Allowing thoughts to arise and dissolve

The Natural Process of Thoughts:

• Thoughts and emotions are like waves on the surface of the ocean—they arise, move, and dissolve naturally.
• When recognized within awareness, they leave no lasting trace.
• Problems occur only when we cling to or resist them.

Dzogchen Approach:

• Unlike some methods that suppress thoughts, Dzogchen encourages allowing them to come and go freely.
• The practitioner rests in rigpa, observing thoughts without grasping or rejecting.
• By not interfering, the true nature of thoughts as transient and empty becomes clear.

Practical Instructions:

1. Sit in a relaxed posture, resting in natural awareness.
2. When a thought arises, notice it without judgment.
3. Instead of following the thought, recognize the space in which it appears.
4. Allow it to dissolve naturally, like a cloud vanishing in the sky.

Analogies Used in Dzogchen:

• Clouds in the sky: Thoughts arise but never stain the sky-like awareness.
• Writing on water: Thoughts vanish instantly without leaving a mark.
• Echo in a valley: A sound arises and fades, leaving no substance behind.

Benefits of Allowing Thoughts to Arise and Dissolve:

• Reduces struggle with the mind, replacing suppression with ease.
• Reveals the openness and clarity of awareness.
• Strengthens confidence in the self-liberating nature of rigpa.

Reminder:

• The aim is not to stop thinking but to see the nature of thoughts.
• Every arising thought becomes a reminder of awareness.

In summary, allowing thoughts to arise and dissolve is central to Semde practice. It transforms the seeming obstacle of mental activity into a gateway for recognizing rigpa.

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