James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings

24th November 2024. Take it easy. James Low's Dzogchen retreat at Casa la Salle, Veciana (Barcelona), Spain, November 18-24, 2024. https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/take-it-easy-teaching-retreat-veciana-nov-2024/ This retreat focused on relaxing our reliance on habitual patterns of dualistic involvement so that the self-liberation of all experience becomes clear. We went through Patrul Rinpoche’s short text Self-Liberating Understanding, which is Chapter 10 in the book "Simply Being" "Simply Being" book: English: www.amazon.com/Simply-Being-Texts-Dzogchen-Tradition/dp/1907571019 Spanish: www.amazon.com/Simplemente-ser-James-Low/dp/8496478440 The texts are available in: English: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Simply-Being-Text-Ch.-10-31-05-2023.pdf Spanish: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Chapter-10-Spanish_2024-1.pdf Video at https://youtu.be/uMdJxFpukxM?si=7GO4nvLrKdRHE7yx

22th-23th November 2024. Take it easy. James Low's Dzogchen retreat at Casa la Salle, Veciana (Barcelona), Spain, November 18-24, 2024. https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/take-it-easy-teaching-retreat-veciana-nov-2024/ This retreat focused on relaxing our reliance on habitual patterns of dualistic involvement so that the self-liberation of all experience becomes clear. We went through Patrul Rinpoche’s short text Self-Liberating Understanding, which is Chapter 10 in the book "Simply Being" "Simply Being" book: English: www.amazon.com/Simply-Being-Texts-Dzogchen-Tradition/dp/1907571019 Spanish: www.amazon.com/Simplemente-ser-James-Low/dp/8496478440 The texts are available in: English: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Simply-Being-Text-Ch.-10-31-05-2023.pdf Spanish: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Chapter-10-Spanish_2024-1.pdf Video at https://youtu.be/4EbQgWwYSPI?si=7H7B_Z5AaY5TuzFu

20th-21th November 2024. Take it easy. James Low's Dzogchen retreat at Casa la Salle, Veciana (Barcelona), Spain, November 18-24, 2024. https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/take-it-easy-teaching-retreat-veciana-nov-2024/ This retreat focused on relaxing our reliance on habitual patterns of dualistic involvement so that the self-liberation of all experience becomes clear. We went through Patrul Rinpoche’s short text Self-Liberating Understanding, which is Chapter 10 in the book "Simply Being" "Simply Being" book: English: www.amazon.com/Simply-Being-Texts-Dzogchen-Tradition/dp/1907571019 Spanish: www.amazon.com/Simplemente-ser-James-Low/dp/8496478440 The texts are available in: English: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Simply-Being-Text-Ch.-10-31-05-2023.pdf Spanish: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Chapter-10-Spanish_2024-1.pdf Video at https://youtu.be/_CqCN3P0Lz4?si=G6aoqj5HpIvsdbQu

18th-19th November 2024. Take it easy. James Low's Dzogchen retreat at Casa la Salle, Veciana (Barcelona), Spain, November 18-24, 2024. https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/take-it-easy-teaching-retreat-veciana-nov-2024/ This retreat focused on relaxing our reliance on habitual patterns of dualistic involvement so that the self-liberation of all experience becomes clear. We went through Patrul Rinpoche’s short text Self-Liberating Understanding, which is Chapter 10 in the book "Simply Being" "Simply Being" book: English: www.amazon.com/Simply-Being-Texts-Dzogchen-Tradition/dp/1907571019 Spanish: www.amazon.com/Simplemente-ser-James-Low/dp/8496478440 The texts are available in: English: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Simply-Being-Text-Ch.-10-31-05-2023.pdf Spanish: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Chapter-10-Spanish_2024-1.pdf Video at https://youtu.be/DG_p5BA54NI?si=qVqEQYIHyd53spzT

