The Four Dharmas of Gampopa

Saturday 9 February 11:00am - 1:00pm and 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Sunday 10 February 11:00am - 1:00pm and 4:00pm - 6:00pm

This is an explanation of Gampopa’s four-line teaching which provides an overview of the path of mixed sutra and tantra. It begins with contemplation of the four thoughts, progresses through the preliminary, development and completion practices of Vajrayana, and culminates in Mahamudra and Dzokchen, the supreme meditations of the Kagyu and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

For further details please see the local website.

The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa

Saturday 1 December 10.30am – 4.30pm

Sunday 2 December  10.30am – 1.00pm

The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa is the key manual of study and practice in the Kagyu tradition. It gives a complete explanation of the Buddhist path from its starting point to the achievement of enlightenment, and is relevant to anyone who has a serious interest in Buddhism. Buddha nature, precious human life, impermanence, karma, suffering, loving kindness, compassion and the six perfections are among the topics covered in the Jewel Ornament of Liberation.

Gampopa (1074 - 1153CE)  was the principal student of the great yogin Milarepa and is one of the most highly revered Tibetan Buddhist masters.

The event on 1 and 2 December will cover the first part of this major text. The teaching will continue in 2019.

The initiation of Chenrezi from the Chikshe Kundrol.

Sunday 2 December 2.30pm to 4.30pm

While anyone with a serious interest in Buddhism is welcome to attend the teaching, the initiation is open only to those who have taken refuge, i.e. made a formal commitment to Buddhism.

For schedule and booking information see the centre's website.

Lama Jampa will give teachings on the Buddhist view of the ultimate nature of reality using this famous guide to the Great Madhyamaka composed by the nineteenth century master of the Rime movement, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye.

‘Most people interested in Buddhism start with sitting meditation, which is the tool for achieving a settled and flexible mind. This, however, is just one side of Buddhist meditation. The other side is meditation on the view or how things really are. When the two of these are combined, we can radically transform our lives. Rays of the Stainless Vajra Moon  provides us with essential methods for uncovering the reality of existence, the reality of our mind –which is naturally pure and endowed with the qualities of wisdom and compassion.’

For schedule and further information see local website

The Four Dharmas of Gampopa is an explanation of Gampopa’s four-line teaching which provides an overview of the path of mixed sutra and tantra. It begins with contemplation of the four thoughts, progresses through the preliminary, development and completion practices of Vajrayana, and culminates in Mahamudra and Dzokchen, the supreme meditations of the Kagyu and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

For schedule and further information see the centre's website

The way to enlightenment in Mahayana Buddhism proceeds through a step by step development of compassion and insight. In his guide the great master, Thokme Zangpo, provides us with an indispensable set of instructions for this gradual path.

For schedule and further information see the centre's website.

The Four Dharmas of Gampopa is an explanation of Gampopa’s four-line teaching which provides an overview of the path of mixed sutra and tantra. It begins with contemplation of the four thoughts, progresses through the preliminary, development and completion practices of Vajrayana, and culminates in Mahamudra and Dzokchen, the supreme meditations of the Kagyu and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

For further information and schedule see the centre's website

The system of meditation practice known as mind training (LOBJONG in Tibetan) is one of the most popular and widely-practised in Buddhism. Geshe Langri Thangpa’s work is one of the most celebrated spiritual teachings in Tibetan Buddhism. It offers us a method of transforming adverse circumstances into positive aspects of the path of awakening compassion.

For schedule and more information see the Bodhi Path Bregenz centre website

Initiation of White Saraswati

Sunday 16th September 7pm

Saraswati is famous as one of the principal wisdom deities in Vajrayana Buddhism and as a patroness of poetry and music. Thus many great masters have cultivated her meditation for the many qualities that it bestows.

The Three Visions

This important text is an explanation of the first part of Lamdre, the path and its fruit
His Holiness Sakya says of the text: 
"For those fortunate practitioners who want to achieve liberation, this text is like a staircase, an excellent medicine which eliminates the suffering of living beings, and a valuable object which surpasses even the wish-granting jewel."

Monday 17 September 7pm

Tuesday 18 September 7pm

See also local website for Sakya Dechen Ling Stuttgart

Lama Jampa will give teachings on the Buddhist view of the ultimate nature of reality using this famous guide to the Great Madhyamaka composed by the nineteenth century master of the Rime movement, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye.

‘Most people interested in Buddhism start with sitting meditation, which is the tool for achieving a settled and flexible mind. This, however, is just one side of Buddhist meditation. The other side is meditation on the view or how things really are. When the two of these are combined, we can radically transform our lives. Rays of the Stainless Vajra Moon  provides us with essential methods for uncovering the reality of existence, the reality of our mind –which is naturally pure and endowed with the qualities of wisdom and compassion.’

For schedule and further information visit the centre website at Bodhi Path Renchen Ulm

The Initiations of the Twenty One Taras from the Lineage of Atisha

Sunday 19th – Friday 31st August 2018

This year’s summer course in Sakya Changlochen Ling presents the rare opportunity to receive the full cycle of Tara initiations from the lineage of Atisha. Tara can be described as the enlightened mind appearing in a feminine form, guiding and protecting the beings who have been fortunate enough to be initiated in her practices. 

