Ligmincha Texas

The Melody of Light Poetry with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche - Friday Talk
2024-03-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | The Jung Center Houston, 5200 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX, 77006, United States
The Melody of Spiritual Songs Soars through the World Along the Path of Light, Rinpoche’s recent poetry book, was published in Tibetan only in 2023. This beautiful poetry teaches us through Rinpoche’s personal experience the nature of life, practice, and living. In this special evening, Rinpoche will share his poetry in English for the first time. The public talk will be in English with simultaneous live audio translation via Zoom in Spanish, Russian and potentially other languages.
Join us in this unique and special opportunity!
Please register through the Jung Center at the link below.
https://junghouston.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/junghouston/event.jsp?event=10878

Flight of the Bon Monks - Book Signing
2024-03-08 20:00 - 20:30 | The Jung Center Houston, 5200 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX, 77006, United States
Jackie and Harvey will present their exciting new book, Flight of the Bön Monks. The thrilling true story of escape and the renewal of Bön in exile. It is based on 10 years of research and interviews with our highest teachers who escaped from Tibet in the 1950’s. Books will be available for sale at the book signing. The book can be pre-ordered at: http://FlightoftheBonMonks.com.

Healing with Form, Energy, and Light with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
2024-03-09 10:00 - 2024-03-10 17:00 | The Jung Center Houston, 5200 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX, 77006, United States
Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche will teach on Healing with Form, Energy, and Light. He helps us to strengthen our connection to the sacred aspect of the natural world and presents us with a guide that explains why certain practices are necessary and beneficial.
Healing with Form, Energy and Light, a book written by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche has been translated into many languages. It is the resource for this retreat. It covers healing through sutric, tantric, and dzögchen perspectives. In the Tibetan tradition, the five elements of earth, water, fire, air, and space are accessed through the raw powers of nature and ancient Bön practices.
The five external elements support us in maintaining our well-being and health. The inner five elements are related to the inner wind balance within our bodies and are associated with the five specific qualities of the elements. The five secret elements relate to the mind and can affect our personality, feelings, thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
The retreat will be in English with simultaneous live audio translation via Zoom in Spanish, Russian, and potentially other languages.
A live and silent auction will be held on Saturday after the teaching.
Saturday Schedule CST

Session 1
10:00 am-11:00 am

Break
11:00 am-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30 am-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30 pm-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00 pm-3:30 pm

Break
3:30 pm-4:00 pm

Auction
4:00 pm-5:00 pm

Sunday Schedule CDT

Session 1
10:00 am-11:00 am

Break
11:00 am-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30 am-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30 pm-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00 pm-3:30 pm

Please register for the retreat through the Jung Center at the link below.
https://junghouston.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/junghouston/event.jsp?event=10879

There will be a silent auction during the retreat. Those not able to attend are invited to participate at the following link: Online Auction Items
There will also be a live auction after the teachings Saturday afternoon. Preview the items at the following link: Live Auction Items

Indestructible: The Longevity Practice of Lama Tséwang Rigdzin Part 2
2024-04-13 10:00 - 2024-04-14 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
Indestructible: The Longevity Practice of Lama Tséwang Rigdzin Part 2
with Geshe Denma Gyaltsen
April 13-14, 2024
In the Yungdrung Bön. there are many longevity practices. This practice is the most well-known. Tséwang Rigdzin is the son of Drenpa Namkha, born in the 8th century. Tséwang means “Power of Life” and Rigdzin is “the highest degree of knowledge and wisdom”. There are four kinds of Ridzin: 1) Fully Ripened; 2) Power over Longevity; 3) The Great Mudra; and 4) Spontaneously Accomplished.
In this weekend retreat, Geshe Denma will teach The Power over Longevity section that includes visualization, meaning, and mantra, and give transmission for this practice. This practice stands as a support for the practitioner to extend their life force, develop their spiritual growth, repair damage to their individual lifespan by removing obstacles, and is a support for healing.
This text was discovered by Khöpo Lodro Tokme who was a famous 13th-century tertön (discovery master). During one of his spontaneous visions, Khandro Tukjé Kundrol appeared to him and imparted the transmission for the root text of the Tséwang Jarima which he subsequently transmitted to his own disciples.

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CST

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish and Russian. Other languages may be added.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Russian, and German.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

Six Tibetan Yoga Foundational Movements
2024-06-01 10:00 - 2024-06-02 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
The Six Tibetan Yoga Foundational Movements
from the Dzögchen
Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung
with Alejandro Chaoul
June 1-2, 2024
Tibetan Yoga (Trul khor) from the Dzögchen/Great Completeness Zhang Zhung Oral Transmission has passed on from teacher to disciple since the 8th century until today. Through this Tibetan Yoga (Trul khor, magical movements) practices one can clear obstacles of body, energy, and mind, to enhance one’s meditation and connect to one’s natural state of mind.
This weekend retreat/workshop will include meditation, breathing, and movement practices that help clear obstacles (geg sel), enhance your meditation (bog don), and learn ways to incorporate them into your daily life. We will practice six magical movements that include a foundational movement from the root text, followed by the five magical movements from Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen’s commentary in the 19th-20th century. Some of the benefits mentioned are, “Awareness is lucid and the flow of each of the distinctive breaths is freed.”

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CDT

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish and Russian. Other languages may be added.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Russian, and German.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Founding Director – Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute
Adjunct Faculty – Integrative Medicine Program Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine MD Anderson Cancer Center
Adjunct Faculty – McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics McGovern Medical School, UT Health
Instructor – Rice University Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, aster of Liberal Studies program
Instructor – University of Maryland, Baltimore, Masters in Integrative Medicine
Dr. Chaoul is the Huffington Foundation Endowed Director of the Mind Body Spirit Institute at the Jung Center of Houston, bringing a new approach for helping healthcare professionals flourish by reducing stress and burnout, and improving health, resilience and nourish the human spirit.
He holds a PhD in Tibetan religions from Rice University, and has studied in the Tibetan tradition since 1989, and for almost 30 years with Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, completing the 7-year training at Ligmincha Institute in 2000, and also training in Triten Norbutse monastery in Nepal and Menri monastery in India.
Alejandro is a Senior Teacher of The 3 Doors, an international organization founded by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche with the goal of transforming lives through meditation, and since 1995, he has been teaching meditation classes and Tibetan Yoga (Tsa Lung & Trul Khor) workshops nationally and internationally under the auspices of Ligmincha International.
In 1999 he began teaching these techniques at the Integrative Medicine Program of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, where he holds an adjunct faculty position and for the last twenty years has conducted research on the effect of these practices in people with cancer and their caregivers. He is also an adjunct faculty member at The University of Texas’ McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics, where he teaches medical students in the areas of spirituality, complementary and integrative medicine, and end-of-life care. In addition he is an Instructor at Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies Master of Liberal Studies program and an at The University of Maryland, Baltimore, Masters in Integrative Medicine.
In addition, he is an advisor to The Rothko Chapel and past board member of The Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance at Rice University, and founding member of Compassionate Houston. His research and publications focus on mind-body practices in integrative care, examining how these practices can reduce chronic stress, anxiety and sleep disorders and improve quality of life. He is the author of Chod Practice in the Bon Tradition (SnowLion, 2009), Tibetan Yoga for Health and Wellbeing (Hay House, 2018), and Tibetan Yoga: Magical Movements of Body, Breath & Mind (Wisdom Publications, 2021). He has published in the area of religion and medicine, medical anthropology and the interface of spirituality and healing. Dr. Chaoul has been recognized as a Fellow at the Mind & Life Institute.

Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung Part 1
2024-08-10 10:00 - 2024-08-11 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
Experiential Transmission of Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung:
The Ancillary Instruction of the Boundless View,
Part 1 – Ngondro
The Dru Gyalwai Chag Tri is the collection of the text composed by Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung, the great 13th century master who lived from 1242-1290. Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung is the 57th lineage holder of the Oral Transmission of the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyü and is also known as Dru Gyalwa.
He composed a practice manual Chag Tri at the Yeru Wensakha monastery. The propagation of the unified Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung continued at Yeru Wensakha monastery for another hundred years to Rinchen Lodro during which time the monastery was destroyed by a flood in 1386.
Dzögchen, also known as the “great perfection” or “great completion,” is considered the path of self-liberation and the highest form of teaching and practice in the Bon Buddhist tradition. For practitioners with the capacity, it offers the potential for liberation during a single lifetime and within a single body. Until the late 20th century these ancient teachings were kept secret and offered to very few students of any generation. For all these reasons, attending the teachings can be seen as a precious opportunity for students of Tibetan Bön Buddhism.
The Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung (Zhang Zhung Nyam Gyu), is a cycle of dzögchen teachings from the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud lineage, one of the three main dzoöchen lineages of the Bön Buddhist tradition. The Dru Gyalwai Chag Tri is a preliminary portion of the Zhang Zhung Nyam Gyu.
Part 1: The Ngöndro.
The ngöndro of the Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung are the foundational practices and the entrance to this cycle of Tibetan Bön dzögchen teachings. Attending a Part 1 Ngöndro retreat is a prerequisite for further study of the Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung.
The ngöndro teachings, a set of nine practices, offer complete instructions for taming, purifying, and perfecting the suffering mind. Although the practices that make up the ngöndro are called preliminary or foundational practices, many practitioners adopt them as their main practice and complete the nine parts several times over the course of a lifetime. Within each of these beautiful
and powerful practices is contained the entire path to liberation. The practices of the ngöndro can accompany the practitioner through the years like a lifelong friend.
Three Sets of Practices
The ngöndro practices are divided into three sets of three practices, or nine practices in all.
The first set of three tames the mind of the practitioner through three basic practices:

Opening the heart with guru yoga
Contemplating impermanence
Admitting misdeeds

The second set purifies the practitioner through three common or ordinary practices:

Developing bodhicitta
Going for refuge and performing prostrations
Offering the mandala

The third set perfects the practitioner through three profound or extraordinary practices:

Purification through mantra
Offering the illusory body as a tsok (offering ritual)
Request for blessings

Geshe Denma will offer transmission for this series of teachings at the end of Part 3.

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CDT

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and German.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung Part 2
2024-09-28 10:00 - 2024-09-29 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
Experiential Transmission of Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung:
The Ancillary Instruction of the Boundless View,
Part 2 – Introduction to the Nature of Mind
The Dru Gyalwai Chag Tri is the collection of the text composed by Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung, the great 13th century master who lived from 1242-1290. Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung is the 57th lineage holder of the Oral Transmission of the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyü and is also known as Dru Gyalwa.
He composed a practice manual Chag Tri at the Yeru Wensakha monastery. The propagation of the unified Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung continued at Yeru Wensakha monastery for another hundred years to Rinchen Lodro during which time the monastery was destroyed by a flood in 1386.
Dzögchen, also known as the “great perfection” or “great completion,” is considered the path of self-liberation and the highest form of teaching and practice in the Bon Buddhist tradition. For practitioners with the capacity, it offers the potential for liberation during a single lifetime and within a single body. Until the late 20th century these ancient teachings were kept secret and offered to very few students of any generation. For all these reasons, attending the teachings can be seen as a precious opportunity for students of Tibetan Bön Buddhism.
The Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung (Zhang Zhung Nyam Gyu), is a cycle of dzögchen teachings from the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud lineage, one of the three main dzoöchen lineages of the Bön Buddhist tradition. The Dru Gyalwai Chag Tri is a preliminary portion of the Zhang Zhung Nyam Gyu.
Part 2: Introduction to the Nature of Mind.
The knowledge and skills learned here are applied in all parts of the cycle to come. In a deliberate and structured way, the Part 2 teachings present the foundational practice of zhiné as the skillful means to develop a calm abiding mind; and give instructions for dark retreat, sky gazing, and sun gazing as skillful means to develop stability in mindfulness. These practices ultimately permit experiences of innate awareness, or rigpa. In turn, when experiences of innate awareness are developed and stabilized in a methodical way through meditation practice, they confirm the direction of the practitioner’s journey and allow it to naturally unfold.
Geshe Denma will offer transmission for this series of teachings at the end of Part 3.

