Dzogchen in everyday life

This miniseries explores three types of loss— loss of meaning, discernment, and connection — not as isolated phenomena, but as facets of a broader issue in our relationships with ourselves, others, and the world. Offering a cross-cultural perspective, it weaves together contemporary insights and ancient wisdom.

In this third episode, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Grégoire Langouet explore the question of discernment from the perspectives of the West and the Dzogchen tradition.

This miniseries explores three types of loss— loss of meaning, discernment, and connection — not as isolated phenomena, but as facets of a broader crisis in our relationships with ourselves, others, and the world. Offering a cross-cultural perspective, it weaves together contemporary insights and ancient wisdom.

In this second episode, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Grégoire Langouet explore the question of discernment from the perspectives of Western traditions and Dzogchen.

Host : Marie-Laure

Notes

Dzogchen is a directly accessible tradition that can be practiced in various ways in daily life, focusing on achieving liberation from suffering and the means to achieve it.

Recap & Takeaways

In this episode, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Grégoire Langouet Langouet discuss:

2’55 - Discernment in Western traditions

6’00 - Discerning vs judging

8:55 - Taking time to study : a crucial step

9’40 - The path of discernement in Buddhism and Dzogchen traditions: a two-sep process

14’00 - Drawing on his experience, Grégoire highlights the importance of developing discernment

18’28 - When the mind is clear, actions are clear

20’12 - Mila Khyentse’s advice on cultivating discernement

This miniseries explores three types of loss— loss of meaning, discernment, and connection — not as isolated phenomena, but as facets of a broader crisis in our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us. It offers a cross-cultural perspective, weaving together contemporary insights and ancient wisdom.

In this first episode, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Grégoire Langouet explore the question of meaning through the lens of Dzogchen, in a world that is steadily losing its bearings.

Host: Marie-Laure

Recap & Takeaways In this episode, Mila Khyentse Rinpochee and Grégoire Langouet Langouet discuss:

1:00 - A sense of direction, coherence, and accomplishment

5:00 - The loss of meaning in today’s world

The sense of meaning for Asian tradition - a two-step process:

13:00 - Existential meaning : living without regrets at the time of death

14:00 - Primordial meaning : “What are you really, beyond birth and death?”

18:00 - The profound meaning as the ultimate quest: going beyond time 18'

20:00 - Contrasting perspectives on spirituality in Asia and the West

22:00 - The profound meaning is where your consciousness is: here and now

In this three-episode miniseries, we focus on a topic increasingly present in contemporary society: the feeling of loneliness. Throughout the series, we explore the many facets of loneliness through the lens of Dzogchen, aiming to understand its inner workings.

In this third episode, Damien Brohon and Carine Benoit discuss what joyful solitude and times of retreat are and their benefits.

Host : Marie-Laure

In this three-episode miniseries, we focus on a topic increasingly present in contemporary society: the feeling of loneliness. Throughout the series, we explore the many facets of loneliness through the lens of Dzogchen, aiming to understand its inner workings.

In this second episode, Damien Brohon and Alessandra Horn explore digital loneliness: examining its mechanisms, its impacts, and the surprising parallels between algorithms and the ordinary functioning of our minds.

Host : Marie-Laure

In this three-episode miniseries, we focus on a topic increasingly present in contemporary society: the feeling of loneliness. Throughout the series, we explore the many facets of loneliness through the lens of Dzogchen, aiming to understand its inner workings.

In this first episode, Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Arnaud Buisson, a psychiatrist at the Pontarlier Hospital and a Dzogchen practitioner), discuss the suffering of solitude, its underlying mechanisms, and the differences between therapeutic meditation and the Dzogchen perspective.

Host: Marie-Laure

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 the suffering associated with the feeling of loneliness and the illusory nature of the emotions that compose it, with a short concentration practice offered by Mila Khyentse Rinpoche as a direct application.

Recap & Takeaways

Series Dzogchen and the “relief” of emotions on a daily basis: Episod 13 - Feeling of Loneliness

In this podcast Mila Khyentse Rinpoche and Arnaud Buisson talk about:

Loneliness vs the feeling of loneliness 2’50

Psychological and physical consequences 4’25

The mind, creator of the feeling of loneliness 6'

The Dzogchen perspective: from concept to direct experience 7’30

Emotions are illusory and do not define us : a first step to discover our true nature 9’30

Emptiness: the real nature of voidness 11’30

Arnaud Buisson’s testimony 14’45

Loneliness does not exist by itself: developing clarity to recognize it 18’15

Guided practice with Mila Khyentse Rinpoche: remaining in the experience : 21’

Conclusion: « If you want to be free: remain here and now »

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