Dzogchen or the Great Perfection is the highest level of the Vajrayana teachings. It deals directly with self-liberation into our innate Buddhanature, abiding in the state of rigpa. This overview describes the three branches of Dzogchen teachings--the mind series, the space series, and the special instructions (including trekcho and togal). Students will be introduced to basic concepts and how they differ from lower sutra and tantra teachings, as well as the special preliminary practices for Dzogchen. Text: Quintessential Dzogchen - Confusion Dawns as Wisdom trans. by Erik Kunsang & Marcia Binder Schmidt. PREREQUISITES: Natural Liberation 1-8 or instructor permission.
- Teacher: Khenpo Drimed Dawa
Dzogchen or the Great Perfection is the highest level of the Vajrayana teachings. It deals directly with self-liberation into our innate Buddhanature, abiding in the state of rigpa. This overview describes the three branches of Part 2 of the Introduction to Dzogchen teachings--the mind series, the space series, and the special instructions (including trekcho and togal). Students will be introduced to basic concepts and how they differ from lower sutra and tantra teachings, as well as the special preliminary practices for Dzogchen. The focus of this part is on The Golden Letters, containing the Three Statements of Garab Dorje and The Wise and Glorious King commentary by Patrul Rinpoche. Text: The Golden Letters, trans. John Reynolds. PREREQUISITE: Introduction to Dzogchen Part 1.
- Teacher: Khenpo Drimed Dawa
Khorde Rushen – Khorde Rushen is the separation of samsara (delusion) from nirvana (nondelusion). These are a series of practices designed to help the yogi realize and directly experience the difference between samsara and nirvana by transforming the mind, i.e., our way of seeing the world. Khorde Rushen is sometimes referred to as the Dzogchen preliminary practices. Texts: The Great Perfection, Vol. II by the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche (permission required), The Supreme Source: The Fundamental Tantra of the Dzogchen Semde Kunjed Gyalpo by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu and Adriano Clemente, and selections from Yeshe Lama by Vidyadhara Jigmed Lingpa (restricted text). PREREQUISITE: Introduction to Dzogchen Part 2.
- Teacher: Khenpo Drimed Dawa
Continues Khorde Rushen – Khorde Rushen is the separation of samsara (delusion) from nirvana (nondelusion). These are a series of practices designed to help the yogi realize and directly experience the difference between samsara and nirvana by transforming the mind, i.e., our way of seeing the world. Khorde Rushen is sometimes referred to as the Dzogchen preliminary practices. Texts: The Great Perfection, Vol. II by the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche (permission required), The Supreme Source: The Fundamental Tantra of the Dzogchen Semde Kunjed Gyalpo by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu and Adriano Clemente, and selections from Yeshe Lama by Vidyadhara Jigmed Lingpa (restricted text). PREREQUISITE: Khorde Rushen Part 1.
- Teacher: Khenpo Drimed Dawa
Dzogchen Trekcho – The trekcho instructions are part of the special instruction series. This course will examine these instructions, particularly through the writings of the highly regarded master Longchenpa. Students will also further develop their actual practice. Yeshe Lama or comparable empowerment required. Texts: Yeshe Lama by Vidyadhara Jigmed Lingpa (restricted text), Great Perfection Vol II by the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche (restricted text), Dzogchen by HH the Dalai Lama. PREREQUISITE: Khorde Rushen Part 2.
- Teacher: Khenpo Drimed Dawa
Continues Dzogchen Trekcho – The trekcho instructions are part of the special instruction series. This course will examine these instructions, particularly through the writings of the highly regarded master Longchenpa. Students will also further develop their actual practice. Yeshe Lama or comparable empowerment required. Texts: A Treasure Trove of Scriptural Transmission: A Commentary on The Precious Treasury of the Basic Space of Phenomena by Longchen Rabjam. PREREQUISITE: Trekcho Part 1.
- Teacher: Khenpo Drimed Dawa
Dzogchen Togal – Togal is the advanced and often secret teaching of the special instructions of Dzogchen. This practice leads to attaining the Rainbow Body, enabling one to help other beings achieve enlightenment. Students will learn the practices of togal and how to apply them. Yeshe Lama or comparable empowerment required. Texts: Treasures from Juniper Ridge by Padmasambhava, Yeshe Lama by Vidyadhara Jigmed Lingpa (restricted text), and The Special Treasury of the Way of Abiding by Longchen Rabjam. PREREQUISITE: Trekcho Part 2.
- Teacher: Khenpo Drimed Dawa
Continues Dzogchen Togal – Togal is the advanced and often secret teaching of the special instructions of Dzogchen. This practice leads to attaining the Rainbow Body, enabling one to help other beings achieve enlightenment. Students will learn the practices of togal and how to apply them. Yeshe Lama or comparable empowerment required. Texts: Yeshe Lama by Vidyadhara Jigmed Lingpa (restricted text), and The Special Treasury of the Way of Abiding by Longchen Rabjam. PREREQUISITE: Togal Part 1.
- Teacher: Khenpo Drimed Dawa
Khandro Nyingtik (Heart Essence of the Dakinis) is part of one of the most famous collections of Dzogchen texts, the Nyingtik Yabshi. The collection includes the Khandro Nyingtik by Padmasambhava, the Vima Nyingtik by Vimalamitra, the Khandro Yangtik and Vima Yangtik (Longchenpa's (1308-1364) commentaries on these respectively), along with Zambo Yangtik (his additional commentary on the four texts), all collectively referred to as the Nyingtik Yabshi.
The Precious Golden Garland of Instructions "It contains almost exclusive original prose by Longchenpa himself. Through the treasure of Longchenpa’s own realization, the key points of Dzogchen pith instructions are revealed in all their majestic glory. This text specifically covers the most practical aspects of the path. This marvelous commentary goes through the common preliminaries from the Dzogchen perspective, the uncommon Dzogchen preliminaries of separation (ru shan) and such, the introduction and practice of cutting through (khregs chod), extensive guidance on the introduction and practice of direct transcendence (thod rgal), navigating death, the bardos, and rebirth if necessary. Essentially, with proper guidance, these instructions provide the entire scope of means to attain complete enlightenment and the rainbow body of the great transfer." - Eric Fry-Miller, translator. The text is available from BuddhaVisions.com.
- Teacher: Khenpo Drimed Dawa