27th November 2024. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer. Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Index "(00:00) What is your view on the concept of spiritual bypassing?" "(01:05) How can we allow feelings without getting caught up in the stories about them?" "(05:19) How can we tell when our assessment of another person is true or is a reflection of our own blindness?" "(07:06) Many people who walk on the spiritual, but not necessarily religious path, connect with what they call god. It's not just a mere belief that god exists, but that god is a source of excellent spiritual abilities, such as healing, manifesting, performing miracles. What notion from dzogchen teachings would be the most accurate to describe this phenomena? Where is god, the creator of the universe, in relation to the ground? Is it the same thing? If not, what is the difference?" "(12:36) How is it that the mind seems to identify with the thoughts in the head, as in 'I think, therefore I am'?" "(17:52) What are the dzogchen methods devised to transform this relationship into a proper context, so that thinking is working collaboratively with feeling, intuition and instinct?" "(21:50) What is the next step once this relationship is properly recapitulated?" "(25:06) How is it that we seem to separate from an undividable non-dual source?" "(28:59) As the separation is only apparent, that is to say, not strongly real, what aspect of our apparent separate individual itself is experiencing that separation?" "(32:06) Referring to the subject of that phenomena as an ego, what are the most common obstacles preventing that ego from realizing its proper place?" "(35:07) I do the Guru Yoga of the White A and also a guided meditation that directs me towards paying attention to the thinker or the hearer or the center of consciousness. Do you see any potential issues with this combination practice?" "(36:10) Many famous teachers have said that all possible phenomena are like a magical illusion, a dream, or an echo. They are empty and without intrinsic existence. How does this relate to the bodhisattva vow? So, If you awaken from a dream, then you can go back to the dream to take care of the people who are stuck in it, believing in it. Can you go back into the dream? Especially because now you know that they are not real, so how could you help them?" "(39:05) Moreover, given that they are not real, why should we delay our liberation until other sentient beings are liberated, when in reality they don't have substance? And is the liberation of all beings a realistic aim?" Video at https://youtu.be/uBo3eUkhL8I?si=PH9jSdFbAisgMXlo

9th November 2024. If Dharma is the medicine, what is the disease? First of two Zoom Saturdays in the Autumn with James' teachings on the topic. https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/q-an... The focus of session 1 was on the nature of suffering and how it arises from ignorance of our existential situation and from grasping at phenomena as if they were real entities. The focus of session 2 is on the nature of unawareness of the ground and how to awaken to it. Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Index "(00:00:00) Morning session 1" "(00:50:46) Morning session 2" "(01:38:28) Afternoon session 1" "(02:31:48) Afternoon session 2" Video at https://youtu.be/Q121aZ5lpIc?si=KDpp_ZgvqbP-odgg

30th October 2024. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer. Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. "(00:00) I have experienced the truth of who we really are and I know that all that you speak about as being how it is. At the same time, the story of me and particular traumas that have happened seem to have an unshake reality in terms of thoughts. I find it difficult to formulate the precise question that needs to be asked, but speak about the relationship between the spiritual path and therapy." "(13:53) How would god be called in this tradition in the sense of the origin and essence of all? Vajrasattva? Samantabhadra? Rigpa?" "(17:46) When practicing dzogchen, do we still take refuge? For many years, I have followed a different Tibetan lineage. Do I simplify my refuge prayers and pray to a generic Buddha or do I change lineages? I seem to be transitioning." "(25:43) Talk about karma and evidence of past and future lives." "(34:06) Within awareness, is the noticing or the registering, as you call it, a different thing from thinking or conceptualizing about appearances? How is it different? How subtle is the distinction between the two ways of seeing things?" "(41:00) Elaborate on the meaning of the Tibetan word 'damtsik', when used in the context of a student-teacher relationship." Video at https://youtu.be/j1rgcWyjA9g?si=__k0Goeuc6yyLwZO

