Rules of any religious tradition cannot be universal, but rather depend on circumstances and time. A rule that seems valuable today or tomorrow may, over time and through peoples’ changing habits, become inappropriate. In Dzogchen [Zen], they learn not to follow the rules, but to take full responsibility for themselves. A man who merely follows rules is like a blind man who needs to be guided. Therefore, it is said that in Dzogchen, a practitioner should open his own eyes and realize his true nature, so that he does not depend on anyone or anything anymore.

Chogyal Namkai Norbu

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