General Questions | Membership | Yantra Yoga | Vajra Dance | Retreats at Kunselling

General Questions

I am interested in the Dzogchen Community, what do I have to do to connect with you? 
Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your postal address so that she can post you an information pack about the Dzogchen Community UK. Please read through the material and if you then have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact her again. There is also much useful information on this website.

Do I need to have completed my Ngondro before practising Dzogchen?
No, this is not necessary. To practice Dzogchen on must receive Direct Introduction from a qualified Master. This is the main requirement. If you are interested in receiving direct introduction and wish to find out more, Click Here.

Can you recommend any books on Dzogchen?
There is a very good selection of books about Dzogchen in the Shang Shung Institute UK webshop: www.shangshunguk.org. One of the best introductory texts is 'Dzogchen: The Self Perfected State' by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu

Membership

I met Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and received transmission. I would like to join the UK Dzogchen Community. What shall I do?
First of all please familiarise yourself with the types of membership (for information about types of membership, discounts and benefits please click here) and choose the one which best meets your needs for details Click Here

You will need to decide how you would like to pay your subscription. There are two options at the moment: payment monthly or annually via standing order or payment annually via cheque. To pay via standing order you need to fill in bankers order  - please remember to write down full address of your bank with a post code. The forms and, if you choose this option, a cheque payable to the UK Dzogchen Community need to be posted to the membership secretary. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to receive a your membership forms.  

I received transmission via webcast. I would like to join the UK Dzogchen Community. What shall I do?
Please see above

I am interested in Buddhism and I met a few Buddhist masters. I am interested in Dzogchen and would like to become a member of the Dzogchen Community. What shall I do?
First please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to obtain information about the Dzogchen Community and how you can receive transmission from Chogyal Namkhai Norbu. Then follow the advice above.

 I was a member of the Dzogchen Community in the past. I would like to renew my membership now. What shall I do?
Please contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Stephanie Mulholland) who will be able to advise whether your details are stored in our database. If so, you need to confirm or update your details via email, pay subscription via standing order or cheque and your name will be added to the membership list. If we do not have your details, you will be asked to follow as advised above.

I paid for my membership last year. I would like to renew my membership for this calendar year. What shall I do?
You need to decide how you would like to pay your subscription for this year. There are two options at the moment: payment monthly or annually via standing order or payment annually via cheque. To pay via standing order you need to fill in bankers order (click here)  - please remember to write down full address of your bank with a post code. The form and, if you choose this option, a cheque payable to the UK Dzogchen Community need to be posted to the membership secretary. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to be provided with the address.  

I was paying for my membership via standing order. I do not know how it happened but my monthly payment was cancelled. I would like to start to pay again via standing order. What shall I do?
Please contact the membership secretary to inform him that you would like to renew your membership This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If your details are stored in our database you need to confirm or update your details via email, fill in the bankers order (click here) or ask the membership secretary to post it to you. The filled in form needs to be sent back to the address advised by the membership secretary.  Your name will be added to the membership list. If we do not have your details, you will be asked to follow as advised above.

I forgot my membership number. What shall I do?
Please contact the membership secretary This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and he will let you know your number providing you are an existing member of the UK Dzogchen Community.

I would like to change a type of membership (eg. from KSL package to sustaining) and I pay monthly via standing order. What shall I do?
Please check the difference between the current payment for your subscription and the one you would like to pay. Inform your bank about the change in the existing standing order and continue your monthly payments. If you want to set up a new standing order you can do so but remember to cancel the previous one to avoid paying twice for you membership. Please inform the membership secretary about any changes to allow updating the membership list.

I joined the Dzogchen Community in other country. I have just moved to the UK. Do I need to transfer my membership to the UK?
You are very welcome to do so but it is your choice whether you would like to continue paying your membership in the other country or transfer it to the UK. If you wish to transfer please see advice in the first point above.
If you wish to continue paying in the other country you may want to ask the Gakyil where you pay the subscription to provide you with the evidence of your membership.

I pay for my membership in Merigar (or other gar or ling). Do I need to pay for the membership in the UK too?
No, you pay the subscription in one place only. If you wish to pay in both places you need to choose where you want to pay for your membership and where your payment has a form of donation.

