James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings

9th November 2025. The Deathless and the Dying. Public talk with James Low at Lekdanling in East London, England, at the invitation of the Shang Shung Institute of Tibetan Studies.The focus will be on illusion as the middle way between the familiar binary opposites of birth and death, health and sickness, life as flow and within that, loss and grief.Cover video art: Amir Mghari, via Pexels.comTranscript of this video: https://bit.ly/4hYIubWAudio recording of this video: https://bit.ly/44etL73📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0CFufzBBuk

1/4 Seeing and imagining. [EN-PT-ES] Sintra 07-08.202530 July - 9 August 2025. Seeing and imagining. Dzogchen retreat with James Low at Casa de Exercícios de Santo Inácio, Colares, in Sintra, Portugal.Imagining is the play of the ground source. If the source is seen then all that is imagined is non-dual illusion, like a mirage or a dream. If the ground source is not seen and opened to then all that is imagined is reified and then we experience ourselves as existents in a world of existents.~ James LowTexts translated from the Tibetan into various languages:• The Record of the Heart-felt Advice of the Dakini, Indestructible Glorious Lamp: https://simplybeing.co.uk/texts-and-transcripts/translations/heartfelt-advice-ayu-khandro/• Uncovering the Presence of the Mother of all the Buddhas: a treasure text of Gonpo Wangyal: https://simplybeing.co.uk/texts-and-transcripts/estonian/gonpo-wangyal-text-mother-buddhas/Audio recording of this video: https://bit.ly/4oGBjYsPortuguese translators: Madalena Pedroza & Milton PetruczokSpanish translator: Mariana Orozco & Juan García Lázaro (@juanb.garcialazaro)Cover video art: ed1toR, via Pexels.com📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2BwDfKYmRE

June 4th 2025. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer.1) Is consciousness and mind the same in Buddhism? Is my mind which is deluded and has its own habits and tendencies the same as the mind which is primordial, unborn and clear? If so why is the mind which I call mine deluded?2) Are the explanations about karma and rebirth offered by traditional Buddhism part of a theory or belief or is it part of experience? Is it under the domain of consciousness or the domain of awareness? Does it make sense to practice Dzogchen without fully accepting these theories?3) What does it mean if a rinpoche bangs you on the head or gives you a shock?4) The luminous mind that we all have: is it also a compounded phenomena? If yes, how do we know when it is present and when not?5) Can a mind involved in conceptual elaboration ever generate compassion or loving kindness? Right mindfulness is one aspect of the eight-fold path. What are instances of wrong mindfulness? How do I guard against wrong mindfulness?6) In the White A practice, can we eventually include a Padmasambhava visualization with the three colors, the ball that radiates white light and drops into our heart, etc., or the practice of visualizing the tube that goes from the crown of our head to the perineum and then expands?7) We have some experience within the Theravada and Zen traditions; now we start to explore Dzogchen. What would you recommend: pointing out instructions, initiation, long-term retreat?8) Is there a practice that can be used to improve someone's situation? How would this work?English: youtu.be/xnsfHHP9vRsEnglish (without silence cuts): youtu.be/Z5vLJzeK4foGerman: youtu.be/Z6MKqkIVY48Russian: youtu.be/b-i8VP36OzsPolish: youtu.be/r4g3DkxASwQSpanish: youtu.be/tyWlgXr2RHUPortuguese: youtu.be/UOc2Bi_XuYQRomanian: youtu.be/GrmoLpoUMvYItalian: youtu.be/vDS6yQ_aK9w (you are here)Italian translation: Rosanna D'Urso📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDS6yQ_aK9w

May 14th – 18th, 2025. Tantra & Dzogchen. Dzogchen retreat with James Low in Wilga, Poland.The delusion that we exist as definable entities is the basis of all limited and limiting experience. Through dissolving our contrived identity into that of Padmasambhava, we become free to act in whatever ways will help sentient beings. The view of dzogchen deeps our understanding of how this functions and aids our release into our intrinsic source which we have never actually strayed from.~ James LowPolish translation: Bartek CzajkowskiCamera and editing: Olaf Brockmann📱 Instagram of excerpts: / sbsangha_jameslow 🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://youtu.be/5yPN3nXnucg?si=RjH0htYm3QbW-JCC

