Dzogchen Naljor Ling

As we all know, when the COVID-19 pandemic affected people worldwide in 2020, when there seemed to be almost no other means of connecting with each other except through live broadcast, my spouse Gazom Lhamo and I, despite knowing little about using modern technology like computers and Facebook, were motivated by a desire to do something beneficial during this deadly global pandemic. Gazom Lhamo took the initiative to learn how to open a Facebook account and do live broadcasts. Through her efforts, we timely established a Facebook page called “Dzogchen Naljor Ling” (Dzogchen Yoga Center) to connect with practitioners. Many practitioners from around the world, both acquaintances and strangers, joined our Facebook group. With sincere volunteer spirit, we served them during the pandemic when all travel was restricted.

My family and I are living in France, specifically in a sixteen-story apartment building in Sarcelles near Paris. This building houses sixty-four families, including ours. Everyone is paying rent. During the severe pandemic, people in neighboring high-rise buildings fell ill, but remarkably, despite the many residents in our building, no one became sick. Surely this was due to the protection of Yeshe Walmo.

From our apartment, for over fifty consecutive days, we conducted sessions twice daily, one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon, through the Dzogchen Naljor Ling Facebook page. To support practitioner’s mental well-being during the severe pandemic, we offered Dzogchen meditation guidance, traditional ritual services, and other necessary practices. Many practitioners on Facebook expressed great appreciation, saying these practices significantly helped maintain their mental health during the severe pandemic. Many practitioners thanked us, and at their request, we continued these practices. Gradually, our Facebook page and live broadcasts gained high regard from non-sectarian practitioners. Even practitioners who previously disliked Facebook opened new accounts specifically to join our Facebook group.

The reasons for this success are first, the continued support from devoted non-sectarian practitioners, and Gazom Lhamo’s management of all the challenging tasks related to Facebook and live broadcasts. Despite not being proficient in English spelling and grammar, she considered clear communication to be the most important thing and didn’t hesitate to maintain this important channel where practitioners could see and understand what I was doing and where they could connect with us regularly. Gazom Lhamo worked diligently to provide timely written announcements to the best of her knowledge and ability. Second, I also continued to contribute with sincere dedication through live broadcasts, directly sharing my personal experiences of Dzogchen practice with the practitioners, guiding meditation sessions, and practicing together with them as much as possible. Because of these efforts, many people developed appreciation and trust in the Dzogchen Naljor Ling Facebook page and live broadcasts. I consider this as our collective achievement.

After the intensity of the pandemic subsided and communication within Europe was restored, practitioners invited both of us to visit their respective locations. Following the pandemic, we met in person for the first time and conducted meditation teachings, which brought great joy to everyone. Afterwards, practitioners living around Paris, both those I knew previously and those I newly aquainted, expressed the desire for us to gather together from time to time, rather than just through live broadcasts. Since we didn’t have our own meeting hall, with the support of devoted practitioners and through Gazom Lhamo’s arrangements, Dzogchen Naljor Ling first rented various venues at different price points in Paris for several months to conduct meditation teachings. Later, we held meditation teachings and practice sessions for many months at the home of a dedicated and generous practitioner. Subsequently, we temporarily rented an affordable meeting hall in Paris where we continue to conduct meditation teachings one weekend a month. There, I provide Dzogchen meditation guidance to anyone interested in Dzogchen
practice, both online and in person.

As a Dzogchen yogi, I regularly practice meditation together with the practitioners to help them develop clarity and stability in their meditation, and primarily to familiarize them with Dzogchen meditation. Those who can’t attend in person and practitioners in various countries participate through live broadcasts. We have been continuing this successfully for three years now.

Among the practitioners, some newly connected with us through the Dzogchen Naljor Ling Facebook page during the 2020 COVID pandemic have continued to participate in my meditation teachings via live broadcasts until now. Others are practitioners with whom we had tions before 2020. There are also from time to time non-sectarian practitioners who join us through the intermediary of practitioners they know.

Moreover, those who listen to my Dzogchen meditation teachings and practice meditation with me are not only those affiliated with the Yungdrung Bön tradition, but also devoted non-sectarian practitioners who have good connections with other Tibetan Buddhist traditions. In general, those who attend come from various backgrounds, regardless of whether they have religious affiliations or not. All practitioners show appreciation and trust in my meditation teachings and practices. Therefore, as I am a Dzogchen yogi, we open our doors to all who are interested in Dzogchen meditation.

