Teachings: Mind Nature

What is the difference between the real state of rigpa and the imitation? Check whether or not there is any clinging, any sense of keeping hold of something. With conceptual rigpa you notice a sense of trying to keep a state, trying to maintain a state, trying to nurture a state. There is a sense … READ MORE

There are two important words that may sound a little crazy, but I want you to listen carefully to them: undistracted and not meditating. Undistracted nonmeditation. These two words together actually form one essential expression. Undistracted nonmeditation. To hear this phrase and to understand the vital point communicated through these two words, we need to … READ MORE

Please rest continuously in the pure view . . . self-arising rigpa. How do you do that? Neither blocking off the five sense consciousnesses, nor sending the internal awareness out to external, fixated objects, rest in the first moment, in the present awareness that arises as unhindered clarity. Meditate by staying in an all-pervasive state: … READ MORE

People often make a mistake in thinking that the training consists of an attempt to dissolve this knowing quality into emptiness. They try to make nothingness, rather than just leaving this consciousness, this knowing mind, to itself. All you actually need is to let this knowing and awake atmosphere be permeated with emptiness, like allowing … READ MORE

The recognition of empty essence—in other words, the insight that realizes egolessness, the absence of an independent entity—is the state of original wakefulness itself. Training in this state perfects the accumulation of wisdom. During whatever formal practice you undertake, do not leave behind this accumulation of wisdom beyond reference point; rather, embrace the particular practice … READ MORE

When you involve yourself with recognition, there are three topics—view, meditation, and conduct. What is the view? The knowing, the recognizing, right within one instant, of the mind’s emptiness and clarity unified is called the view. When, in just one moment, emptiness, clarity, and the two unified are all there together, that is rigpa. This … READ MORE

The daily display of samsaric phenomena is like a motion picture; you relate to it as if it were a movie. It is seemingly real, but when you pursue it, it is not really so. Fearless Simplicity, p. 258   Not dwelling in any way whatsoever, and yet totally present throughout everything. Fearless Simplicity, p. … READ MORE

Sometime go outside and sit, In the evening at sunset, When there’s a slight breeze that touches your body, And makes the leaves and the trees move gently. You’re not trying to do anything, really. You’re simply allowing yourself to be, Very open from deep within, Without holding onto anything whatsoever. Don’t bring something back … READ MORE

I would like to tell a story about Amtin, a remarkable yogi who lives in Tashi Jong, northern India. His spiritual tradition is the Drukpa Kagyu, but his practice is Nyingma, Dzogchen, like me. When he lived in Tibet, he practiced meditation a lot and became very peaceful. He stayed in solitary retreat for six … READ MORE