Author Archives for David Armstrong
April 24, 2024 12:25 pm
Published by David Armstrong
Around 25 people came to The Bristol Sakya Centre for a day of teachings on Lojong (Mind Training), led by Paul Rogers, who runs Dechen’s Exeter Group, Sakya Namgyal Ling. The day was divided up into 4 one-hour sessions, each of which comprised some sitting meditation, then Paul’s expounding of the topics, and finishing with some meditation on the topic. The sessions were useful in a practical sense and valuable for one’s own practice, providing much food for thought. Paul’s annual visit was very much appreciated, with his clear explanation and understanding of the Lojong practices, and it is hoped that most of those present have come away with some useful tools to incorporate into their dharma practice.
April 2, 2023 9:48 pm
Published by David Armstrong
About 15 people attended part or all of the day led by Paul Rogers, who runs the Exeter Dechen Group, on the commentary by Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen on Parting From the Four Attachments, one of the principal teachings of the Sakya tradition. Presented in four one-hour sessions, Paul gave a fluent explanation of the verses and the commentary, in a way that clearly demonstrated his understanding of the teaching. His sense of humour punctuated his presentation which made it light and accessible, but also with earnest undertones. He gave much encouragement to the audience, many of whom were fairly new to Dharma, to really listen to and study this teaching which encapsulates the entire Buddhist path. Many thanks again to Paul for travelling to Bristol to share this wonderful teaching.
March 18, 2023 5:28 pm
Published by David Armstrong
On Saturday the Exeter Sakya group were delighted to welcome David Armstrong back for his biannual visit. Apart from Exeter sangha, there were also attendees from North Devon and Bristol. His visits have been a fixture in the timetable for a number of years now and we have received a number of valuable teachings including the latest, “The 8 verses of mind training”. This teaching is one of the most famous in the mind training canon; a short but incisive and wide-ranging text that enables us to appreciate how sentient beings are pivotal in developing our own dharma practice. In particular it shows us how encountering difficult people can actually provide the very resource that we need to move beyond our limited perspective on the nature of our relations with others and dissolve attachment to self. In other words, engaging with this teaching sincerely helps us to begin to remove the focus on self-cherishing and self-protection which are the basis of suffering according to the Buddha’s teachings. The one-hour sessions, centred on David’s clear and measured instruction, allowed time for meditation, reflection and questions. We look forward to hopefully welcoming back Liz and David in early November for the second session of the year. 18th March 2023
October 3, 2022 11:22 pm
Published by David Armstrong
On the first day of October, we welcomed Lama Jampa Thaye to the Future Inn, Bristol, for a day of teachings on liberation. Well over 100 people gathered together from the UK and farther afield to hear teachings on dying, the intermediate state and rebirth, along with receiving the initiation of the goddess Tara, the one who protects from all fears. For the morning teachings on the intermediate state between death and rebirth (bardo in Tibetan), Lama Jampa taught ‘Liberation Through Hearing in the Bardo’, a text by the great 19th century Nyingma master, Chogyur Dechen Lingpa. This treasure revealer (Tibetan: terton) was the last of the 108 tertons prophesied by the 8th century Indian master Padmasambhava, whose teachings were concealed as treasures and then later revealed by the future emanations of his disciples. In introducing the teachings, Lama Jampa highlighted the special connection with the author through his teacher, Karma Thinley Rinpoche, whose family is related to that of the great terton himself. He then explained that the purpose of the text is to guide Buddhist practitioners through the various stages before taking birth, so that one can use the bardo state to achieve enlightenment to benefit others. Whilst the text is briefer than the more detailed presentations, for example those by Karma Lingpa and in the great ‘Path and its Fruit’ system in Sakya, it contains all that is needed to bring the experience of dying onto the path. The text itself begins with the fundamental teachings in Buddhism, in particular impermanence, which at death shows itself in the most dramatic way possible. Following the dissolution of our body and the withdrawal of our senses, we then navigate the dreamlike state of the bardo, unfettered by a physical form, yet encountering intense sounds and visual experiences. If we…
August 8, 2022 7:02 pm
Published by David Armstrong
