James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings

23 February 2022. 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 one of the translators. How can our dharma understanding help us to stay open and relaxed in times of war and conflict? Video at https://youtu.be/KCIykdh793s?si=F3wAZDTQxxH2t_M2

9 February 2022. 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 one of the translators. Index "(00:00) The duality of violent and non-violent communication: how not to get caught in either of them?" "(07:12) Are any empowerment of any of the different classes of tantra and so on prerequisite for studying and practicing dzogchen or are they pointing out instructions, the very door?" "(13:56) Are you implying that the reality outside of us doesn't exist at all?" "(16:41) The concept of renunciation and extinguishing all duality is extreme. Surely we can enjoy the good and deal with the bad without attachment." "(22:30) In meditation I sometimes have a perception of quietness and peace. Yet when I reach it, I spontaneously finish the meditation as if I was incapable of maintaining it. Is there an explanation or remedy?" "(28:49) How to bring dharma ideas into the lives of children, so that they are not totally immersed in capitalist materialism?" "(33:38) Can you say something about Hedewa, the shock of amazement that you get with Phat!?" "(39:32) So many methods are present in the buddhist tradition for overcoming dualism and delusion in order to awaken. How do you think we should approach this? Should we do it with us adapting to these traditional structures, to the purity of the lineage? Or should we adapt this inheritance to our own lived situation?" Video at https://youtu.be/UEiFjyrboCU?si=x34hb8Pykxna4mqB

19 January 2022. 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 one of the translators. Index "(00:00) Should we be doing a Yidam practice as well as Padmasambhava practice?" "(03:15) Can you explain the Khandro Gadgyang chöd?" "(06:44) Somebody who has been able to take some time so that they don't have to work for a period of time and they can just devote themselves fully to the practice: should they start to look for a job or to trust that all that is needed will arrive?" "(14:25) Is chöd different from the christian idea of self-sacrifice?" "(18:14) Is the fearlessness and equanimity from chöd an acceptance that lets evil win?" "(20:23) Some writers stress the need for advanced meditative accomplishment before entering dzogchen. You do not. Why?" "(24:28) How to deal with people and situations which awaken karmic patterns in us with of great intensity?" "(28:35) How to be in the world with others, maintaining the structure of my life without organizing events around my egoic intentions?" "(31:28) Somebody has said that they came across apiece of writing that said that Zangdok Parli, the place where Padmasambhava is now, is also inhabited by rakshasas, who only see Guru Rinpoche as a harsh rakshasa king." "(34:57) For quite some time, I experienced a tilt to the nihilistic pole. As a result, I experience a general lack of motivation in my life. If everything is impermanent and empty, like the breath of wind, why should I put effort into something?" "(36:37) Why strive for virtue?" "(40:13) The more I practice or listen to the teachings and reflect about them, it seems to me that the struggle and the power of the ego is strengthening. Do I do something wrong? 43:33 Could you explain again the five questions regarding the mind?" Video at https://youtu.be/_4ll6YS07BQ?si=Xt-hPBag5HLsY7N1

17 November 2021. 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 one of the translators. Index "(00:00) Can you comment on the three factor that are unconditionef? The sky, enlightenment and the moment of enlightenment." "(12:51) Why did great lamas like Dudjom Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and so on do tantric practices of visualization mantra and so on every day? Is a practice like dzogchen, guru yoga, not enough?" "(18:56) What is the buddhist significance of adventitious?" "(22:09) How to deal with feelings of shame or guilt if you are unable to follow through with a guru's command?" "(28:48) When I practice and make absolutely no effort, I'm dragged around by thoughts. I feel like I need to have some sort of intention or minor effort in order to stay open and present." "(34:18) In guru yoga of the white A, should the eyes be kept open all the time?" Video at https://youtu.be/mK6uraSr1Xc?si=MpwWJIG9kfW8P73_

