Pharping, Nepal
On the afternoon of October 10th, 2025, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche reached the Asura Cave in Nepal for yet another drupchen. Upon arrival at the cave, he spoke to the small group of monks who had…
Read morePublished on 22nd of November 2025
India
On 31 December 2019, on the eve of an extended pilgrimage to some of the most sacred sites associated with the Buddha, OT Rinpoche gave the following address to his monks.
Read morePublished on 25th of July 2025
Bir, India
In response to a message from Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche wished to make the following clarification about the circumstances that led up to Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö’s possessions being transported from Sikkim…
Read morePublished on 9th of June 2025
Dharma Mati, Berlin, Germany
During the drupchen of Kurukulla at the Dharma Mati centre in Berlin, in October 2024, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche was in an unusually reflective and talkative mood, pausing the practice almost every day to share teachings…
Read morePublished on 21st of April 2025
Cool Grove Charnel Ground, Bihar, India
On 30 December 2019, Rinpoche took his monks on the one hour journey from Bodhgaya to the Cool Grove Charnel Ground. First Rinpoche explained to them why charnel grounds are so important for tantric practitioners.…
Read morePublished on 3rd of December 2024
Lerab Ling, France
In August 2013, Rinpoche explained the drupchen section of the Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo. He spoke briefly about the background of drupchen practice. He also clarified the unique features that sets it apart from other practices,…
Read morePublished on 7th of September 2024
London, United Kingdom
Rinpoche taught on the famous prayer to Guru Rinpoche called Barché Lamsel, The Prayer Which Removes All Obstacles from the Path, at the request of Rigpa London. He taught in two sessions, one in the…
Read morePublished on 19th of August 2024
Cock’s Foot Peak, Bihar, India
On 29 December 2020, Rinpoche took his monks from Bodhgaya to nearby Cock’s Foot Peak. There, he explained its background for – as he says at the end of the teaching, when advising on the…
Read morePublished on 10th of July 2024
Lerab Ling, France
After his last teaching on Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, Rinpoche gave a concise presentation of the Nyingtik Yabshi. Yangthang Rinpoche was coming to Lerab Ling to give the Nyingtik initiations, so Sogyal Rinpoche was keen that…
Read morePublished on 24th of April 2024
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
During a short visit to the Netherlands, Rinpoche was invited to teach one evening on the Vajrayana tradition, specifically—what are the unique qualities of this path? how does it relate to the other Buddhist vehicles?…
Read morePublished on 31st of December 2023
Dharma Mati, Berlin, Germany
At the end of his stay at Dharma Mati, Berlin, OT Rinpoche shared the following parting advice, inspired by his earlier visit to the glittering KaDeWe department store in the centre of town. OT Rinpoche…
Read morePublished on 3rd of December 2023
Sukhavati Care Cetnre, Germany
Published on 3rd of March 2023
Kushinagar, India
The teaching that follows took place during a pilgrimage of the sacred Buddhist sites in India, at the point when the group had just reached Kushinagar, the place of Buddha’s parinirvana. Inspired by the immense…
Read morePublished on 2nd of July 2022
Sukhavati, Baad Sarow, Germany
During his week-long visit to Sukhavati care centre in the summer of 2018, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche was requested to speak about the bardos (transitional states) which are a unique feature of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings.…
Read morePublished on 21st of May 2022
Netik Phurba Drupchen, Lerab Ling, France
Seeing hundreds of westerners clapping their hands every day during the averting practice known as dokpa, while performing a Netik Phurba Drupchen in Lerab Ling, Rinpoche, always attentive that practices are accomplished properly, thought it…
Read morePublished on 24th of February 2022
Sri Pada, Sri Lanka
Despite the pandemic and all its restrictions, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and his monks were able to successfully hold a series of drupchens at the holy sites of India towards the end of 2021. Continuing this…
Read morePublished on 13th of January 2022
Bir, India
The Nyaluk Phurba is a treasure teaching revealed by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Each year Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche practice the drupchen of this terma with his monks at his monastery, in Bir, India. During the drupchen,…
Read morePublished on 13th of December 2021
Bir, India
