Definition of Luminosity of Clear Light in Dzogchen

Krodha/Kyle Dixon wrote:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dzogchen/s/3NVoLvN7e4

Selwa (gsal ba) is “clarity.” Ösel (od gsal) is typically translated as “luminosity” or “clear light.”

This topic is somewhat nuanced, but for example, in common Mahāyāna and Anuttarayogatantra, clarity (gsal ba) is always conditioned, whereas luminosity (od gsal) is unconditioned and represents the “purity” of emptiness. Phenomena are “luminous” because their dharmatā is unconditioned and their nature is therefore totally pure and free from affliction.

Dzogchen makes things slightly more complex. In Dzogchen, luminosity (od gsal ba) has two meanings, both are categorized under the “clarity” aspect (gsal cha) of the nature of mind (sems nyid) which is related to lhun grub.

One of the definitions of “luminosity” (od gsal) is a state like deep sleep where there is no sensory input whatsoever. The other definition is od gsal as the mdangs or inner luminous aspect of rig pa which manifests as the visions of thögal and so on.

Dzogchen also however has an analogue to the luminosity (od gsal) of common Mahāyāna and Anuttarayogatantra, which is called zang thal. Zangthal is the pellucidity or transparent aspect of the clarity of the nature of mind.

For example, when the basis (gzhi), i.e., the nature of mind (sems nyid) is defined as “inseparable clarity and emptiness” (stong gsal dbyer med), the “clarity” in that definition is referring to zang thal.

For sentient beings zangthal is related to the visions on the path, again aspects of the rtsal of rig pa as the inner luminosity (mdangs) an attenuated or limited, but still pure expression of gnosis or pristine consciousness (ye shes). Then for awakened beings, zangthal is their full fledged gnosis or pristine consciousness (ye shes), and thus is actually more related to the ka dag aspect of the nature of mind.

Would be nice if all of these principles weren’t this complex, but unfortunately they are in relation to this topic.

u/zhonnu tagging you again since you asked about clarity.

u/jigdrol feel free to weigh in if any of this conflicts with your understanding.