Mind Training in a Single Session

Friday 11 October 19:30 - 21:00

Saturday 12 October 15:00 - 17:30 and 18:30 - 20:00

This text was composed in the thirteenth century by Chim Namkha Drak, the great abbot of the Kadampa monastery of Narthang in Tibet. It comes from the mind training (Lojong) collection of teachings of which there are two main streams. Inspired by Atisha, this stream encapsulates the essential steps of the Mahayana, presenting them in a way that we can apply directly to our own personal situation – like all Lojong teachings. In fact, the only qualification we need to practise the teaching is, as Lama Jampa Thaye has said ‘our ordinary, confused mind, full of disturbing emotions, full of self-clinging and self-cherishing. With an unparalleled directness, they allow us to transform all situations, positive and negative, into the path of awakening.

For further information see the local website.

The Shastra Distinguishing Consciousness and Primordial Wisdom (Tib: Namshe Yeshe) is an important work of Buddhist philosophy and practice written by the renowned Buddhist master Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339).  It is one of the core texts of the Kagyu Tradition. The text is explained following Karma Thinley Rinpoche's commentary on it: 'The Lamp that dispels Darkness’.

For full details see the local website.

Discriminating the Three Vows by Sakya Pandita

Friday 20 September, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Saturday 21 September, 10:30 am - 12:30 am and 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Lama Jampa will continue with his teaching of Discriminating the Three Vows. Sakya Pandita’s masterpiece offers a brilliant examination of the spiritual disciplines found in the three vehicles. Topics dealt with in this work include the reality of the Buddha nature, the ethics of a bodhisattva and the correct practice of vajrayana.

Initiation of Simhanada-Lokeshvara (Chenrezik Lion’s Roar)*

Sunday 22 September, 10.30am - 12.30pm

Simhanada is a form of Chenrezik, the embodiment of the enlightened compassion of all the Buddhas and is particularly associated with the removal of sickness and disease. This initiation is contained both within the collection of The Thirteen Golden Dharmas of the Sakya school and The Hundred Sadhanas of Bari Lotsawa. Lama Jampa received the former lineage from His Holiness Sakya Trizin, and the latter from Karma Thinley Rinpoche. 

Refuge and the bodhisattva vow will be given to everyone during the preliminary part of the initiation.

For further details, see the local website.

The Sweet Drops of the Blooming Lotus of Great Bliss

 Sunday 25th August to  Friday 30th August

Lama Jampa will teach the extensive notes on the practice of the Uncommon Sadhana of the Goddess Vajra Yogini Naro Kachoma, one of the most important systems of practice. This text was composed in recent years by Karma Thinley Rinpoche and so this course represents its first transmission in the West.

*The prerequisites for attending this course are to have received a major (two-day) initiation of Chakrasamvara or Hevajra from a lama belonging to the Khon family of Sakya, and in addition, the blessing initiation of Naro Kachoma.

It is required that all those who receive this teaching must maintain observance of the Three Vows. Furthermore those who also choose to receive the optional teaching of the body mandala must make a commitment to maintain the unbroken daily practice of the full uncommon sadhana and the accomplishment of the basic retreat, during which there are four hundred thousand repetitions of the mantra to be completed.

For full details see the local website

Dispelling the Darkness of Suffering

 Sunday 18th August to  Friday 23rd August

Lama Jampa Thaye will teach Dispelling the Darkness of Suffering, composed by Karma Thinley Rinpoche, a clear and authoritative, line by line commentary on The Seven Points of Mind Training written by Geshe Chekhawa. This classic twelfth century text on lojong (‘mind training’) is in the form of pith instructions that show the methods to transform everyday life into the path to enlightenment, by developing bodhichitta (‘enlightenment-mind’, the resolve to attain buddhahood for the benefit of others) on the basis of loving-kindness and compassion. Rinpoche brilliantly illuminates these pith instructions, enabling us to apply them to whatever situations we encounter.

During the course Lama Jampa will also bestow the initiations of Manjusri and Namgyalma. Refuge and the bodhisattva vow will be given to everyone during the preliminary part of each initiation.

For full details see the local website

Mind Training is a Buddhist method of the great vehicle that allows for change to occur in the mind that is ordinarily attached to its identity and lost in a form of self-complacency. This method allows for revealing the vast compassion and profound wisdom of enlightened mind.

The Eight Verses of Mind Training by Geshe Langri Tangpa (1054–1123 CE) is considered the most condensed text on this practice. Lama Jampa Thaye will base his approach to the subject on this work. If time permits, he will also present Mind Training in a Single Session by Chim Namka Drak (1210–1285 CE), which introduces this specific meditation.

For further details please visit the local website

Sakya Pandita’s masterpiece offers a brilliant examination of the spiritual disciplines found in the Three Vehicles. Topics dealt with in this work include the reality of the Buddha nature, the ethics of a bodhisattva and the correct practice of Vajrayana.

For further details please visit the local website

The way to enlightenment in Mahayana Buddhism proceeds through a step by step development of compassion and insight. In this guide the great master, Tokme Zangpo, provides us with an indispensable set of instructions for this gradual path. The 37 Bodhisattva Practices is a practical guide to cultivating the awakening mind and generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and patience. 

