Dear Friends,

How do you experience yourself in silence? In this new excerpt from Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s teachings at the summer retreat at Serenity Ridge, we are encouraged to ask this, and more importantly to experience it. Allowing our emotions to come and go in the silence and stillness of the moment, we find nourishment in a deeper kind of being, beyond identities, beyond all our wanting to do, do, do.

Our heartfelt prayers go out to all those affected by the devastating floods in Nepal. Rinpoche recently announced that Kunsang Foundation Nepal, in collaboration with Ligmincha International, has organized the Nepal Flood Emergency Relief Fund to support those affected by the tragedy. Kunsang Foundation Nepal will be responsible for directing the funds to help address the most urgent needs of affected families and communities.

Anyone who wishes to help is warmly invited to contribute. Any amount, large or small, can make a meaningful difference.

DONATIONS THROUGH LIGMINCHA INTERNATIONAL
Donations can be made through this link:
https://ligmincha.app.neoncrm.com/forms/nepal-flood-emergency-relief-fund

We hope you enjoy the beautiful photographs taken by Regi Franz while visiting Menri Monastery in India, featured in the Sangha Sharing article. Thankfully, she was also right there in the moment to capture this wonderful view of His Holiness, the 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche. Thank you so much, Regi.

More news and events at Ligmincha:

• Still time to register for upcoming retreats starting soon at Serenity Ridge!
• A personal reflection by Tenzin Rinpoche about shrines.
• Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s 2026 retreat schedule and an important announcement.
• Upcoming free CyberSangha events.
• Sangha Sharing with photographs by Regi Franz.
• Several Ligmincha Learning courses offered this fall. Three Heart Mantras begins October 2.
• Beginning October 10: Awakening the Sacred Arts, an online workshop with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche through GlideWing.
• The 3 Doors events & programs include The Compassion Project, the annual online weekend retreat with founder, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche & founding teachers, plus more.
• Spanish translation of the August VOCL

In Bön,
Aline and Jeff Fisher

During this next portion of the retreat we will be remaining in silence. Among the aspects of stillness, silence, and spaciousness, it is particularly important that you recognize your own experience with the stillness and with the silence.

It’s very difficult, isn’t it, for people to not do anything? Particularly in the Western world, where the focus is more on action, and on the doing. We identify with what we do, don’t we? And we identify with what we have. But we don’t identify so much with how we are.

If asked, who are you, the typical response would be something like, oh I’m a lawyer. And if asked why they said that, typically they’d answer, because I practice law. So who I am, my identity, is what I do. But the truth is, that this is not the case – you are not what you do. And definitely, you are not what you have. That is another form of mistaken identity for many in the West, where your worthiness is defined by the amount of wealth or material possessions that you have. We know that those notions are incorrect.

So in meditation, when you’re trying to be still, or when you’re challenged to be still, just observe, what is your experience of that stillness? Or if you are sitting in silence, then what is it like for you? It may be that the silence is boring, or it might be that the silence is like music. Right? See for yourself; is the silence a peacefulness, or is it various disturbances? What does the quality of silence look like to you?

The idea of our resting in stillness and silence, and in some sense, doing nothing, it’s not an easy thing to do. It is a means, though, for our sensing something deeper, a sense of completeness, in that action-less stillness. Many times when we are trying to do something, it’s as if we are avoiding seeing something inside ourselves. But here in this meditation we are challenged to not do anything. And in this non-doing, we don’t identify with anything, and through that we can find a deeper identity beyond what we do.

And I think silence in particular here is the key element, because the non-action of stillness alone is not in itself a meditation. However, our non-action accompanied by the silence of simple awareness, is a meditation. Earlier in the retreat, I overheard someone saying, I won’t be attending the second week of the retreat, because I like to talk. [laughter] Sure, if you love to talk, then vowing to keep oneself in silence for 5 or 6 hours each day is hard, right? Let me see how many of you enjoy silence? [a number of people raise their hand] Okay, and how many of you love to talk? [most attending raise their hand] Silence is interesting, isn’t it? We all know how talking, communicating and engaging feels lively. Whereas, our not talking, our not engaging feels a little bit unfamiliar. But then as you go deeper into the silence, it feels beautiful. It feels very peaceful. But there are stages that you go through in the process, and that process does not always feel very familiar. Nevertheless, there is clearly a path toward that inner peace, and it starts with our minimizing our talking.

