Dear Friends,

We send our warmest wishes for safe travels and a joyful retreat to Tenzin Rinpoche and students from around the world while they are on a special Fall Retreat in Kathmandu, Nepal! And we send our deepest respect and prayers to His Eminence Yongdzin (Lopon) Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, the most senior teacher in the Bon tradition, co-founder of Menri Monastery in India, and founder of Triten Norbutse Monastery in Nepal, whose presence is a blessing to all.

A strong element in these teachings is the association of mind with the breath. And that’s basically true for all of the ancient teachings and yoga traditions as well. They all generally make the connection that if you want to control your mind, then you control your breath. Because controlling or calming the mind is harder, and controlling or calming the breath is easier, so therefore try to control what is easy in order to control what is difficult. The practices of tsa lung work in a similar way, utilizing the breath and the winds. And after all of these many years of our practicing the tsa lung, it would serve us well to have a clearer understanding of these tsa lung exercises, leading to a better relationship with them.

We are very excited to announce that the Fall Retreat in Kathmandu will be available online on Zoom. Even if you cannot travel to Kathmandu this time, you can still join Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche for this retreat on the practice of Chod. Chod is a skillful method for transforming the fear, aversion and attachment that obscure our true nature, and the qualities of love, compassion, joy and equanimity.

Here is Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s upcoming teaching schedule for October through December. Rinpoche will be teaching Kathmandu, Nepal, Thailand, and at Serenity Ridge in Virginia in the upcoming months.

You can find the latest listings and any changes in the Events section of the Ligmincha website or the Serenity Ridge website. Please register for these online retreats through the specific Events box on the website. Updates will be provided on the website as they become available.

As summer turns into fall, we are reflecting on the incredible journey that Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche has been leading us on these many years. Ligmincha is not only where dharma practitioners come together – we are family, friends, colleagues.

We have been humbled by the unwavering support of all the individuals who support Rinpoche and our mission through charitable gifts and volunteering.

Join Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche for the annual Winter Retreat: Rest in the Wonders of the Natural Mind: A Dzogchen Practice Retreat, beginning December 27, 2024. This year, Rinpoche is generously opening the retreat to all who wish to deepen their dzogchen practice. The retreat will be held in-person at Serenity Ridge and online on Zoom. Participants can choose between a nine-day retreat from December 27-January 4, 2025, or a weekend option from December 27-29, 2024.

Following our next Full Moon Practice on October 16, you are invited to a November 6 dialog with Guy Desbiolles and host Alejandro Chaoul. Guy will guide us in cardiac coherence, a breathing practice that offers wide-ranging benefits for our health and well-being. View the broadcast at the link below, on Facebook, or on the CyberSangha Community App. Those who RSVP on the app receive a helpful notification before the broadcast begins. If you haven’t explored the app yet, you can do so here.

Ligmincha is pleased to announce three new training programs that will be offered at Serenity Ridge beginning in 2025: Du Tri Su with Geshe Denma Gyaltsen, assisted by Khandro Tsering Wangmo Khymsar beginning in March 2025; the Five Elements with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche beginning in April 2025; and Soul Retrieval with Lama Kalsang Nyima, assisted by Khandro Tsering Wangmo Khymsar beginning in October 2025.

Beginning with a retreat at Serenity Ridge on April 14-17, 2025, Rinpoche is launching a three-year training program: Healing the World, Healing Ourselves: The Five Elements and the Living Universe. The program will be a deep exploration of the five elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. Students will gain knowledge of each of the five elements, their qualities in nature, in our bodies, in our psyche, and in our relationships.

Ligmincha Learning is pleased to offer the following online courses: The Three Heart Mantras beginning October 4, The Five Elements beginning October 18, Sleep Yoga beginning November 15, all with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche; Sherap Chamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love beginning November 15, with Marcy Vaughn; Tsa Lung beginning November 29, with Alejandro Chaoul.