Daily Life Practice

How can we apply this technique in daily life?

At all times in all circumstances, whatever you are doing while you do it, recognize the already known Dharmakaya nature of mind – Tawa. As you go about your day, frequently check to see if your Mind is still there. Do so by directly looking at Mind with Mind.

I find it helpful to wear something I don't normally wear—like a bracelet or ring. If it's on my wrist while I'm typing, doing laundry, or going about my day, my eye catches a flash of it. Every time that happens, I remember to do the practice.

I momentarily unfocus my eyes and shift my attention from what I was thinking to where the thoughts were happening—mind itself, Tawa. And yes, it was still there, right where it always is. Then I went back to my activity. You may need to practice on the cushion for quite a while until it becomes easy to find the natural state. Once it becomes easy to find, then you'll find it easily.

The result of doing this at all times, under all circumstances—whatever you’re doing while you’re doing it—is profound. "At all times, in all circumstances" is a quote from Garab Dorje. And "whatever you're doing while you're doing it" is a quote from Changchub Dorje. I combined the two quotes because they fit together nicely.

Together, they form the essential instruction for gom—not just sitting meditation on the cushion. The more you sit, the easier it becomes to practice something called "quick glancing."

So for those who seriously wish to practice Dzogchen, the recommendation is to have a session on the cushion every morning—about 10% longer than what feels easy. If it’s easy for you to sit for 20 minutes, then sit for 22 to 25 minutes.

During the day every time you go to the bathroom, take advantage of the opportunity. In the West, we have clean, private bathrooms. So each time you go, step into the stall, sit down on the seat, and spend about 30 seconds taking a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. It won’t smell—it’s a Western bathroom.

Use that moment to settle your chi, align your channels, and re-expand your attention into Tawa. Sit there for 20 to 25 seconds in that awareness.

If you’re drinking enough water, this will happen about six to eight times a day. That gives you six to eight little mini-sessions—in the privacy of your own loo.

If you do this, it will make your little glances during other activities much easier.

When people ask why we do this— It’s because part of the third word, sopa, the spontaneous action of non-action—the intrinsic awareness of mind itself while thinking—depends on developing absolute certainty in Tawa.

In fact, in the words of Garab Dorje, “To develop absolute certainty” is the third vital point. You’ll get that certainty by looking again and again—until that absolute experiential certainty arises. And that certainty—this complete experiential confidence—is refuge. But not in something external. “I take refuge in my own mind’s empty clarity.”