James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings

May 31st 2026. James Low talked about compassion in action and supporting minority groups such as the Huni Kuin in the Amazon. Bellow you can read more about this group and how to support them here.This event was taking place on the full moon day (Saga Dawa) of the 4th month in the Tibetan calendar. It commemorates such major events of Sakyamuni Buddha’s life as his birth, awakening, and parinirvāṇa. The Tibetans consider that any positive or negative karma we create during this month is multiplied 100,000 times.Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator.Transcript of the meeting (may contain minor errors): https://bit.ly/3RXr4nqAudio of this meeting: https://bit.ly/49SMQyDOther languages' links: [soon]🌳 AMAZONIAN 🐆 WORLD 🌎 SANCTUARY💎 Compassionate call 🙏In the heart of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest, the Huni Kuin indigenous people are experiencing a rebirth of their identity after decades of slavery and oppression, since the time when they were captured in the forests and forbidden from living their culture. It was only from the year 2000 onwards that the Huni Kuin of the Humaitá Indigenous Land began to remember who they were, coming together to recall their culture and their ancestral, spiritual way of life. After more than 20 years of strengthening, the communities of the Indigenous Land are today living through a cultural peak.🛶 Learn more about this ancestral people, native to pre-colonial Brazil:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XeY6dhejg7NquTZth8X5ACc7e2Swo1waitMEkMOCXYM/edit?usp=sharing🔆 James Low's call:https://www.instagram.com/p/DXvyV8AsRS6/🐆 Indigenous Shaman (spiritual leader) Mapu Huni Kuin Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/mapuhunikuin/ and https://www.instagram.com/huwakaruyuxibu/🎬 Eskawata Kayawai: The Spirit of Transformation: https://youtu.be/muIExL2Qly0The product of a seven-year project in Brazil. The film tells the story of the Huni Kuin indigenous people, who live deep in the western Amazon of Acre, Brazil, as they return to their ancestral and spiritual way of life by reconnecting with their own culture and identity. 🌿 Help us save one of the hearts of Earth – Amazonia –, a sacred territory of native rainforest and animals from imminent destruction.🤲 Ways to Offer Your Support (Dāna ≈ energy exchange)🌐 International Bank Transfer via WiseAccount holder: Geraldo Serafim (who is the Financial Director of the Associação Centro Huwã Karu Yuxibu)Direct payment link: https://wise.com/pay/me/geraldos484🇺🇸 USD (United States)Account holder: Geraldo SerafimRouting (Wire/ACH): 084009519Account Number: 186066937912307SWIFT/BIC: TRWIUS35XXXBank address: Wise US Inc, 108 W 13th St, Wilmington, DE 19801, USA🇬🇧 GBP (United Kingdom)Account holder: Geraldo SerafimAccount Number: 62797102Sort Code: 60-84-64IBAN: GB80 TRWI 6084 6462 7971 02SWIFT/BIC: TRWIGB2LXXX🇪🇺 EUR (SEPA Zone)Account holder: Geraldo SerafimIBAN: BE57 9052 2877 7335SWIFT/BIC: TRWIBEB1XXXBank and address: Wise — Rue du Trône 100, 3rd floor, Brussels, 1050, Belgium🇧🇷 R$ (Brazil)Pix code: adm.centro.hky@gmail.com(Associação Huwã Karu Yuxibu)₿ Crypto wallet address (EVM compatible networks)0x57066552402E0a0142C9c61f9444e8c3Db677BbDMay this fundraising be successful and replicated all over the world, in benefit of all beings! 🌬️🤲❤️‍🔥📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUoxHwmZxYE

27th September - 5th October 2025. Take it easy. James Low's Dzogchen retreat at Casa la Salle, Veciana (Barcelona), Spain. https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/take-it-easy-teaching-retreat-veciana-sep-2025/This retreat focused on relaxing our reliance on habitual patterns of dualistic involvement so that the self-liberation of all experience becomes clear. We went through Patrul Rinpoche’s short text Self-Liberating Understanding, which is Chapter 10 in the book "Simply Being" "Simply Being" book:- English: www.amazon.com/Simply-Being-Texts-Dzogchen-Tradition/dp/1907571019- Spanish: www.amazon.com/Simplemente-ser-James-Low/dp/8496478440The texts are available in:- English: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Simply-Being-Text-Ch.-10-31-05-2023.pdf- Spanish: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Chapter-10-Spanish_2024-1.pdfSpanish translation: Mariana Orozco and María LleóOrganisers: Maica Gardia (Mayka) and Antonio Gomez CetoCover art: Peggy Anke (Pexels.com)📱 Instagram of excerpts: instagram.com/simplybeingsangha🎧 Poscasts of some teachinhgs: simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/eventsVideo at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pIzkPsCzpQ

