In this dharma talk, Lama Surya Das explores the similarities and differences of the Mahamudra and Dzogchen practices, and how we can start to cultivate a ‘nowness awareness.’
Mahamudra and Dzogchen
Buddhism divides meditation into two types: concentration meditation and wisdom meditation. Lama Surya Das explores where the non-dual practices of Mahamudra and Dzogchen fit in, and how they share some similarities. He covers the four main points of Dzogchen practice.
“This is a slightly gradual scheme: one-pointedness; equanimity, or one taste, single flavor; and beyond meditation, beyond formal meditation, beyond the dualism, polarity, of concentration and distraction.” – Lama Surya Das
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Nowness Awareness (16:55)
Lama Surya Das goes over the instructions for the Dzogchen non-meditation practice of Sky Gazing, and how we can start to cultivate a ‘nowness awareness.’ He tells some of the story of Milarepa, and talks about how we get addicted to thoughts.
“You can’t believe everything you think, not just everything you read. And yet we’re all addicted to thoughts, it’s a substance.” – Lama Surya Das
Unbearable Devotion (29:35)
Lama Surya Das answers questions about dealing with the feeling of unbearable devotion, and cultivating gratitude, especially for some of the things we might never think to be grateful for. He talks about how Buddhism is not always thought of as a devotional practice, but it truly is a lineage of devotion.
“Crying’s not worse than laughing, but unbearable devotion is like, to some people, a goal of guru yoga.” – Lama Surya Das
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