' The Mind of Clear Light and its Realization in Dzogchen '...

The moment the Mind of Clear Light reveals itself as current consciousness, a unique wisdom is immediately present. It's hard to say which comes first. In any event, we call that wisdom "rigpa" in Tibetan or gnosis.

Our ordinary deluded state of mind is the Mind of Clear Light in a contracted state called "sem" in Tibetan. By relaxing into one's own natural "empty awareness", the contraction releases. It's the "empty awareness" aspect that never contracted and always remains as the changeless host of experience.

Studying, thinking, conceptualizing, doing practices with intent or making any mental efforts; increases the contraction.

So by relaxing as "empty awareness", the awareness that knows and observes, without any mental topics, goal orientation or efforts, the contraction releases and rigpa wisdom appears spontaneously and naturally.

The personal self is part of the contraction and disappears automatically as relaxation deepens. What remains is the impersonal Dharmakaya nirvana.

This is like letting a jar of swirling muddy water (thoughts) settle by leaving it alone. The water clears to crystal clarity all by itself. Doing anything to the jar (mind) keeps the mud swirling.

Even the personal "self" that seemed to be directing and managing the action of "letting the body and mind relax", disappears as it was itself the heart of the contraction.


-Jackson Peterson‎