All change at Samye Dzong London

Posted on 1 Aug 2019

Kagyu Samye

Dzong London

Monthly newsletter

**1 - Au revoir to Karma Damcho and Ani Lochu**


	Ani Lochu and Karma Damcho on arrival at Bodhnath stupa in Kathmandu, with Umzi Menlha from Thrangu Monastery

To cut a long story short...on Saturday 13th July, after a day of sometimes fairly emotional farewells at the Centre Karma Damcho and Ani Lochu set off on their journey to Nepal where they have now commenced a six-year retreat.

At what seemed like the last minute, both had the opportunity and good fortune to be able to go to the Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Center which is situated in the hills forming the eastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley. During their retreat, not only will they be able to receive empowerments from Ven Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, they will also be taught by Drupon Khen Rinpoche Karma Lhabu, who resides there for 9 months of the year.

This six-year retreat programme has been devised by Drupon Rinpoche especially for international students and consists of a year concentrated on each of the following practices: the mahamudra preliminaries, mind training, vajrasattva, calm-abiding meditation, insight meditation concerned with thoughts, and insight meditation concerned with appearances.

It is with mixed feelings that we've seen them leave. On the one hand we rejoice that they have the chance to undertake a retreat such as this and, on the other hand, their presence will be very much missed.

2 - Changes in opening hours

With some of our key personnel going into retreat a certain number of changes are taking place at the Centre, not least of which will be a change in our opening hours. On weekdays we will be opening at 5.00 pm instead of 2.00 pm. Hours at the weekends will remain the same.

When we re-open at 5pm on Wednesday 28th August the new hours will be:

Wednesdays 5.00 - 9.00 pm
Thursdays 5.00 - 9.00 pm
Fridays 5.00 - 9.00 pm
Saturdays - 9.00 am - 9.00 pm
Sundays - 9.00 am - 9.00 pm

3 - The visit of Drupon Khen Rinpoche in September

We are very fortunate to be receiving a visit from Drupon Khen Rinpoche Karma Lhabu, the retreat master of Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Center, on the weekend of the 21st - 22nd September.

Rinpoche will teach on "A song on seizing the Kingdom of the Kagyu" by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye.

To book your place please contact the office.

A Song on Seizing the Kingdom of the Kagyu by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye with Drupon Khen Rinpoche Karma Lhabu takes place in Kagyu Samye Dzong London on the weekend of the 21st - 22nd September, 10.00 am - 5.00 pm.