“Where is Zarna?” That was often how Rinpoche opened Myall Lakes retreats, because having Zarna and her husband Anil ‘in the house’ seemed a good way to start.
Zarna Somaia was a long-term student of Rinpoche who attended the first Rigpa retreat in 1985 (along with Ian Gawler) and the 1993 Dzogchen 3-month retreat in Lerab Ling. She died on 29 March 2026.
In the 1980s and 90s, Zarna and her husband Anil welcomed Tibetan lamas into their home, including Sogyal Rinpoche - who frequently stayed there - and His Holiness Sakya Trinzin stayed three times. The family’s Lama Room hosted streams of visiting Tibetans.
Zarna was dastardly and courageous and had wells of entrepreneurial zest. Her life was imbued with a constant flow of inner chuckles and outer curiosity. She brought those qualities towards serving the dharma, including one incredible event in 1986 when the Panchen Lama visited Zarna and Anil’s home and was able to speak to HH The Dalai Lama for the first and only time – that incredible story is captured here.
Zarna always wanted to come back to the family home she built in Kylsith (South Melbourne) and the amazing lake and garden with roaming peacocks that she created from a dry, flat paddock to welcome Guru Rinpoche into their lives. On Wednesday 15 April, friends and family buried Zarna’s ashes in her favourite place in the garden, then enjoyed Zarna’s favourite food and drink: Idli, Dosa and Red wine.
Zarna wanted people to have a party! Our dear sangha sister Mara Bun spoke about Zarna’s life to those gathered there, with several Rigpa students and senior Melbourne Dharma leaders also present. Sharon Dewar spoke and Samdrup Dorje Dewar sang all 21 verses of Tara.
In the collage there is an image of Sogyal Rinpoche taken from a birthday video that he sent to Zarna from Thailand in 2018 to celebrate her 80th birthday in Mumbai (the ever-generous Catherine Paul facilitated that). Zarna was so happy when Mara shared that video with her on the day.