Kagyu Samye Dzong London News

BUDDHISM - AN OVERVIEW OF THE PATH
with Karma Choden
Saturday 6th - Sunday 7th October, 
10.00 – 4.00 pm
£50
This weekend will be an overview of the Buddhist path and will involve study, reflection and practice. On Saturday we will look at the Hinayana, or foundation path of Buddhism, concentrating on the Four Noble Truths, while on Sunday we will look at the Mahayana tradition, concentrating on the development of bodhicitta, the awakened heart of enlightenment. There will also be meditation instructions given for calming and settling the mind and simple visualisation exercises for cultivating the open heart of compassion. This course is suitable for anyone. Bring lunch to share.
Karma Choden is an ordained monk who has completed a three year retreat in Kagyu Samye Ling in Scotland.

INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION
Thursday 11th October, 7.00 pm
£10
An introduction to meditation where concise instructions will be given in how to start a meditation practice.  The class will be a good foundation for further courses in meditation and an ideal start for beginners.

PRAJNA PARAMITA: VIDEO TEACHINGS BY TAI SITU RINPOCHE
Thursdays 18th, 25th October and
1st November,  7.00 pm   
By donation
Tai Situ Rinpoche is one of the Regents of the Karma Kagyu tradition and the root teacher to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa.  The Heart Sutra is the essence of the second turning of the Wheel of Dharma, and encompasses the teachings on voidness.  These teachings were given by His Eminence in Kagyu Samye Ling in 1998 and will be shown over 3 Thursday evenings here.

VOLUNTEER DAY
Sunday 21st October,
9.30 am onwards
An opportunity to come and help out at the centre, gaining lots of merit in the process. Leafsweeping is on the top of the agenda.  Lunch will be provided.

BOOK LAUNCH WITH LAMA YESHE LOSAL RINPOCHE
Wednesday 24th October at 7.00 pm,
with special guests, Mick Brown, Rinchen Khandro, singer dolkar Lhamo and piper Rob White
This special evening event will be held at Kagyu Samye Dzong London to launch the new book ‘Kagyu Samye Ling -The Story’. Commissioned by Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche the book charts Kagyu Samye Ling’s unique history from 1950s Tibet to the present day.  Packed with fascinating stories and rare photographs it paints a vivid picture of the first arrival, growth and blossoming of Tibetan Buddhism in the West.

CALM ABIDING: A DAY OF MEDITATION
with Lama Zangmo
Saturday 27th October,            
10.00 am - 4.00 pm
£30
A day devoted to practising the shinay meditation of calm abiding.  There will be instructions in meditation techniques such as breathing and visualisation in order to develop relaxation and inner peace.  There will be time for questions and an opportunity to clarify your understanding. Bring lunch to share.
Lama Zangmo is the resident Lama and teacher at Samye Dzong London. She has spent a total of eleven years in retreat and now oversees both the Samye Dzongs at Carlisle Lane and Manor Place as well as giving spiritual guidance

TIBETAN LANGUAGE COURSE FOR BEGINNERS
with Lama Zangmo
Wednesdays 31st October – 12th December, 
7.00 pm
£55
A 7-week course for people who wish to study classical tibetan.  The classes will focus on learning the alphabet and developing basic skills in reading and writing as well as some Dharma vocabulary.   The course must be booked in advance.

INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION
Tue 2nd October 7pm - 8.30pm
£10
This course will give an introduction to the basic meditation techniques such as posture and the use of the breath as a focus. The evening is open to all, whether Buddhist or non-Buddhist.

BUDDHISM IN A NUTSHELL
with Karma Choden
Wed 3rd - Thurs 4th October 7pm - 8.30pm
£10 per evening
This is an opportunity for anyone interested to learn more about the Buddhist philosophy and how to apply the teachings to everyday life.
Karma Choden is an ordained monk who has completed a three year retreat in Kagyu Samye Ling in Scotland.

DRAWING THE DEITY - CHENREZIG
with Ani Semchi
Sat 6th - Sun 7th October 10am - 5pm
£55
Chenrezig is the embodiment of the limitless compassion of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The Chenrezig visualisation practice gives us the opportunity to awaken our own potential for compassion.
This short course in drawing the form of Chenrezig is suitable for anyone - no previous experience necessary. After this course you may never see Chenrezig in the same way again... Please bring a drawing pad (a4 or a3), pencil, sharpener, eraser, ruler and some coloured pencils.
Ani Senchi has studied thanka painting for many years with master painter Sherab Palden Beru, and currently paints and teaches in Samye Ling and associated centres.

