Dzogchen: The Self-Perfected State

by Namkhai Norbu, Adriano Clemente (Editor), John Shane (Translator)

As Chogyal Namkhai Norbu explains in this very readable book, our natural condition is self-perfected from the very beginning. What is necessary is that we reawaken and remain in our true nature. Through understanding and practice, we can rediscover the effortless knowledge of the self-perfected state that lies beyond our habitual anguish and confusion, and remain in this uninterrupted flow of contemplation, completely relaxed but fully present through all activities. Rinpoche begins by clearly explaining the Dzogchen teachings and then reveals, in a simple and non-intellectual manner, what is meant by the practice of Dzogchen.

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction

149 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche (Tib. ཆོས་རྒྱལ་ནམ་མཁའི་ནོར་བུ Chos-rGyal Nam-mkha'i Nor-bu) was one of the foremost 20th century masters of Dzogchen and lead Buddhist retreats through out the world. As a child he was recognized as the reincarnation of the great Dzogchen Master Adzom Drugpa (1842-1924) and later by the sixteenth Karmapa as a reincarnation of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651), the first Dharmaraja of Bhutan. (Dharmaraja in Sanskrit and Chögyal in Tibetan are both honorific titles meaning "King of the Teachings." Rinpoche is likewise an honorific meaning "Precious One.")

In 1960, following the deterioration of the social and political situation in Tibet, he moved to Italy on the invitation of the well-known orientalist Prof. Giuseppe Tucci. There, he contributed to giving a concrete stimulus to the spread of Tibetan culture in the West. After teaching Yantra Yoga in Naples for several years, in the mid-seventies he started giving Dzogchen teachings, encountering a growing interest throughout the West.

Reviews

[Erica Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If the master finds the stinking body of a dead rat and shows it to the disciple saying, 'Smell this stench!'--this might be the means he has chosen to transmit knowledge of the state of contemplation." (p. 129)

Contemplation is every moment! Awakening is everywhere!

Nice introduction to Dzogchen, the heretical method of direct knowledge for the Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike. The translation is a little clunky with its terminology (translated from Tibetan to Italian, then from Italian to English) so I am going to read it again right away and surely understand it much better the second time around.

Norbu advises us that all the many hundreds of original texts of Dzogchen could be considered as an explanation of these three verses from Garab Dorje, the originator of Dzogchen:

Directly discover your state.
Don't remain in doubt.
Gain confidence in self-liberation.

Not a practice for the ethically challenged or those without a "higher level of capacity," as Norbu puts it.

(Read 2nd time May 2015)

[Peter Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every paragraph matters

[Bruce Leeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books (and authors) that are able to talk about complicated phenomena clearly and briefly, thus demonstrating the authors' command of the topic. This is one of those books, and if I had to recommend one book on Dzogchen this would be the one (for longer and also great ones get Dzogchen by the Dalai Lama, Wild Awakening by Dzogchen Ponlop, and Wonders of the Natural Mind by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche for example--how can the last two authors be SO SMART at such a young age?!).

This book is really wonderful. So concise and clear.

If you like concise and clear in the spiritual area try Suzuki's and Goddard's "The Lankavatara Sutra: An Epitomized Version."

[Brad Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is going to be extremely difficult to sum this up. There are countless reasons why and it would take me days to put it into meaningful words—and yet…

I wouldn’t say I’d recommend this book to people I know without first sitting down for about an hour and going into some depth about a range of weird topics—meditation, consciousness, and Tibetan buddhism being among them. But even then, it would be very hard to describe Dzogchen without myself getting lost in the weeds. I went into this because I knew a little of it, and wanted to wrap my head around it. After finishing this book, my mind feels quite distorted—in mostly a good way. I definitely got what I wanted, but diving into this topic is a bit of a cognitive jungle gym. But for the sake of giving it my best shot, here goes.

