The autumn visit of Lama Jampa Thaye to Dechen Los Angeles was a joyful and deeply inspiring occasion, drawing students old and new to receive a series of profound Buddhist teachings. With his characteristic warmth, clarity, and sense of humor, Lama Jampa shared timeless wisdom in a way that felt both authentic to the tradition and deeply relevant for modern life.
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A Weekend of Wisdom, Change and Continuity
The recent autumn teachings weekend on 18 October with Lama Jampa Thaye in Bristol was even more significant this year. With it, Lama Jampa taught the final part of ‘Discriminating the Three Vows’ by Sakya Pandita, a series which started back in London in November 2022. Throughout the day we were also reminded of the continued presence of our excellent, long standing Co-ordinator, David Armstrong, who passed away on 20 September, aged 69.
Read MoreDispelling Darkness in Renchen Ulm
Lama Jampa's final stop on his journey through southern Germany and Switzerland was the Bodhipath Center Renchen-Ulm. Here, he continued his teachings on Karmapa Rangjung Dorje's Shastra "Distinguishing Consciousness and Primordial Wisdom", drawing on the commentary "The Lamp That Dispels Darkness" by his own master, Karma Thinley Rinpoche.
Read MoreFrom Germany to Switzerland – Dharma Flows Across Borders
Last weekend Lama Jampa Thaye continued his autumn teaching tour in central Europe, beginning with a visit to Stuttgart where he taught at the Dechen, Sakya Dechen Ling.
Read MoreThe Power of Mind Training: Lama Jampa’s Autumn Visit to Yorkshire
On Saturday 20 September, Venerable Lama Jampa Thaye gave a day of teaching at Ashville College, Harrogate. The college, set in beautiful grounds, provided a fitting setting for this autumn visit to Yorkshire.
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A flash of lightning on a dark night
The wild and beautiful Dordogne in France is often witness to dramatic changes of weather, leading to vivid sunsets and misty dawns. It was in this setting that Lama Jampa Thaye gave teachings on Shantideva’s classic guide to the Buddhist path, the Bodhicharyavatara or ‘Entering the Bodhisattva Conduct’.
Read MoreAn education from Sakya Pandita
Lama Jampa returned to the breathtaking beauty of Dhagpo Kagyu Ling this week to continue teaching Sakya Pandita’s ‘Discriminating the Three Vows’ to more than forty attendees, including members of Dhagpo Kagyu Ling’s monastic sangha. The text is a work in which Sakya Pandita clarifies the confusion between the three systems of spiritual practice: hinayana, mahayana and vajrayana.
Read MoreDispelling Darkness at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling
Lama Jampa has completed two days of teaching Karma Thinley Rinpoche’s commentary on the Seven Points of Mind Training - Dispelling the Darkness of Suffering. More than 80 people from all over Europe and beyond gathered in the spacious setting of Dhagpo Kagyu Ling to hear the teaching.
Read MoreNothing to add, nothing to take away - receiving teachings on the Buddha nature in Manchester.
This past weekend, the 28th and 29th June, Lama Jampa Thaye returned to Manchester to continue teaching Maitreya’s Uttaratantra Shastra (The Supreme Continuity). This came one week after teaching for the first time in Stirling, Dundee, at the invitation of the newly established Dechen Scotland.
Read MoreAn Inspiring Day with Lama Jampa: A Journey Just Begun.
What an extraordinary day it was for those who gathered for Lama Jampa Thaye's public talk on Buddhism! The air was buzzing with anticipation and a shared sense of curiosity as people, from seasoned practitioners to complete newcomers, arrived. And by all accounts, the Lama was able to connect with all levels.
Read MorePure gold: advice from Sakya Pandita and initiation of gonkar in Bristol
On 7th and 8th June, Sakya Buddhist Centre Bristol hosted a joyful weekend of profound teachings and practice with Lama Jampa Thaye. Over these two days, many people gathered to learn about the Buddhist path as explained by Sakya Pandita, a great Tibetan Buddhist master, and to receive the Vajrayana initiation of Gonkar.
