The Aro gTér - Living in mainstream society

Buddhism, as commonly encountered, is monastically based – and thus not naturally aligned to contemporary culture. There is a growing need therefore, to establish a venue for receiving instruction that supports living within mainstream society. To this end, the Aro gTér lineage draws on the history of the 84 Tantric Adepts: amongst whom was an entrepreneur, merchant, farmer, cattle drover, fisherman, weaver, restaurateur, raconteur, launderer, dancer, poet, musician, athlete, refuse collector, king, and soldier; people from every walk of society – and each one achieved the highest accomplishment.

Drala Jong - Home for a rare lineage of Tibetan Buddhism

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The Drala Jong project seeks to create a home for the Aro gTér Lineage. Please see the Appeal page for more information about the Drala Jong project and how to help.

If you would like to make a single or regular donation, please click the button below.

Karma - The Personal Police State

In  the article 'Drala Jong will make a long term difference to the world'. We said that the Aro gTér Lineage teaches karma as ‘perception and response’ – patterns within the continuum of consciousness – rather than the hard-wired system of ‘reward and punishment’ embedded in external reality. 

What follows is an excerpt from the article 'Karma - The Personal Police State'.  This, and other fundamental teachings have also been published in the book 'Rays of the Sun' by Ngakpa Chögyam (Aro Books worldwide, 2010)

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Karma is sometimes known as the ‘law of cause and effect’ – as if it were an intergalactic high court ruling. Laws can be broken however, and laws can be changed. Fortunately ‘the law of karma’ can also be changed. If ‘the law of karma’ could not be broken there could either be no enlightenment or enlightenment would have to be causal. The ‘law of karma’ belongs to the world of dualism which, like ‘ego’, like ‘distracted being’ or the famous ‘I’ – is illusory. The legal system of karma has no jurisdiction in the non-dual sphere.

When we realise our unlimited beginningless enlightened nature, the law enforcement agencies of karma evaporate, they boil away into space: they were our unenlightenment.
 
Our karma is entirely how we perceive the world – moment by moment. So the ‘law of karma’ is not just law, it is the entire legal system. It ranges from the inception of the legislature to the nature of law enforcement and punishment. Our perception is the legislation and our responses enforce it. We are our own judge, jury, and prosecution. We sentence ourselves, gaol ourselves, and execute ourselves. This is the only entirely accurate legal system – but its accuracy only exists within its own frame of reference.

Meditation is our only weapon against this repressive regime and constitutes civil disobedience in the form of ‘passive resistance’. By allowing the development of experiential space through shi-nè – through letting go and letting be – we discover our own intrinsic awareness. The Four Naljors of Dzogchen Sem-dé is one of the ultimate crimes against the ‘law of karma’ and is punishable by enlightenment – the final revolution and overthrow of the legal system.

From 'Karma - The Personal Police State' - a transcript of a talk given by Ngak'chang Rinpoche in Bath, England in 1978

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The Drala Jong project seeks to create a home for the Aro gTér Lineage. Please see the Appeal page for more information about the Drala Jong project and how to help.

If you would like to make a single or regular donation, please click the button below.

The Aro gTér - A lineage uniquely suited to the West

The Aro gTér Lineage of the Nyingma Tradition is uniquely suited to the West, as it emphasises integration with the secular world. It cultivates gender equality founded on active appreciation – and teaches romantic relationship as one of the most essential practices. Both ordained and non-ordained practitioners engage with society, pursue careers, and enjoy family life. Emphasis is placed on the Arts, as creativity that extends into the broader spectrum of human endeavours – including environmental, sartorial, and culinary Art. In this, every human being is an Artist in the most profound sense.

Drala Jong - Home for a rare lineage of Tibetan Buddhism

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The Drala Jong project seeks to create a home for the Aro gTér Lineage. Please see the Appeal page for more information about the Drala Jong project and how to help.

If you would like to make a single or regular donation, please click the button below.

Drala Jong will make a long term difference to the world

Drala Jong will make a long term difference to the world: not because will be an empire, or a mansion with huge tracts of land – but because it will house a lineage that is capable of becoming a mainstream minority religion.

This is due to the fact that the central teachings of the Aro gTér Lineage are congruent with higher levels of psychological health. One example being the emphasis on karma as ‘perception and response’ – patterns within the continuum of consciousness – rather than the hard-wired system of ‘reward and punishment’ embedded in external reality. Interestingly, this accords precisely with the Buddha's original teaching. Another example is the understanding of the six realms as mind-states rather than external locations.

In terms of bodhicitta (compassion or appreciative empathetic responsiveness ) it is valuable to consider the future and the benefit for people who would be advantaged by a system which potentially advances the condition of everyone

— Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen

Drala Jong - Home for a rare lineage of Tibetan Buddhism

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The Drala Jong project seeks to create a home for the Aro gTér Lineage. Please see the Appeal page for more information about the Drala Jong project and how to help.

If you would like to make a single or regular donation, please click the button below.

The Aro gTér - kindness, openness and an enthusiasm for life

Family environments in which kindness, openness and an enthusiasm for life are exemplified, are needed for there to be peace and harmony in the world. For these qualities to exist as examples for children, men and women need greater respect & appreciation for each other. The Aro gTér provides insight and methodology which are directly applicable to this need. 

— Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen

Drala Jong - Home for a rare lineage of Tibetan Buddhism

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The Drala Jong project seeks to create a home for the Aro gTér Lineage. Please see the Appeal page for more information about the Drala Jong project and how to help.

If you would like to make a single or regular donation, please click the button below.