The recent autumn teachings weekend on 18 October with Lama Jampa Thaye in Bristol was even more significant this year. With it, Lama Jampa taught the final part of ‘Discriminating the Three Vows’ by Sakya Pandita, a series which started back in London in November 2022. Throughout the day we were also reminded of the continued presence of our excellent, long standing Co-ordinator, David Armstrong, who passed away on 20 September, aged 69.

Over 100 people came together for this event, travelling by plane, train and automobile. Many who came were from Dechen centres and groups; we also made connections with dharma friends from other centres too. 

Discriminating the Three Vows conclusion

Throughout this text, Sakya Pandita explains with absolute clarity how to practise the Buddhist path without falling into confusion and error. In his gentle yet uncompromising style, Sakya Pandita deals with the various mistaken ideas and practices prevalent in his time, which, over 700 years later, we still encounter today. As Sakya Pandita says, 

“Since his [the Buddha’s] time, there have been numerous waxings and wanings of the doctrine due the differences that exist between wise men and fools.”

In this final part on the Vajrayana vow, Sakya Pandita shows how this process of clarifying the dharma has been a necessity since the time of the Buddha, shadowed as he was by his jealous cousin, Devadatta. He also points out the need to check both teachings and teachers to make sure they are in line with what the Buddha taught, just as “…in the selection of food and drink for a single day, one applies a variety of tests for quality”. Even in Sakya Pandita’s time, the presence of a large, devoted following was no guarantee of an authentic master!

Initiation of the wisdom deity, White Saraswati

Fortunately for anyone aspiring to master Sakya Pandita’s text, in the afternoon, Lama Jampa gave the initiation of White Saraswati from the lineage of Bodong Chole Namgyal. Revered as one of the principal wisdom deities in Vajrayana Buddhism, Saraswati is also celebrated as the divine muse of poetry and music. For centuries, great masters have turned to her meditation to awaken clarity, creativity, and deep insight. 

Farewell to our beloved Co-ordinator and exemplary dharma practitioner, David Armstrong

This event was also the first major teaching hosted in Bristol since the passing of Sakya Buddhist Centre Bristol’s Co-ordinator, David Armstrong. In reflecting on his life, Lama Jampa remarked, “His life and manner of dying is a perfect example of how a Buddhist should live and die.”

He also noted that,

“Life is never worthless – life is precious from conception to the actual moment of death. At all times there is the chance to turn to the dharma, to generate merit, even in difficulty”

Looking to the future: continuing David’s work in fulfilling the wishes of our Lama

In closing, Lama Jampa described how David led the admin team for Sakya Buddhist Centre Bristol and our retreat centre, Sakya Changlochen Ling in France, with great care over many years. As a result of his efforts, we now have a strong team in place who will continue to work together: at the centre of this, Rachel will lead the admin team consisting of Ed, Liz G, Miranda, Emma and Simon. She will call and chair meetings of the team, and implement policy in accordance with Lama Jampa’s wishes. The admin team will naturally involve and be further supported by the whole community.

With that, we can move forward with confidence for the future.

Whilst these teachings may seem complex for beginners, Lama Jampa reassured everyone that even if a teaching doesn’t make sense or seem relevant to us right away, it will become clearer over time as “all dharma teachings weave together in one path”.

For more images, visit the gallery here.

In the afternoon, those who had formally committed to the Buddhist path through taking Refuge and the Bodhisattva vow received the initiation of Gonkar. Gonkar, also known as Gonpo Yizhin Norbu, is a Buddhist deity associated with wealth and protection. He is considered an emanation of Chenrezik, the embodiment of compassion. Praying to Gonkar attracts positive circumstances for our own practice of the Buddhist path, so that we can achieve enlightenment more swiftly for the benefit of others.

On Sunday, we did the practice of Chenrezik together in the Sakya Buddhist Centre Bristol’s shrine room. On this occasion, Lama Jampa kindly gave the reading transmission for the practice, as well as explaining the key points, so that anyone new to this could fully participate.

Looking ahead

Sakya Changlochen Ling was opened up after the winter at the end of March when David Armstrong and Liz Godfrey met up with others there for the usual spring opening. Lama Jampa and Dechen Dolma were staying at their house nearby but before visiting Changlochen they visited Dhagpo Kundreul Ling in the Auvergne where Lama Jampa continued to teach Sonam Tsemo’s Tantra Sets, which he had begun last year.

With the help and support of some sangha members who have small properties in the area and more who came especially, we began the task of reviving and renewing the Centre. As always there is plenty to do such as: cleaning, jet washing, painting, weeding, pruning, grass cutting etc but it’s a joy to be there as the spring unfolds and we were very blessed with some fine weather.

After Lama Jampa had finished teaching at Dhagpo Kundreul Ling, he and Dechen Dolma visited Changlochen and we all gathered for Chenrezig practice. Lama Jampa commented on Changlochen as being a beautiful place for intense practice and a place for people to come together in ways that are much more restricted in our city centres. And that although we don’t have a monastic community at the present time, like Dhagpo Kundreul Ling for instance, we can nonetheless be semi content in what we are doing and what we have achieved so far but of course there is always so much more to do.