Understanding the teachings
In the morning, Lama Jampa taught how to approach Buddhist wisdom, using Sakya Pandita’s text, ‘Discriminating the Three Vows’ and the associated explanation or commentary by Gorampa Sonam Sengge. He explained how it’s necessary to rely not just on the written sources of the teaching, but also on reasoning to establish what is valid. This will ensure that the Buddha’s teachings continue to work and unfold the qualities of enlightenment within us. As the Buddha said, we need to test the teachings for ourselves, just as a merchant carefully checks gold before accepting it. Sakya Pandita’s writings help us learn how to discuss Buddhist ideas with others and strengthen our own understanding, turning initial inspiration into a well-founded, lasting confidence.
Whilst these teachings may seem complex, Lama Jampa reassured everyone that even if a teaching doesn’t make sense or seem relevant to us right away, it will become clearer over time as “all dharma teachings weave together in one path”.
The vajrayana initiation of Gonkar
In the afternoon, those who had formally committed to the Buddhist path through taking Refuge and the Bodhisattva vow received the initiation of Gonkar. Gonkar, also known as Gonpo Yizhin Norbu, is a Buddhist deity associated with wealth and protection. He is considered an emanation of Chenrezik, the embodiment of compassion. Praying to Gonkar attracts positive circumstances for our own practice of the Buddhist path, so that we can achieve enlightenment more swiftly for the benefit of others.
Chenrezik practice at Sakya Buddhist Centre Bristol
On Sunday Lama Jampa gave the reading transmission for the Chenrezik practice ‘For the Benefit of Beings that Pervades Space’, as well as explaining the key points, so that anyone new to this could fully participate. Everyone then did the practice of Chenrezik together in the Sakya Buddhist Centre Bristol’s shrine room.
Looking ahead
Lama Jampa will return to the Dechen Sakya Centre Bristol again in the autumn, following the annual summer course in France.
A Two-Week Celebration of Dharma - A Joyful Visit to Dechen LA
Lama Jampa Thaye has just completed a vibrant and joyful visit to Dechen LA in Santa Monica. The temple in Santa Monica was filled to the brim with longtime sangha members and new friends from across California, including many from the Bodhi Path community.
Read MoreMexico City doubly blessed by Sakya dharma teachings and transmissions
Earlier this month Lama Jampa and Dechen Dolma were in Mexico City for a few weeks of teachings hosted by the Sakya centre there, Sakya Dolma Ling. This was a very special visit due to the presence of His Holiness Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, the 42nd Gongma Trichen, whom Lama jampa had requested to bestow teachings.
Read MoreAdvice Straight from the Heart by Patrul Rinpoche
Blessed with sunshine all day, Yorkshire Buddhist Community welcomed visitors from around the country to hear this wonderful teaching given by Lama Jampa Thaye.
Read MoreTeaching the Tantra Sets in a Magical Temple in the Auvergne
Lama Jampa returned to Dhakpo Kundreul Ling, the foremost monastic center of the Karma Kagyu in the West, to continue the teaching on the Tantra Sets that he had begun last year, and indeed that he had previously taught at Dhakpo Kagyu Ling, the other main seat of His Holiness Karmapa in France.
Read MoreGreat Sakya Dharma, Great Sakya Lamas
This weekend Lama Jampa gave both a full day of Vajrayana Buddhist teachings in London, and also hosted a visit of His Eminence Khöndung Asanga Vajra Rinpoche to the Dechen London temple in Notting Hill (106 Chepstow Road).
Read MoreBathing in Buddha Nature at KIBI
In his welcome address to the participants of the 2025 Public teachings course at KIBI, Lama Jampa laid out the feast of Karma Kagyu dharma that was to come, as it included all aspects of the dharma.
Read MoreDiscriminating consciousness, dispelling darkness - Karma Kagyu teachings in Prague
The weekend course, held in Prague from February 21–23, 2025, was the third part of the series on 3rd Karmapa Rangjung Dorje's Namshe-Yeshe.
Read MorePrimordial Wisdom and Wisdom in Exile: teachings for Bodhi Path and Dechen in Germany
Lama Jampa visited the Bodhipath Centre in Renchen Ulm from 14.2. to 16.2.25. There he gave teachings on Karmapa Rangjung Droje Shastra "Distinguishing Consciousness and Primordial Wisdom" for the 5th time.
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