This principal aspect that the word silence points to is not simply being quiet. Because, there are likely a lot of people who just don’t talk and remain silent throughout their lifetime. They probably should talk, though. There are actually things that they are supposed to talk about, and yet they just won’t talk. Their silence is not fun. Silence for them is not a joy. Rather, you can see so much pain and depression in their silence.

So you don’t want to rest in that kind of silence. Rather you want to feel the silence as a music, as a joy. Clearly silence is very peaceful. But you have to taste the peace in the silence, otherwise silence itself can be boring. You have to taste some sense of light in this silence, otherwise silence can be dark. In short, there are qualities that are experienced in this silence. And three main qualities experienced in this silence are joy, love and a sense of, all is good, or in Tibetan, Kuntuzangpo. So when you’re listening to the silence, you are being nourished with all of the qualities that are in that silence. Like being nourished by hearing music that you love. Although, here it’s not that you are listening to something happening out there. It is something that you experience as some aspect of yourself. Everything’s happening in here. And I think it’s good to feel joy, love, light, liveliness, music, melody, peace in that silence. And the outer circumstances or the outer situation is simply a trigger for that.

In short, then, enjoy the silence and try to taste different qualities in the silence and in particular, try to taste a quality that you miss in your life. It may be the sense of, all is good, or Kuntuzangpo. So simply rest in the silence [Rinpoche rests]. And then internally you may say, all is good… all is good… Kuntuzangpo… Kuntuzangpo… Kuntuzangpo. Though you may not feel like all is good, still you can say it. All is good. If you repeat those words again and again, then the brain can rewire itself to return to those very patterns that it’s been practicing most. All is good. And then over time you will not need to say, all is good, to actually feel like all is good. And then, you simply be in that all-goodness; you simply be in that Kuntuzangpo.

That’s a great way of being in silence, while resting in the stillness. And we will practice that over the next few days here at the retreat. However, if sometime you happen not to be feeling that way, feeling all is good, then that’s completely okay, too. Don’t try to push yourself into feeling good. Rather recognize at that point that it’s better to be open and simply ask yourself, as you would a friend, how are you feeling? What are you feeling? And allow the expression of it for that to clear.

Earlier a student mentioned that she went from experiencing a feeling of oneness with everything, to later her experiencing a really deep sadness and sense of disconnection. Sometimes with these experiences of, say, sadness or disconnection, or anger, it’s more a matter of allowing those experiences. So, first of all, as a dzogchen principle, we say that any and all of these emotions are not bad. That’s the first thing to realize. Sure, it may not necessarily be a pleasant experience that you’re having, but it’s not bad as such. So being open, look at it positively. Then you can say and feel, okay now I will simply allow it, and feel it. Because, everywhere that you’re feeling it in your body, there’s a release of something. As well, if you’re experiencing something conceptually or emotionally, and you are attempting to understand it psychologically and you reflect deeper, then something is getting clear there, too. So, there’s always something good about having those kinds of experiences and not rejecting them.

So basically, just allow. And in the dzogchen teachings, it says that these emotions are simply energy. And therefore our seeing these emotions as if they are an error, is actually mistaken. The teachings go on to say that the approach or the meditation for any one of them is, leave it as it is. And then the fruition of this view and meditation on them is the dissolution or the cessation of them in the base. That means that when a negative thought or emotion arises, you simply leave it as it is and you just observe it, then it dissolves.

None of that problem or that pain will last unless you contribute more to it. But if you just let it breathe, then naturally it releases. But if you try to stop it, then it will stay longer. So again, not rejecting it is the first step. I know that can be a little bit hard at times. Who wants to feel sad, right? But at least you have in the back of your mind the trust that it’s okay to feel that way. And then you can come to know that feeling sad is okay. And you come to know that even the tears are good. And you come to allow the expression of your sadness, or the expression of your joy to manifest in the drops of the tears from your eye. The eyes are involved, the tears are involved, sounds are involved, maybe even the shaking of your body is involved. It’s important to allow all of that. Right? So it’s good to feel things.

Okay, so let’s open to our experience of silence over these next few days of the retreat.

Join us at Serenity Ridge or online for three upcoming retreats with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche! All are open to beginners and experienced meditators. You can attend in person at Serenity Ridge or online on Zoom.

