Sang-gyé A-tsal

སྔགས་མ་གསང་གྱས་ཨ་རྩལ་

I was living in Manhattan, New York. I was enjoying the pursuit of a career in the performing arts when, in 1993, I met Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen — and became a disciple. I found myself in a kyil’khor of appreciation, authenticity, joy, and laughter. I went on to take ordination in 2000 into the gö kar chang lo’i dé. This is the non-celibate, non-monastic tradition of the Nyingma — characterised by white raiment and uncut hair.

Over the years, I have become aware of the importance of lineage, root teachers, and sangha — and the richness, inspiration and depth of learning and experience they can provide. My first pilgrimage was to Nepal in 1998 when I met Kyabje Künzang Dorje Rinpoche (1930 –2010), and his Sang-yum, Jomo Sam’phel Déchen Rinpoche (b. 1935 - present). Over the years I have visited Nepal often and continue to travel to the Himalayan regions on pilgrimage and to visit Jomo Sam’phel Déchen Rinpoche.

In 2019 Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen La suggested I join the brevet lama training — and I began teaching publicly in person and on zoom. Like all brevet lamas of our lineage, I inaugurated an apprenticeship programme which is designed for those who find they would like to delve more deeply into the world of Buddhist Vajrayana with the guidance of a teacher. This provides an opportunity to join a sangha of like-minded people who integrate Vajrayana with their everyday lives, discovering the inspiration and artistry available in every moment. I feel privileged to be amongst the teachers of the Aro gTér — and to make known the possibility, view, and life style of the gö-kar chang-lo’i dé གོས་དཀར་ལཅང་ལོའི་སདེ