Aro West Coast Book Club

Spectrum of Ecstasy by Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen, is a newer version of Ngakpa Chögyam's first book, Rainbow of Liberated Energy. The rainbow and the spectrum consist of the energies of the entire phenomenal world, which we experience both inside and outside ourselves. Inside we experience the elements as emotions, and outside we experience the elements as the earth, water, fire, air, and space of the universe. The teachings on the five elements help us to understand the mystery of emotions: how they function, their neurotic and realized aspects, and a simple but powerful practice for "taking emotions as the path" rather than seeing them as distractions. Ultimately, the teachings and practice of the elements can provide us a path to liberation from the inside/outside duality.