August 2026: The Living Dzogchen Tradition Comes to Switzerland

Berne, August 2026 — The Vidyadhara community had the profound honour of welcoming Khandroma Khachöd Tsering Palmo, the revered Dzogchen master and Wisdom Dakini, to Berne’s House of Religions.

Khandroma has realised the Buddhist path of Dzogchen through more than twenty-five years of intensive solitary retreat. She is a heart disciple of H.H. Trulshik Rinpoche, the former head of the Nyingma school of Secret Mantrayana, who recognised her as the incarnation of Chamsar Akar Salé Drönma («White AH, Radiant Lamp»), the wife and spiritual consort of the 8th century King Trisong Detsen.

Khandroma is a principal holder of several profound Dzogchen lineages, including Longchen Nyingthig and Chetsün Nyingthig, as well as the Seventeen Dzogchen Tantras. Her presence and teachings brought these ancient streams of direct transmission into a living encounter with practitioners in Switzerland.

At the House of Religions, around 110 people gathered to receive her teachings. The following day in Winterthur, a further 40 participants joined an intimate open question-and-answer session, where Khandroma responded directly to questions on meditation, practice, everyday life, and the spiritual path, while also offering practical guidance in meditation.

For those present, this was far more than an encounter with Buddhist philosophy. It was an opportunity to meet a living holder of an ancient contemplative tradition and to receive teachings grounded in decades of practice and realisation.

This was Khandroma’s first and only visit to Switzerland. She gave a special blessing to our centre by giving it the spiritual designation Orgyen Khandro Ling, which means The Sanctuary of the Dakinis of Odyana, and by encouraging practitioners to be diligent in their practice. She also gave Chöying Drolma the spiritual designation Khandro Dukkar, which means The Dakini of the White Parasol. Her presence left a deep impression on the community and created a precious connection to the living Dzogchen tradition that will continue to inspire practitioners for a life-time.