NEW 2026 – Dzogchen Tögal Enhancing Dark Retreat Instructions: A Collection from the Nyingthig Yabzhi

Description

Two Book Formats Available:

Physical Book
8.5”x11” Printed on Recycled Paper
Spiral Bound with a Clear Protective Cover
105 Pages
$50

Personalized PDF Ebook 8.5″ x 11″ (For 1 Person)
(Automatic Download Link After Purchase)
105 pages
$45

This collection of translations that is now available contains all nine texts in the Nyingthig Yabzhi that are related to dzogchen dark retreat. These texts are attributed to the Indian master Manjushrimitra, the mysterious Tsizhingpa, Vimalamitra, Chetsün Senge Wangchug, and Longchenpa. These incredibly unique materials are interwoven with the first four teachings by Manjushrimitra being elaborated upon by the later commentaries. Together, they build a cohesive system of how to practice dzogchen utilizing the condition of darkness. This system has continued to be transmitted and practiced to this very day, especially through later developments that became integrated into later treasure cycles. These translations provide a starting place to further study with qualified teachers with the appropriate transmissions. They also may be very helpful in learning more about the inner mechanics of the visionary dzogchen practices and how we can practically utilize these ancient techniques.

Here is a list of the included translations:

1. Ocean Focusing: Great Self-Abiding – By Manjushrimitra
2. Ocean Focusing Pith Instructions: Crucial Point of Gathering Appearances – By Manjushrimitra
3. Heart Drop of Nectar – By Manjushrimitra
4. Seeing the Meaning of the Key Points of Awareness – By Manjushrimitra
5. Innermost Refined Essence: Tögal Enhancing Ocean Focusing Instructions – By Tsizhingpa
6. Three Anchoring Stakes: Supporting Secret Pith Instructions – By Vimalamitra
7. Lamp of the Condensed Key Points of the Three Anchoring Stakes – By Chetsün Senge Wangchug
8. Wheel of Luminosity Day and Night – By Longchen Rabjam
9. Ocean Focusing Dark Retreat Instructions: Wheel of Luminosity – By Longchen Rabjam

The first seven texts are all in the Vima Nyingthig. The last two texts connected with Longchenpa are found in the Lama Yangtig and Zabmo Yangtig respectively. The collection begins with Manjushrimitra’s cryptic poetry where the loose framework of the practices is presented with key instructions throughout. At this stage there was probably an oral tradition that was essential to learning the instructions. Then Tsizhingpa’s Innermost Refined Essence Tögal Enhancing Ocean Focusing Instructions begins to detail the precise instructions of the practices, which are then further clarified by the presentations of Vimalamitra, Chetsün Senge Wangchug, and Longchenpa. It should be noted that the Lamp of the Condensed Key Points of the Three Anchoring Stakes and the Ocean Focusing Dark Retreat Instructions Wheel of Luminosity borrow much of their material from Tsizhingpa’s earlier arrangement. However, each text has a specific presentation of the Tibetan with a number of small but potentially important differences. Since these were all included in the Nyingthig Yabzhi collections codified by Longchenpa and transmitted to this day, they have been included in their entirety. All of these materials are quite useful to understand the development and practice of the dzogchen dark retreat and tögal enhancement.

The following is a key extract from this collection. It is one of the recurring streams of instruction throughout these texts. In the poetic lines of the Innermost Refined Essence Tögal Enhancing Ocean Focusing Instructions from the Vima Nyingthig it says:

“The essence is the completely pure dharmakaya free from elaboration and naturally empty.
The nature is the sambhogakaya appearing in bodies with the enlightened marks and signs.
Compassionate energy tames the variety of beings through nirmanakaya emanations.
The colors of the primordial wisdom of radiant emptiness
Appear as fivefold blue, white, yellow, red, and green.
The primordial wisdom of the expanse of reality is the essence of space.
Mirror-like primordial wisdom is unborn and unceasing clarity.
The primordial wisdom of equality is understanding that everything is inseparable.
With discriminating primordial wisdom individual things are not labeled yet distinctly appear.
Through activity accomplishing primordial wisdom the fruition is made manifest.
Possessing the five kayas, fly through the sky of realization and conduct.
It is free from the elaborations of characteristics and empty of conventional words.
Without daytime or evening, day and night are non-dual.
It is impossible to generate thoughts of dualistically grasping samsara and nirvana.
Cherish seizing this through the elixir of the view of cutting through (tregchö).
The teachings of the Buddha are the supreme lamp of the world.
These are the instructions on settling the unmoving ocean into its clear essence.
There is no doubt that signs will arise during both the day and night.
If you have not previously trained in awareness,
In the bardo, primordial wisdom will arise as a mara demon.
Through grasping at the mind of the illusory body of awareness,
We give ourselves our own bad forms of birth.
When we actualize realization and enlightened conduct,
We see the illusory body of sambhogakaya luminosity.
The meaning of awareness is the true nature of things itself.
Always look into the limits of space.
The nature of reality is like the sun appearing in space.
Realization is like the continuous flow of the Ganges river.
The bodiless form is the supreme body.
The final body is realizing the dharmakaya.”