James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings

30 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/4iUQ8ovPortuguese translators: Madalena Pedroza & Milton PetruczokSpanish translator: Juan García Lázaro (@juanb.garcialazaro) & Mariana Orozco"(0:00) Mariana Orozco (ES)""(1:17:09) Madalena Pedroza (PT)""(2:08:51) Mariana Orozco (ES)""(3:21:39) Milton Petruczok (PT)""(4:21:08) Mariana Orozco (ES)""(5:40:39) Madalena Pedroza (PT)""(6:35:19) Juan García Lázaro (ES)""(8:12:57) Milton Petruczok (PT)"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=TFrnBs_Zn2k

15-18 October, 2015. Meditation retreat in Kamalashila Institute, in the Eifel region of German, based on Chapter 10 of James Low's book Simply Being, which is a translation of Patrul Rinpoche's text "Self-liberating Understanding"."Integrating the view, meditation and activity in dzogchen. We will focus on the self liberation of experience, which is the heart of the meditation, and how to apply that within the complexities of daily life. This involves finding the middle way of appearance and emptiness, free of control and avoidance on the one hand, and merging and identification on the other."~ James Low• Saturday 17/10/2015: - On Refuge recitation- Back to points where confusion or loss of direction can enter- Question - experience with the object - familiar positioning- The mind that is recollecting - cat and mouse- Distraction - intention - neutrality- Deconstructing judgements- Wrapping phenoma in catchability- Mind vacant unfocussed - mind itself empty- Discrimination - categories- Tightening and relaxing attention- My own falsity- Question - thoughts coming going quickly- Rewards compensations equanimity- Question - the one who is having the experience- An explanation of minds activity- Question - how psychological wounds and karma held- Guru yoga practice- Dream yoga- Instruction on self-liberating confusion- Being present with in the everyday- Free of distraction assumption craving- Integrating practice in everyday life- An explanation of the self-liberation of the afflictions• Sunday • 18/10/2015: session - An explanation of how mind reveals itself- How to practice the four aspects of behaviour- The good armour that is the friend of meditation- Essential advice for great meditators- A path of learningTranscript of the retreat: https://bit.ly/4iJbaX5Audio recording of the retreat: https://www.simplybeing.co.uk/2015/11/28/autumn-2015/Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/events/📱 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=ty_w8HBEUr4

30 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/4iUQ8ovPortuguese translators: Madalena Pedroza & Milton PetruczokSpanish translator: Juan García Lázaro (@juanb.garcialazaro) & Mariana Orozco"(0:00) Juan García Lázaro (ES)""(1:00:39) Milton Petruczok (PT)""(2:26:47) Juan García Lázaro (ES)""(3:51:59) Madalena Pedroza (PT)""(4:27:44) Juan García Lázaro (ES)""(5:22:53) Milton Petruczok (PT)""(6:41:48) Juan García Lázaro (ES)""(7:55:54) Madalena Pedroza (PT)""(8:41:07) Mariana Orozco (ES)""(9:46:43) Milton Petruczok (PT)"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=Fzz_UqGGOSA

Explore the art of shamatha and vipassana meditation as they calm the mind and reduce ego's grip. Dive into karma’s role in shaping our choices and habitual patterns. Discover how naming influences experience and learn to let thoughts flow naturally. Uncover the inseparability of emptiness and appearance, while examining self-liberation through awareness. Insight into integrating these principles into everyday life — even in simple tasks. Ultimately, find trust in the interplay of awareness and action in a complex world.

30 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/43JSqAuPortuguese translators: Madalena Pedroza & Milton PetruczokSpanish translator: Juan García Lázaro (@juanb.garcialazaro)Playlist "Seeing and imagining. [EN-PT-ES] Sintra 07-08.2025": https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv-KZQo9b6hTYeZBBx5-lQ8lhg0JLM_at• 1/4 Seeing and imagining. [EN-PT-ES] Sintra 07-08.2025: youtu.be/T2BwDfKYmRE• 2/4 Seeing and imagining. [EN-PT-ES] Sintra 07-08.2025: youtu.be/EX_DQ7hFtfY (you are here)• 3/4 Seeing and imagining. [EN-PT-ES] Sintra 07-08.2025: [soon]• 4/4 Seeing and imagining. [EN-PT-ES] Sintra 07-08.2025: [soon]0:00 Milton Petruczok (PT)1:33:41 Juan García Lázaro (ES)2:57:20 Madalena Pedroza (PT)4:23:50 Juan García Lázaro (ES)5:15:08 Madalena Pedroza (PT)6:34:34 Juan García Lázaro (ES)8:05:45 Milton Petruczok (PT)9:19:54 Juan García Lázaro (ES)10:45:41 Madalena Pedroza (PT)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=EX_DQ7hFtfY

Discover how traditional Tibetan mindfulness can enhance therapy practices. James Low delves into the intersection of karma and personal responsibility, linking attachment and meditation's grounding effects. He highlights the disconnect in mental health due to habitual distractions and emphasizes the role of impermanence in our identities. Low teaches that self and objects are mere constructs while exploring concepts like non-duality and the importance of flexible engagement with change. His insights into therapist presence and open awareness redefine therapeutic approaches.

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