Lhündrub Tögal
Encyclopedia
Lhündrub Tögal is a Dzogchen
term and practice which holds the semantic field
"leaping over", "direct crossing" and "direct approach". The Menngagde
or 'Instruction Class' of Dzogchen teachings are, for instruction, divided into two indivisible aspects: Kadag Trekchö
and Tögal (thod rgal). The practice of Trekcho is the basis for the practice of Tögal.
Tögal is the practice of "the six lamps" which constitute the preliminaries and the main practice.
The preliminaries constitute the practice of separating samsara
and nirvana
, "djungne-drosom".
The term 'lamp' connotes something that dispels darkness and refers to the illuminating quality of the practitioner's basic nature. This lamp has six aspects:
-- there being very little written about it, except in the context of translated practical manuals, e.g., by translator Erik Pema Kunsang
et al. -- it can, at least in theory, be understood through the formal analogies that are easily drawn between Tögal and various theories of contemporary science and (to a lesser extent) Western philosophy. These lines of analogy are drawn throughout the works of H.V. Guenther
, especially his From Reductionism to Creativity and Matrix of Mystery.
One esoteric text on Tögal is readily available in English translation, 'The Sun's Life-Giving Force' (also known as 'The Circle of the Sun'), by 17th century Tibetan master Tsele Natsok Rangdröl. The translation is found in Guenther's Meditation Differently.
, Togal reveals the Sambhogakaya
and Nirmanakaya. The discipline of Togal employs refined 'forms' of 'bodily posture' (Sanskrit: asana
, mudra
and bandha
) and 'visual focus' or 'gaze' (Sanskrit: drishti
) to incite four specific visionary experiences.
In the following quotation of Pettit (1999: p. 80), 'mantric syllables' are bija
, and the 'buddha paradises' are Pure land
:
In Dzogchen teachings, "dharmakaya" means the Buddha-nature's absence of self-nature, that is, its emptiness of a conceptualizable essence, its cognizance or clarity is the sambhogakaya, and the fact that its capacity is 'suffused with self-existing awareness' is the nirmanakaya.
Thödgal represents more a fruition than a practice itself. Furthermore, there are methods prepared in the event of a psychotic break to bring the practitioner back to sanity.
In contrast to other kinds of tantric practices, there is no intentional visualization; rather, imagery appears spontaneously. Eventually a practitioner has experiences which are viewed as knowing the subtle energies of one's being. These have the qualities of earth, water, fire, air and space (see Classical element
). Throughout the retreat, a practitioner is believed to be approaching an experience which is entirely unconditioned.
Dzogchen
According to Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of the mind, and a body of teachings and meditation practices aimed at realizing that condition. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching of the Nyingma school also practiced by...
term and practice which holds the semantic field
Semantic field
A semantic field is a technical term in the discipline of linguistics to describe a set of words grouped by meaning in a certain way. The term is also used in other academic disciplines, such as anthropology and computational semiotics.-Definition and usage:...
"leaping over", "direct crossing" and "direct approach". The Menngagde
Menngagde
In Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Menngagde , , is the name of one of three scriptural and lineage divisions within Dzogchen, teachings...
or 'Instruction Class' of Dzogchen teachings are, for instruction, divided into two indivisible aspects: Kadag Trekchö
Kadag Trekchö
Kadag Trekchö is a Dzogchen term and practice meaning "thorough cut" or "cutting through". 'Kadag' may be rendered as 'purity' and specifically "primordial purity"...
and Tögal (thod rgal). The practice of Trekcho is the basis for the practice of Tögal.
Tögal is the practice of "the six lamps" which constitute the preliminaries and the main practice.
The preliminaries constitute the practice of separating samsara
Samsara
thumb|right|200px|Traditional Tibetan painting or [[Thanka]] showing the [[wheel of life]] and realms of saṃsāraSaṅsāra or Saṃsāra , , literally meaning "continuous flow", is the cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth or reincarnation within Hinduism, Buddhism, Bön, Jainism, Sikhism, and other...
and nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...
, "djungne-drosom".
