Longdé

Some people study a way called Longdé.

It is one of three parts of Dzogchen. This part is called the Space Division. It says our mind is like big, wide space. Space is everywhere and lasts forever. It does not need any help to be there. This part has many different books. One special book is the King of Infinite Vast Space. A teacher named 'Dzeng Dharmabodhi helped people learn this. He taught a way called the Vajra Bridge. It helps people see the true nature of their mind. It is a very special way to learn.

Longdé is a special way of learning in Tibetan Buddhism. It is part of a group called Dzogchen. People call it the Space Division. This name comes from the idea of space.

This teaching says the mind is like space. Space is everywhere. It is huge and lasts forever. You do not need to work to reach space. It is already there. Some books in this group say you do not need special moves or poses. You just look at your true mind.

One group of these teachings is the Vajra Bridge. A famous teacher named 'Dzeng Dharmabodhi led this way.

He lived from the year 1052 to 1168. His student wrote many notes about these ideas. They used four signs to help people learn. These signs are clarity, bliss, and being without thought.

There are many books in the Space Division. One is called the King of Infinite Vast Space. It is a very important book. Some say there are only seven books left from this group. Most of them are kept in a large collection. This collection is called the Nyingma Gyubum.

Longdé is a special part of a teaching called Dzogchen. It is one of three main divisions in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. People often call it the Space Division or the Space Series. This name comes from the idea of emptiness or spaciousness.

This concept helps people understand the true nature of the mind. It is a way to look at how our minds work. Many different lineages have their own ways of teaching these ideas.

In these teachings, the mind is compared to space. Space is everywhere and is very huge. You do not need to work hard to reach it. It cannot be crossed or escaped because it holds everything. It has no center and no edges. It is also eternal and was never created.

Because the mind is like space, some rituals are not needed. For example, you do not need to build a mental mandala. This is because your true mind is already a mandala. Realizing your nature is like a special initiation itself.

History shows that these teachings grew between the 11th and 14th centuries. One important group is called the Vajra Bridge tradition. A famous master named 'Dzeng Dharmabodhi led this group. He lived from the year 1052 until 1168.

His student was named Kun-bzang rdo-rje. He wrote many notes to explain these ideas. The Vajra Bridge uses special rites, but they are secondary. The main goal is still to contemplate the nature of the mind.

There are many important books in the Space Division. One very famous text is the King of Infinite Vast Space. Another is called the Total Space of Samantabhadra. Some people say only seven of these texts still exist today. These books are kept in a large collection called the Nyingma Gyubum.

There is also a special text called a terma in this class. This text is part of the Chokling Tersar cycle. These books help people learn about the great expanse.

Learning about Longdé helps us see how different ideas connect. It sits between the Mind Series and the Instruction Section. Some books in this group are very similar to the Mind Series. They do not ask for special body poses or movements. Instead, they focus on things like clarity and bliss.

Practitioners also use simple yogas involving winds. These are much easier than other types of yoga. This makes the path feel effortless for the person practicing.

Longdé is a major scriptural division within the Dzogchen teachings. It is part of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Dzogchen itself is considered the pinnacle of a ninefold division of practice. Longdé is often translated as the "Space Division" or "Space Series." This name highlights the concept of emptiness or spaciousness. This spaciousness describes the Natural State of being. Within the Dzogchen system, there are three main series of teachings. These include semde, menngagde, and longdé. Each series offers a different approach to understanding reality.

Scholars find longdé difficult to define with a single set of rules. Some thinkers see it as nearly identical to the earlier semde, or Mind Series. Others place it doctrinally between the Mind Series and the Instruction Section. The term "space" in these texts describes the true nature of the mind. This nature is compared to physical space in several ways. Space is present everywhere and requires no effort to reach. It is immense and encompasses everything. It has no center or periphery and cannot be transcended. Space is also considered eternal and uncaused.

A central theme in longdé is the doctrine of the "Nine Spaces." These nine spaces include View, Behavior, Mandala, Initiation, and Commitment. They also include Activity, Accomplishment, Levels-Paths, and Fruition. These categories refer to features of Buddhist tantra. However, longdé suggests these elements are already complete within one's true nature. This perspective makes gradualist or tantric practices seem unnecessary. For instance, one does not need to create a mental mandala. When the true nature of the mind is realized, all perceptions are the mandala. Similarly, realizing one's nature acts as its own initiation. This allows Dzogchen to transcend traditional tantra.

The history of the Space Series reflects developments between the 11th and 14th centuries. One notable tradition within this division is the Vajra Bridge, or rdo rje zam pa. This tradition includes many tantric rites involving Heruka and three Dakinis. However, commentaries explain these rites are only auxiliary practices. They are secondary to the main practice of Great Perfection contemplation. The main goal is to contemplate the nature of the mind. This is often practiced outside of a formalized tantric context. 'Dzeng Dharmabodhi was a key figure in this tradition. He lived from 1052 to 1168.

'Dzeng Dharmabodhi's student, Kun-bzang rdo-rje, wrote many commentaries on the Vajra Bridge. The primary tantra of this tradition was titled Secret Wisdom. This tradition uses a specific way of contemplation called "non-meditation." This method introduces the true nature of mind through four specific signs. These signs are non-conceptuality, clarity, bliss, and inseparability. The inseparability is the experience of the first three signs combined. Some Vajra Bridge texts also use subtle body yogas of winds, known as vayus. These yogas are described as simple and effortless. They are considered less coarse than the wind yogas found in Sarma tantras.

Many important tantras belong to the Space Division. The "king" of these tantras is Samantabhadra’s Royal Tantra of All-Inclusive Vastness. Other texts include the "King of Infinite Vast Space" and the "Total Space of Samantabhadra." Other titles include "Manifestation of the Creative Energy of Spiritual Awareness" and "Wheel of Key Instructions." There are also texts like "Array of the Exalted Path" and "Vajrasattva Equal to the Limits of Space." Other listed works include "Secret Pristine Awareness" and the "Wheel of Precious Gems." Some scholars, such as Thondup and Talbott, note there are only seven extant texts. These seven texts are collected in the Nyingma Gyubum.

Longdé connects to broader systems of Buddhist thought and practice. It sits in a unique position within the Nyingma school's hierarchy. Some Space Series tantras, like "Equal to the End of Sky," do not prescribe specific techniques. They do not require physical postures or structured meditative exercises. This makes them very similar to the Mind Series Tantras. Additionally, there is a terma text within the Space Class. This text is found in the Chokling Tersar cycle of Orgyen Chokgyur Lingpa. This shows how the Space Division continues to be a part of living traditions.