Public talk in Geneva - 'Buddhism: where to start?'
On Thursday June 7 Lama Jampa gave a public talk on ‘Buddhism: where to start?’ at the Vimalakirti Centre in Geneva.
Karma Migyur Ling
The following day he and Dechen Dolma travelled to France to give teachings at Karma Migyur Ling, Montchardon, near Izeron in France as Lama Jampa had been invited to teach there again.
Karma Migyur Ling is a centre for Tibetan studies instituted over 40 years ago by Lama Tunsang, who helped to build (yes, hands on) and develop it into the wonderful place it is today, with a traditional temple, accommodation and retreat facilities. A community of more than 20 people live and practice there, with regular courses provided by visiting lamas.
Four Limitless Meditations
Lama Jampa gave a detailed presentation on The Four Limitless Meditations to over 50 people, from around Grenoble and Geneva and further afield. He taught according to the teaching of Patrul Rinpoche, so that the order of the instructions begins with equanimity, and continues with loving kindness, compassion, and joy.
Detailed teaching and instructions were given for meditation on the practice of each quality – meditation on each line of the verse, and a meditation on developing the relevant quality by recognising all beings as having been our mothers to whom we are indebted for their care, starting with our present-life mother and extending our wishes to family, friends, enemies and then to all beings everywhere. Lama Jampa stressed that such love is not based on a shallow foundation of sentimentality, but involves overcoming all self-cherishing, to eventually return to the naturally arising loving kindness and compassion. As Lama Jampa said,
When you regard another with love, your self is not there, but you are most truly who you are.
Lama Jampa emphasised that the impartial love and concern that we are aiming to develop is not a cold, intellectual mind state, but a heartfelt feeling of love and concern for those who come into our lives in whatever way, experiencing joy in their successes - and extending this to include all beings in a vast and immeasurable love.
May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness
May they be free from suffering and the causes of suffering
May they never be separate from the highest bliss which is without suffering
May they come to rest in the great impartiality which is free of attachment and aversion to those near and far
Lama Jampa's next public teaching will be in Stavanger, Norway from 23-24 June. Click here for details.