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July 2015 Newsletter

Posted on 12 Jul 2015

July 2015 Newsletter

July / August 2015
 
Kagyu  Samye Dzong London
Monthly newsletter

Dear Lama  

 

Welcome to the July/August Newsletter.  As we move into the summer, the Centre will soon be taking its annual break (see News in Brief), as we're sure many of you will.  Here's wishing everyone a good break and may you all return refreshed and ready for the many events we have lined up for the remainder of the year. 

 

 
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

 

  • Summer break - we will be closing at 9.00 pm on Sunday 26th July and will reopen at 9.00 am on Saturday 15th August.
  • Dates for your diary -
  • August retreat with Lama Zangmo at Samye Ling - from 22nd-30th August Lama Zangmo will be leading a retreat which will explore how we can develop the three important qualities of courage, confidence and compassion and look at what hinders us in the process of that development.
  • Drawing the Medicine Buddha - with Ani Semchi takes place on the weekend of the 5th-6th September. Learning to draw a deity can be a powerful aid in visualisation, and the Medicine Buddha is one of our regular practices at the Centre.
  • Anxiety - a mindful approach with Alistair Appleton is also on the 5th-6th September.  See the website for further details.
  • Cancellations and rescheduling
    Khenpo Damcho Dawa Rinpoche -     unfortunately Khenpo Rinpoche has not received the necessary permissions to come to Europe this year and so will not be teaching in London this September. This is a big disappointment for all of us who were hoping to receive more of his clear and inspiring teachings. However we hope and pray he will be able to visit next year.
  • The recent fundraising event for ROKPA which included a Skills Auction raised a Grand Total of £3,199.00. A Big Thank You to everyone who participated so generously, by giving their time, their skills and their money to the event. All the funds go to Nepal, helping those in need.
  • The Tashi Lhunpo monks will be staying in KSD London for a week as part of their UK tour. During that time they will be performing the Cham dance called The Power of Compassionon Wednesday
    16th September.
  • Finally - don't forget that you can keep in touch with the latest goings on at Samye Dzong by following us on Facebook.
 

We are  very happy to welcome Ringu Tulku Rinpoche at Kagyu Samye Dzong London this coming weekend, 11th -12th July, when he will give teachings on Buddha Nature from the text  The Mahayana Uttara Tantra Shastra.

 

"All sentient beings without exception have buddha nature-the inherent purity and perfection of the mind, untouched by changing mental states. Thus there is neither any reason for conceit in deeming oneself better than others nor any reason for self-contempt, thinking of oneself as inferior and unable to reach enlightenment. This seeing is obscured by veils which are removable and do not touch the inherent purity and perfection of the nature of the mind as such."
 
The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra, one of the Five Treatises said to have been dictated to Asanga by the Bodhisattva Maitreya, presents the Buddha's definitive teachings on how we should understand this ground of enlightenment and clarifies the nature and qualities of buddhahood.
 

Ringu Tulku Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist Master of the Kagyu Order. He was trained in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism under many great masters including His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa and His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He took his formal education at Namgyal Institute of Tibetology in Sikkim and Sampurnananda Sanskrit University in Varanasi, India. He served as a Tibetan Textbook Writer and Professor of Tibetan Studies in Sikkim for 25 years.

 

The teachings take place at Spa Road on Saturday 11th July from 11.00 am - 4.00 pm and on Sunday 12th July from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm.

 
Following his very successful talk and workshop in April, Tashi Mannox is returning to offer a second weekend. If you missed it the first time, and if you'd like to continue from what you learned before, now's your chance....

Drawing upon the traditional construction guidelines of the classical Uchen script, Tashi 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 July open to all.  For those attending the workshop it is advised to bring along your own writing implements and materials.   


 

Tibetan Calligraphy with Tashi Mannox takes place on the weekend of 25th-26th July, 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 and the talk on Friday evening is £10. 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.
  
JULY 2015  

Carefulness - Ethical conduct - with Lama Zangmo at Spa Road
Thu, Jul. 2,  7:00pm - 8:30pm
The foundation for ethical conduct and good behaviour is non-attachment and carefulness. Non-harming is the essence of Buddhism but leaving a 'small footprint' is not always easy.

Better Health Through Meditation with Clive Holmes at Spa Road
Sat - Sun Jul. 4 - 5,  10:00am - 4:00pm
The secret of good health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate trouble, but to live in the present moment, wisely and earnestly.

Green Tara Puja at Spa Road
Sundays throughout June, 8:00 - 9:00 am
Join us every Sunday morning at 8.00 am for Green Tara which is a practice that helps to remove fear and obstacles. As the Centre's main doors are not open until 9.00 am, please let us know if you are planning to attend.

Patience - the Remedy for Anger - with Lama Zangmo at Spa Road
Thu, Jul. 9,  7:00pm - 8:30pm
Carefulness and ethical conduct are the foundation for patience and non-aggression. Patience and tolerance develop out of good self-discipline. When we have good self -discipline it is not difficult to be patient.
 
A weekend of teachings with Ringu Tulku Rinpoche at Spa Road
Sat - Sun Jul. 11 - 12,
We are delighted to announce that Ringu Tulku Rinpoche will be teaching at Samye Dzong London in July.  Full details of the programme will be available nearer the time.

Medicine Buddha Puja at Spa Road
Sun, Jul. 12,  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.

A Joyful Approach - the Support for Practice - with Lama Zangmo at Spa Road
Thu, Jul. 16,  7:00pm - 8:30pm
A joyful approach and sustained interest will mean we can progress and achieve something.  It is a state of mind that takes joy in positive activity. It gives power to our spiritual practice.

The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva - with Lama Zangmo at Spa Road
Sat, Jul. 18,  10:00am - 4:00pm
When we study and reflect on a teaching, we should choose a text that provides a broad understanding of the Buddha's teaching as a whole.

White Tara Retreat Day - with the Kagyu Samye Dzong Sangha at Spa Road
Sun, Jul. 19,  10:00am - 4:00pm

Meditation - Giving up Wandering Thoughts - with Lama Zangmo at Spa Road
Thu, Jul. 23,  7:00pm - 8:30pm
Meditative stability refers to a state called pliancy (shinjong in Tibetan).  It literally means 'thoroughly trained' or 'thoroughly purified'. It has two aspects - pliancy of body and pliancy of mind.

The Role of Calligraphy and Art within Dharma with Tashi Mannox at Spa Road
Fri, Jul. 24,  7:00pm - 8:30pm
Prior to his weekend workshops on Tibetan Calligraphy, Tashi Mannox will give a talk on the role of calligraphy and art within Dharma. 

Tibetan Calligraphy workshop with Tashi Mannox at Spa Road
Jul. 25 - 26,  10:00am - 5:00pm
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.

Simply Meditation Day at Manor Place
Sat, Jul. 25,  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 Practitioner Certificate Course - weekend 2 -  at Spa Road
Jul. 25 - 26,  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.

Guru Rinpoche Tsok Puja at Spa Road
Sun, Jul. 26,  7:00pm - 8:30pm
 
Summer Closure
Jul. 27 - Aug. 14,
Both our Spa Road and Manor Place centres will be closed for their annual summer break from Monday 27th July and will re-open on Saturday 15th  August.