5th October 2024. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer. Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Index "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:07:54) As I become more conscious of my habits and patterns, I also become more conscious of the five poisons impacting my activity. For the five poisons to become the five wisdoms, is it simply in self-liberation that this occurs or is there more involved in this transformation?" "(00:27:47) How to remain with nonduality when you come into treatment in hospitals and also have to deal with other people's thoughts about how you are?" "(00:37:54) The teaching says that in order to find our true self, which is emptiness, we need to relax and open. In everyday situations, in everyday decisions, is it also best to just relax and open and see what emerges instead of analyzing the situation and thinking about what to do?" "(00:48:49) Texts on meditation often have references to states of absorption. What are these states and how do we recognize them? Are they signs of progress?" "(01:08:23) As a non-monastic practitioner and a working adult, it's often necessary to use emotional strategy and seemingly unkind actions to solve problems. To help one group of people not get into trouble, we will often have to put the other group of people causing harm in a precarious position. Anger and aggression are sometimes necessary especially in corporate fights, but, if people know we are buddhist practitioners, then they might say 'oh aren't you supposed to be compassionate? You're not supposed to get angry and be aggressive. Aren't you supposed to be gentle and kind?'" "(01:25:06) James mentioned, in a previous question, vipassana without a special focus, just attending to how I am in this very moment. In what way does this vipassana exploration differ from dzogchen meditation?" "(01:40:38) Through sadhana practice, we can connect with Guru Rinpoche both as the guru, the embodiment of all the teachers, and also as our yidam. Is there a difference in the quality and feeling tone of this connection in either case or more formally in the way the practice is done?" "(01:54:47) If it's right that in all the Mahayana path, karma is an illusion, then is karma cause and effect teaching less important in dzogchen?" "(02:06:32) Could you give some guidelines on how to start to meditate?" "(02:31:23) When I'm having an exchange with someone, either verbally or online, and the person feels they've made a mistake and reacts harshly, even though I feel it's out of self-defense, I still react inwardly. I find their reaction dishonest and it makes me pissed off. Why is this the case? I know it's not directed at me, it's what's happening for them, but I still react very strongly. Instead of turning to them with sympathy, I think that I don't want to have anything to do with someone like. I can then discipline myself and stay in contact and try to react well, but it seems contrived. Why is that? What is missing?" "(02:52:53) A Zen Roshi is being quoted and the quote is 'actualization is not just the manifestation of your individual experience of the truth. It is your life interconnected with the tree life, a bird's life, water's life, Spring's life, Autumn's life, in the life of the whole universe'. Does the term 'truth' apply also to dzogchen? Would that quote also be applicable to a dzogchen path?" "(02:56:34) Can you explain the White A? How to do it when and what it means?" "(03:11:40) Is the path of the bodhisattva a natural outcome of direct seeing or is it an extra relative construction that leads to direct seeing but does not have any relevance beyond it?" Video at https://youtu.be/cfJ9WvwzJ-8?si=kCjUiko-zyq9Qruu

3rd July 2024. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer. Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Index "(00:00) How to keep generosity going in the face of other loved one suffering, yet not caring for themselves?" "(07:48) How can I distinguish between simply being conscious of sitting during formal sessions and being aware in the state of presence?" "(14:31) On the cushion, I can maintain rigpa or awareness pretty stably, but struggle in daily activities. How can a lay person gradually bring rigpa into daily activities?" "(24:25) Can I do therapy to deal with various psychological problems and not talk about them in a way that makes them seem more and more real and important and definitive of how I am well?" "(34:15) I have practiced a Tibetan Buddhist spiritual path for many years. Now I am enjoying Dzogchen teachings. Do you think there would be a conflict in following both? And is that likely to be confusing?" "(35:30) I have insight into the structure of my problem, but that doesn't dissolve it. I have a tendency that I try to control, but I can't control. Finding difficulty especially with people who have qualities I admire would indicate there is a background problem with pride and, with that, envy." Video at https://youtu.be/3ARgDMU7rEM?si=XxBzYr3dNUyKgtiP

8th November 2024. Your Mind is Mahamudra. James' Zoom talk hosted by Tibethaus Germany (www.tibethaus.com) https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/zoom... We are used to thinking about things and trying to work out what is going on. This is how we have been educated. However Mahamudra points to the intrinsic capacity of our mind to instantly and intuitively respond to whatever occurs without entering into dualistic thought production. We will explore how to awaken to this. Audio file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mUg5... Image: @kellymlacy Instagram of excerpts from James Low's teachings: instagram.com/simplybeingsangha Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/events/ Video at https://youtu.be/GwFcvtuZCqw?si=7Tm9TYQofPBfxKbc