The Main Initiation of Green Tara

Sunday 19th August

The course will start with the main initiation of Green Tara, which will entitle whoever wishes to attend the course to receive the remaining 21 initiations. Each of them will allow us to receive the various pacifying, increasing, magnetising and wrathful energies of the different forms of Tara and apply those in our life if we decide to engage in their practices. However the benefits of just receiving the initiations are enormous. 

If you can’t come for the full two-week course you can attend as many days as you wish. However, attendance on the first day (August 19th) is necessary in order to receive any further initiations during the course. This will be the first time Lama Jampa gives this collection which is bestowed only rarely in the West. 

The initiations will be given daily at Sakya Changlochen Ling over the two weeks from Sunday 19th August to Friday 31st August (excepting Saturday 25th August). There will also be a daily afternoon practice of the Green Tara sadhana.

Full Details and Booking

sakya-changlochen-ling-annual-summer-course-2018

* Please note that in order to receive these initiations and take part in the retreat you must have made a formal commitment to the Buddhist path through taking refuge. If you would like to do this beforehand please contact the centre by emailing bristol@dechen.org.

Lama Jampa will give two days of teachings. Details to follow.

See also the centre website: Dhagpo Kagyu Ling 

Pointing a Finger at the Dharmakaya by Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje

Saturday 10.30am - 4.30pm Sunday 10.30am - 1.00pm

Lama Jampa will continue teachings on this Mahamudra practice text by the 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje.

The 9th Karmapa wrote three main works on Mahaumdra and this is the briefest of them. It nonetheless contains everything one needs to follow the path of Mahamudra: the ngondro, shamatha, vipassana.

See also: www.kagyubuddhism.org/about-kagyu-buddhism/buddhist-teachings

Initiation of White Tara*

Sunday 2.30pm - 4.30pm

In the afternoon Lama Jampa will bestow the initiation of White Tara. Tara is revered in all traditions of Vajrayana Buddhism as the embodiment of the liberating compassion of all buddhas. In the form of White Tara she is one of the three deities of longevity whose practice is renowned for bestowing the blessings of long life and thus increasing the opportunity for spiritual practice.

* Please note that in order to receive the initiation you must have made a formal commitment to the Buddhist path through taking refuge. If you would like to do this beforehand please contact the centre by emailing manchester@dechen.org

Saturday 10.30am to 12.30pm and 3pm to 5pm

This important text by Konchok Lundrub is an explanation of the first part of Lamdre, the path and its fruit. Lama Jampa will continue with the teachings on impermanence and go on to those on precious human birth.

His Holiness 41st Sakya Trizin says of the text: 
"For those fortunate practitioners who want to achieve liberation, this text is like a staircase, an excellent medicine which eliminates the suffering of living beings, and a valuable object which surpasses even the wish-granting jewel."

Initiation of Manjusri*

Sunday 11am to 1pm

Manjushri is the supreme embodiment of wisdom in Buddhism. For this reason his meditation is undertaken by those who seek to develop a profound understanding of the teaching. This particular initiation is from the collection of Bari Lotsawa.

*Please note that in order to receive this initiation you must have made the formal commitment to the Buddhist Path through taking refuge. If you would like to take refuge before the event please contact the centre at sakya.stuttgart@gmail.com

For further information: sakyastuttgart

Lama Jampa will give teachings on the Buddhist view of the ultimate nature of reality using this famous guide to the Great Madhyamaka composed by the nineteenth century master of the Rime movement, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye.

‘Most people interested in Buddhism start with sitting meditation, which is the tool for achieving a settled and flexible mind. This, however, is just one side of Buddhist meditation. The other side is meditation on the view or how things really are. When the two of these are combined, we can radically transform our lives. Rays of the Stainless Vajra Moon  provides us with essential methods for uncovering the reality of existence, the reality of our mind –which is naturally pure and endowed with the qualities of wisdom and compassion.’

For schedule and further details see the centre website: Bodhi Path Stavanger

The four immeasurables of unlimited love, compassion, joy and equanimity are at the heart of the development of Bodhicitta, the altruistic inner attitude that aspires to enlightenment in order to achieve the happiness of beings and their liberation from suffering.

Unlimited love is to cultivate a benevolent attitude towards all beings, to wish them access to temporary and ultimate happiness. Unlimited compassion wishes all beings to rid themselves of the causes of the suffering that binds them to this conditioned existence, to samsara, and prevents them from achieving liberating enlightenment. Unlimited joy soothes all jealousy, envy or competition with others by generating the attitude of rejoicing in the happiness of others. Unlimited equanimity develops an impartial attitude towards all beings, exceeding aversion for its enemies and attachment to its relatives.

Lama Jampa will explain how to practice the development of these qualities in a methodical way. In his latest book "Wisdom in Exile" (Ed. Rabsel 2017) he devotes an entire chapter to this subject where he details the close relationship between wisdom and compassion and qualifies them as "natural" because they are rooted in the true nature of our mind.

For schedule and bookings see the centre's website: Karma Migyur Ling