ArticlePDF Available

The Mirror: Advice on Presence and Awareness (dran pa dang shes bzhin gyi gdams pa me long ma)

MDPI
Religions
Authors:

Abstract

"The Mirror: Advice on the Presence of Awareness" (dran pa dang shes bzhin gyi gdams pa me long ma) is a short text that describes the essence of the Dzogchen teaching (rdzogs chen, total perfection). Concerning the way to establish this point of view (lta ba), the main point is to have a direct understanding through the experience of our primordial state of pure presence, beyond any mental or intellectual construction. With regard to meditation (sgom pa), this involves practicing in order to be sure to understand our own true nature, the non-dual condition of the calm state (the essence of the mind) and movement (its natural energy). Behavior (spyod pa) is the integration of meditation in all our daily activities, continuing in the state of pure presence in every circumstance of life. This is the total realization.
Religions 2013, 4, 412–422; doi:10.3390/rel4030412
religions
ISSN 2077-1444
www.mdpi.com/journal/religions
Article
The Mirror: Advice on Presence and Awareness (dran pa dang
shes bzhin gyi gdams pa me long ma)
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
International Dzogchen Community, Merigar West, Loc. Merigar, Arcidosso (GR) 58031, Italy;
E-Mail: chnamkhai@gmail.com
Received: 1 July 2013; in revised form: 26 August 2013 / Accepted: 6 September 2013 /
Published: 9 September 2013
Abstract: “The Mirror: Advice on the Presence of Awareness” (dran pa dang shes bzhin
gyi gdams pa me long ma) is a short text that describes the essence of the Dzogchen
teaching (rdzogs chen, total perfection). Concerning the way to establish this point of view
(lta ba), the main point is to have a direct understanding through the experience of
our primordial state of pure presence, beyond any mental or intellectual construction. With
regard to meditation (sgom pa), this involves practicing in order to be sure to understand
our own true nature, the non-dual condition of the calm state (the essence of the mind) and
movement (its natural energy). Behavior (spyod pa) is the integration of meditation in all
our daily activities, continuing in the state of pure presence in every circumstance of life.
This is the total realization.
Keywords: Dzogchen; tantra; self-perfected state; samsara; state of enlightenment; karma;
nirvana; mantra; state of pure non-dual presence; awareness
Those who practice Dzogchen must realize perfect presence and awareness and, to that end, must
truly have understood their own mind and succeeded in gaining control of it. Otherwise, explanations
about presence and awareness will not get results and will amount to little more than ink on paper or
topics for intellectual discussion.
In the Dzogchen tantra, called Kunjed Gyalpo or The All-creating King1, we read:
Mind2 is the creator of all: samsara and nirvana:
1 The Kun byed rgyal po is the most important of the twenty-one texts of the “nature of mind” series (sems sde) of
Dzogchen. See [1].
2 Here “mind” refers to the primordial state of mind.
OPEN ACCESS
Religions 2013, 4 413
Know this “all-creating king”!
Generally, it is explained that we transmigrate in the impure, illusory vision of samsara, but in
reality, it is only our mind that transmigrates. Additionally, it is likewise only our mind that, purified,
realizes the pure State of Enlightenment. The mind is, in truth, the sole base or root of all that is, of
samsara and of nirvana, of sentient beings and of the enlightened ones.
How does transmigration in the impure vision of samsara begin? The nature of the mind, the
essence of our own mind, is completely pure from the beginning, but due to adventitious obstacles
caused by ignorance, we do not recognize our true State, which is pure non-dual presence. Without
recognition of this State, our illusory thoughts, together with the impulses to act, caused by the
passions, arise. In this way, we accumulate negative actions, and the result, since the maturation of
karma3 is inevitable, is that we transmigrate in the six realms of samsaric existence4 with all the
consequent suffering. Therefore, by not realizing that the cause of transmigration is our mind, we let
ourselves be completely dominated by illusion and distraction, and not recognizing our State of pure
non-dual presence inevitably, we get used to performing illusory acts.
The pure State of Enlightenment is our own mind, as well, not some sort of dazzling light coming
from outside. If we recognize our primordial State of pure presence, pure from the beginning, albeit
temporarily obscured, and we stay present in this recognition without getting distracted, then all
impurities dissolve: this is the essence of the path. Now, the nature of the primordial State as total
purity actually manifests, and recognizing it for what it is, we take hold of it forever. It is this decisive
knowing, this pure presence of the true original condition, that is called nirvana. Enlightenment, too,
therefore, is only our own mind, purified. That is why Padmasambhava said:
This mind has created both samsara and nirvana;
Outside of it neither the one nor the other exists.
