lacking the capacity

[Sönam]

like having a boss who is an asshole or something.

that's certainly an easy one !

Sönam

[Sönam]

time is another factor...

i wonder if i still have time left to achieve the rainbow body in this lifetime given that i am 37 already...considering that i have received everything one needs to get there..

i know about a rinpoche -shardza rinpoche -who decided relatively late that he had enough of samsara and went into retreat when he was 34 or 35 and he still achieved rainbow body...

There is always enough time to achieve rainbow body ... until you're still alive !

Sönam

[username]

This morning IIRC ChNNR said briefly there are 4 stages (held up 4 fingers & counted) in capacity. First is having circumstances to have Dzogchen teachings. Second is your own diligence level. Third is your ability of the amount of keeping presence or being non-distracted. Fourth, gist of it as can't remember the exact few words, how often and how deeply you think about, contemplate or actually practice presence or instant presence itself.

I had to leave that morning's teaching and on listening to the replay (17th May, within first half hour), he added a fifth after some time, actually he said this five staged system is from Sutra system, but obviously fine tuned for Dzogchen capacity, so:

First is having circumstances to have Dzogchen teachings. Simply just being lucky to receive them, of course it's not luck but karma etc. etc.

Second is your own diligence level, developing and maintaining and increasing (on view/meditation/conduct).

Third is your ability of the amount of keeping 'presence' or as he defined being non-distracted and increasing that.

Fourth (unlike most other meditations which either have specific conditioned aims or do not reach beyond concept): Continually Increasing the Level of "Contemplatiton Meditation" which he explains goes beyond concepts and causality, so we can assume he means being in various states of Rigpa.

Fifth: Intelligence (He mentioned Sanskrit: Prajna, Tib: Sherab), develppment and increasing of: He explains this can be in simple language and everyday events and even normal gestures both for students' point of view and the skillful master, as his own root guru was doing all the time but he only realized after he got introduced successfully by that root guru. Does not have to be fancy or complex or scholarly. Again as for all other 4 stages, he means we can constantly develop this in view/meditation/consduct aspects daily in all circumstances by our constant integrated contemplation on the world, our thoughts and sense inputs (all non-dual as much as possible) in as a relaxed way as possible and triggered often by regular short remembering of being in the state of guru and get into that 'instant presence' as much as possible and slowly increasing it's occurance and durations. So all simple daily events can become new forms of Intelligence/Prajna/Sherab we can gather, and progress with, as all is simply adornment of dharmakaya anyway.

[padma norbu]

I went from Vajrayana to Dzogchen back to Vajrayana. Don't come down on yourself because your "low capacity". Ask yourself if you enjoy your current practice and if you see a positive effect of your practice in daily life. I readily admit I am "low capacity"

I am in a similar position, except now I practice both simultaneously. I find that as I am performing a Vajrayana sadhana, my Dzogchen understanding makes it all the more powerful and I actually understand what it is that I'm doing a lot better. When I first started Vajrayana, it felt like I was praying and being kind of superstitious. Now, I know enough that I think anything I do is really kind of a Dzogchen practice (plus I encapsulate it within a Dzogchen practice).

The problem is that it's very subtle. How easy is it to get lost in a train of thought? It's so easy to get lost on a single wave of thought... I think Namkhai Norbu's analogy of driving a car is really perfect, even though when I first heard it I didn't find it terribly helpful due to lack of experience. But, it is like that. At first you can't maintain awareness and do other things very easily, like when you first learn to drive a car. But, eventually, you learn to drive while singing to the radio and talking to your friends in the back seat.

[rai]

...

[muni]

Now you are going to see something, said the wave, I'll realize the ocean.

[muni]

English translations of lacking capacity.
Longchen Rabjampa:

It should be concealed from: those who revile the teacher,
who are hostile to their brothers and sisters,
who violate secrecy in gossip,
who are faithless, avaricious and dishonest,
and who are preoccupied with mundane affairs.

those unable to show respect and esteem,
misconstruing and perverting tantrayoga,
Lacking spiritual breeding and character,
with little insight, betraying others kindness,
boasting about their family,
adorning themselves with fine ornaments,

addicted to meaningless lifestyles,
such people cannot be called students,
rather they are enemies of the teacher,
and natural perfection should not be expounded
to people who will not embody it.

Those who delight in the social spotlight,
the arrogant, who cannot respect what is sacred,
those who are easely discouraged and rejected,
those who do not accept the tests that arise,

those who want power through rivalry in practice,
those who inhibit the spreading of the teaching,
those who nurse invidious comparision with others,
The Great Perfection is kept from such people.

[muni]

N

Oh, I thought it was based on the intelligence of the practitioner to grasp the teachings. Thanks for the clarification.

Like Namdrol said.

Dzogchen practice is not in the intellectual limitations. Also pride of 'the highest teaching', given by most humble loving Dharmakaya, how is this possible? In that way translations must not be taken literally by mind.

Rather it is the liberation of limited apprehended, heavy thoughts or liberation of conditioned intellect, concepts... even elaborations are the perfect leading keys on the other paths.

“Rest in natural great peace
This exhausted mind..."