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Dear Lama
Welcome to the April Newsletter.With all the flowers coming out and the blossom on the trees, spring seems to be well and truly on the way. And at the end of March / beginning of April so is Lama Zangmo's teaching schedule! To find out more about Lama's forthcoming courses, and more besides...read on!
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Contents
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Kagyu Samye Dzong aims to provide a place of peace and tranquility for all in central London, with the shrine room available for individuals to come and sit during the day. For full details of the Centre, including the programme of evening meditations and forthcoming events, visit the website.
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"Dear Friends,
The dates for the celebration of Kagyu Samye Ling's Golden Anniversary have now been finalised and before these dates are even publicised we would like to let all Samye Dzong's know. We are giving you as much advance notice as possible as Lama Yeshe Rinpoche would like as many centre people as possible to come.
We begin with the Samye Ling Guru Rinpoche Drupcho which starts on Monday 21st August until lunchtime on Friday 25th August. And on Sunday 27th August there will be a Grand Anniversary Celebration and Tea Party which everyone is specially welcome to attend.
We will publicise more details soon and we hope that you will all find the time to come and join us.
With all good wishes,
Ani Lhamo
On behalf of Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche"
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 1 - The Bodhicharyavatara
with Lama Zangmo
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 The text The Way of the Bodhisattva, known in sanskrit as the Bodhicharyavatara, is treasured by Buddhists from many different traditions. It is a Mahayana text composed by the great Indian scholar Shantideva. It is an excellent guide to cultivating the mind of enlightenment (Bodhicitta) and to generating the qualities of limitless love, compassion and wisdom.
This text which has been studied, practised, and expounded upon in an unbroken tradition for centuries, is presented in the form of a personal meditation in verse. Its main function is to outline the path that Bodhisattvas need to take, principally the Six Paramitas. These are generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, meditation and wisdom. Bodhisattvas are those who renounce the peace of individual enlightenment (Nirvana) and vow to attain Buddhahood for the sake of liberating all beings from Samsara.
The course will be held one Saturday every month (typically the third Saturday of the month with a few exceptions), starting on 25th March and going through to 16th December, with a break during August. The course will consist of teachings on the text as well as meditation instructions and a framework for ongoing daily practice.
Copies of the text can be bought as a book sold in the shop with the title "The Way of the Bodhisattva" (Shambala translation). This is the recommended text for the course.
We ask that participants commit to come to all the teachings.
The Bodhicharyavatara with Lama Zangmo starts on Saturday 25th March, 10.00 - 4.00 pm. Full details of this course, including the dates of teaching for the whole year, can be found on the website.
I
f you intend doing this course, please make sure that all the dates are firmly in your diary.
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2 - Transforming the Emotions
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Lama Zangmo returns to her Thursday evening teachings for four sessions from 30th March - 20th April, this time teaching about Tranforming the Emotions. From a Buddhist perspective our negative emotions are rooted in the ignorance that misapprehends reality.
Dza Patrul Rinpoche, a great 19th century Nyingmapa Master, says:
"Do not chase after the object of your anger; look at the angry mind."
During this course each of the negative emotions will be looked at in turn. They are usually classified as:
- Ignorance
- Anger
- Desire
- Greed
- Jealousy
- Pride
This course will also cover how they can be transformed into wisdom.
Participants are recommended commit to come to all the teachings.
Transforming the Emotions with Lama Zangmo takes place on four Thursday evenings from 30th March - 20th April, 7.00 - 8.30 pm.
All of our Dharma and meditation courses will be offered without a suggested course fee.
In the Buddhist tradition one practices generosity, or Dana, by making monetary offerings for the teachings. This generosity is not payment for goods or services rendered; it is an offering given freely from the heart in appreciation of the Dharma. You are welcome to make a donation on attendance, or by using the Donate button at the bottom of the course page on the website.
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3 - Changing habits of a lifetime
with Clive Holmes
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Clive Holmes will be leading this course which is about exploring new horizons within our minds to help us accept and transform those habits that limit our freedom.
Along the way we will realise that a lot of our habits are "not our fault." We can forgive, take responsibility and look forward to a better quality of life rather than being stuck in the past.
We do this through developing helpful rather than harmful habits. The Buddha emphasised again and again the value of "taming the mind". This we do with kindness like being a "mind-whisperer" rather than using a whip or too much force. "The doorway to serenity cannot be forced open."