October 2010. James taught for four days using the text by Gonpo Wangyal translated as 'Introduction to the nature of the mother of all the buddhas', at the Kamalashila Institute, deep in the rolling countryside of the Eifel region of Germany.Text in Tibetan and English: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Gonpo-Wangyal-Into-to-the-nature-of-the-mother-SA-Final.pdfThis retreat was only recorded in audio. The images are from the retreat 'Introduction to the Nature of the Mother of all the Buddhas. Tallinn 11.2017', based on the same text: https://youtu.be/G2x-Y9DlDb4Transcript of the retreat (may contain minor errors): https://shr.pn//hx9BAudio recording of the retreat: https://simplybeing.co.uk/audio-recordings/retreats/autumn-2010/#gonpo-wangyals-dzogchenLearn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/events/📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSi1ePdxil0

10th - 14th October 2025. All at Once. Teaching and Meditation retreat led by James Low at Şirince Village, Selçuk, in İzmir, Turkey.https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/all-at-once-teaching-retreat-izmir-oct-2025/PS: This recording contains only the second half of the retreat.Organised by Mustafa Mert Çelebi, Sevgi Çakıcı and Trevor Brown.The focus of this retreat is seeing how we limit our potential by hanging on to habits and impulses which do not function well in the world in which we find ourselves. Dzogchen, the Great Completion, is the heart of Tibetan Buddhism and it offers us a way to release ourselves from the limiting ideas that we have of ourselves so that the freshness of our simple presence can illuminate our life in a new way.These teachings and practices help us to see the fleeting nature of all experience. With this clarity we can let go of our habit of effortful striving to solidify the flow of experience. This approach to life offers us a profound choice. Either we can continue to objectify whatever occurs so that we can name it and try to shape it to fit our sense of how we want our life to be. Or we can relax and open to being part of the flow, gently influencing how we emerge as part of the circumstances we encounter.This latter approach frees us from the need to verify and analyse so that we can enjoy the freshness of each and every moment.This short retreat will introduce us to the essence of the view of Dzogchen and facilitate how we can enter into direct experience of non-dual co-emergence. There will be periods of teaching and of meditation practice.Referred text: 'Prayer Evocation of Kuntuzangpo', availabel in English, Spanish and Portuguese: https://bit.ly/4tpWxwz Turkish translation: Mustafa Mert ÇelebiCover art: Taryn Elliott (Pexels.com)📱 Instagram of excerpts: instagram.com/simplybeingsangha🎧 Poscasts of some teachinhgs: simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/eventsVideo at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7syJlFOJeU

27th September - 5th October 2025. Take it easy. James Low's Dzogchen retreat at Casa la Salle, Veciana (Barcelona), Spain. https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/take-it-easy-teaching-retreat-veciana-sep-2025/This retreat focused on relaxing our reliance on habitual patterns of dualistic involvement so that the self-liberation of all experience becomes clear. We went through Patrul Rinpoche’s short text Self-Liberating Understanding, which is Chapter 10 in the book "Simply Being" "Simply Being" book:- English: www.amazon.com/Simply-Being-Texts-Dzogchen-Tradition/dp/1907571019- Spanish: www.amazon.com/Simplemente-ser-James-Low/dp/8496478440The texts are available in:- English: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Simply-Being-Text-Ch.-10-31-05-2023.pdf- Spanish: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Chapter-10-Spanish_2024-1.pdfSpanish translation: Mariana Orozco and María LleóOrganisers: Maica Gardia (Mayka) and Antonio Gomez CetoCover art: Peggy Anke (Pexels.com)📱 Instagram of excerpts: instagram.com/simplybeingsangha🎧 Poscasts of some teachinhgs: simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/eventsVideo at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzzZaXqQPyc

