Dear Vajra Family,

Tuesday, September 27, 2022, marks the fourth anniversary of the passing of our beloved Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu.

In the last four years, the International Dzogchen Community (IDC) has continued in all its aspects – the View, Meditation, and Behavior – through a range of collaborations and offerings. These have included the activities organized by its Gars and Lings; courses and practices led by authorized instructors of Khaita, Santi Maha Sangha, Vajra Dance, and Yantra Yoga; the organizations that Rinpoche created or that evolved thanks to him:

  • International Dzogchen Community (IDC)
  • Atiyoga Foundation (ATIF)
  • Shang Shung Publications (SSP)
  • Association for International Solidarity in Asia (ASIA)
  • Museum of Asian Art and Culture (MACO)
  • Shang Shung Institute School of Tibetan Medicine (STM)
  • Dynamic Space of the Elements;

And most importantly through the involvement of all our members – Rinpoche’s devoted students who make up our global community.

Throughout these challenging times, we have carried our Master in our hearts, and have continued to practice the precious teachings he so generously and compassionately transmitted to us as we move forward together. During COVID, we remained connected by practicing together and attending courses thanks to the collaborative efforts of our worldwide Gars/Lings and authorized IDC instructors who organized them globally via Zoom and webcast. This teamwork advanced our collective practice and created and strengthened friendships among practitioners globally.

As Rinpoche said in Starting the Evolution:

“In this way, if you are really practicing seriously, you can maintain communication with the teacher no matter what the situation is; because when you enter the practice and become a good practitioner, the teacher is found within you. The teacher is not only an external phenomenon. He or she can manifest through your own clarity. We must have a clear understanding of this. The reality of our actual situation is not that everything is just external to us.”

Now we have thankfully entered a time where hybrid programming is a reality, thus allowing us to practice together in person more regularly. We continue to do our best by deepening and developing this precious knowledge together, so that the spirit of collaboration may be naturally maintained in each of us for the benefit of all.

With best wishes,

The International Gakyil