Communicating with dignity

When it can take as long to spell out an acronym or letterisation in speech – there is more dignity in using the words the initials represent.  A Vajrayana practitioner needs to communicate with dignity – because Mind, Speech, and Body need to be the focus of practice in every arena of life.

p56, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4

Mind discovers itself

The sounds of the vulture’s flight are the methods of practice.  The great white vulture glides effortlessly above the range and reach of concept.  Through these movements, Mind discovers itself in the inherently free space of being.  The vulture has no fear of terrible heights – because the sky is her natural home.

p139, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4  

Consciousness and awareness

The aspect of mind which is conscious of something, is a discontinuous consciousness – whereas awareness is continuous.

p264, Tracts of the Sun : An Earth Orbit of Vajrayana Expressions.  Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1-898185-28-4 

The same nature

When life experience seems most arduous or difficult, simply remember that your Mind is of the same nature as Padmasambhava and Yeshé Tsogyel.

p204, 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 closed system

Thought cannot examine itself in any ultimate sense – it is a closed system.  Thought can no more examine its own nature than a knife can cut itself, or an eye see itself.  The only way an eye can see itself is to avail itself of a mirror.  The nature of that mirror—vis à vis thought—is the natural reflective capacity of Mind, which is beyond thought.

p48, 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 

Gazing

We can consider the possibility of gazing at the glittering surface of the ocean of Mind – at sun-light and star-light glinting.  Gazing is an openness which sees—with transparence— the nature of our relationship with reference points.

p43-44, 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 

Mind would abide in its natural dimension

Dudjom Rinpoche said that one must keep one’s body in equanimous stasis in order that the spatial nerves would be in natural alignment – and the spatial winds unobstructed.  If the spatial winds were unobstructed, then mind would abide in its natural dimension where the spatial essences manifest as primal creativity.

p73, Goodbye Forever Vol. II, Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2021, ISBN 978-1-898185-60-4   

Sky mind, cloud mind

In our attachment to this specific physical form, we have forgotten that mind does not depend on physicality.  Through attaching all experience to the sphere of our physicality, we limit our awareness of the nature of Mind.  Practice enables us to experience Sky mind, rather than remaining trapped in cloud mind with its referential need to grasp at physical form.

p112-113, Spacious Passion Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books, 2006 ISBN: 978-0-9653948-4-0

Then the mind begins to awaken

The rider must focus on the horse.  In this way, the rider is empty in relation to the form of the horse.  Through this relationship, the horse is able to respond fully, and achieve its potential.  The meditator learns emptiness in order to clarify the relationship with form, and thereby discover the nonduality of emptiness and form.  Then the mind begins to awaken.  

p10, Battlecry of Freedom  Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books Worldwide, 2019, ISBN 978-1-898185-46-8  

There is nothing wrong with thought

     There is nothing wrong with thought – even though some categories of meditation instruction would have you accept that this is the case.  According to Dzogchen, thought is a natural function of Mind – and, just as the other sense faculties are natural to physical existence, so too is thought.  Moreover, thought—according to Buddhism in general—is a sense-faculty, rather than a function that is separate from the senses.

p35, 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 

With regard to ‘thought’ and ‘emotion’

   There is no difference between thought and emotion – in the same way as there is no difference between a breeze and a gale.  With the first there is simply the movement of mind – and with the second there is simply the movement of air.  In that respect, emotions are gusts of wind – or waves on the sea.  

Both the gusting of the wind and the billowing of the sea begin with a simple shift in time and space.  There is a single thought to which self-referential consequence is attributed – and this leads to more of the same.  This tends to generate squalls, storms, gales, and hurricanes.  

Emotional embroilment is the result of ocean of Mind failing to self-recognise – and understand its waves to be its fundamental nature.  There is no relaxation in this – and neither is there the opportunity to make creative use of the energy that prevents relaxation.

Posted by Ngak'chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen to sangha on Telegram, 18th April 2020

We really do have all that we need

  The liberated field of energy of the earth element displays the glorious warmth and wealth of earth.  This energy is inexhaustible and free to whomever needs it.  
The kind of wealth we are discussing is reflected by the environment but it is central to our being.  With the discovery of intrinsic space we find that we really do have all that we need.  With this recognition we could realise that we are already totally secure in the primordial nature of our being.  We have within us the wisdom of equanimity and primordial freedom from attachment.  Mind is sufficient to itself and so is our world.  Mind requires nothing but is the ground of everything – the unemptiable source of all phenomena. 

p131-133, Spectrum of Ecstasy, Ngakpa Chögyam with Khandro Déchen, Aro Books, 1997, ISBN 0-9653948-0-8

Vivid displays

      The ocean of Mind is referenceless – yet the play of Mind phenomena allows conceptual navigation.  There is however, no intention or design beyond the energetic play of that which arises within Mind.  Concepts arise in random-order; in arbitrary pattern – and as Mind-phenomena they are simply an aspect of the vivid displays of primordial compassion.    
 
p43, 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 brilliant discovery is made

     Finding Mind to be a referenceless ocean of space allows the dualistic knot of panic to untie itself.  In experiencing this space a brilliant discovery is made: being referenceless is not death.  If immanent incidence can be maintained in natural uncontrived presence—without sinking into oblivious drowse—spontaneous clarity is disinhibited.  Stars appear in the sky and their brilliance is reflected in the referenceless ocean of being.

p36, 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

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

Disembodied consciousness

"When we no longer have the context of our physicality, we can be overwhelmed, and experience fear and confusion in relation to the intangible manifestation of disembodied consciousness"

p110, Spacious Passion, Ngakma Nor'dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2009, 978-1-898185-07-9

Wandering mind

"If you mind is wandering, if your attention is not on what you're doing, if you're hang gliding in your imagination while you drive, that could certainly be very dangerous. Have you ever seen those stickers in the back of cars that say things like "I'd rather be windsurfing"? I think that the Buddhist version could run "I'd rather be precisely where I am."."

p162, Roaring Silence, Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, Shambhala, 2002, 1-57062-944-7

The mind

"The mind cannot be controlled and forced to behave. The mind will do what it does based on your individual patterning. The more you try to force a pattern out of the mind, the more prominence it will have to your life. Similarly you will not succeed in forcing a pattern into the mind even if it would seem preferable to your existing mind-state."

p.145Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nord'dzin and Ngakpa ö-Dzin

Awakened mind

"The awakened-mind warriors delight in unbounded wealth because their appreciation is unlimited. Appreciation generates generosity which knows no limits. It is unobstructed by the self-referencing territorialism which generates manipulative pusillanimity. Awakened-mind warriors need no territory. Their refuge is the security of insecurity. Their refuge is the territory of intrinsic space, which is self-validating without the requirement of reference points."

The Ten Paramitas, Khandro Déchen, Aro Encyclopaedia