September 30 – October 4, 2026, In-Person
The Sleep Health Retreat: Science, Rest, and Renewal
With Danny Lewin, PhD, Ed O’Malley, PhD, and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Discover a unique sleep health retreat that combines the latest advances in sleep medicine with contemplative practices for deep rest and well-being. Led by internationally recognized sleep experts Dr. Danny Lewin and Dr. Ed O’Malley, together with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, this retreat offers practical, evidence-based tools to improve sleep, restore energy, and support long-term health.
Learn more/register

October 1–4, 2026, In-Person & Online
Sherap Chamma: The Divine Feminine in the Bön Tradition
With Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Discover the transformative practice of Sherap Chamma, the Mother of Wisdom and Love, from the ancient Tibetan Bön tradition. Through meditation, visualization, mantra, and contemplation, learn to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and inner strength. These are powerful practices for meeting and healing the stress and challenges of modern life.
Learn more/register

October 6–11, 2026, In-Person & Online
Being Present to the Moment of Death: Wisdom, Medicine, and the Journey Through the BardoWith Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and special guests 
How can spiritual practice and the healing traditions guide us through the dying process, both as caregivers and as companions?
This year, Serenity Ridge welcomes spiritual teachers, physicians, and scholars from the Tibetan, Buddhist, academic,and contemplative-care traditions for a five-day retreat exploring the mystery of death, dying, and the bardo.
Learn more/register

In a recent Facebook post, Rinpoche shared his personal reflection about shrines.

Creating shared sacred spaces that are spacious, luminous, and timeless. This is simply a personal reflection on my own practice and the way I hope to guide the communities I serve. It’s not a criticism of anyone’s devotion, nor a suggestion for other teachers or traditions. Many people find deep inspiration in photographs of their teachers, and I sincerely respect that. I can only speak for myself. For this reason, I ask that my own photograph not be placed on our collective shrines, and that my image not be sold through our community. Not because I believe such practices are wrong, but because this is simply the direction my own heart has taken. In today’s digital world, anyone who wishes to keep a photograph of me for personal inspiration can easily do so. My request concerns only our shared spaces.

This doesn’t mean I’m opposed to sacred images. Images such as Buddha Shakyamuni, Tonpa Shenrab, or Kuntu Zangpo point beyond a particular human personality. They represent timeless awakening, compassion, wisdom, and our own deepest nature. My reflection is only about photographs of individual teachers in our collective shrines. Once we begin placing personalities on a shared shrine, natural questions arise. Whose photos? Past masters? Present teachers? How many, and in what order? Before long, attention can shift from timeless qualities of the teachings to individuals. Even with the best intentions, comparisons and preferences can quietly arise, and the simplicity of the shrine may become less spacious than it was meant to be. My aspiration is to keep our collective shrine clear, spacious, luminous, and inclusive. a place that points beyond any individual, toward the timeless essence that all authentic spiritual traditions invite us to discover. When my personality, expressed through my image, steps back, I hope the timeless teachings become more alive and more present. That is my aspiration.

Rinpoche recently announced on Facebook that beginning in 2027 he plans to reduce the frequency of his travel and in-person teaching in the European communities. In many places where he has taught every year, he now plans to visit every other year. His hope is that students will continue to meet and practice by joining him in one of the other places in Europe where he is teaching.

This decision comes after many years of extensive travel. Rinpoche said that he feels this change is important for his long-term wellbeing and that it will help him continue teaching, guiding and supporting our community for many years to come. He emphasized that this does not mean any less connection, rather his commitment to Ligmincha’s centers, students and sangha remains as steady as ever.

Here is Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s upcoming teaching schedule for 2026. You can find the latest listings and any changes in the Events section of the Ligmincha International or Serenity Ridge websites. Updates will be provided on the website as they become available.

• September 25–27, 2026: Sky Gazing and Sun Gazing – Chamma Ling Colorado
• September 29–October 4, 2026: Sherap Chamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love – Serenity Ridge Retreat Center
• September 30-October 4, 2026: Sleep Health Retreat – Serenity Ridge Retreat Center
• October 6–11, 2026: Bardo Teachings: Living with Joy, Dying in Peace Fall Retreat – Serenity Ridge Retreat Center
• October 16–18, 2026: Chöd, Part 2 – Ligmincha Berkeley
• November 2–6, 2026: Sleep, Dream, Death and Liberation – Esalen Institute
• January 1-10, 2027: Winter Retreat – Serenity Ridge Retreat Center
• January 8-10, 2027: Dream Yoga – Taiwan

