Dzogchen (or the Great Perfection) is a vast system of practicing and realizing the ultimate nature of mind. It is famous in the Nyingma lineages of Tibet. Practices specific to innermost Dzogchen teachings include Trechö (Cutting Through) the collections of all conceptual thoughts into the naked uncontrived nature of reality, Khorde Rushen (Separating Samsara and Nirvana), and Thögal, the (Direct Transcendence) of dualistic impure vision through opening up the gateways of primordial wisdom to enter into the ultimate infinite luminous indestructible sphere of true reality.
The Vast Limitless Expanse – An Introduction to Cutting Through by Padmasambhava
This is a famous text from the cycle of teachings known as the Khandro Nyingthig, or the Heart Bindu of the Dakinis. According to tradition, this cycle of teachings was taught to the Princess Pemasal in the ninth century C.E. by the great master Padmasambhava, after he resurrected the young princess from death. It is said that Padmasambhava also taught this cycle of teachings to the dakini Yeshe Tsogyal at Shotö Tidro in Drigung, where she later hid these teachings. These hidden teachings were then later discovered in the early fourteenth century by Padma Ledrel Tsal, an incarnation of the Princess Pemasal. The Vast Limitless Expanse: An Introduction to Cutting Through abides at the very heart of this cycle of hidden teachings. The instructions contained in this text are used to introduce one to the essential nature of mind or awareness (rig pa), through the Dzogchen practice of Trechö (Cutting Through).
Actual Practice of the Great Perfection by Drigung Rinchen Phuntshog
This text, entitled the Actual Practice of the Great Perfection: Essential Pith Instructions composed by Rinchen Phüntshog (1509-1557), contains the heart of the innermost Dzogchen teachings. The text presents these teachings from the perspective of the ground of primordial purity and spontaneous presence, the path of Trechö (Cutting Through) and Thögal (Direct Transcendence), and the fruition of the kayas and primordial wisdoms.
The Single Enlightened Mind Ocean Bardo Prayer by Jigme Lingpa
Jigme Linpa’s famous Single Enlightened Mind Ocean Bardo Prayer is a prayer to attain liberation in each of the four bardos: the natural bardo of this life, the bardo of death, the bardo of reality, and the bardo of taking birth. One special feature about this bardo prayer is that it introduces perspectives of the bardos and death, according to the Dzogchen instructions of tregchö (cutting through) and thögal (direct transcendence). This prayer was one of the heart practices of Garchen Rinpoche’s root Guru, Khenchen Münsel. Khenchen Münsel regarded it as so dear and profound that he composed two commentaries upon it. These commentaries are available in the bookstore as the Secret Paths of Luminosity.