The meaning of ‘accident’

The Nyingma are indeed called ‘the accident lineage’, but not because they are accident prone.  The meaning of ‘accident’ is more concerned with working with chaos than surviving calamity.  The nature of reality is the dance of chaos and order.  Order arises out of chaos and dissolves back into chaos—and this is why Nyingmas are not overly concerned with establishing institutions.

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

Continually breaking through

Becoming a Buddhist is a process of continually becoming a Buddhist – of continually breaking through limitations and conditioned perception.

p86, Rays of the Sun, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-06-2

The basic ground of being

The essence is empty.  The nature is clear and unimpeded.  The energy is free of all barriers and is boundlessly compassionate.  We have arrived at what is known as the kun-zhi – the basic ground of being beyond duality and non-duality.

p102, Rays of the Sun, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-06-2

A superbly complete portrait

The form of the yidam is essentially instructive.  Through assuming this form, we learn to experience ourselves as possessing limitless capacities.  The limitless nature of our capacities is described by the many different forms in which yidam can be practised.  Each form is a particular avenue of approach to the experience of enlightenment.  Every image is a complete portrait of the enlightened state.

p97-98, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, ISBN 1-898185-03-4 

A grand illusion

Without the Lama there is no way out of the experience of infinite cross-referencing.  No matter how differently we experience our various explorations into the internalised world of ‘sense-making’, they always add up to the same thing: justification for our need to maintain a grand illusion.  This illusion is duality.

p143, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, ISBN 1-898185-03-4 

Liberation

Liberation is ours to see, hear, touch, smell, taste, and ideate – but all we seem to sense is the shifting surface of that vastness.  We see reflections, but are blind to the nature of the mirror.  We see waves, but fail to experience the ocean.  We see clouds, but cannot conceive of the sky.

p188, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Tortuous patterns

Essentially we have always been nondual.  Dualistic derangement is merely the fear of that fact – playing itself out in tortuous patterns.

p188, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Inspiration

This is something crucial to apprehend.  Inspiration surrounds us continually: in the laughter of seagulls; in passages of music; in the natural beauty of phenomena; in the beauty of the kindness which can flow out of human beings; in the unexpected, spontaneous, and surprising experience of existence.

p313, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Life-spark of enthusiasm

We need a clear idea of why we are engaged with this practice of Vajrayana.  There needs to be some fire burning in us – some dynamic life-spark of enthusiasm which characterises us as members of this tradition.

p313, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Attraction to Vajrayana

The most receptive audience for Vajrayana should be Artists – but unfortunately Artists don't often seem attracted to Vajrayana because they see it as ‘religion’ and ‘religion’ tends to have a reputation for repression of individuality.  Whilst this tends to be true for institutionalised religion – it bears no similarity to essential Vajrayana.

p219, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Theatre of existence

Love touches people through Art: not simply through the Arts of music, painting, sculpture, poetry, literature, and drama – but through the constantly performing theatre of existence.  Art and the nature of the senses continually imitate, intimate, and initiate each other.

p220, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Compassionate society

There is no guarantee that any conventional point of view can create a compassionate society.  Obsession with individual freedom at the expense of others is the death of compassion.  Obsession with neurotic parental concern at the expense of the personal liberty of others is the death of wisdom.

p217, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Indoctrination

People often fail to question the commonly accepted version of reality into which they have been indoctrinated.  It’s not necessarily a deliberate process of indoctrination – it merely happens as part of the way human society functions.

 p216, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

The splendid dance

We wish you nonreferential joy and gleeful abandon. We wish you passion and spaciousness in the splendid dance of your sense-fields and sense perceptions.

p338, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Even when we feel bad

As practitioners in daily life. We remember we are practitioners. Even when we feel bad. We can always transform our self pity. All it takes is one act of love at a time, one act of healing, one breath. As we know, every action, no matter how seemingly small, does make a huge difference. To others and to ourselves. By giving we receive.

Lama Bar-ché Dorje, 29th August 2023, on Drala Thang Facebook       

Division

Duality, in whatever human context, always produces division.  The ways in which ‘division’ expresses itself are endless.  Each way in which ‘division’ expresses itself also provides a method of dissolving that division. 

p416, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Mind discovers itself

The sounds of the vulture’s flight are the methods of practice.  The great white vulture glides effortlessly above the range and reach of concept.  Through these movements, Mind discovers itself in the inherently free space of being.  The vulture has no fear of terrible heights – because the sky is her natural home.

p139, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Surrealism

Being that the phenomenal world is an illusion from the perspective of dualistic derangement – it is useful to have whimsical alternatives to such illusions.  Surrealism provides such alternative illusions – and prompts us to examine what we take reality to be. 

p181, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Consciousness and awareness

The aspect of mind which is conscious of something, is a discontinuous consciousness – whereas awareness is continuous.

p264, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

Nothing to do

Every aspect of dualistic patterning can dissolve by itself.  There is actually nothing to do.  The Dzogchen view is that we are already realised.  We simply need to discover that.  We need to leave everything as it is.  If we simply allow that which arises in mind to move according to it’s own movement... it will naturally self-liberate.

p300, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

Be the people you are

We do not blather about humility, temperance, modesty, abstinence, patience, virtue, tolerance, sanctity, devotion, piety, and the need to destroy ‘ego’.  We would find such a discourse distasteful. So, be as exuberant as you like.  Be vivid.  Be naturally glorious, magnificent, spontaneous, extemporaneous, whimsical, delighted.  Laugh often and be the people you are.

