Our view

"Having developed wisdom through our analysis of our view of a friend, an enemy and a stranger, our hearts spontaneously open with a wish to extend a kind response to them

."
p104, Relaxing into Meditation, Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1898185178

Intolerance

"It is ignorance, amongst other things, that breeds intolerance. "

p227, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, 1-898185-03-4

Ethics and morality

"If a person is kind-and seeks the happiness and well being of others as a natural response to being alive-then ethics and morality will be intrinsic."

p15 Wisdom Eccentrics, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, Inc, 2011, 978-0965394864

Rigpa

"Rigpa is the state of pure and total presence, stripped of referential clinging."

p53, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 978-1570629440

Thought

"According to Dzogchen, thought is a natural function of Mind. Just as the other sense faculties are natural to our physical existence, so is thought."

p63, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 978-1570629440

Hung

"Hung is the heart syllable, the seed syllable of Padmasambhava. Hung is also the seed syllable of Yeshé Tsogyel. Hung is the primordial union of emptiness and form; the understanding of which, in itself, encompasses refuge and bodhicitta. There is no refuge and bodhicitta greater than the comprehension of the non-duality of emptiness and form."

Seven Line Song, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Ögyen yul-gi nub-chang tsam

"Ögyen is a name of a land. It is also a term which is used to indicate the origin of Vajrayana. Ögyen yul is an epithet for sem-nyid (sems nyid) – the nature of Mind. The word ‘tsam’, the last word of the first line of the Dorje Tsigdun, means juncture – the point instant of discovery. In common terms—according to mundane understanding, and with reference to our previous discussion—Ögyen yul, this green and pleasant land, is the place where we find what we have lost – the non-dual state."

Seven Line Song, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Self-liberation

"We experience self-liberation of whatever arises and are unconditioned by the phenomena of our own perception. Every action is pure appropriateness; bewilderment has become wonderment."

p37, Rays of the Sun, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-06-2

The phenomena of Mind

"The phenomena of Mind create vivid displays that ornament reality as the fundamental nature of compassion."

p81, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 978-1570629440

A habit

"A habit is only a habit when you are unaware of it. As soon as you are aware of it, it is a choice."

Authentication of Aro Ling, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, quoted by Naljorpa Bar-ché Dorje

Approaching practice

"In the Aro gTér, we approach practice from the perspective of Dzogchen – and we approach everyday life from the perspective of Tantra. This means that practice is approached according to awareness of one’s condition."

 Interview 6th of June 1994, Ngak’chang Rinpoche, 06/06/1994

Refuge

"Through practice we come to understand that there is no state or object that can give us safety from the neuroses of our own minds. We come to understand that the only way we can be liberated from conditioned perception and response, and the confusion that arises from our attempts to separate emptiness and form, is to aspire to the enlightened state and the spontaneous realisation of the non-duality of emptiness and form. This confidence and Refuge can only remain alive and of use to us through practice."

Refuge, Ngala Nor’dzin Pamo, Aro Encyclopaedia

Referentiality

"Referentiality is the process by which we retreat from the direct experience of everyday life. Being present in the moment may be initially fearful, but by welcoming the sensation of fear with complete openness we cut through the barriers created by habitual emotional reaction patterns."

Refuge, Ngala Nor’dzin Pamo, Aro Encyclopaedia

Emotional responses

"We are not wholly responsible for every aspect of our circumstances but we are entirely responsible for our emotional responses in each moment."

The Ten Paramitas, Khandro Déchen, Aro Encyclopaedia

Beginninglessly enlightened

"We all have basic goodness because we are beginninglessly enlightened. We spend our lives naturally manifesting basic goodness – yet we suppress it with referentiality – attempting to prove to ourselves that we are solid, permanent, separate, continuous, and defined."

