We are not sitting in silence for ourselves

"Generosity is vital if we are to give ourselves time to sit and if we are to give all sentient beings our time of sitting. We are not sitting in silence for ourselves; that is crucial."

p124, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 978-1570629440

Something greater than yourself

"Practice is a pain in the arse - literally. Practice is a pain in the anatomy of your body, speech and mind, and you have to have something greater than yourself to keep you going through that frustration."

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

Meeting the Lama face to face

"To receive empowerment is to meet the Lama face to face, and to experience the touching of Minds - as if snow were falling into the sea, and recognizing no distinction or division."

p211, Wearing the Body of Visions, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books, 1995, 1-898185-03-4

If we are not kind

"If we are not kind, all our advanced practices are merely a colourful entertainment."

Kindness, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

The beginning of realisation

"From the point of view of shi-nè, boredom marks the beginning of realisation."

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

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

Being referenceless

"In terms of deep-rooted attachment to thought, one is getting used to non-referentiality. One is getting used to being referenceless."

p46, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 978-1570629440

Our own enlightenment

"We are unused to our own enlightenment, so meditation is a way of 'getting used to' it."

p46, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 978-1570629440

The comedy of our personal dualism

"Without humour we would be unable to relate to the idea that a Lama could comprehend the comedy of our personal dualism in an effective manner, and conjure with it to our advantage."

p15, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 1-57062-944-7

Humor

"We need humour in order to avoid taking ourselves quite so seriously; we need to be able to laugh at the fact that we continually create our own unenlightened condition."

p15, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 1-57062-944-7

View of duality

"From the point of view of duality, emptiness evokes terror. From the view of liberated-being, emptiness evokes delight."

p17, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, 0-9653948-0-8

Alternating pleasure and irritation

"Living as we do with alternating pleasure and irritation prompts us to evolve different styles of approaching life."

p3, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, 0-9653948-0-8

Letting go of our reluctance

"When we realise that we cannot relate to emptiness through the process of duality it becomes easier to consider letting go of our reluctance to dive into the ocean of direct experience."

p17, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, 0-9653948-0-8

The more we throw outselves at life

"The more we throw ourselves at life in an attempt to feel real, the more pain we tend to inflict on ourselves."

p5, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, 0-9653948-0-8

How we view things

"Our perception and field of perception are mutually self-creating. What we see incites a reaction which influences how we see it. How we view things changes how they are."

p31, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, 0-9653948-0-8

A compassionate view

"One cannot reach the empty state through control; one has to have a compassionate view of what is happening."

Compassion, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Become suspicious

"It is important as the basis of Sutra, to become suspicious enough so that we can question things, and the main principle there in terms of practice is silent sitting."

Compassion, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Texture of existence

"Vajrayana is not ‘an answer’ or ‘an antidote’ – it is an endless process of opening to the nondual texture of existence. "

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

New to practice

"When you're new to practice, you need to treat yourself a little more gently and take account of the fact that you can easily become distracted."

p160, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 978-1570629440

Silent space

"Sound manifests within silent space, and the function of practice is to discover silent mind."

p159, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 978-1570629440