Over the weekend of 30-31 July, Lama Jampa Thaye gave an inspiring teaching on the Vajrayana at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling in the Dordogne, France, in order to clarify what the tantras actually are, where they came from, for whom they were composed and how to practice them. The source material for the teaching was from the new Chapter 5, ‘The Crystal Key’ of Lama Jampa’s updated version of his book ‘Diamond Sky’, which is due to be published by Rabsel in the autumn. With Audrey Serrières’ amazingly accurate and animated translation, Lama Jampa systematically presented the Vajrayana path of Tibetan Buddhism, showing the audience how they need to understand its place in the Buddhist teachings. The teachings were punctuated by the antics of two tabby kittens, who delighted in playfully involving themselves with the event, even being bold enough to engage with both the translator and to attempt to climb on Lama Jampa’s table! This gave Lama Jampa the opportunity to explain that it’s thought that animals who reside next to temples may have previously been monks or nuns who have broken their vows, but yet retain a strong attraction to a temple or monastic environment. These particular kittens had been abandoned in Dhagpo Kagyu Ling’s car park and were seeking a new home – we hope that one is forthcoming soon and know they will be well looked after in the meantime. To open the introduction to the Vajrayana, Lama Jampa firstly clarified the difference between the two types of dharma practitioners – the one who wishes for liberation and freedom from their own suffering, and the one whose motivation is wider, to include benefitting all beings. The aim of the latter is to emulate the Buddha – to attain wisdom, compassion and power for the benefit of all…
February 9, 2022 10:13 pm
Published by David Armstrong
Last Saturday saw the long overdue return of David Armstrong to Exeter to continue presenting the Mahayana path based on the teachings of Chogyal Phagpa, the 5th of the Sakya founding Lamas. This was the fourth session in a series of meditation and study days. David had already begun a sequence of meditation days on this teaching 2 years ago prior to the pandemic. We were very happy to listen to his relaxed but clear and measured exposition of the text. This covered essentially the 6 perfections or paramitas-giving, morality, patience, effort, meditation and wisdom. We held the day in the Friends meeting house, a venue we have used for significant events since 1984 when Lama Jampa Thaye first taught in Exeter. Although there were newcomers from as far afield as South Devon, David managed to pitch the teaching in a very accessible way. In fact one of them, completely new to Buddhism, attended our next weekly meeting. We hope it will not be too long before his next visit.
January 30, 2022 8:38 pm
Published by David Armstrong
Good news – Lama Jampa has agreed to a new date for the January 30th event, which will now be held on Saturday 5th March 2022. The venue, teachings, timings remain the same. NEW DATE: Lama Jampa Thaye teaching in Bristol
November 22, 2021 9:33 pm
Published by David Armstrong
Twenty-five sangha members have just returned home from a wonderful weekend meditation retreat on Tangtong Gyalpo’s beautiful Chenrezik sadhana at Poulstone Court in deepest Herefordshire. It seemed that everyone enjoyed a special time there for several reasons: great company – rarely do sangha members gather to live and practice intensively together, with newer members being brought up to speed with the practice alongside seasoned practitioners, making it precious; great venue with great food; great surroundings and great weather so we included the traditional afternoon trek to the River Wye and crossing yet another of what looked like one of Tangtong Gyalpo’s iron bridges – a wobbly crossing; followed by a large amount of cake the venue provided for us weary folk. Thanks so much to everyone who made it possible. Looking forward to repeating this event in a year’s time.
July 5, 2021 7:58 pm
Published by David Armstrong
Saturday 3 July was a day of firsts – this was Lama Jampa’s first teaching of 2021 in Bristol, and the first time we’ve been hosted by the spacious venue and welcoming team at Ashton Gate stadium. Around 100 people came together from all corners of the UK; old friends reconnected with each other and new friends were made, and we met some of our newest arrivals to the sangha for the first time too. During the day, Lama Jampa completed the teaching entitled ‘A Garland of Jewels’ by the Sakya master, Chogyal Phakpa. This text was composed for the 13th century Mongol Prince Gibek Timur, and, in 204 verses, it covers the entire Buddhist path, from the level of a beginner to that of full enlightenment. Lama Jampa reminded us of the three paths described in the text – the worldly path of happiness in this and future lives, the path to individual freedom from suffering, and finally journey to the complete enlightenment of a buddha. Chogyal Phakpa also points out that these three paths are actually one, as the first two provide the appropriate basis in ethical behaviour that then enables us to travel further. The text goes on to describe just what a buddha is: ie how they appear, how they are experienced by others, along with how they understand the world. Through hearing about the myriad qualities of the buddhas, we can be inspired to achieve the same state, and realise just how astonishingly transformative enlightenment is. In the afternoon, Lama Jampa gave the initiation of Green Tara,’Liberating from All Fears’ from the lineage of the 11th century Indian master, Atisha. Tara is the embodiment of the liberating activity of all the buddhas and is one of the most widely practised meditations in Tibetan Buddhism. When…
April 27, 2020 8:51 pm
Published by David Armstrong
Due to the current pandemic we are currently running our Discover Buddhism classes on Tuesday evening and Saturday morning online using Zoom. If you would like to attend one of these classes please click this email link to request an invitation: bristol@dechen.org The Sakya Centre and activities are reliant on donations, if you would like to make a donation for attending an online class or course, you can do so here: https://www.sakyabristol.org/donations/