At the end of a Vajrakilaya drupchen at Tsering Jong, in Bir, in which the practitioners combined three Vajrakilaya practices as Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche explains in this teaching, Rinpoche gave the traditional talk before the…
Read morePublished on 30th of November 2021
Bir, India
This talk was given by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche a few days in a Rangjung Pema Nyingtik drupchen that he was performing with his lamas and monks to celebrate the birth of Guru Rinpoche in July…
Read morePublished on 17th of October 2021
Bir, India
In October 2020, at the end of the Nyaluk Phurba drupchen that he holds every year at Tsering Jong, his home in Bir, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche thanked his monks and explained to them why he…
Read morePublished on 19th of September 2021
Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche strongly recommends this text for those who wish to deepen their understanding of sur practice. In the text, Patrul Rinpoche describes in precise and graphic detail all the different types of guest…
Read morePublished on 29th of July 2021
Lerab Ling, France
While teaching the Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, as he explained the section on the paramita of generosity, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche felt it was important to relate it more closely to western people, and he gave this…
Read morePublished on 10th of July 2021
Dzogchen Beara, Ireland
Recently, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche have asked as many practitioners as possible to offer sur practice to repay the karmic debts that are an important cause of the alarming spread of covid…
Read morePublished on 6th of July 2021
Bodhgaya, India
After Sogyal Rinpoche’s passing, the Rigpa sangha gathered with Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and his monks at Bodhgaya, the most important and powerful Buddhist sacred place, and brought the kudung of Sogyal Rinpoche. Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche…
Read morePublished on 19th of May 2020
Yangleshö, Nepal
Late one night, Rinpoche paused as he walked past the upper cave at Yangleshö, sat down at the entrance of the cave to say some prayers and then, to inspire modern pilgrims, spontaneously began to…
Read morePublished on 29th of May 2018
Brussels, Belgium
During one of Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche’s visits to Antwerp, some of his Brussels-based friends asked Brussels Rigpa if they could use the centre for a day-long tsok practice. Naturally, the Brussels Sangha were delighted and…
Read morePublished on 14th of February 2018
Lerab Ling, France
During a Pema Khandro drupchen at Lerab Ling, having tirelessly illuminated more than fifteen annual drupchens with practice advice, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche decided it was time to point out where western Vajrayana practitioners fall short.
Read morePublished on 3rd of January 2018
Lerab Ling, France
Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche is, and always has been, a great patron of the Buddhist arts. Of course, these days, it’s become fashionable either to invest large sums of money in antique, historical artefacts, or to…
Read morePublished on 7th of December 2017
New Delhi, India
I was asked to comment on Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche’s Short Practice of Sengé Dongma. It is a practice for averting obstacles associated with Sengé Dongma. I don’t have anything special to say about this particular…
Read morePublished on 7th of November 2017
Lerab Ling, France
One hot summer’s evening during a Vajrakilaya drupchen at Lerab Ling, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche spoke about both Vajrakilaya and how to apply the basic principles of kyerim to Vajrakilaya practice. Sogyal Rinpoche was present and…
Read morePublished on 10th of October 2017
Lerab Ling, France
One sunny, summer morning in Lerab Ling, Rinpoche – who was, as always, intent on remaining absolutely faithful to the practice methods of the great masters of the past – read the prescribed section of…
Read morePublished on 7th of October 2017
Lerab Ling, France
During a private interview in Lerab Ling, Rinpoche was asked about the eight great bodhisattvas who are also known as the ‘eight close sons’ of the Buddha. “We know that a book by Mipham Rinpoche…
Read morePublished on 28th of August 2017
Paris, France
Rinpoche who was in Paris on his way to India, was requested to go the Rigpa centre there to teach on the Tendrel Nyesel. Even though Rinpoche is not particularly familiar with this particular terma,…
Read morePublished on 20th of August 2017
Courbevoie, France
Rinpoche recorded this explanation himself during a visit to Paris after Sogyal Rinpoche requested the teaching for a group of practitioners who had gathered in Lerab Ling.
