[From Commentary on The Long Guru Rinpoche Tsok Sadhana, by Lama Tashi Topgyal. Translated by Lama Yeshe Gyamsto.]
The fundamental meaning of the Tibetan term dak nang, or pure appearances, is something almost like “pure projection.” It does not refer so much to what appears to you as it does to the attitude or outlook that you take toward it. The idea here is very simple and is not fundamentally difficult to practice, although it does take effort and habit. The view is that the more respect you have for all beings, including yourself, the more you will experience the inherent goodness of beings. The more you regard all beings as viras and dakinis, as deities, the more you will treat all others with respect and honor, without distinction, rank, or worth. The more you place all others above yourself on your head, the more naturally open you become to the direct experience of the fundamental nature of beings. This means that what begins as an outlook, or as an attitude, will eventually become direct experience. You will be able to experience directly the innate perfection that lies within all beings.