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CDT

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and German.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung Part 3
2024-10-26 10:00 - 2024-10-27 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
Experiential Transmission of Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung:
The Ancillary Instruction of the Boundless View,
Part 3
The Dru Gyalwai Chag Tri is the collection of the text composed by Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung, the great 13th century master who lived from 1242-1290. Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung is the 57th lineage holder of the Oral Transmission of the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyü and is also known as Dru Gyalwa.
He composed a practice manual Chag Tri at the Yeru Wensakha monastery. The propagation of the unified Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung continued at Yeru Wensakha monastery for another hundred years to Rinchen Lodro during which time the monastery was destroyed by a flood in 1386.
Dzögchen, also known as the “great perfection” or “great completion,” is considered the path of self-liberation and the highest form of teaching and practice in the Bon Buddhist tradition. For practitioners with the capacity, it offers the potential for liberation during a single lifetime and within a single body. Until the late 20th century these ancient teachings were kept secret and offered to very few students of any generation. For all these reasons, attending the teachings can be seen as a precious opportunity for students of Tibetan Bön Buddhism.
The Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung (Zhang Zhung Nyam Gyu), is a cycle of dzögchen teachings from the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud lineage, one of the three main dzoöchen lineages of the Bön Buddhist tradition. The Dru Gyalwai Chag Tri is a preliminary portion of the Zhang Zhung Nyam Gyu.
The Ngöndro.
The ngöndro of the Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung are the foundational practices and the entrance to this cycle of Tibetan Bön dzögchen teachings. Attending a Part 1 Ngöndro retreat is a prerequisite for further study of the Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung.
The ngöndro teachings, a set of nine practices, offer complete instructions for taming, purifying, and perfecting the suffering mind. Although the practices that make up the ngöndro are called preliminary or foundational practices, many practitioners adopt them as their main practice and complete the nine parts several times over the course of a lifetime. Within each of these beautiful
and powerful practices is contained the entire path to liberation. The practices of the ngöndro can accompany the practitioner through the years like a lifelong friend.
Three Sets of Practices
The ngöndro practices are divided into three sets of three practices, or nine practices in all.
The first set of three tames the mind of the practitioner through three basic practices:
Opening the heart with guru yoga
Contemplating impermanence
Admitting misdeeds
The second set purifies the practitioner through three common or ordinary practices:
Developing bodhicitta
Going for refuge and performing prostrations
Offering the mandala
The third set perfects the practitioner through three profound or extraordinary practices:
Purification through mantra
Offering the illusory body as a tsok (offering ritual)
Request for blessings
Zhiné and Introduction to the Nature of Mind.
The knowledge and skills learned here are applied in all parts of the cycle to come. In a deliberate and structured way, the teachings present the foundational practice of zhiné as the skillful means to develop a calm abiding mind; and give instructions for dark retreat, sky gazing, and sun gazing as skillful means to develop stability in mindfulness. These practices ultimately permit experiences of innate awareness, or rigpa. In turn, when experiences of innate awareness are developed and stabilized in a methodical way through meditation practice, they confirm the direction of the practitioner’s journey and allow it to naturally unfold.
The View, Meditation, Conduct, and Result of Dzögchen
The focus of this section is on pith instructions to develop certainty in the nature of mind and to integrate experiences and realizations in everyday life.
Practitioners will explore:

How naked seeing is the dzögchen view and the self-introduction.
How clear light is the meditation.
How bringing every experience to the path is the conduct.
How confidence in the three kayas is the result.

Geshe Denma will offer transmission for this series of teachings at the end of the series.

Part 3 is a continuation of the teachings from Part 1 and Part 2 which covered some of the topics already. Teaching will be continued from where it ended in Part 2. Additional topics may be added and/or topics may be removed at the discretion of Geshe Denma, based on attendee interest and the best way to communicate the information. Part 4 will be added to continue/complete the teaching.

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CDT

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and German.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung Part 4
2024-11-23 10:00 - 2024-11-24 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
Experiential Transmission of Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung:
The Ancillary Instruction of the Boundless View,
Part 4
The Dru Gyalwai Chag Tri is the collection of the text composed by Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung, the great 13th century master who lived from 1242-1290. Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung is the 57th lineage holder of the Oral Transmission of the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyü and is also known as Dru Gyalwa.
He composed a practice manual Chag Tri at the Yeru Wensakha monastery. The propagation of the unified Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung continued at Yeru Wensakha monastery for another hundred years to Rinchen Lodro during which time the monastery was destroyed by a flood in 1386.
Dzögchen, also known as the “great perfection” or “great completion,” is considered the path of self-liberation and the highest form of teaching and practice in the Bon Buddhist tradition. For practitioners with the capacity, it offers the potential for liberation during a single lifetime and within a single body. Until the late 20th century these ancient teachings were kept secret and offered to very few students of any generation. For all these reasons, attending the teachings can be seen as a precious opportunity for students of Tibetan Bön Buddhism.
The Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung (Zhang Zhung Nyam Gyu), is a cycle of dzögchen teachings from the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud lineage, one of the three main dzoöchen lineages of the Bön Buddhist tradition. The Dru Gyalwai Chag Tri is a preliminary portion of the Zhang Zhung Nyam Gyu.
The Ngöndro.
The ngöndro of the Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung are the foundational practices and the entrance to this cycle of Tibetan Bön dzögchen teachings. Attending a Part 1 Ngöndro retreat is a prerequisite for further study of the Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung.
The ngöndro teachings, a set of nine practices, offer complete instructions for taming, purifying, and perfecting the suffering mind. Although the practices that make up the ngöndro are called preliminary or foundational practices, many practitioners adopt them as their main practice and complete the nine parts several times over the course of a lifetime. Within each of these beautiful
and powerful practices is contained the entire path to liberation. The practices of the ngöndro can accompany the practitioner through the years like a lifelong friend.
Three Sets of Practices
The ngöndro practices are divided into three sets of three practices, or nine practices in all.
The first set of three tames the mind of the practitioner through three basic practices:
Opening the heart with guru yoga
Contemplating impermanence
Admitting misdeeds
The second set purifies the practitioner through three common or ordinary practices:
Developing bodhicitta
Going for refuge and performing prostrations
Offering the mandala
The third set perfects the practitioner through three profound or extraordinary practices:
Purification through mantra
Offering the illusory body as a tsok (offering ritual)
Request for blessings
Zhiné and Introduction to the Nature of Mind.
The knowledge and skills learned here are applied in all parts of the cycle to come. In a deliberate and structured way, the teachings present the foundational practice of zhiné as the skillful means to develop a calm abiding mind; and give instructions for dark retreat, sky gazing, and sun gazing as skillful means to develop stability in mindfulness. These practices ultimately permit experiences of innate awareness, or rigpa. In turn, when experiences of innate awareness are developed and stabilized in a methodical way through meditation practice, they confirm the direction of the practitioner’s journey and allow it to naturally unfold.
The View, Meditation, Conduct, and Result of Dzögchen
The focus of this section is on pith instructions to develop certainty in the nature of mind and to integrate experiences and realizations in everyday life.
Practitioners will explore:

How naked seeing is the dzögchen view and the self-introduction.
How clear light is the meditation.
How bringing every experience to the path is the conduct.
How confidence in the three kayas is the result.

Geshe Denma will offer transmission for this series of teachings at the end of the series.

Part 4 is a continuation of the teachings from Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3 which covered some of the topics already. Teaching will be continued from where it ended in Part 3. Additional topics may be added and/or topics may be removed at the discretion of Geshe Denma, based on attendee interest and the best way to communicate the information.

