Dzogchen Fundamentals

[jonesboy]

DZOGCHEN
THE SELF-PERFECTED STATE
Chogyal Namkhai Norbu

The practice of Dzogchen is based on two fundamental
aspects of the nature of the individual: the calm state, and
the movement of thought through which it is necessary for
one to find oneself integrated in the state of presence. In
some Buddhist traditions much importance is given to meditation
in order to find oneself in a calm state, known as
"shinay" (zhi gnas), the goal of which is to relax the mind
into a condition without thoughts, or not disturbed by their
movement. Sometimes, however, there is the danger that
one will become sleepy in such states, and thus block the
progress of the practice. For this reason it is considered important
in the Dzogchen teachings to know how to work
with the energy of this movement itself, which is an inherent
aspect of the individual.

In tantrism, too, practice is based on working with movemnent,
but in this case, on an imaginary movement, created
by the mind. The goal here, however, is not to find a peaceful
state without thought. Rather, through working with
one's imagination, one creates the pure dimension of the
mandala, beginning with the elements of air, water, fire, and
so on. This activity is movement. But until one realizes the
Mahamudra, one cannot easily succeed in integrating one's
own energy with the ordinary movement of the material
dimension.

In Dzogchen, too, various methods of using energy are
practiced, but these are not based on the activity of the mind.
Their principle is direct integration of the manifestations of
energy with the state of presence. It makes no difference
whether there appears before one's mind the pure vision of
a mandala, or there appears before one's eyes the karmic
vision of a room: both are regarded as part of one's clarity.
Whether one finds oneself in a calm state, or in a pure manifestation
of movement, these are both experiences and are
not the state of contemplation itself. In the state of presence,
which remains the same in relation to thousands of different
experiences, whatever arises liberates itself automatically.
This is what is meant by "self-liberation."

[jonesboy]

Here is a link to the teachings on Contemplation, movement and presence described in the above post.

http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/sh...light=dzogchen