The yanas

The first question to ask if you are confused by conflicting aspects of the teachings is ‘What are the yanas involved with these seemingly opposing views?’… If you understand the principles of the yanas, then nothing will ever be confusing.  

p292, Warp and Weft of Wonderment, Ngakma Mé-tsal, Aro Books Worldwide, 2024, ISBN 9781898185680

Laughter

That there had to be both laughter and devotion or there’d be no real understanding was an entirely astonishing statement – or rather, it was astonishing to me. It hit me as transmission – because the words ignited a state of awareness. I sat there speechless for some moments.  

p157, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666  

Failure and success

If your sense of existence doesn’t depend on anything, then failure and success can be simple failure and simple success.  When failure doesn’t threaten you, then it’s just failure.  You might even be able to laugh about it!

p98, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, ISBN 0-9653948-0-8

Owning what we feel

We cannot blame anyone or anything for how we feel.  Owning what we feel is actually a very useful practice – but that’s not to say that we’ll always find it easy.  

p198, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, ISBN 0-9653948-0-8

A spring-board

Anything that is done with a compassionate intention is valuable.  Also, anything that concerns the experience of a broader frame of human reference has the possibility of providing a spring-board, or an approach to realisation.

p200, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, ISBN 0-9653948-0-8