Vajra Heart Revisited: Teachings on the Path of Trekcho

by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Ngawang Tsoknyi Gyatso (Foreword)

Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s impeccable qualities were evident to all who met him and received pith instructions and empowerments from him. His teachings on mind nature and the path of the Great Perfection were unparalled. He had confidence and utterly pure trust based on the personal, direct understanding that buddha nature really is present in every sentient being. Just like oil is present in each and every sesame seed, any sentient being can realize the awakened state and thus has the basis for enlightenment.

These pith instructions in Vajra Heart Revisited are concise, brilliant expositions on the path of Trekcho, starting with the ground, the preliminaries, shamatha, and viphashyana, Three Vital Words, up to and including teachings on guru yoga, and bardo. They are extremely clear explanations on all aspect of practice that the Dzogchen yogi can use as a manual of guidance and inspiration. They include key topics such as differentiating mind and awareness and threefold sky practice, among others. It is all that is necessary to attain full mastery and realization.

The depth of Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s actual understanding was unsurpassed, and many Nyingma and Kagyü masters stood in awe of his comprehensive knowledge. He had thoroughly studied and practiced the Atiyoga, and his teachings on Dzogchen transformed the lives of those he touched with gentle, penetrating clarity. As a meditation teacher and a master of initiations, he was without peer.

As he said, “We should focus our minds on simplicity, the state of buddhahood, nonconceptual wakefulness… Although you will not arrive at enlightenment immediately, if you aim towards it, as if intending to go to Bodhgaya, then no matter what happens on the way, if you never give up you will arrive. Since harm occurs in the mind, whatever disturbances arise in this body from aggregates, elements, and sense factors, just let go again and again into unfabricated naturalness. Then you will reach your destination, the state of Buddhahood”.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2020

Reviews

[Mark Bourdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading this as part of my Dzogchen teachings from Mingyur Rinpoche (the son of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche). Although I am definitely a beginner with Dzogchen, this was easier to read and understand because I am receiving additional teachings. If you are unfamiliar with Dzogchen, I probably wouldn’t start with Vajra Heart. If you are a Dzogchen practitioner, I would highly recommend this text. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche is a wonderful teacher and I found it easy to read his teachings in Vajra Heart. 🙏🏻

[Brad Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s quite a thing to read Dzogchen books. I find them both really challenging and remarkably simple all at once. It's impossible to get into the weeds of rigpa and Dzogchen in a review, but to read an entire book about empty space is very surreal. When it comes to understanding all the primordial space stuff, I find the analogies and tips really useful for meditating. Where I veer off course is the Tibetan shenanigans and terminology. Once the demons and the linguistics get involved I find it nearly unreadable. Part of this is just because I'm unfamiliar with a lot of this stuff, but another part is because I find it quite dull. As a practical book about specific details of meditation, in relation to Rigpa, I find this work really, really helpful. As a book about all the crazier dimensions of Tibetan Buddhism, I get so confused.

Many people say don’t read this book if you haven’t got a lot of experience with Dzogchen. I would echo this. The terminology can be so disorientating it would be really hard to navigate. Even with some exposure and a good deal of practice, I find it really tricky to just know what is what half the time. Would I recommend this book, maybe. It would depend on where you’re at. But I think the other Dzogchen book I read—the self perfected state—is more fun, and more helpful. This one however goes really deep into Rigpa, which is probably its utility. I like it, but it's tough going.

[Cody]

One of those books that I stumbled across at just the right time. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's approach is direct and clear but also nuanced in such a way that simultaneously clarifies, reinforces, and deepens the core practices of Dzogchen. A text to be savored slowly and revisited often.