Aro Buddhism Podcasts

Ngak'chang Rinpoche in this third interview with Ngakma Mé-tsal Wangmo, during April 2024, addresses current issues and topics around Vajrayana Buddhism. - Can any one who has broken their vows gain realisation? - Vows and their function - What is meant by ‘gaining realisation’

Ngak'chang Rinpoche in this second interview with Ngakma Mé-tsal Wangmo, during March 2024, addresses current issues and topics around Vajrayana Buddhism. - The importance of authentic vajrayana teachers - Adapting teachings to suit people and time - Gaining realisation without a teacher - The role of the teacher - Online transmission and online teachings and empowerments - Psychedelic drugs and Dzogchen Practice - ‘Vajrayana should change with the times’ - The demand for equality between teacher and student

In this interview with Ngakma Mé-tsal Wangmo during lo-gsar 2024, Ngak'chang Rinpoche addresses current issues and topics around Vajrayana Buddhism, covering: The current movement of adaptation of Vajrayana: dispensing with patriarchy and vertical power structures. Vajrayana without the Vajra master - can that function? Devotion - ‘the days of great devotion are over’; or - misunderstanding of devotion.

Ngak’chang Rinpoche speaks with Ngakma Mé-tsal Wangmo about his memoirs — from her readings of ‘an odd boy’ Volume I. ‘an odd boy’ has been described as Jack Kerouac’s ‘On the Road’ meets Dylan Thomas’ ‘Under Milk Wood’. It’s a portrait of the artist as a young man; a coming-of-age adventure set in the cultural ferment of the 1960s. A high-spirited escapade—humorous and poignant by turn—of an era when the arts set a generation’s imagination on fire. https://aro-books-worldwide.org/shared/text/b/book_pb_05_an_odd_boy_v01_01_eng.php

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 fourth interview Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen explore the differences between the ordination robes of the monastic and ngak'phang sanghas, discuss the importances of lineage in vajrayana, address accusations of Ngakpas being 'showy' in their dress,and explain the phenomenon of persecution through praise.

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 third interview Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen continue to explore the terms go-kar-chang lo de and ngak’phang tradition, and explore the monastic and sutric prevalent view of Buddhism.

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 second interview Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen continue to explore the terms go-kar-chang lo de and ngak’phang tradition, explain the non-hieriarchical nature of the yanas, and explain magic, sorcery and village ngakpas, with references to Jimi Hendrix, Mozart, and Al Capone.

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.

Part 2, of 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 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. An introduction to the subject of Tantra in Tibetan Buddhism, including symbolism, devotion, and the role of the teacher. ( 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 )

( 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 )

In the first question in this podcast Tröma Rig’tsal asks for an explanation of Ngak’chang Rinpoche’s use of the term ‘self-existent morality’ and the role that ethics has in the life of a practitioner. Next, Tröma Rig’tsal asks why Ngak’chang Rinpoche writes that ‘... kindness is our strongest link to the non-dual state’. Karma, what it is and what it isn’t, is the final question that Ngak’chang Rinpoche answers. ( 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 )

Tröma Rig’tsal opens this podcast with a question about truth, method, and the yanas. Ngak’chang Rinpoche answers this and then the topic moves on to a discussion of the relationship between happiness and Buddhist practice, in terms of the practitioner’s motivation. The next question relates to the idea of having a goal in Buddhist practice, and following that, the interview moves onto a clarification of the term ‘non-duality’. Lastly, this podcast discusses what is meant by ‘dualistic perception’, or as it’s also known, unenlightenment. ( 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 final podcast opens with Ngak’chang Rinpoche discussing ‘tralam-me’ and ends with an extended question-and-answer session covering many questions concerning romantic relationship. ( 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 )