Following on from the general introduction to the Vajrayana given over the course of a weekend at Dhagpo, Lama Jampa remained for a further five days to continue the teaching and transmission for the authoritative treatise on the ‘Tantra Sets’ composed by the great Sakya master Sonam Tsemo (1142-82). As such this was the third year of the teaching and as before, it was well attended in the main hall at the Dhakpo Institute by monastics and lay people from all over France, and indeed there were many who had traveled from UK, Germany, and elsewhere.
The section of the text that Lama-la covered this time started with different theories of the great masters of old on the delineation of the tantras into four sets, i.e. Kriya, Cary, Yoga, Anuttara. These explanations attempt to correlate the four sets to non-buddhist traditions in India, to different philosophical schools within Buddhism, and even to the romantic activities of various levels of gods! Whereas these theories may seem obscure, and may not even be literally true, nonetheless Lama Jampa skilfully explained how they function to educate as to the significance of each of the tantra sets, and interjected with many examples of misunderstandings in contemporary understanding of Vajrayana in the West. Indeed this applied throughout the text as the structure and meaning of the different levels of tantra, most especially the annuttara tantra (supreme yoga), were explained in depth and with humour, citing contemporary examples where, due to people not being properly educated in the vajrayana, things may have gone horribly wrong!
During the breaks in the teaching, it was possible to get together with the other students for lunch in the refectory, to take refreshments in the seemingly unrelenting heat of the Dordogne, to walk around the grounds, and to circumambulate the stupas. Of course it is always a pleasure to renew acquaintances with old friends and to meet new friends, with whom, whether near or far, we are closely connected through our devotion to the dharma and especially to our wonderful teachers. The team at Dhagpo were great as usual, relaxed and easy-going, and yet making sure everything ran smoothly all the same.
On the final day the students were able to make the traditional white scarf (katak) offering to Lama Jampa, and there were also offerings of appreciation to Audrey, who with seemingly tireless joy, translated the teachings into French so as to ensure that what we missed in one language, would be understood in the other.
All things being well, we hope that Lama Jampa will be able to continue the text next summer.