(The Main Practice IV)
Exploring Extracting the Vital Essence of Accomplishment: Concise and Clear Advice for Practice in a Mountain Retreat, Lama Alan Wallace provides explicit instructions on resting in rigpa, the mind of pristine awareness. Drawing on a profound inspiration for understanding, continued practice shifts the way phenomena are viewed to one of equal taste in pristine awareness. Developing confidence in these practices is essential, making repeated investigation and analysis a key part of setting out on the great road of Dzogchen. Lama Alan explains how understanding conceptual labeling and the dualistic nature of the worldly mind facilitates direct application of the view of emptiness. Seeing mind as primary, the door to the Great Perfection is opened: a view that is available to us right now. Enhancing the view and meditation on pristine awareness with conduct, the guru is viewed as an actual Buddha without becoming an exercise in delusion. Understanding the guru as an authentic Buddha empowers practice, setting realistic goals and potentials for nondual meditation.
(The Preliminaries II)
Lama Alan Wallace discusses the next section of Düdjom Rinpoché’s text on redirecting the orientation of perspectives and goals. The view is one that is dissatisfied with the reality of conditioned existence within samsara. Facing the fundamental fact that all life seeks happiness and avoids suffering, finding realistic and sustainable causes of these goals becomes paramount. By turning the mind to Buddha-Dharma, the path to knowing reality as it is and out of cyclic suffering becomes available. Düdjom Rinpoché instructs that a mind of attachment will always create obstacles. Relinquishing attachment for mundane concerns and directing the mind to deeper satisfaction for all living beings provides the basis of an effective path to true happiness; establishing meaningful routine relates to practice in retreat and daily life.
(The Main Practice I)
Lama Alan Wallace begins exploring the main body of Düdjom Rinpoché’s text, presenting the tradition of the Great Perfection view, meditation, and conduct. The Nyingma emphasis on the view provides a fundamental revolution in outlook, informing the entire way of life. Understanding the ultimate Dzogchen view requires a basis in Madhyamaka philosophy, stating that all phenomena are empty of inherent nature. Lama Alan explores the pragmatic intentions behind this view and its uniqueness compared to other philosophical disciplines. The focus on the nature of mind and mental labeling empowers this as an effective tool in making practical changes and bringing greater well-being.
(The Preliminaries III)
The indispensable common and uncommon preliminary practices prepare the mind for the journey to liberation. Lama Alan Wallace provides commentary on Düdjom Rinpoché’s teachings about the revolutions in outlook triggered by purifying the mindstream, leading to decreased mental afflictions. Understanding the truth of impermanence provides the freedom to change while also undermining grasping at illusion; understanding the truth of karma supports ethical and meaningful behavior. Lama Alan explains how realigning goals enhances Dharma practice just as Buddha-Dharma helps to clarify realistic intentions and strategies.
(The Preliminaries I)
In this introductory lesson, Lama Alan Wallace introduces the text Extracting the Vital Essence of Accomplishment: Concise and Clear Advice for Practice in a Mountain Retreat by Düdjom Rinpoché, Jigdral Yeshé Dorjé. Lama Alan unpacks opening statements of intention and refuge, pointing out the intended practitioners for whom these vital pith instructions were composed. Cutting the ties of attachment and clinging, often translated as ‘renunciation’, provides a sense of meaning and fulfillment not available in grasping to shallow pursuits. Dharma practice is explained as a comprehensive way of life that gives rise to genuine well-being not dependent on outside circumstances, rooted in ethics, and culminating in wisdom. Düdjom Rinpoché inspires students of this path to take immediate advantage of the opportunities of this life.
