Naljorma ’ö-Sel Nyima

Naljorma ’ö-Sel Nyima encountered Buddhism as a child living in the Far East. After studying with various Buddhist Teachers she completed ngöndro (the four Vajrayana foundation practices) in England under the guidance of Ato Rinpoche – a married Kagyüd-Nyingma Lama. After fulfilling commitments with Ato Rinpoche she attended teachings and empowerments with Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, and became an apprentice. In 1997 she took ordination in the gö kar chang lo’i dé as a Naljorma.

She has undertaken pilgrimages to India, Nepal, and Sikkim where she visited the sacred meditation caves of Padmasambhava and Yeshé Tsogyel. She has received many cycles of teaching and transmission from Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, the Lineage Lamas of Aro. In 1998 she led pilgrimages to Nepal and was instrumental in the manufacture of costumes and the ornaments for the Tantric dances within the tradition.

She spent time with Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Sam’phel—the Root Lamas of Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen—and has completed several extensive solitary retreats. ’ö-Sel Nyima’s main practices are Ögyen Menlha yabyum (the medicine Buddha manifestation of Padmasambhava and Yeshé Tsogyel) and sKu-mNyé.

’ö-Sel is married to Naljorpa Rang-rig Dorje—a co-disciple—and they live in Brooklyn, New York, with two long-haired dachshunds and two long-haired cats. She has two grown sons at school in England. ’ö-Sel makes a living teaching Pilates exercise and the Feldenkrais somatic education Method. She likes working with people, their bodies, and with movement. Prior to living in America, she taught horseriding to disabled children in Dorset and meditation to prisoners in a Sex Offenders Prison in Wales. Her ambition is to finish the long ride of the Pacific Crest with Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, all 3,000 miles.