Chapter IX. The Three Trends Of The Rdzogs Chen Tradition

Abstract

The rDzogs chen of the rNying ma pa has more or less three distinguishable trends, namely the Sems sde, Klong sde and Man ngag gi sde. They represent for the rNying ma pa the authentic teaching of rDzogs chen in contrast to the others. The differences in philosophy of the three are less discernible than the emphasis on their respective spiritual lineages and original sources. However, not all the three gained much ground as a teaching nor have all of them survived as a living tradition. The first two declined soon after the eleventh century and were finally extinguished as living religious practices, while the third which is in fact of relatively late origin, persisted and further developed all through the centuries until today. This chapter discusses how each of them arose and developed as a living religious tradition.Keywords: Klong sde; Man ngag gi sde; rDzogs chen; religious practices; rNying ma pa; Sems sde; spiritual lineages