The term 'lamp' connotes something that dispels darkness and refers to the illuminating quality of the practitioner's basic nature. This lamp has six aspects:
- the abiding lamp of the ground
- the citta flesh lamp
- the smooth white channel lamp
- the distant lasso water lamp
- the pure lamp of the expanse
- the bardo lamp of time
Theoretical basis
While the fundamentals of Tögal in both theory and practice are esoteric and barely accessible outside of the oral traditions of Tibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
-- there being very little written about it, except in the context of translated practical manuals, e.g., by translator Erik Pema Kunsang
Erik Pema Kunsang
Erik Pema Kunsang is a Danish translator and was, along with Marcia Binder Schmidt, director of Rangjung Yeshe Translations and Publications in Kathmandu. He has translated over fifty volumes of Tibetan texts and oral teachings...
et al. -- it can, at least in theory, be understood through the formal analogies that are easily drawn between Tögal and various theories of contemporary science and (to a lesser extent) Western philosophy. These lines of analogy are drawn throughout the works of H.V. Guenther
Herbert V. Günther
Herbert V. Güenther [Herbert Vighnāntaka Guenther, Ph.D., D.Litt.] was a German Buddhist philosopher and Professor and Head of the Department of Far Eastern Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. He held this position from the time he left India in 1964.-Early life:He was...
, especially his From Reductionism to Creativity and Matrix of Mystery.
One esoteric text on Tögal is readily available in English translation, 'The Sun's Life-Giving Force' (also known as 'The Circle of the Sun'), by 17th century Tibetan master Tsele Natsok Rangdröl. The translation is found in Guenther's Meditation Differently.
Practice
The Dzogchenpa through sadhana engenders stability in abiding in the nature of mind through the discipline of Trekcho and with this as foundation and support, may progress the refinement of Togal. Whilst Trekcho reveals the nature of the DharmakayaDharmakaya
The Dharmakāya is a central idea in Mahayana Buddhism forming part of the Trikaya doctrine that was possibly first expounded in the Aṣṭasāhasrikā prajñā-pāramitā , composed in the 1st century BCE...
, Togal reveals the Sambhogakaya
Sambhogakaya
The Sambhogakāya is the second mode or aspect of the Trikaya. Sambhogakaya has also been translated as the "deity dimension", "body of bliss" or "astral body". Sambhogakaya refers to the luminous form of clear light the Buddhist practitioner attains upon the reaching the highest dimensions of...
and Nirmanakaya. The discipline of Togal employs refined 'forms' of 'bodily posture' (Sanskrit: asana
Asana
Asana is a body position, typically associated with the practice of Yoga, originally identified as a mastery of sitting still, with the spine as a conduit of biodynamic union...
, mudra
Mudra
A mudrā is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism. While some mudrās involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers...
and bandha
Bandha
Bandha is a Sanskrit term for "binding, bond, arrest, capturing, putting together" etc.It may refer to:*a technical term in Hatha Yoga, see Bandha *one of the tattvas in Jainism, see Bandha -See also:...
) and 'visual focus' or 'gaze' (Sanskrit: drishti
Drishti
Drishti is a multi-platform, open-source Volume Exploration and Presentation Tool. It was written for visualizing tomography data, electron-microscopy data and so forth. It aims to ease understanding of the data set and to assist with conveying that understanding to the research community or a...
) to incite four specific visionary experiences.
In the following quotation of Pettit (1999: p. 80), 'mantric syllables' are bija
Bija
In Hinduism and Buddhism, the Sanskrit term बीज bīja , literally seed, is used as a metaphor for the origin or cause of things and cognate with bindu....
, and the 'buddha paradises' are Pure land
Pure land
A pure land, in Mahayana Buddhism, is the celestial realm or pure abode of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. The various traditions that focus on Pure Lands have been given the nomenclature Pure Land Buddhism. Pure lands are also evident in the literature and traditions of Taoism and Bön.The notion of 'pure...
:
"In the four visions of all-surpassing realization gnosis manifests spontaneously as visions of spheres of light containing mantric syllables and images of buddhas, "vajra chains" (rdo rje lug gu rgyud), and buddha paradises (zhing khams). After these visions reach the limit of diversity and completeness, all appearances recede in the ground of reality (dharmatã, chos nyid), and the perfection of the three buddha bodies is attained [trikaya]."
In Dzogchen teachings, "dharmakaya" means the Buddha-nature's absence of self-nature, that is, its emptiness of a conceptualizable essence, its cognizance or clarity is the sambhogakaya, and the fact that its capacity is 'suffused with self-existing awareness' is the nirmanakaya.
Thödgal represents more a fruition than a practice itself. Furthermore, there are methods prepared in the event of a psychotic break to bring the practitioner back to sanity.
In contrast to other kinds of tantric practices, there is no intentional visualization; rather, imagery appears spontaneously. Eventually a practitioner has experiences which are viewed as knowing the subtle energies of one's being. These have the qualities of earth, water, fire, air and space (see Classical element
Classical element
Many philosophies and worldviews have a set of classical elements believed to reflect the simplest essential parts and principles of which anything consists or upon which the constitution and fundamental powers of anything are based. Most frequently, classical elements refer to ancient beliefs...
). Throughout the retreat, a practitioner is believed to be approaching an experience which is entirely unconditioned.