Illusory Advice: From Sutra to Tantra

Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, 2015, Ngakma Nor’dzin

"Tantra can seem rather decadent or dangerous from the perspective of Sutra. Sutra moves towards emptiness and so personality is irrelevant. Everything is calmed down. Tantra however begins with the experience of emptiness and conjures with form. Personality and the richness of life is embraced as the material with which the nonduality of emptiness and form can be discovered."

p6, 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 by Ngakma Nor’dzin & Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin

Ngakma Nor'dzin and Ngakpa 'ö-Dzin are the primary teachers at Aro Ling Cardiff.  Their book Illusory Advice gives an insight into the way in which they relate to both the neurotic and liberated qualities of their students.

Illusory Advice is an anthology of lively email discussions between two Western-born Buddhist teachers and their students. The questions and replies cover a wide range of topics—to which the Buddhist view is applied with directness, subtlety, and humour—such as: family life; interpersonal difficulties; and, the student-teacher relationship.

Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin are a married teaching-couple of the Aro gTér Lineage of the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. They are ordained representatives of the ancient non-monastic tradition of Vajrayana, in which every-day life circumstances and individual-personality are embraced as the path of transformation.

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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.

Please see the Aro Books worldwide website for more information about Illusory Advice.

Aro Ling Cardiff has moved – June newsletter

Aro Ling Cardiff

has moved . . . 

There was a smooth transition from old venue to new on May 17th. All regular attendees agree that the new gompa is wonderful (see photos below), and greatly appreciate the addition of a tea break after Tuesday evening meditation. Do come and visit the new space soon. There will be an ‘official’ opening later in the year with a formal blessing ceremony by the Lineage Holders of the Aro gTér.

Weekly schedule
Tuesdays (all welcome without booking):
sKu-mNyé 10:30 – 11:30
Meditation & Song 12:00 – 13:00
Meditation Group 19:00 – 20:30

Monthly schedule: first weekend of the month
Saturday:
Meditation & yogic song   10:00 - 11:30 (all welcome without booking)
Tsog’khorlo practice   12:30 (attendance by prior arrangement only)
Dance   14:30 (all welcome without booking for Georgian and Tibetan folk dance)
Sunday:
One day retreats – will recommence in September

sKu-mNyé is a physical yoga practice. 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. Each class is 1 hour.

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 call
07875 716644

Aro Ling Cardiff is moving – May newsletter

Aro Ling Cardiff

is moving . . . 

From May 17th Aro Ling Cardiff will be holding its meetings at 5 Court Close, Whitchurch, CF14 1JR. Over the last month volunteers have been helping convert an outbuilding into a new meditation room. The room has been insulated and is now being painted in the traditional colours of a Nyingma gompa. 

24th April: yellow and red nearly complete.

It is a larger space, and will be quieter than the Merthyr Road venue – although some people may miss the tempting smells from the chip shop next door! The new meditation room is also on the ground floor with direct access from the street, and so can offer disabled access.

29th April: orange stripe finished - just the green stripe to paint

All activities will continue without a break, but move to 5 Court Close from Tuesday 17th May. The only change will be that weekend events will now all happen over the first weekend of the month with the retreat days moving to the Sunday. A variety of meetings will be offered on both the Saturday and Sunday

Weekly schedule
Tuesdays:
sKu-mNyé 10:30 – 11:30
Meditation & Song 12:00 – 13:00
Meditation Group 19:00 – 20:30
sKu-mNyé is a physical yoga practice. 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. Each class is 1 hour.
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. 
Monthly schedule: first weekend of the month (from June)
Saturday:
Meditation & yogic song   10:00 - 11:30 (all welcome)
Tsog’khorlo practice   12:30 (Aro Lineage practitioners only)
Dance   14:30 (all welcome for Georgian and Tibetan folk dance)
Sunday:
One day retreats   10:00 - 17:00 (all welcome for teachings on Vajrayana Buddhism as advertised)   

Sunday June 5th

Body, Speech and Mind 10:00 - 17:00 £25 donation requested

As human beings we exist as emptiness, energy and form. In order to liberate and awaken our experience it is important to engage with Dharma practice at all three levels – mind, speech and body. This one day retreat will look at the physical practices of the Aro gTér Lineage, such as sKu-mNyé and ying’khor, interspersed with periods of yogic song and meditation.

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 call
07875 716644

Aro Ling Cardiff newsletter – new book, Illusory Advice, the precepts

Aro Ling Cardiff

35 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1DB  07875 716644

  April Newsletter 2016

The main teachers at Aro Ling Cardiff have recently published a new book: Illusory Advice. It is their first co-authored publication. Ngakma Nor’dzin is also the author of Spacious Passion (2009), and Relaxing into Meditation (2010). Illusory Advice is available to purchase from all major distributors, such as Amazon, Blackwells, Barnes & Noble, etcetera.
The blurb on the back says:
"Illusory Advice is an anthology of lively email discussions between two Western-born Buddhist teachers and their students. The questions and replies cover a wide range of topics—to which the Buddhist view is applied with directness, subtlety, and humour—such as: family life; interpersonal difficulties; and, the student-teacher relationship. Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin are a married teaching-couple of the Aro gTér Lineage of the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. They are ordained representatives of the ancient non-monastic tradition of Vajrayana, in which every-day life circumstances and individual-personality are embraced as the path of transformation."
 