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CST

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

Sherab Chamma Practice with Q and A
2024-12-14 10:00 - 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
Sherab Chamma Practice Retreat with Q and A
Geshe Denma Gyaltsen will review this complete and beautiful practice and we will end the year of abundant retreats with deep meditation. He invites you to ask questions and provides ample time for this during this one-day practice retreat.
In many cultures, primordial female energy is seen as the origin of existence and the source of wisdom, love, and compassion. The ancient Bön Buddhist tradition offers many methods for retrieving and connecting with this divine feminine energy, supporting the practitioner to abide in innate wisdom and the love and compassion that radiate from that wisdom. The teachings of Sherab Chamma (Mother of Wisdom and Love) comprise one of the most important tantric cycles of Bön.
In this practice, participants will learn a beautiful and simple meditation practice composed by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche to connect with the sacred feminine in her peaceful form. With the group’s support, we create an environment to promote profound healing of our physical, energetic/emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
With visualization, the sound of mantra, and deep contemplation, we make a personal connection to the universal mother, Sherab Chamma, and we are guided through this connection to our innate wisdom and the love and compassion that naturally radiate from that wisdom.

Schedule – Saturday CST

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

Ransom Ceremony 2025
2025-02-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Ligmincha Texas, Inc., 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77402, United States
Ransom Ceremony
Ligmincha Texas Center
Wednesday, February 28, 2025
6:00 pm CST in person only
Our center will have a cleansing Ransom Ceremony instead of regular practice. At that time, we will use this opportunity to cleanse ourselves spiritually to be ready for the New Year. Geshe Denma Gyaltsen will give us blessed water. We will think about releasing all the negative things that happened in this year and karmic traces so they will not be carried into the new male Wood Snake year. All are welcome to come and bring anyone interested in this beautiful experience.
Before the Ransom Ceremony, in anticipation of the new year, we need to cleanse externally, and therefore, we clean our house, office, car, and finish projects. Take this time to prepare generally for a clean start in the next year, leaving all negativities and unfinished business from the old year. Bring a written ransom wish to discard negativities/obstacles in your life from 2024. We will also have paper available at the center.

Sang Chöd Smoke Offering Ceremony 2025
2025-03-01 11:00 - 13:00 | Private residence, Galveston, United States
Sang Chöd Smoke Offering Ceremony
Galveston, TX
Saturday, March 1, 2025
11:00 am CST in person only
Geshe Denma will lead a Sang Chöd smoke offering ceremony in Galveston. He will release bait fish into the bayou, a joyous ritual to give new life to sentient beings and accumulate positive karma. We do this ritual and dedicate the merit to the long life and health of beloved HE Yongdzin Rinpoche. He is 100 years old.
We will recite prayers to all the yidams and protector deities and ask for their protection for all practitioners and sentient beings. This ceremony pacifies all obstacles and causes of disharmony into the vastness of outer, inner, and secret space and is conducted outside. Bring a chair and your own beverage to the ceremony.
Following the celebration, those who wish may join us for lunch in Galveston.
Contact Jackie Cole for in-person directions at jackie.cole001@comcast.net

Nyamme Sherab Gyaltsen’s Birthday 2025
2025-03-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Ligmincha Texas, Inc., 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77402, United States
Celebration of Nyamme Sherab Gyaltsen’s Birthday
Ligmincha Texas Center
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
6:00 pm CST in person only
Geshe Denma will lead this celebration instead of our regular practice.
Celebrate the birthday of the second Buddha of Yungdrung Bön, Nyamme Sherap Gyaltsen (1356–1415), the first abbot and founder of Menri Monastery, the mother monastery of Bön in Tibet. Geshe Denma will lead us in a practice with a special prayer to Nyamme Sherap Gyaltsen. On this auspicious day, each person will light a candle and pray the short and long invocation of Nyamme Sherap Gyaltsen.
Nyamme Sherab Gyalsten was known as a great reformer and reinvigorated the Bönpo monastic tradition, causing many monasteries to flourish. Nyamme Sherab Gyaltsen was also the first master to collect and hold all the transmissions and empowerments of all the Bön lineages. All of these transmissions have continued to be held by each of the successive Abbots of Menri, and over time, the Abbot of Menri came to be regarded as the head of the Bön religion.

Du Tri Su Training Program
2025-03-12 - 2025-03-16 | Serenity Ridge Retreat Center, 560 Drumheller Ln, Shipman, VA, 22971, United States
Du Tri Su Training Program
From March 2025 through April 2027, learn the Du Tri Su Drip Jong, the Yungdrung Bön Ritual for escorting the consciousness of the deceased through the Bardo. This ritual is from the text: The Lamp that Dispels Darkness: The Practice Manual of the DU TRI SU that Purifies Defilements and Liberates All Beings from the Depths of Samsara
The Du Tri Su Drip Jong cycle is a powerful and skillful method of guiding the consciousness of the deceased and protecting that individual from the terrors of the bardo (after death state of the consciousness) experiences. This ritual practice and text stir the depths of samsara and can purify obstacles both for ourselves and for others, the living and the dead. With proper care and respect, it can even lead to the attainment of Buddhahood, or total liberation. When done on behalf of the dead, this ritual protects the consciousness from wandering in the the bardo realms of the intermediate state. These ancient practices and rituals were taught directly by Buddha Tonpa Shenrab, and the tradition has been held and practiced continually until the present day.
This teaching and training of the Du Tri Su Drip Jong are important for Bön practitioners who would like more support for their own preparations for dying, as well as for students who want to benefit those who have died.
Overview
This training program will include five 5-day retreats; three retreats will be at Serenity Ridge, and two will be online. There will also be monthly sessions on Zoom where Geshe Denma Gyaltsen and Khandro Tsering Wangmo Khymsar will be available to support students in between retreats. Join us for this special opportunity to learn a powerful ritual from the ancient Yungdrung Bön tradition.
Translation into Spanish: Live simultaneous translation into Spanish will be available for all sessions.
Participants Will Learn

The meaning and purpose of this powerful ritual
The preparation for the DU TRI SU ritual making the required tormas (offerings)
The core prayers and their meaning
How to play the Tibetan ritual instruments used in this ritual
How to conduct the ritual and learn the melodies of each ritual section

Register and get more information at:
https://ligmincha.org/centers-usa-serenityridge/

