Hi @everyone,

I have an important announcement to make.

On October 13th, not long after I arrived in Australia but before I traveled to Namgyalgar (Australia) for the Dzogchen retreat led by Acarya Malcolm Smith, I informed John Tan about my thoughts to close the Awakening to Reality group. I have decided to proceed with closing the group but wanted to consult John Tan for his perspective. I asked John Tan, "I'm thinking maybe I should step aside from the ATR FB group or close it.. what do you think?" He replied, “Yes. Practice diligently but step aside. Don't get involved in these activities. If you want, create a website that just does quality stuff don't answer ppl. 缘分到 (translation: when conditions arrive)，then 指点 (translation: point out/guide)。” I discussed with my admins and informed them of my decision on the same day (October 13th).

It is my wish that this group has been helpful and supportive in your spiritual journeys. We the admins are not closing our Facebook accounts, so we remain contactable via private messaging.

The group will not be deleted; instead, it will be closed and archived, remaining available for reading by all members. I recommend making good use of this archive, as many questions you may have have likely been addressed here previously. It has become quite a trove of information, so I hope members can check back whenever they want and continue to benefit from it as a source of clarification.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all my admins. Without their involvement over the years, this group would not have been possible.

I also want to thank all members for their participation and contributions to this community throughout the years.

I have returned from the Dzogchen retreat and thoroughly enjoyed the teachings of Acarya Malcolm Smith.

Recommendation for Acarya Malcolm Smith as a Teacher:

I highly recommend Acarya Malcolm Smith as a teacher for several reasons, among these reasons would include:

- Clarity in Insight and View: He possesses a rare clarity among Dharma teachers.

- Accurate Translations: His translations are among the best for Dzogchen teachings.

- Accessibility: He regularly travels around the world to give teachings, increasing the chances for anyone to meet him.

- Online Teachings: He holds teachings online, allowing participation even if you are unable to travel. He also has an online forum or community for Zangthal members.

To determine if Acarya Malcolm Smith's teachings resonate with you, please consider the following steps:

Read Chogyal Namkhai Norbu's Book: Crystal and the Way of Light introduces Dzogchen teachings. https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Light-Chogyal-Namkhai-Norbu/dp/1559391359

Acarya Malcolm teaches Dzogchen in the tradition and lineage of ChNN (Chogyal Namkhai Norbu). Acarya Malcolm Smith was also asked to teach Dzogchen by another teacher of his, Kunzang Dechen Lingpa, who attained rainbow body (Buddhahood).

Watch Malcolm's YouTube Videos: Explore his teachings to see if Dzogchen interests you. If it does, I highly recommend studying under Acarya Malcolm Smith.

Regarding Dzogchen teachings, Acarya Malcolm Smith stands out as a key figure. He offers teachings and practice instructions through his website, www.zangthal.com, with a structured fee. You can watch this highly recommended YouTube video for an introduction to Acarya Malcolm’s Dzogchen teachings, as recommended by Sim Pern Chong on the ATR group: Talk on Buddhahood in This Life ( https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2023/09/talk-on-buddhahood-in-this-life.html ). Additionally, some of Malcolm’s writings can be found here: Clarifications on Dharmakaya and Basis ( https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2014/02/clarifications-on-dharmakaya-and-basis_16.html ) . His approach includes regular Zoom sessions and encourages students to email their queries concisely due to his large student base and other professional responsibilities (i.e. his Dharma translation works).

Watch this talk by Acarya Malcolm Smith: YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMWJ5TbbxU8

I would also like to announce that I have fixed the issue with DharmaWheelScrapper and uploaded the new PDFs of the DharmaWheel posts by Acarya Malcolm, Krodha (Kyle Dixon), and Astus. You can download the updated compiled PDFs here: Resolving Nested Quotation Issues https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2024/10/resolving-nested-quotation-issues.html

If Acarya Malcolm Smith's teachings do not interest you, there are other sanghas available online with awakened teachers, such as the Anzan Hoshin Roshi & Ven Jinmyo Osho's Soto Zen sangha who also offers training program online and replies queries via e-mail ( https://wwzc.org/long-distance-training-program ). I have also compiled their teachings https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2023/12/zen-master-ven-jinmyo-renge-senseis.html and https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2023/11/a-compilation-of-zen-teacher-anzan.html .