I am aware that other members of the Community have a plastic membership card confirming their membership. I joined the Community but I did not get the card. Do I need the card? How can I obtain the card?
There are members who received a card and there are those you did not. There is no rule to it. You do not need the membership card, your membership status is checked on regular basis before you wish to take part in teachings and retreats.
If you wish to have a card you need to contact directly Merigar office This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

I would like to cancel/transfer (to another country) my membership. What shall I do?
Please inform the membership secretary that you wish to cancel or transfer your membership providing him with the exact date you wish to do so.
Your name will be removed from the Dzogchen Community UK membership list and Merigar office will be informed.
Please remember to cancel your payment with your bank if you pay your subscription via standing order.

Yantra Yoga

I am just recovering from an accident and have done therapy physiotherapy etc and feel that Yantra Yoga maybe helpful. Is this the case?
Generally Yantra Yoga should be very helpful, providing you make any health problems known to the teacher before you start. Then, appropriate advice regarding modifying or avoiding certain movements would be given. To be totally sure you should always ask your doctor/ health professional if you are worried about this.

Many people who come to Yantra Yoga classes have had injuries in the past. When we start to move the body into strange new positions we often feel pain that may relate to this injury or strain in the muscles or joints. The possible benefit of Yantra Yoga depends on many factors like how long the problem has existed, the severity of it, ones age, and general health and fitness levels.

I am nearly 60 and never done much exercise, I am quite stiff but I want to be able to meditate and not feel pain after sitting for 3 minutes, how would Yantra Yoga help?
Most yoga exercises that involve warm ups, mobilizing the joints, and stretching would be helpful for this concern, Yantra Yoga incorporates all of these and a lot more.

If you make your concerns known to the teacher, you will be given specific exercises to focus on, these will help your condition, and advice about correct posture for meditation is considered very important in Yantra Yoga.

A Tibetan Doctor suggested that I have an ‘rlung’ imbalance (also called Vata in Ayuvedic medicine) and that doing some Tibetan Yoga may help. Is this the case?
This is a common problem in the west and Yantra Yoga is very helpful for this type of problem. The movements in Yantra Yoga are strongly associated with breathing and have very specific functions that coordinate and balance ones Prana energy. Learning how to breathe correctly and fully in a relaxed way is very beneficial for this kind of disorder.

I practice and teach Yoga. Can I use Yantra Yoga techniques with my classes?
No, this is not encouraged at all. It is very fashionable these days to mix everything up and make new and interesting combinations. For a ‘career Yogi’, adding these methods to keep students interested it is very tempting. What needs to be understood and respected is that the linage of Yantra Yoga is unbroken to this day and has not been changed or modified since its inception. Because of this, we can be sure that when we practice Yantra Yoga, the result or outcome is consistent and reliable. Practicing Yantra Yoga at more advanced levels leads to the state of contemplation as understood in the Dzogchen teachings. If we try to change or modify the system in any way then there is no guarantee that one can achieve this aim.

Do I need to become a member of the Dzogchen Community before I study Yantra Yoga?
It is not necessary to become a member of the Dzogchen Community in order to learn the basics of Yantra Yoga. This is open to everyone. If however you become interested in the Dzogchen Teachings and wish to practice more advanced elements of Yantra Yoga then it is necessary to receive transmission from the Master and to become a member of the Dzogchen Community.

I practice a lot yoga do I still need to come to a course for beginners?
Yantra Yoga is very different to most styles of Yoga. If you have a lot of previous experience, it will be easier for you to learn the basic movements but we all have habits, especially if we are used practicing certain positions in a certain way, or breathing in a specific way. In Yantra Yoga, a key focus for new people is learning through experience the different components of breathing, occurring naturally and integrated with the movements. For this reason, it is important to learn correctly from the beginning.

I have asthma and find it difficult to breathe, would Yantra Yoga be helpful for this?
Yes, conditions like asthma can be helped very much. Learning how to breathe correctly and develop breathing function and capacity is a major outcome of practicing Yantra Yoga.

