gZa’tsal Pamo and Dé-zér Khandro

Naljorma gZa’tsal and Ngakma Dé-zér began looking for a Buddhist lineage and teacher in 1991 while living in New York City. They moved to San Francisco in 1993 where Ngakma Dé-zér discovered Ngak’chang Rinpoche’s book, Rainbow of Liberated Energy. Together they attended many teaching events by Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen over the next five years and were accepted as apprentices in the Aro gTér Nyingma Lineage in 1998. They were ordained in 2005. For many years they hosted annual Aro gTér Dzogchen and Ling Gésar retreats at their property in the hidden lands of Montana where the environment was ideal for experiencing drala (dGra lha) and practicing the three series of Dzogchen.

Ngakma Dé-zér and Naljorma gZa’tsal joined pilgrimages to Nepal in 2007, 2011 and 2022. They had the excellent good fortune of spending time with Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Sam’phel Déchen Rinpoche in their home on several occasions where they received teaching and practiced tsog’khorlo along with Aro gTér blamas and sangha. During the 2022 pilgrimage, with Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, Naljorma gZa’tsal attended the Düd’jom Tröma ‘bum Tsog which was presided over by Kyabjé Dung-sré Tulku Namgay Dawa Rinpoche. While on these pilgrimages, they met many accomplished blamas, yogis and yoginis including Khandro Ten’dzin Drölkar, Tsadzin Löpon Geshe Mönlam Wangyal Pugyalwa and Kyabjé Terchen Nam’mkha’ Dri’méd Rab’byams Rinpoche. They also met Lama Tsédrüp Tharchin Rinpoche at Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center in California.