Another trusted friend of mine recommends attending the online teachings of Thubten Chodron.

Additionally, there might be local sanghas/communities you can explore if there are good awakened teachers in your area.

The Importance of Finding Quality Awakened Teachers:

It is crucial to find good quality teachers who are awakened to guide you. As I wrote in Finding an Awakened Spiritual Teacher, here is a partial excerpt from https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2024/01/finding-awakened-spiritual-teacher-and.html :

Bodhidharma, esteemed as the first patriarch of Chan/Zen, marking him as a foundational and transformative figure in the lineage and teachings of this tradition, emphasizes the crucial role of a teacher in the journey towards enlightenment. In his teachings, he states, "To find a Buddha, you have to see your nature. Whoever sees his nature is a Buddha. If you don’t see your nature, being mindful of Buddhas, reciting sutras, making offerings, and keeping precepts are not equal to it. Being mindful of Buddhas results in good karma, reciting sutras results in a good intelligence; keeping precepts results in a good rebirth in heavens, and making offerings results in future blessings — but no buddha. If you don’t understand by yourself, you’ll have to find a teacher to know the root of births and deaths. But unless he sees his nature, such a person isn’t a good teacher. Even if he can recite the twelve groups of scriptures he can’t escape the Wheel of Births and Deaths. He suffers in the three realms without hope of release. Long ago, the monk Good Star was able to recite the twelve groups of scriptures. But he didn’t escape the Wheel, because he didn’t see his nature. If this was the case with Good Star, then people nowadays who recite a few sutras or shastras and think it’s the Dharma are fools. Unless you see your own Heart, reciting so much prose is useless.

To find a Buddha have to see your nature directly. Your nature is the Buddha. And the Buddha is the person who’s free: free of plans, free of cares. If you don’t see your nature and run outwards to seek for external objects, you’ll never find a buddha. The truth is there’s nothing to find. But to reach such an understanding you need a good teacher and you need to struggle to make yourself understand. Life and death are important. Don’t suffer them in vain.

There’s no advantage in deceiving yourself. Even if you have mountains of jewels and as many servants as there are grains of sand along the Ganges, you see them when your eyes are open. But what about when your eyes are shut? You should realize then that everything you see is like a dream or illusion. If you don’t find a teacher soon, you’ll live this life in vain. It’s true, you have the buddha-nature. But without the help of a teacher you’ll never know it. Only one person in a million becomes enlightened without a teacher’s help. If, though, by the conjunction of conditions, someone understands what the Buddha meant, that person doesn’t need a teacher. Such a person has a natural awareness superior to anything taught. But unless you’re so blessed, study hard, and by means of instruction you’ll understand.

People who don’t understand and think they can do so without study are no different from those deluded souls who can’t tell white from black.” Falsely proclaiming the Buddha-Dharma, such persons in fact blaspheme the Buddha and subvert the Dharma. They preach as if they were bringing rain. But theirs is the preaching of devils not of Buddhas. Their teacher is the King of Devils and their disciples are the Devil’s minions. Deluded people who follow such instruction unwittingly sink deeper in the Sea of Birth and Death.

Unless they see their nature, how can people call themselves Buddhas they’re liars who deceive others into entering the realm of devils. Unless they see their nature, their preaching of the Twelvefold Canon is nothing but the preaching of devils. Their allegiance is to Mara, not to the Buddha. Unable to distinguish white from black, how can they escape birth and death?

Whoever sees his nature is a Buddha; whoever doesn’t is a mortal. But if you can find your buddha-nature apart from your mortal nature, where is it? Our mortal nature is our Buddha nature. Beyond this nature there’s no Buddha. The Buddha is our nature. There’s no Buddha besides this nature. And there’s no nature besides the Buddha."

Additionally, Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche said:

"If you wish to eradicate your afflictions, you must follow your teacher and study for a long time. Otherwise, studying for only a few days will not have any significant effect ... Some people today are not willing to study or reflect on the Dharma, but they are enthusiastic about meditation. They believe meditating all day with their eyes shut is the ultimate practice. I do not think much of this. Although there are people of the highest caliber who attain enlightenment without study or reflection, are you of such caliber? Therefore, you cannot live in a cave or another completely isolated place when you first start to practice. Instead, you should be with a qualified Dharma teacher and earnestly receive the Buddhadharma; it is best if you are always engaged in study, reflection, and practice. Of course, I am not asking you to study and reflect for a lifetime without ever practicing. But to spend an entire life in blind meditation without any study or reflection is also the wrong path!"