5th June 2024. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer. Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Index "(00:00) Introduction and the Pali Bāhiya Sutta" "(18:46) Many public intellectuals propound a view that all choices are entirely predetermined, determined by factors such as genes, environment, diet and upbringing, so that, actually, free will or free choice is an illusion. Is such a view of extreme determinism compatible with teachings of buddhism and dzogchen?" "(24:21) Does seeking emotional support from other people contradict our seeking refuge in the three jewels? How can I reconcile them?" "(26:43) Someone is looking for treasure texts from our lineage (which cover the whole of the path and all the stages) and a list of all the treasure texts with a short description of each, indicating which are available in English." "(28:58) Where to find a dzogchen teacher in India?" "(30:40) I am a young man and want to have sex with others, but I have a tendency to attachment. How to relate without attachment?" "(36:11) What is the dzogchen view of trauma? Do you think it gets released via meditation or do you think other modalities may need to be practiced?" Video at https://youtu.be/34o-GOgMel4?si=6VZFWJWTxL_f8_Ae

8th May 2024. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer. Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Index "(00:00) How to live a busy life and not create karma?" "(12:04) Fantasy, projection, intuition... How can you tell the difference?" "(19:03) Where is the line between bodhicitta – meaning the notion of developing an altruistic intention to benefit all beings – and self-sacrifice? Between too much compassion for others and the risk of burnout? How much ego is healthy or necessary in life?" "(26:18) If an already awakened person were to experience extreme suffering, would that person avoid identifying with the suffering and mixing with the suffering experience? Does it depend on your degree of progress on the dharma, whether you can suffer without being drawn back into samsara?" "(37:58) What is reincarnation from the dzogchen perspective?" "(40:04) How to work with fear and pain when you receive the news that you are sick and when you are living through it?" Video at https://youtu.be/J_EKfD6cfAU?si=_1gpgCMNZb0c4w_P

10th April 2024. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer. Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Index "(00:00) Among the many delightful conditions coming to visit my body, I have now got urticaria, a red rash which covers my body and legs and arms and is very itchy. So what to do from the dharma point of view when these things happen to us?" "(12:16) Someone is saying that they do a lot of practice of trekcho and tantra and while they're sitting they don't feel troubled by the variety of experiences. But when the time for sitting practice is over and there is more sense of participating in a world with other beings - who are, in fact, troubled by a sense of their own limitation – then we have a choice in how to respond. We cannot formulate our response beforehand - so can I trust my intuition, my spontaneous response?" "(25:49) How can I stabilize the lucid aspect of the dream so that I don't wake up immediately? When my awareness stopped identifying with my dream body, there was the appearance of white light, but then I awoke." "(32:33) We live in wild and dreadful times and for we humans have brought the world and nature into a catastrophic state. How can one keep one's inner balance in the face of such events so as not to stumble either into the clear yet cold light of wisdom nor into the warm yet sentimental perception of compassion?" Video at https://youtu.be/QVqqvHYI6yE?si=NWLMpY8-9wP3_BL6

13rd March 2024. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer. Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Index "(00:00) My father is 91 years of age and in the last days of his life. He is already unconscious and unaware of his surroundings. He has never been interested in religion and I think he's been agnostic all his life. Apart from accompanying him, is it possible to do more for him?" "(09:53) Does dzogchen agree with the view that all events and occurrences are a result of previous events and occurrences and hat one's experience will continue to evolve and unfold naturally just like that as it is meant to?" "(18:11) Should the fear of death diminish as we become more stable in meditation?" "(21:09) When we engage in sitting meditation, attempting to remain in non-dual riga awareness, how long should the sessions last?" "(34:09) Is it possible to retain awareness when under the influence of alcohol, cannabis and so on? Can hallucinogens be helpful in breaking habitual modes of perception or do they just lead up the blind alley of attention focused on content?" "(37:13) When sitting in practice, we put the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth. Where precisely?" "(38:05) Do we have a curriculum for a ngakpa training and ordination in the simply being sangha?" "(38:31) How can we begin to recognize the ego aspects of ourselves more clearly? How to approach this in a helpful way, not being sucked in or pushing it away?" Video at https://youtu.be/n0Y2DwUSWto?si=QDl1NjVqPu4TBYAg

