Beyond the "isms?"

Dear Molly-O,

The balance in question is fairly simple to establish: there is no balance - unless it is a balance that spans disparate periods of time. The "total trust" of vajra relationship is genuinely established as a result of "the responsibility of the student to use discerning judgment" while still seeking to enter vajra relationship. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama has frequently pointed out, this preparatory period can take up to thirteen years. Once one has entered into vajra relationship, there is no "balance between total trust in a Vajrayana relationship and that of the responsibility of the student to use discerning judgment ..."

With regard to Dzogchen: while it is quite possible to speak of Dzogchen as being beyond isms, this cannot be taken to mean that one can "re-couch" or "re-nest" Dzogchen within other philosophical constructs which abnegate the Lama as central to practice. Historically, Dzogchen exists within Buddhism and Bön where it is identified as the ultimate vehicle. Although Dzogchen exists within its own specialized, non-dual terms of reference, it presupposes the base established by the other vehicles. I hope this clarifies your question.