‘Thinking’ and ‘the thinker’

   In the non-dual state we are present with the free movement of whatever arises.  Thought is simply an ornament of perception.  ‘Thinking’ and ‘the thinker’ are not isolated events which solicit each other for reassurance.  Thinking and concept can simply exist as ornaments of the non-dual state – free of the artificial function in which they are goaded into providing proofs that we are solid, permanent, separate, continuous, and defined.
There is —actually—no way to understand the free manifestation of concept within the non-dual state from the perspective of dualism. 

p206, Emailing the Lamas from Afar, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2009, ISBN 978-0-9653948-5-7

Viruses in the fabric of perception

Today—when I teach—if someone doesn’t understand me, I try a few alternative ways of explaining.  If these fail I know that the person must have some philosophical construct— that is acting almost like a computer virus—that I have to unearth.  Most people are not even aware that these viruses exist in the fabric of their perception – so they do not know what they do not understand.  It’s then up to the teacher to identify it.  That is not always as difficult as it may sound – because it’s usually connected with one of the four philosophical extremes: monism, dualism, nihilism, or eternalism.
If a person wants to hang on to any one of the four philosophical extremes as being valid – then Buddhism will either never make sense, or become distorted.
This is what I learned from Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche – and a great deal more.  Each story that follows elucidates some aspect of Buddhism.  Rinpoche’s method was to teach me how to find my own answers – and find them to be Buddhism.

p76-77, Wisdom Eccentrics : Rumours of realisation as told by Künzang Dorje Rinpoche with additional tales of the unexpected.  
Ngakpa Chögyam,  Aro Books, 2011, ISBN 978-0-9653948-6-4

Dualism

"Dualism is the split between emptiness and form, existence and non-existence."

Seven Line Song, Ngak'chang Rinpoche, Aro Encyclopaedia

Our dualistic ugliness

"Our dualistic ugliness is laid bare by the light of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, but so is our sparkling nondual beauty."

p227, Spacious Passion , Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2010, 978-1-898185-07-9

Humour

"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. 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