The Primordial State: Pure and Perfect Mind.

Knocking out the support.
Absence of View, Meditation, and Behavior in Dzogchen.
A Dzogchen Community retreat.

In a real sense, there’s no view.
In a real sense, there’s no meditation.
In a real sense, there’s no behavior.
From “Twelve Small Tantras” of oral transmission of Shang-Shung.

The view and behavior of Total Perfection
Are not similar to those of practices based on cause and effect:
The view and behavior of Bodhicitta
Are similar in nature to space;
Space is beyond thought and analysis.
From “All-Creating King”, a root tantra of Dzogchen.

Most teachings imply that we need to have a certain view on reality, cultivate a special state of mind, and adopt specific rules of behavior. Maintaining these three aspects gives an adept confidence that there’s no mistake and the final goal will definitely be achieved. This is something we feel we can rely upon. In the teaching of Dzogchen, on the other hand, no reference point can be found related to our existence as body, energy, and mind. Struggling to survive, being afraid of non-existence, we grasp at whatever concept that gives us a feeling of certainty or security. But to discover an authentic condition beyond grasping, beyond reference point we need to be shown all the futility of any effort to acquire a firm ground. Dzogchen teaching does not explain the reality. Dzogchen teaching introduces us, sometimes in a paradoxical way, to our real nature beyond concept. In “All-Creating King”, a root tantra of Dzogchen, those things which are deemed so important in other teachings such as samaya-commitment, empowerment or initiation, obstacles, levels of realization etc. are said to be absent. Hearing such negations, we might feel that the whole edifice of our beliefs collapses, but then we discover that it was nothing but grasping at illusory vision. This is not a nihilistic, revolutionary, or postmodernist overthrow of established “reality” or “rules”, but a liberating insight into our unique state giving us nothing but the full responsibility without any external support.

Igor Berkhin is a long term Dzogchen practitioner. Born in the USSR, he started his spiritual practice in the 80-s still behind the iron curtain. He studied with and translated into Russian for many teachers of different contemplative traditions, the most important of them being Chogyal Namkhai Norbu (1938-2018), a renowned Dzogchen master. Having met his root Teacher in 1996, in 2002 Igor was authorized by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu to teach the essence of the view, meditation, and behavior of Dzogchen for the International Dzogchen Community. Since 2008, he is one of the three senior teachers of Santi Maha Sangha, a Dzogchen study and practice program developed by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu. Now Igor Berkhin lives in Israel and teaches worldwide both off- and on-line.

The retreat is intended for Dzogchen practitioners who want to deepen and to refresh their knowledge. Those who have not yet met a master of an authentic Dzogchen lineage but who strongly feel such commitment and are particularly interested in the teachings from Chogyal Namkhai Norbu can also participate.

EASTER RETREAT
with S.M.S. Instructor Igor Berkhin
from 7th to 10th of April on:
SPACE, LIGHT AND CONCIOUSNESS

The example of mind is space, says an ancient Dzogchen text. “Space” is not just a metaphor but a symbol which is disclosing our real nature. Even though this real nature can neither be explained or exemplified, still it is possible to indicate it and to communicate its meaning through such symbols as space, chrystal, mirror etc.

In this retreat, we’ll go through the text of the Twelve Small Tantras which is a collection of nyengyuds or concise formulas that communicate the essential meaning. “Space” doesn’t only refer to the internal space but also to what is considered external like sound and light. We’ll apply such methods of Dzogchen as a semdzin of sound, skygazing, contemplating the sound of the elements etc. to discover that our awareness is not limited by the skin of our physical body going beyond consideration of inner and outer.

Nyengyud literally means “oral transmission”. It’s a brief formula of just a few words which do not explain but point out. Semdzin literally means “holding the mind”. It’s usually an exercise for the body, voice, and mind to generate a non-conceptual direct experience which serves as a gateway for discovering the deep meaning.

“Twelve Small Tantras” is a very ancient text preserved within the Bon tradition of Dzogchen. Even though Chogyal Namkhai Norbu had a Buddhist background, he was recognizing both main lineages of Dzogchen, i.e. Buddhist and Bon, as authentic and included this text into his teachings. Semdzins are first mentioned in a Dzogchen original tantra of Upadesha series “All-Penetrating Sound” (Drathalgyur) were explained by Longchenpa and taught by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu on multiple occasions.

About more detailed information and participation online please go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSJ6fhR2vaHh_S7ejb-rKEc_ERYhkB2TY3x3qUlL7Ln9IfvA/viewform
See you in Mallorca!
Alba, Marga and Quico

Hararit, Israel, April 25-29
Seven ways to discover reality.
A dzogchen retreat with Igor Berkhin.

