Natural Perfection: Longchenpa's Radical Dzogchen

by Longchen Rabjam, Keith Dowman (Translator), Namkhai Norbu (Foreword)

Dzogchen, or the "Great Perfection," is considered by many to be the apex of Tibetan Buddhism, and Longchen Rabjam is the most celebrated of all the saints of this remarkable tradition. Natural Perfection presents the radical precepts of Dzogchen, pointing the way to absolute liberation from conceptual fetters and leading the practitioner to a state of pure, natural integration into one's true being.Transcending the Tibetan context or even the confines of Buddhist tradition, Longchen Rabjam delivers a manual full of practical wisdom. Natural Perfection is a shining example of why people have continued to turn to the traditions of Tibet for spiritual and personal transformation and realization. Keith Dowman's illuminating translation of this remarkable work of wisdom provides clear accessibility to the profound path of Dzogchen in the here-and-now.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Religion

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

Same author as:
- Longchenpa
- Kloṅ-chen-pa Dri-med-ʼod-zer

Reviews

[Blaine Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book that one "reviews" in the sense of evaluating or comparing to other books. The nature of the text in this book stands as one of the purest articulations of primordial consciousness and awakened mind that human beings have ever expressed... after all, can the Great Ultimate, God, Primordial Luminous Awareness be reviewed? Herein lies a sustained vision of vast expanse that stands alone in clear natural simplicity so profound that only a very few will resonate with it. Longchenpa's text is one of the primary expositions of the (once secret) teaching in Tibetan Buddhism known as Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. It is one of his Seven Treasury writings that established Dzogchen in 14th century Tibet as being among the most subtle and refined of all Buddhist teachings. If the idea of a secret teaching for the select few puts you off, its best to look elsewhere. If, however you're intrigued by and attracted to a teaching that purports to be one of the most definitive visions of awakened mind in all world literature, you're probably a natural mystic and should look into this book.

Since there is another translation of Longchenpa's Way of Abiding text (Richard Barron's The Precious Treasury Of The Way Of Abiding), some comparisons of translations can be made with Natural Perfection. Dowman's original translation of this text was titled Old Man Basking in the Sun (Longchenpa: Old Man Basking in the Sun). This Wisdom Publications edition consists of a forward by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, Dowman's outstanding introduction putting Longchenpa and the dzogchen tradition into historical and Buddhist cultural perspective. Then comes a translation of Longchenpa's source text followed by the bulk of the book which is a translation of Longchenpa's auto-commentary on his own text. At the end there are three helpful appendices, a glossary, notes, and English bibliography. Dowman breaks up the source verses into sections with subheadings making it much easier to follow and understand Longchenpa's presentation. I found both Barron’s and Dowman’s translations useful, although I felt each had better and worse phrasings and word choices. Again Dowman’s introduction is outstanding and speaks clearly to contemporary readers as to the highly select nature of the text and teaching.

If you really want to jump in deep, I recommend taking both the Dowman and Barron books and correlating the English translations, line by line, penciling in line numbers and comparing the wording of each line of source text. Doing so really makes you pay close attention to the nuances of the translations, how each translator renders the original Tibetan into English, how they turn each phrase, where they position which part of the sentence, what vocabulary they choose, what Tibetan words they keep or not, and so forth. Doing this will also help you abide in the meaning of Longchenpa's text and somewhere in there, you'll get the nondual gist.

But Buddhists Beware: if you’re on a path, any Buddhist path, this is probably not a book for you. Even if (or especially if) you’re serious about practicing meditation and studying Buddhism, this is still probably not a book for you. Dzogchen is for those Buddhists who are ready to completely leave the raft behind, the raft of course being the entirety of Buddhist teachings, practices, vehicles, schools, teachers, etc. This book speaks to those who are ready to let go of the path of accumulation and gradual attainment. It's explained right there in Dowman's introduction. Although presented in Buddhist language, it is really for anyone who has cultivated a mystical-poetic awareness and understood the limitations of language, concepts, meanings, and conventional teachings of any culture. When that time comes, Dzogchen's Great Perfection, the natural primordial ever-present awareness, will be yours to claim.

For you Walt Whitman fans who understand his awakened mystical poetry and awareness, this book seemed to need my favorite Uncle Walt Dzogchen quote scribbled inside the front cover, I sound my barbaric YAWP! over the rooftops of the world!!!... although I doubt Longchenpa was an ecstatic yelper.

[Everett Grandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natural

To wear perfection naturally you must disrobe of intellectual motivation, you surrender your most prize possession... thinking and you listen to yourself rather than talk with your self hear

[Paul Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

unique translation with up-to-date terms like "hyperspace" and such.