We made some small improvements to the shrine with the addition of some beautiful new bumpa vases from Nepal and we installed a Bhutadamara statue and a Vajrayogini thangka, both of which belonged to the late Steve Mulligan.

While we were at Changlochen we had some unexpected visitors who arrived on horseback! Actually they turned out to be fairly close neighbours of ours having moved to the area some 18 months ago. We visited them the following day, as they potentially have some gites to rent, which they thought might interest us in the summer. Being former horse breeders they have a stable with 5 horses, which we were delighted to see. This is a lovely new connection with local people and there is still one 3-bedroom gite available at a good price which sleeps 6, with a pool in the beautiful grounds (contact changlochen@dechen.org for more info).

So Changlochen is now ready for the events of the year ahead, the main one being the Summer Course in August (17th – 29th). Incidentally, we have decided not to run the Dechen Diner this summer, which means that people attending the summer course will need to bring their own lunches. The Changlochen Dining Space will be available for picnics, whilst the adjacent campsite Brin D’Amour could be another possibility for buying lunch.

Saturday 18 January saw the first teaching event of Lama Jampa’s programme for 2025. It was a time to reconnect with the teachings and fellow explorers on the path, both new and those of a more mature vintage.

The day opened with Lama Jampa recommencing teachings on Sakya Pandita‘s ‘Discriminating the Three Vows’, a work which illuminates how to practice the Buddhist path – without detour – to its destination. In part 12 of this series, the author continues to clarify misunderstandings about the vajrayana, the swift path to buddhahood, relying on the teachings in the tantras. Whilst composed in the 13th century in Tibet, this text remains a vital resource in addressing errors that are present today as Buddhism makes a home in the West.

In this instalment, Sakya Pandita deals with a whole range of topics, from how Buddhahood is manifested through different modes, depending on the needs and realisation of the student, to how it is necessary to understand what teachings are helpful as far as they go, and which point towards the true nature of things. For example, through giving, we relax our grip on self and gradually approach the ultimate teaching, understanding finally that giver, gift and recipient are all empty as all are dependent on each other.

During the afternoon, Lama Jampa gave the vajrayana initiation of Red Saraswati. Found in the master work by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo called the ‘Collection of Sadhanas’, the practice of Red Saraswati cultivates the wisdom to both understand the teachings and to realise the true nature of things. An ideal way to approach the teachings of Sakya Pandita, known as the wisdom mind of Tibet.

Lama Jampa will continue with ‘Discriminating the Three Vows’ in London on 22 March and we welcome him back to Bristol in the summer.

On Saturday 8 June, Sakya Buddhist Centre Bristol hosted a day of Buddhist teachings with Lama Jampa Thaye. The venue was the 6th floor of the Future Inn, with its lofty, bird’s eye view over the city. Over 100 people gathered for this joyous event, from across the UK and beyond.

During this visit, Lama Jampa continued with part 9 of Sakya Pandita’s ‘Discriminating the Three Vows’. Over the course of the morning, we made further progress in the chapter on the vajrayana vows. In this section, Sakya Pandita covered topics such as the real meaning and practice of mahamudra meditation, as outlined in the source texts, the tantras, and communicated through the teachings and songs of great masters. He also emphasised the necessity of receiving vajrayana initiation, as through this, the appropriate connection is made with the relevant meditation deity and one has a basis for cultivating this through subsequent practice.

Another vital point was on the nature of realisation and the qualities associated with this. In Tibet at that time, some said that whilst one may have true realisation, the qualities, such as being able to travel to many buddha realms, will not be displayed until after death. This would be similar to saying that whilst the sun is in the sky, the rays will show tomorrow!

Such clarity on these points means that we don’t mistake temporary experiences for true realisation, we understand what’s needed for practice to work, and we will not be tricked by those who assert that they are enlightened when this is not the case. In short, we can travel the path to buddhahood with greater knowledge and confidence.

In the afternoon, Lama Jampa bestowed the initiation of Green Tara. Green Tara is known as the mother of all buddhas, as she is the embodiment of the wisdom of all the buddhas. As the princess Jnanachandra, she made a vow to remain in female form, to demonstrate the possibility of achieving enlightenment as a woman. This initiation was bestowed directly by Tara to the Kashmiri master, Shakya Shribhadra, and has been transmitted in an unbroken line through the Sakya tradition.

As well as the monthly practice, Sakya Buddhist Centre will be hosting a meditation day on Green Tara, which will be particularly helpful to anyone new to this practice. More info can be found here. A re-teach of Part 9 of Sakya Pandita’s text for anyone who came to this teaching will start on 19 June and take place weekly for 4 weeks. For more details, click here.

We look forward to welcoming Lama Jampa back to Bristol in the autumn.