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Dzogchen is an ancient Buddhist spiritual tradition
developed in India and Tibet. In Dzogchen, the primordial enlightened
state of being is seen not as something to be constructed or gained, but
rather as our inherent nature and potential. A teacher of sufficient capacity
is needed to explain, introduce and transmit the Dzogchen teachings. Practitioners
of Dzogchen endeavor to develop awareness and integrate the teachings
into their daily lives by discovering through practice their own inherent
Primordial State.
Dzogchen cannot be counted as a religious or philosophical tradition,
but is a non-intellectual knowledge, which the masters have transmitted
beyond any limitations of school or sect. Because its meaning does not
depend on cultural specifics, it can be understood and practiced in any
spiritual context.
In Tibet, Dzogchen has existed and still lives in both the Buddhist tradition
and that of Bön, the indigenous pre-Buddhist religion. In the Buddhist
tradition, the origins of the Dzogchen teaching is attributed to twelve
primordial masters who lived in ancient times. The Dzogchen teachings
of our era that are associated with Tibetan Buddhism were first expounded
more than two thousand years ago by master Garab Dorje. He was born in
the land of Oddiyana, an ancient kingdom sometimes identified with the
valley of Swat in Pakistan.
In the eighth century of our era, great masters such as Vairochana, Vimalamitra
and Padmasambhava brought the Teaching transmitted by Garab Dorje to Tibet.
The first diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet occurred in that period. There
was a large-scale translation of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into
Tibetan as well as the text of Dzogchen from the language of Oddiyana.
In Bön, the introduction of Dzogchen is ascribed to the great master
Shenrab Miwoche, who transmitted this knowledge as part of a tradition
widespread in the ancient Shang Shung realm, located in what is now western
Tibet.
Today Dzogchen is taught in the Nyungmapa lineage of Tibetan Dzogchen
Buddhism and in the Bön tradition. Now thanks to the tireless efforts
of Tibetan masters such as Chögyal
Namkhai Norbu, the precious Dzogchen teachings are spreading throughout
the world.
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