alan wallace dzogchen

A Wisdom Academy Course

Introduction to Dzogchen

with Lama Alan Wallace

alan wallace dzogchenDzogchen, or the “Great Perfection,” is regarded by many to be the pinnacle of the Buddhist teachings, presenting the most direct path to realizing our true nature hidden within the deepest dimensions of consciousness.

In this popular Wisdom Academy online course, join renowned translator, Buddhist teacher, and author Lama Alan Wallace as he relays his immense knowledge of Dzogchen through memorable and engaging teachings.

Tuition: $247 USD

This course is in self-study mode, so you can take it at your own pace. After enrolling, check your email for a welcome email with instructions on how to take the course. When you enroll in any Wisdom Academy course, you agree to our terms of use. Enrolled students have lifetime access to course materials. Wisdom is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your tuition supports the creation of more courses like this one. Thank you! For more about our terms, please see the Wisdom Academy FAQ.

Course Overview

The course is centered around a close reading of a remarkable text by the 19th century Nyingma master Düdjom Lingpa, The Foolish Dharma of an Idiot Clothed in Mud and Feathers. In this text, Düdjom Lingpa presents the view, meditation, and way of life of the Great Perfection from his own experience, inspired by his many visions of the “Lake-born Vajra” manifestation of Padmasambhava, who first introduced Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century.

Through a sequence of lectures, guided meditations, selected readings, and quizzes, this course provides a comprehensive introduction to Dzogchen.

“Immensely grateful for this and for all the causes and conditions that led to this course.”

—Andrei Gheorghe

Watch the Trailer

Lesson Plan

dudjom lingpa

Lesson 1: Introduction to Düdjom Lingpa and the Text

In this first lesson, Lama Alan Wallace shares with us the fascinating biography of the author of the text our course is based on, The Foolish Dharma of an Idiot Clothed in Mud and Feathers, and begins his commentary on the text.

Alan Wallace learn buddhism

Lesson 2: Refuge, Mind Reversals, and Shamatha Practice

In this lesson, Lama Alan gives us the foundational teachings in refuge and how to turn our minds toward the Dharma. We also begin to engage more deeply in shamatha meditation practice.

How to practice dzogchen

Lesson 3: Gurus, Viras and Dakinis, and All Beings

In this lesson, we turn to three points that are the “source of all Dharmas”: the guru, viras and dakinis, and all beings.

what is Dzogchen

Lesson 4: Shamatha Alone Isn’t Enough

In this lesson, we turn to the benefits and limitations of practicing shamatha meditation alone.

Lesson 5: Mindfulness, Movement, and Stillness

In this lesson, we explore topics central to meditation, such as awareness, movement, and stillness. We also investigate some common challenges in relating to meditative experiences.

Lesson 6: The Perspective of Pristine Awareness

Find out how the profound, esoteric teachings of Dzogchen can be integrated into your daily routine, and how they relate to modern discoveries in physics, psychology, and more.

Alan Wallace tachings

Lesson 7: The Substrate Consciousness and Relating to Appearances

In this lesson, we explore the nature of the substrate consciousness and learn about how to relate to appearances in the Dzogchen tradition.

Padmasambhava Dzogchen online course

Lesson 8: Padmasambhava’s Pith Instructions

In this lesson, Lama Alan comments on Padmasambhava’s pith instructions on how to “collapse the false cave of appearances” and describes how to seek out the source of names.

Lesson 9: Like Reflections in a Mirror

In this lesson, Lama Alan takes us through the Dzogchen understanding of the nature of awareness and shows us how we can free ourselves from dualistic grasping—seeing instead that phenomena are like reflections in a mirror.

Lesson 10: Düdjom Lingpa’s Song of Experience

In this final lesson, Lama Alan completes his teachings on The Foolish Dharma of an Idiot Clothed in Mud and Feathers and comments on Düdjom Lingpa’s song of experience.

quote

Introduction to Dzogchen was absolutely wonderful...utterly fabulous. I have taken (and hosted) many online courses, and I found this course the best organized, the easiest to access visually, the most user-friendly—I think it's the most excellent format I have ever seen, honestly! I got a LOT out of the course and highly recommended it.

Susi L., student

Preview Lesson 1 now or click the button below to enroll!

Your Course Includes

leaf

1–3 hours of video each lesson, with teachings and meditation instructions

leaf

PDF downloads of selected readings for each lesson, including the root text

leaf

10+ guided audio meditations

leaf

Discussion forum

leaf

Lifetime access for enrolled students

Begin your journey into the heart of Dzogchen

Enroll

Meet Your Teacher
LAMA ALAN WALLACE

Dynamic lecturer, progressive scholar, and one of the most prolific writers and translators of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, Lama Alan Wallace, PhD, continually seeks innovative ways to integrate Buddhist contemplative practices with Western science to advance the study of the mind.

Lama Alan, a scholar and practitioner of Buddhism since 1970, has taught Buddhist theory and meditation worldwide since 1976. Having devoted 14 years to training as a Tibetan Buddhist monk, ordained by H. H. the Dalai Lama, he went on to earn an undergraduate degree in physics and the philosophy of science at Amherst College and a doctorate in religious studies at Stanford. He later studied Dzogchen with Gyatrul Rinpoche, a senior teacher in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. With his unique background, Lama Alan brings deep experience and applied skills to the challenge of integrating traditional Indo-Tibetan Buddhism with the modern world.

He is the author and translator of several books, including Düdjom Lingpa’s Visions of the Great Perfection, Stilling the Mind: Shamatha Teachings From Dudjom Linpa’s Vajra Essence, Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up, Natural Liberation: Padmasambhava’s Teachings on the Six Bardos, and The Attention Revolution.

Art Credits

Lesson 3: Wrathful dakini; detail from a 19th century Tibetan thangka painting. Public Domain

Lesson 8: © Aliaksei Skreidzeleu via Canva.com