The talk explores different methods for the technique of looking in dzogchen practice as taught by Tsoknyi Rinpoche. It also describes some meditation states that might be mistaken for rigpa (near relatives).
This talk discusses the development of Buddhism in India beginning with the origins of the Mahayana school around 100 BC and continuing through Nagarjuna, the Yogacara school, Vajrayana, and the beginnings of Dzogchen. As in part 1, the philosophical differences are highlighted.
This talk recaps some key elements in the development of Buddhism in India from the death of the Buddha through the splits that occurred in the early schools of what could be called classical or Nikaya Buddhism. It highlights some of the philosophical issues that caused the divisions.
The path of the Bodhisattva is to realize and live from the truth or our connectedness. Our practices as compassion and metta awaken us from the trance of separation and free us to embody the awakened heart.
Practice as restorer of wisdom of the mind when it's disturbed by afflictive emotion. An analogy is made to "Egypt" in the Exodus story as narrowness of mind--we go in and out of Egypt many times a day.
The most serious drawback of our frames of reference is that we end up imagining that they offer a comprehensive description of reality, and this keeps us from going beyond them. This talk is an invitation to go beyond.
Most of what comes our way (time, history, ideas, etc.) tends to be used as raw material for building mental frames of reference. While these mental structures bring a simulacrum of stability to our lives, in the end they are most unhelpful because we tend to cling to them. We'd do well to hold them loosely.
Choice has been acclaimed by our culture as the key to happiness. However, our picking and choosing frenzy does little to allay our dissatisfaction. Rather, this frenzy becomes a tool for the ego. The talk examines alternative ways of finding happiness.
