The two major considerations

Actually shi-nè and lhatong—stillness and change—are the two major considerations whatever the activity in which you engage.

p184, Warp and Weft of Wonderment, Ngakma Mé-tsal, Aro Books Worldwide, 2024, ISBN 9781898185680

Stillness and movement

Shi-nè is the moment of silence – the moment of stillness in which there is no distraction. Lhatong is the moment in which the practitioner integrates with movement – the movement in which the arrow is released or the trigger is squeezed.  The two cannot be divided. 

p183, Warp and Weft of Wonderment, Ngakma Mé-tsal, Aro Books Worldwide, 2024, ISBN 9781898185680

Reflex responses

As long as people have patellar reflex responses to anything it means they haven’t stabilised shi-nè, let alone lhatong, nyi’mèd or lhundrüp. For those who have good experience of shi-nè however – they will no longer be subject to automatic or autonomic emotional responses.

p414, Warp and Weft of Wonderment, Ngakma Mé-tsal, Aro Books Worldwide, 2024, ISBN 9781898185680

Existential definition of being

Being is both: thought and absence of thought; phenomena and emptiness; pattern and chaos.  When practising shi-nè however, it becomes evident that this existential definition is not comfortable to a dualistic mindset.

 p104, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Boredom marks the beginning of realisation

Once you develop experience of shi-nè, boredom is no longer boredom – it becomes a rolling wave of energy.  So, boredom marks the beginning of realisation.  Without boredom there’s no discovery.

p81, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Freedom to manifest

When we dissolve shi-nè—and allow the natural energy of Mind to re-emerge from emptiness—we are not creating anything – we are simply allowing.  As soon as energy begins to re-emerge, all that is necessary is to allow that energy the freedom to manifest.

p52, Shock Amazement: The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind.   Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam,  Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1 

A provocative irritant

  As soon as shi-nè is practised with sufficient determination, it is discovered that ‘definitions of existence’ are a barrier to enjoying existence.  The barrier is built of feelings of insubstantiality, fear, isolation, agitation, and phlegmatic tedium.  Shi-nè is a provocative irritant to each of these feelings.  Life also irritates these feelings – but not as definitively.  The dualistic rationale continually seeks definition – so, in a sense, shi-nè causes the relaxation of that continual struggle for self-definition.

p31-32, Shock Amazement: The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind.   Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam,  Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1 

Keep calm and carry on

   The best way that we know for people to keep calm—or become calm in the first place—is called ཞི་གནས་ / zhi gNas / Shi-né. 

This has been translated in many ways: the most common being Calm Abiding. Literally it means Peace Remain.   We usually translate this as ‘Remaining Uninvolved With What Arises’.  This is the only way there is – or has ever been.  There are many different practices.  There are many different mantras.  There are many different visualisations – but, basically, if one has no basis in ཞི་གནས་ then these marvellous practices will be of no use in any case.
  
So, this returns us to Silent Sitting.  If you are calm then, everyone around you will become calm – simply by knowing that you are calm.  The more people who become calm the calmer people will become.

Posted by Ngak'chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen to sangha on WhatsApp 14th March 2020

Fear of non-existence

   The discovery of shi-nè confronts fear of non-existence as being both the driving force of duality – and the sparkling through of non-duality.  So—in one sense—it is quite justifiable to mistrust the nature of personal identity.  That mistrust however, is usually aimed in the wrong direction.  The open dimension of being is mistrusted rather than the conceptual criteria by which existence is habitually validated.                                                             

p31, Shock Amazement  : The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind.
Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam,  Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1

Vulnerability and freedom

   Shi-nè provides face-to-face experience with: insecurity, fear, loneliness, vulnerability, and bewilderment.  These underlying tensions are common to all – and create distortion whether or not shi-nè is practised.  Avoiding shi-nè is therefore not an answer.  Self-hidden vulnerabilities cause greater conflict in being hidden than in being exposed.  Clarity spontaneously arises from the discovery of openness within the practice of shi-nè.
Self-transparency manifests – and motivation becomes simpler in being seen nakedly.  A natural compassion arises – a compassion which does not need to be forced or fabricated.  This is the first real taste of freedom.

p25-26, Shock Amazement  : The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind.
Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam,  Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1

