It was by reading Dzogchen, the Self-Perfected State a decade ago that I first came into contact with my precious teacher, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. In his book, Rinpoche explains succinctly, among other things, the path of self-liberation, the practice method peculiar to Dzogchen teachings. Dzogchen actually refers to the total completeness of the state of the individual. For me, it was so liberating to read about the possibility of achieving total realization of Buddhahood besides the path of renunciation, characteristic of the Sutras; and the path of transformation, that of the Tantras.
Before reading Rinpoche’s book, I had previously thought that Dzogchen might just be the realization of the tantric path, and learned instead that it is a path towards total enlightenment in its own right.
I became so fascinated with Rinpoche’s teaching in that text, that I began reading his other books like Crystal and the Way of Light and Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light. However much I was convinced of this path of self-liberation, it proved that the mere intellectual understanding of it was not sufficient. I had to come into the living transmission of Dzogchen, before I could really apply it as a path.
Fortunately, I received such an opportunity in August 2005 when I met Rinpoche in person for the first time while participating in a retreat in Merigar, Italy – Rinpoche’s first Gar of the Dzogchen Community.
Rinpoche’s presence was gigantic like a mountain, and he could speak for hours without signs of exhaustion, like a running river. He explained clearly to the students about the differences between the various paths of realization; and reminded us not to miss the main point when engaging ourselves in the various practices of the different paths.
The main point is in being in our real nature – in other words – being in the real state of the individual, and trying to integrate it with the various practices that we do, as well as all the activities in our daily life.
In the Dzogchen lineage of knowledge, a practitioner is introduced to his or her real nature by the teacher. This is very important in Dzogchen because it is only when the teacher and the student join together by entering into the same state at the same moment that the real state of the individual can be discovered. Once discovered, this knowledge serves as the base or the main path of the Dzogchen practitioner. One has to directly experience it personally instead of just being satisfied with the intellectual understanding of it, or by hoping that the teacher will make it happen by performing some kind of a ritual.
Rinpoche recalls his encounter with his root teacher, Changchub Dorje, and that he finally came to understand fully what Dzogchen meant, not by receiving a ritual initiation, but by listening for hours, after the initiation, to Changchub Dorje’s explanation of the real meaning of the Dzogchen teachings. That was how he received his Direct Introduction from his master.
After meeting his root teacher Changchub Dorje, Rinpoche has devoted his whole life to practicing the path of Dzogchen, as well as teaching it to fortunate students around the globe because he views Dzogchen teaching as the essence of all teachings.
For those of us living in Hong Kong or nearby, we are so fortunate that in May this year, we can come into direct experience with Rinpoche in order to receive Dzogchen teachings from him right in the heart center (Tsim Sha Tsui) of Hong Kong. This is Rinpoche’s first ever Dzogchen Retreat held in Hong Kong, China. Therefore, don’t miss this precious opportunity to learn, and discover for yourselves!
Chogyam Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche
May 16 – 20, 2012 HONG KONG
Dzogchen Retreat
