The central paradox of Dzogchen: the path is not about striving to become perfect, but about recognizing the primordial perfection that is already your true nature.

In this episode of our podcast, we explore Dzogchen, the Tibetan Buddhist path known as the "Great Perfection." Unlike many spiritual paths that involve striving to fix or improve oneself, Dzogchen presents a radical paradox: our true nature is, and always has been, primordially perfect. This podcast delves into the foundational principles of this view, explaining the crucial distinction between the ordinary, conceptual mind (Sem) and the pristine, non-dual awareness known as Rigpa. We'll discuss the entire journey as mapped by the Base, Path, and Fruition, and look at the core practices of Trekchö (Cutting Through) and Tögal (Leapover) used to recognize this innate awareness. The episode also places Dzogchen in its historical context within the Nyingma and Bön traditions and compares its "resultant" approach to other Buddhist paths like Mahamudra and the gradual Sutrayana.