View source for View (Dzogchen)

{{Short description|One Dharma of the Path of Dzogchen}}
[[File:Appearance of sky for weather forecast, Dhaka, Bangladesh.JPG|thumb|280px|The metaphors of sky and spaciousness are often used to describe the nature of mind in Dzogchen.]]
In [[Dzogchen]], the '''view''' (Tib. ''tawa'') is one of the [[Three Dharmas of the Path]] of Dzogchen. The other two dharmas of the path are [[Practice (Dzogchen)|practice]] (''gompa'') and [[Conduct (Dzogchen)|conduct]] (''chöpa'').{{sfnp|Norbu|2012}}
==Terminology==
{{Tibetan Buddhism}}
[[Nyingma]] Dzogchen texts use unique terminology to describe the Dzogchen view (Tib. ''tawa''). Some of these terms deal with the different elements and features of the mind and are drawn from classic Buddhist thought. The generic term for consciousness is ''shes pa'' (''Skt. [[vijñāna]]''), and includes the six sense consciousnesses. [[Saṃsāra|Worldly]], impure and dualistic forms of consciousness are generally referred to with terms such as ''sems'' (''citta,'' mind),  ''yid'' (''[[Manas-vijnana|mānas]]'') and ''blo'' (''buddhi''). On the other hand, [[Nirvana (Buddhism)|nirvanic]] or [[Vimutti|liberated]] forms of consciousness are described with terms such as ''ye shes'' (''[[jñāna]]'', 'pristine consciousness') and ''shes rab'' ([[Prajñā (Buddhism)|''prajñā'']], wisdom).{{sfnp|Smith|2016|p=12-14}}  According to [[Sam van Schaik]], two significant terms used in Dzogchen literature is the ground (''gzhi'') and gnosis (''rig pa''), which represent the "[[Ontology|ontological]] and [[Gnosis|gnoseological]] aspects of the nirvanic state" respectively.{{sfnp|van Schaik|2004|p=52}}
Nyingma Dzogchen literature also describes nirvana as the "expanse" or "space" (''klong'' or ''dbyings'') or the "expanse of Dharma" (''chos dbyings'', Sanskrit: ''[[Dharmadhatu]]''). The term ''[[Dharmakaya]]'' (Dharma body) is also often associated with these terms in Dzogchen,{{sfnp|Germano|1994}} as explained by [[Tulku Urgyen]]:
{{quote|Dharmakaya is like space. You cannot say there is any limit to space in any direction. No matter how far you go, you never reach a point where space stops and that is the end of space. Space is infinite in all directions; so is dharmakaya. Dharmakaya is all-pervasive and totally infinite, beyond any confines or limitations. This is so for the dharmakaya of all buddhas. There is no individual dharmakaya for each buddha, as there is no individual space for each country.{{sfnp|Kunsang|2012|p=3}} }}
==''Rigpa'' (knowledge) and ''ma rigpa'' (delusion)==
[[File:Sun behind the dark clouds.jpg|thumb|A widespread simile for ignorance is the obscuration of the sun by clouds]]
{{main|Rigpa}}
''Rigpa'' is the knowledge of the [[Ground (Dzogchen)|fundamental ground]].{{sfnp|van Schaik|2004|p=5}} It has also come to mean the 'pristine awareness' that is the ground itself.{{sfnp|Batchelor|2010|p={{pn|date=September 2021}}}} [[Erik Pema Kunsang]] translates a text which provides basic definitions of ''rigpa'' and ''ma rigpa'' in a Dzogchen context:
{{quote|Unknowing (marigpa) is not knowing the nature of mind. Knowing (rigpa) is the knowing of the original wakefulness that is personal experience.{{sfnp|Kunsang|2006|loc=ch. 15}}}}
Rigpa has two aspects, namely ''kadag'' and ''lhun grub''.{{sfnp|Dalai Lama|2004|p=32}} ''Kadag'' means 'purity' or specifically 'primordial purity.'{{sfnp|Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche|2003|p={{pn|date=September 2021}}}}{{sfnp|Dalai Lama|2004|p=30}} ''Lhun grub'' in Tibetan normally implies automatic, self-caused or spontaneous actions or processes.{{sfnp|Hookham|1991|pp=49-50}} As quality of ''rigpa'' it means 'spontaneous presence.'{{sfnp|Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche|2003|p={{pn|date=September 2021}}}}
''Ma rigpa'' ([[Avidyā (Buddhism)|''avidyā'']]) is the opposite of rigpa or knowledge. ''Ma rigpa'' is ignorance, delusion or unawareness, the failure to recognize the nature of the basis. An important theme in Dzogchen texts is explaining how ignorance arises from the basis or [[Dharmata]], which is associated with ''ye shes'' or pristine consciousness.{{sfnp|Smith|2016|p=14}} Automatically arising unawareness (''{{transl|xct|lhan-skyes}} ma-rigpa'') exists because the basis has a natural cognitive potentiality which gives rise to appearances. This is the ground for [[samsara]] and [[nirvana]].{{sfnp|Smith|2016|pp=15-16}}
== Eleven vajra topics ==
{{main|Eleven vajra topics}}
The Dzogchen view of the [[secret instruction series]] (''man ngag sde'') is classically explained through the [[eleven vajra topics]]. These can be found in the ''String of Pearls Tantra'' (''Mu tig phreng ba''),{{sfnp|Smith|2016|p=9}} the ''Great Commentary by Vimalamitra'' as well as in [[Longchenpa]]'s ''Treasury of Word and Meaning'' (''Tsik Dön Dzö).''{{sfnp|Germano|1994}}
==See also==
*[[Ground (Dzogchen)]]
*[[Path (Dzogchen)]]
*[[Fruit (Dzogchen)]]
==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|25em}}
===Works cited===
* {{cite book |last=Batchelor |first=Stephen |year=2010 |title=Confession of a Buddhist Atheist |publisher=Random House}}
* {{cite book |last=Dalai Lama |year=2004 |title=Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection |publisher = Snow Lion Publications |ISBN = 978-1-55939-219-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche |author-link=Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche |year=2003 |title=Wild Awakening: The Heart of Mahamudra and Dzogchen |publisher=Shambhala Publications}}
* {{cite book |last=Germano |first=David Francis |year=1994 |title=Poetic Thought, the Intelligent Universe, and the Mystery of Self: The Tantric Synthesis of Rdzogs Chen in Fourteenth Century Tibet |volume=1}}
* {{cite book |last=Hookham |first=S. K. |year=1991 |title=The Buddha Within: Tathagatagarbha Doctrine According to the Shentong Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga |publisher=SUNY Press}}
* {{cite book |last=Kunsang |first=Erik Pema |year=2006 |title=Quintessential Dzogchen |publisher=Ranjung Yeshe}}
* {{cite book |last=Kunsang |first=Erik Pema |year=2012 |title=Wellsprings of the Great Perfection: The Lives and Insights of the Early Masters |publisher=Rangjung Yeshe Publications |isbn=978-9627341819}}
*{{cite book |last=Norbu |first=Namkhai |title=Small Glossary for the Dzogchen Community |year=2012 |publisher=Shang Shung Edizioni}}
* {{cite book |last=Smith |first=Malcolm |year=2016 |title=Buddhahood in This Life: The Great Commentary by Vimalamitra |publisher=Simon and Schuster}}
* {{cite book |last=van Schaik |first=Sam |author-link=Sam van Schaik |year=2004 |title=Approaching the Great Perfection: Simultaneous and Gradual Methods of Dzogchen Practice in the Longchen Nyingtig |publisher=Wisdom Publications}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
[[Category:Dzogchen]]
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist philosophical concepts]]