Understanding the mind to be the root of both transmigration and Enlightenment, we can be certain
that all the solidity of material phenomena and of sentient beings is merely the illusory vision of our
own mind. Due to the varieties of accumulated karma, in fact, the various types of beings have distinct
illusory visions, which are unreal in the same way that a person suffering from a “bile”5 disease sees a
white conch shell as yellow in color. Accordingly, if representative beings from the six states of
samsaric existence were to meet on the bank of a river, the six different species of karma would cause
the river to appear differently to each of them. The “fire hell” being would see flames, the “ice hell”
being would see ice, the hungry ghost or preta would see blood and pus, the water animal would see a
home, the human would see drinking water, the demigod or asura would see weapons and the god or
deva would see nectar. The obvious point is that in truth, there is no concrete, objective reality.
Therefore, once we have understood that only through our mind, which is the root of
transmigration, can we uproot samsara, and likewise only through our mind, which is the essence of
3 Karma means the law of cause and effect that conditions the existence of the individual. Situations or circumstances we
find ourselves in are not casual, but the result of certain past actions performed by us. Literally, karma means “action”.
4 The realms of the gods (devas), demigods (asuras), humans, animals, hungry ghosts (pretas) and hell beings. These
states of samsaric existence are not eternal; rather, they manifest according to the kinds of acts performed during a life.
5 One of the three humors that can cause imbalance in the organism according to traditional Tibetan medicine; mkhris pa
in Tibetan. The other two are air (rlung) and phlegm (bad kan).
Religions 2013, 4 414
Enlightenment—can we attain liberation—being certain that it alone is the basis of everything, we
must resolutely decide to practice, which means working on our own mind.
This is the point at which we resolve to maintain continuous presence without distraction. If we
want to stop a stream, we have to block it at its source, and automatically, its flow will cease; trying to
block it at some point downstream would not achieve the same result. Likewise, if we want to uproot
samsara, we must pull out the root in our own mind, which is the creator of it all: there is no other way
of getting free of transmigration. This also holds for the purification of the obstacles and suffering
caused by negative karma, because it is always our mind that is the sole cause. Conversely, if we
perform any number of virtuous acts involving body and voice, no doubt, thereby, obtaining some
temporary benefit, the karmic obstacles that we have failed to pull out at the root will soon begin to
accumulate again. What we have done is comparable to pruning the leaves and branches of a tree
instead of taking it out by the root, leaving it to regenerate instead of withering away.
If our mind, the “all-creating king”, is not in its authentic State, then, even if we apply the tantric
methods of development and completion6 and recite countless mantras, we are not on the path of total
liberation. One must overthrow the king to conquer the kingdom—it is hardly enough to subjugate
some members of the court or a part of the populace. Likewise, if we do not know or resolve how to
maintain presence without getting distracted, but instead, let ourselves get lost in distraction and
illusion, we will never free ourselves from endless transmigration. On the other hand, if our mind does
not get distracted and oblivious, but instead, manages to gain self-control and maintain the presence of
its true State without being conditioned by illusion, it becomes the essence of all the teachings and the
root of all the paths. In fact, all the phenomena of dualistic vision—nirvana and samsara, happiness
and suffering, good and bad—arise solely from the mind and have no other origin. That is why it is
said that a mind free of distraction is the basis of all paths and the deepest point of the practice.
The Buddhas of the past have attained Enlightenment, just as will those of the future, by following
the path of continuous presence without distraction. Additionally, those attaining it at this time do so by
grounding themselves in presence, because there is no other way of attaining Enlightenment. The
recognition of our true State and the continuation of its presence really are the essence of all the paths,
the basis of all meditation the conclusion of all practices, the pith of all the secret methods and the key
to all the deepest teachings. This is why we have to try to maintain continuous presence without
being distracted.
This means not hanging on to the past, not going after the future and, without letting ourselves get
involved in the illusory thoughts arising in the present moment, turning inward and observing our own
mind, leaving it in its true State beyond the limitations of past, present and future. Without letting
ourselves be conditioned by contaminating conceptualization, without passing judgment on the State
itself, whether indeed it even exists, whether it will turn out to be positive or negative, etc., we must
remain in this authentic condition and not try to correct it.
6 On the tantric path, two main methods are used: “development” (bskyed rim) and “completion” (rdzogs rim). Practice in
the former method consists in the “creation”, through visualization, of the deity, a symbol of the primordial state, called
yidam, and of the deity’s pure dimension, called mandala. In the latter method, the whole of the pure dimension that has
been visualized is reabsorbed inside the mandala of the human body through concentration on the immaterial channels,
where the energy circulates, called nadis, and on the centers, where this energy gathers, called chakras.
Religions 2013, 4 415
Although the primordial State of total perfection is completely beyond the limits of past, present
and future, we are not immediately aware of this and, indeed, find difficulty in recognizing it when we
first start to practice; so, it is important not to get distracted by thoughts of the “three times”. However,
if in order not to let ourselves get distracted, we try to eliminate all thoughts, fixating on the idea of
having to find a state of calm or of pleasure, it is essential to see that this is also a mistake, because
such a fixation is itself nothing more than another thought.
