How a Dzogchen yogi may go astray

Many people think that practising Dzogchen is simple, that it is a path of non-meditation where there is nothing to do and we can behave however we like. This short teaching by Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, given in 1999, explains how a practitioner of Dzogchen should behave, and how to recognise when a yogi has gone astray.

“The Action-less Path of Entering into Nature

i)             If you say: ‘This is Great Perfection and so it doesn’t matter what I do, I can do whatever I like!’ then you are a yogi who has completely gone astray.

ii)            If you say: ‘This is Dzogchen, Great Perfection so it doesn’t make much difference whether I do good things or bad things! I can stop taking vows or practising virtuous deeds!’ then that is a completely wrong view. Whoever does this a yogi who has gone astray.

iii)           If you say: ‘I have understood the Dzogchen Nature!’ yet your mind remains as that of a normal being, then you are a yogi who has gone astray.

iv)           If you have realized the Natural State but say: ‘It doesn’t matter what I do, I am a Dzogchen-pa!’ and desire, anger and emotions remain just as normal, then you are a practitioner who has gone astray, you are no longer a Dzogchen-pa.

v)            If you are sitting in a quiet place and practising in strict retreat but your mind is roaming round in the normal way, you have completely gone astray.

vi)           If you have realized something of Nature but do not practise continuously but instead try to mix in something else or try to do something in addition, then you yourself have invented some new method and so you have completely gone astray.

vii)          If you talk about the Natural State and say wonderful things about Emptiness or Clarity but act just like a corpse or eat, sleep and drink in the normal way without changing anything, then you have completely gone astray.

If you listen to this Teaching, you will understand and realise what you have to do, says the text. This section is about how a practitioner should practise and behave.”

From:  Without Actions, Without Traces: Tapihritsa’s Instructions to Nangzher Lödpo

As taught by Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche

Cergy, France, 30th April – 2nd May, 1999 Transcribed & edited by Carol Ermakova & Dmitry Ermakov.

Jyathral Jeme  Tib. Bya bral rjes med  / བྱ་བྲལ་རྗེས་མེད།

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