17/05/2025
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Dzogchenpa's Authentic Condition Beyond Limitations and Commitments
Generally, when we talk of the samaya commitments of the dzogchen teachings it is said that in the real state of dzogchen, the path of self-liberation (rang grol), there is no samaya. However, the fact that there is no samaya commitment doesn't mean that you can do whatever you want. 'No samaya' means that there is nothing to be analyzed as one, two, three, or four things that we have to apply in a particular manner.
The reason for this is that all what the experienced dzogchen practitioner has to do is to settle and remain in the state of rigpa. When one is in this state there are no commitments at all! You don't need any commitments because this state is beyond limitations and considerations. It's for that reason that it is said that there are no samayas.
However, you shouldn't confuse this 'there are no samayas' with the idea that you could do anything at anytime. I say this because many people have that idea, saying; "I like dzogchen very much, the dzogchen teachings are great for me because I don't like limitations. As I have this attitude of living without limitations I like dzogchen." In dzogchen when it is saying that there are no limitations it doesn't mean that you can do whatever you want to do according to your personal worldly circumstances. 'No limitations' means that one remains steadfast in the state of rigpa, and in that manner one governs all circumstances. Then, there is no reason to limit anything because everything will be good. The Italian 'tutto va bene' - everything is good - is what is known as Samantabhadra in Sanskrit and as Kuntuzangpo (kun tu bzang po) in Tibetan. Everything is good as there is nothing to accept or reject! This is the real meaning of 'there are no limitations' in dzogchen.
However, if one doesn't find oneself in that state of rigpa and one is continuously distracted, not even present and aware of the present moment and the relative circumstances of life, how can you say; "I like to be without limitations.' considering yourself to be beyond limitations. Thus, you mustn't confuse these two!
When we talk more specifically about dzogchen samayas there are four main commitments:
1. Singleness, chigpa (gcig pa), which means the single state of rigpa. As this is our experiential knowledge we find ourselves living in this state.
2. Nothingness, mepa (med pa), means that there is nothing at all to confirm. In humans' relative condition there are rules to accept this and to abandon that considering the one to be good and the other bad, saying; "This yes! That no!" Here, there is none of any of these aspects because the state of rigpa is completely beyond such considerations.
3. Self-perfected, lhündrub (lhun grub), means that even though there is nothing everything is naturally perfected in itself.
4. Omnipresence, chalwa (phyal ba), means that in any circumstances we have to be present and aware because if we remain in the state of rigpa everything is integrated in that instant presence.
These are dzogchen's four samaya commitments beyond accepting and rejecting anything. What would there be to be accepted in the state of nothingness (med pa), where it says there is nothing to accept and reject? Everything, all appearances and existences, are integrated in your condition of knowledge, and these samaya commitments elucidate one's authentic condition.
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
Merigar Easter Retreat 1993