REFLEXOLOGY - HOW TO TREAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS
With Joelle Peeters
Sun 30th September, Sun 14th & Sun 28 October 10am - 5pm £75 (whole course)
Reflexology is an ancient therapy which uses reflex areas found on the feet to treat the whole body on a physical and emotional level. In this course you will learn the Reflex areas found on the foot and the Reflexology sequence.
This is a largely practical course, with some theory.
At the end of the course you will be able to give treatments to your family and friends. Please bring a towel, baby wipes and foot cream.
Joelle Peeters has over 10 years experience in reflexology and has taught the ITEC professional reflexology course for over 3 years. She is also the author of several books on reflexology.

RELAXATION - THE TARA ROKPA WAY
with Jane Miller
Sat 27th - Sun 28th October 10am - 4pm
£50
Simple breathing exercises and visualisation techniques, gentle movement and fully clothed massage. This course offers an opportunity to explore the methods and benefits of this unique, practical relaxation programme. Jane is a massage therapist and a course leader of the Tara Rokpa relaxation programme.

TIBET SLIDESHOW:
with Vin and Marilyn Harris
Fri 2nd November 7pm
£5
Vin and Marilyn will be showing their stunning slides from their recent visit to Dolma Lhakang and other places of pilgrimage in Tibet. They will also talk about next years pilgrimage to Dolma Lhakang, and answer questions about the various travel routes, visas, costs, transport and accommodation along the way. A good opportunity to find out more if you are interested in joining in 2008. All the funds from this slideshow will go to Dolma Lhakang.

GURU RINPOCHE INSTRUCTIONS:
with Lama Zangmo
Sat 3rd November 10am - 4pm
£30
Lama Zangmo will give instructions in the peaceful practice of Guru Rinpoche which is done regularly at the Centre. There will be a Guru Rinpoche Drupcho held at Samye Dzong at Easter next year and this course will provide a foundation for understanding this practice. It is necessary to have received the Guru Rinpoche empowerment to attend the course.

THE ALCHEMY OF COMPASSION:
with Clive Holmes
Fri 9 Nov at 7pm, and Sat 10th / Sun 11th Nov 10am-4pm
£55
Teachings will be shared on how to awaken and practise compassion in our daily lives. The alchemy can take place when we learn to transform emotional poisons into understanding. Rather than giving our rubbish to those around us, we can learn to “compost-garden” our unhelpful emotions and turn them into something useful and valuable. The basic text for this teaching- The Seven Points of Mind Training - has been useful for hundreds of years all over the world encouraging a fresh outlook on life.
Clive Holmes has completed a one year retreat and has led many meditation courses at Samye Ling and associated centres.

VOLUNTEER DAY
Sun 18th Nov 9.30am onwards
Yet another opportunity to help out at the centre and gain buckets of merit too! Still more leafsweeping!

INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION
Thursdays starting 22nd November (until 13th Dec) 7pm
£35
A four-week introduction course for beginners. The course will give a good foundation for meditation practice, with instruction on posture, breathing and some simple visualisation techniques.

DORJE SEMPA PRACTICE DAY:
with Lama Zangmo
Sat 24 Nov 10am - 4pm
£30
The day will start with an explanation of the Dorje Sempa practice of purification, with the main part of the day spent in meditation. It is necessary to have received the Dorje Sempa empowerment to attend. Bring lunch to share.

INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION
Tues 6 Nov   7.00 - 8.30pm           
£10
This course will give an introduction to the basic meditation techniques such as posture and the use of the breath as a focus. The evening is open to all, whether Buddhist or non-Buddhist.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
With Clive Holmes
Wed 14 - Thurs 15 Nov  
7.00 - 8.30pm           
£10
The 5 key themes of emotional intelligence are: self awareness, self mastery, motivation, empathy and social skills.  Understanding these five can help us in the home, at work or even in our leisure.  We can grow out of dependence into independence and then on to effective interdependence contributing to the world around us and enjoying what the world has to offer.

Clive has completed a one year retreat and has led many meditation courses at Samye Ling and associated centres. He edits teachings and lectures for publication and co-edited Akong Rinpoche’s books ‘Taming the Tiger’ and ‘Restoring the Balance’.

HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS
with Lama Zangmo
Sunday 25 Nov           
10am - 4pm           
£30
We will look at the roots of stress and the attitudes and habits which keep us in the grip of stress.  Meditation instructions and techniques for changing attitudes will be provided. Bring lunch to share.

Lama Zangmo is the teacher and spiritual director of Kagyu Samye Dzong London. She has completed 3 long retreats over the course of twelve years and she is available to all for spiritual guidance and advice.