Bio of Rigdzin Palzang
Rigdzin was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 1957 and grew up in the nearby town of Serres, the son of a high school theology professor and a French school director. From early childhood, he felt out of place, frustrated by the lack of guidance for his deep existential questions and troubled by the normalized violence he witnessed in daily life. Feeling like the black sheep of his family and socially isolated, Rigdzin found solace in long solitary walks in nature, nurturing a deep sensitivity to life and a yearning to find his own path. Determined to leave Greece as soon as possible, he left formal education at sixteen, and at seventeen, he left Greece, hitchhiking to Sweden. On the way, passing by Hamburg, a powerful vision of a slaughterhouse catalyzed his decision to become a vegetarian.
In Sweden, as soon as he arrived, he met the Tibetan Lamas. That was the beginning of a nine-year intensive training culminating in a three-year retreat. This inner training provided tools for profound self-inquiry, radical transformation, and the development of empathy and consciousness. In the years that followed, he explored other paths and groups; however, he always maintained his independence, walking his own path with discernment and integrity. His orientation has consistently focused on the transformation of limiting patterns, awareness of truth, compassion, and the universal liberation of all beings.
Over the course of 24 years, Rigdzin immersed himself in life across ten countries on four continents—Costa Rica (11 years), California (5), France (5), India (1.5 across five trips), Sweden (1), Venezuela, Thailand, Peru, and England. He started from scratch each time, becoming immersed not only in external cultures but internal landscapes as well through diverse practices and ways of living. In the process, he learned to speak English, Spanish, and French fluently, along with some basic Tibetan, Portuguese, Swedish, and Nepalese.
After completing his nine-year training, Rigdzin, discovering that being in nature is conducive to contemplative living, bought and developed four off-grid farms—two in Greece and two in Costa Rica—where he lived for around 12 years cumulatively. Aiming at self-sufficiency, he cultivated vegetables, grains, fruits, and herbs, in resonance with nature’s cycles. His farming philosophy—guided by instinct, respect, and sensitivity—was deeply inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka’s principles of natural farming. He never faced any issues with pests or diseases, a testament to the vibrational harmony he established with the land.
Rigdzin’s relationship with nature also extended to its creatures. He never kept pets that would hunt wild animals, nor did he exploit animals for food. His connection with wildlife was such that animals often approached him without fear.
In 1989, while in the U.S., Rigdzin became vegan, and two years later, in Costa Rica, he was introduced to raw veganism after attending a seminar of Living Foods with Ann Wigmore. Working physically hard on his farm, eating only raw tropical fruits and vegetables, and being nourished by the life force of the surrounding rainforest contributed to a remarkable increase in health, strength, and energetic clarity—gaining 5 kilos of weight too. While his diet today is more flexible due to social context, he remains committed to plant-based living, avoiding stimulants and all substances that could alter consciousness or affect his DNA.
Rigdzin’s life in nature was one of creativity and adaptation. He lived with minimal energy needs—a solar panel for light and charging the mobile, no refrigeration due to his raw diet, and hand-crafted tools and systems for washing, heating, and cooking. He built multisided wooden houses, designed irrigation systems, and invented many practical tools and machines to support his simple life. His skills in carpentry, plumbing, solar installation, and general repairs arose out of necessity and resourcefulness rather than formal training.
Rigdzin’s path is one of profound inner dedication, voluntary simplicity, and practical service. He has consciously stepped away from modern entertainment, consumerism, and artificial living, choosing instead the richness of deep human connection, inner peace, and a life attuned to the natural and spiritual rhythms of existence.
Beyond his solitary time in nature, Rigdzin has also lived in communities and contributed as a volunteer and professional. He managed a bookstore and did house renovations in California, taught meditation and worked as a vegan chef in Thailand, and in Costa Rica, supported others in settling and developing land. At one point, he was even contracted to build a wooden home and design an entire farm.
A father of three sons—now adults—Rigdzin helped birth all three and raised them alone for six formative years on an off-grid Greek farm. They grew up strong, healthy, and self-reliant, never vaccinated, never sick (not even a flu), and eating a natural diet. Their early childhood, immersed in nature and simplicity, equipped them with resilience and adaptability in later life. After his children’s mother resumed a parental role, Rigdzin resumed his travels and explorations.
As a result of decades of spiritual work and experimentation in 8 farms in total, he plans to launch the Hrigaia Project, a project that focuses on personal awakening and the regeneration of primal ecosystems—restoring the original harmony between human consciousness and the living Earth.“Until that moment arrives, he continues to share his vast knowledge across many fields with others — including through emerging opportunities in Costa Rica where a space for transformation may take shape.”