The Ten Paramitas, Khandro Déchen, Aro Encyclopaedia

Falling in love

"Falling in love is gloriously unpredictable-and as such, presents us with a context in which to turn our fixed concepts inside out."

p102, Entering the Heart of the Sun and Moon, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books Inc., 2010, 978-0965394833

Working with view

"Being able to work with view means opening yourself to seeing the five-fold expressions of duality as being the warp and weft of your life's experience."

p237, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, 0-9653948-0-8

Dualism

"Dualism is the split between emptiness and form, existence and non-existence."

Seven Line Song, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Experiences with emptiness

"Our usual experiences with emptiness can be disconcerting and uncomfortable, so it is helpful to become accustomed to this experience in our meditation practice in order to find emptiness less threating when it naturally occurs

."
p135, Relaxing into Meditation, Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1898185178

Infinite hall of mirrors

"Vajrayana reveals an infinite hall of mirrors in which there is no final answer beyond the fleeting answers-shifting endlessly within the empty mirror."

p57, Entering the Heart of the Sun and Moon, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books Inc., 2010, 978-0965394833

The nature of reality

"The nature of reality is the dance of chaos and order."

p7, Emailing the Lamas from Afar, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2009, 978-0-9653948-5-7

The bedazzlement of existence

"We do not need to ritualise the universe with nihilistic pretences. All we need to do is gaze tenderly at the living bedazzlement of existence. We could just simply gaze at whatever arises and enjoy the immense vision. We would then realise that celebration is taking place without remission in the vastness of inner and outer space."

p171, Emailing the Lamas from Afar, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2009, 978-0-9653948-5-7

Whole-hearted intention

"When we open our perception, we do not feel constrained to anticipate events or people's possible reactions. We stop registering every being detected by our perceptual sonar in terms of our preconceptions. Perception then begins to expand beyond its set boundaries. Once perception has begun to open we're led naturally toward the liberation in our responses, which is known as whole-hearted intention.."

p33, Rays of the Sun, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-06-2

Letting go

"Dying means letting go of self-image and self-conception. We have to let go of what we are and open ourselves to what we can un-become. From a Buddhist point of view it is unbecoming not to un-become."

p87, Rays of the Sun, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-06-2

Everyone is a fascinating manifestation

"Everyone is beginninglessly enlightened. Everyone may be worth listening to, seeing and knowing. Everyone is a fascinating manifestation of form and emptiness.."

p199, Spacious Passion , Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-07-9

Mantra

"Mantra is the sense of terminal intimacy with the sound – through which one's capacities become ‘self apparent’. Mantra is a ‘carrier wave’ on which the unique frequency of the yidam travels. By reciting mantra, one tunes oneself to the ‘frequency’ of the yidam."

The Bristol Talks, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Practice excites change

"Practice inevitably excites change. The whole thrust of Dharma is that it is a path that will transform our experience and behaviour."

p91, Spacious Passion , Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-07-9

Celebrate

"Celebrate every aspect of each other"

p31, Emailing the Lamas from Afar, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2009, 978-0-9653948-5-7

If there was no sadness in loss

"If there was no sadness in loss, there would have been no joy prior to it – but that sadness does not have to be permanent"

p9, Emailing the Lamas from Afar, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2009, 978-0-9653948-5-7

With awareness and kindness

"With awareness and kindness there is no limit to the possibilities available in terms of being human."

p114, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, 0-9653948-0-8

Spectrum of radiant energies

"Every emotion is an open-ended opportunity. Every feeling or sensation we experience is an expression of enlightenment-a manifestation of our spectrum of radiant energies."

p32, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, 0-9653948-0-8

The Lama exemplifies the fruition of the path

"The Lama is the one who exemplifies the fruition of the path; through the fabric of his or her vajra personality."

p152, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, 1-898185-03-4

Tantra is based on the experience of emptiness

"Tantra is based on the experience of emptiness, and through this experience we can come to the actual knowledge, that all negative or painful states of mind are merely distortions of our enlightened nature."

p110, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, 1-898185-03-4

All people are basically the same

"Recognising that all people are the basically the same, with the same needs, hopes and aspirations, can help us avoid feeling threatened when those needs, hopes and aspirations have different flavours and qualities from our own."

