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March Newsletter

Posted on 1 Mar 2015

March Newsletter
 
March 2015
 

Kagyu Samye Dzong
London
Monthly newsletter

Dear Lama  

 

Welcome to the March Newsletter.  You might be wondering why we have a picture of a reception desk at the top this month - we don't generally feature furniture. Today is an exception as this beautiful piece of bespoke woodwork has been created for us by our volunteer carpenter Kirsty Roxon who has given a lot of his time to the Centre over the years. However Kirsty doesn't just work for us, and if you'd like him to do some quality carpentry for you he can be contacted via the Centre's office. Kirsty has, not just our thanks for his excellent work, but a well deserved plug for his services to boot,..now for the rest of the newsletter.    
Contents
  
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.
News in Brief

 

  • His Holiness the 17th Karmapa delivered a talk at Delhi University entitled "The Greatness of Small Acts" which you can watch by clicking on the picture below.
  • Lama Zangmo, along with Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche and Ani Lhamo, will be visiting the Samye Dzongs in South Africa and Zimbabwe until the end of March. You can find more information about the Centres on the Kagyu Samye Dzong Africa website.
The Gyalwang Karmapa Gives a Dharma Talk at Delhi University
The Gyalwang Karmapa Gives a Dharma Talk at Delhi University
 

Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that was founded over 2600 years ago during the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. As Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche says in Living Dharma: "Buddhism is the freshest thing you'll ever come across, because our mind is constantly fresh, and the Buddha is talking about nothing other than our state of mind."

 

Buddhism is a philosophy, a way of life, a science of the mind which offers methods to bring the mind from a state of dissatisfaction and ignorance to a state transcending dissatisfaction into joy, clarity and wisdom.

 

Over this eight-week course Gelong Trinley will talk about the first teachings of the Buddha, The Four Noble Truths, introducing the path that leads to inner peace and happiness. He will also talk about the psychology of Buddhism and the importance of meditation, the process of becoming a Buddhist (taking Refuge), the development of Buddhism in different places through its various vehicles, etiquette in the shrine room and how to make a shrine at home.

 

An ABC of Buddhism with Gelong Trinley takes place at Spa Road on Thursday evenings from 5th March - 23rd April, 7.00 - 8.30 pm. You can book your place on the event page.
Many people believe that wealth causes happiness, ut actually it is a positive state of mind which is our greatest wealth.

On Friday 6th March, Gelong Thubten will be giving  talk on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, in particular how these methods bring inner joy and appreciation, helping to reduce stress and increase happiness and compassion. Many people believe that wealth causes happiness, but actually it is a positive state of mind which is our greatest wealth.


This talk is a good opportunity to introduce people to meditation and mindfulness, as well as useful for those already on the path.  

 

Over the weekend of the 7th-8th March, Gelong Thubten will go on to teach about how meditation and mindfulness can help us transform stress. Methods will be taught for developing a calm and focused mind with flexibility to help us deal with difficulties. There will be an emphasis on meditation practice in sessions as well as applying mindfulness in daily life and work situations.  

 

You can book your place on Gelong Thubten's teachings from the course pages on the website: The Wealth of Happiness on Friday 6th March, or Meditation, Mindfulness and Working with Stress on the 7th-8th March.   

 

To let go does not mean, "to get rid of", it is much more subtle. To let go means to be able to let be, with wisdom and kindness, allowing new things to arise.  

 

This weekend will introduce training in deep-rooted acceptance. This is much-needed because of the tendency to resist pain. This resistance is the cause of so much suffering.  

 

Life is hard, to be human can be very difficult, but it is possible to train the mind to face and cope with whatever arises. The essence is the attitude towards whatever is going on outside or within. That essence could be kindness.

 

This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in meditation and mindfulness, whether beginner or more experienced, whether Buddhist or Non-Buddhist.


Clive Holmes has been teaching meditation for the last 20 years all over the UK, as well as in Samye Dzong centres overseas. He has completed over a year in intensive retreat and has studied in Europe and India with teachers from Burma, South East Asia, Japan and Tibet.

 

Clive will be teaching this workshop on the weekend of 21st-22nd March at Spa Road.  Book your place now via the course page on the website. 
Sleeping Buddha

This course, led by Charlie Morley and Fay Adams, is available to both complete beginners and students with a Mindfulness practice.

 

We sleep for a third of our lives. Mindfulness of Dream and Sleep allows us to make use of that time and gives us the tools to train our minds, reprogram our habits and to enter into a friendship with every aspect of our psyches, all while we're sound asleep.

