Announcement of the Parinirvana of His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche
With deep sorrow, I share the news of the Parinirvana of our beloved teacher, His Eminence Yongdzin Rinpoche. His presence was a light in this world — humble, wise, and filled with boundless compassion. Though his physical form has dissolved, his teachings and blessings continue to live on in the hearts of those he touched. In silence, in stillness, in the space between thoughts — he is there. He is always there in our hearts. May we honor his life by living his wisdom. – Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Please stay updated on news from Ligmincha centers worldwide as they organize in-person and online prayers and ceremonies with resident lamas for His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
International news
Upcoming Ligmincha Learning Courses
Ligmincha Learning is happy to invite you to attend several online prerecorded courses with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche this February and March 2024. These online courses feature beautiful video teachings, guided meditations, readings, journal writing activities, and the opportunity to interact with senior mentors and classmates from around the world.
The Three Heart Mantras
February 23-March 31, 2024
The Three Heart Mantras are used in many different meditations in the Bon tradition and play a major role in the ngondro practices. They are said to be the essence of enlightenment in sound and energy, and as we sing or chant the mantras our awareness is transformed to be in union with the buddhas. They are used for purification, protection and as primary practices toward self-realization.
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Ngondro, The Foundational Practices
March 1-December 15, 2024
The ngondro teachings are a set of nine practices that offer complete instructions for taming, purifying and perfecting the suffering mind. Although these practices are considered the foundation for entrance into the five-part cycle of Tibetan Bon dzogchen teachings, Bon’s highest teachings on the nature of mind, many practitioners adopt the ngondro as their main meditation and complete the nine sets of 100,000 repetitions over the course of a lifetime. Within each is contained the entire path to liberation. They are considered to be the foundational practices for the entire tradition.
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche rarely teaches the ngondro and recommends it for dedicated practitioners who feel a strong connection to the Bon lineage. Within the ngondro are found practices that are used within many other practices, such as the guru yoga prayer, bodhicitta prayer, refuge prayer, prostrations and the three heart mantras, so the ngondro supports and deepens all other meditation practices.
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Meditation, Breath and Movement: Tsa Lung External, Internal and Secret Practices
Tentative: March 1-31, 2024
With Alejandro Chaoul
Tsa lung is a series of ancient yogic practices that brings balance and harmony to our physical body, energy and mind. The term tsa lung can be translated as the energy-winds (Tibetan lung, Skt. rana, Chinese qi) in the channels, for these practices are designed to open the subtle channels, guiding the healthy flow of the energy-winds so that we can enjoy good health and reconnect with more calmness to a quiet, peaceful mind.
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Sleep Yoga, The Yoga of Clear Light
March 29-April 27, 2024
The course will introduce simple techniques to enter into sleep in a healthy, balanced way. Even if we do not consistently enter into clear light sleep, we can benefit from a refreshing, relaxed sleep that gives us deep renewal. This is supported by breathing techniques, physical postures and guided visualizations. Tenzin Rinpoche also will provide meditations to wake up in a beautiful way, feeling the blessings of sleep and stepping into our day with serenity. Through these simple practices we can transform our sleep to be one of tranquility and awareness.
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The Five Elements, Healing with Form, Energy and Light
March 29-May 12, 2024
In this course Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche explores how each of the five elements relates to our daily experiences, emotions and relationships. Rinpoche guides meditations for each of the elements, designed to help clear our obstacles and bring balance to our lives.
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Free courses; enroll at any time. Starting a Meditation Practice; The True Source of Healing; Living with Joy, Dying in Peace
Learn more at ligminchalearning.com
Join 3 Doors Retreat on Self-Transformation December 2 and 3
Everyone is welcome to join The 3 Doors community on December 2 and 3 for a dynamic weekend retreat with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche as he explores the topic of self-transformation. Rinpoche, Tibetan meditation teacher and founder of Ligmincha International, founded The 3 Doors in 2010 to support people to transform their lives through meditation.
December 2-3, 2024
The Heart of Self-Transformation: Exploring the Medicine of Breath, Awareness and Being
An Online Weekend Retreat with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
This online retreat, offered on Zoom, is open to everyone. Participants will be supported to reflect on habitual patterns that limit health, vitality and the expression of goodness that is inherent to us all. These habits can show up in our bodies as tension or exhaustion; in speech that is divisive or judgmental; and in our minds as fears and insecurities.
Through simple meditation practices that have been used for centuries, we awaken the natural medicine of breath and awareness as we open the doors of our body, speech and mind. Translation available in Spanish, French, German, Hungarian and Portuguese.
Winter Retreat: Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung, Part 4
The Experiential Transmission series, the centerpiece of Rinpoche’s dzogchen teachings, is presented each year at the Serenity Ridge winter retreat. This December, Part 4 of the five-year cycle of teachings focuses on overcoming obstacles to realizing the nature of mind.