26 April 2023. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer. Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Index "(00:00) What are the eight qualities of pure water?" "(03:18) Can you tell us something about the sambhogakaya ornament?" "(03:57 What are the different meanings of torma?" "(06:18) With the covid-19 restriction, I got used to saying no to many activities. And with a dharma view, I have a sense I don't need to engage in many activities, but, whether I say yes or no it seems to be me who's saying yes and no and have a egoic base. How not to get trapped in this?" "(08:57) Most dzogchen teachers insist on the necessity of absolute certainty about the view before starting this general dzogchen practices. Then you should be clear about the difference between recognizing or not recognizing, finding or not finding. To me you seem to have a different approach." "(10:39) I often treat the time of meditation as more important, more sacred than the time of my daily activities. How to change this while avoiding making the time after meditation less meaningful?" "(13:39) Outer, inner and secret: what do they mean?" "(14:25) I'm trying to understand where the distinction lies between dzogchen dharma teaching and that of certain Tibetan buddhist practices. But then I encountered the patriarchy and hierarchy in many Tibetan monasteries and so on. Is Tibetan buddhism missing compassion towards women? How can the so-called high lamas be enlightened, if they don't see good in the nature of women?" "(17:37) The function of the guru is to help you see your own light. Does this mean the guru in the flesh person or Padmasambhava or our own mind?" "(18:48) Being in a state of openness, when I'm everywhere and nowhere at the same time, it's as if I'm experiencing the feeling of freefall. It captures me so much that it interrupts my breathing and many thoughts appear." "(21:27) Do you recommend the rushen and lojong dzogchen preliminaries? Are they usually practiced in retreat?" "(22:35) How can my awareness be the red dakini?" "(27:29) How do the three doors of liberation relate to mahamudra and dzogchen?" "(30:49) Can retreat make me sad? Is it important to check where I am on the path?" "(32:23) In your book "Radiant aspiration", I read for the first time about the four meditative absorptions. Can you explain this a bit?" "(35:09) Question concerned with ecological issues." "(39:02) I have recently been told of the possibility of having cancer, but, although I have to wait for the biopsy to be 100% sure in a few days, at times there is a torrent of thoughts circulating. How was your experience when told about your body's condition with cancer and how to work with this change in our bodies?" "(42:05) Question concerning the Ganges mahamudra instruction. Tilopa says to Marpa "if you are free of all desire and do not abide in the extremes you will see all the dharma teachings of the three baskets. What are these three baskets?" "(43:55) A quote from Padmasambhava, where he says 'even though intrinsic awareness, which is self-originated primal awareness, appears to you, it is but a manifestation of mind'" Video at https://youtu.be/Pm7x9LWUH-E?si=zWNa3hVuV46JWufY

The Practice of Meditation. This Retreat will focus on The Mahamudra Instructions of Tipun Pema Chogyal. This short text shows us how to identify and respond to the many kinds of obstacles that can occur in practice. The aim of the retreat is to enable us to maintain calm, clear awareness whatever occurs. Dates: 7-14 July 2024 Martin Breuger and Robert are organising. Waldemar did the audio recordings. Reiner Steiner did the video recordings. Index "(00:00:00) Text - without thinking about - without considering" "(00:23:32) Conclusion - identification of Mahamudra" "(00:46:58) Analysis of obstructions deviation and strain" "(01:17:21) The thing to be discarded and the antidote" "(01:24:10) Going astray with regard to the path" "(01:31:24) Experience - awakening - understanding" "(01:41:25) Colophon to the text" "(01:45:27) Question - terminology - elaboration - confirmation" "(01:56:04) Question - how to engage fruitfully with materialist views" "(02:05:06) Question - this retreat has been a lot of listening" "(02:10:24) Comment - participation and the dancing" "(02:12:56) Question - no one to hear" "(02:18:23) Comment - having the teachings with us" "(02:22:25) Question - Lama Khyenno melody" "(02:23:54) Dharma will not forget you"

