Arriving at Llyn Cau
Craft Retreat, June 2004
It had been Ngala Nor’dzin’s wish to return to Llyn Cau with a group of practitioners, since she first climbed the mountain in 1996. She comments:
I was struck by the extraordinary atmosphere at Llyn Cau, and felt that this was a Yeshé Tsogyel lake. The landscape also echoes images of the original Aro Gar in Tibet that arose in my mind from Ngak’chang Rinpoche’s description. Llyn Cau is surrounded by the peaks of Cadair Idris, so that it is practically enclosed. Next year we are hoping to practice tsog together starting at the peaks of the mountain and gradually moving down to the lake.
Ngala ’ö-Dzin continues:
Expeditions such as this one to Llyn Cau are an important aspect of practice within our sangha. To experience the changing moments of the days – helping each other set up tents; preparing the evening meals; stoking the campfire; sharing a hearty breakfast at a local hotel; climbing together; practising together; supporting each other when we are tired – are the essence of practice in a Dzogchen tradition. We engage with the many opportunities to practice that such activities afford. We demonstrate kind and honourable behaviour even when we are tired or hungry, and we try to constantly remain open to the possibility of transmission.
The final evening of the retreat was spent around a blazing camp fire in the shadow of Cadair Idris. Ngala Nor’dzin and Ngala ’ö-Dzin were asked to recount stories of times spent with Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen – stories of inspiration and transmission.
