This is the second of two exceptional episodes concluding the series on “The Relief of Emotions on a Daily Basis” and families of emotions directly related to the ongoing climate upheavals and changing conditions, with our guest Mila Khyentse Rinpoche.

Host: Marie-Laure

In previous episodes, we’ve found that we don’t necessarily make the connection between the evolution of the external conditions and our emotional states, and that this keeps us in a state of tension and constant suffering. Our usual mode of response to this suffering is the famous fight or flight, which only serves to maintain this state of malaise and confusion.

We’ve also seen that Dzogchen offers a different path to our usual responses, one that enables us to achieve genuine emotional calm, develop greater clarity about our living conditions and help us to respond more appropriately to situations.

Notes

Dzogchen is a directly accessible tradition that can be practiced in a variety of ways in our daily lives, focusing on liberation from suffering and the means to achieve it.

In this episode, we invite you to deepen your understanding of the mechanism of suffering. We discuss about the power of the imagination, its mechanism and how we can master it in order to overcome suffering. We conclude with two guided practices.

Recap & Takeaways

“Dzogchen in Everyday Life” series, episode 12: “the Relief of Emotions on a Daily Basis” and families of emotions directly related to the ongoing climate upheavals and changing conditions – Deepening

In this podcast, Mila Khyentse talks about:

1. The power of imagination 2’32
2. Using the power of imagination (mental projection) as mind training 5'50
3. Developing clarity and recognizing that thoughts are not real 7'18
4. Identifying the duality of reality : the intention & action 9'12
5. Being aware of the intention before action 11’54
6. Mastering the intention to direct action instead of reacting 13'57
7. Positive or negative thinking have the same nature according to Dzogchen tradition 18’14
8. Clearly recognizing the projection process : a way to overcome suffering 19'20

PRACTICES

Practice # 1 : Gaining clarity by recognizing the illusion of projections  20'30

• Specific posture: two feet flat on the ground, hands flat on the knees, head a bit down
• Eyes open, focus on one point
• Remain present at whatever arises and let go
• Imagine what will happen to you in 10 minutes, then 1 hour, then 1 year, then 10 years, then 30 years
• Finally let go and remain concentrated on the here and now
• Practice feedback

Practice # 2 : Developing a broader vision of the reality 29'15

• Same posture :  two feet flat on the ground, hands flat on the knees, head a bit down
• Eyes open, focus on one point
• Remain present at whatever arises and let go
• Gradually raise the eyes up and concentrate to one point in front
• Remain present in the space in front of you
• In that state of concentration, recall one emotion and concentrate directly to the sensation of the emotion
• Take a deep breath and hold the air for an instant
• Release gradually the air and focus on the emotion
• Start again the same process few times
• Conclude with a long exhale, lower the gaze and remain present

Practice recommandation:  10 minutes per day everyday.

This is the first of two exceptional episodes concluding the series on “The Relief of Emotions on a Daily Basis” and families of emotions directly related to the ongoing climate upheavals, with our guest Mila Khyentse Rinpoche.

In previous episodes, we found that we didn't necessarily make the connection between the evolution of the external conditions and our emotional states, and that this kept us in a state of tension and continuous suffering. Our usual mode of response to this suffering is the famous fight or flight, which only serves to maintain this state of malaise and confusion.

We've also seen that Dzogchen offers a different path to our usual reactions, one that enables us to achieve genuine emotional calm, develop greater clarity about our living conditions and help us to respond more appropriately to situations.

In this episode, we invite you to deepen your understanding and experience of this path to clarity and calm through a series of short practices.

Host: Marie-Laure

RECAP & TAKEAWAYS

“Dzogchen in everyday life” series, episode 11: the “The Relief of Emotions on a Daily Basis” and families of emotions directly related to the ongoing climate upheavals - Summary

In this podcast, Mila Khyentse discusses :

1. The natural human resistance to change 2’40
2. Uncertainty and fear 5’30
3. Impermanence and the underlying question of death 8’30
4. “The future is bright”: a strategy for avoiding the reality of our real conditions 12’50
5. Dzogchen answer to the fear of changing conditions: face it directly ! 15’
6. A way of concentrating to go beyond the usual fight-or-flight response 18’

PRACTICES

Step 1 : Developping clarity 20’

• Seat still and concentrate on one point
• Remember an event that develop a strong emotion
• Isolate an emotion and focus directly on it
• Practice feedback 25’55
• The importance of a daily practice 28’35

Step 2 : Broadening the perspective - opening up the mind to recognize the real nature of the emotion 33’27

• Regain clarity : focus on one point
• Recall the emotion from previous exercise
• Focus on it and open to the space

As a continuation of the series "The Relief of Emotions on a Daily basis," we dedicate a special series to families of emotions directly related to the ongoing climate upheavals. In this tenth episode of "Dzogchen in Everyday Life", Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Christophe Renard take a closer look at emotions related to chronic dissatisfaction.

