Mahasiddha Vinapa

Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin tell the stories of the Mahasiddha Vinapa, during ‘Monday Meditations’ at Aro Ling Cardiff, June 20th 2022.

Monday Meditations: 7 - 8:30 pm (UK time); https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85249620913, Passcode: 640389.

Do join us for silent sitting and yogic song, with a short teaching in the middle. Everyone is welcome.

To see all videos with Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin, go to: https://www.youtube.com/c/AroLingCardiff.

Refuge: We seek protection from the neurotic tendencies which we employ in order to prevent us experiencing the natural state.

 

The dictionary defines the word refuge as ‘shelter or protection from danger or trouble: an asylum or retreat’. We have looked at the nature of the danger or threat to which we are vulnerable with regard to The Four Thoughts. 

In the context of our lives as Buddhists, we seek protection from our own conceptual minds: from our compulsion to dualistically split reality; from our addiction to conditioned responses rooted in dualistic preconceptions. We seek protection from the neurotic tendencies which we employ in order to prevent us experiencing the natural state.

Spacious Passion, Ngakma Nor´dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2006, ISBN 978-0-9653948-0, chapter 9 Irrational Reason, page 210
 

 

​"In all activities, train with slogans" - Battlecry of Freedom

 

The key point of this slogan is in all activities. This stresses that spiritual practice is not something that only happens on a cushion in a quiet room. This is taking practice out into the world – the ugly and beautiful, noisy and quiet, chaotic and ordered, stressful and relaxing, distressing and joyful, exciting and dull, fearful and hopeful, threatening and gentle, challenging and easy, hateful and loving, uncontrollable reality of life.

When life circumstances are painful and not as desired, Mind Training enables practice to be maintained with good humour. When life is pleasurable and happy, Mind Training enables practice to be expansive and of benefit to everyone and everything, everywhere.

Battlecry of Freedom by Ngakma Nor’dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2019, ISBN 978-1-898185-46-8, Part II - the slogans, p. 69-70

 

A teacher’s students are an essential aspect of their practice - Illusory Advice

 

Apprentice: What does it mean that the role of being a teacher is itself a practice?

Teachers: You cannot just suddenly decide one day that you are going to be a Dharma teacher. Enacting the role of teacher is a practice. Teachers are teachers by virtue of their students’ commitment and devotion to them. The role is dependent on the students around the teacher. Also remember that teachers are also students of their teachers. To learn from a Dharma teacher students need to have an attitude of openness and respect. If students view teachers as Mr or Mrs Ordinary, then their teachers are no one special for the student and they are unlikely to be able to receive inspiration from them.

Commitment and responsibility in the relationship between teacher and student is not one sided – there has to be commitment and responsibility on both sides. It is a living, interactive, creative force. When it is energised by inspiration and devotion everything becomes possible. The greatest way to test your understanding is to have to explain it to someone else. A teacher’s students are an essential aspect of their practice, in the same way that the teacher is an essential aspect of practice for the committed student.

page 56, Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nor’dzin & Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin, Aro Books Worldwide, 2016, ISBN: 978-1-898185-37-6

 

 

Mahasiddhas Chamaripa and Shatakshi

Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin tell the stories of the Mahasiddhas Chamaripa and Shatakshi, during ‘Monday Meditations’ at Aro Ling Cardiff, June 13th 2022.

Monday Meditations: 7 - 8:30 pm (UK time); https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85249620913, Passcode: 640389.

Do join us for silent sitting and yogic song, with a short teaching in the middle. Everyone is welcome.

To see all videos with Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin, go to: https://www.youtube.com/c/AroLingCardiff.

Mahasiddhas Minapa and Goraksha

Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin tell the stories of the Mahasiddhas Minapa and Goraksha, during ‘Monday Meditations’ at Aro Ling Cardiff, June 6th 2022.

Monday Meditations: 7 - 8:30 pm (UK time); https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85249620913, Passcode: 640389.

Do join us for silent sitting and yogic song, with a short teaching in the middle. Everyone is welcome.

To see all videos with Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin, go to: https://www.youtube.com/c/AroLingCardiff.

The Lama reflects as it is in order to allow us the freedom to let go of how it seems. - Spacious Passion

 

 

 

If we wish to engage with spiritual practice in this transformative manner, we require a mirror. We need a Lama who knows us as individuals, takes an active interest in spiritual progress, and guides us in our practice – through impartial reflection. The mirror does not choose to reflect some of the objects in front of it and not others, or to favour some in the manner of its reflection and not others – it simply reflects. This is the vajra master – described by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche as the dangerous friend.

 

The Lama reflects as it is in order to allow us the freedom to let go of how it seems. Through aligning ourselves with the view of the Lama and letting go of our own referential rationale, the leap into realisation becomes possible, and our understanding can be taken beyond theory and into actualisation.

Spacious Passion,Ngakma Nor´dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2006, ISBN 978-0-9653948-0, chapter 9 Irrational Reason, page 208