Ngak’chang Rinpoche & Ngala Rig’dzin

Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje

Taliaris, Wales, 2002

Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen take a keen interest in their teaching disciples – Aro Lamas such as Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje, Ngala Nor’dzin and Ngala ’ö-Dzin, and Ngakma Shardröl Du-nyam Wangmo. This photograph was taken at the Spring 2002 apprentice retreat, held at Plas Taliaris in West Wales.

Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje is always keen to discuss the finer points of the Aro gTér with Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, and meal times on retreats often prove valuable for such discussions. On this occasion apprentices from three sanghas were present – those of Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje, Ngala Nor’dzin and Ngala ’ö-Dzin and Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen. In a dream of clarity in 1990 Ngak’chang Rinpoche saw the evolution of thirteen sanghas comprising the Confederate Sanghas of Aro. At that time there was one sangha – and now there are four. Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen have said that they do not necessarily see the development of 13 sanghas within their lifetime but they fully expect to see nine sanghas.

The development of the Aro sanghas is extremely important to Ngak’chang Rinpoche’s vision of the Confederate Sanghas of Aro, where each Lama limits himself or herself to a maximum of eighty-four apprentices. This means that the growth of the lineage depends entirely on the number of Lamas. Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen spend considerable time on the training of ordained apprentices who show promise as prospective Aro Lamas. They also devote time to giving continued teaching and transmissions to the current Aro gTér Lamas.