by Carlos Garcia
Ever since I heard about the Dzogchen Longde retreat with Fabio at Dzamling Gar, I felt a deep calling to attend. But the ocean of samsara struck back, and I found myself caught in a furious storm of bureaucratic red tape whose chaotic currents and apparent obstacles ultimately — thanks to the power of the Transmission — carried the wheeled boat I inhabit right behind the Dzamling Gar Gönpa.
I arrived at the shores of the Gar after sunset, and as soon as I parked, I ran into an old practitioner friend who asked me if I would be attending the Dzogchen Longde retreat. I told him I’d love to, but I didn’t remember when it was, and he replied, “It starts tomorrow.” It was perfect! I took it as an auspicious sign and attended the retreat. I must confess that in recent times, due to various internal and external obstacles, I had neglected my practice and had somehow distanced myself a bit from the Gar; to sum it up in one sentence: “I remained in doubt.”
That retreat was a homecoming in the deepest sense. I had already received these precious teachings from Rinpoche in Tashigar North on two occasions. The first time I received them was incredible, and I devoted myself to this wonderful practice for a while, but that was about twenty years ago. Back then, Rinpoche, in his infinite compassion, gave us many practices and methods that were — and still are — true treasures, each teaching deeper and more interesting than the last, and I lost myself trying a little of everything. It was like going to a chocolate factory and starting to sample all the different types and varieties, only to end up lost in a sweet whirlwind of flavors.
However, for some reason I don’t seek to understand, the retreat with Fabio, in particular, brought me back to the freshness of those early experiences. I dusted off the old books I didn’t even remember I had, the stick that was at the bottom of a box forgotten in a storage room, that old belt; I also rediscovered the recordings from the old retreats, and when finally, after a bit of Yantra Yoga and the rushen of the voice, I sat down again to practice Dzogchen Longde, the flame – that was always there – was rekindled and shone with the same or even greater intensity than in the best of times.
As we all know, Fabio is not a ramdom practitioner: during the retreats at Tashigar North, Rinpoche would ask him to explain the postures in practical terms. Evidence of this can be found in all the images in the books and videos on Dzogchen Longde, which show just how privileged we have been to have him as our guide for this practice.
During the retreat, we watched some specially selected videos of Rinpoche. We studied and practiced the guru yoga of Ngondzog Gyalpo and that of Vajrasattva. Finally, we entered into the practice of Dzogchen Longde. Fabio reminded us of the importance of breathing and working with the channels, which is so characteristic of Longde Longsal.
Andrico advised us, like an experienced older brother, on how to carry out the practice whether we were doing a retreat or making it our main daily practice. In short, with a generosity resembling Rinpoche’s, he held nothing back, and we received the precious instructions once again with open hearts.
All that remains is to thank Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, Namkha Yeshi, Fabio Andrico, the Gakyil of Dzamling Gar (especially Matteo DelÁngelo), Sebastíen, Naomi, Igor, the Gekö, our fellow practitioners, and everyone who in one way or another helped make this marvel possible.
The retreat was not recorded on audio or video, but it will forever remain etched “deep within our blood,” as the Venezuelan poet Eugenio Montejo would say. I would like to quote one of his poems as a final tribute to this precious opportunity:
Return to your Deepest Gods
Return to your deep gods;
they are intact,
they are at the bottom with their flames waiting;
no blow of time can extinguish them.
The silent, practical gods
hidden in the porosity of things.
You have rolled through the world more than any pebble;
you lost your name, your city,
clinging to fragmentary visions;
of so many hours, what do you retain?
The music of being is dissonant
but life goes on
and certain chords prevail.
The earth is round by desire
from so much gravity;
the earth will round out all things
each in its own time.
From so many voyages across the sea,
from so many nights at the foot of your lamp,
only these voices surround you;
decipher in them the echo of your gods;
they are intact,
they are crossing silently with their fish-like eyes
to the depths of your blood.
Eugenio Montejo
Once again: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
