Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje
Kannealp Switzerland, 2004
Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje writes:
For as much of the year as is feasible, Tsal’gyür Wangmo and I love to hold our events in locations where the participants can filter out into the landscape to pursue their practice. When possible we give teachings, transmissions and interviews outside, as was customary in the non-monastic encamped communities (gar) in Tibet. One reason for that in the past was the non-existence of fixed accommodation and only canopies to house all the practitioners. But the essential reason for continuing the custom is that the great outdoors is the authentic gompa (meditation place) of Dzogchen practice. It suits the subtle, informal atmosphere of Dzogchen to be where the elements manifest spontaneously in whatever style they happen to take, their natural state. Especially where the elements are manifesting particularly strongly and vividly, this is regarded as an ideal self-existing Dzogchen gompa, the place of meditation.
The towering cliff and saddle of Bird Rock, on the west coast of Wales, is one such locale that apprentices have visited regularly, most memorably for Khandro Déchen’s ordination. In such places the meditator meets with the empty elements of the outer ying (dimension) through the physical senses, which are profoundly rooted in the enlightened essences of the elements at the core of the inner ying, the psycho-physical body. The elements have never been alienated from the natural state, nor divided or separated in any way; so the outer dimension and the inner dimension are fundamentally non-dual. The elements become the practice supports of Dzogchen Trekchod, Sem-dé, rLong-dé and especially Men-ngak-dé, modes of practice which precipitate the recognition of non-duality by blasting the two dimensions into each other.