N. Lodrö Drolma
Embracing the Ineffable
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N. L. Drolma, Cape May, NJ, Sept. 2021
Ordained in 1996 in the Nyingma (ancient, esoteric) school of Tibetan Buddhism, N. L. Drolma is a longtime practitioner who also enjoys giving the gift of dharma; she was authorized by Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche as “lama” in 2009. Her way of teaching is simple, playful and direct. In February 2024, she established the Khachod Dechenling Foundation, a nonprofit, educational 501c(3) organization incorporated in New York State. The foundation carries the name that Semo Saraswati Rinpoche gave to N. L. Drolma’s retreat residence which has also served as a sanctuary in NYC for Buddhist practitioners and guest lamas since the 90s.
Ngawang Lodrö Drolma’s first job after college was at The New Yorker magazine where she wrote summaries of its articles on index cards that were dutifully stored in ancient metal file cabinets for posterity. A few years later, she threw out her TV. She’s never owned a microwave and her way of cooking is to make a salad.
Prior to dharma study and practice, N. L. Drolma received a B.A (in English) with honors from University of Rochester; was a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University where she studied with poet Kenneth Koch; attended SVA (School of Visual Arts); earned a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Hunter College; was awarded an artist-in-residency Yaddo Fellowship and grant from Robert Rauschenberg’s foundation, Change Inc.; garnered NYC gallery representation and enjoyed group and solo shows of her work.
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N. L. Drolma’s book of whimsy The Art of Do-Nothing Meditation offers 108+ captioned scribbles and photos that highlight (un)awareness of our Buddha nature. Enjoy!
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At the 1991 Kalachakra Initiation for World Peace led by HH the 14th Dalai Lama in NYC, N. L. Drolma received her first dharma teaching (“Dzogchen and the Nine Yanas”) from Trulshik Rinpoche, the late Nyingma tutor to the Dalai Lama. The translator for that teaching was Sogyal Rinpoche, spiritual director of Rigpa, the sangha she subsequently joined for study and practice. Five years later, taking Alak Zenkar Rinpoche’s guidance to heart, N. L. Drolma flew to Nepal and was ordained by Trulshik Rinpoche at his monastery in the foothills of Mt. Everest.
She then relocated to the mountain village of Pharping (on the outskirts of Kathmandu) to continue her training under the great Dzogchen master HH Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche.
HH Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche, Yolmo, Nepal (photographer unknown)
Greeting card image of HH Chatral Rinpoche’s monastery, Rigdzin Drupbe Ghatsal, Pharping, Nepal (circa 2000)
It has been N. L. Drolma’s good fortune to receive instruction and transmission from other highly esteemed rinpoches too, most particularly Seymo Saraswati, Thinley Norbu, Nyoshul Khenpo, and the 10th Bhakha Tulku. N. L. Drolma has traveled widely—to Nepal, Bhutan, India, Hong Kong, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, and across the U.S.A for teachings, empowerments, and retreat.
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Has the yogini gone rogue by starting a blog?