Nor’dzin Pamo and ’ö-Dzin Tridral

Ngakma Nor’dzin Pamo and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin Tridral were the first students of Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, becoming apprentices in the early 1980s. Ngakma Nor’dzin was the first of their students to be ordained and is possibly the first Western woman to become a ngakma. This occurred in 1988, with Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin taking ordination shortly afterwards in 1991.

Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin are known for the natural down-to-earth realism of their presentation – and their wealth of experience in helping people be genuine and vivid practitioners in everyday life. They have each had careers, and have raised a family whilst fulfilling their practice commitments and providing teaching and pastoral support to their sangha of apprentices.

Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin have hosted a weekly meditation class for more than 30 years. This morphed from the Cardiff Vajrayana Meditation Group to become Aro Ling Cardiff in 2013, which currently manifests as a weekly practice group on Zoom. The short teaching during this practice session is recorded and these recordings can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AroLingCardiff

Aro Books worldwide was founded by Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin in 2009, and has produced 23 paperbacks, and 7 booklets. These include publications in English, French, German, and Spanish.

Ngakma Nor’dzin is the author of four books: Spacious Passion, Relaxing into Meditation, Illusory Advice and Battlecry of Freedom. Spacious Passion offers a Tantric perspective on the sutric teaching of the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind to Practice. Relaxing into Meditation teaches relaxation and breathing exercises as preparation for meditation, and then introduces the practice of Letting Go (shi-nè). Illusory Advice, co-authored with Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin, explores personal advice to students with regard to ordinary life and practice. Battlecry of Freedom is an in depth teaching of Lo-jong—Mind Training—as presented by Chekhawa Yeshé Dorje in the 12th century in The Seven Points of Mind Training.

Originally having trained in the Arts—particularly ceramics—Ngakma Nor’dzin is a skilled craftswoman and a practitioner of Vajrayana crafts, such as thangka framing, the creation of protection amulets, and other practice-related craft activities. Ngakma Nor’dzin has been actively involved in Interfaith work, to help ensure that Buddhism is represented as one of the major religions in Wales. She was Chair of the Buddhist Council of Wales for eight years, and then Chair of the Interfaith Council for Wales for two years. This work included being the Buddhist representative on the Welsh Government’s Faith Communities Forum.

Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin is renowned for his sense of humour, quick wit, and gentle personality. He has worked with computers in various capacities for more than 30 years. His rôles included business analysis, systems analysis, programming, project management, the creation of tender documents and the subsequent assessment of software against business requirements. In May 2019 he retired from the IT department of Cardiff University.

From 2016 to 2020 Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin led the Drala Jong Project resulting in the successful purchase of Pant-y-Porthman farm near Llandysul to create Drala Jong as a home for the Aro gTér Lineage. This work included creating a full specification of requirements, evaluating potential properties against these, and co-ordinating the raising of the necessary funds to make the purchase.

Apprenticeship within the Aro Tradition continues the ancient practice of small groups of students practising and studying with their Lamas. The Vajrayana path of transformation is well suited to people who wish to practise Buddhism within the context of ordinary life—working, home-making, living in a relationship, having children—and are inspired to discover their life circumstances as the path to realisation.

Opportunities afforded by apprenticeship

Apprenticeship offers the opportunity to experience a warm and informal relationship with Lamas Nor’dzin and ’ö-Dzin. Participation is encouraged in regular apprentice-only retreats. These occur at the Lamas’ home in Cardiff, and also at a yogic encampment in Shropshire. Lamas Nor’dzin and ’ö-Dzin also teach at other events in the UK, as well as teaching in Germany, France, and Austria.

Apprentices have access to the Aro apprentice website which provides a variety of resources for practice and study at the apprentice level.

Lamas Nor’dzin and ’ö-Dzin have been Buddhist practitioners throughout their married life and have raised two sons to adulthood. They have a wealth of experience of practising within the context of working and family life. Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin works full-time at Cardiff University and Ngakma Nor’dzin dedicates her time to apprentices, the Aro Tradition and her work as an author. In the Aro Tradition, the Lama teaching couple give transmission through dynamic personal instruction; apprentice group question and answer sessions; shared meditation and yogic song; and through the simple spontaneity of informal situations.

The requirements of apprenticeship

Openness

“Through the development of spaciousness our patterning can become totally open and transparent.” Spacious Passion—Ngakma Nor’dzin

Apprenticeship combines the commitment to being guided, with freedom and personal responsibility. To become an apprentice is to be willing to change, and to be open to having views and habit patterns challenged. The Lamas offer pastoral guidance based in Dharma, but apprentices remain responsible for their spiritual development and life choices. Courage and enthusiasm are required to embrace the view that every situation is available for transformation into the path of Vajrayana. This may require us to dissolve our prejudice and habitual response into emptiness and let go of justification. Openness and the development of awareness is the internal commitment of an apprentice.

kindness

“… we must live our lives as warriors: fearless, without need of reward or recognition, honourably upholding the cause of kindness and awareness …” Spacious Passion—Ngakma Nor’dzin

An harmonious and genuine relationship with one’s vajra brothers and sisters is essential to enable transmission to occur. Apprentices study and practice together in an atmosphere of kindness, good humour and friendship. The apprentice group includes people of diverse personalities, backgrounds, and lifestyles sharing a common interest in Buddhist practice, teachings, and lineage. Apprentices engage with joyful enthusiasm and vividness in all aspects of life.

Apprenticeship can be joyful and bewildering, supportive and challenging, relaxed and demanding. Apprenticeship can be very gentle, or stretch the apprentice to their capacity, depending on what the apprentice requests. Apprentices take responsibility for balancing being kind to themselves and embracing change enthusiastically. The development of kindness is the external commitment of an apprentice.

Making the teachings accessible

Part of the practical commitment of apprenticeship is a financial contribution. The purpose of apprenticeship fees is to provide an income that enables Lamas Nor’dzin and ’ö-Dzin to dedicate time to apprentices, teaching, writing, and practice. It is important that financial hardship should never prevent access to the Vajrayana teachings for anyone with serious commitment, and alternative methods of contribution can be discussed where necessary.

What to do next

If you are interested in applying for apprenticeship with Lamas Nor’dzin and ’ö-Dzin please contact the apprenticeship secretary by email at: apprenticeship@arobuddhism.org

It is recommended that you talk to other apprentices and attend one or more open teaching events before applying for apprenticeship. This will enable you to gain some understanding of the nature of apprenticeship.

Please read Ngakma Nor’dzin’s books: Spacious Passion and Relaxing into Meditation. Both are available through Aro Books worldwide. Spacious Passion is also available to read on-line.