My latest book “Radical Dzogchen: The Direct Way to En-Light-enment,” a seminal, iconoclastic, sure-to-be-controversial text, has just been published and is now available in Kindle and paperback at Amazon, and from other book sellers. Below are the Contents and the Preface of the book.
CONTENTS
Notes to the Reader
Chapter One: Dzogchen (The Great Perfection)
Chapter Two: The Trikaya (the Triadic “Structure” of Reality)
Chapter Three: Rigpa (Primal Presence)
Chapter Four: Trekcho (Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism)
Chapter Five: Togal Part 1 (Conducting the Clear-Light Continuum)
Chapter Six: Togal, Part 2 (The Perversion of Dzogchen)
Chapter Seven: Electrical Dzogchen: Plugged in Presence
Chapter Eight: Christian Dzogchen: The Mystical Eucharist
Chapter Nine: Daist Dzogchen: Radical Understanding
Chapter Ten: Dzogchen Discursion
Chapter Eleven: Dzogchen Literature: A Cognizant Overview
PREFACE
Dzogchen, the Great Perfection, a.k.a. Atiyoga, has, since its inception, been proclaimed by Tibetan gurus to be the pinnacle of all spiritual paths, the most direct way for a yogi to achieve Buddhahood. Therefore, given my affinity for the highest yoga teachings, it’s no surprise that I became smitten with the tradition after I encountered it in the late 1970s through the writings of the esteemed Namkhai Norbu.
In the decades that followed, I read numerous Dzogchen texts by both modern and early Tibetan masters. As a burgeoning expert in mystical traditions who specialized in comparative spirituality, I wanted to understand and be able to explain Dzogchen in relation to other great spiritual traditions. And when, some fifteen years ago, I “cracked the code” of the En-Light-enment project, I knew it was just a matter of time until I applied my demystifying insights to explicating the Great Perfection.
The final “piece” I needed before I could proceed with my Dzogchen exegesis was the availability of texts that describe, in detail, togal practices. When these texts, in the past few years, became available to me, I began preliminary work on Radical Dzogchen; and after publishing my book Zen Mind, Thinker’s Mind, I turned my attention to completing this book.
I could, here, spend pages detailing my arguments and insights on Dzogchen, but that would just be repeating the material in the book. Instead, I will simply say that my critique will doubtless be regarded as heretical by many, my deconstruction of canonical Dzogchen teachings will offend many, and my criticism of iconic Dzogchen masters, especially Longchen Rabjam and Namkhai Norbu, will not earn me brownie points in the Dzogchen community. And in response to such reaction, I will simply repeat my mantra: “Dale Carnegie I ain’t.”
My goal as a mystic-philosopher has always been, and will always be, the radical demystification of spiritual life. And I trust that those who resonate with my goal will appreciate the unique and ground-breaking material in this book.
“Radical Dzogchen” is Now Available
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
While Christian mysticism is more my thing (“Electrical Christianity” was very helpful to me) I think this is your best book yet in style, clarity, etc..
Thanks Carl,
I appreciate the kind words. After I finish/publish my next book, “Nonduality and Mind-Only through the Prism of Reality,” I’m going to write a Kabbalah book, which will return me to a consideration of the Western Mystery Tradition, including Christian mysticism/hermeticism. I look forward to this, because I’m an occultist as well as a mystic, and I’m excited to discourse on the Tree of Life, Tarot, and astrology.
I look forward to them! Along occult lines, does the method you teach open the third/celestial eye? My sense from my practicing it so far is that it seems to do so in a natural way, but I’m not yet advanced enough to be certain.
Only full-blown Shaktipat, Dharmamegha, can open the Third Eye and bestow the Vision of Unifying Light beyond Maya. The method I teach is essentially the same one that the foremost spiritual/mystical traditions teach. It is simply true Yoga, uniting one’s individual soul (consciousness) with universal Spirit (Shakti).
Thank you.
Hi Ron, your site is very helpful for some research I’m doing into Christian mysticism specifically. I’m sure you’re familiar with St John of the Cross’s concept of a dark night of the soul. Is there any overlap of this concept within eastern traditions? Thank you!!!
Hi Molly,
There is plenty of overlap. The mystical essence of the Great Traditions is the same.
I really like this Dzogchen book too, wonder what you think of it.
Gospel of Garab Dorje: The Highest, Secret Teachings of Tibetan Buddhism https://a.co/d/3XbyS9o
I haven’t read it.