James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings

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 2024Martin 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 Mahamudra Instructions of Tipun Pema ChogyalText in English at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Mahamudra-Instructions-Tipun-Pema-Chogyal-BT-31-01-2024.pdfText in German by Robert Jaroslawski at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Mahamudra_Tipun_Deutsch_V.1.5_Final-1-06-02-2024.pdfNotes on Mahamudra by Padma Karpoin English at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Notes-on-Mahamudra-Padma-Karpo-JLow-27-02-2024.pdfin German at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Notes_on_Mahamudra_Padma-Karpo_German_RJ_V.1.11_Final.pdfAgain, Jonathan (Jon) Lever has usefully prepared the topics on each day of the retreat in separate recording snippets.For a better understanding of the retreat, each day is separate so that you can follow the flow of the teaching in the correct chronological order.Content also available at https://simplybeing.co.uk/audio-records/the-practice-of-meditation-audio-berghof-july-2024/

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 2024Martin 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 Mahamudra Instructions of Tipun Pema ChogyalText in English at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Mahamudra-Instructions-Tipun-Pema-Chogyal-BT-31-01-2024.pdfText in German by Robert Jaroslawski at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Mahamudra_Tipun_Deutsch_V.1.5_Final-1-06-02-2024.pdfNotes on Mahamudra by Padma Karpoin English at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Notes-on-Mahamudra-Padma-Karpo-JLow-27-02-2024.pdfin German at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Notes_on_Mahamudra_Padma-Karpo_German_RJ_V.1.11_Final.pdfAgain, Jonathan (Jon) Lever has usefully prepared the topics on each day of the retreat in separate recording snippets.For a better understanding of the retreat, each day is separate so that you can follow the flow of the teaching in the correct chronological order.Content also available at https://simplybeing.co.uk/audio-records/the-practice-of-meditation-audio-berghof-july-2024/

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 2024Martin 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 Mahamudra Instructions of Tipun Pema ChogyalText in English at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Mahamudra-Instructions-Tipun-Pema-Chogyal-BT-31-01-2024.pdfText in German by Robert Jaroslawski at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Mahamudra_Tipun_Deutsch_V.1.5_Final-1-06-02-2024.pdfNotes on Mahamudra by Padma Karpoin English at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Notes-on-Mahamudra-Padma-Karpo-JLow-27-02-2024.pdfin German at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Notes_on_Mahamudra_Padma-Karpo_German_RJ_V.1.11_Final.pdfAgain, Jonathan (Jon) Lever has usefully prepared the topics on each day of the retreat in separate recording snippets.For a better understanding of the retreat, each day is separate so that you can follow the flow of the teaching in the correct chronological order.Content also available at https://simplybeing.co.uk/audio-records/the-practice-of-meditation-audio-berghof-july-2024/

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 2024Martin 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 Mahamudra Instructions of Tipun Pema ChogyalText in English at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Mahamudra-Instructions-Tipun-Pema-Chogyal-BT-31-01-2024.pdfText in German by Robert Jaroslawski at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Mahamudra_Tipun_Deutsch_V.1.5_Final-1-06-02-2024.pdfNotes on Mahamudra by Padma Karpoin English at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Notes-on-Mahamudra-Padma-Karpo-JLow-27-02-2024.pdfin German at https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Notes_on_Mahamudra_Padma-Karpo_German_RJ_V.1.11_Final.pdfAgain, Jonathan (Jon) Lever has usefully prepared the topics on each day of the retreat in separate recording snippets.For a better understanding of the retreat, each day is separate so that you can follow the flow of the teaching in the correct chronological order.Content also available at https://simplybeing.co.uk/audio-records/the-practice-of-meditation-audio-berghof-july-2024/