I have no concrete plans yet for what’s next for the ATR blog. I do not intend to close the blog, as I believe it has benefited many and continues to do so. However, it is possible that at some point I may start a new website on my own. Time will tell, and there is no rush, so this will not happen anytime soon.

John Tan is currently working on a book. I have no doubt it will be profound in wisdom and greatly beneficial to all readers. I wish that all beings have sufficient merits to read John Tan's book swiftly, and that John Tan can release/publish his book soon for the benefit of all.

I wish you all a fruitful journey ahead. May all beings awaken and benefit all beings, bringing everyone to the other shore, the state of Buddhahood. 🙏

P.s. one last thing. If anyone reading this hasn’t read the Awakening to Reality blog before, I highly recommend reading these articles at least:

https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2007/03/thusnesss-six-stages-of-experience.html

https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2009/03/on-anatta-emptiness-and-spontaneous.html

Also, more useful resources:

Insight Diagnosis Simplified: http://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2014/07/insight-diagnosis-simplified_11.html

Beyond Awareness: reflections on identity and awareness: http://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2018/11/beyond-awareness.html

Experience, Realization, View, Practice and Fruition: http://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2011/12/experience-realization-view-practice_16.html

Substantial and Insubstantial Non-duality: http://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2011/08/substantial-and-insubstantial-non_6.html

Different Degrees of No-Self: Non-Doership, Non-dual, Anatta, Total Exertion and Dealing with Pitfalls: http://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2020/04/different-degress-of-no-self-non.html

[insight] [buddhism] A reconsideration of the meaning of "Stream-Entry" considering the data points of both pragmatic Dharma and traditional Buddhism: http://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2020/08/insight-buddhism-reconsideration-of.html (Highly recommended reading, especially for those coming from a Buddhist background or those familiar with, or wanting to learn more about, the term 'stream entry': https://www.reddit.com/r/streamentry/comments/igored/insight_buddhism_a_reconsideration_of_the_meaning/ )

Buddhahood: The End of All Emotional/Mental Afflictions and Knowledge Obscurations https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2022/07/buddhahood-end-of-all-emotionalmental.html

These are additional resources that can be very helpful:

1) **The Awakening to Reality Practice Guide** by Nafis Rahman:

- Guide available in various formats https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2022/06/the-awakening-to-reality-practice-guide.html

- AudioBook on https://soundcloud.com/soh-wei-yu/sets/the-awakening-to-reality

- Feedback: "The shortened AtR guide is very good. It should lead one to anatta if they really go and read. Concise and direct." - Yin Ling

- **Update:** Portuguese translation http://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2022/08/translation-of-awakening-to-reality.html

2) **The Awakening to Reality Guide - Web Abridged Version** by Pablo Pintabona and Nafis Rahman:

- Access the Abridged Version https://atr-abridgedguide.blogspot.com/2021/11/this-is-shortened-version-of-complete.html

3) **The Awakening to Reality Guide - Original Version** compiled by Soh:

https://app.box.com/s/157eqgiosuw6xqvs00ibdkmc0r3mu8jg

- Feedback: "I also want to say, actually the main ATR document >1200 pages helped me the most with insight. I am not sure how many have the patience to read it. I did it twice 😂it was so helpful and these [Mahamudra books](https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/2022/01/all-thrangu-rinpoche-58-books-at-35.html) supported ATR insights. Just thought to share. The document is ok [in length], because it’s by insight level. Each insight is like 100 plus pages except anatta [was] exceptionally long [if] I remember lol. If someone reads and contemplates at the same time it’s good because the same point will repeat again and again like in the nikayas and insight should arise by the end of it imo. A 1000 plus pages ebook written by a serious practitioner Soh Wei Yu that took me a month to read each time and I am so grateful for it. It’s a huge undertaking and I have benefitted from it more that I can ever imagine. Please read patiently." - Yin Ling

…..

I just found out something. Once this group is paused, only Members can continue reading the contents of this group, and admins will no longer be able to add people in unless it is unpaused. People who wish to join can no longer do so either.

Just wanted to let people know. If you wish to refer back to this group, please do not leave as I cannot guarantee that we can add you back in.