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

Our view

"Our view is the basis of all our expectations of life, our interpretations of circumstances, and our responses to the experiences we encounter in our lives."

p99, Relaxing into Meditation, Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1898185178

Daily practice

"Simple daily practice will gradually enable us to become less stressed, less emotionally churned up by the things that happen to us, and more relaxed about who are."

p80, Relaxing into Meditation, Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1898185178

Wisdom and compassion

"Wisdom and compassion are simply the recognisable human qualities of emptiness and form."
 
p72, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, 1-898185-03-4

Energy of practice

"When view is open and clear, and the energy of our being is the energy of practice, activity naturally arises that is congruent with the realisation of nonduality."

p55, Spacious Passion , Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-07-9

Devotion

"Devotion is the energy which allows you to be open to the uncompromising nature of the Lama-disciple relationship. Devotion is, actually, the ability to die and be reborn continually in your relationship with the Lama."

p122, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, 1-898185-03-4

Reflections of emptiness

"Emptiness is the moment before a situation is born. Emptiness is comprehension. Emptiness is astonishment or wordless wonder. Emptiness is the quality of sensation that is neither one thing nor another. These are all reflections of emptiness."

p42, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, 1-898185-03-4

Happiness

"Our happiness-or lack of it-doesn't seem to rely on the 'the thing itself' but on our relationship with 'the thing'. That relationship is mostly entirely independent of 'the thing'."

p24, Rays of the Sun, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-06-2

Practice of kindness

"In everyday life we have the ideal opportunity to develop our practice of kindness, because we are constantly brought into contact with others."

p67, Rays of the Sun, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-06-2

Strength

"Strength comes from acknowledgement of weakness – the ability or strength to be vulnerable."

The Ten Paramitas, Khandro Déchen, Aro Encyclopaedia

Letting go

"Letting Go is the ground of meditation practice and the base from which all other methods can arise."

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

If one practises

"If one practises vision, meditation, and action with this knowledge—without stressful striving—one attains liberation in this lifetime. Failing that – one finds at the very least a restful and relaxed mind."

Striking the Essence, Dza Paltrul Rinpoche,
Aro Encyclopaedia

Dorje Tsigdun

"From the point of view of Dzogchen we have to know how to practise essentially. We have to have some sense of how to maintain a stream of practice through our lives, through illness, and through each different circumstance that may arise. Dorje Tsigdun is valuable in this respect, because it contains everything that is required."

Seven Line Song, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Being

"Being is not attached to reference points. Being does not rely for its existence on any style of perceptual cross-referencing. Trying to pin-point being is like attempting to suspend time and movement - it is 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

Vajra commitment

"Vajra commitment is an obvious immediate consequence of the vows if you view it in the context of ‘harmonising with Reality’ rather than ‘obeying orders’. It is a matter of view rather than mechanically doing what one is told. If one views the Lama as a Buddha, i.e. a fully enlightened being, then what the Lama says and does is nothing other than a direct manifestation of Reality."

Vajra Command, Ngakma Shardröl, Aro Encyclopaedia

Seven-Line Song

"Seven-Line Song is sometimes called Seven-Line Prayer/Tsig-dun Soldep, or Dorje Tsig-dun/Seven Thunderbolt Phrases. We both sing and chant Seven-Line Song. When one practices it as Song, one finds the presence of awareness in the dimension of sound."

Compassion & The Nine Yanas, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Patience

"From the view of Vajrayana, patience or Zopa (bZod pa – kshanti paramita) does not mean acceptance, forbearance, and suffering. According to Vajrayana, patience involves intelligent open-minded striving, in which the situation is propelled at its optimal velocity – neither forcing it, nor failing in the attempt to facilitate movement."

The Ten Paramitas, Khandro Déchen, Aro Encyclopaedia