The Practice of Meditation. This Retreat will focus on The Mahamudra Instructions of Tipun Pema Chogyal. This short text shows us how to identify and respond to the many kinds of obstacles that can occur in practice. The aim of the retreat is to enable us to maintain calm, clear awareness whatever occurs. Dates: 7-14 July 2024 Martin Breuger and Robert are organising. Waldemar did the audio recordings. Reiner Steiner did the video recordings. Index "(00:00:00) Learning and preparation" "(00:12:02) Reflections on Dharma - ordinary life" "(00:24:18) Agency and inspiration" "(00:37:37) Question - non-sensical as refreshing" "(00:44:12) Comment - it is hard not to do" "(00:44:45) Text - three realms - single great desire" "(00:49:18) Appearance and emptiness - water and ice" "(01:00:54) Comment - warmth connection compassion" "(01:01:39) Awakening to the one taste of many" "(01:22:49) Equal in taste - water and waves" "(01:28:24) Question - the bodhisattva vow" "(01:30:54) Text - all have the guardians nature" "(01:39:31) The manifold arising with one taste" "(01:50:23) Can the policeman get enlightened" "(01:53:14) Comment - anything possible - Trungpa Rinpoche" "(02:02:23) Text - emptiness pervades all that occurs" "(02:09:41) Emptiness" "(02:18:21) Text - the yoga of non-meditation" "(02:38:07) This is the end of the path" "(02:55:00) The quality of here and now" "(03:05:28) Dissolving your conceptual mind" "(03:21:48) Question - compassion at the end of the path" "(03:43:55) Question - the six yogas of Naropa" "(03:47:14) Question - one taste - meditating sky to sky" "(03:50:13) Question - compassion - goal or tool" "(03:56:58) Question - mahamudra dzogchen differences" "(04:02:06) Question - what is the endgame" "(04:06:29) Question - no border between self and the world" "(04:19:32) Question - the tilt of the face" "(04:25:23) Question - maintaining the enquiry" "(04:34:14) Discussion - back to compassion" "(04:38:48) Question - who is balancing"

The Practice of Meditation. This Retreat will focus on The Mahamudra Instructions of Tipun Pema Chogyal. This short text shows us how to identify and respond to the many kinds of obstacles that can occur in practice. The aim of the retreat is to enable us to maintain calm, clear awareness whatever occurs. Dates: 7-14 July 2024 Martin Breuger and Robert are organising. Waldemar did the audio recordings. Reiner Steiner did the video recordings. Index "(00:00:00) Without commentary without hope" "(00:09:58) Text - the original knowing of intrinsic awareness" "(00:25:10) The middle way" "(00:41:41) Question - the risk of acting crazy" "(00:47:44) Question - illusory nature of other people" "(00:49:29) Question - emptiness - unborn" "(01:02:10) Question - appearance - projection" "(01:08:13) Sameness and difference - diversity" "(01:29:33) "Question - releasing karma" "(01:34:38) Equanimity fixation and openness" "(01:47:10) Question - limited perspectives and awareness" "(01:55:12) Question - special quality of the ego" "(01:57:33) Text - beyond diversity - equipoise" "(02:13:09) Question - ordering experience" "(02:18:29) Text - appearance like an illusion" "(02:32:14) The ground non-elaborated" "(02:37:32) Question - recognizing the ego-self" "(02:44:40) Question - moving on through stages" "(02:50:03) Text - the yoga of one taste" "(03:10:21) Question - one taste - tantra" "(03:11:17) Question - within the dream - as if" "(03:20:21) Question - one taste - all at once" "(03:22:04) Question - dream yoga" "(03:22:44) Text - erroneous dreams within the sleep of mental dullness" "(03:40:00) Question - non-erroneous dreams" "(03:41:19) You cannot step out of your mind" "(03:53:08) Relaxing on the occurrence" "(03:57:48) Practice" "(03:59:07) The mind and the body in practice" "(04:01:24) Text - face and complexion" "(04:16:579 Question - no choice - free will" "(04:29:10) Question - why face as a metaphor" "(04:44:50) Question - ethics - the immediate field - contact" "(04:53:33) Question - the face before you were born"