January 10th, 2026. A conversation with James Low and Viorica Constantinescu about Dzogchen as a living experience, embodied in the simplicity of everyday life.Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the Romanian translator.Starting from the Romanian release of the text “Love Your Mother”, we explore openness, possibility, and how we can relate to our own experience in a more direct, gentle, and authentic way.English: youtu.be/r8r9CH7-XJc (you are here)Romanian: youtu.be/dIOcV9CrTGsTranscript of this video: [soon]Audio recording of this video: [soon]📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8r9CH7-XJc

James Low is interviewed by Guido Ferrari during a retreat in Todtmoos, Germany, in June 2006. James was asked what dzogchen is, what it means and how we should live with this awareness.Transcript of this video: https://bit.ly/49pGlChAudio recording of this video: https://bit.ly/3NbnKT7📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY_TK5PchC8

15-18 October, 2015. Meditation retreat in Kamalashila Institute, in the Eifel region of German, based on Chapter 10 of James Low's book Simply Being, which is a translation of Patrul Rinpoche's text "Self-liberating Understanding"."Integrating the view, meditation and activity in dzogchen. We will focus on the self liberation of experience, which is the heart of the meditation, and how to apply that within the complexities of daily life. This involves finding the middle way of appearance and emptiness, free of control and avoidance on the one hand, and merging and identification on the other."~ James Low• Saturday 17/10/2015: - On Refuge recitation- Back to points where confusion or loss of direction can enter- Question - experience with the object - familiar positioning- The mind that is recollecting - cat and mouse- Distraction - intention - neutrality- Deconstructing judgements- Wrapping phenoma in catchability- Mind vacant unfocussed - mind itself empty- Discrimination - categories- Tightening and relaxing attention- My own falsity- Question - thoughts coming going quickly- Rewards compensations equanimity- Question - the one who is having the experience- An explanation of minds activity- Question - how psychological wounds and karma held- Guru yoga practice- Dream yoga- Instruction on self-liberating confusion- Being present with in the everyday- Free of distraction assumption craving- Integrating practice in everyday life- An explanation of the self-liberation of the afflictions• Sunday • 18/10/2015: session - An explanation of how mind reveals itself- How to practice the four aspects of behaviour- The good armour that is the friend of meditation- Essential advice for great meditators- A path of learningTranscript of the retreat: https://bit.ly/4iJbaX5Audio recording of the retreat: https://www.simplybeing.co.uk/2015/11/28/autumn-2015/Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/events/📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty_w8HBEUr4

15-18 October, 2015. Meditation retreat in Kamalashila Institute, in the Eifel region of German, based on Chapter 10 of James Low's book Simply Being, which is a translation of Patrul Rinpoche's text "Self-liberating Understanding"."Integrating the view, meditation and activity in dzogchen. We will focus on the self liberation of experience, which is the heart of the meditation, and how to apply that within the complexities of daily life. This involves finding the middle way of appearance and emptiness, free of control and avoidance on the one hand, and merging and identification on the other."~ James Low• Thursday 15/10/2015: session 1 introduced "two methods for calming the mind and looking at the contents of the mind by focussing attention."- Shamatha meditation- Distraction - giving ones self- Re-collection and mindfulness- Vipassana- Naming is not neutral- Question - spontaneity and choice- Awareness- Identity - meaning - situation- Nine round breathing- Sitting with what occurs- Leaving appearances to be as they are- Guru Yoga- Guru Yoga instructions- Thoughts and feelings passing through- Question - who notices - mind - ego- Just with the thought- A few words about the text- Introduction to the text- From the heart of a ragged gentleman- Inseparability of your mind and the Dharmakaya- Knowing this everything is liberated- Question - fear - dissolving- Question fear anxiety holding on-This one is sufficient to rule• Friday • 16/10/2015: session 2 develops that. The topic is awareness. "Awareness and attention are not the same. Awareness is the open clarity of the mind which is present whether we are attentive or not. Awareness is innate, is there from the beginning, whether we are aware of it or not."- On Refuge- Question - tree of refuge- Compassion then back to Refuge- Clear and alert in non-artificial voidness- Question - letting go- Do not react - remain without artifice- Practice in conjunction with the text- Your mind is not found by seeking- Staying with the direct experience- Time is limited- Seeking is not necessary - remain without artifice- Non-artificiality removes all obstacles- About the involvement of the experiencer- The demon of elation - relational structures- Buoyant and hopeful - equanimity- Question - faith and trusting- Teaching on the minds hidden faults- Sitting exactly here and now- Question - one ground two paths - the Bardo- Question - Semdzin practice- Question - allowing impact allowing duration- Question - emanation- Question - partial enlightentment - predjudice illumination relative truth- Question - a universal ethical codeTranscript of the retreat: https://bit.ly/4iJbaX5Audio recording of the retreat: https://www.simplybeing.co.uk/2015/11/28/autumn-2015/Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/events/📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywDBc4XLsvU