Instead, we should let the mind become relaxed, maintaining only a clear presence of its natural
condition, without getting distracted, forgetting or letting ourselves get wrapped up in our thoughts.
When the mind is naturally relaxed and present, it comes to itself in its authentic State. If we do not
manage to continue in this state and if various thoughts, good or bad, arise, then we should not
immediately start questioning whether the mind is still in a calm state or whether the movement of
thoughts has really arisen. Instead, maintaining presence and not getting distracted, we should just
acknowledge the thoughts. The moment the thoughts are recognized, they relax into their own
condition: all the time in which we have the presence of this recognition of thoughts, it is important not
to get distracted. If the mind does get distracted and the thoughts are not acknowledged, we should
resume attending to the presence of awareness.
If the thought arises concerning whether or not we are in a calm state, we should continue observing
the state of the thought itself and simply not lose presence. If thoughts do not arise and the mind
remains in a state of calm, we should continue with the presence of the recognition of the calm state.
This means simply not getting distracted, maintaining the presence of this natural state without trying
to define it, without hoping for the manifestation of a particular form, color or light, but instead,
relaxing in it without being conditioned by impulses to enter into action instigated by thoughts.
When we are just beginning to practice, it is unlikely that our calm state will last more than an
instant, but there is no need to start worrying, hoping it will last a long time or fearing its absence. The
important point is just to keep presence without distraction, without getting caught up in dualistic
considerations about a “state” to be observed or someone “here” to observe it.
If, despite maintaining presence, our mind does not remain in a calm state, but begins thinking
about past or future actions or lets itself get captivated by sensory objects, like sounds or forms, we
should not try to stop this “movement.” Indeed, even if we wanted to, we would scarcely succeed,
because such movement is not something concrete: it is like the wind that eludes our grasp despite our
best efforts. The point is not to regard the movement as a negative thing, as something to be rejected.
The truth here is that the calm state is the essence of the mind and movement is its energy: they are
two inseparable aspects of the same reality, like the sea and its waves or the sun and its rays. If we
consider the calm state something positive to be achieved and the movement of thoughts something
negative to be abandoned, thereby cultivating the dualism of acceptance and rejection, then we will
never overcome our ordinary mentality. Therefore, maintaining presence without distraction, we must
simply acknowledge whatever thoughts arise—good or bad, relevant or insignificant—and just
continue in the state of “movement”: this point is vitally important.
Further, on the issue of relating to movement, if, for some reason, when a thought arises, we do not
manage to remain relaxed in presence, we must immediately try to recognize it without being
distracted, because otherwise, that first thought can give rise to a whole chain of different thoughts.
“Recognizing” does not mean that there is something to see with the eyes or to identify conceptually. It
Religions 2013, 4 416
means just being there with the presence of whatever thoughts occur, however they are linked to past,
present or future, and of whatever sense objects arise. Through this actual presence, we “recognize”
the state of movement and, then, simply continue without forgetting this recognition. It certainly does
not consist in trying to interrupt the flow of movement or of trying to imprison the thoughts within,
modifying or correcting the mind in some way.
Of course, at first, this unwavering recognition does not last for a long period of time, especially
when we are just beginning to practice; we have, after all, become deeply accustomed to distraction
and illusion throughout the endless time of our transmigration. Considering only our present lifetime,
we can see that from the instant of birth, right up to the present moment, we have done little else than
live in a distracted way, without training ourselves in the presence of awareness and in not being
distracted. That is why, if we have not become aware of our own distraction, when out of negligence,
we continuously get distracted or become forgetful, we must try in every way possible to recognize it
through sheer presence of mind.
“To meditate” only means to maintain presence, both of the calm state and of movement: there is
nothing on which to meditate. There is nothing higher or clearer to seek beyond the recognition and
continuation of our State of pure non-dual presence. If, instead of continuing in our own State, we turn
outward, hoping something will manifest, we are like the man in the Tibetan saying who, when an evil
spirit showed up at his eastern gate, sent the ritual ransom to the western gate to buy it off. In such a
case, even if we think we are meditating perfectly, this “meditation” will only be a way of tiring
ourselves out to no avail. Continuing in the State of pure presence found only within one’s self is what
really matters.
Neglecting our actual possessions, while looking for something that we believe is missing, we
become like the pauper in the Buddhist parable who failed to notice that his pillow was a precious
stone and wore himself out begging. Therefore, doing whatever we can to maintain the State of pure
non-dual presence, while observing each movement of thought as it arises, refraining from judging
how clear this presence is or from accepting the calm state or rejecting movement, we must apply the
essence of the practice. This consists in continuing in our own State without distraction and
forgetfulness, not at all conditioned by the desire to modify anything.
Some people get disturbed or annoyed by noises made by others walking or talking; or their
attention distracted by external things, they let themselves get involved in endless ordinary illusions.
