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 

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   

Cheerfulness

If we cannot laugh at ourselves – we cannot laugh with others or cause others to laugh.  Laughter is a gift – and causing laughter is an act of kindness.  Laughter requires space – space to see the ridiculous in our situations as beginninglessly enlightened beings who create the illusion of duality.  That is really rather funny.  It is also rather sad, tragic – but that very paradox is what puts us at the pivotal point of the precious human rebirth.

p47, Emailing the Lamas from Afar, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2009, ISBN 978-0-9653948-5-7