By using the best of both Western dream-work and Tibetan Buddhist techniques Mindfulness of Dream and Sleep offers a uniquely holistic approach to lucid dreaming with the aims of psychological growth and mind training!

 

In weekend one we will engage an overview of the history, science and practice of lucid dreaming from both the Western psychological and Tibetan Buddhist traditions, as well as plenty of basic teachings on learning "how to lucid dream".

 

In weekend two we will move deeper into the practice with instructions on hypnagogic and hypnapompic mindfulness (maintaining awareness into and out of sleep), dream planning and conscious sleeping practices.

And in weekend three we will explore maintaining lucidity, working with obstacles and integration of the practice into our everyday lives.

 

Each weekend will include optional "sleep overs" in which participants have the opportunity to engage in group dreaming sessions, spending the last half of the night falling asleep again side by side with the shared aim of lucid awareness!

Please note:

This course runs over three weekends and can be joined at Weekend One only.

 

Cost: £480.00 for all three weekends, including manuals, payable in three monthly installments of £160.00. Book your place via the Mindfulness Association website. 
 
Drawing upon the traditional construction guidelines of the classical Uchen script, Tashi Mannox leads an intensive course in how to correctly form the letters of the Tibetan alphabet, vowels signs and subjoined letters.

 

This is a workshop suitable for beginners who wish to learn a firm foundation in writing Tibetan, as well as for those more advanced who wish to further their skills in Tibetan calligraphy.

 

Tashi will also give a public talk on the role of Calligraphy and art within Dharma on Friday 24th April  and Friday 24th July 2015, open to all.

 For those attending the workshop it is advised to bring along your own writing implements and materials:

  • A3 or A4 size pad of paper, preferably watercolour paper.
  • pencils, pencil sharpener and eraser.
  • a straight rule.
  • different size italic pens*

*Suggested pens can be a range of different size italic felt tip calligraphy pens, or more professional Pilot Parallel Pens in a range of different nib sizes, available on the internet with ink cartridges.

 

Tibetan Calligraphy with Tashi Mannox takes place on the weekend of 25th-26th April, 10.00-5.00 pm. On the evening before the workshop, Friday 24th, 7.00-8.30 pm, Tashi will also be talking about The Role of Calligraphy and Art within Dharma. His presentation will include the sacred meaning of writing and iconography in Tibetan Buddhism and its role in the practice of Dharma.  

 

PLEASE NOTE - This workshop must be booked in advance and as it is not a Dharma course it has a charge of £55 for attendance. You can book your place using the link at the bottom of the course page.  

  
To see the full programme of activities at the Centre, please visit the website.

MARCH 2015


Green Tara Puja at Spa Road
Every Sunday  8:00am - 9:00am
Join us every Sundaymorning at 8am for Green Tara which is a practice that helps to remove fear and obstacles.

As the Centre's main doors are not open until 9am if you would like to join us for Green Tara please contact us to let us know that you would like to attend.

 

An ABC of Buddhism, with Gelong Trinley at Spa Road
Thursdays from Mar. 5 - Apr. 23, 7:00 - 8:30pm

The Wealth of Happiness, with Gelong Thubten at Spa Road
Fri, Mar. 6, 7:00 - 8:30pm
A talk on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, in particular how these methods bring inner joy and appreciation, helping to reduce stress and increase happiness and compassion.

Meditation, Mindfulness and Working with Stress, with Gelong Thubten at Spa Road
Sat - Sun, Mar. 7 - 8, 10:00am - 4:00pm
A course on how meditation and mindfulness can help to transform stress. Methods will be taught for developing a calm and focused mind with flexibility to help us deal with difficulties. There will be an emphasis on meditation practice... Read more...

Medicine Buddha Puja at Spa Road
Sun, Mar. 8, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Employing the skilful techniques of mantra and visualisation the *Medicine Buddha* practice is an effective way to balance the *physical*, *mental* and* spiritual health of ourselves and others*.

Simply Meditation Afternoon at Manor Place
Sat, Mar. 14, 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Spending time doing extended meditation practice is a chance to get together with fellow practitioners and gain greater depth in the experience of meditation by applying oneself through a series of short meditation sessions.

Acceptance, Compassion, Forgiveness And Letting Go with Clive Holmes at Spa Road
Sat - Sun, Mar. 21 - 22, 10:00am - 4:00pm
To let go does not mean, "to get rid of", it is much more subtle. To let go means to be able to let be, with wisdom and kindness, allowing new things to arise.  

Mindfulness Practitioner Certificate Course at Spa Road
Sat - Sun, Mar. 21 - 22, 10:00am - 5:00pm
This provides a solid foundation in Mindfulness Practice and you are welcome to join this course after completing the Mindfulness Practitioners Foundation course or the Mindfulness in Education module.

