What cognitive skills does one need?

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Motova
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What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by Motova »

What cognitive skills does one need to be a successful happy Dzogchen practitioner in a G7 country?

Thank you.
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Josef
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by Josef »

Genuine interest.
"All phenomena of samsara depend on the mind, so when the essence of mind is purified, samsara is purified. Since the phenomena of nirvana depend on the pristine consciousness of vidyā, because one remains in the immediacy of vidyā, buddhahood arises on its own. All critical points are summarized with those two." - Longchenpa
oldbob
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by oldbob »

Certainly genuine interest but also enough "smarts" to search for and present yourself to a genuine Dzogchen Master, take Direct Introduction, do the Secondary Practices that allow you to develop confidence, and then continue until realization. This is the Dzogchen path.

Dzogchen Dharma does not depend on Intellectual skills. It is said that intellectual knowledge is like a patch on old clothes that will fall off when circumstances change.

This means that when you face old age, sickness and death, you cannot argue / reason your way out of suffering.

Only being in the timeless time of instant presence allows for integration with whatever arises. This is the patch that does not fall off.

Then you can be a happy Dzogchen practitioner of any cognitive ability.

Good luck with your search and practice.

:heart:
Pema Rigdzin
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by Pema Rigdzin »

One of my gurus, Yangthang Rinpoche, told us when giving Dzogchen teachings, he felt that for Dzogchen, people who aren’t so smart almost progress better (in terms of discovering the true nature of their minds) because when asked things like “what is your mind?”, “what size/color/shape is your mind?”, “where is your mind?” and so on, they just honestly look; maybe they don’t come up with the right answer at first, but they keep earnestly looking. On the other hand, he said that sometimes people who are really bright will get in their own way by reflexively giving what they believe to be the right answer and all types of conceptual elaboration instead of delving into their actual experience and getting to know something about their mind directly. So he advised us, whether we feel we’re super smart or not so smart, to do some honest analysis and really get to know something about the nature of our minds.
Pema Rigdzin/Brian Pittman
Malcolm
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by Malcolm »

The most important cognitive skill is faith in the person one selects as a teacher. Without that, there is no hope for any progress at all in any Buddhist path, let alone Dzogchen.
Charlie123
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by Charlie123 »

Malcolm wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 2:18 pm The most important cognitive skill is faith in the person one selects as a teacher. Without that, there is no hope for any progress at all in any Buddhist path, let alone Dzogchen.
What is the method for increasing faith in our teachers?
Malcolm
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by Malcolm »

Charlie123 wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 5:35 pm
Malcolm wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 2:18 pm The most important cognitive skill is faith in the person one selects as a teacher. Without that, there is no hope for any progress at all in any Buddhist path, let alone Dzogchen.
What is the method for increasing faith in our teachers?
You have to reflect on their kindness, compassion, wisdom, and qualities over and over again until you feel it in your bones.
Toenail
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by Toenail »

Malcolm wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 6:10 pm
Charlie123 wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 5:35 pm
Malcolm wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 2:18 pm The most important cognitive skill is faith in the person one selects as a teacher. Without that, there is no hope for any progress at all in any Buddhist path, let alone Dzogchen.
What is the method for increasing faith in our teachers?
You have to reflect on their kindness, compassion, wisdom, and qualities over and over again until you feel it in your bones.
Do you have tips for how to do it?
Malcolm
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by Malcolm »

Toenail wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:46 am
Malcolm wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 6:10 pm
Charlie123 wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 5:35 pm

What is the method for increasing faith in our teachers?
You have to reflect on their kindness, compassion, wisdom, and qualities over and over again until you feel it in your bones.
Do you have tips for how to do it?
One has to work at it.
fckw
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by fckw »

Motova wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 7:12 pm What cognitive skills does one need to be a successful happy Dzogchen practitioner in a G7 country?

Thank you.
Metacognition: Being able to be aware of what's going on in your mind.
fckw
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by fckw »

Charlie123 wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 5:35 pm What is the method for increasing faith in our teachers?
Guru Yoga.
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Virgo
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by Virgo »

Pema Rigdzin wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 5:37 am people who aren’t so smart almost progress better (in terms of discovering the true nature of their minds) because when asked things like “what is your mind?”, “what size/color/shape is your mind?”, “where is your mind?” and so on, they just honestly look; maybe they don’t come up with the right answer at first, but they keep earnestly looking. On the other hand, he said that sometimes people who are really bright will get in their own way by reflexively giving what they believe to be the right answer and all types of conceptual elaboration instead of delving into their actual experience and getting to know something about their mind directly.
Probably those from about 105 - 120 would have that problem. Those above and below, less likely.

Virgo
AlexanderS
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by AlexanderS »

Toenail wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:46 am
Malcolm wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 6:10 pm
Charlie123 wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 5:35 pm

What is the method for increasing faith in our teachers?
You have to reflect on their kindness, compassion, wisdom, and qualities over and over again until you feel it in your bones.
Do you have tips for how to do it?
Chanting "Calling the guru from afar" is good
https://vajrasound.com/calling-the-guru-from-afar/
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Michael126unknown
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Re: What cognitive skills does one need?

Post by Michael126unknown »

Toenail wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:46 am
Malcolm wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 6:10 pm
Charlie123 wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 5:35 pm

What is the method for increasing faith in our teachers?
You have to reflect on their kindness, compassion, wisdom, and qualities over and over again until you feel it in your bones.
Do you have tips for how to do it?
Hello Sir,
I would recommend also that lineage prayers have a similar function in increasing faith. Please, if you cannot find them, but you know about which lineage you are studying under, I know a website which has many of the prayers for different lineages and significant masters within them (They are featured for free). Search "Lotsawa House" and use the search function from there. If you have further difficulty, do not hesitate to contact me.
Last edited by Michael126unknown on Wed Sep 29, 2021 5:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
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