In 2023, when my spouse and I specifically traveled from France to Nepal to meet my kind root Master, His Eminence Yongzin Rinpoche, at Triten Norbutse Monastery. During our personal audience with him in the presence of his attendants, Rinpoche said to me: “I heard that you are continuing to give teachings.” I replied, “Yes, I am continuing to give teachings.” Rinpoche, with great pleasure repeatedly said, “That’s very good. Thank you,” and told me, “Don’t stop your teachings, please continue. I’ve heard they are beneficial.” This success has come about through the blessings of my root Master’s words.

Similarly, almost every week on Wednesday, we continue to maintain the practice of Rigpa (Pure Awareness) meditation for one hour via Zoom to help non-sectarian practitioners develop clarity and stability in their meditation. Some practitioners have told me, “When listening to meditation guidance via Zoom, I feel as if you are actually present with me, which makes it especially meaningful.”

Additionally, what I haven’t mentioned above is that for my own practice, I continuously engage in meditation practice daily without interruption, integrating it with my life, and I continue to practice the four types of generosity offerings and other practices daily. There are many beneficial activities I have accomplished for others over many years that I haven’t written about here. All the involved practitioners are well aware of this.

In this way, as a Dzogchen yogi with a family including a spouse and children, by continuously accomplishing beneficial activities for others to the best of my ability, devoted and generous sponsors voluntarily promised to provide as much financial support as possible to purchase a place for meditation and practice. This encouraged me to start considering buying a place. Subsequently, one after another, the devoted practitioners-sponsors have promised to provide assistance. Moreover, with their guidance and
support and with Gazom Lhamo taking responsibility, Dzogchen Naljor Ling Ritrö has been registered as a legal organization in France. Although there were some difficulities and delays, recently a bank account in the name of Dzogchen Naljor Ling Ritrö has been successfully opened.

The Tibetan word “Ritrö” means “place of pratice”. According to our plan, we are looking for a Ritrö at a reasonable distance from Paris, for a budget around 300,000 Euros, and we hope to purchase it as soon as possible. So far, as promised, two devoted benefactors have voluntarily committed donations for purchasing the Ritrö, each contributing according to their willingly offer, amounting to 130,000 Euros in total that is now securely available to Dzogchen Naljor Ling Ritrö. I sincerely thank both of them.

As the current funds available are not sufficient to purchase the Ritrö according to our plan, I must make an appeal for donations to practitioners who have interest and appreciation for Dzogchen meditation in general, and particularly to the non-sectarian devoted practitioners with whom I have connections. As the Tibetan proverb says: “Even when a rodent is small, it has all four limbs”. Likewise, regardless of its size, this Dzogchen Naljor Ling Ritrö will be a place for Dzogchen meditation that benefits the teachings of the unsurpassed Great Perfection in general, all sentient beings, and specifically all Dzogchen practitioners including ourselves and others. Therefore, I ask all devoted non-sectarian practitioners to please consider that any contributions you make according to your willingly offer toward purchasing the Ritrö will not be wasted. I request all practitioners to keep this in mind.

My projet is to have a place where I will continue to share my experiential teachings and practice with practitioners, both online and in person, like we do now in Paris. It is not about creating a center to organize retreats with accomodation. If someone asks me, “Additionally, what new plans do you have for the future at the Ritrö?” My hearƞelt response is: as those practitioners who know me are already aware, I will simply continue as I am now, developing my meditation practice and doing whatever I can to benefit others. I don’t have anything specific to show or talk about regarding new plans. I have only one plan and
one path forward: for the benefit of both myself and others, to teach Dzogchen and to practice Dzogchen, so please be aware of this.

The bank informations to make a donation on Dzogchen Naljor Ling Ritrö’s bank account is as follows. Please don’t forget it and also kindly share the word to others you know as much as possible.

Thank you.

Thursday, April 3, 2025, an auspicious day according to astrological calculations
Written by former abbot and Dzogchen yogi Nyima Wangyal from the Tashi Ösel Khang, House of
Auspicious Luminosity!
Translated from the Tibetan by Sangmo Yangri