This defect is called “the difficult passage when vision appears as an enemy” and shows that even
though we know how to continue knowing the calm state and the movement of thoughts, we have not
succeeded in applying presence to sense perceptions. Therefore, our practice has not been integrated
with external vision. In this case, while continuing to maintain presence, at the moment of perceiving
any particular form, we should not yield to distraction, but, without judging whether it is beautiful or
ugly, simply remain relaxed while recognizing it. If a thought arises that does judge it as beautiful or
ugly, we should continue to remain present in the recognition of that thought, without forgetting.
Similarly, if we find ourselves in disturbing circumstances, such as being in the midst of a lot of
noise, we should recognize it for what it is and continue with the presence of the state of that thought
without getting distracted. If a thought of compelling aversion arises, we recognize it, and without
losing control and being dominated by the surge of passions, we remain present in the state of that
Religions 2013, 4 417
thought. This approach works with sense objects generally—sounds, smells, etc. In every case, the
point is to remain with the presence of the actual recognition of whatever we perceive.
Without the capacity to integrate presence with all our daily activities, such as eating, walking,
sleeping and sitting, there is no way to extend the state of meditation beyond the limited time of a
single session of practice, and until we have stable presence, there will always be a separation between
meditation sessions and daily activities. For this reason, it is very important to try to maintain presence
as much as possible, integrating it with all our activities, just as the Buddha explained in the Sutra of
Wisdom Beyond The Intellect (Prajñaparamitasutra):
Subhuti! In what way can a bodhisattva-mahasattva7, recognizing that he has a body, apply perfect conduct?
Subhuti! If a bodhisattva-mahasattva walks, he is completely aware of walking; if he stands, he is
completely aware of standing; if he sits, he is completely aware of sitting; if he lies down, he is completely
aware of lying down; if his body is well or ill, he is completely aware of it.
In order to understand how we might integrate presence with all daily activities, let us take the
example of walking. The moment the impulse to walk comes up, there is no need to stand up suddenly
and walk in an inattentive, agitated way, running the risk of breaking anything in our path. Rather, we
should walk bearing in mind, “Now I’m getting up, and while I’m walking, I don’t want to get
distracted.” In this way, without letting ourselves get distracted, we are aware that we are walking, and
step by step, we begin to gain control of ourselves through the presence of awareness.
Similarly, if we are sitting down, we should be aware of it, and the same with whatever we are
doing, whether it is having a bite to eat or sipping a drink or saying a couple of words. No matter
whether or not what we are doing is particularly important, we must always maintain presence without
getting distracted.
Since we are so strongly accustomed to distraction, it is difficult to give rise to real presence of
awareness, especially when we are just beginning to practice. Yet, this is much the same sort of
difficulty we encounter when starting a new job. In the first phase of basic training, we may get hardly
anything right, but after a while, through experience, the job gets easier. Here, we work in the same
way: we start by engaging, taking special care not to get distracted, following up with the resolve to
maintain presence to the utmost degree possible; and when each new sign of distraction appears, we
activate the capacity to recognize it. Continuing in this way, committed to the presence of awareness,
we can, in fact, get to the point where we are no longer subject to distraction at all.
In general, in Dzogchen, the teaching of the State of spontaneous self-perfection, the fundamental
principle pertaining to “view, meditation, conduct and the final fruit” is self-liberation. This must, in all
instances, arise through presence and awareness, most particularly as regards the aspect of conduct.
Until we precisely apply the principle of self-liberation in the conduct of our life, there is no way to
bridge the gap between a formal meditation session and daily activity.
When we speak of the principle of the “self-liberation of conduct” as being the essence of all the
tantras, lungs and “secret instructions”8 in the teachings of Dzogchen, young people today seem to
7 A being who devotes his or her life totally to the commitment to gain Enlightenment for the benefit of all
sentient beings.
8 The Dzogchen scriptures are classified in three basic types: tantras, lungs and “secret instructions.” The tantras are
revealed texts that contain complete explanations of the base, way and fruit of Dzogchen. The lungs are summaries or
Religions 2013, 4 418
respond very favorably. Some of them, however, do not grasp that the basis of this self-liberation is
true presence and awareness; still others, in spite of having enough theoretical understanding to think
about it intelligently and discuss it, nevertheless suffer the shortcoming of not actually applying it. This
brings to mind the case of someone who is ill and not able to recover his health, because, even though
he knows all about the properties and function of a given medicine and may even be quite expert in
explaining what it does, still does not take it himself. In a related sense, we all have long been afflicted
by a grave condition, namely, the illness of a dualistic mentality, the only remedy for which is direct
knowledge of the State of self-liberation, beyond all limitations and sectarianism.