This is my credit card sized version of what Dzogchen is all about. There is a primordial state, that's what your mind is. It’s not all the thoughts bouncing around inside. Gaining that insight is really helpful because it's how you really are, and if you can make that leap, it's a lot more calm. You are the underlying features of the mirror, not the reflections.

[Nor'dzin Pamo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clear and concise introduction to Dzogchen.

'The Dzogchen teachings are neither a philosophy, nor a religious doctrine, nor a cultural tradition... The very meaning of the Tibetan term Dzogchen, "Great Perfection", refers to the true primordial state of every individual and not to some transcendent reality.' (p.23/4)

In Part I, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche explores the vehicles of Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen, and compares their bases, methods, and fruits. He examines Dzogchen in depth and explains that the teachings cannot be grasped intellectually, but have to be discovered experientially. The necessity for a teacher, and for transmission from a qualified teacher, is stressed.

Part II examines a pithy Dzogchen teaching 'The Cuckoo of the State of Presence'. This consists of Six Vajra Verses (six lines of text) which originated in the 8th century.

[lyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

“In our daily lives we need to remember to always relax, because that is the key to everything for us. Let's take a concrete example: Suppose that while we are sitting in one room, the idea comes into our heads to go and get an object that is in another room. As soon as this thought arises, we recognize it, and are aware of it, but we don't try to block it, or to make it dissolve. Without becoming distracted, maintaining a relaxed presence, we get up and go into the other room, trying to remain present in everything that we do. This is an extremely important practice, which requires neither a particular position and control of the breathing, nor any visualization. All one has to do is to remain present and relaxed.”

[Aadesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dzogchen: The Self-Perfected State" is a fascinating book that explores the principles and practices of Dzogchen, a unique form of meditation and spiritual practice in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The author, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, draws upon his vast knowledge and personal experience to explain the nature of the mind, the importance of awareness, and the path to enlightenment. The book offers practical advice and guidance on integrating Dzogchen's teachings into daily life. It includes a variety of exercises and meditations to help readers deepen their practice.

[Brian Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, concise introduction to Dzogchen; enjoyable read, inspiring. Somewhat technical-scholastic, so one may find books better for a first introduction; still, after reading one such, I highly recommend this as a follow-up.

[Cody]

Essential and practical wisdom.

[Ran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short book (for a reason) into one of the highest meditations that was ever discovered. Actually applying the self-perfect state into day-to-day life is very simple but also very hard paradoxically but will lead to all forms of stress to be instantly extinguished as well as instant blissful states. The value of this book is what you make of it whether you practice it or not.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, the mediocre review probably has more to do with me than the book. I find I experience a distance from the material when I read straight-on Dzogchen texts (as opposed to sutra-level work or Zen or Vipassana related texts). Either I'm trying too hard or I have other nuts to crack right now. To paraphrase Surya Das, perhaps I have more "schlepping" to do before I can "scoop" Namaste.

[Alex Delogu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and concise book on the basics of Dzogchen. Dzogchen is a practice of calming the mind and returning to the relaxed primal state of being, calm awareness. It contrasts the way of Dzogchen from the approach of the Sutras (renunciation) and Tantra (transformation). Some of the details about doctrinal difference went over my head, but were clear nonetheless.

[Dan Mutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In the Dzogchen teachings the term "knowledge" or "state of knowledge" denotes a state of consciousness which is like a mirror in that its nature cannot be stained by whatever images are reflected in it."

[Joe S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introduction into the self perfected state of Dzogchen explained by a true master of these teachings.

[Jay Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the whole spectacle that's in front of you is no longer wholly believable to you; here's your man.

[Martin Krauskopf · Rating 4 out of 5]

2004 reading: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2021 reading: ⭐⭐⭐
2025 reading: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Salvatore Familia]

Our natural condition is self-perfected from the very beginning. What is necessary is that we reawaken and remain in our true nature. Through understanding and practice, we can rediscover the effortless knowledge of the self-perfected state that lies beyond our habitual anguish and confusion, and remain in this uninterrupted flow of contemplation, completely relaxed but fully present through all activities.