

James Low - Dzogchen and Buddhist Teachings
James Low
James Low is a disciple and teacher in the Byangter and Khordong lineages of the late Chhimed Rigdzin Lama.
James regularly teaches the principles of dzogchen Buddhism in Europe and he publishes translations and commentaries from time to time.
Many of his seminars have been recorded and transcribed. They are now being put on his website to provide access for those seeking to deepen their dharma understanding and explore how to apply it in the complexities of everyday life.
Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/events/
James regularly teaches the principles of dzogchen Buddhism in Europe and he publishes translations and commentaries from time to time.
Many of his seminars have been recorded and transcribed. They are now being put on his website to provide access for those seeking to deepen their dharma understanding and explore how to apply it in the complexities of everyday life.
Learn more about future events: simplybeing.co.uk/events/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 18, 2025 • 49min
Open to Life: Emerson College, 16-21 June 2025, part 3
Explores space, emptiness, and how perception shapes meaning. Looks at birth, fragility, and the five elements. Examines how naming and social conditioning form identity and false certainties. Discusses openness versus dualistic consciousness and the role of compassion in wise action. Encourages living moment-to-moment, staying available to interruptions, and trusting relaxed awareness.

Aug 17, 2025 • 1h 28min
Open to Life: Emerson College, 16-21 June 2025, part 2
Discover the essence of the Middle Way as listeners explore relaxing into life without the pressure of outcomes. Delve into the wisdom of Dzogchen and non-attachment, learning to stay present amidst success or turbulence. James Low emphasizes the beauty of spontaneous engagement and the freedom found in open awareness. Through playful metaphors like the garden and mirror, he illustrates how our perceptions shape reality. Listeners are encouraged to embrace impermanence and see experiences as self-liberating, fostering a deeper connection with life.

Aug 16, 2025 • 1h 24min
Open to Life: Emerson College, 16-21 June 2025, part 1
The discussion delves into how cultural conditioning shapes our inner selves and perceptions. James highlights the importance of aligning with life’s flow rather than struggling against it. Exploring concepts like thoughts as fleeting 'sky flowers' and the interplay of form and emptiness, he encourages a gentle acceptance of transient experiences. The podcast also examines the co-emergence of self and world, emphasizing collaboration with our circumstances. Ultimately, it invites listeners to embrace open awareness and the beauty of impermanence.

Aug 10, 2025 • 53min
43 Questions & Answers. Zoom 07.2025
James Low dives into the emotional challenges of today's political climate, urging mindfulness amidst turmoil. He explores the nature of meditation, contrasting structured practices with the simplicity of open sitting. Dislike is examined through a Buddhist lens, offering strategies for skillful engagement with difficult emotions. The discussion shifts to the fluid nature of thoughts and identity, highlighting the interplay between consciousness and perception. Ultimately, it celebrates communal learning and the journey of self-discovery.

Aug 10, 2025 • 1h 26min
43 Questions & Answers. [EN-RO] Zoom 07.2025
July 2nd 2025. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer.1) I am a US citizen seriously dismayed by the current state of politics particularly in the US. I am so upset by the prospects that I completely exclude all news and refrain from discussions on the topic. Withdrawing in this way is good for my blood pressure but is it wise to withdraw to this degree?2) James says the guru yoga of the White A is enough yet he also describes the bo??. So do I need to do more to prepare myself for that?3) If I do the guru yoga of the White A, the energy of the practice tends to linger with me. I prefer to just sit without this structure. What is the difference between elaborated and unelaborated forms of open sitting?4) When recognizing a strong dislike for something or someone, what would be a skillful way on the relative level to manage this to continue to engage with the person or situation or to simply move away?5) We can discover the nature of the mind in the gap between the object which is perceived as external and the consciousness which perceives that object. However, when a thought arises, we perceive it immediately without a gap. Thought is consciousness. The object and the subject are inseparable. Could you please explain how to free thoughts?English: youtu.be/090SUATHtAoEnglish (without silence cuts): youtu.be/lVuU-5T6NmYGerman: youtu.be/Vc6xmCDJIRQRussian: youtu.be/PSL516QWrGwPolish: youtu.be/iU7FkxSM47cSpanish: youtu.be/U1FF_2nFhv4Portuguese: youtu.be/pT-NQkZhtbIRomanian: youtu.be/HdJIpaIuq1M (you are here)Turkish: [soon]Romanian translation: Viorica ConstantinescuPlaylist “Questions & Answers. [EN-RO] Zoom 01.2025 –”: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv-KZQo9b6hSUA6_TORD9dM-sgIQsS-tx📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachinhgs: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/eventsVideo at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdJIpaIuq1M

