Naljorma Rin’dzin Pamo

Naljorma Rin’dzin Pamo was ordained in 2002 by Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen in West Wales. She first practised Buddhist meditation in India in 1990 and practised with other Buddhist groups in Britain prior to taking apprenticeship with the Aro Lamas.

Rin’dzin was the first disciple of Ngala Nor’dzin and Ngala ’ö-Dzin to take ordination and supported the growth of their Sangha through retreat organisation, teaching on open retreats and mentoring new apprentices. She organised publicity for the UK Aro charity, Sang-ngak-chö-dzong and held teaching and empowerment events for members of the public. She enjoyed using media skills gained through her working life to represent Aro in TV programmes and on the radio.

Naljorma Rin’dzin is a physically active pamo. She is training in the martial arts and practises grappling and the sPrul-khor (yogic exercises) of the Ling Gésar gTerma. Inspired by the history of the Aro Gar encampment in Tibet, she accompanied Lamas Nor’dzin and ’ö-Dzin on several pilgrimages into the Welsh mountains and swam in a freezing mountain lake to sink an Aro gTérbum (treasure vase). Communication with birds is an aspect of Rin’dzin’s practice. She loves birds and will seize any opportunity to disappear into the wilderness with a pair of binoculars. In the picture she is paragliding with an Egyptian vulture.

She says:

“There are so many practices and opportunities in The Aro gTer and Ling Gésar systems, navigating them can sometimes be daunting for newcomers. I'm particularly interested in helping people new to the lineage figure out whether and how they might find a good fit.

In the film Seven years in Tibet, Heinrich Harrer, played by Brad Pitt, says that the clarity and freshness he has high up on a mountainside is the same quality of experience that he feels in the presence of his teacher. The teaching he receives is experiential, down-to-earth and practical, but helps him make profound changes in the way that he relates to others. This has also been my experience with the Aro lamas and sangha. I'd like to provide a doorway for those new to Buddhism and to Aro, into a colourful, rich and exciting tradition so they too can experience practice changing their lives.”

Rin’dzin trained in Gestalt psychotherapy and worked for some years in mental health rehabilitation and employment training. She also worked in International Community Development and, more recently, as a public representative for Amnesty International. Her work has influenced her pragmatic approach to answering questions based in practice. Rin’dzin is bisexual and has written for Vajra Rainbow and explored the possibilities of practising the Aro teachings on vajra romance in same sex and heterosexual relationship. She left work in 2006 for post-graduate study at the School of Oriental and African Studies and London School of Economics.

Rin’dzin now lives sometimes in the US and the UK and travels a lot. She runs the Aro meditation group in London when she is there, and organises the Aro London and Aro Bristol meetup websites, from afar.

Upcoming events with Naljorma Rin’dzin Pamo: