Semde

Semde (; Sanskrit: ) translated as 'mind division', 'mind class' or 'mind series' is the name of one of three scriptural and lineage divisions within Atiyoga, Dzogchen or the Great Perfection which is itself the pinnacle of the ninefold division of practice according to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Semde emphasizes the clarity (''gsal-ba'') or the innate awareness ( rig-pa) aspect of the Natural State.

Due to the different approaches of various Dzogchen lineages, three series have developed of which ''semde'' is one. The other two divisions or series are Longdé (Space Series) and Menngagde (Instruction Series). The Mind Series is attributed to Sri Singha and Vairotsana's lineage

Background

The 'Three Series of Dzogchen' (''rdzogs chen sde gsum'') are a traditional Tibetan Buddhist classification which divides the teachings of the Nyingma school's Dzogchen tradition into three series, divisions or sections. These three are: the ''Semde'' ('Mind Series'), the ''Longdé'' ('Space Series') and the ''Menngagde'' ('Instruction Series'). Traditional accounts of the Nyingma school attribute this schema to the Indian master Mañjuśrīmitra (c. 8th century). According to Namkhai Norbu, the three series are three modes of presenting and introducing the state of Dzogchen. Norbu states that Mennagde is a more direct form of introduction, Longde is closely associated with symbolic forms of introducing Dzogchen and Semde is more focused on oral forms of introduction.

According to Instruction Series texts, the Mind Series is based on understanding that one's own mind is the basis of all appearances and that this basis, called mind itself, is empty and luminous. Germano writes that the Mind Series serves as a classification for the earlier texts and forms of Dzogchen "prior to the development of the Seminal Heart movements" which focused on meditations based on tantric understandings of bodhicitta (''byang chub kyi sems''). This referred to the ultimate nature of the mind, which is empty (''stong pa''), luminous (od gsal ba''), and pure.

As the Mind Series is related to the first statement of Garab Dorje, Semde texts emphasize the direct introduction method of esoteric transmission, directly introducing the student to nature of mind, including pointing-out instruction of this state and methods for recognizing it.

Texts

The mind class (''semde'') of Dzogchen was also said to comprise eighteen tantras, although the formulation eventually came to include slightly more. Tantras belonging to the Mind Division include:
# Cuckoo of Spiritual Awareness (), Sanskrit:
# Great Potency (), Sanskrit:
# Great Garuda in Flight ()
# Refining Gold from Ore ()
# Great Space Never-Waning Banner Scripture ()
# Spontaneous Summit Scripture ()
# King of Space ()
# Jewel-Encrusted Bliss Ornament ()
# All-Encompassing Perfection ()
# Essence of Bodhicitta ()
# Infinite Bliss ()
# Wheel of Life (), Sanskrit:
# Six Spheres ()
# All-Penetrating Perfection ()
# Wish-Fulfilling Jewel ()
# All-Unifying Spiritual Awareness ()
# Supreme Lord ()
# The Realization of the True Meaning of Meditation ()
# Kulayarāja Tantra, Sanskrit:
# The Marvelous Mind of Enlightenment ()
# The Ten Concluding Teachings

Another listing drawn from ''The Lotus Born'' is:

# All-embodying Jewel Scripture ()
# All-encompassing Bliss Scripture ()
# Awareness Cuckoo Scripture ()
# Epitome of Teachings Scripture ()
# Great Garuda View Scripture ()
# Great Space King Scripture ()
# Great Space Never-Waning Banner Scripture ()
# Great Strength of Awareness Scripture ()
# Jewel-Studded Bliss Scripture (), Sanskrit:
# Meditation Accomplishment Scripture ()
# Nonarising Tilaka Scripture ()
# Pure Gold on Stone Scripture ()
# Spontaneous Summit Scripture ()
# Supreme King Scripture ()
# Variegated Great Treasury Scripture ()
# Wheel of Life Scripture ()
# Wish-fulfilling Jewel Scripture ()
# Wonderful Wisdom Scripture ()
Of these, the first five are the "Five Earlier Translated Tantras", translated by Vairotsana. The next thirteen were translated primarily by Vimalamitra. Of the remaining three, the Kunjed Gyalpo is taken to be the primary or root tantra of the Mind Series.

Four yogas

One feature of the ''semde'' system is four yogas (where yoga in ). These include:

* śamatha () or 'calm abiding',
* vipaśyanā (),
* "unbounded wholeness" (Sanskrit: ), and
* "spontaneous presence" (Sanskrit: or '','' ).

These parallel the Four Yogas of Mahamudra.

References

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External links

Three Sections of Dzogchen

Dzogchen
Nyingma texts
Tibetan words and phrases