Recognizing rigpa

Hey all.

I've surmised that rigpa can be a contentious topic on this forum, but I'm just inquiring so that we might compare practices in a pragmatic and open way.

For those who practice trekcho/resting in the nature of mind-
When you take a moment to make that thorough cut into primordial awareness, what is it that you "do" (or don't do)?

I'm not necessarily asking for descriptive phenomenology of recognition, though I'd imagine it would be helpful and to an extent unavoidable to include; I do know that there are at least two separate threads on that topic to be found here. Rather, I'm asking about the technique, the set-up, which allows referenceless awareness to manifest. I am well aware that it can be tricky to describe the often paradoxical experience of awakening within experiencing, but, as technically as possible, what differentiates you "doing" it from you "not" doing it?

From study and my own experiences, I know that recognition is not a doing, and is closest to a letting be or letting happen- how is it that you yourselves let it happen? Feel free to make up your own verbs, nouns, adjectives, whatever- just qualify please.

Anything which works for you would be a welcome contribution for discussion!

Thanks and
Jeremy

"
For those who practice trekcho/resting in the nature of mind-
When you take a moment to make that thorough cut into primordial awareness, what is it that you "do" (or don't do)?
..."

I think that the "not doing" seems to be pretty key. So what is it that is effortless? Does it take any effort to see right now, for example? The eyes just function. You don't need to make them work or make them see. That kind of effortless. If there is any looking, seeking, grasping, making, doing, etc. that is not "resting in natural awareness" because resting is contradicted by doing something. I think also this is just something that arises. When a person is at a place where primordial awareness is recognized, then it can be rested in. You can't force it by some trick before that. If other stuff is coming up (seeking, grasping, distraction, etc.), then do whatever meditation method on that instead. Useful?

"Relax" is the word that suits my experience best to describe what "I do" in this regard. Like soaking into a warm bath, just relaxing completely into the simplicity and wholeness and naturalness of this moment.
-Jake

Kenneth's direct mode, lightning rod / grounding instruction, is a way to set things up, then dropping the effort / dropping directing attention; relaxing into looseness. This seems to work for me, anyhow. ^__^

metta!

Justin

double post, w00ps - redacted!

First. Imagine what it would be like to be dead (assuming no afterlife). Imagine what it would be like for there to be no experience happening at all.

Now - notice how there is an experience occurring. Also notice that it isn't happening for anyone in particular but is just a field of experience.

Notice that there is a knowing that there is an experience occurring. That the experience is bright and vivid and known.

Part of this experience is the knowing that there is an experience occurring. In other words, awareness is aware of itself.

Let that really sink in.

Notice how there is no effort required to be aware.

"First. Imagine what it would be like to be dead (assuming no afterlife). Imagine what it would be like for there to be no experience happening at all.

Now - notice how there is an experience occurring. Also notice that it isn't happening for anyone in particular but is just a field of experience.

Notice that there is a knowing that there is an experience occurring. That the experience is bright and vivid and known.

Part of this experience is the knowing that there is an experience occurring. In other words, awareness is aware of itself.

Let that really sink in.

Notice how there is no effort required to be aware."


Love it! Thanks.

1) Right here, right now I give up: give up trying, give up doing, give up striving, give up control. I give away my will, I give away myself. I realize "I" can't do anything to abide in rigpa. I even give up the need to recognize rigpa.
2) Right here, right now, I share every single bit of benefit with every person, being around me: pleasantness, happiness, my presence, my help, my willingness to help. I share everything good in my 6 senses until "I" no longer matter and realize everyone matters.
3) Effortlessly, I juxtapose tension, dukkha, craving (subtle and gross) and any sense of being with emptiness until tension, dukkha, craving and sense of being are seen to be empty.

Then rigpa, little by little, reveals itself.

"
1) Right here, right now I give up: give up trying, give up doing, give up striving, give up control. I give away my will, I give away myself. I realize "I" can't do anything to abide in rigpa. I even give up the need to recognize rigpa.
2) Right here, right now, I share every single bit of benefit with every person, being around me: pleasantness, happiness, my presence, my help, my willingness to help. I share everything good in my 6 senses until "I" no longer matter and realize everyone matters.
3) Effortlessly, I juxtapose tension, dukkha, craving (subtle and gross) and any sense of being with emptiness until tension, dukkha, craving and sense of being are seen to be empty.

Then rigpa, little by little, reveals itself. "

I really like this.

Ok, getting back to it, we should be careful not to turn Rigpa into a Buddhist Self in disguise, a practice, an objectless meditation or an experience.

Rigpa is the knowledge (Skt. Vidya, Tib. Rigpa) or recognition of the nature of the mind.

The nature of the mind is said to have two basic aspects: primordial purity (Tib. Kadag) and spontaneous presence (Tib. Lhundrub).

Primodial purity refers to its empty essence, the fact that the mind (what we would call awareness) cannot be grasped, has no shape, color, form, no inside or outside; it is not a thing and therefore cannot be said to exist or not exist.

Spontaneous presence refers to the fact that although empty, there is awareness, clarity, luminosity, presence, aliveness; although empty and groundless, thoughts, perceptions and sensations manifest their spontaneous presence, arise and self-liberate leaving no trace.

These two aspects cannot be dissociated. Right now, all that we experience is experienced by the mind within the mind. By mind (citta, vijnana), we mean awareness. This awareness has no shape, location or color and is therefore empty. Yet, there is a knowingness without a knower, an effortless knowing, a spontaneous presence.

Right now, perceptions of the senses, thoughts, feelings and sensations are all impermanent and empty, yet they manifest their spontaneous presence. It there a difference between the calm thoughtless mind and the mind filled with thoughts end emotions? Are they not both primordially pure and empty, while manifesting their spontaneous luminous presence?

Recognizing this is knowlege: rigpa.
Failing to recognize this is ignorance: marigpa.

Nailed it Alex! Nice!