Here is a list of the best Dzogchen books, some I have read myself, some that I did research on, and all have great reviews!
- Atiyoga: The Eighteen Tantras (2018)
- The Dzogchen Path (2019)
- Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection (2004)
- The Inner Mirror: A-tri Dzogchen (2019)
- Quintessential Dzogchen: Confusion Dawns as Wisdom (2006)
- Introduction to the Nature of Mind (2019)
- Dzogchen: The Self-Perfected State (2003)
- Steps to the Great Perfection: The Mind-Training Tradition of the Dzogchen Masters (2018)
- The View and Practice of Quintessence Dzogchen: Three Rare Texts on Nyingthig Dzogchen from Dza Patrul’s Collected Works (2018)
- Pure Dzogchen: Zhang Zhung Tradition (2019)
- The Flight of the Garuda: The Dzogchen Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism (1994)
- The Nature of Mind: The Dzogchen Instructions of Aro Yeshe Jungne (2016)
Atiyoga: The Eighteen Tantras (2018)
In the Eighth Century of our era, the Tibetan translator Vairochana went to India and returned to Tibet with the Tantras of the Great Perfection. All are in agreement that the Five Early Translations and Thirteen Later Translations are among the earliest scriptures to be translated into Tibetan, but there is some lack of agreement about the titles and contents of these collections.
The Dzogchen Path (2019)
Why do we need to train our mind? Before we realise samsaric life to be suffering, when a lama teaches the Dharma, we misunderstand it as a catalogue of misery and inevitability. We get the impression that everything we are interested in, all our wishes and desires, are unacceptable, and what is encouraged is singularly difficult and unachievable. However, when we do recognise our afflictive emotions to be suffering, we can do something to reduce them.
Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection (2004)
This is the most informative and thorough book on Dzogchen available. These teachings are on Dzogchen, the heart essence of the ancient Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Exploring this esoteric subject in print for the first time, His Holiness offers the reader insights into one of Buddhism’s most profound systems of meditation.
The Inner Mirror: A-tri Dzogchen (2019)
From the author of Opening the Door to Bön comes a detailed commentary on the A-tri system of Dzogchen, one of the three main transmissions of Dzogchen in the Yundrung Bön tradition. Dzogchen (Great Perfection) teaches us to discover, and continue within, the non-dual, primordial, natural state of mind. While this commentary draws on many texts, it particularly looks at the Fifteen-Session A-tri Dzogchen.
Quintessential Dzogchen: Confusion Dawns as Wisdom (2006)
This hands-on guidebook adapts the Dzogchen path for the modern student while adhering to traditional principles. The book is based on the direct, accessible style of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and offers a thorough grounding in how to study, contemplate, and meditate in this rich spiritual environment.
Introduction to the Nature of Mind (2019)
To meditate on the nature of mind is the swift, effortless path for all who seek enlightenment. This direct instruction unifies the key points of all Sutra and Tantra; it is the experience of all realised masters and the enlightened intent of all buddhas.
Dzogchen: The Self-Perfected State (2003)
Our natural condition is self-perfected from the very beginning. What is necessary is that we reawaken and remain in our true nature. Through understanding and practice, we can rediscover the effortless knowledge of the self-perfected state that lies beyond our habitual anguish and confusion, and remain in this uninterrupted flow of contemplation, completely relaxed but fully present through all activities.
Steps to the Great Perfection: The Mind-Training Tradition of the Dzogchen Masters (2018)
A compilation of teachings on the seven contemplations, an ancient system of mind-training/lojong teachings that has been preserved as part of a rare set of instructions on Dzogchen, or the Great Perfection.
The View and Practice of Quintessence Dzogchen: Three Rare Texts on Nyingthig Dzogchen from Dza Patrul’s Collected Works (2018)
This book presents three texts concerned with what is called in Tibetan the "Dzogchen" or, in English, "Great Completion" system of teaching that explains reality and how beings can return to it from their current, confused state. The texts explain the most profound level of that teaching being called "Nyingthig" or, in English, "Quintessence".In Tibet, there were several lines of transmission of this Quintessence Great Completion level of teaching.
Pure Dzogchen: Zhang Zhung Tradition (2019)
Dzogchen is the state of great perfection. In Bon, there are nine steps to achieving enlightenment. The gradual path contains the beginning eight steps and include many practices and teachings. The Dzogchen teaching is the highest step and directly introduces Dharmakaya or primordial Buddhahood. This is attained by means of one practice: single-pointed meditation on the Natural Mind.
The Flight of the Garuda: The Dzogchen Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism (1994)
Dzogchen, a tradition of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, is considered by many to be an extremely powerful path to enlightenment. This ground-breaking book offers translations of four sacred texts of the Dzogchen tradition: Secret Instruction in a Garland of Vision, The Flight of the Garuda, Emptying the Depths of Hell, and the Wish-Granting Prayer of Kuntu Zangpo.
The Nature of Mind: The Dzogchen Instructions of Aro Yeshe Jungne (2016)
Patrul Rinpoche, the beloved nineteenth-century master best known for Words of My Perfect Teacher, collected the teachings of the tenth-century adept Aro Yeshe Jungne and synthesized them into the short text translated here as Clear Elucidation of True Nature.
Best Dzogchen Books Worth Your Attention
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Library Genesis and download some dzogchen books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
Milarepa's Kungfu: Mahamudra in His Songs of Realization
Author(s): Karl Brunnhölzl; Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
ID: 3112894, Publisher: Wisdom Publications, Year: 2021, Size: 11 Mb, Format: epub
Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection (Core Teachings of Dalai Lama)
Author(s): Dalai Lama
ID: 2503305, Publisher: Shambhala, Year: 2020, Size: 613 Kb, Format: epub
Dzogchen: A Matter of Mind
Author(s): Keith Dowman
ID: 3130573, Publisher: Dzogchen Now! Books, Year: 2019, Size: 25 Mb, Format: pdf
Please note that this booklist is not definite. Some books are really chart-busters according to Los Angeles Times, others are composed by unknown writers. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant links you could recommend? Drop a comment if you have any feedback on the list.