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

Awakening the Luminous Mind
2025-03-28 19:00 - 2025-03-30 15:30 | The Jung Center Houston, 5200 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX, 77006, United States
AWAKENING THE LUMINOUS MIND
The Five-Fold Teaching of Dawa Gyaltsen
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Jung Center
Recognizing and welcoming brilliant innate awareness is a treasured life-changing experience worth seeking. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, founder of Ligmincha Texas and Ligmincha International, returns to the Jung Center to point out this path through meditation. Using the poetic Five-Fold Practice of Dawa Gyaltsen, an 8th-century Tibetan master, Rinpoche will introduce and guide students to practice and then integrate insight into daily life. He is able to make ancient wisdom accessible through this elegant “pith instruction.”
Founder and spiritual director of Ligmincha International, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche is a respected and beloved teacher and meditation master in the Bön Buddhist tradition of Tibet. He has students in more than 25 countries, teaches around the world and reaches thousands of students through his online programs. Trained as a Bön monk, Rinpoche now lives as a householder, allowing him to more fully relate to the needs and concerns of his students. Known for the depth of his wisdom and his unshakeable commitment to helping students recognize their true nature, he is the author of many books and online courses.
This program is being offered both IN-PERSON and ONLINE. Please select how you plan to attend when registering.
Register at the Jung Center with the link below:
https://junghouston.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/junghouston/eventList.jsp?anotherEvent=&categoryIds=2&topicId=194&eventName=Awakening%20the%20Luminous%20Mind
Recordings will be distributed to registered participants only, and will not be available for individual purchase.
All times are CT. Please contact onlinelearning@junghouston.org with any questions.
Please register early.

AUCTIONS
There is a silent auction, which is live and can be bid on here:
https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/ligmincha-texas-incs-2025-silent-auction
There will be a Live Auction on Saturday. See the following link to preview items:
https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/ligmincha-texas-incs-live-auction
If you are interested in an item in the Live Auction, but cannot attend, please email BartDelatte@ligminchatexas.org with your max bid and we can bid for you.

21 Manifestations of Sherab Chamma
2025-04-19 10:00 - 2025-04-20 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
21 Manifestations of Sherab Chamma
Geshe Denma Gyaltsen
April 19-20, 2025

Sherab Chamma is the Wisdom Loving Mother of all beings and all Buddhas. All Bön deities come through this wise mother. This is a powerful practice for the extreme situations that confront humanity today. There is benefit for everyone, bringing personal and global healing to fears, suffering, sickness, and obstacles.
This retreat will enable all practitioners to awaken the unbounded wisdom of the Loving Mother to manifest inner transformation and joy. Participants will receive transmission from Geshe Denma. He invites us to ask questions and provides ample time for this. Please join us for a heart-felt retreat of connection and practice.
In many cultures, primordial female energy is seen as the origin of existence and the source of wisdom, love, and compassion. The ancient Bön Buddhist tradition offers many methods for retrieving and connecting with this divine
feminine energy, supporting the practitioner to abide in innate wisdom and the love and compassion that radiate from that wisdom. The teachings of Sherab Chamma comprise one of the most important tantric cycles of Bön.
In the 21 Manifestations of Sherab Chamma, each deity and their corresponding 4-sentence prayer will be taught to deepen our understanding and access to these aspects of divine feminine energy.

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CST

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

21 Manifestations of Sherab Chamma Practice Retreat
2025-05-03 10:00 - 12:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
21 Manifestations of Sherab Chamma
Practice Retreat & Q&A
Geshe Denma Gyaltsen
May 3, 2025

Sherab Chamma is the Wisdom Loving Mother of all beings and all Buddhas. All Bön deities come through this wise mother. This is a powerful practice for the extreme situations that confront humanity today. There is benefit for everyone, bringing personal and global healing to fears, suffering, sickness, and obstacles.
This retreat will enable all practitioners to awaken the unbounded wisdom of the Loving Mother to manifest inner transformation and joy. Participants will receive transmission from Geshe Denma. He invites us to ask questions and provides ample time for this. Please join us for a heart-felt retreat of connection and practice.
In many cultures, primordial female energy is seen as the origin of existence and the source of wisdom, love, and compassion. The ancient Bön Buddhist tradition offers many methods for retrieving and connecting with this divine
feminine energy, supporting the practitioner to abide in innate wisdom and the love and compassion that radiate from that wisdom. The teachings of Sherab Chamma comprise one of the most important tantric cycles of Bön.
In the 21 Manifestations of Sherab Chamma, each deity and their corresponding 4-sentence prayer will be taught to deepen our understanding and access to these aspects of divine feminine energy.

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CST

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

The Practice of the Path, Guidance on the Stages of Meditation on Clear Light
2025-06-07 10:00 - 2025-06-08 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
The Practice of the Path, Guidance on the Stages of Meditation on Clear Light
Menri Shedrup Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup Rinpoche
Abbott of Menri Monastery Dialectic School
June 7-8, 2025
The Dru Gyalwai Chag Tri is the collection of the text composed by Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung, the great 13th century master who lived from 1242-1290. Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung is the 57th lineage holder of the Oral Transmission of the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyü and is also known as Dru Gyalwa. Although he was not officially recognized as the incarnation of a previous master, he was regarded as a very gifted young man endowed with an extraordinary intelligence. He is said to have explained the main work of Bönpo cosmology The Source of the Treasury of Existence — at the early age of eight.
In adulthood, he is said to have declared about himself:
“I have first of all requested the vows of monk from my master and I have preserved them in pure and ethical way. Then, I have trained in listening to the teachings and reflecting on their actual meaning, thus completely cutting the roots of doubts and uncertainty. Eventually, I have required the direct introduction to the natural state and have thus recognized my own essence. All this I owe to the kindness of my benevolent master.”
It is said that at the climax of his practice, the wisdom of non-discursiveness arose in his continuum and purified him from dualistic grasping, karmic impregnations, and discursive thoughts. He then experienced what is described in Dzögchen teachings as the Horizon of Spontaneous Clear-Light during which his mind and visions became undifferentiated. It is said that at that precise time, he reached Buddhahood within the Expanse of the Great Primordial Freedom. This means that he realized the Three Bodies as the Fruit of the Path and experienced the non-regressive Great Bliss of the Absolute Body.
He composed a practice manual Chag Tri at the Yeru Wensakha monastery. The propagation of the unified Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung continued at Yeru Wensakha monastery for another hundred years to Rinchen Lodro during which time the monastery was destroyed by a flood in 1386.
Dzögchen, also known as the “great perfection” or “great completion,” is considered the path of self-liberation and the highest form of teaching and practice in the Bön Buddhist tradition. For practitioners with the capacity, it offers the potential for liberation during a single lifetime and within a single body. Until the late 20th century, these ancient teachings were kept secret and offered to very few students of any generation. For all these reasons, attending the teachings can be seen as a precious opportunity for students of Tibetan Bön Buddhism.
The Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung (Zhang Zhung Nyam Gyud), is a cycle of dzögchen teachings from the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud lineage, one of the three main dzögchen lineages of the Bön Buddhist tradition. The Dru Gyalwai Chag Tri is a preliminary portion of the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud.
Khenpo Nyima Dondrup Rinpoche will teach us from this text on The Stages of Meditation on Clear Light.
In obtaining stability in the cultivated meditation, there is the positive quality of the miraculous body, the positive quality of the wise mind, and the positive quality of the buddha’s speech.

