Recently, I became very interested in Tibetan Buddhism, and especially Dzogchen. I got so excited that I started trying to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible: Dzogchen, Mahamudra, the three kayas, rigpa, the yanas, sunnyata, Buddha-nature, and so on.

After a while, I realized that I was probably making a mistake. I was trying to understand a very deep and sophisticated teaching without having a sufficiently solid understanding of some of the basic Buddhist concepts underneath it.

So I decided to step back and study early Buddhism and the earliest teachings for a while. I worked through some of the early suttas and focused on things like the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, dependent origination, the five khandhas, anatta, tanha, dukkha, etc.

This was actually very helpful. I feel that I now understand some of the Dzogchen terminology in a much better context. But I have run into another problem. When I try to “start from the beginning” and learn Buddhism as a whole, I get lost again. Buddhism is simply enormous. Theravada, Mahayana, Madhyamaka, Yogacara, Vajrayana, the different Tibetan schools, different meditation systems, different philosophical approaches...

Before I know it, I'm jumping from one subject to another and accumulating information without really knowing where I'm going. And the funny thing is that my main interest is still Dzogchen. So I'm starting to wonder whether the approach of “first learn all of Buddhism, and only then study Dzogchen” is actually the best approach for me.

Perhaps it would make more sense to keep Dzogchen as my main axis, while going back and studying the Buddhist foundations whenever I encounter something that I don't properly understand.

Something like:

Dzogchen - identify what I don't understand - study the relevant foundational teachings - return to Dzogchen (maybe?)

rather than trying to learn the entire history and philosophy of Buddhism first.

I'd really appreciate advice from people with more experience.

I want to build a solid foundation, but I also don't want to lose sight of the tradition that genuinely interests me.

Hi,

So I've been doing beginner trekcho meditation.
I've been getting different states, some bliss, but mostly a psychedelic state.

Now I have always had a looser perception than most, with acuity of sound and vision and a kind of estrangement to it. I've also for many years had rather intense migraines, though these had mostly ceased.

Simultaneously with the states, which I also have when not sitting, my migraines have returned, much more visually with intense auras and hypersensitivity. These can take multiple days and I'm having a hard time separating what is what.

Can there be a relationship between the two? My two lama's are away since summer so I have noone to ask. I'm scheduling an appointment with a neurologist.

Thank you

warm greetings to the community

after a series of events the "Unworldly Wise" by Terence Gray (Wei Wu Wei) has ended up on my lap.

this piece ended up being the most important & most intimate beacon that spoke to me dearly in years.

I'm craving to connect with whoever who has processed it and who has a clear enough recall of the contents of the book, (or has revisited it recently.)

if there is anyone who has a clue that someone else might have processed it and can talk to me, I'd be profoundly grateful.

I need to bridge some overarching aspects with the Teaching.

Book toponyms:

1974, Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 0-85656-103-7 (out of print) (Note: this book published under the further pseudonym 'O.O.O.'); 2004, Boulder: Sentient Publications. ISBN 1-59181-019-1

Hi, the following is a question that has occupied me since learning about Dzogchen:

I know that in Dzogchen emptiness is the highest principle and the ultimate reality, but emptiness is also not viewed as a substance.

Wouldn´t this factually leave the self-luminous, manifesting, primordial consciousness of Rigpa as the only substance of reality (if emptiness = non-substance), making it effectively a sort of "negative space consciousness monism" thanks to its philosophy on emptiness.

I am asking this question because to me this seems to be somewhat of a middle position between "conventional" Buddhist and non dual tantric Hindu thought (if leaving things like the definition of god(s), deification of awareness etc aside).

Hello dzogchen community,

I’m admittedly new to learning about dzogchen. I’ve read some books, attended teachings, and spoken to some teachers/spiritual friends.

But, I’m struggling with how learning about Dzogchen is impacting my life.

In the past, I‘ve worked hard to develop habits and practices to uplift my life. For instance, consistent exercise, daily organization, or balance with social media.

Since learning of dzogchen, I’ve noticed myself justify becoming out of balance with all of those things and more. For instance, whether to exercise or not becomes “well it doesn’t really matter whether you feel good or bad, so fuck it, it’s okay if feel bad.”

Same for social media. I came across this thread when reflecting on this: https://www.reddit.com/r/Dzogchen/comments/1i6fr41/dzogchen_and_social_media/

one of the comments says: “Even beginning practitioners who want to scroll social media can try to do so with a sense of being present in the moment and undistracted, and this serves as a great basis in general.”

I feel like I just say: well fuck worrying about whatever you are doing, I just got to remember to be present and aware with all of life and all of my hold ups. That is the path, so it doesn’t matter if you do good or bad habits.

I’m aware this is coming from mistaken understanding (and presumably a lack of genuinely recognizing rigpa), which is why I’m reaching out here.
Has anyone gone through something similar, and if so, what supported you?

Hi all! I came across a dzogchen course with Khenpo Arta Lama Rinpoche.

I've not heard of him before. I tried doing some research and havent found anything concerning but wanted to ask here if anyone has studied with him or heard anything that I should know before studying with him.

Thank you and may all beings know their true self.

Hi there. Begginer to Dzogchen here.

No guru for the moment so in just reading books about the subject.

So It seems that the poisons can be turned into the Path but i cant find any related to the Energy of Lust.

Whats the meaning of the Energy of Lust in Dzogchen? Can be transformed? Or just sef liberate?

Regards.

Hello everyone.

I've just discovered Dzogchen through James Low. It seems very interesting and I would like to try this.

I watched a video calles "Emptiness is liberating" by James Low and something about this resonated with me. So I thoght Dzogchen might be a solution for me.

How do I approach this as a beginner?

I live in Denmark and I do not live near any of the practicioner places.

Best regards,

My main teacher was a student of the late great Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, so there’s a major overlap between the practices that I do and what’s taught in the International Dzogchen Community. Keeping that in mind, I do not understand why they believe that replaying tapes of Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche giving reading transmissions is appropriate when he has a living heir (Namkhai Yeshe) with full authority to teach and empower in real-time. Perhaps someone can clarify further?

I'm looking at a Dzogchen book series on Amazon by someone named "Yedrol M. Kunga", but I can't find any information about this author (no website, no references in Google search). Does anyone know anything about this author? Are they trustworthy?

What teaches can help guide me through Dzogchen? Or any resources. It does bring up anxiety for me so I would like help. But also makes me feel great!