Last updated 8/5/08
Latest News [Click on "Special Events" for details]:
-- Fall Rigdzin Dupa Drubcho (September 20-21)
-- Seven-Line Prayer Accumulations
-- World-Wide Mantra Chain
Welcome to the website of Osel Thegchog Ling, a vibrant group of dharma practitioners in the San Francisco Bay Area under the direction of Adzom Rinpoche. Our main functions at this time are hosting a large retreat with Rinpoche once a year, and group practices year round. We are students of the Dzogchen Nyingthig tradition of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
Our main practices are the Longchen Nyingthig ngondro, phowa, and the deity practices and feasts of Green Tara, Guru Rinpoche and Zhitro. In 2008 we are continuing study and discussion of The Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche.
Please take a look at our calendar and join us for ngondro practice or one of our discussions.
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Ngondro Watchers
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Ngondro -- Finding Joy in Practice
Ngondro - the practice that Rinpoche emphasizes over and over again. Ngondro is the base for all other Vajrayana practices, and it is essential for all of his students to complete. Sometimes the practice feels inspiring and rewarding and we move forward. But sometimes the process of ngondro feels like the antithesis of practicing joyfully; that goal of finishing often feels so distant. What a challenge to have such a big practice goal, while still being in the world with all of its difficulties! I want to progress with joy in my accumulations rather than just slogging through. I have faith that Rinpoche speaks truthfully, that there is a great benefit in completing ngondro. But yet the process can seem overwhelming.
Two and a half years ago, a small group of us across the country were trying to accomplish enough numbers to get to the Houston retreat (which that year was 10,000 of everything). It seemed like an impossible goal for a solo practitioner practicing in the wilds of regular life. We formed an informal e-mail group called "Ngondro Watchers" (because it is like Weight Watchers except that you can eat all the cake you want), to check in once a month on the full moon about practice. Sometimes these check-ins are ambitious about practice and numbers, sometimes they are gentle and full of love, depending on the month and on the person, but they are a reminder every month when the moon is full, that we are in the process of ngondro together. Giving each other and ourselves unconditional love in the process of ngondro, feeling the sangha of practitioners from the comfort of my home. I mean, ngondro is still always an individual path, as there is no one there to push me out of bed at dawn, but it's been a wonderful experience to share that resistance, to share that joy of practice. If you are interested in being part of a "Ngondro Watchers" group in the Bay Area, or finding out more about it, please e-mail me (Beth - luminous.heart@gmail.com) and we can start off this next full moon.
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Rinpoche's Teachings a Success
Our weekend of teachings at the end of 2007 from Ad_zom Rinpoche on Words of My Perfect Teacher was a great success! Almost 150 people attended for the three-day event, including many new people. Rinpoche intends to continue this teaching in future years.
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