On April 1, 2013, during the One Month Dzogchen Retreat at Padma Samye Ling, Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche delivered a profound teaching on the nature of conceptual mind and Rigpa, or wisdom awareness.
Drawing from the Vajra Heart teachings of Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche, Khenpo Rinpoche illuminated the distinction between the compounded, ever-changing nature of the mind and the unchanging, luminous essence of Rigpa. His teaching served as both a direct pointing to the nature of awareness and a reminder of the critical role of lineage and experiential practice in realizing this truth.
The Nature of Mind
Khenpo Rinpoche began by emphasizing the compounded nature of the conceptual mind. He described it as inherently unreliable, transient, and subject to endless fluctuation. The conceptual mind, he explained, is a product of causes and conditions. Today it grasps one thing, and tomorrow it latches onto another. It is in constant flux, perpetually creating and dissolving ideas, perceptions, and attachments. As such, it is not a stable foundation for understanding the nature of reality.
In contrast, Rigpa—often translated as “pure awareness” or “pristine wisdom”—is unchanging. It is the innate, luminous nature of the mind that remains constant regardless of the shifting tides of thought and emotion. Rinpoche likened this to a clear sky, which remains unchanged even as clouds pass through it. While the conceptual mind is like the clouds—impermanent and conditioned—Rigpa is like the vast, unobstructed expanse of the sky itself. Nothing is left in the dark, all is illuminated and dissolved in the primary light of the consciousness.
Misinterpretations of Emptiness and Bliss
Khenpo Rinpoche warned of common misconceptions about emptiness and bliss, which often arise when practitioners rely solely on intellectual analysis. He explained that perceiving emptiness as a blank void or a nihilistic nothingness is a total misunderstanding of its true nature. Similarly, interpreting bliss as a sensory or emotional experience tied to specific conditions is to mistake a fleeting sensation for the innate bliss of Rigpa. I must confess that this differentiation only makes sense for those who have seen the luminosity of the own consciousness and recognised the shunyata within.
True emptiness, Rinpoche clarified, is not an absence but a fullness—a profound openness inseparable from clarity and from that wisdom and compassion rises. This emptiness is self-luminous, like the natural light of the sun, and cannot be grasped through conceptual thought. Likewise, true bliss is not a sensation arising from external stimuli but an intrinsic quality of Rigpa, untouched by change or fluctuation.
Clarity Beyond Conceptual Labels
The concept of clarity also came under Khenpo Rinpoche’s scrutiny. He cautioned against equating clarity with physical light or any other conceptual label. Such interpretations, he explained, are merely fabrications of the conceptual mind, which cannot capture the natural, uncontrived essence of clarity. True clarity, like Rigpa itself, is beyond all labels and conceptual elaborations. It is the luminous, self-knowing aspect of awareness, free from the distortions of dualistic thinking.
The Role of Lineage and Direct Transmission
To access this profound understanding, Khenpo Rinpoche stressed the importance of a qualified teacher and the oral transmission of teachings. Intellectual analysis alone, he said, is insufficient to realize the true nature of mind. Without the guidance of a teacher who embodies the living experience of Rigpa, one’s understanding remains dry and theoretical, akin to a blind person trying to comprehend the brilliance of the sun.
The role of lineage, Rinpoche emphasized, is to preserve and transmit the unbroken flow of wisdom from teacher to student. This oral transmission is not merely the passing of words but an experiential awakening that points directly to the true nature of the mind. Only through such direct contact can practitioners move beyond intellectual understanding to the living experience of Rigpa.
A Journey Beyond the Conceptual Mind
Khenpo Rinpoche’s teaching serves as a reminder that the path to awakening is not a process of accumulating knowledge or perfecting conceptual understanding. Instead, it is a journey of letting go—of dropping the endless fabrications of the conceptual mind and resting in the luminous, unchanging awareness that is always present.
He compared this process to the sun breaking through clouds. Just as the sun’s brilliance is not created by dispelling the clouds but merely revealed, so too is Rigpa unveiled when we relinquish our identification with the transient movements of the mind. This unveiling is not something achieved through effort or analysis; it is a recognition of what has always been present, shining at the heart of our experience.
The Invitation of Dzogchen
In his closing words, Khenpo Rinpoche extended an invitation to all practitioners: to move beyond intellectual analysis, to trust in the guidance of the lineage, and to directly encounter the luminous essence of Rigpa. He reminded us that the teachings of Dzogchen are not merely theoretical but a living, breathing path that points us to the unchanging ground of awareness. Through dedication, devotion, and the blessings of the lineage, this profound realization is available to all.
This teaching, like the Vajra Heart itself, is a treasure—a reminder that the truth we seek is not somewhere outside but within, waiting to be recognized. Recognition is all what is needed…
Shunyam Adhibhu
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