Aug 10, 2025 • 1h 25min
43 Questions & Answers. [EN-PT] Zoom 07.2025
July 2nd 2025. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer.1) I am a US citizen seriously dismayed by the current state of politics particularly in the US. I am so upset by the prospects that I completely exclude all news and refrain from discussions on the topic. Withdrawing in this way is good for my blood pressure but is it wise to withdraw to this degree?2) James says the guru yoga of the White A is enough yet he also describes the bo??. So do I need to do more to prepare myself for that?3) If I do the guru yoga of the White A, the energy of the practice tends to linger with me. I prefer to just sit without this structure. What is the difference between elaborated and unelaborated forms of open sitting?4) When recognizing a strong dislike for something or someone, what would be a skillful way on the relative level to manage this to continue to engage with the person or situation or to simply move away?5) We can discover the nature of the mind in the gap between the object which is perceived as external and the consciousness which perceives that object. However, when a thought arises, we perceive it immediately without a gap. Thought is consciousness. The object and the subject are inseparable. Could you please explain how to free thoughts?English: youtu.be/090SUATHtAoEnglish (without silence cuts): youtu.be/lVuU-5T6NmYGerman: youtu.be/Vc6xmCDJIRQRussian: youtu.be/PSL516QWrGwPolish: youtu.be/iU7FkxSM47cSpanish: youtu.be/U1FF_2nFhv4Portuguese: youtu.be/pT-NQkZhtbI (you are here)Romanian: youtu.be/HdJIpaIuq1MTurkish: [soon]Portuguese translation: Milton PetruczokPlaylist “Perguntas & Respostas. [PT] Zoom 07.2020 –”: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv-KZQo9b6hR2vHQ9K1blx96gzj1wprrS📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT-NQkZhtbI

Aug 10, 2025 • 1h 26min
43 Questions & Answers. [EN-RU] Zoom 07.2025
July 2nd 2025. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer.1) I am a US citizen seriously dismayed by the current state of politics particularly in the US. I am so upset by the prospects that I completely exclude all news and refrain from discussions on the topic. Withdrawing in this way is good for my blood pressure but is it wise to withdraw to this degree?2) James says the guru yoga of the White A is enough yet he also describes the bo??. So do I need to do more to prepare myself for that?3) If I do the guru yoga of the White A, the energy of the practice tends to linger with me. I prefer to just sit without this structure. What is the difference between elaborated and unelaborated forms of open sitting?4) When recognizing a strong dislike for something or someone, what would be a skillful way on the relative level to manage this to continue to engage with the person or situation or to simply move away?5) We can discover the nature of the mind in the gap between the object which is perceived as external and the consciousness which perceives that object. However, when a thought arises, we perceive it immediately without a gap. Thought is consciousness. The object and the subject are inseparable. Could you please explain how to free thoughts?English: youtu.be/090SUATHtAoEnglish (without silence cuts): youtu.be/lVuU-5T6NmYGerman: youtu.be/Vc6xmCDJIRQRussian: youtu.be/PSL516QWrGw (you are here)Polish: youtu.be/iU7FkxSM47cSpanish: youtu.be/U1FF_2nFhv4Portuguese: youtu.be/pT-NQkZhtbIRomanian: youtu.be/HdJIpaIuq1MTurkish: [soon]Russian translation: Marina SamarinaPlaylist “Вопросы и Ответы. [RU] Zoom 04.2023 –”: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv-KZQo9b6hR-O5pCcz4jrfHv5eRKsMqU📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSL516QWrGw

Aug 10, 2025 • 1h 30min
43 Questions & Answers. [EN-ES] Zoom 07.2025
July 2nd 2025. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer.1) I am a US citizen seriously dismayed by the current state of politics particularly in the US. I am so upset by the prospects that I completely exclude all news and refrain from discussions on the topic. Withdrawing in this way is good for my blood pressure but is it wise to withdraw to this degree?2) James says the guru yoga of the White A is enough yet he also describes the bo??. So do I need to do more to prepare myself for that?3) If I do the guru yoga of the White A, the energy of the practice tends to linger with me. I prefer to just sit without this structure. What is the difference between elaborated and unelaborated forms of open sitting?4) When recognizing a strong dislike for something or someone, what would be a skillful way on the relative level to manage this to continue to engage with the person or situation or to simply move away?5) We can discover the nature of the mind in the gap between the object which is perceived as external and the consciousness which perceives that object. However, when a thought arises, we perceive it immediately without a gap. Thought is consciousness. The object and the subject are inseparable. Could you please explain how to free thoughts?English: youtu.be/090SUATHtAoEnglish (without silence cuts): youtu.be/lVuU-5T6NmYGerman: youtu.be/Vc6xmCDJIRQRussian: youtu.be/PSL516QWrGwPolish: youtu.be/iU7FkxSM47cSpanish: youtu.be/U1FF_2nFhv4 (you are here)Portuguese: youtu.be/pT-NQkZhtbIRomanian: youtu.be/HdJIpaIuq1MTurkish: [soon]Spanish translation: Juan García Lázaro ( @juanb.garcialazaro )Playlist “Preguntas & Respuestas. [EN-ES] Zoom 07.2020 –”: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv-KZQo9b6hS7c0fyRpIUppfblqzUKho2📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1FF_2nFhv4

