state. So it is important to sustain a constant
remembrance of settling into the natural state.
Shamatha here is being an ongoing steadiness in remembering to settle in the
natural state, and vipashyana the recognizing of your essence as natural
cognizance.
Mark the degree of progress in this practice by the strength of the luminosity at
night.
— From The Lamp that Dispels Darkness by Mipham

Yangti
The Yangti Nakpo "The Single Golden Letter of the Black Quintessence" is a
cycle of Dzogchen teachings that includes practices focusing on dark retreat.

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