Aro Ling Cardiff continues to offer sessions and classes on Tuesdays for the month of April, plus a Saturday retreat on the 9th April. The Five Principles of Awareness will look at a teaching that is often considered to be fundamental to Buddhists: the precepts. 

Events beyond April are not yet decided as there are exciting changes happening in the world of Aro Ling Cardiff – more about that in the next newsletter.

 

Saturday events upcoming (details below)
April 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness 10 – 5

Weekly schedule
Tuesdays:
sKu-mNyé 10:30 – 11:30
Meditation & Song 12:00 – 13:00
Meditation Group 19:00 – 20:30

sKu-mNyé is a physical yoga practice. 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. Each class is 1 hour and a donation of £4 is requested.

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.  Daytime £4, evening £5 donation requested. Introductory session every first Saturday of the month – £8 donation requested.

Monthly schedule:
First Saturday of month: Discovering Spaciousness of Mind  10:00 – 12:00; What is meditation? How to meditate, and why it’s a worthwhile occupation. The how and why of establishing a daily meditation practice. This monthly session offers practical instruction on meditation, plus an introduction to the Aro gTér Lineage and its practices, and to the Nyingma school of Buddhism; £8 donation requested
April 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness – a one day retreat (see details below)

April 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness
The method of the Owl Precepts undermines the confusion that creates unhappiness and dissatisfaction. Living within the Owl Precepts is an invaluable method of realising the spiritual path through everyday life. This Dzogchen view of the Five Buddhist Precepts originates in the Heart Essence Sutra of the Owl-headed Dakini, from the gTérmas of Khyungchen Aro Lingma (1886-1923).
10:00 – 17:00, £30 if paid in advance, £35 on the day

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

aro-ling.org/cardiff or meetup.com/arolingcardiff

Happy St David's Day, retreat and session information – Aro Ling Buddhist Centre March Newsletter

Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre

35 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1DB  07875 716644

  March Newsletter 2016

Belated good wishes for St David’s Day. There were certainly no concerns this year of whether the daffodils would be in bloom in time for March 1st. 

From a painting by Ngakma Nor'dzin

It is not possible for Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre to be staffed for two days a week for the next few weeks. As Tuesday is generally the most popular day, daytime classes with continue as usual on Tuesday, but there will be no Wednesday opening. The schedule on Meetup.com and at aro-ling.org will be adjusted accordingly as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience.

If you had been on the brink of coming along to try the Georgian dancing on a Wednesday afternoon – do not be concerned. A Saturday afternoon group will be starting soon, and it will also be possible to learn Tibetan folk dance. 

Saturday events upcoming (details below)
March 05: Discovering Spaciousness of Mind 10 – 12
March 12: The Mahasiddhas 10 – 5
April 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness 10 – 5

Weekly schedule
Tuesdays:
sKu-mNyé 10:30 – 11:30
Meditation & Song 12:00 – 13:00
Meditation Group 19:00 – 20:30

sKu-mNyé is a physical yoga practice. 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. Each class is 1 hour and a donation of £4 is requested.

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.  Daytime £4, evening £5 donation requested. Introductory session every first Saturday of the month – £8 donation requested.

Monthly schedule:
First Saturday of month: Discovering Spaciousness of Mind  10:00 – 12:00; What is meditation? How to meditate, and why it’s a worthwhile occupation. The how and why of establishing a daily meditation practice. This monthly session offers practical instruction on meditation, plus an introduction to the Aro gTér Lineage and its practices, and to the Nyingma school of Buddhism; £8 donation requested
March 12: The Mahasiddhas – a one day retreat (see details below)
April 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness – a one day retreat (see details below)

March 12: The Mahasiddhas
The 84 Mahasiddhas were early Tantric practitioners who discovered complete liberation through outrageously conventional or unconventional means. The lives of the Mahasiddhas emphasise that spiritual realisation is found within ordinary life, not in a special realm outside it. Stories of some of the 84 Mahasiddhas will presented from the unique perspective of Dzogchen. This method of integrating practice into the experience of everyday life is a profound practice of finding the presence of awareness in all of one’s experience.
10:00 – 17:00, £30 if paid in advance, £35 on the day

April 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness
The method of the Owl Precepts undermines the confusion that creates unhappiness and dissatisfaction. Living within the Owl Precepts is an invaluable method of realising the spiritual path through everyday life. This Dzogchen view of the Five Buddhist Precepts originates in the Heart Essence Sutra of the Owl-headed Dakini, from the gTérmas of Khyungchen Aro Lingma (1886-1923).
10:00 – 17:00, £30 if paid in advance, £35 on the day

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

aro-ling.org/cardiff or meetup.com/arolingcardiff

Citizenship Award, a full house, and generous donations - Aro Ling Buddhist Centre February Newsletter

Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre

35 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1DB  07875 716644

  February Newsletter 2016

Please note: on Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd February daytime classes are cancelled. Only the Tuesday 7pm meditation group will be running. This is because Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin are on retreat with their students.

