Lama Jampa Thaye’s 2015 teaching programme opened this weekend in Bristol with Sakya Pandita’s ‘Reply to Nyimo Gomchen’ and the initiation of White Tara from the lineage of Shakya Shri. Sakya Pandita’s text, written as a series of answers to 23 questions by a 12th – 13th century meditator, removes confusion on how to practise the authentic dharma path and achieve realisation. It was given at a time in Tibet when many teachers and disciples held mistaken beliefs about the nature of enlightenment and were focusing on just one element of dharma practice, such as meditation. With dharma so new in the West, this short text is an ideal support for practitioners today.
In the afternoon, Lama Jampa gave the initiation of White Tara from the lineage of the great Kashmiri scholar Shakyashri Bhadra, one of Sakya Pandita’s main teachers. Renowned for bestowing the blessings of long life and thus increasing the opportunity for spiritual practice, White Tara is one of three such deities along with Namgyalma and Amitayus. This particular tradition of White Tara is contained in Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo’s Collection of All Sadhanas (Tib Druptap Kuntu) and was also previously given by Karma Thinley Rinpoche in 1999.
Lama Jampa will continue to teach the ‘Reply to Nyimo Gomchen’ on his return to Sakya Thinley Rinchen Ling later this year.
Click here for further information about Shakyashri Bhadra