The Three Aspects of Enlightenment

Clarification on Original Enlightenment at the Ground, Direct Enlightenment on the Path, and Complete Enlightenment as the Result

The core and ultimate view of the texts of Yungdrung Bon Dzogchen (Great Perfection) is to establish the true nature of all phenomena within samsara and nirvana as a reality beyond conceptual effort or modification. In order to correctly understand the reality of the Ground, Path, and Result, the three key points—Original Enlightenment at the Ground (Gzhi ye sangs rgyas pa), Direct Enlightenment on the Path (Lam mngon sangs rgyas pa), and Complete Enlightenment as the Result (Bras bu rdzogs sangs rgyas pa) serve as indispensable keys. These three points explain how primordial nature unfolds from its base to its final actualization in accordance with scriptural doctrine.

Original Enlightenment at the Ground

First, Original Enlightenment at the Ground refers to the nature of the mind of all sentient beings the expanse of the Gzhi (ground) or ultimate reality (bon nyid) which from the very beginning is naturally pure, utterly untainted by the stains of ignorance, and abides as intrinsic luminosity.

Here, “Original” (ye) signifies being beyond temporal beginnings or ends, uncreated by causes and conditions, and abiding in its natural state from primordial time. “Purified”(sangs) means being naturally purified from the primordial expanse of non-arising, clearing away all obscurations of delusion, mental afflictions, and cognitive clouds. “Expanded”(rgyas) indicates being fully expanded from the beginning in the manner of spontaneous presence, possessing the luminosity of self-arising awareness and all qualities of the Bodies (kāyas) and Wisdoms.

As stated in the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud (Zhang Zhung Aural Lineage) when establishing the nature of the Ground, the Ground (gzhi) primordially abides as the indivisible unity of empty essence, luminous nature, and all-pervading compassion. Thus, even though sentient beings wander in samsara, this luminous nature experiences neither increase nor decrease, nor can it be defiled just as the core of the sun remains unchanged even when veiled by clouds.

Direct Enlightenment on the Path

Second, Direct Enlightenment on the Path refers to directly recognizing and actualizing through the key points of View and Meditation that intrinsically luminous awareness which primordially abides at the Ground. Here, “Direct” (mngon) signifies not remaining as an unperceived or conceptual object, but directly witnessing and recognizing the true face of primordial self-awareness. “Purified” (sangs) means naturally purifying subtle conceptual thoughts and illusory perceptions of ignorance into the expanse of self-appearing luminosity. “Expanded” (rgyas) indicates that through the power of direct realization, the energy of awareness and the four visions of Thodgal (Direct Crossing) Direct Perception of Reality, Increasing Experiential Visions, Awareness Reaching Maturity, and Exhaustion into Ultimate Reality gradually expand and flourish higher and higher.

As taught in the Dron Ma Drug (The Six Lamps) regarding the arising of the Lamp of Direct Perception and the visions of Thodgal, looking nakedly at awareness abiding uncreated by conditions actualizes the View free from alternating conceptuality. Particularly through engaging in the direct self- appearing luminous visions, that primordially existing nature becomes directly actualized and enlightened through the power of practice. For example, the gold deposit beneath the earth being gold from the start is “Original Enlightenment,” whereas digging out the gold deposit from underground and directly holding it in one's hand is “Direct Enlightenment.”

Complete Enlightenment as the Result

Third, Complete Enlightenment as the Result refers to reaching the culmination of the Path’s potential, where all abandonments the afflictive obscurations and cognitive obscurations are naturally purified, and all realizations omniscient wisdom and the qualities of the Three Bodies are fully perfected in their own place, thereby actualizing the ultimate result. Here, “Complete” (rdzogs) signifies that both types of obscurations are purified, and omniscient wisdom and the qualities of the Three Bodies are completely perfected within oneself. “Purified” (sangs) means that delusions of ignorance down to the subtle latent imprints are instantly purified and cleared into the non-arising expanse. “Expanded” (rgyas) indicates that the luminous manifestation of the two types of knowledge and the great power of enlightened activity for the benefit of beings fully expand and arise across all three times.

As taught in texts such as the A-Tri Dzogchen, the result of Dzogchen is not something newly created; it manifests as the result of freedom, wherein both obscurations are instantly purified. The complete perfection of the qualities of the Three Bodies Bon body, Enjoyment body, and Manifestation body is called “Completely Enlightened.”

For example, the moon in the sky on the twenty-fifth day having its full disc intact from the start is “Original Enlightenment”; the gradual clearing of clouds to directly see the moon’s face is “Direct Enlightenment”; and all clouds dissolving into the expanse, revealing the full glow and complete disc of the moon, is “Completely Enlightened.”

In brief, Original Enlightenment is the reality of the Ground, referring to the luminosity naturally pure at the base; Direct Enlightenment is the reality of the Path, referring to directly recognizing the true face of that Ground through the power of view and meditation; and Complete Enlightenment is the reality of the Result, referring to actualizing the state where all obscurations are purified and all qualities of the Bodies and Wisdoms are fully perfected. These three are essentially one and the same essence, differentiated only by stage and perspective; in truth, there is nothing other than the single reality of primordial self-awareness.