The Practice of Meditation. This Retreat will focus on The Mahamudra Instructions of Tipun Pema Chogyal. This short text shows us how to identify and respond to the many kinds of obstacles that can occur in practice. The aim of the retreat is to enable us to maintain calm, clear awareness whatever occurs. Dates: 7-14 July 2024 Martin Breuger and Robert are organising. Waldemar did the audio recordings. Reiner Steiner did the video recordings. Index "(00:00:00) Fragmentation - one thing many things" "(00:10:56) The benefit of not being special" "(00:17:30) Text - introducing vipassana" "(00:25:29) Analysing the root of abiding and movement" "(00:32:02) Practice - what is the essence of this abiding like" "(00:33:40) Experiences of the essence of abiding" "(00:36:56) Text - abiding - movement - awareness" "(00:39:45) Reflections on abiding - movement - awareness practice" "(00:56:17) Small Dharma study groups - learning by doing" "(01:06:33) Text - the looker and the looked at" "(01:13:04) Questions - awareness self-existing" "(01:19:39) Subjectivity as an arising" "(01:25:17) Question - border between self and other" "(01:28:08) Text - free of assumption and its assertion" "(01:32:53) Unawareness - an account" "(01:44:07) Without even a name - the gurus kindness" "(01:55:03) Analysis done by inherent awareness" "(02:01:10) Question - teacher - opening the door" "(02:03:20) Question - finding the way out of the jungle" "(02:06:05) Question - into the outside world" "(02:09:33) Question - implanting the view - transmission" "(02:16:46) Text - identifying vipassana" "(02:44:46) Discursive thought recognizing itself" "(03:03:51) Sitting with an unpleasant thought" "(03:04:38) Arising and vanishing" "(03:13:00) Question - merging with the storyline" "(03:16:39) Text - the best kindness" "(03:29:33) Practice with whatever comes" "(03:31:19) Available - no agenda" "(03:31:54) Compassion inseparable from emptiness" "(03:33:05) Question - outward effect of practice" "(03:37:00) Text - analysis in terms of the three times" "(03:49:57) Question - cutting the root" "(03:56:58) Question - thinking about the future" "(03:59:48) Question - prediction of place and date of death" "(04:00:52) Question - enlightenment as motivation" "(04:10:22) Text - no existence through birth cessation abiding" "(04:38:34) Question - chair as just a concept" "(04:39:46) Text - analysis in terms of things and no-things"

The Practice of Meditation. This Retreat will focus on The Mahamudra Instructions of Tipun Pema Chogyal. This short text shows us how to identify and respond to the many kinds of obstacles that can occur in practice. The aim of the retreat is to enable us to maintain calm, clear awareness whatever occurs. Dates: 7-14 July 2024 Martin Breuger and Robert are organising. Waldemar did the audio recordings. Reiner Steiner did the video recordings. Index "(00:00:00) Dis-integration" "(00:04:57) Dependent origination" "(00:23:29) Questioning the qualities of the mind once again" "(00:27:55) Sharing experience of how the mind is" "(00:47:34) Questioning - starting from a view influences result" "(00:58:38) Text - cutting involvement with the thought" "(01:00:53) Practice without involvement" "(01:03:42) Our felt-sense of individuality - continuity" "(01:08:38) Text - arising and ended thoughts revealed" "(01:12:05) Question - an agent doing the relaxation" "(01:20:03) Question - causes of certain thoughts to arise" "(01:27:14) Question - persistent recurring thoughts" "(01:34:44) Question - examining the mind with thinking" "(01:40:24) Question - container of thoughts - ocean" "(01:48:51) Text - discursive thoughts arising and ceasing" "(01:57:15) Question - without support - present with the flow" "(01:58:05) Practice - calm abiding" "(01:59:42) Text - abiding like the flow of a large river" "(02:24:04) Brahmins thread - tightness and looseness" "(02:32:28) Reflections on tightening" "(02:35:48) Question - difficulty meditating with open eyes" "(02:37:45) Question - agitation in daily life - meditation - integration" "(02:38:58) Question - allowance to feel tension" "(02:40:48) Text - resting as when the rope tying the straw is cut" "(02:45:02) Reflection on the practice" "(03:00:36) One-pointedness as basis" "(03:06:08) Resting as a child gazing at a temple" "(03:14:39) Resting like an elephant pricked by a thorn" "(03:20:41) Question - watching a thought arise" "(03:33:44) Text - like an ocean free of waves - lack - excess" "(03:41:33) Collapsing the distinction between abiding and movement" "(03:50:23) Question - ocean without wave" "(03:53:03) Question - emotions" "(03:57:32) Question - breathing thoughts in and out" "(03:58:36) Question - stillness - sounds - not in time" "(04:02:46) Text - how one-pointedness is in itself"