James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings

James Low
  • 4.8 (18)
  • Buddhism

James Low is a disciple and teacher in the Byangter and Khordong lineages of the late Chhimed Rigdzin Lama. James regularly teaches the principles of dzogchen Buddhism in Europe and he publishes translations and commentaries from time to time. Many of his seminars have been recorded and transcribed. They are now being put on his website to provide access for those seeking to deepen their dharma understanding and explore how to apply it in the complexities of everyday life. Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/events/

  1. 21h ago

    Dissolving Obscurations in the Innate Openness of Presence. [EN-PL] Wilga 05.2026

    Dissolving Obscurations in the Innate Openness of Presence A Dzogchen retreat with James Low in Wilga, Poland, held May 21–24, 2026. The teachings were given with Polish translation. "From the point of view of dzogchen, collaboration and participation are much more important than dominance and control. That is to say, we relax and find ourselves within the field of our participation. The world reveals itself as we reveal ourselves – nothing is fixed and everything moves together. The field of experience is responsive yet will always slip out of our attempts at total control. The one who wants control is the one who is already in duality." ~ James Low Credits Polish translation: Bartek Czajkowski Camera: Olaf Brockmann Retreat organised by Olga Maj, Jagoda Tobota, Konrad Świtała and Robert Hnat Links Retreat event page Audio recordings of this retreat Podcasts of some teachings Future events Instagram of excerpts Watch the original video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0tOnuUhFdg Chapters 00:00 Why are we here? Reflecting on intention and Dzogchen as freedom 07:31 Thoughts, mind and the search for the thinker 18:17 Choices, habitual formations and the limited field of knowing 29:03 Hierarchies of meaning and the ego as interpretive system 36:19 Buddha's four sights and the eight worldly concerns 45:57 Buddha's six years of striving and awakening under the tree 1:02:56 Arising and dissolving of appearances; non-artificial presence 1:14:26 Buddha's awakening, emptiness and dependent origination 1:23:23 Gradual teachings, Buddha as doctor and trusting thoughts 1:37:48 Language, names and constancy as constructed 1:52:13 Situational nature of experience: water and ice example 1:57:44 Perceiving others in public space versus objectifying them 2:07:58 Naming, defining and shifting identity in samsara 2:16:53 Airport in Warsaw: experience as projection, not a thing 2:23:57 Am I a thing? Definitions received from education 2:29:09 Refuge and the bodhisattva vow to help all beings 2:35:50 Judging others and turning variety into hierarchy 2:47:58 Seven-line prayer and indebtedness to all beings 2:56:10 Light dissolving body, speech and mind into the ball of light 3:07:55 Why we rely on the guru: dissolution of subject and object 3:17:19 Mind as it is: cataract and lamp examples 3:28:13 Properties of the base; presence versus consciousness 3:36:04 Self-arising presence is free from concepts: the tea example 4:09:41 Origin of delusion: lack of presence of the base 4:16:26 Lack of presence and the dissolution practice into light 4:25:36 Water and ice: fixation and the sense of a separate self 4:39:30 Primordial trauma and forgetting the source 4:45:52 Practising from vulnerability: Padma light and dissolving 4:58:07 Absorbing the meaning of the text into oneself 5:07:56 First obscuration: the five poisons 5:13:05 Second obscuration: conceptual knowing 5:23:15 Invasion and abandonment, opacity and the separate self 5:29:09 Freedom of choice and the ego's need for privacy 5:39:37 Co-emergent presence and co-emergent ignorance 5:52:59 Naming and labelling as an act of power 6:03:44 Six realms of samsara and karma as a trace

    Dissolving Obscurations in the Innate Openness of Presence. [EN-PL] Wilga 05.2026

  2. 22h ago

    The Illusion of Perception

    The Illusion of Perception A teaching by James Low on Dzogchen and Tibetan Buddhism, given to a practising audience. This episode is an extract from the longer teaching "Wisdom and Compassion", given in Macclesfield in March 2025. You can watch the full teaching here: https://youtu.be/jtjlM1CYuN4 Watch the original video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38Qp3DnR4QY Chapters 00:00 Phenomena arise and pass: we see light, not the wall 03:24 Hearing sound: we organize it through our templates

    The Illusion of Perception

  3. 6d ago

    The Integration of Stillness and Movement: the approach of different buddhist paths. Eifel 10.2001

