“Dzogchen meditators must combine the two merits of relative and absolute truth all the time. The Buddha used the example of the two merits being like the two wings of a bird. They are the wisdom powers that will wake us up to the ordinary state of the true nature. If we don’t develop these two merits, or if we ignore them, we are incomplete practitioners of Dzogchen. For this reason, it is always necessary to remember that both of the accumulations are equally important in order to bring about the full realization of the true nature. If we separate the two merits, we make the mistake of creating conceptual boundaries in the natural state.

Many times people think that when we practice Dzogchen we don’t need to do any kind of good deeds, like generating devotion or bodhichitta. Ignoring the relative accumulation of merit while still thinking we might discover the natural beauty of Dzogchen is totally wrong and misleading. Always remember this.

However much you are able to perform good deeds and accumulate merit, your realization will grow and your understanding will deepen to that same degree. Within the dynamic system of interdependent coordination, if you initiate or create an improvement now, it will lead to a similar improvement in the future. Over time, your progress will blossom into beautiful spring-like realization.”