When we are meditating, continuing in the State of pure non-dual presence, there is no need to give
special attention to the aspect of conduct. Yet, for a person who is just beginning to practice, there is no
way to enter into the real meaning of the practice, other than by alternating meditation sessions with
daily activities. This is because, based on our habits of rational thinking and the way we conceive our
“reality”, we have very strong attachment to the objects of sense perception and, most particularly, to
our flesh-and-blood physical body. When we meditate on “not I,” mentally eliminating the head and
limbs one by one, we can easily establish that there is no “I”9. However, this “not I” is only a concept,
the fruit of our intellectual analysis, and not real knowledge of the state of “not I.” If, while saying
there is no I, a thorn gets stuck in our foot, of course we immediately cry out, “Ouch!” This proves that
we are still slaves to the dualistic condition and that the “not I” we are so clever in talking about has
not become a truly lived state. This is why it is indispensable that we take care to have presence and
awareness, the basis of the self-liberation of conduct in all daily activities following meditation sessions.
Because there have been different ways of ascribing importance to the aspect of conduct, various
kinds of laws have been made based on external conditions, such as religious rules and judicial
systems. However, as for the way we observe them, there is, in principle, a big difference between
respecting a law through awareness and doing so through compulsion. Generally, since everybody is
conditioned by karma, by the passions and dualism, very few people respect laws on the basis of
awareness. This is why, even though no one wants to, everyone has had to submit to the power of
different kinds of laws.
We are already conditioned by karma, by the passions and by dualism, so that if we add to this
conditioning the limitations derived from having to obey laws under compulsion, not only do we make
our burden even heavier, we also get further away from the fundamental principles of the “view” and
“conduct”. This helps us see the urgency for anyone who has experienced real inner knowledge of the
practice to let presence and awareness arise precisely within oneself—the key to the self-liberation
of conduct.
The self-liberation of conduct must not be understood as meaning that we can do whatever we like:
that is absolutely not its principle. Understanding it in that way clearly shows that one has not
understood the meaning of awareness.
collections of quotes from one or more tantras, particularly from those that do not exist on Earth. Finally, the secret
instructions (upadeshas) are teachings tied to the particular experiences of various masters.
9 According to one type of meditation, which is very widespread in the Sutra tradition, if we try to identify our “I” with
our body, then mentally eliminate our head, arms, legs, etc., we come to realize that what we generally consider to be
our “I” cannot be identified with our body, neither as a whole, nor with any of its parts.
Religions 2013, 4 419
At the base, we must distinguish clearly between the principle of law and that of awareness. Laws
are established according to the circumstances of time and place, and they condition the individual
from the outside, whereas awareness arises from knowledge that the individual possesses. That is why
laws sometimes correspond to an individual’s awareness and sometimes, they do not. However, if we
have awareness, we can overcome the attitude that we have to obey laws out of compulsion. Moreover,
someone who has awareness and has stabilized its presence will be able to live untroubled under any
kind of law in the world, without being conditioned by it.
Many important masters have said:
Spur on the horse of awareness with the whip of presence!
If awareness is not aroused by presence, in fact, it cannot function. Here is an example of what is
meant by “awareness”. Say a normal adult woman has a cup full of poison in front of her and is aware
of it. Since she knows what the danger of the poison is, she does not need a lot of explanation about it.
She will warn those who do not know about the danger, saying, “There’s poison in that cup—if you
drink it, you’ll die!” In this way, awareness has a chance of arising in others too, and people can try to
avoid the danger.
Now suppose we are dealing with people who know about the danger of the poison, but do not
consider it important or still have doubts about it or who actually do not have this awareness. Then, it
is not enough merely to say, “This is poison!” It will be necessary to add, “Drinking this is forbidden,
and anyone who disobeys will be punished by law!” This is the sense in which life is protected through
the threat of the law. Law indeed is based on this principle, and, although it is very different from the
principle of awareness, it is indispensable in order to help save the lives of irresponsible people, who
lack awareness.
Extending the above example, we can go further in understanding the meaning of “presence”.
Assuming that someone with a cup full of poison in front of her is aware of it and knows full well the
consequences of drinking it, yet lacks continuous presence and, therefore, allows herself to get
distracted; the unfortunate result may be that she accidentally drinks the poison. The point is that if
awareness is not accompanied by presence, it is difficult for it to produce the right results.
The principle that Mahayana practitioners in general talk about, treating it a bit like an axiom, is the
“union of emptiness and compassion”. However, without the awareness that is inseparable from
presence, authentic compassion cannot arise. It is useless to pretend to be among the so-called
compassionate if we do not actually feel compassion towards others. As the Tibetan proverb says:
We’ve got eyes with which to see each other, but we need a mirror to see ourselves!
In order to give rise to true compassion within us, we have to observe our own shortcomings and be
fully aware of them; and indeed, in order to discover what the condition of other people is, we have to
put ourselves in another’s place. This is exactly what only genuine presence of awareness can
accomplish. Otherwise, for all our display of having great compassion, sooner or later, a situation will
arise that will show us that it has never really arisen in us.