May 14th – 18th, 2025. Tantra & Dzogchen. Dzogchen retreat with James Low in Wilga, Poland.The delusion that we exist as definable entities is the basis of all limited and limiting experience. Through dissolving our contrived identity into that of Padmasambhava, we become free to act in whatever ways will help sentient beings. The view of dzogchen deeps our understanding of how this functions and aids our release into our intrinsic source which we have never actually strayed from.~ James LowPolish translation: Bartek CzajkowskiCamera and editing: Olaf Brockmann📱 Instagram of excerpts: / sbsangha_jameslow 🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://youtu.be/fN09exL3mxs?si=0vFSXldKcqlxIC6a

November 8th – 11th, 2018. Indestructible freedom. Dzogchen retreat with James Low in Barcelona, Spain.“The retreat will focus on settling into the clarity which is present in all experience. Through meditation, including some of the methods of the semdzin and using chapter 8 of "Simply Being" we will open the space within which all obscurations are self-liberating and go free like clouds dissolving in the sky.”~ James LowSpanish translation: Mariana Orozco and Maria LleóVideo recording and initial editing: Antonio Gomez. Full audio recordings of the retreat: [soon]📱 Instagram of excerpts: / sbsangha_jameslow 🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://youtu.be/qsF2g0eCPF4?si=td2TLaOhB8KYtEuR

November 8th – 11th, 2018. Indestructible freedom. Dzogchen retreat with James Low in Barcelona, Spain.“The retreat will focus on settling into the clarity which is present in all experience. Through meditation, including some of the methods of the semdzin and using chapter 8 of "Simply Being" we will open the space within which all obscurations are self-liberating and go free like clouds dissolving in the sky.”~ James LowSpanish translation: Mariana Orozco and Maria LleóVideo recording and initial editing: Antonio Gomez. Full audio recordings of the retreat: [soon]📱 Instagram of excerpts: / sbsangha_jameslow 🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://youtu.be/C5IrgcTEaRY?si=TwnoKEoqxNp5z-1T

July 5th – 13th 2025. Non-duality is simple. Dzogchen retreat with James Low at Retreathaus Berghof, Wiesen, Germany: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/berghof-2025/James thought using Chapter 8 "The Direct Indication of Buddhahood beyond Classification, by Nuden Dorje" of his book "Simply Being" (available on Amazon): https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Simply-Being-Text-Chapter-8-Revised-31-05-2023.pdfThe aim of this dzogchen retreat is to let go of our habitual involvement in the myriad forms of duality. In order to let go we need to sever the links between our erroneous sense of being a separate subject, our erroneous sense of there being separate real objects, and our erroneous grasping at occurrences as if they were the occurrence of something.~ James LowFull transcript of these teachings: http://bit.ly/4ncixHrFull audio recordings of the retreat: https://simplybeing.co.uk/audio-records/retreats/germany/retreats-at-berghof/non-duality-is-simple-july-2025/📱 Instagram of excerpts: / sbsangha_jameslow 🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://youtu.be/x6waQbrvlDM?si=OV82avLITXQy7IFi

Delve into the simplicity of non-duality as James Low uncovers the essence of Dzogchen and its transformative practices. Explore how to transcend duality, maintaining awareness during pain and illness, while embracing fresh experiences. Engage with the interplay of cooking as a metaphor for authentic teaching and the importance of letting go of conceptual traps. Discover the power of open awareness and compassion, alongside practices that foster co-emergence and flexibility in spiritual engagement.

Dive into the simplicity of non-duality as the discussion delves into the illusion of separation from the true self through devotion. Explore the intricate connection between identity and societal expectations, and the role of language in shaping beliefs. The conversation also highlights the importance of compassion amid distractions and the transient nature of thoughts. Insightful reflections on the transformative power of community and the dynamics of familial connections add depth, encouraging an embrace of the present moment and the fluidity of perception.