Illusory Advice: The wrong letter

"Ngak’chang Rinpoche once told us a story. He was travelling with a lady who had experienced a difficult situation with a friend. During the journey she wrote a letter to her friend and showed it to Rinpoche and asked him what he thought of it. 

Rinpoche said, “It’s a clear well-written letter. It expresses what you feel – but how do you wish your relationship with your friend to be after she receives your letter?” The lady said that she would like to be better friends. 

Rinpoche replied, “Don’t send that letter, then.” She asked Rinpoche why, as he had said that it was clear, well-written, and expressed what she felt. 

Rinpoche answered, “There are various factors to be considered when writing such a letter: what you want to say; what you feel should be said; what you think the person needs to hear; and finally – what the desired outcome might be. The final factor is the one you have to bear in mind. If you don’t care what the outcome is – send the letter. If you do care, then you had better re-write it.” "

p110, Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nor'dzin & Ngakpa 'ö-Dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2016, 978-1-898185-37-6

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Shock Amazement - Review - Each step has the quality of unfailing precision

"This book elegantly traverses a very tricky subject. It crisply informs the reader about the exact nature of four different methods of practice, and how each of these relates to one another in a unique way. One is left with the impression that Khandro Dechen and Ngakpa Chogyam are competent guides for anyone wishing to step on to this path. Their practical instructions are disarmingly simple. Each step has the quality of unfailing precision, and this fills one with the courage and inspiration to commit to this journey. "
—Paul Carter, Lulu

Shock Amazement : The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind. Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1

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Illusory Advice: Looking good

"When you attend an empowerment you are entering the presence of Padmasambhava and Yeshé Tsogyel and presenting yourself smartly is a sign of respect and appreciation. When your physical presentation is an expression of not bothering to be clean, tidy and smart you are failing to enter the compassionate activity of the bodhisattva path. For the bodhisattva the sensibilities of others are never irrelevant or insignificant. The bodhisattva regards the experience of others as real and takes responsibility. The bodhisattva attempts to help others to be peaceful and comfortable in their thoughts, emotions and reactions wherever possible"

p106, Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nor'dzin & Ngakpa 'ö-Dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2016, 978-1-898185-37-6

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Illusory Advice: Won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz

"As practitioners it would be inappropriate to indulge in regretting having insufficient money to fulfil fantasies, such as going on exotic holidays or owning expensive cars as one might if one was a pop star. Practitioners understand that such things are irrelevant to the cause of satisfaction. They practice rather than feeling sorry for themselves. They regard the unhappiness of others as real and to be taken seriously – whatever form that unhappiness takes, but are realistic about their capacity to help people, about their opportunities to help, and about what might be the most valuable focus of their lives. The most valuable focus in a practitioner’s life may be helping the person who sits at the desk next to them in the office of a multinational company. "

p128-129, Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nor'dzin & Ngakpa 'ö-Dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2016, 978-1-898185-37-6

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Shock Amazement - Review - Introduction to Dzogchen

"This book provides a clear and vigorous introduction to the practice of the first series of Dzogchen. The authors here provide a lively account for practitioners starting on the path."
—David Flanagan, Amazon US

Shock Amazement : The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind. Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1

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Shock Amazement - Review - This is the best book on Dzogchen that I have ever seen

"Dies ist das beste Buch über Dzogchen, dass ich jemals gesehen habe. Es gibt eine direkte Einführung in Dzogchen Sem-dé und ist derartig unmittelbar geschrieben, dass man beim Lesen das Gefühl der Übertragung der Belehrungen spüren kann. Für jemanden der noch nicht viel Erfahrung mit Meditationspraxis hat ist vermutlich "Roaring Silence" von den selben Autoren ein besserer Einstieg, Für fortgeschrittene Praktizierende ist "Shock Amazement" allerdings ein unerlässlicher Begleiter. Die umfassenden Belehrungen, die dieses Buch vermittelt werden einen ein Leben lang begleiten.
—Florian Frommlett, Amazon DE
 
"This is the best book on Dzogchen that I have ever seen. There is a direct introduction to Dzogchen Sem-dé and it is written in such a direct way that you can feel the transmission of the instructions as you read. For someone who does not have much experience with meditation practice, "Roaring Silence" by the same authors is probably a better place to start. For advanced practitioners, however, "Shock Amazement" is an essential companion. The comprehensive teachings that this book provides will accompany you for a lifetime.
—Florian Frommlett, Amazon DE

Shock Amazement : The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind. Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1

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Shock Amazement - Review - A concentrated but spacious overview of dzogchen buddhism

"This is one of my favourite books by Ngakpa Chogyam, or indeed of any other contemporary buddhist teacher. The writing is incredibly clear, exploring very sophisticated ideas and Tibetan terms in ways that are always engaging and light.

