Miracle Day Puja
Kagyu Ling was blessed in February with an extended visit from Lama Jampa and family. They arrived on ‘Miracle’s Day’, which commemorates the Buddha’s performance of miracles to win over those who lacked confidence in the dharma. The day was celebrated at Kagyu Ling by reciting the The Praise of the Twelve Deeds of Shakyamuni and the The Puja of Prostrations to Sixteen Sthaviras.
Advising Students
During the six days of his stay, Lama Jampa gave individual interviews to about 60 people from across the North of England. Students were able to receive answers to questions about their life’s challenges, receive practice instructions and have points of dharma clarified.
The Jewel Ornament of Liberation
Over the weekend Lama Jampa continued to teach Gampopa’s Jewel Ornament of Liberation, completing the chapters on the spiritual friend, impermanence and progressing some way through the chapter on the defects of samsara.
Dharma Study
Lama Jampa concluded the teaching by emphasising the need to study and reflect on the dharma, and specifically Gampopa’s text, for those who received it. He explained that the process of study involved reading, thinking, teaching the section back to oneself, then checking the text against one’s understanding. Lama Jampa encouraged students to engage in the process of reviewing and learning the teachings in formal study sessions if possible on a daily, or at least weekly basis as this is the way that the dharma is realised.
Initiation of the Glorious Treasure of Immortality of Tangtong Gyalpo
On Sunday afternoon several people including two babies took refuge with Lama Jampa in the traditional way prior to receiving their first Vajrayana empowerment, the initiation of the Glorious Treasure of Immortality of Tangtong Gyalpo. Lama Jampa received this initiation himself from His Holiness 16thKarmapa, His Holiness Sakya Trizin, and Karma Thinley Rinpoche.
Forthcoming teachings
Lama Jampa will return to Manchester for the weekend of 6-7 July to continue teachings on the Jewel Ornament of Liberation. Full details can be found here.
Lama Jampa’s next teaching will be in London on Saturday 9 March, full details here.