From the palace of Dzogchen – appearing emptiness

I look out, and what I see

Is appearances in all varieties

And I suddenly remember that appearances

And their emptiness are inseparable

And there’s a reason why I remember this

It’s that the unexamined mere appearances

Provided through interdependence

When analyzed, have no makeup

And because they’re nothing solid from the start

I know from that that appearances

And their emptiness are inseparable



From the palace of Dzogchen – appearing emptiness

I look inwards and what I see

It’s my own mind I’m looking at

And I suddenly remember that the clarity

And its emptiness are inseparable

And there’s a reason why I remember this

It’s because the clear awareness which is mind

When analyzed, does not arise or cease

And thinking it to not exist is freed on the spot

And so it’s sure that the clarity

And its emptiness are inseparable



From the palace of Dzogchen – appearing emptiness

I look back into my mind

And what I see is “clinging to me”

And I suddenly remember that there is no self

In what I think is me or I think is mine

And there’s a reason why I remember this

It’s because none of the skandhas are a self

And because there is no self apart from them

I know for sure that from the very start

There’s never been any self at all



From the palace of Dzogchen – appearing emptiness

I look out and what I see

Is perceived and perceiver as a duality

And I suddenly remember the emptiness

Of perceived, perceiver duality

And there’s a reason why I remember this

It’s because the objects are mental habits’ tricks

And because none of these has a content of their own

And because the perceiving mind lacks a makeup too

And so it’s sure that reality

Is empty of all duality



From the palace of Dzogchen – appearing emptiness

I take a good look at samsara

And I take a good look at nirvana

And I suddenly remember great emptiness

Their emptiness of true existence

And there’s a reason why I remember this

It’s because they’re beyond being one and many too

And so I know great emptiness

And what it’s like is spaciousness



From the palace of Dzogchen – appearing emptiness

I take a good look at phenomena

I analyze the conventional world

And I suddenly remember the overview

That’s totally free from any kind of extreme

And there’s a reason why I remember this

Since “existing” or “not” are just comparative terms

And traits and their terms are dependent on each other

And so I know that the nature that lasts

Is totally free of complications



From the palace of Dzogchen – appearing emptiness

I look inwards and what I see

Is the very present moment of mind right now

And I suddenly remember the clear light

Totally free of the slightest flaw

And there’s a reason why I remember this

It’s because there is no flaw in the natural state

And because any flaw is empty of itself

I’ve settled down in the clear light

That’s free of flaw from the very start



From the palace of Dzogchen – appearing emptiness

I gaze inwards and what I see

Is self-arisen awareness

And I suddenly remember that awareness

And its emptiness are inseparable

And there’s a reason why I remember this

It’s because this inexpressible awareness

Transcending mental operations

Is the alpha-pure abiding nature of mind

And also because of its spontaneous presence

I realize that awareness

And its emptiness are inseparable

From the palace of Dzogchen – appearing emptiness

I catch my mind in the act

There’s lots of passion there – you know – the clinging kind

And I suddenly remember that even bliss

And its emptiness are inseparable

And there’s a reason why I remember this

It’s because the experience of bliss and emptiness

Comes in the four steps

Of joy and joy supreme and special joy and coemergent joy

And so I realize bliss and emptiness

The lasting nature of pleasure and pain



These nine occasions were spoken by Dechen Rangdrol to Dzogchen Ponlob Rinpoche who immediately wrote it down, August 16th. 1998.

Translated and arranged by Jim Scott, October 2010, Warsaw, Poland.Translation copyright 2012, Jim Scott