I have read that it is important to receive transmission especially if one wants to practice more advanced Yantra Yoga, what is transmission?
In the Buddhist teachings, particularly in the Vajrayana and Dzogchen traditions, it is understood that it is not possible to enter the knowledge of our real nature through words and explanations alone. Real wisdom and understanding arises through direct experiences that leave one beyond doubt as to what this real nature is.

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu often uses the example of a sweet. If someone who has never tasted something sweet before asks you what sweetness is like, how can you possibly explain using words what sweetness is? You can say things like ‘it is not sour, not bitter’ etc but nothing that you say will actually give the person a direct experience of what sweetness is. If you give this person a sweet and they taste it, then they understand it directly and there is nothing more to say.

The principle of transmission works on the basis that a qualified teacher has the capacity to transmit knowledge of the real nature of the individual using specific methods. The person receiving the transmission participates with the teacher and then has the possibility to discover this knowledge directly for him or herself. If you would like to know more, or are interested in receiving transmission, please Click Here.

I find most yoga difficult to do. I am actually more interested in learning Pranayama and Kumbhaka?
Pranayama and Kumbhaka is considered to be a more advanced aspect of Yoga. In the Tibetan Buddhist and Dzogchen traditions it has the classification of being more reserved or secret because is connected with transmission and working more with the mind and Prana energy, Yantra yoga is specifically designed to lead to this in a safe and progressive way.

However, if someone has physical limitations or is old or stiff and finds Yantra yoga hard and difficult, or perhaps just wants to focus more on pranayama practices, then there are special courses designed for this need. Please contact John Renshaw for more information This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

I am a student and have little money but I am very interested in learning Yantra Yoga are there concessions for people in my position?
Yes, of course. The way to do this is to contact the course organiser and explain your situation and come to a suitable arrangement.

What are the pre-requisites for practicing Yantra Yoga?
Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

Wait two to three hours after a main meal or one and a half hours after a snack, before starting practice.

Wait 20 minutes after practice before taking food.

Personal health problems and Yantra Yoga:
Consult your doctor or health professional before starting practice if you have either:

a/ a diagnosed health condition or

b/ a pre-or post-operative condition

Let your yoga teacher know about any health concerns, i.e. high blood pressure, back problems, pregnancy, arthritis etc. Also inform the teacher of any changes in your personal health.

What are the basic principles I should be aware of before practicing Yantra Yoga?
Move with awareness of your condition. Never rush, force or strain. Practice with ease and gracefulness. Stop and rest whenever necessary.

Vajra Dance

What is the Vajra Dance?
In the Dzogchen Teaching sound and movement are very important because they are the means to integrate oneself into the state of contemplation. The Vajra Dance is principally a practice to harmonize the energy of the individual. If one has a more profound knowledge of the meaning of the Dance, it becomes a method for integrating the three existences of body, voice and mind into the knowledge of the state of contemplation. This integration is one of the most important aims of a Dzogchen practitioner.

Who can learn the Vajra Dance?
The Dance of the Song of the Vajra and the Dance of the Three Vajras can be learned only by those who have transmission from Chogyal Namkai Norbu. The Dance of the Liberation of the Six Lokas can be learned by anyone with a genuine interest in the teachings.

How can I learn the Vajra Dance in the UK?
Courses are held in each year in the UK in London and Kunselling, our retreat centre in Wales. For details of upcoming Vajra Dance events Click Here.

Retreats at Kunselling

Do I need transmission to come to a Retreat?
With the exception of Karma Yoga retreats, you need to have received transmission in order to attend retreats or have a serious intention to receive transmission as soon as you possibly can.

How do I get to Kunselling?
In order to get directions to Kunselling you need to email Nick Segust and request directions This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it You will also be able to ask him any other questions that you may have.

Can I bring my children with me?
If your children are old enough not to need supervision while you are working then it might be possible to bring them, but please check with the organiser in advance.

Where will I sleep?
Kunselling mostly has shared bedroom accommodation, either two or three people to a room, and one double bedroom for a couple.  Rooms are allocated on a first come first served and same gender to a room basis. Camping space is also available.