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CDT

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Biography of Menri Shedrup Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup Rinpoche
Menri Shedrup Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup Rinpoche is the abbot of the Bon Dialectic School at Menri Monastery, India. He received novice ordination from His Holiness the late 33rd Menri Trizin, Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, and His Eminence Menri Ponlop Yangton Thinley Nyima Rinpoche in 1992 upon entering the Bon Dialectic School. He completed over 15 years of study of Bon Dzogchen, Tantra, Sutra and the five major and minor sciences of Bon. He received his Geshe degree on March 15, 2006. On 9th of February 2008 he was enthroned as the Menri Shedrup Lopon. Then on February 25, 2012 he was enthroned as the Menri Shedrup Khenpo, the abbot of the Bon Dialectic School at Menri.
Menri Shedrup Khen Rinpoche has been teaching Bon Dzogchen, Tantra, and Sutra to the monks enrolled at the Bon Dialectic School for more than 15 years. He has been invited speaker at several major Bon and Buddhist conferences and has contributed to a number of articles for Bon-sGo, the Tibetan language periodical journal of Menri Monastery. Since 2011 he has served as the General Secretary of the Governing Council of Menri Monastery and as director of the official website of Menri. He is the author of the three books titled Rigs sMa dyes Pi mChod Train “Offerings to rejoice the great scholars”, Man-ngag Lung gi Yang Zhun sTod Cha & sMad Cha “A clear oral transmission of the sacred instruction part I & 2”, and Yungdrung gi Tson Dhon “Illustration on the meaning of Yungdrung”. His books cover the main philosophical teachings of the Bon tradition.

Prayers in Honor of H.E. Yongdzin Rinpoche
2025-06-27 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-07-04 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-07-11 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-07-18 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-07-25 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-08-01 18:30 - 19:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
Ligmincha Texas warmly invites you to join us in person and via Zoom every Friday from June 27, 2025 to August 1, 2025 at 6:30pm CDT (New York time: 7:30pm. ) for a special prayer session in honor of H.E. Yongdzin Rinpoche, guided by Geshe Denma as we continue the 49 days of prayers.
In person and online via Zoom.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/glilaQKSQDWaGmrH7Krr4A
We would like to inform everyone that Geshe Denma is not able to lead us in Friday evening (July 18th and July 25th) Lama Chopa prayer for Yongzin Rinpoche as planned. This is because the summer retreat schedule is very busy.
He encourages everyone to recite prayers by themselves during his absence.
Upon his return from Serenity Ridge, he will lead us in prayers on August 1st which will be the last session of the 49 days prayer gathering.
Thank you. 🙏🏼

Ma Gyud: The Bön Mother Tantra Part 1
2025-08-09 10:00 - 2025-08-10 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
The Ma Gyud: Teaching of the Bön Mother Tantra Part 1
Geshe Denma Gyaltsen
August 9-10, 2025
The Bön Mother Tantra is one of the first translated texts from Zhang Zhung into Tibetan. Before it was translated from Tibetan, it was translated into five languages. Originally written earlier, the text was hidden in the 8th century. It was discovered as a terma by Guru Nöntse in the 11th century.
There are three parts of the Mother Tantra: 1) How to practice the development stage; 2) How to practice the generation and perfection stages; 3) How to practice the union of the generation and perfection stages.
The principal focus of the development stage is the Father Tantra. The focus of the generation and perfection stages is the Mother Tantra. The main focus of the union stage is the Son Tantra. Especially in the Mother Tantra, we practice the visualization of the three jewels: Lama; the Yidam; and the Khandro (dakini). In this retreat, Geshe Denma will teach the Mother Tantra sadhana, the three visualizations, and the mudras.
The Ma Gyud is a tantric, transformation practice. If we practice the Ma Gyud daily, we will develop special powers of inner wisdom. Tantra is a secret practice. The Mother Tantra deity was one of the yidams of the second king of Tibet, Mu Tri Tsenpo. He had special power which he kept secret for himself as the king. His power decreased after the practice was made secret, and he realized he had the capacity to teach and not to keep it secret anymore. His power increased after this realization. He taught to those who had the capacity to receive the teaching.
The Ma Gyud Mother Tantra text originated from Kuntu Zangpo. Kuntu Zangpo, the primordial buddha transmitted this teaching to Zangza Rintsun who is the emanation of the great goddess, Sherab Chamma. She was born as a divine being. She was the mother of Chimed Tsugphud who was born in Olmo Lung Ring and who in his next life became the nirmanakaya, Buddha Tonpa Shenrab.
This teaching continued until the 8th century. Bön experienced two persecutions before the 8th century. Before the 8th century, Zhang Zhung was an independent country. The two persecutions occurred during the reign of the Tibetan King, Drigum Tsanpo who was born in 683 BC and the Tibetan King, Tisong Detsan who was born in 738 AD. Tisong Detsan assassinated King Ligmincha who was the last King of Zhang Zhung and the country was ruled by Tibet. At that time, the Bön text was preserved by hiding the text under rocks in many locations.
Many centuries later, the terton, Guru Nontse was born in 1136 AD. Then, he discovered in the 12th century many texts including the Ma Gyud (The Mother Tantra) from under the rock of Dung Phor near the village of Panamg on the north side of the river in the Tsang province. The root text of the Ma Gyud has three cycles. They are Tantra of the Base, Tantra of the Path, and Tantra of the Result. The philosophy of the Tantra of the Base is the development of the three channels, lung (wind), bindus (tigle), and conduct. The Tantra of the Path includes practices of Dream Yoga, Chöd, and Phowa. The Tantra of the Result is recognizing the Natural State of the Mind and Enlightenment.
The Father Tantra includes the practices of the 5 yidam meditation deities.

Walse represents aspect of the Body
Lhagod represents aspect of Speech
Tsochok represents aspect of Mind
Gekhod represents aspect of Quality
Phurpa represents aspect of Action

The practice visualizes these deities as a Generation Process (kyering). In khering, there are two ways to practice either through meditation or through ganapuja. In meditation, we invite the enlightened deities or specific deities with whom we have a special connection into ourselves. In ganapuja, we invite the deities into the mandala and make offerings to them.
There are three parts in practicing the self kyering:

Preparing ourselves as practitioners with a clear mind.
Clearly visualizing the yidam.
Merging ourselves with the yidam and becoming inseparable with the yidam. Sit with this as long as we can.