p355, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

Love could expand

Nothing makes us happier than witnessing someone falling in love with an aspect of the phenomenal world.  It’s an indication that this love could expand to include everyone and everything everywhere.

p267, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

Like the sky

Awareness is like the sky.  Consciousness is like a bird in the sky.  Birds fly into sight and out of sight.  If one concentrates on the movement of birds, one will lose concentration repeatedly. 

p264, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

Whether we like it or not

Whether we like it or not – Vajrayana is what is happening.  Vajrayana is the warp and weft of reality. 

p236, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

Wind horse

rLung rTa—wind horse—is appreciative vitality, in which the appreciation and vitality incite each other.

p340, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

Humour

Healthy humour is being able to laugh at oneself – unhealthy humour is laughing at others.

p261, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4   

Constant companion

This story ... is interesting from the point of view of ambivalence being our constant companion until we no longer perceive in a dualistic manner.  Confidence and doubt continually tickle each other as long as duality exists – even for the greatest practitioners.  This is why it is so important to treat ambivalence as workable ground.

p222, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, ISBN 1-898185-03-4 

Prejudice

Because devotion to the form of the yidam is crucial to Vajrayana, there can be no negative aesthetic considerations.  People cannot be practitioners of Vajrayana if they have prejudice against style of human manifestation. 

p108, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

Some kind of honour

It’s only possible to live your life well if you have some ability to direct yourself.  You need to be able to see things through; to be able to go through difficulties and not turn back.  You need some kind of honour.

p192, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, ISBN 1-898185-03-4 

Thought

Thought itself is not a problem.  Thought is not the deceiving enemy.  I am the deceiving enemy – because I appropriate thought to validate my existence as solid, permanent, separate, continuous, and defined.

p73, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

Self-liberation

Self-liberation is simply what happens if we do nothing to prevent it.  Doing nothing to prevent it, however, can be extremely difficult.  It could take a second or a century.

p65, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4   

What we love

We should prioritise what we love – and what animates existence.  To do less is to be less than half alive,  Life sparkles with intrinsic magic that is suddenly and delightfully communicative when you find yourself in love.

p163, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

All there is

The play of the elements is actually all there is.  It’s completely simple – and the vast spectrum of Vajrayana is an extrapolation of that.

p162, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

As if it were a film

Vajra simple-mindedness is the power to cut through the unnecessary complications manufactured by attempting to edit life, as if it were a film.  We need to abandon attempts to rewrite Vajrayana in order to splice together a ‘dualistically coherent movie’.

p165, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Individuality

Individuality is not a frequently used word in Himalayan Buddhism – because it is important to undermine the need to adhere to a fixed identity.  Authentic individuality however, is simply the discovery of authentic appreciation.  If one discovers authentic appreciation – one becomes unique.

p297, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Before we begin

There is nothing to change before we begin.  Where we are, is where we begin.  This is not in order to change how we are – but simply to release how we are into the dimension of actively appreciative empathy.

p187, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Dangerous territory

Emptiness happens.  Dangerous territory is wherever the rules do not apply – and that can be anywhere.  Rules are form – but then emptiness happens.

p161, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

One wing

A wingless bird cannot fly.  A bird with one wing also cannot fly.   One requires both method and wisdom.

p243, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Love radiates

The love which radiates from our primordial natural state cannot help but sparkle through – no matter how insecure, frightened, isolated, anxious, or bewildered we become.

p242, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Reliable and unreliable

The Lama is both ultimately reliable and relatively unreliable.  The Lama is ultimately reliable with respect to Vajrayana – and relatively unreliable with regard to supporting dualistic neuroses.

p71, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Thespianism

The nondual stage is thespianism sans: rehearsal; sans script; sans narrative; sans intermission; sans intimation of a final scene – and sans the requirement of playing a part.

p74, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Worry is wonderful.

Worry is wonderful.  Worry is the perfect indication that one relies on thought when thought fails to accomplish what one wishes it to accomplish.  If a tool repeatedly failed to work it would be jettisoned.  That is all there is to understand in respect of thought as the universal remedy. 

p73, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Vajra commitment

Vajra commitment is the openness to questioning arrogant, unkind, selfish, manipulative, or thoughtless behaviour.  This is the only kind of vajra commitment in which we are actually interested.

p313, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Allow the senses to dance

Allow the sense-fields to be as they are.  Allow the senses to dance with the sense-fields.  That, in itself, is the meditative state.  Every artist will understand that experientially – even if they know nothing of meditation.

p200, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Being our own enemies

When we accept confusion as the rich ground from which clarity can be discovered, we can cease being our own enemies.

p197, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

We may continue to see our students or not

It is good to make friends with death.  Whenever the plane takes off, we recite Yeshé Tsogyel mantra.  Whenever the plane lands, we recite Vajra Guru mantra.  This is not for protection or a ‘thank you’ for the protection – but as the recognition that we may continue to see our students or not.

p169, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

A sense field

Conceptuality is a sense field as much as the other sense – but apart from artists, most people prioritise the linguistic aspects of thought.

p416, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Tuning oneself

Reciting mantra is a process of tuning oneself like a musical instrument.  One begins to resonate with the power of the mantra.

p414, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Essentially sacred

Because you’re a symbol of your beginningless nondual condition—and because all beings likewise are symbols—there can be no being who is not essentially scared according to the pure vision of Vajrayana.

p327, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

State of being

Meditation is not fundamentally a technique – it is a state of being.

p150, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4