Do I have to bring bedding and towels to Kunselling?
Our beds and mattresses are all in good to excellent condition.  Duvets and pillows are provided.  If you are coming by car we ask you to bring your own sheets, pillow cases and towels as it helps us to cut laundry costs and it means you can leave at the end of the retreat more easily too, without having to wash your linen.  If you are coming by public transport or sharing a lift then you can use the sheets, pillow cases and towels we have at Kunselling but we request that you launder them before you leave the retreat.

Will I be warm on retreat?
People who have not been to Kunselling before are concerned that they will be warm and comfortable.  Kunselling is neither a cave nor a big old house without heating!  Kunselling consists of a farmhouse, a meditation hall, and four retreat cabins.  All are centrally heated.

I don't have much time, can I come for part of the retreat?
In general, yes you can. If you wish to do this then please consult with the retreat organiser.

Are any practice texts available at Kunselling?
We try to maintain a basic bookshop for essential practices. Shang Shung publications – who publish our Master's books – do NOT allow us to photocopy practice texts when they are available for purchase, so please either bring your own practice books or be prepared to buy them at Kunselling.

Will anyone else be there when i do a personal retreat?
Possibly. It depends if anyone else has booked in for a personal retreat at the same time.

Are there any shops nearby so that i can buy groceries?
For this, you will need access to a car. The nearest shop is 5 miles away and nearest town 8 miles away. It is possible to order supplies online through supermarket websites.

I would like to do a dark retreat. Is it possible for someone to feed me?
Yes but this is something that you need to arrange for yourself with a fellow retreatant.

What is Karma Yoga?
Karma Yoga is the practice of giving our time and energy to keeping our community going.  A Karma Yoga retreat means working on our Retreat Centre, Kunselling, to maintain, clean and tidy it; and also to improve it when our budget allows.  Without a commitment by community members  to work on Kunselling the UK Dzogchen Community would not be able to keep a retreat centre going at all.  There are three Karma Yoga retreats each year, Spring, Summer, and Autumn.

What should I bring to a Karma Yoga Retreat?
You should bring:
Clothes:    Warm, old, work clothes; waterproofs and wellingtons are a must in Winter, and sometimes in Summer too!  Hats and tough old shoes or boots are needed too.  Wales is well known for its wet climate, and Kunselling is also on top of a hill where the winds can blow very cold.
A torch or flashlight; some areas of Kunselling are not lit at night.
Tools; if you have any gardening, maintenance or decorating tools that you like to use, check with the Karma Yoga organiser to see if it would be helpful to bring them.  Otherwise we have all tools necessary for a work retreat.
Any personal items you need.  Kunselling is 7 miles from the nearest town and all shopping trips need to be organised in advance.

How much does accommodation cost on a Karma Yoga Retreat?
Accommodation is FREE on Karma Yoga retreats!

How much will I have to pay for food and drink on a Karma Yoga Retreat?
All food and non-alcoholic drink is provided FREE on Karma Yoga (KY) retreats!
Also it is fine to bring and share wine to have with dinner (evening meal) on KY retreats.  However, when food and wine are provided as part of a Ganapuja practice, you will be expected to make a contribution to the total cost – Ganapuja is an offering and so cannot be considered as part of the catering cost of the retreat.

What about people with special diets?
All cooking on retreat is done by volunteer community members who may or may not have a great deal of catering experience.  We can accommodate vegetarians and possibly some 'free from' diets, such as a gluten free diet for example, if  - AND ONLY IF - we are informed in advance.  However, we cannot cater for more specialised diets and request that you bring the food items you need for yourself with you when you come to the retreat.

Can I check my email on retreat and phone my friends and family?
Yes you can.  Kunselling has broadband but we restrict its use on retreat to the Office, before or after the days' activities.  We do not allow surfing the net for entertainment, but checking email or searching for bus or train timetables is acceptable.  A landline payphone is available at Kunselling, but this can be quite expensive.  Mobile phone use is acceptable outside of formal practice sessions but the signal is not good, with Orange providing the best reception.  At all times you must remember that even though we are working and enjoying ourselves it is still important to maintain a retreat environment.http://www.dzogchencommunity.org/activities-events/direct-transmission.html