The 7pm meditation group on Tuesday 2nd February, will be attended by eleven of Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin’s students. Their students include Aro gTér Lineage practitioners from Finland, Germany, Austria, and France, as well as from the UK. This evening meditation session is a great opportunity to practise with a group of experienced practitioners.

Aro Ling Buddhist Centre has been selected as a finalist for a Citizenship Award.
Thank you for voting for us.

On 23rd January we were delighted to welcome the Aro gTér Lineage Holders to Aro Ling Cardiff for the first time. The room was packed as the event was fully booked, and everyone found the day most inspiring. We hope that Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen will be regularly visiting Aro Ling to teach from now on.

A number of members of the Aro Ling Cardiff community donated items for the Women‘s Refuge for World Interfaith Harmony Day. Several bags, of a range of the requested items, have been delivered to the organiser. It was a generous collection for such a small Buddhist Community. Thank you.

New for 2016

Dances of the Jane Austen Era - Wednesdays 16:30
Have you enjoyed the dancing in classic drama productions such as ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Emma’? Come to Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre and learn how to practise them.
To dance these Georgian dances well requires passion and precision; respect and consideration; good humour and sensitivity – all valuable qualities Buddhists wish to develop. While dancing we must be aware of our partner and our neighbour, and the overall pattern of the dance – and still have fun.
The class is suitable for adults, and children aged 10 and above with a supervising adult.
Adults £3, accompanied children £1.
Meditation Group - Wednesdays 18:00
A new, one hour, early-evening meditation session - the perfect way to end your work day and feel refreshed to enjoy the rest of your evening.
Short periods of silent meditation are interspersed with chant and song. Beginners and experienced meditators welcome. Requested donation £4. 

Saturday retreats for the new year (details below)
February 13: Wearing the body of Visions
March 12: The Mahasiddhas
April 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness

Weekly schedule from January 2016
Tuesdays:
sKu-mNyé 10:30; Meditation & Song 12:00; Meditation Group 19:00 – 20:30
Wednesdays:

sKu-mNyé 14:00; Meditation & Song 15:15; Dancing of Jane Austen Era 16:30; Meditation Group 18:00
sKu-mNyé is a physical yoga practice. 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. Each class is 1 hour and a donation of £4 is requested.
Meditation groups and daytime meditation – beginners and experienced meditators welcome. Short periods of meditation are interspersed with yogic song and chant. Discover emptiness and self-awareness.  Daytime £4, evening £5 donation requested. Introductory session every first Saturday of the month – £8 donation requested.

Monthly schedule:
First Saturday of month: Discovering Spaciousness of Mind  10:00 – 12:00; an introduction to the Aro gTér Lineage and its practices, and to the Nyingma school of Buddhism; £8 donation requested.
*Next one Saturday 6th February*
Retreat days – one Saturday a month as advertised, 10:00 to 19:00; £30 in advance, or £35 on the day. Concessions available on application and if paid in advance.
February 13: Wearing the body of Visions
March 12: The Mahasiddhas
April 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness


February 13: Wearing the Body of Visions
Explore the rich and dramatic symbolism of inner Tantra, through practices of vision, yogic song, chant, mudra, and Tantric music. We are symbols of our true enlightened selves, and through ‘wearing’ the visionary body of the awareness-beings we can reveal our true nature. The peaceful, joyous, and wrathful awareness-beings are the key to both personal dignity and to perceiving the dignity of others. The day will conclude with an empowerment into the
practice of Yeshé Tsogyel, the female tantric Buddha of Tibet.
10:00 – 19:00, £30 if paid in advance, £35 on the day
*Bookings now being taken for this event. Book on Meetup.com and pay in advance on Paypal to receive the discount, send a cheque made out to ‘Aro Ling Cardiff’, or pay cash when you visit.*

March 12: The Mahasiddhas
The 84 Mahasiddhas were early Tantric practitioners who discovered complete liberation through outrageously conventional or unconventional means. The lives of the Mahasiddhas emphasise that spiritual realisation is found within ordinary life, not in a special realm outside it. Stories of some of the 84 Mahasiddhas will presented from the unique perspective of Dzogchen. This method of integrating practice into the experience of everyday life is a profound practice of finding the presence of awareness in all of one’s experience.
10:00 – 19:00, £30 if paid in advance, £35 on the day

April 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness
The method of the Owl Precepts undermines the confusion that creates unhappiness and dissatisfaction. Living within the Owl Precepts is an invaluable method of realising the spiritual path through everyday life. This Dzogchen view of the Five Buddhist Precepts originates in the Heart Essence Sutra of the Owl-headed Dakini, from the gTérmas of Khyungchen Aro Lingma (1886-1923).
10:00 – 19:00, £30 if paid in advance, £35 on the day

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

aro-ling.org/cardiff or meetup.com/arolingcardiff