Half the Teaching

Have you experienced being instructed in meditation, and told to focus on an object…a stone, a flower, an image, a dot, the breath…and nothing else? This happened to me when I first became a Buddhist practitioner, but also in the systems I have previously been involved with – the same obscuring instruction was given. I did this for years: it was a sort of mental gymnastics of trying to stay focused – and it was exhausting, and nice when I stopped! I always wondered whether there be more to this, and at a retreat I actually asked the lama, “How do I recognise what I am looking for?” I received no answer. That was the Mahamudra path.

 The Other Half of the Teaching

The whole point of any practice is the awareness of the awareness that is focusing on an object. It is a mere focus. When there is ‘just’ awareness, that is ‘pure’ awareness. One is barely aware. It’s that simple.

This is Shamata practice, stepping directly into Dzogchen/Mahamudra.

The Mahamudra method starts at the beginning of the book: one meditates to find the clear view.

Dzogchen starts at the end of the book: one is directly introduced to the clear view and meditation is the practice of remembering when one has forgotten the clear view.

Incidentally, “Nice when I stopped” was unconsciously relevant in Dzogchen we are told, “Short moments many times”…and it’s not exhausting – one actually rests! This is to ensure that we do not fixate on ‘doing Dzogchen’, instead of being Dzogchen.

These are the two excellent but different methods towards the same end. Much depends on our synchronicity – what comes our way – but it’s good to know what order we are following. This isn’t always explained this, and it can cause inner tensions.

 The Buddha first taught the teachings that are of benefit to oneself: these are called the Hinayana teachings, now known as Theravadan.

He then taught the Mahayana path that emphasised bodhicitta, being of benefit to others.

He then taught the Vajaryana – the path of devotion – where one first needs a firm foundation in the correct view and bodhicitta.

Although Mahamudra and Dzogchen are the golden roof, one always has to check to see if our foundations are solid. If we forget, we need aspiration and mindfulness to remember.

View, meditation and conduct.
The view is clarity.
Meditation is remembering.
Conduct is the continuity of the view in daily life.