Kagyu Samye Dzong London
News

June 2006

Contents

1. Visit of Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche, 7th - 11th June
2. An Introduction to Empowerment
3. Manor Baths - news
4. Forthcoming events

1 - Visit of Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche to the Centre, 7th-11th June

We are delighted to welcome Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche to the Centre this month. Rinpoche is an accomplished meditation master of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, the co-founder of Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre in Scotland, inspired the Holy Island Project and has started many Samye Dzong and Rokpa centres worldwide.

During his visit Rinpoche will be offering empowerments for both the Guru Rinpoche and Medicine Buddha practices as well as a question and answer session. Other teachings will be given by Ken Holmes. Ken writes, teaches and interprets for visiting Tibetan lamas at Samye Ling and associated centres.

Refuge Ceremony

In an addition to the previously published program Rinpoche will also be giving Refuge on Friday 9th June at 5.00 pm. One formally becomes a Buddhist by taking Refuge in the Buddha as the teacher, in the Dharma (teachings) as the path and in the Sangha as companions on the path. If you would like to know more about the Refuge ceremony please contact Lama Zangmo with any questions, or to register for the ceremony please contact the office either by email or phone on 020-7928 5447.

To see the detailed itinery for the weekend just click here. To book your place, contact the office.

2 - An Introduction to Empowerment

You may have noticed that some events in the programme are restricted to those who have received certain empowerments. The next one of these is the Medicine Buddha Instructions which will be given by Lama Zangmo in July prior to the starting of a regular Medicine Buddha practice at the Centre during the autumn. At its simplest, an empowerment gives you permission to undertake a certain practice - however that is very simple. For a fuller explanation, read on.

What is an empowerment?

The empowerment is a blessing, which creates a link with the Buddhas, the Vajra-Master and the Lineage. It sows a seed which may ripen into benefit either later on in this life, after death or during future lives. Anyone taking an empowerment as a blessing need not worry too much if they cannot follow all the details. It is enough just to relax the mind and attend to the stages with a feeling of devotion to the lineage and compassion for all beings.

Empowerment is like a brief preview of one’s whole future spiritual journey. Just like the practice it empowers one into, it contains refuge, bodhisattva commitment, purification, form and formless meditation, generosity and dedication and sharing of goodness with all sentient beings.

Empowerment literally means anointing, pouring, inaugurating – as in the inauguration of a king. Through giving up the defilements, the mind is made pure, and the power of primordial wisdom is poured into a clean and proper vessel. Empowering - just as in ancient times one who had been anointed as king could then carry out all the royal functions, so likewise someone anointed into the Vajrayana mandala can subsequently practice and study that particular teaching.

During the empowerment, if the participants mind is open enough, something of the real meaning of the practice can be perceived due to the presence of the Vajra-Master, in whom the practice is mature. At best there can be recognition of the true nature of reality and recognition of one’s own body, speech and mind being no different from the pure body, speech and mind of the Buddha. It is described in the lifestories of the lineageholders such as Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa and their students how they sometimes experienced reality in crystal clarity. However, they were exceptionally gifted disciples, and one should not be disappointed if one has no “special” experiences.

Who can give an empowerment?

The extraordinary teacher who gives the pith instructions,
Has received empowerments, kept the samayas and is at peace,
Has mastered the meaning of ground, path and fruition,
Has all the signs of visualisation and perfection stages of meditation
And has been freed by realisation,
Has limitless compassion and cares only for others,
Has few activities and is wholly pre-occupied with Dharma,
Is fed up with worldly things and inspires others to world-weariness,
Is expert in skillful means and has the blessing of the lineage,
Follow such a teacher and accomplishment comes swiftly.

From the text kunzang lame shallung - Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche

It must be a holder of the lineage of a practice. This means someone with authentic, stable realisation of the absolute truth or at least someone who has had "face-to-face" experience with the Buddhas or the Yidams. Normally these are the Rinpoches or Tulkus who have received the lineage transmission properly and been authorised to empower others by their own Gurus. This is the case with Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche, who was recognised as a tulku of the former Akong Rinpoche by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa.

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3 - Manor Baths news and latest slideshow

Work at Manor Baths continues apace - mostly carried out by a small core group of dedicated volunteer workers who would be delighted to welcome any other assistance people are able to offer on any day of the week except Tuesday. If you are able to take part, not only will you gain plenty of merit (not to mention exercise!), you will also have the satisfaction of knowing they've contributed to the new site.

For those who like a particular opportunity to volunteer there is a Manor Baths volunteer weekend coming up on the 17th-18th June. If you are able to come, please let us know so that we have an idea of the numbers to cater for. You can either email us, or phone the office on 020-7928 5447. However, if you only find out that you can come at the last minute but haven't told us.. just turn up anyway - you'll be equally welcome!

To find directions and a map to get to Manor Baths, just click here.

Progress to-date

Work on the building is being carried out from the top downwards. Partitions for the top flat are now in place, as are the doorframes on the top floor, and the bathroom is nearly finished. Most of the partitions on the first floor are also now up. We've taken advantage of the scaffolding to paint all the windows on the outside on the front of the building as well as repairing the guttering there. Work on the roof is still in progress as a result of the wettest May in 23 years. So much for the drought! We're still aiming to complete this before the scaffolding comes down in mid-June (it would a bit difficult reaching the roof without it!). Apart from that it's all been rather quiet..

For the latest installment of our online slideshow, click here.

4 - Forthcoming events

JUNE

Visit of Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche - Empowerments and Teachings,
Assisted by Ken Holmes
Wednesday 7th - Sunday 11th June
Per evening: £10 Sat/Sun: £30 per day Full course:£65
For full programme details, including times, just click here.

Introduction to meditation for beginners
7-9pm Thurs 15 June
£10
An introduction to the basics needed for meditation practice

Manor Baths Volunteer Weekend
10am-4pm Sat 17 – Sun 18 June
An opportunity to help out and thereby establish Samye Dzong at its new home! Please click here for directions on how to get there.

Tai Chi
with John Henry
Sun 18 June 10.30am-4pm
£25
A monthly class of tai chi with John Henry who has been studying martial arts for the last 13 years within the lineage of Chen Xiao Wang. The classes include a variety of chi kung exercises excellent for health, calmness, balance and relaxation. They are suitable for anyone and beginners are always welcome at any class.

CENTRE CLOSED
21-29 June
Centre closed due to Samye Ling Drupchen. Reopens Friday 30th June at 2pm.

JULY

The Way of Drawing
with Bella Green
10am-5pm Sat 8 – Sun 9 July
£55
Learning to see through drawing enables us to experience directly the amazing world we live in, and our feeling responses to it. The process of drawing enriches our perceptions and helps us to be in the here and now. For beginners and those with a little more experience. A list of course materials will be given upon booking.
Bella Green is a practising artist who has also been teaching art and design for over twenty years. She is a visiting tutor of drawing and colour at the Royal College of Art in London.

Understanding and Accepting Death and Dying
with Clive Holmes
7pm Friday 14 July; and 10am-4pm Sat 15 – Sun 16 July.
£55
In our society death and dying are taboo subjects yet they are inevitable for us all. By facing our fears and dispelling our ignorance about impermanence, we can learn how to improve the quality of our lives. This course will include exercises to help us be at ease with change, impermanence and the human condition. Please bring lunch to share.
Clive Holmes has been teaching meditation for the last fourteen years within the UK. He has completed over a year in intensive retreat and has studied widely.

Tai Chi
With John Henry
10.30am-4pm Sun 16 July
£25
A monthly class of tai chi with John Henry who has been studying martial arts for the last 13 years within the lineage of Chen Xiao Wang. The classes include a variety of chi kung exercises excellent for health, calmness, balance and relaxation. They are suitable for anyone and beginners are always welcome at any class.

About the Newsletter

This newsletter goes out to those who have expressed an interest in Kagyu Samye Dzong London. It covers news of the efforts and progress towards finding and funding a new site for the centre, and other events taking place in the coming weeks

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