The Mother Tantra practice includes six special internal practices
(Dzogrim):

Tummo
Dream Yoga
Chöd
Phowa
Sleep Yoga
Bardo

Part 1 of the Ma Gyud Bön Mother Tantra Retreat teaching will focus on:

The explanation of sadhana
The three visualizations and meaning of lama, yidam, and khandro
Learning the mudras of the Mother Tantra sadhana

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CST

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, where is says “Help keep Zeffy free for Ligmincha Texas, Inc. 💜 (optional)”, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

Du Tri Su Training Program Part 2
2025-09-10 - 2025-09-14 | Zoom, United States

Ma Gyud: The Bön Mother Tantra Part 2
2025-09-27 10:00 - 2025-09-28 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
Ma Gyud: The Bön Mother Tantra Part 2
The Bön Mother Tantra is one of the first translated texts from Zhang Zhung into Tibetan. Before it was translated from Tibetan, it was translated into five languages. Originally written earlier, the text was hidden in the 8th century. It was discovered as a terma by Guru Nöntse in the 11th century.
There are three parts of the Mother Tantra: 1) How to practice the development stage; 2) How to practice the generation and perfection stages; 3) How to practice the union of the generation and perfection stages.
The principal focus of the development stage is the Father Tantra. The focus of the generation and perfection stages is the Mother Tantra. The main focus of the union stage is the Son Tantra. Especially in the Mother Tantra, we practice the visualization of the three jewels: Lama; the Yidam; and the Khandro (dakini). In this retreat, Geshe Denma will teach the Mother Tantra sadhana, the three visualizations, and the mudras.
The Ma Gyud is a tantric, transformation practice. If we practice the Ma Gyud daily, we will develop special powers of inner wisdom. Tantra is a secret practice. The Mother Tantra deity was one of the yidams of the second king of Tibet, Mu Tri Tsenpo. He had special power which he kept secret for himself as the king. His power decreased after the practice was made secret, and he realized he had the capacity to teach and not to keep it secret anymore. His power increased after this realization. He taught to those who had the capacity to receive the teaching.
The Ma Gyud Mother Tantra text originated from Kuntu Zangpo. Kuntu Zangpo, the primordial buddha transmitted this teaching to Zangza Rintsun who is the emanation of the great goddess, Sherab Chamma. She was born as a divine being. She was the mother of Chimed Tsugphud who was born in Olmo Lung Ring and who in his next life became the nirmanakaya, Buddha Tonpa Shenrab.
This teaching continued until the 8th century. Bön experienced two persecutions before the 8th century. Before the 8th century, Zhang Zhung was an independent country. The two persecutions occurred during the reign of the Tibetan King, Drigum Tsanpo who was born in 683 BC and the Tibetan King, Tisong Detsan who was born in 738 AD. Tisong Detsan assassinated King Ligmincha who was the last King of Zhang Zhung and the country was ruled by Tibet. At that time, the Bön text was preserved by hiding the text under rocks in many locations.
Many centuries later, the terton, Guru Nontse was born in 1136 AD. Then, he discovered in the 12th century many texts including the Ma Gyud (The Mother Tantra) from under the rock of Dung Phor near the village of Panamg on the north side of the river in the Tsang province. The root text of the Ma Gyud has three cycles. They are Tantra of the Base, Tantra of the Path, and Tantra of the Result. The philosophy of the Tantra of the Base is the development of the three channels, lung (wind), bindus (tigle), and conduct. The Tantra of the Path includes practices of Dream Yoga, Chöd, and Phowa. The Tantra of the Result is recognizing the Natural State of the Mind and Enlightenment.
The Father Tantra includes the practices of the 5 yidam meditation deities.

Walse represents aspect of the Body
Lhagod represents aspect of Speech
Tsochok represents aspect of Mind
Gekhod represents aspect of Quality
Phurpa represents aspect of Action

The practice visualizes these deities as a Generation Process (kyering). In khering, there are two ways to practice either through meditation or through ganapuja. In meditation, we invite the enlightened deities or specific deities with whom we have a special connection into ourselves. In ganapuja, we invite the deities into the mandala and make offerings to them.
There are three parts in practicing the self kyering:

Preparing ourselves as practitioners with a clear mind.
Clearly visualizing the yidam.
Merging ourselves with the yidam and becoming inseparable with the yidam. Sit with this as long as we can.

The Mother Tantra practice includes six special internal practices
(Dzogrim):

Tummo
Dream Yoga
Chöd
Phowa
Sleep Yoga
Bardo

Part 2 of the Ma Gyud Bön Mother Tantra Retreat teaching will focus on:

A more detailed explanation of the sadhana.
The three visualizations and the meaning of lama yidam, and khandro.
Learning the mudras with the Mother Tantra sadhana.
More detailed explanation of the Ma Gyud deities and khandros.

It is not necessary to have attended Part 1 to participate in this retreat.

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CST

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

The Lamp of Uza Rinchen Sal Part 1
2025-10-11 10:00 - 2025-10-12 11:30 | Zoom, United States
The Lamp of Uza Rinchen Sal: Experiential Teaching on the Bardo and
Practice on the DU TRI SU
Part 1: October 11-12, 2025
Part 2: November 8-9, 2025
10:00-11:30 am Central Time
Uza Rinchen Sal’s Bardo Journey: Uza Rinchen Sal’s extraordinary journey through the bardo is a powerful reminder for all of us to engage our body, speech, and mind in virtuous acts. Her experience reveals how, in the transitional states beyond death,
beings yearn deeply for the sound of the three essential mantras and send messages to their living relatives asking for virtuous deeds to be performed on their behalf. Through her story, we are inspired to practice compassion, accumulate merit, and
dedicate our actions for the benefit of all beings—now, when we have the precious opportunity.

The book for this retreat can be ordered at:
https://www.lulu.com/shop/sangmo-yangri/the-lamp-of-uza-rinchen-sal/paperback/product-q66v7qw.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
This Registration is for BOTH weekends (Oct 11-12 AND Nov 8-9)
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Sangmo Yangri, Ph.D., is a scholar, teacher, and translator. She is the first Tibetan woman to receive a Ph.D. in Tibetan Bön philosophical studies. A recipient of the Jwaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund grant. She won the Prime Minister’s Award from the
Tibetan Government in Exile in India in 2013.
She has translated two books from Tibetan to English. Escape from Darkness: The Spiritual Journey of the Buddha’s Daughter Shenza Nechung and The Lamp of Uza Rinchen Sal: Illuminating the Illusory Vision of the Bardo, the Purifying Period of the
Karmic Vision of the Six Lokas, and a Pure Vision of the Sugatas.

