James Low is a disciple and teacher in the Byangter and Khordong lineages of the late Chhimed Rigdzin Lama.

He began studying and practicing Tibetan Buddhism on India in the 1960's and has had teachings from Kalu Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Kanjur Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche. Having met his root teacher, Chhimed Rigdzin Lama (also known as C R Lama), he lived in his home in West Bengal, India for many years, serving him as required and being taught many aspects of the tradition. During this period in India James did several retreats and pilgrimages in the Himalayas. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, on his return to Europe, he also had teachings and guidance from Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche.

James translated many tantric texts and sadhanas with C R Lama who wanted texts from his lineages, Byangter and Khordong, to be available in English. These are used as practice texts by C R Lama’s disciples and have been translated into various European languages.

C. R. Lama asked James to teach in 1976 and later gave him the transmissions necessary to do this, together with full lineage authority. In particular, James was encouraged to give the traditional instructions using methods that enable people in the west to get the point. James has been teaching in this way for over twenty years.

Many of his seminars have been recorded and transcribed. They are now being put on this website to provide access for those seeking to deepen their dharma understanding and explore how to apply it in the complexities of everyday life.

James regularly teaches the principles of dzogchen in Europe and he publishes translations and commentaries from time to time.

James currently works as a Consultant Psychotherapist in a National Health Service teaching hospital in London and has a private psychotherapy practice. He has taught on many psychotherapy trainings in Britain.

His recent publications are:

The Seven Chapters of Prayer, known in Tibetan as the Le'u Dun Ma (Wandel Verlag, 2008)

Being Guru Rinpoche: a Commentary on Nuden Dorje's Terma, the Vidyadhara Guru Sadhana (Trafford, 2006) Also available in German, Polish and French

Being Right Here: The Mirror of Clear Meaning (Snow Lion Publications, 2004) Also available in German, Italian, Polish and Spanish.

Simply Being: Texts in the Dzogchen Tradition (3rd edition, CPI Antony Rowe, 2010). Earlier editions are available in French, German, Polish and Spanish.

The Yogins of Ladakh: A Pilgrimage among the Hermits of the Buddhist Himalayas With John Crook. (Motilal Banarsidass, 1997) – Reprinted 2006. Soon to be available again in German.

 

The Yoga of Talking

Photographed by Katrin Brüggemann, Eifel October 2010