“The natural state is just itself and nothing else, whether thoughts are arising or not. Having no thoughts is not the essential practice of Dzogchen. There is nothing wrong with having thoughts; it is natural for thoughts to arise. They represent the creative potentiality or dynamism of the Nature of Mind. When we are in the Natural State, there are no special thoughts associated with it. The natural state is always there whether thoughts are present or not. The aim is to recognize this Natural State without being distracted by thoughts.” - Lopön Tenzin Namdak
Knowing that there is nothing wrong with thoughts is deeply empowering. In my practice, it has been turning my attention to the nature of thought that has brought insight. It’s fun to get a feel for what these strange things are, without pushing them away or clutching at them. There is something deeply profound about the way thoughts arise and pass that truly deserves attention. If there is enough stability in the mind to start to explore this, it’s a rich practice.
If the content is not bought into, thoughts are as infused with truth as any other sensation…they just tend to be a little more slippery to work with…but that’s the challenge!
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