Ground and Paths of the Mah!mudr! and Dzogchen Paths

Four vidyadhara levels according to Dzogchen (Tib. rigdzin nampa shyi; Wyl. rig

'dzin rnam pa bzhi) — the four levels of a vidyadhara which are specific to the Dzogchen 

or Nyingma tradition.

1.  matured vidyadhara (Tib. namin rigdzin; Wyl. rnam smin rig 'dzin)

2. 

vidyadhara with power over life (Tib. tsewang rigdzin; Wyl. tshe dbang rig 'dzin)

3.  mahamudra vidyadhara (Tib. chakchen rigdzin; Wyl. phyag chen rig 'dzin)

4.  spontaneously accomplished vidyadhara (Tib. lhundrup rigdzin; Wyl. lhun grub

rig 'dzin)

Related to the Five Paths 

According to The Vajra Essence:

•  Due to the noble qualities of the Vision of Direct Perception, may we experience

the benefits of the sublime Very Joyful Stage and the ground and path of a

matured vidy!dhara.

•  By the power of Progress in Visionary Experience, may we cross over to

the fifth stage known as Difficult to Purify, and may we attain all the

noble qualities of the stages and paths of a vidy!dhara with mastery over

life.

•  Due to the virtues of Reaching Consummate Awareness, may we cross

over to the eighth stage known as the Immovable, and may we attain all

the noble qualities of the stages and paths of a mah!mudr! vidy!dhara.

• 

By the power of the intellect-transcending Extinction into Ultimate

Reality, may we cross over to the great tenth stage known as the Cloud of

Dharma, and may we swiftly attain the noble qualities of the stages and

paths of a spontaneously actualized vidy!dhara.

Khenpo Ngakchung states:

•  Those who have not been able to purify their bodies but whose minds have

matured into the deity’s k!ya are known as matured vidyadharas.

•  Those who have the ability to purify the ordinary body with the fire of

concentration and transform it into a subtle body acquire the power of immortal

life and are called vidyadharas with power over life.

•  Those who are on the second to the ninth bhumis are mahamudra vidyadharas.

•  Then, at the end of the path, at the moment buddhahood is reached, they are

spontaneously accomplished vidyadharas.

Four yoga levels of Mah!mudr! 

According to Je Gyare as reported by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal ( Moonlight of Mah!mudr!):

•  One-pointedness: paths of accummulation and application

•  Simplicity: path of seeing (first bh"mi)

•  One taste: paths of meditation and part of the path no-more-learning (bh"mis two

through eight)

 

• 

Nonmeditation: rest of path of no-more-learning, buddhahood (bh"mis nine

through thirteen)