“Dzogchen in Everyday Life” – 11th Episode: Changing Conditions Summary

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 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.

Recap & Takeaways

“Dzogchen in Everyday Life” series, episode 11: “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 talks about:

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’s answer to the fear of change: 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′

Sit still and concentrate on one point
Recall an event that developed a strong emotion
Isolate an emotion and focus directly on it
Practice feedback 25’
The importance of a daily practice 28’35

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

Regaining clarity : focus on one point
Recall the emotion from previous exercise
Focus on it and open up to the space.