The Great Completion

Please note, dates have changed from the original plan.

'When we see that our nature is infinite and beyond conditioning, we can simply relax and be present with both stillness and movement, realising that this very moment is all we ever have. From the point of view of dzogchen, good things go free, bad things go free; everything is to be liberated, for presence has no ground or root.' James Low

What does it mean - as it is said in the dzogchen tradition - that everything is already complete? What is complete? Our own intrinsic being. The term 'completeness' indicates that there is no lack or excess, and so nothing needs to be done — it is as it is, and that is enough. How can we embrace this greatest possible openness in our practice, and become present to what is already here?

Not striving to better or improve the present moment, and with nowhere to get to, this opens up an approach to meditation based on releasing and relaxing and our practice can be light and even filled with a playful spirit. How can we be sure that that does not just lead to laziness, and some sort of spiritual bypassing - an assumption that we have already 'arrived'?

This course for Members of the Triratna Buddhist Order will be an opportunity to explore aspects of the view and practice of dzogchen. There will be introductions and some practical exercises and meditation in order to absorb something of the flavour of the teachings. We will look at some specific teachings and practices from the tradition, like

• meeting the mind directly

• how to find relaxed presence, even if the mind is busy?

• ways to practice Buddha Samantabhadras advice: 'one ground, two paths'

• the image of the mirror

• how can terms like emptiness or non-dual become part of our experience and filled with lived meaning?

• how do the meditation instructions from this tradition support us in experiencing the present moment and the mind more directly?

This is an opportunity for people new to and curious about dzogchen, or those who have attended some of James Low's (or other dzogchen) teachings already. There will be plenty of opportunity for interaction and discussion (numbers of participants will be limited). This, hopefully, will help us all to deepen our practice.

Dzogchen, based in the lineage of Padmasambhava, leads us into the possibility to see directly that we are not seperate from the world, that we and the world always arise together. It is a precious and supportive practice for people concerned with the present situation of the world, the increasing self-interest and splitting between groups, and the isolation from the living world.

I have been exploring the practice of dzogchen with the guidance of James Low since 2008 - as I know quite a few Ordermembers have too. I found this approach to practice to be of tremendous benefit, including challenging assumptions I had, and I would like to pass some of this on to those who are curious to explore this tradition more deeply. I also want to invite those who have some experience of dzogchen teachings to explore how they can harmonise with practices within the Order, and open up new supportive pathways.

There will be a 5 week course on Wednesday evenings on Zoom (27 August to 1 October - no course on the 24 September)

Come along, and pass it on to other Ordermembers! Please contact me via email to let me know you are interested, or with any questions. The link for the zoom registration will follow soon.

Thecourses and retreats I offer through this website Play of Now, in person and online, are the main way I support myself financially. Therefore I will be asking for some financial support - details to follow.

I look forward to exploring more in your company! 'Experience is the immediacy of your participation. So, however you are, there is nothing wrong. There is no error. The error is to be unaware of how it is. When you're unaware of the open, empty ground, then you imagine entities. And when you imagine yourself to be an entity, it's very easy to have strong definitions of who you are.' James Low

Image: The Tibetan seed syllable A, as visualised in the meditation practice: The Guru Yoga of the White ཨ