Encountering the Mind’s Natural Luminosity

Lama Alan Wallace begins the course with an exploration of how selflessness and the luminous mind are presented in the Pali canon and Perfection of Wisdom sūtras. He describes how these teachings prepare the student for the teachings on manifesting their own Buddha nature in the context of the third turning of the wheel of Dharma. You’ll learn how to identify what leads to happiness and suffering and how to remove the veils obscuring your pure, primordial awareness.

Lama Alan juxtaposes the ways in which meditators initially understand two distinct yet complementary concepts—emptiness and the luminous mind. You’ll learn about how to develop intuitive confidence in tathāgatagarbha and how the four Buddhist philosophical schools conceive the final view of phenomena.

Lama Alan gives essential instructions on combating self-centredness and grasping and the need to approach one’s study and practice in a natural and commonsense manner. He also shares his own thoughts on a number of profound passages from sūtras such as the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra on how our pure buddha nature is obscured by false imaginings and the contaminated aggregates. You’ll become better acquainted with your enlightened potential both on and off the meditation cushion.

Lama Alan summarizes the view, meditation, and conduct presentations expounded by the various Buddhist philosophical schools before examining the two types of buddha nature—naturally present and evolving. You’ll learn how to begin realizing your human potential by resting the mind in luminous awareness and turning your attention toward tathāgatagarbha.

Lama Alan explains carefully how the sūtra teachings on the four noble truths, emptiness, and Buddha nature prepare a disciple for Vajrayāna methods such as Dzogchen or Mahāmudrā by refining the idea of the luminous mind to introduce the innate mind of clear light. You’ll learn about how the uncommon features of tantra—including working with the channels, winds, and drops—offer a unique opportunity to enhance the efficacy of your practice.

Lama Alan continues to flesh out the deeper meaning of the luminous mind, noting how the sūtras emphasize rejecting affliction and differentiating appearance from reality while the Dzogchen approach is to gently examine the very nature of awareness itself. You’ll discover how the innate mind of clear light gives rise to the multitude of appearances we encounter and what the dissolution process looks like at the time of death.

Lama Alan emphasizes the need to cease reifying our existence on the basis of body or mind and instead  get in touch with the nature of our minds, recognizing that even the afflictions can be seen as expressions of natural luminosity. You’ll come to appreciate the importance of cultivating a mind that takes consciousness as the path and avoiding “practicing with a sentient being’s mind.”

Lama Alan wraps up the course by reflecting on the foundational importance of understanding the points explained in the three turnings of the wheel of Buddhadharma in order to actualize the so-called “fruitional dharmakāya,” whether in the context of Dzogchen, Mahāmudrā, or Vajrayāna deity practice. You’ll review the key course takeaways and better understand the meaning of relying not on conditioned consciousness but primordial consciousness in meditation and post-meditation alike.