Aro Ga’dzong

Stronghold Of Joy Which Tastes The Essence

Aro Ga’dzong occupies a row of sixteenth century village buildings on a southern slope of the Appenines in northern Tuscany. It stands above a river ravine facing forested foothills, ornamented with the changing colours of the seasons, opalescent cloudscapes, liquid light, the scents of woodsmoke, wild herbs and blossom, and the audible moods of the Lima torrent.

Padmasambhava’s instruction to yogis and yoginis was to practice through the sense-fields, because the physical senses are connected with the beginninglessly enlightened elements of body, energy and mind. A place where the outer elements manifest strongly is wonderful for Dzogchen practise of the natural state of the inner elements. Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje and Tsalgyür Wangmo founded Aro Ga’dzong in the spring of 2006, after a year spent seeking a family home closer to their sangha, suitable to accommodate courses for the apprentices and for the public. They primarily funded the purchase through the sale of their London house and with the generous participation of their apprentices.

The buildings, first redeveloped in the 1970’s, have now been comprehensively refitted and redecorated, the greater part by the hard work of the teachers and apprentices. A meditation room (gompa) has been created in traditional Nyingma style, and will be further furnished in the course of 2007. There is an outdoor terrace large enough for performances of vajra dance as well as for teachings.

Aro Ga’dzong can accommodate thirty participants on courses, two or more to a room (including facilities for couples), who can all be seated in the gompa and in the dining room, or dine outdoors during the greater part of the year. When not in use for events the guest apartment will hold up to a dozen visitors. Solitary retreat facilities are also available.