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Dzogchen Terminology

My Title

Garab Dorje

Enumerations

 

The Three Statements of Garab Dorje (tshig gsum gnad brdegs)

  1. ngo rang thog tu sprad Introducing directly the face of rigpa in itself
  2. thag gcig thog tu bcad Decide upon one thing and one thing only
  3. gdeng grol thog tu bca’ Confidence directly in the liberation of rising thoughts

The Three Immovables (mi g.yo ba gsum ldan)

  1. lus mi g.yo ba ri rgyal lta bu unmoving body, like the king of mountains
  2. dbang po mi g.yo ba mtsho la gza’ skar shar ba lta bu unmoving senses, like the planets or stars reflected in a lake
  3. sems nyid mi g.yo nam mkha’ sprin dang bral ba lta bu unmoving nature of mind, like a cloudless sky

The Four Visions (snang ba bzhi)

  1. cho nyid mngon sum experiencing the nature of reality directly
  2. nyams gong ‘phel increasing experience
  3. rig pa tshad phebs awareness reaching full maturity, intrinsic awareness reaching full measure (LCN)
  4. chod nyid zad sa dissolution of ordinary experience into the nature of reality

The Four Ways of Leaving Things in their Natural Simplicity (cog bzhag bzhi)              

  1. lta ba ri bo cog bzhag view, like a mountain, leave it as-it-is
  2. sgom pa rgya mtsho cog bzhag meditation, like an ocean: leave it as-it-is
  3. spyod pa snang ba cog bzhag action, appearances: leave them as they are
  4. ‘bras bu ma bcos pa cog bzhag fruition, unaltered: leave it as-it-is

General

 

rnal du dbab pa resting in tranquility (SK); remaining/reposing in naturalness (EPK); allowing relaxation in a genuine state (LCN)

ma bcos pa uncontrived, unaltered

rtsal energy, potential, strength, radiance

rig pa pure awareness

rig pa rkyang 'ded kyi lam the path of rigpa and rigpa alone (SR)

la bzla ba resolve (EPK); to reach a final decision; come to a decisive experience (LCN); Literally “traversing the mountain pass”

zang thal all-penetrating, wide open state (EPK), unobstructed, unimpeded

shan ‘byed clarification, clear distinction

sor gzhug pa restoration (SK); sustaining freshness, reviving alertness (EPK); using restorative techniques (LCN)

 

Experiential Terms (myong tshig)

 

rjen ne ba naked and pristine

thom me ba oblivious, hazy, blank, vague (EPK)

dvangs sang nge lucid and clear

bde lhang nge a vivid sense of bliss and well-being (PG)

zang thal le totally open, unimpeded, all-penetrating

yang khrol le light and free from within (PG)

yer re ba authentic, unadulterated (Reynolds); lucidness (EPK)

lam me ba vivid, clear, shining

sang nge ba brilliance, brilliant (LCN); immaculately pure (Reynolds)

sal le ba vivid(ness) (LCN)

ha chad de rapturous (PG)

had de ba wonderment, wonderstruck

hrig ge ba riveting, stark (LCN); present, aware (Reynolds), lucid wakefulness, vivid alertness (EPK)

lhang nge ba vivid, clear, bright, awake (EPK); vibrant (PG)

lhan ne ba stable, abiding (LCN); serene, tranquil (EPK)

 

Key to Abbreviations

 

EPK   Erik Pema Kunsang

LCN   Lama Chokyi Nyima

PG   Patrick Gaffney

Reynolds   John Myrdhin Reynolds

SK   Sangye Khandro

SR Sogyal Rinpoche

Further Reading

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, The Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen, translated by Erik Pema Kunsang, edited by Marcia B. Schmidt, Hong Kong: Rangjung Yeshe, 1989

 

Dalai Lama, H. H., Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection, Ithaca: Snow Lion, 2000

 

Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Carefree Dignity, compiled and translated by Erik Pema Kunsang and Marcia Binder Schmidt, edited by Kerry Moran, Boudhanath: Rangjung Yeshe, 1998

 

Dudjom Lingpa, Buddhahood Without Meditation, translated under the direction of H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche and Lama Padma Drimed Norbu by Richard Barron (Chökyi Nyima) and Susanne Fairclough, Junction City: Padma Publishing, 1994, Revised Edition 2002

 

Dudjom Rinpoche, The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, translated and edited by Gyurme Dorje, with the collaboration of Matthew Kapstein, Boston: Wisdom, 1991

 

Khenpos Palden Sherab and Tsewang Dongyal, The Lion’s Gaze, translated by Sarah Harding, Boca Raton: Sky Dancer, 1998

 

Longchen Rabjam, The Precious Treasury of the Way of Abiding, translated under the direction of H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche by Richard Barron (Chökyi Nyima) and edited by Padma Translation Committee, Junction City: Padma Publishing, 1998

 

Longchen Rabjam, The Precious Treasury of the Basic Space of Phenomena, translated under the direction of H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche by Richard Barron (Chökyi Nyima) and edited by Padma Translation Committee, Junction City: Padma Publishing, 2001

 

Longchen Rabjam, A Treasure Trove of Scriptural Transmission, translated under the direction of H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche by Richard Barron (Chökyi Nyima) and edited by Padma Translation Committee, Junction City: Padma Publishing, 2001

 

Namkhai Norbu, Dzogchen, The Self-Perfected State, edited by Adriano Clemente, translated from the Italian by John Shane, London: Arkana, 1989

 

Nyoshul Khenpo, Natural Great Perfection, translated by Lama Surya Das. Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1995

 

Padmasambhava, The Light of Wisdom vol IV, commentary by Jamgön Kongtrul, translated by Erik Pema Kunsang, Boudhanath: Rangjung Yeshe, 2001

Patrul Rinpoche, The Words of My Perfect Teacher, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, Boston: Shambhala, 1998

 

Pettit, John Whitney, Mipham’s Beacon of Certainty, Boston: Wisdom, 1999

 

Reynolds, John, Self-Liberation Through Seeing with Naked Awareness, New York: Station Hill, 1989

 

Reynolds, John, Golden Letters, Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1996

 

Sogyal Rinpoche, Dzogchen and Padmasambhava, Santa Cruz: Rigpa, 1989

 

Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, San Francisco: Harper, 1992

 

Tsele Natsok Rangdrol, Circle of the Sun, translated by Erik Pema Kunsang, Boudhanath: Rangjung Yeshe, 1990

 

Tulku Thondup, The Practice of Dzogchen, Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1989

 

Tulku Thondup, Masters of Meditation and Miracles, edited by Harold Talbott, Boston: Shambhala, 1996

 

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, As It Is, Vol. 1 and 2, translated by Erik Pema Kunsang, Boudhanath: Rangjung Yeshe, 1999

 

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Rainbow Painting, translated by Erik Pema Kunsang, Boudhanath: Rangjung Yeshe, 1995

 

van Schaik, Sam, Approaching the Great Perfection: Simultaneous and Gradual Methods of Dzogchen Practice in the Longchen Nyingtig, Boston: Wisdom, 2004

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