James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings

Dive into the complexities of self-identity as meditation unveils the authentic self. Discover how the Buddha's path highlights the illusion of identity and the importance of mindfulness. Relaxation takes center stage in Dzogchen practice, allowing thoughts to emerge and dissolve freely. Explore the concept of naked awareness and its connection to conflict narratives, particularly in the Middle East. Finally, Buddhist philosophy encourages a neutral view on societal issues, promoting understanding and reducing biases.

Discover the Buddhist perspective on self and consciousness, challenging the notion of a fixed identity. Dive into the fluidity of personal experiences and cultural narratives that shape who we are. Reflect on the complex relationship between memory and reality, exploring how nostalgia can distort presence. Engage with the transformative power of narrative in shaping worldviews, while enjoying a meditation session that encourages deeper reflection. This enlightening discussion invites listeners to relax into the ever-changing flow of life.

Excerpt form the lecture "2/4 Take it easy. [EN-ES] Veciana 11.2024": • 2/4 Take it easy. [EN-ES] Veciana 11.... t=12523 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... 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

11th December 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 the relation of wisdom and compassion?" "(09:21) How to work with obsessive thoughts, fantasies, and memories that arise during the day?" "(016:24) How to let go of a strong attachment to a person that causes pain?" "(22:58) I can't let go of my feelings. I just stay with them until they vanish. How to live through this pain?" "(26:55) Can one gain a fortunate rebirth in a Buddha pure land, like Sukavati, if one has not attained stable trekchö in this lifetime as a human being?" "(28:21) If you can gain rebirth in a pure land, how could this happen in the bardo?" "(30:49) How does tummo support trekchö?" "(32:04) In sickness, is there a balance between seeking remedies — orthodox or holistic medicine — and just being with what is and allowing whatever condition is present to find its own healing movement?" "(41:06) Somebody has sent a quotation from Padmasambhava. When he was born, he made this statement: "My father is Samantabhadra and my mother is Samantabhadri." These are the two forms we see in sexual union — the united form of the primordial Buddha. "I belong to the family of nonduality, of the sphere of awareness. My name is the Glorious Lotus-Born. I consume concepts of duality as my diet. I am the unborn sphere of all phenomena." What does it mean?" Video at https://youtu.be/Lh_sFJI2GZ4?si=Q56Q7C8jOEiJytmJ

This discussion dives into the nature of suffering and the roots of unawareness. It examines how identity is a constructed phenomenon influenced by societal roles, contrasting it with the true essence of the mind. The complexities of truth and the manipulative power of interpretation are also explored, emphasizing the importance of direct awareness. Lastly, it reflects on the illusory nature of substantial entities and the endless cycle of samsara, offering insightful perspectives on liberation from self-concern.

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