Host: Marie-Laure

Modern societies are often characterized by an insatiable thirst for consumption of all kinds, for "more and more", sometimes to the point of addiction. The mechanism always seems to be the same: a compulsive desire to consume in an attempt to compensate for chronic dissatisfaction, a lack of satisfaction with what we already have. And climate change might have something to do with it...

Can we do anything about it ? Certainly, if we are to believe the Great Perfection tradition, which shows us through concrete examples how to gain clarity about the process of emotions and thus how to appease them.

Notes

Dzogchen is a directly accessible tradition that can be practiced in a variety of ways in our daily lives, focusing on liberation from suffering and the means to achieve it.

In this episode, Christophe Renard and Mila Khyentse Rinpoche discuss the chronic dissatisfaction that often characterizes us: its causes, its mechanisms, and what Dzogchen offers as a solution!

Recap & Takeaways

Series "Dzogchen in Everyday Life" - 10th episode: Dzogchen and the "relief" of everyday emotions: frenzy and dissatisfaction.

1. Christophe shares his personal experience of frenzy and dissatisfaction. 3'22
2. The thirst or craving: the process of becoming according to the Dzogchen tradition.  6'27
3. Distinguishing the process of becoming from the nature of mind. 11'12
4. Stepping back to see more clearly: Christophe's example of the wardrobe. 12'27
5. How to release craving: Mila Khyentse's simple and direct practice to apply in our daily life. 16'10

RESUME

As a continuation of the series, “The Relief of Emotions on a Daily Basis”, we are dedicating a special series to families of emotions directly related to the ongoing climate upheavals. In this ninth episode of “Dzogchen in Everyday Life”, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Diane d’Epremesnil take a closer look at the family emotion which encompasses sadness, regret and nostalgia for all that has already been lost or destroyed.

Host: Marie-Laure.

Few of us are really clear about our emotions, especially when they affect the deeper structures of our being and are connected to other species and the earth itself. Yet these emotions are increasingly present in our lives, and we often feel powerless over them. Is there anything we can do? Certainly, if we are to believe the tradition of the Great Perfection, which shows us through concrete examples how we can get to know them, understand how they work, and eventually calm them.

Notes

Dzogchen is a directly accessible tradition that can be practiced in a variety of ways in our daily lives, focusing on liberation from suffering and the means to achieve it. In this episode, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Diane d’Epremesnil explore some aspects of sadness and nostalgia for all that has already been lost or destroyed.

Recap & Takeaways

In this podcast, Mila Khyentse and Diane discuss :

1. Diane's testimony about the direct impact of profound climate change on her emotions. 2’43
2. What is solastalgia, “the homesickness without exile” and its impact on our life. 4’15
3. Too disturbing to be witnessed and too abstract to be recognized: the difficulty to identify clearly this emotion. 5’10
4. Is solastalgia a depression? 8'58
5. The Dzogchen perspective on this disruptive emotion. 10'46
6. The human paradox: “knowing it disappears, acting as if it is not” and its consequences on our emotional state. 12'21
7. “Stop running away and develop clarity”, Diane expresses how the practice of Dzogchen helps her. 17'20
8. Mila Khyentse shares a key practice to sooth and transform solastalgia feeling. 20'8

As a continuation of the series, the “relief of emotions on a daily basis”, we are dedicating a special series on families of emotions directly linked to ongoing climate upheavals.

In this “Dzogchen in Everyday Life” eighth episode, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Damien Cravois, take a closer look at the fear of uncertainty and the anxiety we may feel about the future and its changing conditions.

Host: Marie-Laure.

Few of us are really clear about our emotions, especially when they affect the deeper structures of our being and are linked to other species and the earth itself. Yet these emotions are increasingly present in our lives, and we often feel powerless about it. Is there anything we can do? Certainly, if we are to believe the tradition of the Great Perfection, which shows us how, through concrete examples, we can get to know them, understand how they work, and finally appease them.

