In this illuminating talk, A. H. Almaas explores the ancient Tibetan teaching of Dzogchen—not as a teacher of the tradition, but as a fellow practitioner and spiritual researcher. Drawing on his own experiences and observations, he reflects on how Dzogchen has been introduced and practiced in the West compared to its transmission in Tibet. Using the foundational “Three Statements of Garab Dorje” as a framework, Almaas offers valuable insights into the power, potential, and pitfalls of the path, and how Western practitioners might approach Dzogchen in a way that honors its depth and transformative potential.
Summary
Garab Dorje lived in the first century CE and was the original teacher of the Vajrayana Buddhist practice of Dzogchen, or self-liberation. In Dzogchen, the aim is to recognize one‘s true nature, and this recognition is the central necessity for enlightenment.
Garab Dorje taught that for liberation to happen, three vital “points” must occur:
- The direct introduction to one’s own primordially pure nature by a Dzogchen master
- Directly ascertaining for oneself this unique state of presence, beyond doubt
- Continuing directly with confidence in this growing state of (self-)liberation
Almaas will not be teaching Dzogchen but he will discuss how, though the teaching of the three vital points may seem straightforward, in the West there has been a great deal of misunderstanding of Garab Dorje’s teaching, as Dzogchen practitioners often veer off from what the Tibetan lamas practiced to become great masters.
In this lecture, Almaas will try to clarify the understanding of Garab Dorje’s three vital points, with the hope of benefiting all those who are interested in practicing Dzogchen or in gaining a better understanding of its experiential qualities of emptiness, luminous clarity, and compassion.
The lecture will last approximately 45 minutes followed by a question and comment period.