18 November 2011. James Low gave this workshop for practising therapists in Hereford, UK.“Our open heart touching and opening the heart of the other. This is non-dual contact, the meeting of sky with sky, the heart of Buddhist ethics.”~ James LowJames starts with an introduction to the traditional Tibetan view of mindfulness, then relates this to different psychotherapy theories and finally, with how it can be taken and used in clinical practice.Organised by Jennifer French.Cover video art: Larkkid Dung, via Pexels.comTranscript of this video revised by James: https://simplybeing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/275-2011-Nov-Hereford-MindfulTherapy-KB-JL-edit3-webready.pdfAudio recording of this video: https://bit.ly/4oodDr3📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHKrsNHVU_8

1/4 Seeing and imagining. [EN-PT-ES] Sintra 07-08.202530 July - 9 August 2025. Seeing and imagining. Dzogchen retreat with James Low at Casa de Exercícios de Santo Inácio, Colares, in Sintra, Portugal.Imagining is the play of the ground source. If the source is seen then all that is imagined is non-dual illusion, like a mirage or a dream. If the ground source is not seen and opened to then all that is imagined is reified and then we experience ourselves as existents in a world of existents.~ James LowTexts translated from the Tibetan into various languages:• The Record of the Heart-felt Advice of the Dakini, Indestructible Glorious Lamp: https://simplybeing.co.uk/texts-and-transcripts/translations/heartfelt-advice-ayu-khandro/• Uncovering the Presence of the Mother of all the Buddhas: a treasure text of Gonpo Wangyal: https://simplybeing.co.uk/texts-and-transcripts/estonian/gonpo-wangyal-text-mother-buddhas/Audio recording of this video: https://bit.ly/4oGBjYsPortuguese translators: Madalena Pedroza & Milton PetruczokSpanish translator: Mariana Orozco & Juan García Lázaro (@juanb.garcialazaro)Cover video art: ed1toR, via Pexels.com📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2BwDfKYmRE

May 14th – 18th, 2025. Tantra & Dzogchen. Dzogchen retreat with James Low in Wilga, Poland.The delusion that we exist as definable entities is the basis of all limited and limiting experience. Through dissolving our contrived identity into that of Padmasambhava, we become free to act in whatever ways will help sentient beings. The view of dzogchen deeps our understanding of how this functions and aids our release into our intrinsic source which we have never actually strayed from.~ James LowPolish translation: Bartek CzajkowskiCamera and editing: Olaf Brockmann📱 Instagram of excerpts: / sbsangha_jameslow 🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://youtu.be/5yPN3nXnucg?si=RjH0htYm3QbW-JCC

November 8th – 11th, 2018. Indestructible freedom. Dzogchen retreat with James Low in Barcelona, Spain.“The retreat will focus on settling into the clarity which is present in all experience. Through meditation, including some of the methods of the semdzin and using chapter 8 of "Simply Being" we will open the space within which all obscurations are self-liberating and go free like clouds dissolving in the sky.”~ James LowSpanish translation: Mariana Orozco and Maria LleóVideo recording and initial editing: Antonio Gomez. Full audio recordings of the retreat: [soon]📱 Instagram of excerpts: / sbsangha_jameslow 🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://youtu.be/qsF2g0eCPF4?si=td2TLaOhB8KYtEuR