CyberSangha’s online events are always free and open to all. Here’s what’s coming up in late September, October and beyond:

Begins Saturday, September 26, at 10 a.m. New York time
24-Hour Full Moon Practice, “Finding Refuge Within”
Join us via Zoom at any time during the 24 hours — drop in whenever you can, for one or more practice sessions — as we acknowledge both personal pain and our collective challenges, all while abiding in the open, clear warmth of presence. This is a chance to discover the space of inner refuge: the ultimate protection and a source of genuine compassion.
Learn more and view live

Wednesday, September 30, at 4 p.m. New York time
“Born to Flourish: Finding Calm, Meaning & Connection in a Chaotic World”
Even in a world that so often pulls us toward stress, distraction, and isolation, well-being is something we can practice, strengthen, and build over time. Join us for a warm and timely online conversation with pioneering neuroscientist and researcher of contemplative practices Richard J. Davidson and contemplative scientist, translator, and meditation teacher Cortland Dahl, authors of the new book Born to Flourish: How New Science and Ancient Wisdom Reveal a Simple Path to Thriving. Hosted by Alejandro Chaoul, Davidson and Dahl will explore how the insights of modern neuroscience and enduring contemplative wisdom can help us meet the pressures of everyday life with greater calm, clarity, connection, and purpose.
Learn more and view live

Thursday, October 22, at 12 noon New York time
“Resting in Being: A Guided Mindfulness Meditation, Part 10”
Join us for Part 10 in a series of short guided mindfulness practices led by Aleezé Sattar Moss, in support of the inner refuge meditations we engage in each month during the 24-Hour Full Moon Practice. It is an opportunity to connect with fullness and completeness in the present moment, and to discover a deep sense of protection amid life’s challenges.
Learn more and view live

Begins Sunday, October 25, at 10 a.m. New York time
24-Hour Full Moon Practice, “Finding Refuge Within”
Join us via Zoom at any time during the 24 hours — drop in whenever you can, for one or more practice sessions — as we acknowledge both personal pain and our collective challenges, all while abiding in the open, clear warmth of presence. This is a chance to discover the space of inner refuge: the ultimate protection and a source of genuine compassion.
Registration opens after Sept. 27

Thursday, November 19, at 12 noon New York time
“Resting in Being: A Guided Mindfulness Meditation, Part 11”
Join us for Part 11 in a series of short guided mindfulness practices led by Aleezé Sattar Moss, in support of the inner refuge meditations we engage in each month during the 24-Hour Full Moon Practice. It is an opportunity to connect with fullness and completeness in the present moment, and to discover a deep sense of protection amid life’s challenges.
Learn more and view live

Begins Tuesday, November 24, at 10 a.m. New York time
24-Hour Full Moon Practice, “Finding Refuge Within”
Join us via Zoom at any time during the 24 hours — drop in whenever you can, for one or more practice sessions — as we acknowledge both personal pain and our collective challenges, all while abiding in the open, clear warmth of presence. This is a chance to discover the space of inner refuge: the ultimate protection and a source of genuine compassion.
Registration opens after Oct. 26

Join the Community!

CyberSangha’s community app, our dedicated social media platform, serves as a primary gateway for meeting like-minded individuals, staying updated on upcoming teachings and other events, and accessing live and recorded broadcasts, free classes, and more. Feel free to explore the app’s features, engage with content, share feedback, and participate in polls.
Explore or join the app now

Enjoy these gorgeous pictures taken by sangha member Regi Frantz on her recent trip to Menri Monastery in India, including a few of His Holiness, 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche. And stay tuned for announcements about next summer’s annual retreat at Serenity Ridge with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and special guest, His Holiness, the 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche.

Ligmincha Learning is pleased to offer these online guided courses beginning in October and November, as well as several self-paced courses and free courses, open at all times. 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. See the entire 2026 Course Calendar.

