Zonga Thongyal

Ngak’phang practitioner

On his return from a trip to India, about twenty years ago, Ngak’chang Rinpoche asked Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin if they could sponsor an elderly Tibetan lady. She was a refugee with no family to look after her or her husband in their old age, who cleaned and cared for the house of Khamtrül Yeshé Dorje Rinpoche. Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin were happy to be able to help the lady, Dawa Chokpa.

Sadly Dawa Chokpa died after being run over by a motorbike a few years ago, but Ngakma Nor’dzin and Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin have continued to support her husband Zonga Thongyal. He is a devout practitioner who still lives in McCleod Ganj, but is pictured here on a pilgrimage to Bodhgaya. In 1991 Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin was able to meet Zonga Thongyal in India. Zonga Thongyal treated Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin as an honoured guest and included him in the local new year celebrations. They shared meals and many glasses of chai.

We do not know how old Zonga Thongyal is, says Ngakpa ’ö-Dzin, but guess that he must be well into his seventies by now. He rises in the early hours of the morning to begin his sadhana practices, and always tells us in his letters how grateful he is, and of the prayers he says for us. We feel humbled by his devotion and gratitude, for we send him so little, compared to the cost of living in the UK.” Ngakma Nor’dzin explains, “Ngak’chang Rinpoche has told us that it is quite common for Tibetans to engage in intensive religious practice in their old age. We find his example inspiring.