Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

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Babs _, modified 7 Years ago at 12/6/16 1:59 PM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/6/16 1:59 PM

Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 709 Join Date: 2/5/13 Recent Posts
Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

A text I wrote to give some idea for further discussion.

Metta or loving-kindness is widely practiced form of buddhist meditation.
The idea is to wish happiness and relief of all forms discomfort to
oneself, to one's friends and people who are experiened to be
difficult and challenging. Although some schools of buddhism say that
metta only concerns wishing happiness and health to the person or
people meditated upon, personally I think that the motivation of
compassion is metta as well.

Dzogchen rigpa and loving-kindness

The essence of all spirituality is nondual awareness. Dzogchen-tradition
calls this awareness with the name rigpa. Rigpa is both calm and
self-empty awareness but it is also imbued with life. Rigpa brims
with liveliness. This liveliness is what the mind-masters of all
traditions have described as love, kindness, compassion and
bodhicitta.

Loving-kindness in common metta meditation practice is applied through 'silent
repetitions of phrases like “may you be happy” or “may you be
free from suffering” ([url=]1.)'. This is a wonderful way to break self-based bondages and to open
one's heartmind.

But as noted, from the dzogchen perspective, from the perspective of
rigpa as an actual experience, it already contains loving-kindness.
This can be understood on a experiential level quite easily.

Human-related traumas

Us all have lived innumerable lives both in human and other forms. If we
look the humanity at large, we can instantly see that people are
hurting and have ill-will towards other people. This trait is deeply
imprinted in our psyche. Even though (fortunately) only few of us
make careers out of it, i.e. indulge in harming others, for most of
us it is only momentarily. But even short moments of self-deluded
violence, either as an initiator or as a target, can and does make
our lives immensely difficult emotionally. Psychological tension and
trauma is created which is then stored into our energy bodies, that
is, minds. This is then carried from life to life, unless the traumas
aren't untangled.

This is a simple example, not to even think of previous lives as
conquerors, soldiers, robbers, killers and murderers that we all have
been. The human kind is deeply traumatised by these actions, both
karmically and from generation to generation transmission.This
is where spiritual practice, metta and recognition of the natural
state comes in.

Healing of human-traumas

When we grow in the recognition of rigpa, at some point it happens that
rigpa becomes a prevailing state. By this I am referring to opening
the 11th bhumi as taught in Open Heart-teachings. At this point we naturally
come to understand the classic texts of the ancient masters yet have
no need for them, at least not because of the same reasons as before.

In my personal experience, the above mentioned stage gives a whole
different spin on dharma, buddhas, guru, meditation, path,
spirituality and especially on being a human being. This opening into
our natural state, to our home, at least for myself, has brought up a
need for healing.

Buddhas as humans

One thing the nondual meditative traditions in general do not use is
physical touch as an aid for psycho-spiritual practice. Usually
physical contact is discouraged, it is not thought of as something
that could be useful. But it is. Physical touch and bodywork is
utterly human and for this reason very beneficial. Here's
a simple technique for metta meditation with a dzogchen spin.
  • If you are still having momentary glimpses of rigpa and have not yet
    opened your 11th bhumi, practice atiyoga for some time. Recognise the natural state
    and embody it by going through the embodiment sequence.
  • Continue with a pair. Sit against each other with a fellow practitioner,
    woman or man, make physical connection by holding hands and by
    looking into each others eyes. Remain in the state of
    dzogchen/atiyoga together.
  • For the practice not to become too emphasized in the ultimate aspect
    (two truths), move your body, arms, head and eyes every minute or
    so. The point is not to forget the relative condition of the
    bodymind but the opposite, to practice bodymind-based metta very
    humanly from the ultimate point of view.
  • Be honest and open, don't hold back. If and when traumas come up, let
    them come, don't try to hide or hold them back. This is common
    meditation instuction.
  • Sit together for at least a few minutes or longer, up to 30-60 minutes.
  • Share your experiences verbally or just smile and move on.
I feel that even though we are humans only momentarily, we can benefit
of this a lot by using our human condition. This is the beauty of
being a human in the first place. There is so much potential to tap.

