B. Alan Wallace, 10 Sep 2015
Alan first continues with the text (p.111-115). The practice is not easy but its not complicated. The text repeatedly emphasises that rigpa transcends the intellect. It is ‘thatness’, not labelled and is inarticulate. Any of the verses referred to in the text can be considered as pointing out instructions, but Alan particularly focuses on those of Mahasiddha Maitripa who doesn’t mince words from the start. Alan explains that these verses are perfect and suggests, that, if we so wish, we could recording these ourselves, in our own language and play it back so we receive the pointing out instructions from Maitripa’s words. In front loading the meditation, which is silent, he draws a distinction between Shamatha and Dzogchen with reference to the method in Padmasambhava’s pointing out instructions, covered yesterday. If using this method without the Dzogchen view one is practising Shamatha which will it ultimately reveal the substrate consciousness. However, one can practise the same technique imbued with Dzogchen which will reveal rigpa. One Dzogchen practice is not doing. More specifically it is the practice of the four nots: not doing, not desiring, not striving, and not modifying. When not doing these things, what is left is rigpa. You are either doing the practice, by doing nothing at all, or you are not doing the practice, by doing something. This then leads into the meditation.
Meditation is on non-meditation and observing the mind.
Following meditation Alan addresses the subject of information and its dependence upon an observer, that is, a consciousness. He quotes several eminent scholars including Marcia Bates, John Wheeler, Hans Christian von Baer, Roger Penrose, and Stephen Hawking.
Front-loaded silent meditation was not recorded.
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