    October 2001. James Low teaches on "The Integration of Stillness and Movement: the approach of different buddhist paths" at Kamalashila Institute in the Eifel region of Germany. "Most of us who have been involved with buddhism for some time will have reflected a lot on impermanence, but it is never something to treat lightly. It is the royal road to an understanding of stillness and movement." ~ James Low Contents: Stillness and movement The Four Basic Reflections: back to basics Precious human birth Impermanence and death Karma Ice or water, depending on the conditions Going it alone Samsara: banging into things Taking refuge Resources: Transcription on Dang-wa, Rol-Pa and Tsal Transcription on the four basic reflections and refuge Full transcript Audio recording Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5IOUHAwWvw Chapters 00:00 Observing the mind and its movements 10:34 Precious human birth 18:27 Fragmentation of self and the creation of karma 29:13 Death and the continuation of awareness 34:16 Samsara and fluidity: ice and water as metaphor 43:22 Purification as preparation for death 59:20 Balancing energy through diet and daily habits 1:10:55 Betraying the Buddha nature in ordinary experience 1:17:16 Phenomenology of existence versus the stories we tell 1:23:34 The need to relax in practice 1:31:30 Space as the ground of all elements 1:37:09 Relaxing into space versus wind 1:44:23 Machig Labdrön practice: structure and purpose 1:51:02 The necessity of devotion in tantra 1:56:56 Recognizing awareness free of subject and object 2:29:45 Questions and housekeeping 2:34:58 Articulating the process of becoming caught in thought 2:41:31 Thought as ornament: the dharmakaya to sambhogakaya 2:49:53 The ego eats thought 3:02:56 Using deity practice to transform samsaric identity 3:09:13 Samaya: the commitment to maintain practice 3:23:19 The meaning of great happiness (dewa) in tantra 3:30:15 Pure vision and the recognition of fault in Dzogchen 3:39:53 Recognizing one's own nature (ngo rang drol) 3:49:09 The mind is not conditioned by human existence 3:55:45 Investigating how we create our own entanglement 4:09:25 Commitment in tantra versus flexibility in Dzogchen 4:15:30 Distinguishing sacred practice from superstition 4:20:10 The three statements of Garab Dorje 4:35:19 Chöd: the practice of cutting attachment 4:43:23 Cutting attachment to the body in meditation 4:49:37 The visualization of offering the body 4:55:44 The dharmakaya visualization in Chöd 5:01:58 Clarifying the view: beyond thought and expression 5:16:26 Working with fear in meditation 5:22:15 Walking meditation: mindfulness and presence 5:35:51 The Eight Consciousnesses and the Root of Ignorance 5:42:30 Practicing Purification Without Judging What Arises 5:51:46 Lhundrup and rangdrol: instant arising and self-liberation 5:59:47 Receiving Compliments and Insults Without Losing Awareness 6:04:48 Dang, Rolpa and Tsal: The Three Modes of Energy 6:11:52 Tsal: particularities of manifestation and the crystal 6:18:33 Spontaneous activity and leaving no trace 6:30:20 Practicing when tired as preparation for death

    The Integration of Stillness and Movement: the approach of different buddhist paths. Eifel 10.2001

  4. Sep 20

    Emptiness and dzogchen: the song of the cuckoo. [EN-ES] Granada 10.2014

    Teachings by James Low in Granada, Spain, on "Emptiness and Dzogchen," based on Vairocana's text "The Song of the Cuckoo" (31 October - 02 November 2014). Original audio in English with consecutive Spanish translation by Juan B. García Lázaro. "Dzogchen is concerned with knowing your own nature. There are many different paths in Buddhism and gradually they became organised into different styles or families. Some are gradual, others less so, but generally it is a matter of knowing what suits you best." ~ James Low Full audio recordings available at: https://simplybeing.co.uk/audio-recordings/year/audio2014/emptiness-and-dzogchen-granada-2014/ Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow Podcasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/ Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/ Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMiuPdVZUsA Chapters 00:00 Session 1 • October 31, 2014 1:25:00 Session 2 • October 31, 2014 2:23:40 Session 3 • November 1st, 2014 3:45:11 Session 4 • November 1st, 2014 5:14:35 Session 5 • November 1st, 2014 6:39:05 Session 6 • November 1nd, 2014 7:48:49 Session 7 • November 2nd, 2014 8:30:12 Session 8 • November 2nd, 2014 9:05:35 Session 9 • November 2nd, 2014

    Emptiness and dzogchen: the song of the cuckoo. [EN-ES] Granada 10.2014

  5. Sep 18

    Patience and non-duality. [EN-RO] Zoom 05.2026

    In this teaching from May 9th, 2026, James Low explores patience and non-duality as a means to avoid reactivity to provocations. This session was delivered via Zoom with Romanian translation by Viorica Constantinescu. Note: The cuts in this video result from the removal of periods of silence during consecutive translation from German. Versions in other languages: English: youtu.be/DlLVFctvy4Y English without silence cuts: youtu.be/mwy3vxTHU58 German: youtu.be/L0MxibNpB3o Russian: youtu.be/99o7s9XPxUc Spanish: youtu.be/-eAMBC9c_Ok Portuguese: youtu.be/w9-JGF6xmuE Amazonian World Sanctuary - Compassionate Call: Help save a sacred Amazon territory of native rainforest and animals from imminent destruction. Learn more and donate: hky.com.br/campanhasamauma Learn more about this ancestral people, native to pre-colonial Brazil: Eskawata Kayawai - The Spirit of Transformation: youtu.be/muIExL2Qly0 We support Indigenous shaman and spiritual leader Mapu Huni Kuin: instagram.com/mapuhunikuin Resources: Instagram excerpts: instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow Podcasts: simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts Future events: simplybeing.co.uk/events Watch the original video on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=8Z7L6-L-ZGI

