Trilogy of Natural Ease

The Trilogy of Finding Comfort and Ease (ngal gso skor gsum, Sanskrit Mahāsaṃdhi viśrānta trayāya nāma, literally "The Trilogy called Reposing (viśrānta) in the Great Perfection") is a trilogy of Dzogchen writings by Longchen Rabjam:

  • Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind (sems nyid ngal gso). In Sanskrit ("the language of India"): Mahāsaṃdhi cittatva* viśrānta nāma: [A Teaching] named Reposing (viśrānta) in the Suchness of Mind in the Great Perfection
  • Finding Comfort and Ease in Meditation (bsam gtan ngal gso). In the language of India: Mahāsaṃdhi dhyāna viśrānta nāma: [A Teaching] named Reposing in Meditation on the Great Perfection
  • Finding Comfort and Ease in the Illusoriness of Things (Tib. སྒྱུ་མ་ངལ་གསོ་, Wyl. sgyu ma ngal gso), also called in Sanskrit: Mahāsaṃdhi māyā viśrānta nāma.
  • Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind (tib. sems nyid ngal gso) also called in Sanskrit: Mahāsaṃdhi cittatva* viśrānta nāma: [A Teaching] named Reposing (viśrānta) in the Suchness of Mind in the Great Perfection
    • A Commentary: Great Chariot (shing rta chen po) (13 chapter)
    • A Summary: White Lotus Garland
    • Guided Meditative Instructions: The Excellent Path to Enlightenment, (Sanskrit: Avabodhi-supathā mahāsandhi-cittāvishrāntasya trsthānādams trikshemānām arthanayanam vijahāram) (141 Instructions [1][2])
  • Finding Comfort and Ease in Meditation (bsam gtan ngal gso). In the language of India: Mahāsaṃdhi dhyāna viśrānta nāma: [A Teaching] named Reposing in Meditation on the Great Perfection (3 Chapter [3][4])
    • A Commentary: The Pure Chariot
    • A Summary: The Pundarika Garland
    • Guided meditative instructions: The Quintessential Heart Essence
  • Finding Comfort and Ease in the Illusoriness of Things (Tib. སྒྱུ་མ་ངལ་གསོ་, Wyl. sgyu ma ngal gso), also called in Sanskrit: Mahāsaṃdhi māyā viśrānta nāma.
    • A Commentary: The Excellent Chariot
    • A Summary: The Garland of Mandarava Flowers
    • Guided meditative instructions: The Wish-fulfilling Jewel

The logic of their sequence

Longchenpa's commentary on the trilogy as a whole, entitled An Ocean of Fine Explanation: An Overview of the Trilogy of Comfort and Ease (ngal gso skor gsum gyi spyi don Legs bshad rgya mtsho) says:

  • In the beginning, when we first set out on the path, it is important that we establish a good foundation in the Dharma, and that is why the thirteen chapters of Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind, from the difficulty of finding the freedoms and advantage onwards, offer an elaborate explanation of the Ground, the view that is beyond the two extremes. At the same time, they also explain aspects of the stages of the path and fruition.
  • Once we have understood the ground, we can begin to meditate on the path, and so the four chapters of Finding Comfort and Ease in Meditation offer a step-by-step explanation of the places where meditation can be practised, the types of individual suited to the practice, the techniques we can use in meditation and the types of concentration that can be achieved.
  • While this path is being practised it is important to have teachings on non-attachment and non-clinging towards phenomena. Thus, as a support, a clear and elaborate presentation of the stages of conduct is given in the eight chapters of Finding Comfort and Ease in the Illusoriness of Things. These chapters reveal, thoroughly and without any error, how to relate to all phenomena and to experience them as the eight similes of illusoriness.

Translations

All three parts translated in:

Part 2 (bsam gtan ngal gso) also translated in:

  • Dalai Lama, The, "Mind in Comfort and Ease: The Vision of Enlightenment in the Great Perfection", Wisdom Publications, 2007.

Part 3 (sgyu ma ngal gso) is also translated in:

  • Dowman, Keith, Maya Yoga: Longchenpa's Finding Comfort and Ease in Enchantment, Vajra Publications, 2010.

Further reading

  • Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang Dorje, The Fearless Lion's Roar: Profound Instructions on Dzogchen, the Great Perfection, translated by David Christensen (Boston & London: Snow Lion, 2015)

References

  1. ↑ The Excellent Path to Enlightenment (Avabodhi-supathā mahāsandhi-cittāvishrāntasya trsthānādams trikshemānām arthanayanam vijahāram). Translated by Khenpo Gawang Rinpoche and Gerry Winer. Jewelled Lotus 2014
  2. ↑ The Practice of Dzogchen, translated by Tulku Thondup, Snow Lion, 2nd edition 1996, pages 303-315
  3. ↑ http://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/longchen-rabjam/locations-cultivating-samadhi
  4. ↑ http://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/longchen-rabjam/practitioner-meditation
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