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