    Patience and non-duality. [EN-RO] Zoom 05.2026

  6. Sep 18

    Patience and non-duality. [EN-PT] Zoom 05.2026

    James Low teaches on patience and non-duality as a means to avoid reactivity to provocations. Recorded on Zoom, May 9th 2026. This recording has been edited to remove periods of silence during consecutive translation from German. Portuguese translation by Madalena Pedroza. Other language versions: English: youtu.be/DlLVFctvy4Y English (unedited): youtu.be/mwy3vxTHU58 German: youtu.be/L0MxibNpB3o Russian: youtu.be/99o7s9XPxUc Spanish: youtu.be/-eAMBC9c_Ok Romanian: youtu.be/8Z7L6-L-ZGI Resources: Instagram excerpts: @SBSangha_JamesLow Podcasts: simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts Events: simplybeing.co.uk/events Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=w9-JGF6xmuE Chapters 00:00 Manifesting peaceful presence in a turbulent world 04:12 How ego creates enemies and friends 08:08 Living in our own world of projections 12:08 The fundamental prejudice of a separate self 17:56 The structure of duality: subject and object 22:59 The eight worldly concerns 27:51 Form is emptiness: applying the Heart Sutra 32:05 Relative truth and the power of beliefs 36:32 Belief as a poor substitute for seeing 39:11 Emptiness as corrective to delusion 43:17 We are not things but streams of experience 54:15 James as a mode of participation 1:05:01 All sound is sound emptiness 1:10:56 Co-emergence: born together with the situation 1:17:43 Working with circumstances through non-dual awareness

    Patience and non-duality. [EN-PT] Zoom 05.2026

  7. Sep 18

    Patience and non-duality. [EN-ES] Zoom 05.2026

    May 9th 2026. James Low's teachings on Zoom about "Patience and non-duality as a means to avoid reactivity to provocations". Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Spanish translation: Juan B. García Lázaro Other language versions: English: https://youtu.be/DlLVFctvy4Y English without silence cuts: https://youtu.be/mwy3vxTHU58 German: https://youtu.be/L0MxibNpB3o Russian: https://youtu.be/99o7s9XPxUc Portuguese: https://youtu.be/w9-JGF6xmuE Romanian: https://youtu.be/8Z7L6-L-ZGI Resources: Instagram: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow Podcasts: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/ Events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/ Watch the original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eAMBC9c_Ok

    Patience and non-duality. [EN-ES] Zoom 05.2026

  8. Sep 18

    Patience and non-duality. [EN-RU] Zoom 05.2026

    May 9th 2026. James Low's teachings on Zoom about "Patience and non-duality as a means to avoid reactivity to provocations". Russian translation: Marina Samarina Note: the constant cuts in this video result from the removal of James Low's periods of silence, while waiting for the consecutive translation from the German translator. Other language versions: English: https://youtu.be/DlLVFctvy4Y English without silence cuts: https://youtu.be/mwy3vxTHU58 German: https://youtu.be/L0MxibNpB3o Spanish: https://youtu.be/-eAMBC9c_Ok Portuguese: https://youtu.be/w9-JGF6xmuE Romanian: https://youtu.be/8Z7L6-L-ZGI Amazonian World Sanctuary - Compassionate Call: Help save a sacred territory of native Amazon rainforest and animals from imminent destruction. Learn more and donate: https://hky.com.br/campanhasamauma Eskawata Kayawai - The Spirit of Transformation: https://youtu.be/muIExL2Qly0 Support Indigenous shaman and spiritual leader Mapu Huni Kuin: https://www.instagram.com/mapuhunikuin/ Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow Podcasts: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/ Future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/ Original YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99o7s9XPxUc

    Patience and non-duality. [EN-RU] Zoom 05.2026
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About

James Low is a disciple and teacher in the Byangter and Khordong lineages of the late Chhimed Rigdzin Lama. James regularly teaches the principles of dzogchen Buddhism in Europe and he publishes translations and commentaries from time to time. Many of his seminars have been recorded and transcribed. They are now being put on his website to provide access for those seeking to deepen their dharma understanding and explore how to apply it in the complexities of everyday life. Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/events/

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