27 October 2021. 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) I follow dharma and live in a country where most people do not. I see them suffer, but they are committed to their beliefs. How might I respond?" "(04:22) I have a lot of negative thoughts, although I try to be a good person. Where do these thoughts come from and how to stop them?" "(09:18) How to purify the karmic effects of bad thoughts, intentions and deeds?" "(15:08) What should we do to prepare for sleep and to prepare at the time of waking and to work with the events of the day and the night?" "(20:04) Outer inner secret: what do these terms indicate?" "(21:35) Say something about the relationship between the teacher and student in the present times." "(25:35) I have the experience of nothingness with awareness, sometimes after Phat. It's vast, clear and unlimited. Is this still within duality?" "(29:20) Are there objective natural laws spontaneously arising from the primordial ground? Or are all concepts, including the apparent relationship of cause and effect that appear in the natural world a product of ignorance?" "(32:47) What dharma approaches can help a person with chronic illness and chronic pain, without making them feel unable, inadequate or stressed?" Video at https://youtu.be/Pbz7R_xzOUc?si=I6ImEZaSFYTHLiN2

6 October 2021. 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) Can dzogchen be reconciled with a scientific view of the world? Do they need to be reconcilable? If they can't be reconciled, how to resolve the tension between western cultural beliefs and dharma views?" "(04:13) Are mind and matter truly different?" "(19:08) Wisdom indicates that there are no really existing beings. Compassion indicates that we should respond to the suffering of beings and try to help them. How to reconcile this and not be an unethical bystander?" "(29:06) What does the term unborn mean, when applied to phenomena?" "(39:48) And the consequent facts that for the great bodhisattvas thoughts do not arise?" Video at https://youtu.be/IgvcKxejmO8?si=kGHwpihXQtqCtvPc

23 June 2021. 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 deal with being self-critical in relation to dharma?" "(02:38) Is it valid to do practice linked to the mamos at this time? How to integrate vajrayana rituals with our contemporary life?" "(06:05) Explain the meaning of the three roots guru, yidam and dakini" "(15:00) I am not sure if I want the family or to dedicate my life to dharma practice. I think I could lose time in family life. Any advice?" "(23:37) If I had difficulty understanding this dzogchen view, how can I overcome these obstacles?" "(27:49) Is it important to have our eyes open in the "white A" guru yoga?" "(29:32) Can you say more on the image of the mirror and the crystal ball? Is there a difference between what they are used to illustrate?" "(36:32) I see suffering beings yet I practice to see that there are no actual beings. This is confusing." "(39:58) When I'm sitting, resting in stillness and presence, at some point, there's a loss of vividness and lucidity. I don't fall asleep, yet I'm not fully aware. It's rather flat and dull. Then, I return to the more spacious experience and I've become aware that I have become somewhat veiled or covered" Video at https://youtu.be/kLKxDPChUww?si=XPEIqcWaoNquQxqh

9 June 2021. 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 "(0:00) Even though I practice, the sense of myself is not changing. How can I directly dissolve the idea of self?" "(15:55) When and how to use Phat?" "(18:09 You said: 'Devotion to the other merges self and other in non-duality'. Please explain further") "(28:40) What does it mean to use the energy of the ego to dissolve the ego?" "(30:06) Are there natural laws spontaneously arising from the primordial ground?" "(40:57) Why does it seem harder to let go of pleasant memories, joy and bliss?" Video at https://youtu.be/ZpRzur9l_rc?si=o19LhiyeTGaroV7d

12 May 2021. 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 "(0:00) What is the origin purpose and benefits of doing a padmasambhava tantric practice? How is this guru yoga practice related to dzogchen teachings?" "(6:22) James said that the practice of chöd and semdzins were disruptive practices. What does this mean?" "(13:59) How to see through the false sense of self which is so embedded?" "(26:52) Can we get a taste of freedom without doing years of retreat?" "(29:52) if I experience a sense of presence in my heart area, is this related to materiality and therefore not to be given importance or is it related to the intrinsic sense of awareness?" Video at https://youtu.be/WmFLJ23nc-s?si=O2rZKp2ETjNs1I7F

26 May 2021. 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) With the practice of dzogchen, are art and music an obstacle or they can be useful?" "(09:41) Since rigpa or awareness is uncompounded, does it have self essence or other qualities?"" "(17:42) What to do with tantric practice commitments, when now a person wants to do guru yoga and dzogchen? Is it necessary to finish the ngöndro?" "(23:11) Is being trans an obstacle to practicing vajrayana and how to deal with prejudice?" "(29:50) How to know if you are on the path? Am I attuning with the teachings in the right way?" Video at https://youtu.be/N-TBTvgtvVk?si=IUdrtvPwZIa19gsR