GUIDED COURSES

Three Heart Mantras
October 2 – November 8, 2026 with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
The Three Heart Mantras are used in many different meditations in the Bön 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.
Learn more/register

Sherap Chamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love
November 13 – December 13, 2026 with Marcy Vaughn
In many cultures the primordial female energy is seen as the origin of existence and the source of all positive qualities. Sherap Chamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love, is the source of wisdom, and her medicine is love and compassion. The teachings of Sherap Chamma comprise one of the most important tantric cycles of the ancient Bön tradition.
Learn more/register

Sleep Yoga: The Yoga of Clear Light
November 21 – December 20, 2026 with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
We spend one-third of our life in sleep, yet for most people sleep is a period of unconsciousness. Through the practices of the Yoga of Clear Light we can learn to be completely aware during our sleep, open, clear, resting in deep meditative presence.
Learn more/register

Meditation, Breath and Movement: Tsa Lung External Internal and Secret Practices
November 27 – December 27, 2026 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. Prana, 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. These exercises are easy to perform, and are suitable for everyone.
Learn more/register

SELF PACED COURSES

Tibetan Sound Healing
Who Am I: A Journey to Self-Realization
Raising Lungta with Prayer Flags
Treasures of Bön: History, Lineage & Practices

FREE COURSES

Starting a Meditation Practice, From the Bön Tradition of Tibet, Part 1
Starting a Meditation Practice, From the Bön Tradition of Tibet, Part 2
The True Source of Healing
Living with Joy, Dying in Peace

Learn more at ligminchalearning.com

Join us for this opportunity to free yourself from creative obstacles, nurture your capacity for joyful self-expression, and make positive changes in your life.

This four-week online workshop is for anyone who seeks to usher a vision into reality – whether through creative problem solving, personal growth, or bringing creative artistry to a whole new level.
Learn more/register 

Ongoing: Tibetan Sound Healing is a self-guided course available now; A Journey to Self-Realization is a self-guided course available now. Focusing and Calming Your Mind, The Tibetan Practice of Zhine is a free two-week self-guided online workshop.

The 3 Doors is an international nonprofit organization founded in 2010 by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche with the mission of transforming lives through meditation practices grounded in wisdom and compassion from the Tibetan Bön tradition. Upcoming opportunities include: the Compassion Project, Fall Online Event with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and 3 Doors Teachers, 3 Doors Academies in North America and Europe.

The Compassion Project
A comprehensive 9-month meditation program that transforms your capacity to care for yourself while caring for others. 
Taught by Founding Teachers Gabriel Rocco and Marcy Vaughn, and 3 Doors Teacher-in-Training Rebecca Ergas
October 2026 – June 2027
Online via Zoom
Open to all
Available in English
Learn more and register

North American Pre-Academy Mini-Retreat
With Marcy Vaughn and Phil Tonne
October 17, 2026
Online via Zoom
Open & free to anyone interested in learning more about the upcoming North American Academy (more information below)
Available in English 
The 3 Doors Academy is The 3 Doors’ signature program, an immersive 2 ½ year course that provides participants the opportunity to engage deeply in the process of self-discovery and transformation. This mini-retreat will include three practices guided by Academy Teachers Phil Tonne and Marcy Vaughn. There will be opportunities to ask questions, share experiences, and have a taste of what the Academy journey will be like.
Learn more and register

Embracing Our Living Questions
3 Doors Online Weekend Retreat and Dialogues with Founding Teachers and Founder, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
November 21-22, 2026
Online via Zoom
Open to all 
Available in multiple languages
Learn more

The 3 Doors Academy
The 3 Doors Academy is The 3 Doors’ signature program, an immersive 2 ½ year course that provides participants the opportunity to engage deeply in the process of self-discovery and transformation. Participation involves both online and in-person components, including monthly group Zoom sessions, individual mentor sessions with the teachers, personal retreats, and six in-person week-long group retreats. 

8th North American Academy
We are excited to announce the dates for the next North American Academy. The six retreats will take place at Serenity Ridge in Virginia. 

• Retreat 1: April 27 – May 3, 2027
• Retreat 2: October 26 – November 1, 2027
• Retreat 3: April 25 – May 1, 2028
• Retreat 4: October 3 – October 9, 2028
• Retreat 5: April 24 – April 30, 2029
• Retreat 6: October 23 – October 29, 2029

Learn more and apply

4th European Academy
We also have dates for the next European Academy beginning in the spring of 2028 at Chauteau Frandeux, Rochefort, Belgium. 

• Retreat 1: April 21 – 28, 2028
• Retreat 2: September 29 – October 6 2028
• Retreat 3: March 16 – 23, 2029
• Retreat 4: September 28 – October 5, 2029
• Retreat 5: March 15 – 22, 2030
• Retreat 6: September 13 – 20, 2030

Learn more and sign up for updates

See the entire list of 3 Doors programs here

Read VOCL in Spanish