Visit of Lama Jampa Thaye to Sakya Dechen Ling Stuttgart. 20th - 22nd September 2024
Lama Jampa and Dechen Drolma arrived on the Friday 22nd at midday, and after lunch a visit was arranged to the site of the newly finalised Buddhist Cemetery in Stuttgart. The cemetery is already in use. The landscaping and furnishings arrangements were completed this year with the addition of a stone stupa close to the area set aside for the burial of ashes of the deceased, and of two stone benches large enough for people to be able to sit comfortably in meditation. The location is very pleasant and peaceful, and on Sunday mornings a sitting meditation session is scheduled which anyone is free to join.
On Friday evening Lama Jampa continued his teaching of the ‘Dom Sum’ by Sakya Pandita. In this session Lama Jampa paused his actual verse by verse clarification of the text, explaining that it would be beneficial at this point to be reminded of the essential structures and purposes of the text. He therefore taught instead the small booklet he has recently written for this purpose, "Some Preparatory Notes on Sakya Pandita`s Discriminating the Three Vows", and which also explains the precise definitions and usage of key words, such as ‘vow’ in the context of the text.
On the Saturday we then proceeded with another two sessions of study of the text, and on Sunday Lama Jampa gave the initiation of the form of Chenrezig “Lion’s Roar”, called Simhanada in Sanskrit, which was brought to Tibet by the translator from Bari called Rinchen Drag, often simply called Bari Lotsawa, who was the second throne holder of the Sakya Tradition. This form of Chenrezig’s primary activity is to remove obstacles to Dharma practice from sickness and disease, especially illness caused by nagas and serpents.