Some simple exercises to develop will-power and help the mind become stronger will be shared.
This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in meditation and mindfulness, whether beginner or more experienced, whether Buddhist or Non-Buddhist.
Changing the Habits of a Lifetime with Clive Holmes takes place on the weekend of 22nd - 23rd April, 10.00 - 4.00 pm. You can book your place now using the Donate button at the bottom of the course page on the website.
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4 - The London premiere of
Akong - A Remarkable Life
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 Ani Sonam Drolkar writes:
"I travelled down with Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche and fellow Sangha members for the two recent screenings of the feature-length film Akong - A Remarkable Life at Kagyu Samye Dzong London and marvelled at the tireless hard work of the volunteers and residents in preparation for the events. Over £4,500 was raised due to the generosity and inspiration of those who attended and watched the film. All the funds raised will go to the Akong Memorial Foundation projects.
The London premiere took place to a full house on Sat 18th March, in the presence of Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, the film's director, and many of the film crew. Seats for the event were quickly sold out and so a second screening was held the next night, again to a full house.
The film has been a labour of love for the film's director, Chico Dall'Inha, and is, above all else, a film about compassion. Against a backdrop of stunning Himalayan photography, the film charts Akong Tulku Rinpoche's perilous escape from Chinese-invaded Tibet, in 1959; to becoming a refugee, first in India, then in the United Kingdom; and his incredible life's work, centred on the establishment and development of Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Scotland and of the many Buddhist Meditation Centres in Europe and Africa that have emanated from it. It charts an important period of history, from the political occupation in Tibet to social revolution in the West. It holds a spotlight to the many inspirational qualities that Akong Rinpoche embodied and the vast achievements beyond Samye Ling for which he was responsible, including his teaching, charity work, pioneering Tara Rokpa Therapy and the establishment of ROKPA International to name just a few.
Almost three and a half years since Akong Rinpoche's death, his message of compassion-in-action needs to be heard more than ever...."
The rest of the article can be read on the website .
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| 4 - Forthcoming Events
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To see the full programme of activities at the Centre, please visit the website. There is a separate page listing all the meditation sessions each week.
APRIL 2017Chenrezig InstructionsSat, Apr. 1, 10:00am - 4:00pm Volunteer DaySun, Apr. 2, 9:30am - 4:00pm Transforming the Emotions with Lama ZangmoThursdays, Apr. 6th - 20th, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Medicine Buddha PujaSun, Apr. 9, 7:00pm - 8:00pm Bodhicharyavatara with Lama ZangmoSat, Apr. 15, 10:00am - 4:00pm Simply Meditation DaySun, Apr. 16, 9:30am - 5:00pm Changing Habits of a Lifetime with Clive HolmesApr. 22 - 23, 10:00am - 4:00pm Simply Meditation DaySat, Apr. 29, 9:30am - 5:00pm Level One Mindfulness Training: Being Present (Apr-July-Sep-Feb) Apr. 29 - 30, 10:00am - 5:00pm Green Tara Practice Day with Kagyu Samye Dzong London Sangha Sun, Apr. 30, 9:30am - 5:00pm Guru Rinpoche Tsok PujaSun, Apr. 30, 7:00pm - 8:30pm MAY 2017
Simply Meditation DaySat, May. 6, 9:30am - 5:00pm Level One Mindfulness Training: Being Present (Nov-Feb-May-July) May. 6 - 7, 10:00am - 5:00pm Vajrasattva Retreat Day - with the Kagyu Samye Dzong Sangha Sun, May. 7, 9:30am - 5:00pm Introduction to Meditation - a 4 week course with Bernard Mordan from 10th May Wed, May. 10, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Ringu Tulku Rinpoche Teachings 2017May. 13 - 14, 10:00am - 4:00pm Medicine Buddha PujaSun, May. 14, 7:00pm - 8:00pm Compassion Practitioner Certificate CourseMay. 20 - 21, 10:00am - 5:00pm Bodhicharyavatara with Lama ZangmoSat, May. 20, 10:00am - 4:00pm Simply Meditation DaySun, May. 21, 9:30am - 5:00pm Saga Dawa Buddha's Enlightenment and Parinirvana - with the Kagyu Samye Dzong Sangha Fri, May. 26, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Guru Rinpoche Tsok Puja Sun, May. 28, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
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