Dzogchen is often described as a direct pointing to the nature of mind, a primordial, open awareness that is understood to be inherent in all beings. Because of this emphasis on direct experience rather than on doctrinal allegiance, it can be engaged by individuals from any religious tradition, or from none at all. The essential practice of recognizing and resting in this natural awareness does not, in itself, demand formal conversion or the abandonment of one’s existing spiritual framework. Many practitioners therefore approach Dzogchen as a contemplative discipline that can harmonize with other faiths, provided there is sincere respect for the tradition from which it comes.

At the same time, Dzogchen is not free-floating; it is deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhism and the Bön tradition, and is preserved within specific lineages. Traditionally, it is transmitted through a formal teacher–student relationship, often involving direct “pointing-out” instructions and, in many cases, preliminary practices and commitments. Some lineage holders maintain that a Buddhist framework is important, since the teachings are closely linked with views such as emptiness, karma, and enlightenment. Others present the same core instructions in more secular or interfaith language, emphasizing experiential recognition of awareness over philosophical elaboration.

For those coming from other religions, the main area of potential tension lies not in the practice itself, but in doctrinal assumptions that might conflict with ideas like non-duality or the possibility of realizing the nature of mind in this very life. Some practitioners find it helpful to understand basic Buddhist concepts to contextualize what they experience in Dzogchen practice, while others interpret the same experiences through the lens of their own traditions. In contemporary settings, many teachers offer open retreats and teachings that make Dzogchen accessible beyond strictly Buddhist circles, while reserving full transmission for students willing to align more fully with its traditional view, ethics, and methods. Thus, Dzogchen remains both universally accessible in its essence and distinctly shaped by the lineages that have carried it.