This weekend in Manchester Lama Jampa continued with his teaching of Situ Dharmakara's commentary on the Third Karmapa's Mahamudra Aspiration Prayer.
Students from three continents gathered to receive teachings over two days. On the first day Lama Jampa began with teachings on the famous eleventh verse of the text:
'It is not existent, for even Buddhas have not seen it.
It is not non-existent, for it is the basis of all samsara and nirvana.
This is the unified middle way without contradiction.
May I realise mind free from extremes.'
This section on the fourth of the five aspirations made in the prayer - the aspiration to practice the path correctly - encompasses instructions on how to gain certainty about the nature of mind, to the achievement of stability through meditating on the view. The depth of Karmapa Rangjung Dorje's commentary and the clarity of Lama Jampa's explanation were a blessing for all those present.
On the second day, in a break from the usual rhythm of the shedra, Lama Jampa presided over presentations from the Dechen Conference, which had taken place at Kagyu Ling on the previous Friday. At the close of this event Lama Jampa gave an inspiring talk about the joy and inspiration to be found in working for Dechen, and the inseparability of such work from our formal dharma practice of sadhana recitation and study. Following His Holiness Karmapa's injunction to followers of the Karma Kagyu to purify any negativity acquired due to involvement in the controversies of past years, Lama Jampa ended the morning session with transmission of the Confession Prayer in front of the Thirty Five Buddhas.
The weekend concluded appropriately with the transmission of the jenang of Vajrakilaya - embodiment of the indestructible compassion of enlightened mind which transcends all negative emotions - from the terma lineage of Chogyur Lingpa.
Lama Jampa will return to Manchester in February 2024 to continue the transmission of these precious teachings.