Dzogchen

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Key personalities First dissemination Padmasambhāva Śāntarakṣita Kamalaśīla Songtsen Gampo Trisong Detsen Ralpacan Second dissemination Atiśa Talika Abhayakirti Niguma Sukhasiddhi Milarepa Nyingma Yeshe Tsogyal Longchenpa Jigme Lingpa Patrul Rinpoche Dudjom Lingpa Mipham Kagyu Marpa Rangjung Dorje Jonang Dolpopa Taranatha Sakya Sakya Pandita Gorampa Bodongpa Samding Dorje Phagmo Gelugpa Je Tsongkhapa 5th Dalai Lama 13th Dalai Lama 14th Dalai Lama 10th Panchen Lama
Teachings General Buddhist Three marks of existence Skandha Cosmology Saṃsāra Rebirth Bodhisattva Dharma Dependent origination Karma Tibetan Four Tenets system Rangtong-Shentong Svatantrika-Prasaṅgika distinction Nyingma Dzogchen Pointing-out instruction
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Major monasteries Tradruk Drepung Dzogchen Ganden Jokhang Kumbum Labrang Mindrolling Namgyal Narthang Nechung Pabonka Palcho Ralung Ramoche Rato Sakya Sanga Sera Shalu Tashi Lhunpo Tsurphu Yerpa
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Part of a series on
Bon
Philosophy Dzogchen Rigpa
Practices Kora Ngakpa
Leaders Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Lopön Tenzin Namdak Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche Drenpa Namkha
Gods Shenlha Okar Yeshe Walmo Gyalpo spirits Zhang Zhung Meri
Institutions Menri Monastery Triten Norbutse
Related religions Dongba Tibetan Buddhism Siberian shamanism Manchu shamanism Mongolian shamanism Nepali Hinduism Wuism
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Dzogchen (Tibetan: རྫོགས་ཆེན་, Wylie: rdzogs chen 'Great Completion' or 'Great Perfection'), also known as atiyoga (utmost yoga), is a tradition of teachings in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Bön aimed at discovering and continuing in the ultimate ground of existence.^[2] The goal of Dzogchen is knowledge of this basis; this knowledge is called rigpa (Sanskrit: vidyā). There are spiritual practices taught in various Dzogchen systems for awakening rigpa.

Dzogchen emerged during the first dissemination of Buddhism in Tibet, around the 7th to 9th centuries CE. While it is considered a Tibetan development by some scholars, it draws upon key ideas from Indian sources. The earliest Dzogchen texts appeared in the 9th century, attributed to Indian masters. These texts, known as the Eighteen Great Scriptures, form the "Mind Series" and are attributed to figures like Śrī Siṅgha and Vimalamitra. Early Dzogchen was marked by a departure from normative Vajrayāna practices, focusing instead on simple calming contemplations leading to a direct immersion in awareness. During the Tibetan renaissance era (10th to early 12th century), Dzogchen underwent significant development, incorporating new practices and teachings from India. This period saw the emergence of new Dzogchen traditions like the "Instruction Class series" and the "Seminal Heart" (Tibetan: སྙིང་ཐིག་, Wylie: snying thig).

Dzogchen is classified into three series: the Semdé (Mind Series, Tibetan: སེམས་སྡེ་, Wylie: sems sde), Longdé (Space Series, Tibetan: ཀློང་སྡེ་, Wylie: klong sde), and Menngaggidé (Instruction Series, Tibetan: མན་ངག་གི་སྡེ་, Wylie: man ngag gi sde). The Dzogchen path comprises the Base, the Path, and the Fruit. The Base represents the original state of existence, characterized by emptiness (stong pa nyid), clarity (lhun grub, associated with luminous clarity), and compassionate energy (snying rje). The Path involves gaining a direct understanding of the mind's pure nature through meditation and specific Dzogchen methods. The Fruit is the realization of one's true nature, leading to complete non-dual awareness and the dissolution of dualities.

Dzogchen practitioners aim for self-liberation (Tibetan: རང་གྲོལ་, Wylie: rang grol), where all experiences are integrated with awareness of one's true nature. This process may culminate in the attainment of a rainbow body at the moment of death, symbolizing full Buddhahood. Critics point to tensions between gradual and simultaneous practice within Dzogchen traditions, but practitioners argue these approaches cater to different levels of ability and understanding. Overall, Dzogchen offers a direct path to realizing the innate wisdom and compassion of the mind.