In order to realise ourselves

"In order to realise ourselves, as we actually are, we need to gain some understanding of exactly how we have distanced ourselves from ourselves."

p73, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, 0-9653948-0-8

Practice is the key

"Practice is the key that explodes the narrow confines of our ordinary experience. Practice liberates the fatalistic, deterministic view of karma as cause and effect."

p146, Spacious Passion, Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2009, 978-1-898185-07-9

Devotion

"Devotion isn't measured in terms of empowerments or anything that can be added to your spiritual credit rating. Devotion is a direct understanding and that never has any need of being displayed."

p19 Wisdom Eccentrics, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, Inc, 2011, 978-0965394864

Live in the present moment

"To live in the present moment is to balance the reality that it could be our last moment of life with the understanding that it is also the basis of the next moment of life."

p121, Spacious Passion, Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2009, 978-1-898185-07-9

Clarity is Inherent

"We do not have to begin with clarity, because clarity is inherent in every situation. We simply have to begin with that which presents itself."

p3, Emailing the Lamas from Afar, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2009, 978-0-9653948-5-7

Rituals are Irrelevant

"If your awareness is integrated with the nature of the elements then rituals are irrelevant"."

p399 Wisdom Eccentrics, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, Inc, 2011, 978-0965394864

Marvellous to attend Buddhist courses

"Marvellous to attend Buddhist courses and listen to teachings but with a bigoted mind, Teachings are merely collections of complex information delivered in an unusual syntax. Whatever you hear, you'll only have to hear it again-and-again and write it down in notebooks To which you're never likely to refer - better go wherever; and listening with awareness and kindness At any theatre you please - to hear any play - with an open heart - as if it were for the first time."

p473 Wisdom Eccentrics, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, Inc, 2011, 978-0965394864

Simply Be

"Trying to pin-point being is like attempting to suspend time and movement--it's not possible, so we might as well simply be."

p73, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, 0-9653948-0-8

Buddhism is very pragmatic

"Buddhism is actually very pragmatic. Buddhism is not an imposition on reality. It’s not a constructed philosophy that forces human beings to proceed according to rigid directives that take no account of the diversity of experience."
Dzogchen, Ngak’chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Tasting the fruits of practice

"It is not possible to taste the fruits of Buddhist practice without fully engaging with its radical horticulture."
p11, Spacious Passion , Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-07-9

Lama’i Naljor is a way of coming to trust your own Enlightened nature

"Lama’i Naljor is really a way of coming to trust your own Enlightened nature. Lama’i Naljor authenticates the relationship between Teacher and student and it also enables you to authenticate the sense in which your Enlightened nature can be momentarily experienced."

Lama’i Naljor, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Encyclopaedia

I have to be simply what I am, and work with that

"It is important that one respects the base; and the base is what I am. If I have anger, then that is part of my base – I have to work with that. I cannot go into denial about being an angry person – I cannot pretend that I am not angry, that I am not always irritated. I have to accept that about myself. I cannot try to be a ‘spiritual’ person, and enter into pretence about myself. I have to be simply what I am, and work with that."

Compassion and the Nine Yanas, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Encyclopaedia

Perception and response are inherently and simultaneously crime and punishment

"Perception and response are inherently and simultaneously crime and punishment. Any concept of being extradited for ‘sentences unserved’ and ‘crimes unpunished’ is nonsensical in terms of Dharma. This may sound slightly shocking to some people. It could well offend your sense of spiritual law and order. You might feel moral outrage about the fact that we are all our own punishment. Each one of us is the worst punishment we could ever fear – and best reward we could hope to achieve."

Karma - The Personal Police State, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Encyclopaedia

Remain steadfast in that choice

"There is no purpose in requesting a Lama to accept one as a student and then to take issue with his or her advice on the basis of information received from other quarters. One chooses one's Lama on the basis of one's recognition of his or her qualities, and, having made the choice, one should remain steadfast in that choice."

p17, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 1-57062-944-7

One treats thoughts as welcome yet transient guests

"This is why in the practice of shi-nè we let go and let be. We do not encourage thought, yet neither do we block it. We treat the process of thought gently. We let thoughts come, and we let thoughts go. We translate shi-nè as 'remaining uninvolved.' If thoughts arise, one lets them arise; if they dissolve, one allows their dissolution. If thoughts are present, one allows their presence. One does not add to them or protract them. If thoughts depart, one does not detain them. One treats them as welcome yet transient guests. One treats thought as a fire that has served its purpose -- one merely ceases to add further fuel. If one stops fueling thought with active involvement, thought settles and one enters into a calm and undisturbed state"

p44, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 1-57062-944-7

The Lama is integral and essential with regard to practice

"Different lineages and different Lamas have their own particular approaches, and one cannot proceed without advice as to the path one chooses to follow. The Lama is integral and essential with regard to practice, and so all decisions about what is or is not necessary depend on one's own Lama. It would be inappropriate, therefore, to take advice on this subject from a book -- if that book conflicted with the advice one had received from one's chosen Lama."

p16, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 1-57062-944-7

Make a difference to how we are in the world

"If we get up from our meditation cushion feeling we have done well but do not remember it in our everyday life, the experience never extends out into our life to make a difference to how we are in the world."

p101, Relaxing into Meditation, Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1898185178

The Khandro's Spacious Nature

"Any attempt to glamourise herself distances the khandro from her spacious nature. The committed femme fatale merely occludes herself as khandro through assuming the clothing, dialogue, and mien of societally sanctioned pulchritude."

p186, Entering the Heart of the Sun and Moon, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books Inc., 2010, 978-0965394833

Remain open

"It is a shame to become fixated on any idea. One should always attempt to remain open to anything that contradicts one's most cherished beliefs."

p94, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam & Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 1-57062-944-7

One has to die

"In order to have some apprehension of what death is, one has to die ...we have to discover the moment of death every day. "

The Nine Bardos,Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia