| Teachings on
Bodhicitta by Lama Thubten Yeshe |
Bodhicitta: The
Perfection of Dharma
I think it is absolutely essential for us to have loving
kindness towards others. There is no doubt about this. Loving-kindness
is the
essence of bodhicitta, the attitude of the bodhisattva. It is the most
comfortable path, the most comfortable meditation. There can be no
philosophical, scientific or psychological disagreement with this. With
bodhicitta, there's no East-West conflict. This path is the most
comfortable,
most perfect, one hundred percent uncomplicated one, free of any danger
of
leading people to extremes. Without bodhicitta, nothing works. And most
of all,
your meditation doesn't work, and realizations don't come. 
Why is bodhicitta necessary for success in meditation? Because
of selfish grasping. If you have a good meditation but don't have
bodhicitta,
you will grasp at any little experience of bliss: 'Me, me; I want more, I
want
more.' Then the good experience disappears completely. Grasping is the
greatest
distraction to experiencing single-pointed intensive awareness in
meditation.
And when we grasp, we are always dedicated to our own happiness: 'Me, me
I'm
miserable, I want to be happy. Therefore I'll meditate.' It doesn't work
that
way. For some reason good meditation and its results - peacefulness,
satisfaction and bliss - just don't come.
Also, without bodhicitta it is very difficult to collect merits.
You create them and immediately destroy them; by afternoon, the
morning's
merits have gone. It's like cleaning a room and an hour later making it
dirty
again. You make your mind clean, then right away you mess it up - not a
very
profitable business. If you want to succeed in the business of
collecting merits,
you must have bodhicitta. With bodhicitta you become so precious - like
gold,
like diamonds; you become the most perfect object in the world, beyond
compare
with any material things.
From the Western, materialistic point of view, we'd think it was
great if a rich person said,'I want to make charity. I'm going to offer
$100 to
everybody in the entire world.' Even if that person gave with great
sincerity,
his or her merit would be nothing compared with just the thought,'I wish
to
actualize bodhicitta for the sake of sentient beings, and I'll practise
the six
paramitas as much as I can. That's why I always say, actualization of
bodhicitta is the most perfect path you can take.
"The best Dharma
practice, the most perfect, most substantial, is without doubt the
practice of
bodhicitta."
Remember
the story of the Kadampa geshe who saw a man circumambulating a stupa?
He said,
'What are you doing?' and the man answered, 'Circumambulating.' So the
geshe
said, 'Wouldn't it be better if you practised Dharma?' Next time the
geshe saw
the man he was prostrating, and when he again asked what he was doing,
the man
replied, 'One hundred thousand prostrations.' 'Wouldn't it be better if
you
practised Dharma?' asked the geshe. Anyway, the story goes on, but the
point is
that just doing religious-looking actions like circumambulation and
prostration
isn't necessarily practising Dharma. What we have to do is transform our
attachment and self-cherishing, and if we haven't changed our mind in
this way,
none of the other practices work; doing them is just a joke. Even if you
try to
practise tantric meditations, unless you've changed within, you won't
succeed. Dharma
means a complete change of attitude - that's what really brings you
inner
happiness, that is the true Dharma, not the words you say. Bodhicitta is
not
the culture of ego, not the culture of attachment, not the culture of
samsara.
It is an unbelievable transformation, the most comfortable path, the
most
substantial path - definite, not wishy-washy. Sometimes your meditation
is not
solid; you just space out. Bodhicitta meditation means you really want
to
change your mind and actions and transform your whole life.
We are all involved in human relationships with each other. Why
do we sometimes say, 'I love you,' and sometimes, 'I hate you?' Where
does this
up-and-down mind come from? From the self-cherishing thought - a
complete lack
of bodhicitta. What we are saying is, 'I hate you because I'm not
getting any
satisfaction from you. You hurt me; you don't give me pleasure. That's
the
whole thing: I - my ego, my attachment - am not getting satisfaction
from you,
therefore I hate you. What a joke! All the difficulties in
inter-personal
relationships come from not having bodhicitta, from not having changed
our
minds.
So, you see, just meditating is not enough. If that Kadampa
geshe saw you sitting in meditation he'd say, 'What are you doing?
Wouldn't it
be better if you practiced Dharma?' Circumambulating isn't Dharma,
prostrating
isn't Dharma, meditating isn't Dharma. My goodness, what is Dharma,
then? This
is what happened to the man in the story. He couldn't think of anything
else to
do. Well, the best Dharma practice, the most perfect, most substantial,
is
without doubt the practice of bodhicitta.
Extract from a teaching given by Lama
Yeshe at Kopan Monastery, Nepal 1983, and taken
from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. To read the full teaching please click here.
|
| Welcome to the Spring 2010
Programme - |
 This
Spring the Tuesday and Wednesday classes with Geshe Tashi start again at
the
beginning of February. In his general class on Wednesdays he will teach
on How Meditation Helps Our Mind.
In his
more in-depth class on Tuesdays he will teach on a key Mahayana Buddhist
scripture, the Heart (or Essence of Wisdom)
Sutra, which captures the meditative core of the understanding of
selflessness and emptiness; the understanding that sets us free from
compulsive
repetitive unhelpful behaviour.
During
his weekend teachings Geshe Tashi will be teaching an Introduction to
Buddhism, which should not be missed, and will
teach on The Four Noble Truths at the
end of April, beginning of May.
Geshe Tashi will
also continue his popular Easter Retreats; the subject this year being
Kindness, Compassion and Understanding.
In addition, he will lead two short weekend retreats, focusing on
Shamata - Clarity and Stability in
Meditation, and on Chenrezig, the
deity embodying vast impartial compassion.
For
people new to Buddhism we are running two short FPMT courses, Buddhism
in a Nutshell and Meditation 101. So that people who can't
come in the evenings can still participate in these courses we are
running them
on Thursday mornings as well as Thursday evenings. This is an
experiment, so
please give us feedback.
Don't worry if you can't make weekday mornings or
evenings as we will offer these courses again at weekends in the
Summer Programme. We also continue
to offer the popular one evening Introduction
to Meditation.
Another
event suitable for people new to Buddhism is Three Uses for Meditation
on Wednesdays in April. This looks at
three broad uses of meditation: to restore, to give direction and to
know
ourselves better.
The
popular course Core Practices of Buddhist
Meditation continues, focusing this Spring on the four wholesome
emotions
of Love, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity. Though this comprehensive
structured
course is now about a third of the way through, students can start at
any time
in the cycle or can attend on a drop-in basis. This course is suitable
for
people new to Buddhism.
This Spring
we are introducing the first two weekend events in a new series looking
at how
Buddhism can help us deal with difficult emotions. Dealing with
Disappointment comes at the end of January and Dealing with Fear at the
end of April.
These are suitable for people new to Buddhism. Again this is an
experiment, so
please let us know how it works for you.
In this
programme too, the venerable nun Konchog Khandro (Ani Barbara) kindly
shares her
experiences of what she has found to be essential in her over twenty
five years
of Buddhist practice.
We
also have the major Tibetan Buddhist festival of the
Great Prayer Day, which falls on the first full moon after the Tibetan
New
Year. Please come along and join with us in pujas (ceremonies) focusing
on the
qualities of Shakyamuni Buddha and celebrating his energy.
New
this term we are introducing regular pujas on Tuesday mornings and early
evenings to the emerald green goddess Tara, the embodiment of the
liberating
energy of enlightenment. We continue to host Lama Chopa and Tsok
ceremonies,
and practice mornings or afternoons for those with Kalachakra or
Guhyasamaja
initiations.
Possibly
more controversially, we are introducing an occasional series of
discussion
forums, Heresy Friday, looking at 'difficult' issues that arise as
Buddhism
moves from its traditional hierarchical Asian heartland into democratic
liberal
Western societies. The first of these will be held in March and will
look at Buddhism and Sexuality taking as the
starting point for discussion Jose Cabezon's recent on-line article in
Buddhadharma The Practitioners Quarterly entitled "Rethinking Buddhism
and Sex".
Future discussion
topics in 2010 will be Buddhism
and Women, and Buddhism and the
Environment. We will evaluate the success of the series at the end of
the
calendar year. Though these forums are open to everyone, of any faith or
none,
space is limited, so please register to take part.
Continuing
with innovation, we are very pleased to announce that the accomplished
workshop
presenter and trained Essential Education facilitator, Anna Colao, has
agreed
to lead two workshops. These will tease out the practical implications
of two
of the articles written for Essential Education's Knowledge Base. Mind
Over Matter explores how we can
recognise and transform our mental states. Being
Reasonable explores how we can sharpen our intellect and improve our
reasoning. These weekend seminars are open to everyone, of any faith or
none,
and aim to explore universal themes underlying systems developed to
produce
happier, braver, more compassionate human beings.
Finally, at the end of January we are hosting a five
day retreat on the highest yoga tantra deity practice of Guhyasamaja.
This is
for initiates only.
|
|
WHAT'S COMING UP AT JAMYANG |
|
HIGHLIGHTS IN JANUARY,
FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2010 |
REGULAR CLASSES
Mondays in February @ 7.30pm
|
|
WEEKENDS
VISITING TEACHERS
| |
| Community Day at Jamyang
Saturday 19 December 12pm to 5.30pm - |
Community
Days are the "glue" holding us together as Jamyang Family
Please
come! Enjoy
our new heating system.Jamyang's
30th Birthday on November 2008 was a popular celebration of the past
that also honoured the present and learnt about Jamyang's 5 Year Plan
for the
future.
NOW ... join us for another
Community day - this year combined with Christmas fun. We will
welcome Geshe-la back from USA, share
lunch, celebrate great progress in the 5 Year Plan, gain a foretaste of
future
plans, and enjoy sharing a seasonal afternoon with each other.
Details
of the Afternoon: - 12 noon- Messages of Welcome, especially to Geshe Tashi, who will
bless
the newly gilded courtyard Buddha.
- Christmas lunch provided by the Centre
Mmmmmm.....Yuuuuummmmm (BUT PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU
ARE COMING SO WE CAN CATER FOR YOU!!
RSVP Email: sally@jamyang.co.uk)
- The Jamyang Five Year Plan: Progress, work in hand,
rejoicing. With
questions and answers - from Sally, Jamyang Director and Ros
Boughtflower,
Trustee
- Greet our new
Spiritual Programme Coordinator and hear his plans for
Jamyang's Education Programme in 2010 - from Mike Murray, SPC
- Xmas Gift Stall with goodies to buy
as Xmas presents
- Tea,
Christmas Carols - solos and sing-along - and a Surprise Visitor...ho
ho ho
- 5.30pm- End of Day
Dedications
Throughout the day:
Post your hopes for the future on
the Wish Fulfilling Christmas Tree
Enjoy relaxing with Jamyang friends.
See you there!
Love,
Roy
Gillett (Chair
of the Jamyang Board of Trustees) |
| Director's column- |
Wow,
that feels a bit premature, but this will be my last 2009 column, so I
really
hope you all have a great Xmas, and happy 2010 year.
Firstly,
I want to say an enormous thanks to all the kind folks, who contributed
to my
having a wonderful three day, all-expenses-paid, birthday trip to Paris
recently! I can honestly say this was
one of the best birthdays I have ever had: Paris itself, a Skype camera
call
between myself and my son here in London and my daughter and
step-daughter in
NZ (hilarious fun), and the latest Eddie Izzard DVD - what more could a
samsaric girl want? Seriously, I was so
touched by the kindness of everyone who offered the Paris trip - it was a
wonderful, wonderful gift. Please accept
a grateful thank you, thank you, thank you...
And a
progress report on the heating upgrade.
Aside from the £10,000 grant, your generosity has now raised
£5,400. That is nothing short of
brilliant! Warm thanks to everyone who contributed (and pardon the
pun). Two gorgeous slinky, tiny but powerful, new
boilers are installed in the basement and the pipe work connecting
everything
is nearly completed. Among other
benefits, we will have 6 separate heating "zones" so will have much more
control over the heat distribution. It
has been a massive undertaking, and as always, taken much longer than
anticipated. But the end result should keep us all warm and toasty at
Jamyang,
costing less and taking up less space, and working efficiently for many
years
to come.
On
Friday 27th November, we had a sweet gathering with the students and
tutors from the City & Guilds University, to celebrate their amazing
work
restoring and then offering gold leaf gilding, to our Buddha statue in
the
Courtyard (read Robin's article below).
Geshe
Tashi is still away teaching on the West Coast of America but I am
hearing
happy reports from the centres Geshe la has visited. See the
photos taken of Geshe la at Land of
Medicine Buddha during his visit there.
And,
please do join us for the Community Day on Saturday 19th December
(click here) Jamyang Family
Events are
important!
Don't
forget that the Centre will be completely closed between 27th Dec and
the end of January because of retreats taking place. The phone
messages and emails will not be
checked on a daily basis, but will be dealt with as often as we can.
A
happy/sad goodbye to Esther this month as she leaves Jamyang
employment. But the nice news is she will still be
working within our building as part of the Essential Education (EE)
team.
I'd
like to close by thanking everyone associated with Jamyang, for your
support
and help during 2009: Geshe Tashi, all our other teachers, staff, work
programme volunteers, general volunteers, Friends, students, tutors,
visitors,
Repaying the Kindness staff, Essential Education staff, even Maitreya
Project
Relic Tour coordinator, Victoria Ewart, who works out of Jamyang now ...
Everyone
who joins us in this building or via the internet for a large variety of
reasons and needs - you all bring something to Jamyang and help the
Centre to
flourish. May you be happy always.
With
love,
Sally
|
| The Parinirvana
Buddhaa Stuatue - Thank you to its sculptor and gilders |
 On
Friday November 27th we were able to welcome back Nick Durnan, the
sculptor, along with the tutors and students from the City and Guilds of
London
Art School in Kennington to thank them all for their efforts in making
and
gilding the Parinirvana Buddha in the courtyard at Jamyang.
To mark
the occasion, on one of the rare dry days in the wettest November since
records
began, we held a simple ceremony of offering praise to the Buddhas and
then Nick and the students offered
khatags to the statue. And, would you believe it, the sun came out!
Now
that it glitters with its transformation since the Summer, it is hard to
recall
that, for many years, the unprotected stone of Nick's original sculpture
had
begun to discolour beneath the ravages of pollution and lichen. The
group of
students who came under the guidance of expert tutors did a wonderful
job - patiently
cleaning and preparing the stone for gilding while the weather was
thankfully
kind. Then Miguel found time between numerous projects to make a cover
that has
kept the statue away from the wet while the gold leaf has had a chance
to
harden. |
Alan
Wallace seminar: A Critical View of Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation in
Clinical
Practice - |
In recent years use of
mindfulness in clinical practice has grown significantly, and has been
 championed as an important
development in the 'third wave' of cognitive and
behavioural therapies. On the back of this enthusiasm a great deal of
literature has been
generated, evidence for benefits reported, and
Government health policy influenced (e.g. NICE Guideline for
Depression).
However, among the fanfare of excitement and
enthusiasm about these developments, less has been heard from those who
question whether a Buddhist meditation practice should have a place in
the
scientific approaches of psychology and psychiatry. These views can be
found
within both the scientific and Buddhist communities.
During this one day experiential workshop Dr.
Wallace will offer a contribution to that discussion by presenting what
he sees
as some potentially overlooked concerns from a Buddhist perspective.
Using a
combination of talks and practical meditation instruction he will give
an
introduction to the wider picture of Buddhist theory and practice and
will
question whether the current wave of mindfulness therapies risks
reducing a
vast and rich tradition to a clinical intervention, and what the
consequences of
this might be for both the Buddhist and scientific traditions.
There will also be time for discussion to
explore these issues in greater depth. Questions will be invited from
participants to question and/or challenge Dr Wallace's argument, as well
as from
those who may have questions rising from their experience of mindfulness
in
their clinical work or in their personal meditation practice.
17th December 2009 10am - 4:30pm.
Southwark Training Centre,
Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill SE5 8AZ.
Attendance fee: by voluntary
donation. Booking is advised to ensure a place.
For
registration contact: J.Hutton@iop.kcl.ac.uk or Jim.Clark@slam.nhs.uk
|
| Repaying
the Kindness SOS |
We
hope this edition of Gentle Voice finds you happy and well.
This
is an update of the Repaying the Kindness (RTK) project, and an appeal
at the same time.
Update
first. In the past four months RTK has come under new management. Bella
El-Hasan is the new manager, and Anna Colao is doing fundraising,
management
support and administration. This new team is active and innovative and
aims to
create new directions for RTK, such as involving ex-carers and young
carers,
besides continuing RTK's already well-established good work. RTK is
Jamyang's
secular sister organisation, coming under the umbrella of our charity,
Courthouse
Community Centre.
RTK
has been running for nearly 8 years, offering high quality events that
give
carers a break and a community to belong to. During this time, most of
our
funding came via Southwark and Lambeth Councils. Lambeth cut their
funding to
RTK in 2008, and Southwark Council (our main funder) is unable to offer
funding
past March 2010. So at the moment we are
fundraising like crazy, and will be very grateful for any donations,
prayers
and good wishes, as we need to secure core funding (min. £30,000) as
soon as
possible.
However,
we have a more immediate mini crisis on our hands at this moment!
Lambeth
Carers, a local and well-established carers' organisation, is closing
down.
This is a real loss for carers in the area. It also means
Lambeth was unable to sponsor Lambeth carers coming to the RTK Christmas
Party
which took place on the 8th of December. And we are £130 down.
If
any one wants to make a donation/offering, we would be most grateful.
Every
donation will make a difference!
Offering
a Christmas gift to a carer-£2
Offering
entertainment and minced pies-£5
Sponsoring
a carer for a Christmas Lunch-£12.50
Sponsoring
a carer for the whole day - £25
You
can donate the money into our account here (please mention the money is
for
RTK):
Bank:
Duncan Lawrie
Name
of Account: Courthouse Community Centre Current Account
Sort Code: 60-93-77
Account No: 09954830
Or
you can put some money in our Donation Pot at Jamyang (on the bookshop
windowsill)
Thank
you! We wish you a wonderful
Christmas and an inspiring New Year.
Warmest
Wishes from the RTK Team
Anna
& Bella
P.S.
If you are interested in what issues carers are coping with, please go
to the
website which can give you much
useful information about carers in the
UK:
|
| Essential
Education Events in London- |
 For
those of you interested in Essential Education's activities, they will
be
hosting the following events during next year.
13 January 2010 -
Practical tools for a happy and meaningful life: Bringing together
science and spirituality
Workshop and discussion with Alison Murdoch and Denise Parker (Essential
Education)
Address: St Ethelburga's Centre for
Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate,
London, EC2N 4AG (0)20 7496 1610
30 and 31 January 2010 -
Practical tools for a happy and meaningful life: an Introduction to the
16
Guidelines
An experiential course designed to develop our capacity to be kind and
wise
Facilitator: Denise Parker and Claire van den Bosch
Address: St Ethelburga's Centre for
Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate,
London, EC2N 4AG (0)20 7496 1610
6
and 7 March 2010
Mind over matter. An interactive
experiential weekend workshop led by the inspiring facilitator Anna Colao exploring how to
recognise and transform our states of mind. Course content based
on the 'Mental States' topic in the 'Practicing Compassion' part of
Essential Education's Core Curriculum. Venue: Jamyang Buddhist Centre London, 43
Renfrew Road, London SE11 4NA (020 7820 8787).
17 and 18 April 2010
Being
Reasonable. An interactive weekend exploeing why we believe the
things we do and how to make our beliefs more reasonable. Led by
the inspirational Essential Education facilitator Anna Colao. Course content
based on the 'Sharpening our intellect' topic in the 'Practicing
Compassion' part of Essential Education's Core Curriculum. Venue: Jamyang Buddhist Centre London, 43
Renfrew Road, London SE11 4NA (020 7820 8787).
|
| FPMT News: Young
Dharma- |
Exciting
News ... FPMT Young Dharma
After
many questions from many centres and students wondering where the next
generation of FPMT students is, the FPMT Young Dharma Advisory Group was
born,
and we have come up with a few exciting forums and ideas that might be
helpful
for centres and students to use.
So we
would love you to help spread the word around your centres, put up
flyers,
email your students, create a special young peoples page on your website
and
write a note in your next newsletter... to let everyone know that FPMT
is
focusing on the next generation!
1.
FPMT Young Dharma Advisory Group
Email:
fpmtyoungdharma@ gmail.com
This is
a group of under 35 year old FPMT students from around the world who
have
connected and have established FPMT Young Dharma Advisory Group as a
resource
for FPMT centres, services and projects on issues relating to young
people and
the Dharma.
Please
feel free to email us with any questions: fpmtyoungdharma@ gmail.com
and, if you would
like to be involved in this group, let us know.
Our
first piece of advice was at the CPMT... 11
Points for the FPMT on How to Keep Young
People Involved in
their
centres.
-Be
friendly and explain the tradition and rituals to new people
-Youth
specific courses and retreats
-Give a
certificate of service & reference for volunteers - for CVs
-Promote
social service
-Create
links with Loving Kindness Peaceful Youth (LKPY) and Essential Education
(EE)
-Consider
cheaper rates for young people / concessions
-Think
about child care/babysitting so their parents can attend classes
-Create
a community feel - chai, coffee. And give them things to do, so they
don't feel
useless
-Consider
annual grants for young people to go to the Kopan November Course
-Opportunities
for young people to connect with Rinpoche and the FPMT Vision
-Link young
people to volunteering in other centres when they travel
2.
FPMT Young Dharma Social Networking Site
http://fpmtyoungdharma.ning.com
This is
a special social networking site for FPMT young people. It's aimed at
creating
the space for the next generation to connect, communicate, network and
keep in
touch. Encourage your young students to join.
3.
Dharma Kids Club
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dharmakids
Does
your
centre run a Dharma Kids Club, or thinking about starting one?
Encourage
your SPC or Dharma Kids Club Coordinator to join our Yahoogroups, and
let other
coordinators and SPCs know about your activities, ideas, what works/what
doesn't.
What
books and resources do you use? Ask questions of other coordinators -
it's a
great opportunity to share.
4.
LKPY: Loving Kindness Peaceful Youth
www.lkpy.org, www.nurturepeace.org, www.bekindday.org, www.standupfortibet.org
LKPY is
an International Peace Organisation for young people and an Essential
Education
project. LKPY aims to create the space for young people to form
connections,
exchange ideas and share passions, and to be inspired to make positive
changes
for ourselves, our communities and the world as a whole. LKPY believes
that
peace starts with just one person. Change your mind, Change the world!
We have
a variety of projects which help to do this. Here are 5 simple things
your
centres can do to link with LKPY.
1- Circle
21st September in your centres' calendars - it's the International Day
of Peace.
And create an event.
2-
Circle 31 March in your centres' calendars - it's LKPY International Be
Kind
Day... Encourage your students to get involved (www.bekindday. org)
3- Put
a link to the LKPY website on your website and link our YouTube promo
4- Join
our e-newsletter to keep up to date with LKPY happenings.www.lkpy.org/email_ news.php
5-
Consider starting your own HABIT! at your centres or in your local
communities.
5.
Essential Education
http://www.essential-education.org/
The aim
of Essential Education is to take forward the Dalai Lama's vision by
helping
children, youth and adults of all cultures and traditions to develop
their
innate capacity to be kind and wise, and contribute to peace in the
world.
Essential Education has many exciting activities for young people,
especially
working with the 16 guidelines.
6.
FPMT Youth Dharma Webpage
http://www.fpmt.org/education/youth_dharma/
Did you
realise that the FPMT website has a specific page dedicated to young
people?
Check it out, add a link from your site and let your students know. |
Buddhist
Digital Art - Tim Barrow
|
Jamyang
Salisbury student Tim Barrow contacted us to share with the community
how to
create simple Buddhist imagery
using Microsoft Windows software. Please read below. For more details
you can
contact Tim at: buddha_barrow@yahoo.co.uk
It is possible to create fairly
simple Buddhist imagery using Microsoft Windows software. Most programs
such as
PowerPoint, Excel, and Word have Auto shapes, and Word Art included in
them.
They can be accessed on the Drawing, and Word Art toolbars via View on
the main
menu. I started by experimenting with ideas for a lotus, using
PowerPoint
(Windows XL version). Apart from some training in how to use PowerPoint,
I am
virtually self-taught as far as Buddhist art is concerned. The following
pictures show how curly brackets can be used to create a simple lotus
using
Word Art.
|
| Kalachakra
Initiation in London June 13 - 15 to be given by HH the Sakya Trizin. |
 His
Holiness the Sakya Trizin will give the Kalachakra initiation in London
next
year from 13 -15 June, at the invitation of Lama Jampa Thaye to mark the
opening of Sakya Dechen Ling, the only Sakya tradition Dharma centre in
London.
His
Holiness is a guru of our guru Kyabje Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche and is
close
to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The
initiation will be offered to those who have formally become Buddhists
by
'Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels' and will require participants to
take the
three sets of vows, i.e. the vows of individual liberation, bodhisattva
and
vidyadhara. The two days of initiation will be preceded by a public talk
on
"Parting from the Four Attachments". This is a very rare opportunity to
connect with a truly great master and, for those attending the
initiation, to
refresh these extremely important vows.
For
further information and tickets please visit www.dechen.org/kalachakra2010 .
A discount fee of £75 (£55 concessions) is available if tickets are
ordered
before 28 February 2010.
|
| FPMT- |
 Jamyang is affiliated with FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation
of the Mahayana Tradition) and is one of more than 150 centers and
projects worldwide.
FPMT is based on the Gelugpa tradition of Lama
Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught by our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and
spiritual director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. If you would like to receive
FPMT's monthly newsletters please subscribe here.
|
| Your thoughts |
| What do you want to see in Gentle
Voice? We would love to hear your ideas and comments
about Gentle Voice, please contact Mike at: spc@jamyang.co.uk | |