Aug 10, 2025 • 1h 21min
43 Questions & Answers. [EN-PL] Zoom 07.2025
July 2nd 2025. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer.1) I am a US citizen seriously dismayed by the current state of politics particularly in the US. I am so upset by the prospects that I completely exclude all news and refrain from discussions on the topic. Withdrawing in this way is good for my blood pressure but is it wise to withdraw to this degree?2) James says the guru yoga of the White A is enough yet he also describes the bo??. So do I need to do more to prepare myself for that?3) If I do the guru yoga of the White A, the energy of the practice tends to linger with me. I prefer to just sit without this structure. What is the difference between elaborated and unelaborated forms of open sitting?4) When recognizing a strong dislike for something or someone, what would be a skillful way on the relative level to manage this to continue to engage with the person or situation or to simply move away?5) We can discover the nature of the mind in the gap between the object which is perceived as external and the consciousness which perceives that object. However, when a thought arises, we perceive it immediately without a gap. Thought is consciousness. The object and the subject are inseparable. Could you please explain how to free thoughts?English: youtu.be/090SUATHtAoEnglish (without silence cuts): youtu.be/lVuU-5T6NmYGerman: youtu.be/Vc6xmCDJIRQRussian: youtu.be/PSL516QWrGwPolish: youtu.be/iU7FkxSM47c (you are here)Spanish: youtu.be/U1FF_2nFhv4Portuguese: youtu.be/pT-NQkZhtbIRomanian: youtu.be/HdJIpaIuq1MTurkish: [soon]Polish translation: Bartłomiej CzajkowskiPlaylist “Pytania & Odpowiedzi. [EN-PL] Zoom 07.2020 –”: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv-KZQo9b6hQe263kW-j5ZmxrgMShNo4b📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU7FkxSM47c

Aug 10, 2025 • 1h 34min
43 Questions & Answers. [EN-DE] Zoom 07.2025
July 2nd 2025. James Low had invited questions from people watching his Zooms, which he began to answer.1) I am a US citizen seriously dismayed by the current state of politics particularly in the US. I am so upset by the prospects that I completely exclude all news and refrain from discussions on the topic. Withdrawing in this way is good for my blood pressure but is it wise to withdraw to this degree?2) James says the guru yoga of the White A is enough yet he also describes the bo??. So do I need to do more to prepare myself for that?3) If I do the guru yoga of the White A, the energy of the practice tends to linger with me. I prefer to just sit without this structure. What is the difference between elaborated and unelaborated forms of open sitting?4) When recognizing a strong dislike for something or someone, what would be a skillful way on the relative level to manage this to continue to engage with the person or situation or to simply move away?5) We can discover the nature of the mind in the gap between the object which is perceived as external and the consciousness which perceives that object. However, when a thought arises, we perceive it immediately without a gap. Thought is consciousness. The object and the subject are inseparable. Could you please explain how to free thoughts?English: youtu.be/090SUATHtAoEnglish (without silence cuts): youtu.be/lVuU-5T6NmYGerman: youtu.be/Vc6xmCDJIRQ (you are here)Russian: youtu.be/PSL516QWrGwPolish: youtu.be/iU7FkxSM47cSpanish: youtu.be/U1FF_2nFhv4Portuguese: youtu.be/pT-NQkZhtbIRomanian: youtu.be/HdJIpaIuq1MTurkish: [soon]German translation: Robert JaroslawskiPlaylist “Questions & Answers. [EN-DE] Zoom 07.2020 –”: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv-KZQo9b6hQorJJB5YwaksSq90Z8mTeQ📱 Instagram of excerpts: https://instagram.com/SBSangha_JamesLow🎧 Poscasts of some teachings: https://simplybeing.co.uk/news/podcasts/📆 Learn more about future events: https://simplybeing.co.uk/events/Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc6xmCDJIRQ


