Dzamling Gar 20 – 22 March 2026
by Alessandra Burali
The Medicine Buddha Retreat was a successful result of a close and fruitful collaboration between the Tibetan Medicine School and the Gakyil of Dzamling Gar. There were around 400 registered participants from all over the world (online and onsite), of which about were 50 present onsite in the Gönpa of Dzamling Gar.
The retreat was organized in three main parts; the first part consisted of the streaming of some specific parts of video recordings of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu related to his teachings of the explanation of the Medicine Buddha given in the USA and Russia, of which Sebastien Remy did a great job of assembling the results of thorough research of different videos. Also, every video of the day included, with precise explanations, a part regarding the importance of doing Guru Yoga; this not only for newcomers, but also for all practitioners to remember that Guru Yoga is the basic most important practice of Dzogchen teachings, including the Song of Vajra.
During the second part, Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, with her infinite kind and patient way of being, gave precious teachings on the relationship of the five elements in Tibetan medicine with some practices of Dzogchen related with the different colors. For each element she explained its pure essence, its nature, its localization in the body, its color, its emotion, its characteristic, its function, its energy, then all this related with the three humors (wind, bile and phlegm) in Tibetan medicine.
She told us some stories and anecdotes of some important Tibetan doctors and Masters. One thing she mentioned is that it would be very important for a good Dzogchen practitioner to have a knowledge of Tibetan medicine, this would help to understand which practice could be more effective, but also which part of the body to visualize while doing, for example Garuda practices or other practices involving, not only the visualization of fire and colors, etc. but also while doing Sogthig or Tsalung practice.
Dr. Phuntsog also gave explanations on how to steer the practice of the Buddha of Medicine not only to ourselves, but also to other ill persons.
During the third part of the retreat Dr. Phuntsog again explained the visualization and application of the Medicine Buddha practice, just to establish what Chögyal Namkhai Norbu explained in the videos. At the end we practiced the Medicine Buddha practice guided by Dr. Phuntsog.
After the collective practice Dr. Phuntosg lovingly answered to online and onsite participant’s questions.