You can attend the retreat in person at Serenity Ridge or online through Zoom. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche encourages people to attend in person if possible, to create a more intimate time to connect with one another and with the teachings.
The Experiential Transmission retreats allow Rinpoche to continually guide and nurture a growing community of practitioners devoted to the authentic Tibetan Bön dzogchen path handed down from the masters of Zhang Zhung, a lineage unbroken from ancient times to this day. The concise and essential practice manual of the Experiential Transmission, the Chag Tri, by the great adept Drugyalwa Yungdrung, provides complete instructions for those aspiring to the practice of dzogchen, the path of self-liberation.
As Rinpoche has been doing throughout the year, the focus of this retreat will be on practice. Last year, he gave descriptions of the practices that support trekcho and togel and eventually dark retreat. This year, participants will explore, enhance and reinforce the practices of the five postures, the five gazes and more.
Live translation will be available in Spanish.
Prerequisite: This retreat is open to those who have received the teachings for Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of the Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung from Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche either in this current teaching cycle or previously.
The teachings will begin on December 26 at 7:15 p.m. EST (New York time), and conclude by 2 p.m. EST on January 1, 2024.
Those attending in person may wish to consider staying on for the Tummo Practice Retreat with Geshe Gyatso January 4-11, 2024.
Two Zoom Retreats in February on Sherap Chamma and Tsa Lung
Ligmincha is offering two live Zoom retreats in February—”Sherap Chamma: Mother of Wisdom and Love” with Marcy Vaughn and “External, Internal and Secret Tsa Lung” with Alexandro Chaoul-Reich. All are welcome to attend.
Year-End Letter from Ligmincha President Rob Patzig
We are living in a time of such great uncertainty, challenge and transformation. Isolation and loss in the face of Covid-19, separation across political and social justice issues, and the biodiversity crisis can seem overwhelming. How fortunate that the teachings of enlightened beings and realized masters of the Yungdrung Bön tradition are available to us!
Lishu Teachers Share Spiritual Stories from Zhang Zhung Online
In the Bön tradition, spiritual stories are a traditional form of teaching. They inspire devotees and practitioners to develop and strengthen their faith in dharma teaching. Join Lishu Institute teachers Geshe Sherap Lodoe and Dr. Sangmo Yangri on Zoom December 19–January 3 for Spiritual Stories from Zhang Zhung.
Two New Audiobooks by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
We are pleased to announce the release of two new audiobooks by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche: Awakening the Sacred Body and Awakening the Luminous Mind. The books are read by senior teacher Marcy Vaughn, who edited both of the print books. Both are available through amazon.com (free with an Audible trial and also on Kindle) and through Hay House, the publisher of both books.
New Five-Year Experiential Transmission Series Begins December 27 with Ngöndro
The five-year Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung series is the centerpiece of the Yungdrung Bön dzogchen teachings that are presented at the end of December each year, usually at Serenity Ridge in Virginia. We are excited to announce that this year, Part 1: Ngöndro will be held online via Zoom December 27, 2020–January 1, 2021 and is open to everyone.
Cancer and Care Givers Retreat December 5–6
As a patient or caregiver, or even a family member, we need support in the journey through a cancer diagnosis. Join 3 Doors senior teachers Gabriel Rocco and Alejandro Chaoul-Reich, in collaboration with the Mind Body Spirit Institute of the Jung Center, for this special retreat December 5–6, 2020.
Red Garuda and Tibetan Yoga Online Retreats in November
Join us in November for two special online retreats via Zoom. John Jackson will hold a weekend retreat from November 7–8 on “The Red Garuda: Powerful Wings of the Heart.” Alejandro Chaoul-Reich will hold a four-day retreat on “Tibetan Yoga for Health and Well-Being” from November 12–15. All are welcome.
New Online Course on Creativity with Marcy Vaughn Starts October 30
Explore meditation practices that support you to have a vital relationship with your inherent creativity, care well for yourself and others, and awaken the inspiration to express your life fully in this new course with senior teacher Marcy Vaughn. The course is offered through The Three Doors and is based on the teachings of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.
24-Hour Full Moon Practice: Mantra of Clear Light
During the full moon of October 31, 2020, join us online for meditation followed by a 24-hour mantra recitation session. The session offers a precious opportunity to engage in reciting and connecting deeply with the Mantra of Clear Light (SA LÉ Ö mantra), one of the Three Heart Mantras of Bön.
Ligmincha International’s New Code of Conduct for All Sanghas
The Board of Ligmincha International is pleased to announce that after almost two years of work, Ligmincha has developed a Code of Conduct. The code was written in close collaboration with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, and extends to all Ligmincha centers and sanghas worldwide.