In this lesson, Lama Alan Wallace continues his commentary on Phase 2 of the root text, elaborating on what it means to truly enter and progress along the path set forth by Düdjom Lingpa. Lama Alan acquaints us with the potency and difficulty of nonmeditation, the essential nature of resting in pristine awareness, and with how the sharp vajra encapsulates all the qualities of the ground, path, and fruition. Guided meditations in this lesson give us the opportunity to approximate the vastness of such practice, as well to cultivate great loving-kindness and great joy.

In this selection from the introduction to Open Mind, Alan Wallace offers a wide-reaching background on essential aspects of the Dzogchen path.

In this selection from Heart of the Great Perfection, Pema Tashi presents Düdjom Lingpa’s commentary on The Sharp Vajra of Conscious Awareness Tantra. This reading includes material covered by Alan Wallace in lesson 5.

In this video Alan Wallace continues his commentary on the root text starting on page 54, and offers guidance on relating to karma and obstacles along the path.

In this video Alan Wallace discusses the importances of impartiality, and introduces practice on awareness of awareness. After watching please practice along with the silent mediation below.

In this fifth lesson, Lama Alan Wallace takes us through the completion of Phase 1 of The Sharp Vajra of Conscious Awareness Tantra. We receive Düdjom Lingpa’s pith instructions on how to follow an authentic spiritual teacher, how to practice in light of our constitutional makeup, and how not to stray from the authentic path. Through practice on great impartiality and great compassion, we learn to uphold the heart of the Mahayana within a Dzogchen view.

In the following selection from Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up, Alan Wallace offers commentary on the great Dzogchen Master Dodrupchen Rinpoche’s famed text, “Transforming Felicity and Adversity into the Spiritual Path.”

In this selection from the Heart of the Great Perfection, Pema Tashi presents Düdjom Lingpa’s commentary on The Sharp Vajra of Conscious Awareness Tantra. This reading includes material covered by Alan Wallace in lesson 4.

In this video, Alan Wallace discusses impartiality, the final of the four immeasurables, as a means to introduce the practice of tonglen. After watching, please find a comfortable position, and practice along with the guided audio meditation below.

In this selection from Shantideva’s Guide to Awakening, Geshe Yeshe Tobden offers a clear commentary on the fifth chaper of the Bodhicaryāvatāra.

Below, enjoy a translation of the first few verses of the fifth chapter by Vesna Wallace and B. Alan Wallace (A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life, Snow Lion, 1997).

1. Those who wish to protect their practice should zealously guard the mind. The practice cannot be protected without guarding the unsteady mind. (more…)