Read morePublished on 23rd of July 2017
Rigpa Centre, Berlin, Germany
In May 2009, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche returned to Berlin. During his visit, Rinpoche was touched by the sheer number of people who died there in 1945, and felt it is important to practise for all…
Read morePublished on 21st of July 2017
Lerab Ling, France
An hour after his customary daily “pep talk” during a Chime Phakmé Nyingtik drupchen, Rinpoche seized the opportunity to point out to all the practitioners gathered in Lerab Ling’s majestic temple – Palri Pema Ösel…
Read morePublished on 17th of July 2017
Lerab Ling, France
One evening during a Padma Khandro drupchen in Lerab Ling, Rinpoche gave this rare and exceptional explanation of the Wangdu prayer, which, he told us, he had received from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche more than fifty…
Read morePublished on 8th of July 2017
Bir, India
In The Life and Times of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche describes how Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche burst into his house in Bir “like a whirlwind” and demanded to be told all the stories…
Read morePublished on 27th of June 2017
Lerab Ling, France
First thing in the morning on the day we were to celebrate Buddha’s descent from Tushita heaven where he had been teaching his mother – Lha bab duchen in the Tibetan tradition – Rinpoche decided…
Read morePublished on 11th of May 2017
Lerab Ling, France
In this teaching, given at the beginning of the third Padma Khandro intensive group practice in Lerab Ling, Rinpoche explains where magnetizing activity fit within the Buddhist path, and shows its basic principles, and how…
Read morePublished on 13th of April 2017
Lerab Ling, France
Still on the hill that dominates Lerab Ling offering sang, Rinpoche continues his teaching. After presenting the main principles of sang, he now gives a concise and clear explanation of “wind horse”, or lungta in…
Read morePublished on 28th of March 2017
Hilltop, Lerab Ling, France
On a sunny summer morning in South France, faithful to a Lerab Ling tradition to offer an elaborate sang when the weather is clear, on top of the hill that overlooks the Pyrenees 300km south,…
Read morePublished on 23rd of March 2017
Lerab Ling, France
As was a custom in Lerab Ling, everyone would gather on the highest hill and offer sang. It was a glorious summer morning, and Rinpoche used the opportunity to present the main principles of sang…
Read morePublished on 19th of March 2017
California, USA
During a visit to California in July 2002, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche gave a short teaching on the sadhana of the Dakini Guhyajnana from the Treasure Vase of Profound Instructions. This sadhana, which is a terma…
Read morePublished on 21st of November 2016
Lerab Ling, France
During a Chime Phakme Nyingtik drupchen, Lerab Ling’s chant master, head chopon and few other enthusiastic practitioners took advantage of a pee-break to try to extract information from Rinpoche about the Longchen Nyingtik ritual tradition.…
Read morePublished on 27th of October 2016
Shravasti, India
In March 2015, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche went yet again on pilgrimage around some of the most important sacred sites of India; only this time as a facilitator for Sogyal Rinpoche and a group of Rigpa…
Read morePublished on 25th of May 2016
Lerab Ling, France
Late one evening, in the old stone building in Lerab Ling that had been transformed, almost magically, into a Tibetan shrine, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche gave Rigpa students some advice about how to perform ceremonies. He…
Read morePublished on 29th of April 2016
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Rinpoche was in Paris, his favourite city, with nothing to do for a few days, when suddenly he announced he wanted to take the train to Antwerp. Once we’d arrived in Antwerp he told us…
Read morePublished on 2nd of April 2016
Shravasti, India
For the last practice on a pilgrimage that had taken us to Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, and finally Shravasti, we gathered on a lawn behind the ruins of the house where Buddha Shakyamuni had spent many…
Read morePublished on 3rd of September 2015
Lerab Ling, France
During drupchens, it’s Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche’s habit to give one teaching every day. He always follows the customary instructions for conducting drupchens, and usually addresses specific topics that will help participants practise as meaningful as…
Read morePublished on 22nd of August 2015
Boudha, Khatmandu, Nepal
In a house opposite Shechen Monastery in Bauda, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and his wife were sleeping peacefully when an emissary from Rigpa arrived to ask questions about how to do a ‘one hundred thousand tsok…
Read morePublished on 12th of August 2015
Paris, France
Would you tell us a bit about Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse? ‘Dzongsar’ is the name of a Sakyapa monastery in Kham, and ‘Khyentse’ was a monk at this monastery who became a lama. For generations, members…
Read morePublished on 26th of July 2015
Lerab Ling, France
Direct Pointing-out Instruction to an Old Lady Stages of the Path Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche gave this teaching on the morning of 24 September 2014, at the end of the annual Chime Phakma Nyingtik drupchen in…
Read morePublished on 17th of July 2015
A private teaching
Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche has an indefatigable interest in all things Dharma, especially anything to do with the Nyingmapas. And amongst the vast body of teachings called the Ngagyur Nyingma, the fabulous tales and wisdom associated…
Read morePublished on 2nd of July 2015
Under the Bodhi Tree, Bodhgaya, Bihar, India
During the latter part of 2014, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche organized drupchens in both Lerab Ling and Bir before making his way to Bodhgaya in December. Quite by chance, under the Bodhi Tree he bumped into…
Read morePublished on 31st of May 2015
Carmel Beach, Israel
Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche’s Trip to Israel, 19-25 July 2011 Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche has always been fascinated by history, especially the history of religion. So, from the moment he heard about Jerusalem and how sacred it…
Read morePublished on 26th of May 2015