Notes

Dzogchen is a directly accessible tradition that can be practiced in a variety of ways in our daily lives, focusing on liberation from suffering and the means to achieve it. In this episode, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Damien Cravois, climbing arborist and gardener, explore some aspects of fear or anxiety in the face of an uncertain future.

Recap & Takeaways

In this podcast, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Damien Cravois discuss :

1 Damien Cravois observations on climate change as a climbing arborist and gardener (3’)

2 The emotions felt as a gardener but also as a father in that respect (6’16)

3 What is eco-anxiety and how Dzogchen tradition defines it (10’)

4 The anxiety linked to the unknown conditions of the future (11’49)

5 Damien Cravois testimony on how Dzogchen benefited him on anxiety (16’22)

6 Gaining lucidity to find the right antidote: Mila Khyentse’s very simple practice to sooth eco-anxiety. (19’27)

To find out more about Dzogchen Today! events : https://dzogchentoday.org/events/

In the "Dzogchen and daily life" series, we continue our exploration of emotional "relief" by devoting the next three episodes to families of emotions that are directly linked to current upheavals, particularly those of a climatic and ecological nature.

In this seventh episode, we take a closer look at one of the families of emotions that emerge in reaction to these upheavals: frustration and anger, and even protest (desire for justice).

Host: Marie-Laure

Few of us are really clear about our emotions, especially when they affect the deeper structures of our being, other species and the earth itself. Yet these emotions are increasingly present in our lives, and we feel often powerless about it. Is there anything we can do? Certainly, according to Mila Khyentse Rinpoche.

Notes

Dzogchen is a directly accessible tradition that can be practiced in a variety of ways in our daily lives, focusing on liberation from suffering and the means to achieve it. In this episode, we explore some aspects of frustration and anger in response to ecological upheaval, with the valuable insights of Mila Khyentse.

Recap & Takeaways

In this podcast, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche explains :

1. The interrelation between the difficult evolution of conditions and strong inner reactions like anger, opposition and rejection. (2’26)
2. The state of imbalance emotions caused by repeatedly difficult conditions. (7’)
3. The human paradox: denial and refusal in the face of major changes. (8’11)
4. The Dzogchen perspective on emotions and more specifically on anger: a way to be away. (10’)
5. The positive side of anger. (17’10)
6. Becoming friends with anger: short and simple instructions to apply in our day to day life. (19’42)

To find out more about Dzogchen Today! events : https://dzogchentoday.org/events/

In this sixth episode of the series “Dzogchen in Everyday Life”, we continue to explore the relief of emotions with a specific focus on stress and anxiety. Mila Khyentse and Anne Charransol share their experience and knowledge on this topic.

Host : Marie-Laure.

Few of us are familiar with our own emotions. Most of the time, we endure them and we do not know how to influence them. This is simply because we don’t know them well. The Great Perfection shows us how, through comprehensive examples, how we can get to know them, how they work, and how we can finally alleviate them.

In this episode, Mila Khyentse and Anne Charransol discuss the family of emotions of stress and anxiety. We will explore their mechanisms according to the Great Perfection, the role played by bodily sensations, thoughts and emotions and how we can pacify them through short practices.

Notes

Dzogchen is a very direct tradition that can be practiced in many different ways in our daily lives, focusing on liberation from suffering and the implementation of the means to achieve it. This podcast will help us to better understand the root causes of anxiety and stress according to the Dzogchen tradition, their components and functioning and then how to develop a clear vision to overcome them.

Recap & Takeaways

“Dzogchen in Everyday Life” series – 6th Episode: Dzogchen and the “relief" of emotions on a daily basis: stress and anxiety.

1. Anne Charransol shares her personal experiences of stress and anxiety, their relationship and impact on our life. (2’12)
2. The Dzogchen view: ignorance, fear, uncertainty, lack of control at the root of these emotions. (6’35)
3. Anatomy of stress and anxiety: the relationship between thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations and how they trap us. (9’12)
4. Dzogchen meditation: between the flight and fight response. (12’30)
5. The method: first bringing clarity to the mechanism and then recognizing the true nature of the mind. (14’18)
6. Ground practice: Dzgochen shamata’s instructions shared by Mila Khyentse Rinpoche. (17’53)

In this fifth episode of the “Dzogchen in Everyday Life” series, we will continue to explore the relief of emotions with a specific focus on the group of emotions related to low mood, gloom, loss of meaning and depression. Mila Khyentse and Paul Baffier will share their experiences and knowledge on this topic which is increasingly widespreading nowadays, especially among young adults.

Host: Marie-Laure.

