Direct introduction to the true nature of the mind - it's a conundrum!
This is all a bit wordy. I was thinking to myself. Only worth reading if you've already been puzzled by this! Ink gets spilt liberally in some corners of the internet about the importance of what is sometimes called "direct introduction" or DI (*1 below) . DI is also referred to elsewhere as "pointing out instruction". Some will tell us that receiving DI from Namkhai Norbu or his authorized representative is essential for dzogchen practice - that the necessary and fundamental insight, termed "rigpa", simply cannot be achieved in any other way. Rigpa is said to be knowledge of - or recognition of - the "base" or "ground", which is a pure empty consciousness that needs to be recognized to achieve awakening. DI cannot possibly be conveyed by, for instance, words in a book. You can't go to your local bookstore, get a book about dzogchen, read about the ground and start practicing. DI has to be obtained "live" from a livin...