The Union of Dzogchen and Bodhichitta

Book excerpt: An illuminating look at key aspects of Tibetan Buddhist practice--of interest to many practitioners--is presented in this practical and interesting book. Through demonstrating the interrelationship of the outer inner and secret teachings and a textual analysis of the words of four renowned Dzogchen yogis, it makes clear that the practice of Bodhichitta is a necessary aspect of every practice within Tibetan Buddhism.Unlike other books that present either the teachings of Bodhichitta or the teachings of Dzogchen as their own system of practice, this book presents them not as complementary practices but as a deconstructed inner and outer practices which are fundamentally intertwined. Anyen Rinpoche works to create a new generation of holistic practitioners who value the depth found in the entire spectrum of teachings. While Anyen Rinpoche acknowledges the profundity of the Dzogchen teachings, he dispels the myth that they are an effortless path to liberation and rather shows that they are a progressive path that requires diligence, insight, and the compassionate mind of a Bodhisattva. He presents a style of contemplation that combines Dzogchen meditation on the ultimate view with the generation of Bodhichitta, such as has been taught by Nyingmapa yogis throughout the centuries. This book presents the union of Dzogchen and Bodhichitta not only through philosophy and scripture but also through concrete methods for practice.