The Pointing Out Instructions

There are many different approaches to attaining enlightenment — from intellectual, dharma-led approaches, or meditative samatha (tranquility) practices, to the sudden and almost ‘shock-like’ awakenings of Zen and Dzogchen.

One might ask: why should I bother spending decades learning the dharma when I could just learn Zen or Dzogchen and become suddenly enlightened?

It’s a valid question, and the answer is simple.

The ‘sudden methods’ require a fully enlightened master to point out our inner Buddha nature through a variety of methods. You need access to such enlightened masters for this path, whereas the other, albeit slower methods, are possible through solitary practice.

We see a similar pattern in alchemy: knowledge of the stone is either painstakingly discovered through laborious and tedious self-discovery, or one is fortunate enough to work under a Master Alchemist.

So, what are these pointing out instructions?

Rather than conventional instructions, they seem to be a methodology composed of subtle yet dynamic interactions between the Master and Pupil.

Unfortunately, when we are comfortable, we are also most egotistically defiant. The remedy, therefore, is to push the disciple towards an almost complete psychotic breakdown, through mild but persistent self-imposed psychological ‘torture,’ where defiance is weakened. Then, the master points out exactly what you are — and what you are not.

Hahahahaha. Not sure if this is terrifying or not.

In any case, I imagine the whole experience is pretty intense.

I am not criticizing this approach; rather, I invite my audience to consider how this may not be too dissimilar from what we often unwittingly put ourselves through already.

Furthermore, it is entirely possible to gently deliver pointing out instructions; you only need as much punishment as you believe you deserve.

The pointing out instructions are fleeting and subtle. They involve drawing your attention to which parts of awareness are real, and which are not. This makes them nearly impossible to deliver in written form; there must be immediate, living feedback from the master for you to learn to notice what currently lies just beyond your normal awareness.

It would be wise to regard pointing out instructions as sacred. Sudden enlightenment, with the possibility of full realisation, may not harm the individual, but would utterly transform their prior family and social dynamics. For these reasons, such instructions are often only offered within the safe environment of a monastery.

“When the teacher shows the disciple his own face, this is called ‘pointing out mind-essence.’ Without this, there can be no recognition.”
— Padmasambhava, The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation