Hello dear community,
I have a question about the practice. If one can recognize the nature of mind, what is the best way to stabilize it? Is it worth going on S.N. Goenka Vipassana Retreats? Or are retreats better that focus solely on the true nature? What is the value of concentration meditation for stabilizing? How important are the jhanas?
I have been practicing Dzogchen for 2 years. And much suffering has been reduced. Even so, I'm still distracted for an impressive amount of my time. I would be very grateful for tips from more experienced yogis and yoginis on how to establish myself more and more in my true nature.
The Nature of Mind: Tips for practicing?
- PadmaVonSamba
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Re: The Nature of Mind: Tips for practicing?
I’ve heard it said that the thing not to do is to try and recreate the experience. That may not be helpful advice, but I guess it’s a common pitfall. It applies to all sorts of realizations and experiences.
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An inward outlook produces outward insight.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
- Johnny Dangerous
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Re: The Nature of Mind: Tips for practicing?
Do you have a Dzogchen teacher? If not it’s not really Dzogchen, though it might be good prep.Lasse wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 1:08 pm Hello dear community,
I have a question about the practice. If one can recognize the nature of mind, what is the best way to stabilize it? Is it worth going on S.N. Goenka Vipassana Retreats? Or are retreats better that focus solely on the true nature? What is the value of concentration meditation for stabilizing? How important are the jhanas?
I have been practicing Dzogchen for 2 years. And much suffering has been reduced. Even so, I'm still distracted for an impressive amount of my time. I would be very grateful for tips from more experienced yogis and yoginis on how to establish myself more and more in my true nature.
If so, then the lineage you are practicing in will have specific methods for doing exactly this.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Re: The Nature of Mind: Tips for practicing?
Oh, no i have not. So I learned something new. But now I have no idea how to name what I am practicing . Maybe just something non dual.Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 4:18 pmDo you have a Dzogchen teacher? If not it’s not really Dzogchen, though it might be good prep.Lasse wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 1:08 pm Hello dear community,
I have a question about the practice. If one can recognize the nature of mind, what is the best way to stabilize it? Is it worth going on S.N. Goenka Vipassana Retreats? Or are retreats better that focus solely on the true nature? What is the value of concentration meditation for stabilizing? How important are the jhanas?
I have been practicing Dzogchen for 2 years. And much suffering has been reduced. Even so, I'm still distracted for an impressive amount of my time. I would be very grateful for tips from more experienced yogis and yoginis on how to establish myself more and more in my true nature.
If so, then the lineage you are practicing in will have specific methods for doing exactly this.
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Re: The Nature of Mind: Tips for practicing?
There are atiyoga/dzogchen teachers around, approach them, don't be too shy in this matters. It will be a good thing since you already are trying to get precisely what they are willing to give.Lasse wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 4:34 pmOh, no i have not. So I learned something new. But now I have no idea how to name what I am practicing . Maybe just something non dual.Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 4:18 pmDo you have a Dzogchen teacher? If not it’s not really Dzogchen, though it might be good prep.Lasse wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 1:08 pm Hello dear community,
I have a question about the practice. If one can recognize the nature of mind, what is the best way to stabilize it? Is it worth going on S.N. Goenka Vipassana Retreats? Or are retreats better that focus solely on the true nature? What is the value of concentration meditation for stabilizing? How important are the jhanas?
I have been practicing Dzogchen for 2 years. And much suffering has been reduced. Even so, I'm still distracted for an impressive amount of my time. I would be very grateful for tips from more experienced yogis and yoginis on how to establish myself more and more in my true nature.
If so, then the lineage you are practicing in will have specific methods for doing exactly this.
true dharma is inexpressible.
The bodhisattva nourishes from bodhicitta, through whatever method the Buddha has given him. Oh joy.
The bodhisattva nourishes from bodhicitta, through whatever method the Buddha has given him. Oh joy.
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Re: The Nature of Mind: Tips for practicing?
Whatever you try to stabilize, it can't be the nature of the mind or rigpa, which are perfect from the very beginning. The moment you try to stabilize, you are no longer in the state of rigpa.
Re: The Nature of Mind: Tips for practicing?
The nature of mind doesnt grow or gets reduced, but you can recognize it and then loose the recognition many, many times.
Sometimes, at first, you dont even know how to return there after the first glimpse. Like Kensho in Zen. But at least you know it exists and how it feels.
Later maybe you learn how to return there (return to the point of recognition, the nature of mind doesnt move), but you loose the focus often due to attachments (to thought or to phenomena) and you need some sort of smrti (mindfulness-remembering) to go back there. Here starts the real practice and you should burn the attachments that put you out of the recognition.
Finally recognition is continuous.
So obviously, what you stabilize (and you will need to do a lot of work to do it) is the recognition, not the nature of mind which is always stable.
Sometimes, at first, you dont even know how to return there after the first glimpse. Like Kensho in Zen. But at least you know it exists and how it feels.
Later maybe you learn how to return there (return to the point of recognition, the nature of mind doesnt move), but you loose the focus often due to attachments (to thought or to phenomena) and you need some sort of smrti (mindfulness-remembering) to go back there. Here starts the real practice and you should burn the attachments that put you out of the recognition.
Finally recognition is continuous.
So obviously, what you stabilize (and you will need to do a lot of work to do it) is the recognition, not the nature of mind which is always stable.