Volume 19, Number 5 / October 2019
Read the full issue
Letter from the Editors
New Bön Stupa Consecrated at Serenity Ridge
Dear Friends,
We are so happy to share more about the recently completed stupa, or chorten, at Serenity Ridge, the first Bön stupa in the United States and Ligmincha's fifth stupa worldwide. The consecration of this beautiful stupa was performed during this past summer retreat by His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin, Lungtok Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche, while he was visiting and teaching here with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. The creation of this landmark Bön stupa was sponsored by sangha member Vicki Wheaton More
Approaching Death Free of Attachment
An Edited Excerpt from Oral Teachings by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, July 2000
This retreat is a wonderful opportunity for us to have [now His Eminence] Yongdzin (Lopon) Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche here, especially for those of you who don't know him. Yongdzin Rinpoche is the principal teacher of the Bön Buddhist tradition, and for me personally, he has been my root master and the person who cared for me when I was growing up. This morning I was making a little pancake for breakfast for him, and he said, "Oh, this is what I used to make for you!" More
A Stupa (Chorten) at Serenity Ridge
First Bön Stupa in US Consecrated During Summer Retreat
Stupas, or chorten in the Tibetan language, are an important part of Bön and Himalayan culture. Serenity Ridge Retreat Center, headquarters of Ligmincha International, now has its own stupa—the first Bön stupa in the United States and Ligmincha’s fifth stupa worldwide. The new stupa was consecrated during the 2019 Summer Retreat in a ceremony that included His Holiness Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and his family, and many monks. More
Ligmincha’s Online Store Opens!
Two New Sacred Sky Books Available
Ligmincha's online store is now open and offering a range of books and media related to Tibetan Bön Buddhism. More than 40 books and audio are now available, and more offerings will continue to be added in the future.
Among the offerings are two new books by Sacred Sky Press, a division of Ligmincha International. More
Improvements to the Great Stupa for World Peace
Ways You Can Contribute to This Fundraiser
The Great Bön Stupa for World Peace in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, was consecrated on December 4, 2010. Now, Ligmincha Mexico has a program to improve the retreat center and also allow groups and individuals to generate merit by sponsoring a series of new stupas. More
The Creation of Kunzang Khang
In Remembrance of Project Manager Grover Overstreet
Enjoy these photos of Kunzang Khang, the beautifully designed multipurpose building at Serenity Ridge Retreat Center, headquarters of Ligmincha International. We also share a few sangha memories in remembrance of Grover Overstreet, who was the project manager on the construction of Kunzang Khang, which took place over a year and a half period. He passed away from cancer on September 1. More
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s Worldwide Teaching Schedule
October Through December 2019
Here is a list of Rinpoche’s upcoming retreats through December 2019. It includes Rinpoche’s in-person teachings at Ligmincha International retreat centers or other locations throughout the world. It also includes his online teachings offered through Ligmincha Learning or GlideWing. More
Four Upcoming Retreats at Serenity Ridge
Annual Fall and Winter Retreats, H.E. Menri Ponlop and Tibetan Yoga
Serenity Ridge is offering four upcoming retreats this October through December. They include Fall Retreat teachings on the bardo with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, a dzogchen teaching with His Eminence Menri Ponlop Trinley Nyima Rinpoche, two Tibetan yoga (trul khor) retreats and a Winter Retreat dzogchen retreat, open to all, with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. More
Ligmincha Learning Online Course Begins October 4
'The Five Elements: Healing with Form, Energy and Light'
Ligmincha Learning is pleased to offer an online course with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche on “The Five Elements: Healing with Form, Energy and Light,” from October 4–November 19, 2019. The five elements—earth, water, fire, air and space—pervade our lives, are the essences of our being and can be sources of profound healing. More
Tibetan Language Bön Prayers: The Invocation of Tapihritsa
New Ligmincha Learning Course with Geshe Denma Gyaltsen and Bob Clark
The Tibetan Language Bön Prayers Program is pleased to announce a new online course focusing on the Invocation of Tapihritsa taught by Geshe Denma Gyaltsen, the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. It will be offered October 20–November 17 through Ligmincha Learning. There is no prerequisite for the course. More
GlideWing 'Tibetan Dream Yoga' Starts November 16
Four-Week Online Workshop with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
“Tibetan Dream Yoga,” an online workshop with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche offered through GlideWing, will be held November 16–December 15, 2019. Learn and practice from your own home, at your own schedule, with personal guidance from Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. More
The Three Doors New Online Course
‘The Healing Power of Silence’ with Gabriel Rocco
A new six-week self-guided online course with 3 Doors senior teacher Gabriel Rocco will be offered December 6, 2019–Jan 17, 2020 (with a break on December 27). This new 3 Doors course will support participants in recognizing patterns of inner and outer speech and how to use precision of attention to rest in powerful, transformative inner silence. More
Student and Teacher
Together on the Path
As students on the Tibetan Bön Buddhist path, we offer our teachers a range of questions from the simple to the complex. Here we share an excerpt from the transcript of oral teachings given by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche at the 2003 Spring Retreat at Serenity Ridge on "Guidance for Living and Dying: Commentary on Bardo Teachings from the Bön Mother Tantra." More
Ligmincha Europe Magazine #29
Summer 2018 – Summer 2019
Enjoy a full year of articles and pictures online or download the pdf here.
Spanish Translation of VOCL
Link to August Issue Now Available
Look for the translations of Voice of Clear Light Newsletters at the top of the VOCL website.
Read VOCL in Spanish
Upcoming Retreats
Serenity Ridge Retreat Center
The events listed below will take place at Serenity Ridge Retreat Center, Ligmincha International headquarters located in rural Nelson County, Virginia. To register or for more information, visit the Serenity Ridge website, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 434-263-6304.
October 22–27, 2019
Fall Retreat—Guidance for Living and Dying: Commentary on the Bardo Teachings
with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
November 7, 2019
Tibetan Yoga Practice Day
with Rob Patzig
November 8–10, 2019
Special Retreat—Pith Instructions from the Golden Advice
with H.E. Menri Lopon Trinley Nyima Rinpoche
November 8–11, 2019
Tibetan Yoga, Part 2 and Part 3
with Alejandro Chaoul-Reich and Rob Patzig
December 26, 2019–January 1, 2020
Winter Retreat—Dzogchen Practice Retreat: Turning Inward
with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
To register for any of the above retreats, or for more information about teachings in the Bön Buddhist tradition of Tibet, please visit the Serenity Ridge website, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 434-263-6304.
