All teachings by Khandro Déchen

A blind alley

Khandro Déchen Apprentice: Recently I’ve begun to struggle with anything other than shi-nè (which has also become more inconsistent). I’ve also been …

Accountability

The Vajrayana Ethos of the Five Precepts

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen For anyone who has been concerned by the revelations of abuse in the world of Vajrayana Buddhism, here is a text from our Lineage Lamas outlining the five precept guidelines by which they, and all the Aro gTér teachers, abide.

Aspiration power

thug-mön – thugs sMon pranidhana paramita – vectoral verve

Khandro Déchen Thugmön (thugs sMon) the mind of aspiration – more generally referred to as mönlam (sMon lam), the path of aspiration, …

being touched by poignancy

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Apprentice Sometimes there is something almost unbearable about it. The poignancy of human life. So many things. The sadness of …

Calamity Jane

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Apprentice I am aware that I am not very brave – but I would like to be brave. I seem …

career Buddhists

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Apprentice I think something strange happens to people when they become involved with religions. I have this feeling because I …

Celebrate every aspect of each other

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Prospective apprentices You said that trust and respect are essential in relationship—could you say more about that—just so that we …

cheerfully and without resenting yourself

Khandro Déchen Apprentice . . . You are right. I am going through a lot of conflict. It was just that I …

Children and Pemakö

Establishing Lhundrüp Tobgyé Ling

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Lhundrüp Tobgyé Ling is the shortened form of Nga’gyür Yoga’i Drüp-dé Lhundrüp Tobgyé Ling ‘Early-translation Yogic Meditation College where Strength is Gained Spontaneously’. It is a Ngak’phang Dratsang for children – a place where boys and girls from the Pemakö region can receive both a secular education and training which will prepare them—should it be their long-term desire—to become ordained ngakpas and ngakmas.

Death

We live our lives as if death were years away, and this is a denial of reality.

Khandro Déchen I worked as a nurse for fifteen years—the last seven of which were in cancer hospice care—so I feel it …

Defining heresy

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Heresy is not a popular word, in terms of criticising religious trends. It does not lend itself to the ‘feel …

Defining the word ‘sangha’

The two divisions of the sangha of ordained practitioners

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen There are various definitions of gendün or sangha which give a sense of the position and authentic dignity of the …

demented delight

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Apprentice When I told you that I was sad but that maybe I understood something – i.e. I’m sad because …

Depression is the postern

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Apprentice I do tend to get overwhelmed, and worry intensely about things . . .
Khandro Déchen If you see this …

Diligence

tsöndrü – brTson ’grus – virya paramita

Khandro Déchen Diligence—tsöndrü (brTson ’grus – virya paramita) was described by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche as energy. It could also be described as …

Discipline

tsultrim – tshul khrims – shila paramita

Khandro Déchen Exploration of discipline (tshul khrims / shila paramita / ethics or morality) in Dzogchen, considering it as naturally arising energy or spontaneous compassionate activity. Discusses the role of the Lama, overcoming habit patterns, and acknowledging ambivalence towards practice and realisation.

Drala Jong Interview with Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen

16 Mai 2015

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen An interview with Ngak'chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen on the subject of Drala Jong, a retreat center. The interview explores the importance of the physical environment and its impact on spiritual practice, as well as the ideal characteristics of a retreat center. The content provides insights into the transformative power of a dedicated space and the need for flexibility in accommodating different activities.

Düd’jom

tobacco - the demonic carcinogen with tacit government sanction

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen We enthusiastically express our unending devotion to Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche, Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje—Mahasiddha and luminary gTértön of the 20th century. …

Embracing Emotions as the Path

Colours and Elements in Tantric Psychology

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Only through direct experience can we begin to perceive our world differently. Philosophical speculations and intellectual conjectures that are not …

Empowerment & Transmission

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen The fundamental damtsig is to sustain the experience of transmission through practice—and ultimately, in every moment.
The Tibetan word for empowerment …

Enraged Buddhism

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen “I’m an engaged Buddhist.” “Congratulations – when is the wedding day?”
Buddhism has been engaged from the beginning. There has never …

Entering the Heart of the Sun and Moon: Online Teaching with Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen

25 Mehefin 2021

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Buddhist Door promoted Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen's weekend of online teachings celebrating the publication of the second edition of …

Generosity

jinpa – sByin pa – dana paramita

Khandro Déchen The Paramitas—ultimately—are actions which are free from the crimp of duality – actions which arise spontaneously from the non-dual state. …

Great expectations

Khandro Déchen Apprentice I feel trapped by life—and I do not know how to apply Dharma to situations where I feel trapped. …

“Here’s to boredom!”

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Apprentice You have often said that shi-nè is boring and that boredom is necessary in terms of experience. But what …

“I do” – one way or another

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Apprentice A man at the recent public retreat asked me about who authorises or vouches for Lamas in the Nyingma …

If I am a practitioner

Khandro Déchen Being simple does not mean that one becomes monochromatic.
Being simple does not mean being stunted in our appreciation of everything …

Interviews of Aro gTér lamas

From Steve James' Guru Viking podcast

Ngak’chang Rinpoche, Khandro Déchen, Mé-tsal Wangmo, Ja'gyür Dorje, Sang-gyé A-tsal & Tsül'dzin Ying-chuk Ep8: Ngakpa Chögyam
In this interview I am joined by Ngakpa Chögyam a blues loving, horse riding Ngakpa, who with …

it’s not British, you know

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Apprentice I get a bit worried sometimes—not all the time—by what is said of the Mahasiddhas. Whenever I read about …

Just a nyam?

Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Khandro Déchen Apprentice I had an interesting experience recently. I sat in our dining room looking out into a glowering dark blue …