Essence of Dzogchen

An introduction to the roots, principles, and meditative approach of the Dzogchen tradition
Open to everyone
Hi, ! This is the first course of the Dzogchen: Three Words that Strikes the Vital Point transmission. We hope you enjoy it!

About the Course

Dzogchen is considered the highest and most profound form of meditation in the Nyingma School of Vajrayana Buddhism. Its teachings lay out a path of meditation that reveals the pure, nondual awareness — or rigpa — that is the mind’s true nature. Once recognized, the experience of rigpa radically transforms our experience of thoughts, emotions, perception, fundamentally changing the way we see ourselves and relate to the world. In this Essence of Dzogchen course, you will be introduced to the core principles and history of the Dzogchen lineage.
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What Is Dzogchen?

Photo by Matthieu Ricard

Your Course Includes

  • Video teachings from Mingyur Rinpoche
  • Guided meditations by Cortland Dahl
  • Practices for daily life
  • Contemplations by Cortland Dahl and Tim Olmsted
  • Reflection and journaling exercises

Meet Your Teacher and Guides

In this course, you will receive teachings from Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, with additional support from experienced Vajrayana Online guides.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

Teacher
Mingyur Rinpoche was born in 1975 in the border region between Tibet and Nepal. He was attracted to a life of contemplation from an early age and spent many years of his childhood in strict retreat. Mingyur Rinpoche studied with some of the greatest masters in living memory. Nowadays, he heads the Tergar Meditation Community and takes care of the monasteries under his responsibility. He supports students in more than thirty countries.

Tim Olmsted

Vajrayana Online Guide
Tim Olmsted began Buddhist studies in 1977 with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He lived in Nepal for 12 years, studying with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and many renowned teachers while working as a psychotherapist. A founding instructor of Tergar International, Tim shares meditation with warmth and humor. He lives in Colorado with his wife Glenna, leading a community following Mingyur Rinpoche's teachings.

Cortland Dahl

Vajrayana Online Guide
Cortland Dahl is a scientist, translator, author, and meditation teacher with over 25 years of meditation experience. Fluent in Tibetan, he has published twelve books of translations of classical Buddhist texts. He holds a Ph.D. in Mind, Brain, and Contemplative Science from UW-Madison, where he was mentored by Dr. Richard Davidson. Cort is Executive Director of Tergar International and Chief Contemplative Officer at Healthy Minds Innovations.

You Will Learn

  • The essence of the Dzogchen view and meditative approach
  • The origin and the three lineages of the Dzogchen teachings
  • How to rest with the qualities of non-distraction (presence), non-meditation (effortlessness), and non-fabrication (naturalness)
  • Ways to connect with the Dzogchen lineage of Padmasambhava, Longchenpa, and other extraordinary masters

Course Outline

This course includes eight lessons, each featuring a teaching from Mingyur Rinpoche, a guided meditation, a reflection by Tim Olmsted and Cortland Dahl, and a practice to integrate into daily life.
Lessons
Welcome
1. What is Dzogchen
2. The Dzogchen Path
3. The Ground in Dzogchen
4. Recognize, Familiarize, Integrate
5. The Three Lineages and the Indian Masters
6. Dzogchen in Tibet
7. Longchenpa and the Fourfold Heart Essence
8. Important Masters of the Great Perfection
Guided Meditations
1. Non-Distraction and Presence
2. Effortless Non-Meditation
3. Naturalness and Non-Fabrication
4. Non-Distraction, Non-Meditation, and Non-Fabrication
5. Connecting with the Lineage
6. Reflecting on Lineage Masters
7. Feeling the Presence of the Lineage
8. Supplicating to the Guru
Practices for Daily Life
1. Effortless Presence in Daily Activities
2. Effortless Presence in Interactions
3. Non-Fabrication in Daily Life
4. Resting in Awareness While Going to Sleep and Waking Up
5. Connecting with the Lineage in Daily Life
6. Connecting with the Lineage Through Relationships
7. Feeling the Presence of the Lineage in Daily Life
8. Supplicating the Guru in Daily Life
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Mingyur Rinpoche possesses the rare ability to present ancient Buddhist teachings in an accessible and playful way

A Guided Meditation from the Essence of Dzogchen Course

To get a taste of the guided meditations in this course, we’re sharing the second practice led by Cortland Dahl: Effortless Non-Meditation. In this session, you’ll explore the quality of effortlessness by gently moving between moments of focus and periods of completely letting go and dropping all effort.
Find a comfortable position and hit play to begin your practice now
Observe your awareness in this very present moment, just as it is.
It cannot be spoiled by the comings and goings of thoughts and memories,
Nor corrupted by ordinary thoughts of good and bad.
This awareness is vividly present, yet devoid of thoughts,
And while it is devoid of thoughts, it is vividly present.
This naked transparency is, in essence, the dharmakaya.
— Longchenpa
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Your membership includes access to our full library of 25+ self-paced courses, weekly live sessions, webinars, personal interviews with Tergar guides, guided meditations, and much more. We aim to make Vajrayana Online accessible to everyone by providing three different pricing options. Feel free to choose the one that best suits your needs.
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at $750/year after a 10-day free trial.
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Learn More About the Dzogchen: Three Words That Strike the Vital Point Transmission with Mingyur Rinpoche

A step-by-step guide to one of the most well-known and cherished instructions on recognizing pure awareness.

Resources

For a richer understanding of this transmission, we encourage you to explore the recommended literature and readings. These resources offer deeper context and further perspectives, allowing for quiet reflection on the topics presented.
  • Primordial Purity: Oral Instructions on The Three Words That Strike the Vital Point by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
  • Perfect Clarity: A Tibetan Buddhist Anthology of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by Marcia Binder Schmidt
  • Quintessential Dzogchen: Confusion Dawns as Wisdom by Tulku Urgyen
  • Vajra Heart Revisited: Teachings on the Path of Trekcho by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche