Illusory Advice: Pure... impure?

Lekeitio Harbour, 2013, Ngakma Nor’dzin

"Tantra begins with the experience of emptiness – the pregnant space from which form arises. Form is simply that which arises – and does not need to be viewed in terms of pure or impure. Human bodies are as they are and are available for appreciation. Samsara is not a separate existence to nirvana. They are the same experience – it is view that changes."

p21, Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nor'dzin & Ngakpa 'ö-Dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2016, 978-1-898185-37-6

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Stay up to date with events at Aro Ling Cardiff via the website, meetup, facebook and twitter. We meet for meditation every Tuesday evening and look forward to meeting you.

Blessing Ceremony September 28th, October 1st and 2nd events, and do you want a new evening class

Aro Ling Cardiff
Vajrayana Buddhism

Upcoming events:

• 28th September – blessing ceremony – 18:30 for 19:00
• 1st October – Four Good Reasons to Meditate – 10:00 - 16:00
• 2nd October – 3 practices sessions: 10:00 – 11:30, 12:30 – 14:00, and 14:30 – 15:30

Ongoing weekly events on Tuesdays:

• 10:30 – 11:30 Jong Dar – moving meditation  
• 12:00 – 13:00 meditation and song
• 19:00 – 20:30 meditation group

On September 28th the Aro gTér Lineage Holders, Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, will be offering a blessing ceremony for the new meditation room. There are still a few spaces available for the evening if you would like to attend. Please contact us as soon as possible to secure your place.

The first weekend of the month falls on the 1st and 2nd of October.
The topic for the Saturday 1st October Vajrayana teachings is ‘Four Good Reasons to Meditate’. Full details for this event are on the website.
On Sunday 2nd October there will be three practice sessions: meditation and song, a tsog’khorlo ceremony (which includes lunch – prior introduction to the practice is required before booking), and dance.

Would you be interested in a Wednesday evening Jong Da session, 19:00 - 20:00? Please let us know as we would be happy to offer it if there is interest.

Jong Dar is a term that covers all the physical practices of the Aro Tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism. Each class is 1 hour. The session includes Ying’khor, sKu-mNyé, walking meditation, and standing meditation. The 25 Ying ’khor exercises involve subtle movement in a standing position. Some include visualisation of coloured light energy synchronised with the breath. A few involve sound as vocalised syllables. sKu-mNyé (pronounced ‘Kum-nye’) in the Aro tradition is a system of 111 repetitive physical exercises which massage the spatial nerves of the subtle, energetic body – giving rise to extraordinary sensations. In these unusual sensations it is possible to find the presence of non-dual awareness—rigpa—momentary enlightenment. It offers a range of movements, from simple and gentle to demanding and vigorous – so there is something for everyone. All are welcome whatever age or level of fitness. A wonderful form of exercise that is refreshing and invigorating.

This month Aro Ling Cardiff was able to donate £40 to the Drala Jong appeal from the donations given by attendees. Thank you all! 


The charity of the Aro gTér Lineage in the UK is called ‘Sang-ngak-chö-dzong’ (UK charity number 1019886). This was the name given by Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche. There are also other European charities connected with the Lineage, plus Aro Gar in the USA. Currently we are fund-raising to establish a residential retreat centre in Wales, which will be called ‘Drala Jong’. For information about this appeal, please see http://arobuddhism.org/drala-jong/drala-jong-appeal.html or go to the Drala Jong appeal blog.  

Extracts from Aro gTér Lineage publications appear once a week on a blog called Aro Quotation. If you would like to receive the Aro Quotations by email, please go to the blog and subscribe.

The Aro gTer Lineage also offers a free meditation course. The course is delivered in weekly emails.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin

Meditation group and daytime meditation – beginners and experienced meditators welcome. Short periods of meditation are interspersed with yogic song and chant. Discover emptiness and self-awareness. 

Dance – dancing embraces many qualities of natural heroism: considerate awareness of the other dancers, politeness and dignity, sensitivity and enjoyment, and light-hearted and wholehearted engagement with the pattern and movement of the dance. The focus will be on the dignity and formality of the dances of the Georgian period. Occasionally Tibetan folk dance will also be taught.

Aro Ling Cardiff meets at 5 Court Close, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1JR. The practice room is on the ground floor with direct access from the street, and is wheelchair accessible.

All classes and groups are led by ordained Buddhists with many years of practice experience.

Donations are requested to cover the costs of advertising, and so that Aro Ling Cardiff can make donations to the Buddhist charity, Sang-ngak-chö-dzong #1019886.

For fuller details of events at Aro Ling Cardiff, please visit

aro-ling.org/cardiff or meetup.com/arolingcardiff
or text
07875 716644

Illusory Advice: Are animals enlightened?

Q: Are animals more enlightened than us? They don’t seem to separate themselves from reality and so I wondered therefore whether they exist in a nondual state, reacting instantly with events as they occur?

A: The directness of interaction with their environment that you perceive in animals is instinctive rather than realised. It may be useful to draw a distinction here between living in the physical form of an animal and living in the animal-realm. Having a physical animal form does not necessarily mean that such a being always dwells in the animal-realm. We have met horses—for example—who certainly possess a sense of humour, which would usually be regarded as a human characteristic. We have heard of animals and birds who create and manipulate tools, and of others who display acts of selflessness and kindness. Such characteristics might suggest that these animals may in fact dwell in the human-realm – at least in part.

p10, Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nor'dzin & Ngakpa 'ö-Dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2016, 978-1-898185-37-6

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Stay up to date with events at Aro Ling Cardiff via the website, meetup, facebook and twitter. We meet for meditation every Tuesday evening and look forward to meeting you.

Illusory Advice: Carping about the animal realm

"Confusion sometimes arises through thinking that teachings on the animal-realm of the six realms 11 refer specifically to the animals we see in the world, and because of the assumption that all human-looking beings live in the human-realm. There can also be a tendency to romanticise animals, as somehow innately spiritual. Animals can display human-realm characteristics of discrimination and humour, whilst humans can display animal-realm mentality of being humourless, trapped in a particular view, lacking awareness of others. Teachings on the realms of being are helpful in enabling you to become aware of your mind-set in any moment."

p18, Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nor'dzin & Ngakpa 'ö-Dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2016, 978-1-898185-37-6

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Stay up to date with events at Aro Ling Cardiff via the website, meetup, facebook and twitter. We meet for meditation every Tuesday evening and look forward to meeting you.