Maha Ati

Yesterday was an introduction to Maha Ati – Dzogchen – resultant Mahamudra*. It is the completion stage of all practices; the fruition. It is not a practice in itself; it just is. It is effortless recognition – non meditation. Resting in emptiness.

However, it is up to us to remember to sustain this recognition. Just reading or hearing about it is not enough to gain stability. The last thing we should do is assume we know.

At death, Maha Ati is vitally important, as it is the recognition of our essential nature of pure awareness. In this stability, all appearances are seen as a projection of the mind – rainbow illusions.

To be honest, unless we are an exceptional practitioner, we have to rely on other methods as well. This is the reason Tibetans emphasise deity practice, where all images are merely a rainbow projection…and also a reminder.

Maha Ati yoga is what it’s all about, so we now know what we are looking for; it’s the end of the book. But when we get a little foggy or too agitated, we need the other methods in order to bring about normality…I mean sanity!

It is at death that genuine recognition is extremely important. That is no place for acting!

The recognition of Maha Ati is why we are here, in a human form, on earth.

It is to counter the other reason that we are here as humans on earth;
because of ignorance of Maha Ati!

As my teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche says, “We need Fearless Simplicity and Carefree Dignity” (these are the titles of two of his books).

*Mahamudra starts with shamata and gradually goes up to Maha Ati. Dzogchen starts at Maha Ati and uses the other methods to suit personal conditions.