Until pure compassion arises, there is no way to overcome limitations and sectarianism. However,
there are many practitioners who reach a point after a while where they consider themselves like
deities and treat others as opposing evil spirits, thereby strengthening their limitations and further
Religions 2013, 4 420
accentuating attachment and hatred. Though they talk a lot about Mahamudra10 and Dzogchen, at the
level of behavior, they are only becoming more expert and refined in acting according to the “eight
worldly concerns” 11 . This is a concrete sign that genuine compassion has not arisen and that,
at the most fundamental level, the true and only root of compassion, the presence of awareness, has
never arisen.
We want to avoid joining those who only chatter about practice or who are satisfied with donning a
certain elegant appearance. Therefore, by taking to heart the profound need to give rise to actual
presence and awareness within ourselves, we can put them into action in the most direct and concrete
way. This is the vitally important practice of the Dzogchen teachings.
Acknowledgements
Adriano Clemente who translated my original text from Tibetan, adding notes. Shang Shung
Editions (Arcidosso, Italy) for publishing both the English translation and the original of my Tibetan
text: The Mirror: Advice on Presence and Awareness. Arcidosso: Shang Shung Publications, 1983,
and for the authorization to publish part of it. Paolo Roberti di Sarsina for his project and wholehearted
efforts of the Special Issue dedicated to Dzogchen and for editing my text. Fabio Maria Risolo for
assisting the project. Paolo Roberti di Sarsina, Alfredo Colitto and Fabio Maria Risolo for their two
articles portraying my lineage and my legacy.
Conflict of Interest
The author declares no conflict of interest.
References
1. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, and Adriano Clemente. Supreme Source: The Fundamental Tantra of
Dzogchen Semde. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 1999.
Writings of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
Dzogchen and Zen. Nevada City: Blue Dolphin, 1984.
Cycle of Day and Night: An Essential Tibetan Text on the Practice of Dzogchen. Barrytown: Station
Hill Press, 1986.
Dzogchen: The Self Perfected State. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 1986.
Drajyor: Tibetan Phonetics for the Dzogchen Community. Arcidosso: Shang Shung Publications,
1986.
The Origins of Tibetan Thought and Culture. Arcidosso: Shang Shung Publications, 1987.
10 Mahamudra, the ultimate goal of the transformation practices of the Anuttara Tantra of the modern tradition, is the non-
dual state of total integration of pure vision with the impure dimension of samsara. Literally, Mahamudra means “great
(or total) symbol”.
11 The eight worldly concerns (’jig rten chos brgyad) are gain and loss, fame and disrepute, praise and blame, pleasure and
pain.
Religions 2013, 4 421
The Necklace of gZi: A Cultural History of Tibet. Dharamsala: Library of Tibetan Works and
Archives, Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 1991.
Drung, Deu and Bön Narrations, Symbolic Languages and Bön in Ancient Tibet. Dharamsala: Library
of Tibetan Works and Archives, Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 1995.
Journey among Tibetan Nomads: An Account of a Remote Civilization. New Delhi: Paljor
Publications, 1997.
Primordial Experience: An Introduction to Rdzogs-Chen Meditation. Boston: Shambhala Publications,
1997.
Gangs ti se’i dkar chag. A Bon-po Story of the Sacred Mountain Ti-se and the Blue Lake Ma-pang.
Partially translated into English by R. Prats. Rome: IsMEO, 1999.
Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 2000.
Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 2002.
Key for Consulting the Tibetan Calendar. Arcidosso: Shang Shung Publications, 2003.
Dzogchen Teachings. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 2006.
Longchenpa’s Advice from the Heart. Arcidosso: Shang Shung Publications, 2008.
Yantra Yoga. The Tibetan Yoga of Movemen. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 2008.
Birth, Life and Death According to Tibetan Medicine and the Dzogchen Teaching. Arcidosso: Shang
Shung Publications, 2008.
The Light of Kailash: A History of Zhang Zhung and Tibet. Vol. 1. The Early Period. Arcidosso: Shang
Shung Publications, 2009.
Zhang Zhung. Images from a Lost Kingdom. Arcidosso: Shang Shung Publications, 2010.
Foundation of the Path. Arcidosso: Shang Shung Publications, 2010.
Rainbow Body: The Life and Realization of Togden Urgyen Tenzin. Arcidosso: Shang Shung
Publications, 2010.
The Practice of Tibetan Kunye Massage. Arcidosso: Shang Shung Publications, 2010.
Healing with Fire: A Practical Manual of Tibetan Moxibustion. Arcidosso: Shang Shung Publications,
2011.
The Lamp That Enlightens Narrow Minds - The Life and Times of a Realized Tibetan Master:
Khyentse Chöky Wangchug. Edited and annotated by Enrico Dell’Angelo. Berkley: North Atlantic
Books, 2012.
