Welcome to the October newsletter - and to autumn. Nature may be winding down, the nights growing longer, the days getting cooler, but there's no shortage of activity here at the Centre. Visiting teachers, a significant birthday, new courses - all of which you can read about in this month's newsletter.
We hope to see you soon.
Best wishes,
David Bates
Newsletter Editor
News in Brief
Refuge Ceremony with Lama Yeshe Rinpoche - if you weren't able to Take Refuge in August, there is another opportunity coming up on Tuesday 15th November at Samye Ling. Full details can be found on the Samye Ling website.
A Precious Garland of the Supreme Path is the latest course from Lama Zangmo which starts this Thursday evening, 29th September, at 6.30 pm. This is a drop-in course with no need to book in advance. Please note that the doors to the Centre will open at 6.00 pm and close at 6.30 pm prompt for the teachings. Click here for full details of the course.
New courses at the Centre - keep your eyes peeled for some new courses coming up in November including...
A lucid dreaming workshop with Charlie Morley
And with Lama Zangmo there will be teachings on Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Measuring our Progress in Mind Training, and our ever popular Introduction to Meditation course.
All to be added to the website soon!
There will be another online Death Cafe taking place on Thursday 17th November. Full details, including how to book, can be found on the website.
Unlocking Buddhist Meditation - with Drupon Khen Rinpoche
We are very happy to announce that Drupon Khen Rinpoche, Karma Lhabu, will be visiting us once again in Samye Dzong London to give a teaching on Sunday 2 October at 3pm. To help us get an idea of numbers, please book your place in advance.
He will later travel up to Samye Ling, Scotland, for the anniversary of Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche on 8 October and will lead a retreat there from 8-15th October, please check the Samye Ling website for information.
Rinpoche was originally meant to teach in London in May 2020, but the visit was cancelled due to covid. He will be accompanied by his translator and attendant Karma Kunga. The theme of Rinpoche's teaching is Unlocking Buddhist Meditation.
This is definitely one to put in your diary, both for London and for Samye Ling.
You can find out more about Drupon Rinpoche and his work on his website.
Akong Rinpoche - 9th anniverary of his passing
At Samye Dzong London
On Saturday 8th October at 3.00 pm we mark the 9th anniversary of the passing of our precious Founder, Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche. You can pay your personal respects to Rinpoche in the shrine room by offering a katta, and we will have a light offering in the courtyard followed by a Chenrezig puja in the shrine room.
At Samye Ling
This important anniversary will also be commemorated at Samye Ling with a mixture of offerings, prayers and meditations, along with a talk by Lama Yeshe Rinpoche. This leads into the retreat being led by Drupon Rinpoche which starts in the afternoon. Full details can be found on the Samye Ling website.
Other things you can do: If you would like to honour Akong Rinpoche on 8th October but can't come to any of the centres, it is still possible to do something positive in his name. For example, you can take commitments, practice generosity, plant trees or another activity to protect and nurture the environment, or even just use his photo as your social media ID for a while. We can all find a meaningful way to remember his inspiring example.
An Open Invitation to the 70th Birthday Celebration of Lama Gelongma Zangmo
Our Centre Director and Resident Teacher turns seventy in October, and we would love to celebrate her, and this wonderful Dharma Centre, with you!
You are invited to join us on Saturday 29th October from 2pm to 8pm. After an opportunity to meet and socialise, a small programme will take us to the sharing of a birthday cake, a delicious buffet and some joyful entertainment. Celebrations will wind down with a light offering in our courtyard and a Chenrezig Puja in the shrine room. Please come and join us!
Teachings by Gelong Thubten in London during October
We are delighted to welcome Gelong Thubten to the Centre this October for a weekend of teachings on the 15th and 16th October. Thubten has the ability to make Buddhist teachings accessible and his teachings this weekend will comprise:
Inner Medicine - mediation and working with pain and sickness - Saturday 15th, 2.00 - 5.00 pm.
Energising ones practice - how to improve enthusiasm for the path - Sunday 16th - 2.00 - 5.00 pm.
Both days are in-person only and will not be livestreamed.
Gelong Thubten is the Director of Kagyu Samye Dzong Scarborough - a place well worth visiting if you're heading in the direction of North Yorkshire. Possibly the only Samye Dzong with a sea view.
