A Lamp to Dispel Darkness

This will assist you to add an essential, finer point to your resting as per the previous Dzogchen posts. Cutting through to rigpa. This should be considered a continuation of the series, so referring to the previous posts first is recommended.

Cutting through and jumping through are two phases of the later Dzogchen teachings. The alaya-vijnana is the substratum of consciousness that you reach by relaxing back into it with calm abiding. Do not rush at all. This is like a flower unfolding as it does.

In a way, you could say that the unique pattern of the snowflake of persona resolves back into the original drop of water at the awareness of the substratum. To avoid mistaking that, (which is not difficult to attain if you follow the instructions and patiently practice without expectation or effort) for the natural perfection of self-knowing awareness, these details point out the innate, non-dual condition as it is.

Even if this serves merely as a primer, (and you refrain from making any assumptions or jumping to premature conclusions) it provides sufficient familiarity for the practice, and for assistance from a Master if necessary as you continue, depending on your karmic propensities. In these times, it is considered good fortune to encounter these teachings so freely and easily and you can find out which of the three kinds of practitioners you are at this stage.

You can practice Ati in either short or long sittings and can do so in cycles. Above all, stay carefree and relaxed in your approach. Being uptight and anticipating something or striving and struggling is counter to the nature of it. Let it be. It is said that the mind has its own built-in resolution and liberation, so perhaps cooperating with that is a pointer.

Ju Mipham Rinpoche or Jamgön Mipham Gyatso (1846-1912) — a great Nyingma master and writer of the last century, student of Jamgön Kongtrul, Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo and Patrul Rinpoche. Blessed by Manjushri, he became one of the greatest scholars of his time. His collected works fill more than thirty volumes.