Dorje Sempa Retreat Day - with the Kagyu Samye Dzong Sangha at Spa Road
Sat, Mar. 28, 10:00am - 5:00pm
This day is devoted to the Dorje Sempa practice and dedicated to the swift return of our precious Founder and teacher, Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche, and to purifying any obstacles to his swift return.

Simply Meditation Day at Manor Place
Sat, Mar. 28, 10:00am - 5:30pm
Spending time doing extended meditation practice is a chance to get together with fellow practitioners and gain greater depth in the experience of meditation by applying oneself through a series of short meditation sessions.

Mindfulness of Dream and Sleep with Charlie Morley and Fay Adams at Spa Road
Sat - Sun, Mar. 28 - 29, 10:00am - 5:00pm
This course is available to both complete beginners and students with a Mindfulness practice. We sleep for a third of our lives. Mindfulness of Dream and Sleep allows us to make use of that time.

Meditation Retreat with Kagyu Samye Dzong London Sangha at Spa Road
Sun, Mar. 29, 9:30am - 5:00pm
Come and join the Sangha for a day of silent meditation practice. This is a chance to get together with fellow practitioners and gain greater depth in the experience of meditation.

Guru Rinpoche Tsok Puja at Spa Road
Sun, Mar. 29, 2015 7:00pm - 8:30pm 

 

APRIL 2015

  

Nyungney Easter Weekend Retreat at Spa Road 

Saturday to Monday Apr. 4 - 6

THIS IS A CLOSED RETREAT SO UNLESS YOU HAVE BOOKED THROUGH THE CENTRE IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO ATTEND AS THE CENTRE WILL BE CLOSED. (except for the regular pujas on Saturday and Sunday evening).  

 

Green Tara Puja at Spa Road 

Join us every Sunday morning at 8am for Green Tara which is a practice that helps to remove fear and obstacles.

As the Centre's main doors are not open until 9am if you would like to join us for Green Tara please contact us to let us know that you would like to attend.

 

Introduction to Meditation 

Wednesdays 8th April - 27th May, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

 

Compassion Practitioner Certificate Course at Spa Road 

Saturday - Sunday Apr. 11 - 12, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Mindfulness Association are re-running this successful and comprehensive training in compassion which is a follow on programme for those who have completed the one year Mindfulness training.  

 

Simply Meditation Afternoon at Manor Place 

Saturday, Apr. 11, 2:00 - 6:00 pm

Spending time doing extended meditation practice is a chance to get together with fellow practitioners and gain greater depth in the experience of meditation by applying oneself through a series of short meditation sessions.  

 

Medicine Buddha Puja at Spa Road 

Sunday, Apr. 12, 7:00 - 8:00pm

Employing the skilful techniques of mantra and visualisation the *Medicine Buddha* practice is an effective way to balance the physical, mental and spiritual health of ourselves and others. 

 

The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva - with Lama Zangmo at Spa Road 

Saturday, Apr. 18, 10:00 - 4:00 pm

 

Dorje Sempa Retreat Day - with the Kagyu Samye Dzong Sangha at Spa Road 

Sun, Apr. 19, 10:00 - 5:00 pm

This day is devoted to the Dorje Sempa practice and dedicated to the swift return of our precious Founder and teacher, Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche. 

 

The Role of Calligraphy and Art within Dharma with Tashi Mannox at Spa Road 

Fri, Apr. 24, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Prior to his weekend workshops on Tibetan Calligraphy, Tashi Mannox will give a talk on the role of calligraphy and art within Dharma.  

 

Simply Meditation Day at Manor Place 

Sat, Apr. 25, 10:- 5:30 pm

Spending time doing extended meditation practice is a chance to get together with fellow practitioners and gain greater depth in the experience of meditation by applying oneself through a series of short meditation sessions. 

 

Tibetan Calligraphy workshop with Tashi Mannox at Spa Road 

Sat - Sun Apr. 25 - 26, 10:00 - 5:00 pm

Drawing upon the traditional construction guidelines of the classical Uchen script, Tashi Mannox leads an intensive course in how to correctly form the letters of the Tibetan alphabet, vowels signs and subjoined letters.  

 

Guru Rinpoche Tsok Puja at Spa Road 

Sun, Apr. 26, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

 

More Meditation - with Gelong Trinley at Manor Place 

Apr. 30 - Jun. 4, 7:00 - 8:30pm

This is an ideal course for those who have already received meditation instructions and would like to deepen their practice.