Ma Gyud: The Bön Mother Tantra Part 3
2025-10-25 10:00 - 2025-10-26 15:30 | Ligmincha Texas Center & Online via Zoom, 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77401, United States
Ma Gyud: The Bön Mother Tantra Part 3
The Bön Mother Tantra is one of the first translated texts from Zhang Zhung into Tibetan. Before it was translated from Tibetan, it was translated into five languages. Originally written earlier, the text was hidden in the 8th century. It was discovered as a terma by Guru Nöntse in the 11th century.
There are three parts of the Mother Tantra: 1) How to practice the development stage; 2) How to practice the generation and perfection stages; 3) How to practice the union of the generation and perfection stages.
The principal focus of the development stage is the Father Tantra. The focus of the generation and perfection stages is the Mother Tantra. The main focus of the union stage is the Son Tantra. Especially in the Mother Tantra, we practice the visualization of the three jewels: Lama; the Yidam; and the Khandro (dakini). In this retreat, Geshe Denma will teach the Mother Tantra sadhana, the three visualizations, and the mudras.
The Ma Gyud is a tantric, transformation practice. If we practice the Ma Gyud daily, we will develop special powers of inner wisdom. Tantra is a secret practice. The Mother Tantra deity was one of the yidams of the second king of Tibet, Mu Tri Tsenpo. He had special power which he kept secret for himself as the king. His power decreased after the practice was made secret, and he realized he had the capacity to teach and not to keep it secret anymore. His power increased after this realization. He taught to those who had the capacity to receive the teaching.
The Ma Gyud Mother Tantra text originated from Kuntu Zangpo. Kuntu Zangpo, the primordial buddha transmitted this teaching to Zangza Rintsun who is the emanation of the great goddess, Sherab Chamma. She was born as a divine being. She was the mother of Chimed Tsugphud who was born in Olmo Lung Ring and who in his next life became the nirmanakaya, Buddha Tonpa Shenrab.
This teaching continued until the 8th century. Bön experienced two persecutions before the 8th century. Before the 8th century, Zhang Zhung was an independent country. The two persecutions occurred during the reign of the Tibetan King, Drigum Tsanpo who was born in 683 BC and the Tibetan King, Tisong Detsan who was born in 738 AD. Tisong Detsan assassinated King Ligmincha who was the last King of Zhang Zhung and the country was ruled by Tibet. At that time, the Bön text was preserved by hiding the text under rocks in many locations.
Many centuries later, the terton, Guru Nontse was born in 1136 AD. Then, he discovered in the 12th century many texts including the Ma Gyud (The Mother Tantra) from under the rock of Dung Phor near the village of Panamg on the north side of the river in the Tsang province. The root text of the Ma Gyud has three cycles. They are Tantra of the Base, Tantra of the Path, and Tantra of the Result. The philosophy of the Tantra of the Base is the development of the three channels, lung (wind), bindus (tigle), and conduct. The Tantra of the Path includes practices of Dream Yoga, Chöd, and Phowa. The Tantra of the Result is recognizing the Natural State of the Mind and Enlightenment.
The Father Tantra includes the practices of the 5 yidam meditation deities.

Walse represents aspect of the Body
Lhagod represents aspect of Speech
Tsochok represents aspect of Mind
Gekhod represents aspect of Quality
Phurpa represents aspect of Action

The practice visualizes these deities as a Generation Process (kyering). In khering, there are two ways to practice either through meditation or through ganapuja. In meditation, we invite the enlightened deities or specific deities with whom we have a special connection into ourselves. In ganapuja, we invite the deities into the mandala and make offerings to them.
There are three parts in practicing the self kyering:

Preparing ourselves as practitioners with a clear mind.
Clearly visualizing the yidam.
Merging ourselves with the yidam and becoming inseparable with the yidam. Sit with this as long as we can.

The Mother Tantra practice includes six special internal practices
(Dzogrim):

Tummo
Dream Yoga
Chöd
Phowa
Sleep Yoga
Bardo

Part 1 of the Ma Gyud Bön Mother Tantra Retreat teaching will focus on:

The explanation of sadhana
The three visualizations and meaning of lama, yidam, and khandro
Learning the mudras of the Mother Tantra sadhana

Schedule – Saturday and Sunday CST

Session 1
10:00-11:15 am

Break
11:15-11:30 am

Session 2
11:30-12:30 pm

Meal Break
12:30-2:00 pm

Session 3
2:00-3:30 pm

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
Written translations will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
There is early bird pricing available until noon the Saturday before the retreat.
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.

The Lamp of Uza Rinchen Sal Part 2
2025-11-08 10:00 - 2025-11-09 11:30 | Zoom, United States
The Lamp of Uza Rinchen Sal: Experiential Teaching on the Bardo and
Practice on the DU TRI SU
Part 1: October 11-12, 2025
Part 2: November 8-9, 2025
10:00-11:30 am Central Time
Uza Rinchen Sal’s Bardo Journey: Uza Rinchen Sal’s extraordinary journey through the bardo is a powerful reminder for all of us to engage our body, speech, and mind in virtuous acts. Her experience reveals how, in the transitional states beyond death,
beings yearn deeply for the sound of the three essential mantras and send messages to their living relatives asking for virtuous deeds to be performed on their behalf. Through her story, we are inspired to practice compassion, accumulate merit, and
dedicate our actions for the benefit of all beings—now, when we have the precious opportunity.

Retreat teachings and practices will be taught in English.
Live translation will be available in Spanish and Portuguese.
Written translations will be available in Spanish and Portuguese.

REGISTRATION:
Complete payment below. After payment is complete, you will receive an email with links to the Zoom Registration and the Handouts. All recordings will be made available to registered participants after the retreat is over at the same link as the Handouts.
This Registration is for BOTH weekends (Oct 11-12 AND Nov 8-9)
Financial hardship need not prevent practitioners from attending Zoom teachings. If you need assistance, please inquire about available scholarships by emailing info@ligminchatexas.org. This must be done at least 1 week prior to the retreat.
We have switched to using Zeffy. This allows us to keep 100% of your donations and registrations, as Zeffy does not charge us any payment processing fees. They do, however, ask you to make a donation to them. If you would prefer not to donate to Zeffy, in the Donation Box at the bottom, select “Other” from the Drop Down Box that is prefilled with a percentage and dollar amount , and leave the Contribution Box empty.

Sangmo Yangri, Ph.D., is a scholar, teacher, and translator. She is the first Tibetan woman to receive a Ph.D. in Tibetan Bön philosophical studies. A recipient of the Jwaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund grant. She won the Prime Minister’s Award from the
Tibetan Government in Exile in India in 2013.
She has translated two books from Tibetan to English. Escape from Darkness: The Spiritual Journey of the Buddha’s Daughter Shenza Nechung and The Lamp of Uza Rinchen Sal: Illuminating the Illusory Vision of the Bardo, the Purifying Period of the
Karmic Vision of the Six Lokas, and a Pure Vision of the Sugatas.
