Alex Wilding

In practice, serious practitioners of either of these systems are very likely to do at least some, and probably quite a lot, of the more conventional types of practice, but the teaching that these elaborate means are not necessarily or strictly required changes the perspective really quite a lot.

In practice, serious practitioners of either of these systems are very likely to do at least some, and probably quite a lot, of the more conventional types of practice, but the teaching that these elaborate means are not necessarily or strictly required changes the perspective really quite a lot.

It does, on the other hand, open the door to people who fancy their chances by dropping study, dropping ethics, dropping preparation and just sitting around claiming to meditate on the true nature of the mind. Now if I had a penny for every random internet sage who became enlightened or realised just like that, I would be a rich man.

It does, on the other hand, open the door to people who fancy their chances by dropping study, dropping ethics, dropping preparation and just sitting around claiming to meditate on the true nature of the mind. Now if I had a penny for every random internet sage who became enlightened or realised just like that, I would be a rich man.

The temptation is obvious, but avoiding the trap can actually be a little bit tricky. Only today I saw on the internet, well, I mean, where else, a quote from Garabdorje, that is to say, the 7th century Garabdorje, who is credited with bringing the Dzogchen teachings to the human world, not the living one who is an important holder of the Dzogchen Tersar lineage and who lives in Bhutan.

The temptation is obvious, but avoiding the trap can actually be a little bit tricky. Only today I saw on the internet, well, I mean, where else, a quote from Garabdorje, that is to say, the 7th century Garabdorje, who is credited with bringing the Dzogchen teachings to the human world, not the living one who is an important holder of the Dzogchen Tersar lineage and who lives in Bhutan.

The quote refers, amongst other things, to there being no commitments to keep, no empowerment to receive, and no particular conduct to adopt or reject. Sharp-eared or sharp-minded listeners will perhaps have already noticed that there being no particular conduct to reject is a particularly dangerous or pernicious idea if understood wrongly.

The quote refers, amongst other things, to there being no commitments to keep, no empowerment to receive, and no particular conduct to adopt or reject. Sharp-eared or sharp-minded listeners will perhaps have already noticed that there being no particular conduct to reject is a particularly dangerous or pernicious idea if understood wrongly.

The point is, and it must be said, that there are also plenty of Internet people who will point this out themselves. They're not all daffodils. The statement starts from the point of view of perfect realization. When you are there, there is nothing else to do. If we are so proud as to think that we are already there and that we have no use for the path, then we are in slippery territory.

The point is, and it must be said, that there are also plenty of Internet people who will point this out themselves. They're not all daffodils. The statement starts from the point of view of perfect realization. When you are there, there is nothing else to do. If we are so proud as to think that we are already there and that we have no use for the path, then we are in slippery territory.

I think that's pretty obvious. Regular listeners might already be wondering why I haven't yet got to what I'm just about to say, so here goes. Please, if you possibly can, press whatever like or subscribe button that you have sharing with friends or on your social media timelines is particularly helpful.

I think that's pretty obvious. Regular listeners might already be wondering why I haven't yet got to what I'm just about to say, so here goes. Please, if you possibly can, press whatever like or subscribe button that you have sharing with friends or on your social media timelines is particularly helpful.

And note that if you find you don't see the extra material, like the list of words that might be worth looking up, or any pictures that I usually put in the description, you will find that stuff on Podbean, where this podcast is currently hosted. For historical reasons, there is something odd about the naming of these two systems that we use in the West.

And note that if you find you don't see the extra material, like the list of words that might be worth looking up, or any pictures that I usually put in the description, you will find that stuff on Podbean, where this podcast is currently hosted. For historical reasons, there is something odd about the naming of these two systems that we use in the West.

You may have noticed that Dzogchen is our English version of a Tibetan word, while Mahamudra is our English version of a Sanskrit word. Mahamudra does also have a Tibetan name, Chagyachenpo, forgive my pronunciation, shortened to Chagchen, and that is indeed how Tibetans generally refer to it. Chenpo is a direct translation of maha. They both mean great.

You may have noticed that Dzogchen is our English version of a Tibetan word, while Mahamudra is our English version of a Sanskrit word. Mahamudra does also have a Tibetan name, Chagyachenpo, forgive my pronunciation, shortened to Chagchen, and that is indeed how Tibetans generally refer to it. Chenpo is a direct translation of maha. They both mean great.

The other parts of the word are quite equivalent. In fact, that bit is rather tricky to translate. It has several overlapping meanings, which is why it's most often either translated as seal, which is frankly not exactly illuminating when you first come across it, or it's left untranslated.

The other parts of the word are quite equivalent. In fact, that bit is rather tricky to translate. It has several overlapping meanings, which is why it's most often either translated as seal, which is frankly not exactly illuminating when you first come across it, or it's left untranslated.

The authors of the early work, publishing material on these things in the West, felt that a Sanskrit name would be more accessible to general readers, and it's also a fact that there is considerable literature on Mahamudra or Great Seal in sources in Indic languages. On the other hand, there's little or no Sanskrit or Indian material on Dzogchen.

The authors of the early work, publishing material on these things in the West, felt that a Sanskrit name would be more accessible to general readers, and it's also a fact that there is considerable literature on Mahamudra or Great Seal in sources in Indic languages. On the other hand, there's little or no Sanskrit or Indian material on Dzogchen.