«The real meaning of emptiness is knowledge that everything is unreal. We know that even thongs appear to be real and concrete, they are unreal, like reflections appearing in a mirror, so that there’s no need to eliminate them mentally by reasoning. Saying that everything is like a reflection or a mirage means you have more direct knowledge that the “substance” of all reality is emptiness.»
Chogyal Namkhai Norbu

In the Upadesha series of Dzogchen teaching there are practices called semdzins which function as gates for entering the knowledge of one’s primordial state. The experiences related to the practice of semdzins can look very different. Nevertheless, their essence is always the union of calm state and movement. There’s a group of semdzins intended to quickly and directly recognize or discover emptiness as a real nature of phenomena, though this emptiness is not just nothingness or absence but rather a potentiality which cannot be objectified, reified while manifesting in various forms. Semdzins of this group, explained by Longchenpa, go beyond judging and thinking mind, bringing about the realisation of an indescribable state of knowing without knowing.

The retreat is intended for Dzogchen and Mahamudra practitioners who want to deepen and to broaden their understanding of methods. Those who have not yet met a master of an authentic lineage but who feel such commitment can also participate.

Igor Berkhin is a long term Dzogchen practitioner. Born in the USSR, he started his spiritual practice in the 80-s still behind the iron curtain. He studied with and translated into Russian for many teachers of different contemplative traditions, the most important of them being Chogyal Namkhai Norbu (1938-2018), a renowned Dzogchen master. Having met his root Teacher in 1996, in 2002 Igor was authorized by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu to teach the essence of the view, meditation, and behavior of Dzogchen for the International Dzogchen Community. Since 2008, he is one of the three senior teachers of Santi Maha Sangha, a Dzogchen study and practice program developed by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu. Now Igor Berkhin lives in Israel and teaches worldwide both off- and on-line.

Register:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewbJL2Jcy77X918zNHi1P9Mel1KjQ2HsGLdE_TssmRmfWIJA/viewform

The teaching of Dzogchen Atiyoga is considered to be secret. There are many reasons for that. It is secret because deep wisdom can scare those whose minds are conditioned by conventional truths. It is secret because the instructions of the path can go beyond the limitations of ordinary people. It is secret because human language is unable to express the deep knowledge of knowing without knowing. It is secret because the primordial state cannot be an object of dualistic awareness.

• The Essence of the View, Meditation, and Behavior of Dzogchen
• What does “Direct Introduction” mean?
• Why is the nature of knowledge secret?
• Meditation and contemplation
• Presence and awareness
• How to keep the teaching secret?
• What is the meaning of samaya?
• What is the value of vajra-relationship?

Dzogchen view according to the book "The Garland of Views" by Guru Padmasambhava. 7:00-9:00 UTC.

A study group on "The Total Space of Vajrasattva". 15:00-16:00 UTC

This retreat is mostly practical. In the morning we’ll be reading verses from The Total Space of Vajrasattva and commentaries alternating with contemplation and concluding with sharing experience. In the evening we’ll be applying essential methods of Upadesha semdzins also alternating with contemplation and concluding with sharing experience.

The criteria of whether we understand a text on Dzogchen or not is very simple: if we discover ourselves in the state of contemplation while listening to or reading it, then we really understand it. If we remain on the level of mind which is judging and thinking, then we don’t. It doesn’t refer to a text written by an academic scholar, it only relates to a text written by a Dzogchen master.

The Total Space of Vajrasattva is the very first text pronounced by Guru Garab Dorje, the very first Dzogchen teacher of our historical epoch. It contains the essence of Dzogchen theoria and praxis as well as indicates and rectifies common mistakes. This text is not meant for intellectual analysis, it is a tool like a mirror applied to recognize one’s state. We’ll continue to study this text working with the verses from 6 to 10.

In the Upadesha series of Dzogchen teaching there are practices called semdzins which function as gates for entering the knowledge of one’s primordial state. The experiences related to the practice of semdzins can look very different. Nevertheless, their essence is always the union of calm state and movement.

For Dzogchen practitioners who are interested in developing their capacities of knowledge and contemplation.

Semde (Series of Mind) teaching.

Liberating emotions, breaking through fear.

The Essence and Basic Principles of the Mind Series (Semde).

Nyag System of Dzogchen Semde.

Semde studies.

The Essence of Dzogchen.

Dzogchen Semde Meditation and Contemplation.

Dzogchen Semde Shine and Lhagtong. Semdzins. Dzogchen and Prajnaparamita.

Dzogchen Semde retreat

The Great Miracle is not Difficult.

Introduction to the Practice of Contemplation.

Purification of the 6 lokas and an Upadesha semdzin.

The meaning of the ‘pure vision’ and the principle of transformation.

Shitro and two Upadesha semdzins.

Guru-Yoga and Contemplation.

Semde (Series of Mind) teaching.