In this first lesson, Lama Alan Wallace gives an introduction to shamatha meditation and relates this to the two types of happiness—that which comes from within, and from the external world.

Follow along with this guided meditation as Alan Wallace leads us in a closing practice to dedicate the merit we have gained from learning and practicing together.

Alan Wallace comments on the final pages of The Foolish Dharma of an Idiot Clothed in Mud and Feathers, taking us through Düdjom Lingpa’s song of experience. Read along in the excerpt below or on page 156 of the PDF of the root text found in Lesson 1, or in your copy of Heart of the Great Perfection.

This is called illumination by primordial consciousness of the face of the Great Perfection of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa.

All modification, alteration, hope, fear, doubt, negation, affirmation, grasping, exertion, investigation, and analysis are imputed by the intellect, and the intellect is not ultimate. The ultimate transcends the intellect, so you must know this critical point. When you are utterly settled, you may fall into error, and while you are present in the aspect of emptiness, thoughts may become hidden, beyond the scope of the creative expressions of pristine awareness. In this case, I say that thoughts become ethically neutral in the boundary between the mind and pristine awareness. Not veering away from the nature of existence of the Great Perfection of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa is a sublime and utterly crucial point. With it, all gods and demons and all of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa are liberated within themselves, with no distinction of good and bad. (more…)

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

In this video, Alan Wallace gives an introduction to the two silent practices for this lesson: cutting through and nonmeditation. Watch this for instruction before turning to the practices below.

In this selection from Natural Liberation, translated by Alan Wallace, Gyatrul Rinpoche comments on teachings by Padmasambhava that are foundational to the Dzogchen worldview. Here, learn more about Padmasambhava’s understanding of the nature of awareness as he provides citations from the tantras to support his teachings.

Alan Wallace discusses key points to the Dzogchen worldview concerning the nature of the mind and appearances. Follow along as he comments on the root text in the excerpt below, or starting on page 155 in the PDF of the root text available in Lesson 1 or in your copy of Heart of the Great Perfection.

Moreover, wherever you transmigrate and take birth within the three realms of existence, you do not proceed to new places after leaving the earlier ones behind. Rather, like daytime appearances and dream appearances, one experience of delusive appearances becomes another; therefore, come to the certain recognition that saṃsāra [486] consists of delusive experiences. Saṃsāra and nirvāṇa are wholly present as your own perceptions, and they are wholly included within the expanse of the essential nature. This essential nature is called the ground. The unaware aspect of the ground is called the substrate, and its pure aspect is called the dharmakāya. Due to its being exhausted in the darkness of unawareness, this very primordial ground, like space, which enables all appearances to arise, is the substrate. The appearing aspect of dualistic conceptualization manifests as the delusive experiences of displays of the three realms. (more…)

Alan Wallace discusses key points to the Dzogchen worldview concerning the nature of the mind and appearances. Follow along as he comments on the root text in the excerpt below, or starting on page 153 in the PDF of the root text available in Lesson 1 or in your copy of Heart of the Great Perfection.

2. Destroy Grasping At the Permanence of Things

If whatever is established as an entity is definitely, truly existent and permanent in its own nature, it must be replete with seven qualities, namely: invulnerability, indestructibility, reality, incorruptibility, stability, total unobstructability, and total invincibility. Even though things resemble this in seeming to be firm, heavy, solid, existent, and permanent, if all houses, earth, stone, fire, and water were destroyed, controlled, blown out, and dispersed, they would suddenly vanish like a dream or an illusion. Fathom this by ascertaining them as emptiness, devoid of inherent nature. (more…)

In this excerpt from a translation by Alan Wallace, Gyatrul Rinpoche comments on Padmasambhava’s teachings on insight—specifically, on revealing the nature of awareness. Selected from Natural Liberation: Padmasambhava’s Teachings on the Six Bardos.

In this clip, Alan Wallace introduces and gives context to this lesson’s meditation practice. Start here and then move on to the guided audio meditation below.