History

History was composed of what happened and what was sensed – what was ordinary and what was extraordinary. The important factor to bear in mind about history—in the Vajrayana sense—was it’s subtle function in terms of perception. 

p164, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

Entirely open to understanding

Vajrayana was no longer something to be learnt word-by-word—fact-by-fact—category-by-category. It was a living coherent organism which was entirely open to understanding – as long as one was possessed of the experience of silent sitting. 

p244, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

The most stupendous discovery

My time in Tso Pema had turned into the most stupendous discovery. Rinpoche had taught me how to see the principle and function of the teachings – and in so doing unlocked the enormous wealth of Vajrayana. 

p244, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

Logic through poetry

It struck me then—as it did so many times—that Vajrayana was ART.  Künzang Dorje Rinpoche had just brought out logic through poetry – the poetry of Düd’jom Rinpoche’s name. He was Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje too – the Fearless Primordial Thunderbolt of Wisdom.

p199, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

The inconceivable view of Dzogchen

Phenomenal existence—experienced either as duality or nonduality—is simply display. One must realise their inseparability as the natural state. The natural state is all-encompassing, all-pervasive space. It is inexpressible spacious clarity. This is the inconceivable view of Dzogchen – do do not ruin presence of natural mind with obsessive techniques and mental constructs.

p286, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

One would not need to test it

If one actually had power, one would not need to test it. If one’s power was only there for the benefit of others – then the fact that others had greater power would have no relevance. 

p164, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

The warm breath of the khandros

Recently appearing gTérma are effulgent with the warm breath of the khandros – and their authenticity is palpable. Within each lineage there is no intermediary or interface between the current living gTérton and Guru Rinpoche or Yeshé Tsogyel.

p290, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

In his ambience

Somehow it was true when I was with Düd’jom Rinpoche. There seemed to be a version of ‘me’ who seemed to rest in the natural state when with Düd’jom Rinpoche. It was as if I rested in his ambience – whenever I was with him.

p290, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

Natural joy

Rinpoche explained that a mark of authentic teaching—stemming from authentic realisation—gave rise to joy. If what was taught was merely intellectually profound—there would be no natural joy.

p213, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

Let anything happen

One has to have the courage and confidence to let anything happen.  Then one’s actions are always spontaneous and playful. This is because there is no connection with dualistic derangement.

p279, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

 

Hitting toes with a hammer

The more one realised the patterns of duality the funnier the situation became in terms of one’s experience. There was also sadness when observing those who created their own suffering without any understanding of what they were doing.  He said that it could be like watching someone hitting their toes with a hammer whilst screaming “Will this pain never end?”     

p173, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

We do not recognise

The root of delusion is duality – and occurs simply because we do not recognise the essential nature of being. Due to this, the idea of self and other as entirely separate arises – along with all other ‘subject / object’ dichotomies. 

p278, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

Transmission

In those moments I understood the nature of transmission and the nature of everything which Künzang Dorje Rinpoche had ever communicated. It was not simply the words – but the words had been a vehicle through which volumes of teaching coalesced as a seamless expanse of understanding. Rinpoche smiled at me – and filled my glass with chang. 

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

Realised-pragmatism

Künzang Dorje Rinpoche’s realised-pragmatism always hit me sideways. He explained that as I had no investment in my dislike – it was not lack of love. It was merely seeing people as they were. Naturally I would help such people if I could “Yes.”  Naturally I would be of benefit to such people if I could “Yes.”  Naturally I would speak in a kindly way to such people “Yes.”

p161, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

Humour

Rinpoche spoke then of humour and the importance of humour in teaching. Humour was often linked with sudden understanding. He said that every good Lama made jokes and found humour in situations. The fact that we were both beginninglessly realised and fettered by duality – was funny.

p173, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

A sudden ‘Phat!’

Rinpoche shouted a sudden ‘Phat!’  I felt myself splatter across the room.  I didn't jump as I had on many previous occasions. I probably flinched slightly as my autonomic nervous system reacted involuntarily –  but the effect was still violent.  I sat there as my ‘self’ or my reality reassembled.

p209, Goodbye Forever Vol III, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2023, ISBN 9781898185666

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