Jackson Peterson: Garab Dorje

Garab Dorje was the founder of Dzogchen in the Nyingma lineage. He

offered the transmission of the realization of the deepest and most
transcendental Nature of Mind. He stated that only this “realization” is
necessary, as an immediate insight that transcends all concepts of
“cause and effect”, practices and effort.
Here is an imaginary discussion between Garab Dorje and a student
that reveals his core transmission, the gnosis of which is called
“rigpa”.
Student: What practice is best for realizing rigpa?
Garab Dorje: No practice is necessary. Rigpa is equally
present during disturbing mental events as well as during
their absence. Rigpa is ever present as the pervasive and
unchanging space of every experience. It’s like the empty and
unchanging space of the sky in which clouds of mind appear
and disappear.
Student: How then does one become established in rigpa?
Garab Dorje: Rigpa is already established as your current
awareness. No practice or insight alters or improves this.
Student: Then if recognized, how do I stabilize rigpa and not
lose it?
Garab Dorje: Rigpa is the only aspect of consciousness that is
always stable and that can never be lost. The notion of rigpa
being “stable or unstable” are just thoughts appearing within
ever stable rigpa. Thoughts about “losing rigpa” are just
thoughts about “losing rigpa”, known in rigpa, which can
never be lost.
Student: Then why can’t I know rigpa now?
Garab Dorje: The knowing by which you could know rigpa, is
itself rigpa.
Student: How do I then remove the obstacles that block my
knowing of rigpa right now?
Garab Dorje: That which knows the presence of the “thought”
that “something blocks rigpa”, is itself rigpa.
Student: Then what can I do to see and know rigpa in this
moment.
Garab Dorje: Release rigpa’s power of attention from upon all
its current topics; whether as thoughts, emotions, sensations
of self, sensations and all perceptions. Then that “freed-up”
power of attention, will self-illuminate its own Nature.
Student: And if there is still no rigpa?
Garab Dorje: Then that upon which attention is still attached,
is the content of experience, instead of rigpa. That which
notices what attention is fixated upon, is itself rigpa.