About us
Dawn Mountain Europe
The mission of the Dawn Mountain Europe Sangha is to support the teachings of Lama Rigzin Drolma and Lama Namgyal Dorje and make them available throughout Europe. We want to further the spiritual growth of our diverse community as a living bridge between traditional Tibetan Buddhist teachings and curious people everywhere.
DAWN MOUNTAIN Center for Tibetan Buddhism (Houston, Texas; USA) founded in 1996 by Anne C. Klein and Harvey B. Aronson, is a Tibetan Buddhist Temple, Community Center and Research Institute drawing from multiple Buddhist traditions and grounded in transmissions from the Ancient (Nyingma) lineage.
Lama Namgyal Dorje
(Harvey Aronson)
Lama Rigzin brings over forty years of practice in multiple Tibetan traditions, with special emphasis on Nyingma Dzogchen, offering full transmission and rare teachings through Dawn Mountain’s Dzogchen Cycles program.
Lama Rigzin is a Professor, Former Chair of Religious Studies at Rice University, and Founding Director and Resident Lama of Dawn Mountain Tibetan Temple and Community Center. A Dorje Lopön since 2009, she is a renowned scholar-practitioner whose work bridges academic precision and deep contemplative experience: Her influential writings and translations cover topics such as Dzogchen, Heart Essence traditions, and embodied wisdom. Her new book Lamplight on Your Path: A Personal Guide to Dzogchen’s Foundational Practices will be published in fall 2026.
Recognized in 2010 as a Dorje Lopön by Nyingma Dzogchen masters, he co-founded Dawn Mountain in 1994 with Anne Klein (Lama Rigzin Drölma) to support the transmission of Tibetan Buddhist wisdom in modern Western contexts.
Lama Namgyal holds a BS in Chemistry, an MSW, and a PhD in Buddhist Studies. He is a scholar-practitioner and psychotherapist with over 35 years of clinical experience. Trained in the Gelugpa, Dzogchen, and Theravada traditions, he is the author of Buddhist Practice on Western Ground and Love and Sympathy in Theravada Buddhism, focusing on the integration of Buddhist practice with Western psychotherapy. He has been recognized in 2010 as a Dorje Lopön by Nyingma Dzogchen masters. He co-founded Dawn Mountain in 1994 with Anne Klein (Lama Rigzin Drölma) to support the transmission of Tibetan Buddhist wisdom in modern Western contexts.
Our teachers
Lama Rigzin Drolma
(Anne Carolyn Klein, PhD)
