White Tara Initiation"* and Tri (Instructions for Practice)

Saturday 13 April 10:30am - 4:30pm

Sunday 14 April 10:00am - 1:00pm

This is a rare opportunity to receive the extraordinary teachings of the Moon River Flow White Tara. This system of practice is the principal Vajrayana means of achieving longevity. The course will begin with the initiation and tri (instruction) of White Tara by Ngawang Legpa.

Please note:

* In order to attend this teaching you must have made a formal commitment to the Buddhist path through taking refuge. If you would like to take refuge beforehand please contact the centre.

For further details please see the local website.

The Rays of the Stainless Vajra Moon by Jamgon Kongtrul

Lama Jampa will continue with 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 information please visit the local website.

Patterns in Emptiness

Saturday and Sunday 10:00am - 4:30pm

In connection with his forthcoming book ‘Patterns in Emptiness’ Lama Jampa will reference texts from across the Buddhist canon in order elucidate the teachings on emptiness and interdependent origination.

‘All phenomena have an existence on a relative level but according to Buddhism are devoid of existence proper to the ultimate level.  This is called the emptiness of phenomena.  This reality is extremely difficult to achieve, but it is only this that determines our access to liberation from the cycle of rebirths. 
This emptiness, however, is not a nothingness, it only defines what does not exist: an existence in itself. 
This emptiness therefore refers to the notion of the interdependence of phenomena, to their composite aspect, whatever they may be.’

See the local website for further information.

The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa

Saturday 23 February 10.30am – 4.30pm

Sunday 24 February  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 Initiation of Amitayus

Sunday 24 February 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.

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.