James Low

James Low began studying and practicing Tibetan Buddhism in India in the 1960’s. He received 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 Bengal 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.

James translated many tantric texts and sadhanas with C R Lama, who wanted texts from the lineages of Byangter and Khordong to be available in English. These were used as practice texts by C R Lama’s disciples. Many have since been translated by others 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.

James is regularly teaching 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.

Dzogchen in Ordinary Life — Public talk by James Low at the Stadtraum in Köln, Germany, 2005

 

His recent publications are:

  • Being Guru Rinpoche: A Commentary on Nuden Dorje’s Terma: Vidyadhara Guru Sadhana (Trafford, June 2006, in collaboration with edition khordong)
  • Being Right Here: The Mirror of Clear Meaning, Commentary on a Dzogchen Treasure Text by Nuden Dorje, pp. 170, 6"x8", (Snow Lion Publications, April 2006, in collaboration with edition khordong). Also available in German, Italian and Polish.
  • Simply Being: Texts in the Dzogchen Tradition (Vajra Press, 1998). Also available in French, German, . (Translations of Dzogchen and Mahamudra texts of the Nyingma and Kagyu tradition, with introductions to the texts and excerpts of James Low's teachings. First edition by Durtro Press, London, 1994 included some of the Tibetan originals)
  • The Yogins of Ladakh: A Pilgrimage Among the Hermits of the Buddhist Himalayas. With John Crook. (Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1997)
  • Buddhist Developmental Psychologie, in Psychologie East and West, Crook and Fontana (Hg.), (Element Books, 1989)
  • various translations of practice texts of the Byangter-, Khordong- and other traditions in collaboration with H.H. Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche. Edited by Khordong Terchen Tulku Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche.

A website making available some of James’ work will open in 2006 at the address
http://www.simplybeing.co.uk

***ar 06/2006