Aro Buddhism Podcasts

Welcome to a series of short interviews about the non-celibate or ngak’phang tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism with Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen. They are the current holders of the Aro gTér, a non-monastic family lineage originating in Tibet in the late 1800s with the great female gTérton Khyungchen Aro Lingma. Although born in the west, Ngak’chang Rinpoche travelled to the Himalayas in 1971 aged 19 where he met with Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche, Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje, the head of the Nyingma tradition. Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche, Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje confirmed the childhood visions of Ngak’chang Rinpoche and recognised him as an incarnation of Aro Yeshé – the son and heir of Khyungchen Aro Lingma. On that first visit Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche, Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje ordained Ngak’chang Rinpoche as a Ngakpa and charged him with the responsibility of establishing the gö-kar-chang-lo’i dé – the community of ngak’phang practitioners in the West. Ngak’chang Rinpoche and his wife and co-teacher Khandro Dechen have dedicated over 40 years to doing so and during that time have met with numerous Ngakpa lamas. Their main teachers were all themselves ngakpas and major lineage-holders of the Nyingma tradition – Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche, Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje, Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoche, Khordong gTérchen Tulku Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche and Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche. During that time as well as practising in this Ngak’phang tradition, Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen have studied the history of the gö-kar-chang-lo’i dé right back beyond the first spread of Buddhism in Tibet to the time of the Mahasiddhas in India, - and spoken with many lamas on the subject, including Chag’düd Trülku Rinpoche, Phur-tak Rinpoche, Kyabjé Minling Trichen Rinpoche, and their great friend Lama Tharchin Rinpoche who was the lineage holder of the Repkong Ngakpa lineage. When Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen met with Kyabjé Dung-sé Thrin-lé Norbu Rinpoche he was very supportive of their work in establishing the tradition of ngakpas and ngakmas in the west, and gave them a long-life wish-path for Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Sam’phel Déchen Rinpoche in which he elucidates the history and practice of the ngak’phang lineage. In this first interview Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen explain the terms go-kar-chang lo de and ngak’phang tradition, discuss the misnomers lay tantrika and tantric renunciate, introduce the yanas, and explain Buddhism as a religion of method rather than truth.

Interview with Nyima o-Zer Khandro and Ngak'chang Rinpoche, recorded in Alameda, California, in March 2011. A discussion of the common questions and challenges, from the view of Vajrayana Buddhism. ( www.arobuddhism.org )

Interview with Nyima o-Zer Khandro and Ngak'chang Rinpoche, recorded in Alameda, California, in October 2010. A detailed discussion of Karma from the view of Vajrayana. ( www.arobuddhism.org )

The final podcast of this series continues the discussion with karma, in particular with reference to the impulse towards anger, the life of Milarépa, and common misunderstandings of what is meant by karma within Buddhism. ( www.arobuddhism.org )

This podcast opens with a question concerning Ngak’chang Rinpoche’s use of language within teachings, specifically Rinpoche’s preference to avoid using the term ‘ego’ when referring to the self. Next the discussion moves onto the pitfall of approaching the Buddhist teachings with the hope of attaining a spiritualised version of oneself, and the use of the expression ‘artificial buddhist personality’ by Ngak’chang Rinpoche. Tröma Rig’tsal’s next question refers to the need for a practitioner to accept themselves as they are as the basis for embarking upon a spiritual path. Following that Rinpoche is asked about the issue of unasked for advice being given within sanghas. ( www.arobuddhism.org )

In the opening podcast of this interview series, Tröma Rig’tsal asks Ngak’chang Rinpoche about the ‘four noble truths’; truth and method; the concept of the yanas (or vehicles), and the relationship between psychotherapy and Buddhism in relation to taking Refuge. ( www.arobuddhism.org)

This podcast opens with Ngak’chang Rinpoche continuing his presentation on the meaning of the title Khandro Pawo Nyi-da Mélong Gyüd. In this vein Rinpoche covers the process of khandro-pawo mirroring; falling in love from both the liberated and the neurotic perspective, and how this relates to each gender; sexuality without romance, and, the practice of threat and challenge. ( www.arobuddhism.org )

This podcast contains a presentation from Naljorpa Ögyen Dorje on the ‘five elements’: earth; water; fire; air and space, primarily from the perspective of the Inner Tantras. ( www.arobuddhism.org )

Ngak’chang Rinpoche begins this podcast with a discussion about ‘nyams’ in the manner in which they occur throughout the yanas, and within the experience of falling in love as the nyam of khandro-pawo reflection. Next, the discussion moves on to looking at the process of falling in, and out, of love, and how that relates to spiritual practice. ( www.arobuddhism.org )

Continuing to introduce the foundation for the Khandro-Pawo teachings, this episode contains a teaching on the principal of the ‘yanas’, or vehicles. This involves a discussion of the idea of ‘emptiness’ from both a practical and theoretical perspective; the Buddhist idea of ‘no-self’ and identity; attachment; what the ultimate object of renunciation is, and the process of referentiality. Ngakma Zer-me then gives a presentation on the ‘four philosophical extremes’: monism; dualism; nihilism and eternalism. ( www.arobuddhism.org )

Motivation and freedom of choice. In Buddhism there is choice and no choice. The story of Rudra (forceful ignorance). There is no complete evil, only confusion. Distortions of enlightenment.

Everything within 'Dharma' is an expression of emptiness and form. Buddhism is comprised of methods that unify wisdom and compassion. Emptiness is the space from which compassion can arise. The function of ‘honor’ and ‘process’.