Even though I have great limitations myself and certainly do not have the
brightest of minds, I'm always interested in studying, analysing and
updating the old ways of practice by digging into the root principles
of our bodies, minds, heart and awareness. I hope this text is of
some use and benefit to you.

Thank you for reading and feel free to comment.

Kim Katami
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Daniel M Ingram, modified 7 Years ago at 12/8/16 2:24 AM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/8/16 2:24 AM

RE: Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 3268 Join Date: 4/20/09 Recent Posts
Nice dharma.
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Babs _, modified 7 Years ago at 12/8/16 4:12 AM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/8/16 4:12 AM

RE: Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 709 Join Date: 2/5/13 Recent Posts
Thanks Daniel emoticon

Holding hands and uncomfortably long hugs are what hippies are known of, ha. And obviously the dzogchen spin here is what makes a great difference but I have to say this metta-application is a-we-so-me and immensely helpful. Really recommend trying it.
Banned For waht?, modified 7 Years ago at 12/9/16 7:57 AM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/9/16 7:43 AM

RE: Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 500 Join Date: 7/14/13 Recent Posts
it prolly get me banned..if i comment, i deleted it.
..
if you would be sorry of what you are, then you would fullfll more than with your practice.
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Babs _, modified 7 Years ago at 12/9/16 12:07 PM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/9/16 12:07 PM

RE: Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 709 Join Date: 2/5/13 Recent Posts
I never, or usually at least, know what you mean with your messages Rist Ei.
Banned For waht?, modified 7 Years ago at 12/10/16 4:58 AM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/10/16 4:53 AM

RE: Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 500 Join Date: 7/14/13 Recent Posts
let me explain why you don't understand, it is because i wrote about what you miss or doesn't cut.

the other reason is i can't resist the urge to express myself, so after i posted that desire disappears(by fullfilled) and i don't myself understand why i needed to write it anymore after it is gone.

..
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Babs _, modified 7 Years ago at 12/10/16 8:29 AM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/10/16 8:29 AM

RE: Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 709 Join Date: 2/5/13 Recent Posts
Rist Ei:
let me explain why you don't understand, it is because i wrote about what you miss or doesn't cut.

the other reason is i can't resist the urge to express myself, so after i posted that desire disappears(by fullfilled) and i don't myself understand why i needed to write it anymore after it is gone.

..

OK. Your answer doesn't make it any clearer. But when it comes to urges in one form or the other, there is 1. following them blindly and 2. following them consciously. I suppose it is the second type that folks on dharma forums should try to do. I don't mean anything negative or bad (I have no idea who you are) by saying this, but what I gather from your messages, at least with my English, is that perhaps it would be useful to think twice what you write before hitting enter. 

Did you have some mental health problems? Or do I remember wrong?
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Christine, modified 7 Years ago at 12/10/16 10:16 PM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/10/16 10:16 PM

RE: Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 13 Join Date: 3/9/16 Recent Posts
Thank you for sharing. I have been doing Metta practice for a number of years, though mostly with a Therevadan approach. It is interesting to see other methods.
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Babs _, modified 7 Years ago at 12/11/16 1:14 AM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/11/16 1:14 AM

RE: Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 709 Join Date: 2/5/13 Recent Posts
My pleasure, Christine.
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Andrew K, modified 7 Years ago at 12/11/16 1:41 PM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/11/16 1:41 PM

RE: Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 54 Join Date: 4/14/12 Recent Posts
Really nice, thanks Kim
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Babs _, modified 7 Years ago at 12/11/16 2:04 PM
Created 7 Years ago at 12/11/16 2:04 PM

RE: Metta Meditation with a Dzogchen Spin

Posts: 709 Join Date: 2/5/13 Recent Posts
Glad to hear, Andrew.

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