Meditation as civil disobedience

Meditation is our only our weapon against the repressive regime of karma and it constitutes civil disobedience in the form of passive resistance.  By allowing the development of experiential space through the practice of shi-nè—according to the four naljors—we discover our own intrinsic awareness.  The four naljors of Dzogchen sem-dé are the ultimate crimes against the ‘law of karma’ and are punishable by realisation – the final revolution and overthrow of the legal system.

p53, Rays of the Sun, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, ISBN 978-1-898185-06-2

Force results either in hilarity or frustration

The practice of shi-nè involves the renunciation of attachment to form as a reference point.  Through shi-nè we learn that we cannot force thought.  We need to be completely purposelessly welcoming. Whatever thought arises simply moves in its own way.  Any approach involving force results either in hilarity or frustration.  One needs a sense of humour about one’s condition.  One catches oneself trying to force meditation – repeatedly.  All we can do, however, is watch ourselves in the process of trying, until trying wears itself out with trying in the open space of awareness.  This is patience in terms of shi-nè – as we speak of it from the point of view of the Four Naljors of Dzogchen sem-dé.

Aro Encyclopaedia Index: The Ten Paramitas, Khandro Déchen  

Boredom is actually the threshold of discovery

It is said that meditation isn’t, because it’s not an end in itself.  It is said that getting used to is, because the enlightened state is already there and we simply have to become accustomed to that.  So, meditation is getting used to the enlightened state, cooperating with the enlightened state.
What’s important is simply being.  We simply get used to the condition in which thoughts are not present or in which they arise and dissolve.  Boredom is actually the threshold of discovery.  This is just the point at which something interesting could happen—if we simply continue to sit. 
p24, Roaring Silence: Discovering the Mind of Dzogchen, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, ISBN 1-57062-944-7

Creative potential and vibrant emptiness

Imagination relies on empty perception.  Painting relies on empty planes.  Sculpture relies on empty space.  Music relies on empty time.  Literature relies on empty concepts.  If we are to realise the art of freedom, if we are to discover our creative potential, we need to rely on the experience of our instrinsic vibrant emptiness—the beginningless ground of what we are.
The gateway to the art of freedom is the practice of shi-nè—our method of approaching the white canvas of Mind.



p49, Roaring Silence: Discovering the Mind of Dzogchen, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, ISBN 1-57062-944-7

Just be in the present moment

In the practice of shi-nè—remaining uninvolved—if thoughts come and go, simply allow them to lap like the tide.  If you get caught up in a thought-story and lose the presence of your awareness in the movement of breath –  just return to it as soon as you become aware of having drifted off.  There is no need to get angry or irritated with yourself – these reactions are just opportunities to indulge in referentiality.  Maintain an open, humorous and relaxed attitude.  Expect nothing.  Be attached to nothing.  Reject nothing.  Just be in the present moment. 

p83 and p85, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, ISBN 0-9653948-0-8

Letting go of our addiction to the thought process

The discovery of space begins with shi-nè.  Shi-nè is the practice of letting go of our addiction to the thought process. 
 
There is no special breathing technique.  Just let your breath flow as it will.  At first you should simply find the presence of your awareness in the inward and outward movement of your breath.  If thoughts arise do not try to block them.  Just let them be.  If thoughts drift away do not detain them or grasp at them.  Just let them go.  Rest your attention in the movement of your breath.  If thoughts come and go, simply allow them to lap like the tide. 

p38 and p85, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, ISBN 0-9653948-0-8

Shi-nè

"Shi-nè equates to the path of renunciation, because one renounces attachment to that which arises in mind. It also equates in Sutra with the path of compassion, because one is also compassionate with regard to that which arises in mind. It is not that I sit there and kill all that arises. If it arises, I allow it to arise. And if it remains, I allow it to remain. If it dissolves, I allow it to dissolve. So I have in this practice endless accommodation for that which arises; I do not stop it from arising; I do not protract it either; I do not become attached to it; I do not contain it; I do not control it. I allow it to perform."

Compassion, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Keep letting go

"Whatever it is, whatever arises, you let go. You can just keep letting go. You find yourself attached to it again, it arises, you let it go. The whole teaching around shi-nè is pretty blunt and simplistic – it is just let go. Whatever it is, whatever the problem is, I let go. "

Inspiration and Practice, Ngak’chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

A rolling wave of energy

"Once we develop our experience of shi-nè, boredom is no longer 'boredom' but a wellspring of nourishment-a rolling wave of energy."

p23, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 978-1570629440

Shi-nè

"The practice of shi-nè involves letting go of the thought process."

p70, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, 1-898185-03-4