Wisdom and Compassion, Our True Nature

Dzogchen means "great perfection" and is aand treat each person, including ourselves, and each
meditation practice that helps us to see our truesituation compassionately as a natural, spontaneous
nature, the nature of the Buddha. Many peopleexpression.
practice meditation as a way to reach Enlightenment.Consider a time when you felt open hearted and
So, what is Enlightenment? Enlightenment is notcompassion flowed freely from you. Perhaps it was
something outside of ourselves that we reach.when you were with a child who you consoled. That
Rather it is something that is already within each andfeeling, that moment, is compassion. We all have
every one of us, however it is hidden under unendingexperienced moments of true compassion.
desire, aversion, anger, grasping and spiritualEnlightenment is a state of continual compassion and
ignorance. When we become skillful, when we stoploving-kindness.
grasping for things and people; when we are lovingWhat stops us from being compassionate beings?
and compassionate, and when we loose our constantOur minds, cluttered with unending thoughts,
striving for more, our internal Enlightenment orlist-making and chatter are barriers to attaining
Buddha nature is able to shine forth.intrinsic wisdom and compassion. Meditation is what
Enlightenment, this intrinsic awareness, is our truehelps us to quiet the mind and open the heart which
nature, it is who we are, and it informs our actions,allows wisdom and compassion, our true nature, to
thoughts and speech with wisdom and compassion.flow freely.
So, in every situation we come from that awareness