Dzogchen meditation is a unique meditation practice that is deeply rooted in Buddhist spiritual tradition and that is believed to help the practitioner reach higher levels of awareness.

Dzogchen or “Great Perfection” goes beyond a meditation practice and involves a series of teachings in the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism that are meant to uncover the primordial state of being. This practice serves as the highest of the nine vehicles to liberation, that is, paths to becoming free of the wheel of the Samsara. The term “Dzogchen” means “the great completeness.”

A student of Dzogchen can reach a level of natural awareness and experience the nature of one’s inner mind through this practice. It is meant to provide a leap to a new level of consciousness and help the person become awakened.

It has four essential practices: shamatha (focus), vipashyana (insight), cutting through (letting go of ego, cutting through the self or the ego), and direct crossing over (having immediate access to clarity), which are supposed to be sufficient to reach the rainbow body, the end of the path of the Great Perfection.

In addition to its ultimate goal, Dzogchen meditation offers a variety of benefits.

It helps the student become more serene, compassionate, forgiving, altruistic, focused, and disciplined. As a spiritual practice, it helps achieve a higher state of existence and escaping the Samsara. It is a practice with deep meaning and many possibilities that influences every aspect of the being for the better, helping the practitioner move towards the natural Great Perfection of their being.

The Dzogchen is considered the highest teaching but, at the same time, it is accessible to both the experienced practitioner and the novice.

The core aspect of Dzogchen is the practice of non-duality, the lack of division between the self and the others, nothing to be obtained and nothing to be discarded, good nor bad. Aspects of the self are transcended to achieve the state of rainbow body, of a light aura, of enlightenment.

How is Dzogchen practiced?

One’s awareness is focused on the thoughts, rising and passing on their own, like clouds passing through the blue sky.

Unlike other meditative practices, there is no effort, no attempt to maintain focus, rather, Dzogchen is the practice of non-effort, pure awareness, the mind that is non-dual and that is clear as the horizon.

Thoughts are not good or bad, no one or the other, everything occurs as it does and develops as it is, in the current of the universe. Thoughts come and go, unrestricted, they are not rejected and they are not held onto. They float freely.

The practitioner remains in a state of equanimity, an observer of the universe. 10 or 20 minutes a day is recommended for the practice, in the presence of a natural light source or a candle. Although this meditative mentality should be sustained passed your meditation period.

Through a disciplined and a constant practice, any student can achieve a higher state of enlightenment and, as practitioners of Dzogchen know, through discipline ascension becomes inevitable.