This text, which is presented in the form of personal meditations in verse, has been studied and practised continuously for centuries and describes the path of the bodhisattva, one who has made the commitment to achieve awakening for the benefit of all beings.

Schedule - tbc

For further details please see the local website.

Discriminating the Three Vows by Sakya Pandita

Friday 3 May, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Saturday 4 May, 10:30 am - 12:30 am and 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Lama Jampa will continue with his teaching of Discriminating the Three Vows. Sakya Pandita’s masterpiece offers a brilliant examination of the spiritual disciplines found in the three vehicles. Topics dealt with in this work include the reality of the Buddha nature, the ethics of a bodhisattva and the correct practice of vajrayana.

Initiation of Lion Speech Manjushri*

Sunday 5 May, 11am - 1pm

Manjushri is the supreme embodiment of enlightened wisdom. Meditation on this deity is undertaken by those who seek to develop a profound understanding of the teachings.

For further details, see the local website.

Sonam Tsemo’s ‘General Presentation of the Tantra Sets’ is one of the most important Sakya teachings about Vajrayana. Composed by the second of the five great Sakya Masters, Sonam Tsemo, this work is an extensive explanation of the nature and characteristics of the different categories of tantra as well as of the relationship between the tantras and the sutras. As such it is an encyclopaedic resource for the study of the tantric system. The text constitutes one of the major works studied in the Sakya shedra (college of studies).

For details please contact the centre.

Lama Jampa will give teachings on the Buddhist view of the ultimate nature of reality using this famous guide to the Great Madhyamaka composed by the nineteenth century master of the Rime movement, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye. This essential text by the Master Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye (19th century) sheds light on the perspective of the Kagyü tradition's most influential Zhentong Middle Way philosophy (Madhyamaka).  In it, the author does not impart a merely theoretical approach, but offers a real manual with practical instructions for meditation in the context of this special perspective of the "Empty of Other" perspective (Zhentong), which represents the interface between the Sutra transmission and the Vajrayana. These are the precious instructions that directly connect the mahamudra teachings with the teachings of the Buddha-nature.

For full details please see the KIBI website.

The Shastra Distinguishing Consciousness and Primordial Wisdom (Tib: Namshe Yeshe) is an important work of Buddhist philosophy and practice written by the renowned Buddhist master Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339).  It is one of the core texts of the Kagyu Tradition. The text is explained following Karma Thinley Rinpoche's commentary on it: 'The Lamp that dispels Darkness’.

For full details see the local website.

Lama Jampa will give teachings on the Buddhist view of the ultimate nature of reality using this famous guide to the Great Madhyamaka composed by the nineteenth century master of the Rime movement, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye. This essential text by the Master Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye (19th century) sheds light on the perspective of the Kagyü tradition's most influential Zhentong Middle Way philosophy (Madhyamaka).  In it, the author does not impart a merely theoretical approach, but offers a real manual with practical instructions for meditation in the context of this special perspective of the "Empty of Other" perspective (Zhentong), which represents the interface between the Sutra transmission and the Vajrayana. These are the precious instructions that directly connect the mahamudra teachings with the teachings of the Buddha-nature.

For full details see the local website.

Situ Dharmakara's  Commentary on the Mahamudra Aspiration Prayer

Saturday 3 February 10:30am - 12:30pm and 2:30 - 4:30pm

Sunday 4 February 10:30am - 12:30pm

Situ Dharmakara's  celebrated work is a guide to the Aspiration Prayer composed by the 3rd Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje. In elucidating the prayer, the commentary provides an extraordinarily profound explanation of Mahamudra meditation and a defence of the special precepts preserved in the Kagyu tradition.

Initiation of Green Tara

Sunday 4 February 2:30 - 4:30pm

The goddess Tara is revered in all traditions of Vajrayana Buddhism as the embodiment of the liberating activity of all buddhas. As such her initiation and meditation are especially effective means of awakening one’s innate capacity for enlightened compassion. 

For full details see the local website.

The Shastra Distinguishing Consciousness and Primordial Wisdom (Tib: Namshe Yeshe) is an important work of Buddhist philosophy and practice written by the renowned Buddhist master Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339).  It is one of the core texts of the Kagyu Tradition. The text is explained following Karma Thinley Rinpoche's commentary on it: 'The Lamp that dispels Darkness’.

For full details see the local website.

Situ Dharmakara's  Commentary on the Mahamudra Aspiration Prayer

Saturday 9 December 10:30am - 12:30pm and 2:30 - 4:30pm

Situ Dharmakara's  celebrated work is a guide to the Aspiration Prayer composed by the 3rd Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje. In elucidating the prayer, the commentary provides an extraordinarily profound explanation of Mahamudra meditation and a defence of the special precepts preserved in the Kagyu tradition.

Dechen International Conference

Sunday 10 December 10:30am - 12:30pm

Lama Jampa will preside over the closing session of this year’s Dechen International conference. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about Dechen centres activities and aspirations for the year ahead.

Initiation of Vajrakilaya

Sunday 10 December 2:30 - 4:30pm

Vajrakilaya embodies the indestructible compassion of enlightened mind which transcends all negative emotions. This initiation is from the terma lineage of Chogyur Lingpa.