It offers a way into these meditation practices through engaged theory - this isn't just academic, but is teaching based on practice, and practice that the author wants to share. It is worth reading several times over, for new insights and inspiration. 

I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who has perhaps some experience of meditation and curiosity about Tibetan buddhism and / or dzogchen."
 
—Paul, Amazon UK


Shock Amazement : The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind. Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1

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Illusory Advice: Life is practice

"The style of practice in the gö kar chang lo is that life is practice. Practitioners find time to engage in formal sitting practice because it feeds and expands their capacity to engage in everyday-life as practice. It is always possible to find time for short periods of formal practice – especially if one’s practice has become a potent force of change in one’s life and a source of the development of openness and kindness. "

p102, Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nor'dzin & Ngakpa 'ö-Dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2016, 978-1-898185-37-6

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Shock Amazement - Review - Absolutely essential book on Dzogchen

"Absolutely essential book on Dzogchen. Written with a simplicity and depth that makes this book a treasure to any practitioner. The contemporary style of the language makes this work a unique rarity in conveying a most profound Budhist teaching in a western language, while maintaining the essence and autenticity of the Tradition wich is presented"
—Ngakpa Jazer, Goodreads


Shock Amazement : The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind. Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1

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Please see the Aro Books worldwide website for more information about Shock Amazement.  For all our books, please see our Spotlight page. 

Shock Amazement - Review - A very clear introduction to the four naljors and the four ting-nge'dzin

"This is the first series of Dzogchen. The nature of Mind. It gives a direct introduction to our non-dual nature.
It uses a simple yet profund description of the realised state."
—Sky Tiger, Amazon UK


Shock Amazement : The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind. Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1

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Please see the Aro Books worldwide website for more information about Shock Amazement.  For all our books, please see our Spotlight page. 

Shock Amazement - Review - a profound teaching and introduction to Dzogchen.

"This truly is an amazing book. It is a slim volume, but needs to be read slowly. There is no fill, no unnecessary word, no waffle. It is a profound teaching and introduction to Dzogchen."
—Jewel, Amazon UK


Shock Amazement : The four naljors and four ting-ngé’dzin from the Dzogchen series of the nature of Mind. Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam, Aro Books Worldwide, 2018, ISBN 978-1-898185-45-1

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Please see the Aro Books worldwide website for more information about Shock Amazement.  For all our books, please see our Spotlight page. 

Illusory Advice: It’s your birthday and I’ll cry if I want to

"When a friend has a birthday you wrap their present as neatly as you can, knowing that the paper is going to be ripped off – but somehow this is better than giving the present in an old paper bag. But then, why give a present anyway? Why send a card? The card, the present, and the care that you have taken over them, are symbolic of your regard for the recipient and of your good wishes. It is communicative."

p91, Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nor'dzin & Ngakpa 'ö-Dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2016, 978-1-898185-37-6

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Shock Amazement by Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam - now available

Shock Amazement by Khandro Déchen and Ngakpa Chögyam

is now available from Lulu.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and other bookshops worldwide.

Dzogchen is the primordial state of the individual. It is beyond limitations. Dzogchen is free of magical, religious, philosophical, or political conditioning. It is non-liturgical, non-ritual, direct, and symbolically minimal.

Dzogchen is the heart and mind of Nyingma - and yet ‘Shock Amazement’ describes the core practice of Sem-dé: the direct mode of recognising the nature of Mind. It does so in creative, contemporary language: free of dense philosophical complexities, eulogisms, or tautology.

The authors, as the Lineage Holders of the treasure teachings of Aro Lingma, are uniquely placed to describe what is ‘shocking’ and ‘amazing’ in gaining direct access to the nondual state.

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Please see the Aro Books worldwide website for more information about Shock Amazement.  For all our books, please see our Spotlight page.

Illusory Advice: Worries

"You cannot make the possibility of bad things happening go away by worrying about them. Facing fantasy projections does not prepare you or help should such unfortunate events come to pass. You cannot control a future in which you may not be alive by living in a state of anxiety in the present. There is also the very real danger of adversely affecting the time you do have with your family by worrying about a possible projected future. It is sharing and enjoying being with your family in each and every moment of your life that is important. It is who you are for them and who you enable them to be by your presence and influence in their lives that will make the greatest difference. "

p84, Illusory Advice, Ngakma Nor'dzin & Ngakpa 'ö-Dzin, Aro Books worldwide, 2016, 978-1-898185-37-6

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