Reaching a Crossroad; Finding Dzogchen

Life is about finding Dzogchen.
Dzogchen is a Tibetan word for empty essence.
You are Dzogchen!

Dzogchen has three qualities:
empty essence, cognisant nature and unconfined compassion:
the three Kayas.
This is you!

There are crossroads in life; moments of potential change. They are usually synchronistic – karmic. Through habit, we may not recognise their significance (actually, coming to a site like this is very significant, as it’s a Dzogchen site!).

Crossroad have the potential for a change of direction, or a refinement. We don’t like change: most of the time, we avoid it – it’s one of the causes of suffering. We create our own mental world from information acquired from those around us, and we stick to that…’stick’ being the operative word!

However, there are times when we may find ourselves feeling fed up, or not sure of the next move. Having completed an action, we feel, “What now?” (this happens to me all the time). Just stopping and reviewing our situation is all important. This space – which may take a moment or a few days of reflection – reveals our next step. The direction may feel right, or it may feel uncomfortable, as we constantly have to drop any ‘stickiness’ 🙂

On a relative level, these occurrences seem to happen now and again, and there is an opportunity to learn something.

From an absolute level, these occurrences are constant; one moment ends and another begins. ‘Now’ can never be found!

From the Dzogchen viewpoint of non-meditation and non-doing, meditation is a post-experience which is a reminder to return to Dzogchen (empty essence, cognisant nature and unconfined compassion). Meditation is used to remember empty essence.

Is life perfect now?

Well…yes…and no!
Yes, it is
because we accept everything that arises
as karmic displays
that will play themselves out.

No, it isn’t
because there will still be karmic arisings
which we have to allow
to play themselves out.

NB In writing these essays, there is a constant doubt, space and clarity. I keeping worrying whether I should be doing this: I pause, reflect, the next moment clarifies and the words just come. Having written, there is a letting go because the next moment requires attention.

“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”
Omar Khayyam