Other Related Works
“Tibetan Medicine, Heritage of Mankind.” University of Bologna Available online:
http://www.medicinacentratasullapersona.org/index.php/eventi/2010/item/18 (accessed on 17
June 2013)
Paolo Roberti di Sarsina. “Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at Bologna University.” The Mirror 106 (2010): 7.
Paolo Roberti di Sarsina, Luigi Ottaviani, and Joey Mella. “Tibetan Medicine: A Unique Heritage of
Person Centred Medicine”. EPMA Journal 2, no. 4 (2011): 385–89. doi: 10.1007/s13167-011-
0130-x.
Paolo Roberti di Sarsina. “Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche: Dzogchen and Tibetan Tradition. From
Shang Shung to the West.” Religions 3, no. 2 (2012): 163–82. doi:10.3390/rel3020163.
Religions 2013, 4 422
Paolo Roberti di Sarsina, Alfredo Colitto, and Fabio Maria Risolo. “Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. The
Master Who Revealed Dzogchen to the Western World.” Religions 4, no. 2 (2013): 230–39.
doi:10.3390/rel4020230.
Costantino M. Albini. “On Dealing with Destructive Emotions through the ‘Path of Self-Liberation’.”
Religions 4, no. 2 (2013): 306–12. doi:10.3390/rel4020306.
© 2013 by the author; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
... That is why I thought I would write a text to provide this 'advice'". The English translation of this short treatise without the Tibetan text and the commentary has also been published in the form of an open-access journal article (Namkhai 2013b dran pa dang shes bzhin las 'phros pa'i gtam don rab 'byed pa'i thur ma (A, vol. 4, pp. ...
Article
Full-text available
For Indian Buddhists and their Tibetan successors, the faculty of “mindfulness” (Skt. smṛti, Tib. dran pa) has been interpreted as the foundation of the threefold development of wisdom (study, reflection, cultivation). Such a model was, in Tibet, the hallmark of the gradual approach to awakening, whereas in the simultaneous approach, the state beyond ordinary mindfulness was emphasized. The complementarity of both approaches has been an essential issue, especially for the Nyingma tradition, which holds the direct teaching of Dzogchen to be the penultimate. To elucidate the operations of mindfulness in this context, this paper analyzes two guidance texts on mindfulness by Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa (1730–1798), Ocean of Qualities: Advice on Mindfulness and Cudgel to Discern the Real: Advice that Shines from Mindfulness and Meta-Awareness, the latter translated into English for the first time in this paper. As this study shows, Jigme Lingpa articulates a twofold typology of mindfulness, first a mindfulness that is effortful and conditioned, and secondarily the distinctive mindfulness of Dzogchen that is inseparable from pure awareness or rigpa (rig pa). Jigme Lingpa thus applies mindfulness to integrate Buddhist teachings and make sense of alternative modes of practice along the Dzogchen path.
... Some traditional contemplative theories propose that these experiences spring from awareness recognizing itself [91], or the presence of a background non-conceptual awareness which cognizes without subject-object dichotomy (i.e. "nondual"), and are thought to under certain circumstances be brought into the foreground of experience through the practice of meditation [92]. In this mode, perceptions, emotions, cognitions, and the global states of arousal appear to this awareness as contents, whereas awareness is experienced as a contextual space (like weather patterns appear in the sky). ...
Article
Full-text available
The science of meditation has grown tremendously in the last two decades. Most studies have focused on evaluating the clinical effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions, neural and other physiological correlates of meditation, and individual cognitive and emotional aspects of meditation. Far less research has been conducted on more challenging domains to measure, such as group and relational, transpersonal and mystical, and difficult aspects of meditation; anomalous or extraordinary phenomena related to meditation; and post-conventional stages of development associated with meditation. However, these components of meditation may be crucial to people’s psychological and spiritual development, could represent important mediators and/or mechanisms by which meditation confers benefits, and could themselves be important outcomes of meditation practices. In addition, since large numbers of novices are being introduced to meditation, it is helpful to investigate experiences they may encounter that are not well understood. Over the last four years, a task force of meditation researchers and teachers met regularly to develop recommendations for expanding the current meditation research field to include these important yet often neglected topics. These meetings led to a cross-sectional online survey to investigate the prevalence of a wide range of experiences in 1120 meditators. Results show that the majority of respondents report having had many of these anomalous and extraordinary experiences. While some of the topics are potentially controversial, they can be subjected to rigorous scientific investigation. These arenas represent largely uncharted scientific terrain and provide excellent opportunities for both new and experienced researchers. We provide suggestions for future directions, with accompanying online materials to encourage such research.
