Dzogchen

Dzogchen (Wylie: dzogs chen ) or "Great Perfection", also called Atiyoga, is a tradition of teachings in Tibetan Buddhism aimed at attaining and maintaining the natural primordial state or natural condition. It is a central teaching of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and of Bon. In these traditions, Dzogchen is the highest and most definitive path of the nine vehicles to liberation.

Etymology

Dzogchen is composed of two terms:

The term initially referred to the "highest perfection" of deity visualisation, after the visualisation has been dissolved and one rests in the natural state of the innately luminous and pure mind. In the 10th and 11th century, Dzogchen emerged as a separate tantric vehicle in the Nyingma tradition, used synonymously with the Sanskrit term ati yoga (primordial yoga).

According to van Schaik, in the 8th century tantra Sarvabuddhasamāyoga

According to the 14th Dalai Lama, the term dzogchen may be a rendering of the Sanskrit term mahāsandhi.

Dzogchen Monastery

Dzogchen Monastery (Tib. རྫོགས་ཆེན་དགོན། rdzogs chen dgon) is one of the six great monasteries of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is located within modern day Sichuan, China.

History

Dzogchen Monastery was founded by Pema Rigdzin, 1st Dzogchen Rinpoche (1625-1697) in 1675, 1684 or 1685. It became especially renowned for its Sri Singha Shedra, which was established by Gyelsé Zhenpen Tayé (Wylie: rgyal sras gzhan phan mtha' yas ) during the time of Mingyur Namkhé Dorje, 4th Dzogchen Rinpoche shortly after the monastery was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1842.

Among the great masters to have lived and taught at Dzogchen are Khenpo Pema Vajra (Wylie: mkhan po pad ma badz ra ), Patrul Rinpoche, Jamgon Ju Mipham Gyatso and Khenpo Shenga. It eventually grew into the largest Nyingma monastery of all time.

During the time of Thubten Chökyi Dorje, 5th Dzogchen Rinpoche (1872-1935), Dzogchen Monastery was at the peak of its activity, with up to five hundred monks residing, 13 retreat centres, and an estimated two hundred and eighty branches - a gathering of which would have seen tens of thousands of lamas, tulkus, khenpos, monks and nuns. Throughout the year, an extensive array of complex ritual ceremonies were accomplished. Dzogchen was also one of the most famous centres of sacred ritual dance, now commonly known as lama dancing.