Few of us are familiar with our own disturbing emotions. Most of the time, we endure them and we do not know how to have an impact on them. This is simply because we don’t know them well. The Great Perfection shows us how, through comprehensive examples, we can get to know our own emotions and how they work, and finally appease them.

In this episode, Mila Khyentse and Paul Baffier talk about gloom, loss of meaning and depression, emotions that drive sometimes a sense of "inner death" with no exit. This podcast will present the origin of this family of emotions according to the Great Perfection, their impact on our lives and how a sense of aliveness can be restored, step by step.

Dzogchen is a very direct tradition, which can be practiced in many different ways in our daily life and which focuses on the liberation from suffering and the implementation of the means to achieve it. In this episode we will see with more clarity what are the causes of depression according to Dzgochen and how through regular short practices we can restore purpose, sense of meaning, and aliveness.

“Dzogchen in Everyday Life” series – 5th Episode: Dzogchen and the “relief” of emotions on a daily basis:  depression.

1. Experiencing depression: a testimonial of Paul Baffier (2’18’’).
2. Ignorance and anger: the root-causes of depression according to the Great Perfection (10’50’’).
3. Focusing the mind on thoughts and emotions : the proposition of Dzogchen (17’).
4. Getting out of the dark whole and bringing aliveness through luminosity: short practice shared by Mila Khyentse Rinpoche (19’).

SUMMARIES AND TAKEAWAYS

Dzogchen in Everyday Life” Episode 4: Dzogchen and the “relief” of emotions on a daily basis - the saturation

In this fourth episode of the series “Dzogchen in Everyday Life”, we will continue to explore the relief of emotions with a specific focus on the group of emotions linked to saturation, exhaustion and burn-out. Mila Khyentse and Franck Armand will share their experience and some advice on this truly contemporary topic.

Host: Marie-Laure

Few of us are familiar with our own emotions. Most of the time, we endure them and we do not know how to have an impact on them. This is simply because we don’t know them well. The Great Perfection shows us how, through comprehensive examples, we can get to know them and how they work, and finally appease them.

In this episode, Mila Khyentse and Franck Armand focus on the emotions of saturation, exhaustion and burn-out - emotions in which contradictory tendencies are present and experienced in a particularly intense way. This podcast will help us to better understand the process of saturation according to the Great Perfection and to learn how to rebalance the mind.

Notes

Dzogchen is a very direct tradition, which can be practiced in many different ways in our daily lives and which focuses on the liberation from suffering and the implementation of the means to achieve it. In this episode we explore the mechanism of saturation, exhaustion and burn-out and how we can relieve it.

Recap & Takeaways

“Dzogchen in Everyday Life” series. Episode 4: Dzogchen and the “relief” of emotions on a daily basis:  saturation.

1.     Testimonial : Franck Armand shares his personal experience of saturation and burn-out 2’04

2.     Saturation: the point of view of the Great Perfection 6’19

3.     Over focusing vs open concentration : advice from the Asian traditions 13’58

4.     Mila Khyentse Rinpoche shares a short and efficient practice of the Great Perfection to rebalance the mind 18’17

Dzogchen in Everyday Life - 3rd Episode

Dzogchen and the “relief” of emotions on a daily basis (part 2)

Summary

In this third episode of the series "Dzogchen in Everyday Life”, Mila Khyentse and Damien Brohon delve deeper into the subject of emotions according to the Dzogchen tradition: it's specific view, of what emotions are made of and finally how we can pacify them.

Host: Marie-Laure

Few of us are familiar with our own emotions. Most of the time, we endure them and do not know how to have an impact on them. This is simply because we don’t know them well. The Great Perfection shows us how, through concrete examples, we can get to know them and how they work, and finally appease them.

In this episode, Mila Khyentse and Damien Brohon continue to explore the concept of emotions according to the Great Perfection and share with us how to master them thanks to a tradition and its techniques that are thousands of years old.

Notes

Dzogchen is an easily accessible tradition, which can be practiced in many different ways in our daily lives and which focuses on the liberation from suffering and the implementation of the means to achieve it. But, how to do it?

Recap and Takeaways :

1. "An emotion is not a fact": the difference between the Dzogchen view of emotions and the Western psychological approach. (2'12)
2. How can we pacify all kinds of emotions and how can we finally master them? (6'23)
3. What does an emotion consist of according to the Great Perfection? Explanation and example. (11’3)
4. Tips on how to integrate a formal practice into our usual routine (16’46)
5. Takeaway: extended instructions to deepen our practice (20’27)