Article
Full-text available
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu is one of the last great masters of Dzogchen to have been born and fully educated in Tibet, before the Chinese takeover. He was soon recognized as a great reincarnated lama. This short biography is divided in two parts: the first retraces his steps from his birth in the Tibetan region of Kham until his flight from Tibet to Sikkim, reporting also teachings and initiations he received from his Masters. The second part starts when he arrived in Italy in 1960, invited by Professor Giuseppe Tucci, the greatest Italian Orientalist of his time, to work at the IsMeO, now the Italian Institute for Africa and the Orient (IsIAO). In the 70s Chögyal Namkhai Norbu began to teach Dzogchen to his first students. Interest soon became widespread and having received invitations from all continents, he began to travel and teach throughout the world, founding the worldwide Dzogchen Community, whose main objective is to preserve and develop an understanding of Dzogchen, as well as preserving Tibet's extraordinary cultural patrimony.
Article
Full-text available
In July 2011 the International Dzogchen Community celebrated its 30th Anniversary. In 1981, near Arcidosso in Tuscany (Italy), Master Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche founded the first community or Gar of the International Dzogchen Community. He named it "Meri-gar", the "Community of the Mountain-of-Fire". In the 70s Chogyal Namkhai Norbu began to teach Dzogchen to his first students. Interest soon became widespread and having received invitations from all continents, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche began to travel and teach throughout the world. These last thirty years the Dzogchen Community has grown and now has thousands of members in over 40 countries and all continents. The main objective of the Community is to preserve and develop understanding of Dzogchen, as well as preserving Tibet's extraordinary cultural patrimony. The International Shang Shung Institute for Tibetan Studies was founded by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche with this aim and it was inaugurated by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 1990. It has a rich collections of Tibetan books and manuscripts and publishes the teachings of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu. This article draws on Chogyal Namkhai Norbu's work and legacy to describe the Dzogchen Lineage and Tibetan Tradition from the very origin of the Shang Shung Culture.
Article
Full-text available
In the majority of Buddhist systems and traditions, destructive emotions-hatred, craving and delusion-are considered as the main obstacle to enlightenment and dealt with as such through various methods of counteracting and neutralizing. In the supreme teaching of Dzogchen, however, they are but one of the infinite aspects of the primordially self-perfected dimension of the true nature of mind. Thus they are allowed to show their utterly harmless essence-non-ego, beyond-good-and-evil, empty and luminous-through the path of self-liberation.
Article
Full-text available
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu is one of the last great masters of Dzogchen to have been born and fully educated in Tibet, before the Chinese takeover. He was soon recognized as a great reincarnated lama. This short biography is divided in two parts: the first retraces his steps from his birth in the Tibetan region of Kham until his flight from Tibet to Sikkim, reporting also teachings and initiations he received from his Masters. The second part starts when he arrived in Italy in 1960, invited by Professor Giuseppe Tucci, the greatest Italian Orientalist of his time, to work at the IsMeO, now the Italian Institute for Africa and the Orient (IsIAO). In the 70s Chögyal Namkhai Norbu began to teach Dzogchen to his first students. Interest soon became widespread and having received invitations from all continents, he began to travel and teach throughout the world, founding the worldwide Dzogchen Community, whose main objective is to preserve and develop an understanding of Dzogchen, as well as preserving Tibet's extraordinary cultural patrimony.
Article
Full-text available
With a history going back approximately 2,500 years, the Tibetan medicine, known as Sowa Rigpa in the Tibetan language, is one of the world's oldest known traditional medicine. It originally developed during the pre-Buddhist era in the kingdom known as Shang Shung. As a traditional medicine, the future development of Tibetan medicine in Western countries is linked to being recognized as a popular and viable healthcare option providing an alternative clinical reality. Its inherent ability to incorparate predictive diagnostics, targeted prevention, and the creation of individualized medical treatment give Tibetan medicine great potential for assessing and treating patients.
Supreme Source: The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
  • Chögyal Norbu
  • Clemente Namkhai
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, and Adriano Clemente. Supreme Source: The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 1999. Writings of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Dzogchen and Zen. Nevada City: Blue Dolphin, 1984.
Cycle of Day and Night: An Essential Tibetan Text on the Practice of Dzogchen
Cycle of Day and Night: An Essential Tibetan Text on the Practice of Dzogchen. Barrytown: Station Hill Press, 1986.
The Self Perfected State
  • Dzogchen
Dzogchen: The Self Perfected State. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 1986.
Symbolic Languages and Bön in Ancient Tibet. Dharamsala: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
  • Deu Drung
  • Bön Narrations
Drung, Deu and Bön Narrations, Symbolic Languages and Bön in Ancient Tibet. Dharamsala: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 1995. Journey among Tibetan Nomads: An Account of a Remote Civilization. New Delhi: Paljor Publications, 1997.
Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light Key for Consulting the Tibetan Calendar
  • The Way
  • Light
  • Sutra
  • Tantra
  • Dzogchen
  • Ithaca
Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 2000. Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 2002. Key for Consulting the Tibetan Calendar. Arcidosso: Shang Shung Publications, 2003.
The Tibetan Yoga of Movemen
  • Yantra Yoga
Yantra Yoga. The Tibetan Yoga of Movemen. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 2008.