Point of View in Dzogchen
THE ORIGINAL STATE
The teaching of Dzogchen is in its essence the teaching of the primordial state of being, the true consciousness of every sentient being since beginningless time.
To experience this state means to experience oneself as what one is as the center of one’s experience and of the universe, free from self-centeredness and ego experience.
Self-centered consciousness in the normal dualistic experience separates us from the experience of our own true nature.
The understanding of the primordial state is the understanding of the teaching of Dzogchen.
To experience this state one does not need any special knowledge either culturally or intellectually.
The primordial state is beyond intellectual understanding or concepts.
Dzogchen mediated is itself free from cultural traditions.
A Teaching Beyond Time
Dzogchen, often translated as “The Great Perfection”, is regarded as the highest and most direct path within Tibetan Buddhism. It is not a philosophy or a belief system, but a living transmission that points directly to the natural state of the mind—free, luminous, and spontaneously present.
While most commonly associated with the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, Dzogchen’s origins trace back to India, where timeless teachings on the nature of awareness were received from primordial Buddhas such as Samantabhadra. These teachings were first transmitted to humanity through the realised master Garab Dorje.
Garab Dorje passed the teachings to Manjushrimitra, who then entrusted them to Sri Singha. Through Sri Singha’s disciple Vimalamitra, and through the great master Padmasambhava, Dzogchen teachings were brought into Tibet, where they were preserved through unbroken oral and treasure lineages.
Longchenpa: The Voice of The Vast Expanse
Among the great Tibetan masters who illuminated the Dzogchen path, Longchen Rabjam (1308–1364), known simply as Longchenpa, holds a revered place. A scholar, yogi, and poet, Longchenpa articulated the vast view of Dzogchen with unmatched clarity and beauty.
In his extensive writings, especially the Seven Treasuries, he emphasised that Dzogchen is not something to be attained through effort, but a recognition of the awakened nature that is already present. He described the nature of mind as effortlessly radiant, free from fabrication, and naturally compassionate.
Key Concepts in Dzogchen: Recognising the Nature of Mind
The Great Perfection is experiential. To help guide the practitioner into direct realisation, the Dzogchen tradition describes three essential stages or aspects: rigpa, trekchö, and tögal.
Rigpa (རིག་པ་) — Pristine Awareness
Rigpa is the central term in Dzogchen. It refers to the clear, non-dual awareness that knows itself. This awareness is not something newly created or cultivated—it is the unconditioned presence that has always been there.
When one recognises rigpa, even for a moment, there is a glimpse of vastness and ease. The duality of subject and object drops away. One no longer stands apart from experience, but abides as pure awareness within it.
Trekchö (ཁྲེགས་ཆོད་) — Cutting Through
Trekchö means “cutting through.” It is the practice of cutting through the tendency to grasp, analyse, or manipulate thoughts and experiences. Through trekchö, the practitioner learns to rest in the natural state without interference or modification.
This is a radical simplicity. Trekchö invites us to release the constant impulse to improve, fix, or fabricate. What remains is presence—clear, open, and unshakable.
Tögal (ཐོད་རྒལ་) — Direct Crossing
Tögal, meaning “direct crossing” or “leap over,” is a visionary practice that arises once rigpa has been recognised and stabilised. It involves specific gazes and postures that activate the channels of the subtle body and reveal the spontaneous display of luminous appearances.
Tögal is said to accelerate the realisation of the rainbow body, the full integration of awareness and form. These visionary experiences are not imagination, but expressions of pure awareness itself—unfolding as light, colour, and mandala.
The Path in Unity
Rigpa, trekchö, and tögal are not separate stages, but mutually supporting aspects of one path:
• Rigpa is the recognition of one’s true nature.
• Trekchö is the deep resting in that recognition.
• Tögal is the radiant flowering of that awareness into all appearances.
This is the path of Dzogchen—not the gradual construction of a better self, but the unveiling of what has always been complete.
Receiving the Living Transmission
Though the view is simple, its depth can only be fully understood through direct experience and the guidance of a qualified teacher. Without authentic transmission, it is easy to mistake conceptual understanding for realisation.
As the tradition states: “Without a master, the path is uncertain. With a master, even a single word may reveal the sky.”
HE Kharchen Rinpoche offers the Great Perfection teachings in their full integrity, rooted in lineage and expressed with great compassion for modern students. These teachings are not distant or inaccessible—they are a living doorway to one’s own true nature.
In a world of distraction and complexity, Dzogchen invites us to return—again and again—to what is simple, luminous, and ever-present.
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