Last Saturday 14th March, Miranda and Rachel came down from Sakya Buddhist Centre Bristol to Sakya Thinley Namgyal Ling in Exeter to lead a meditation and study day on the famed work, ‘The 8 Verses of Mind Training’, composed by Geshe Langri Thangpa. One of the main characteristics of this kind of text is its brevity and directness; in this way the practitioner is left under no illusion about the teaching it contains. What is more, all we need to bring to this kind of teaching is the raw material of our egos without any particularly deep knowledge of other aspects of the path.

Geshe Langri Thangpa’s poetic verses focus on transforming the kinds of challenging situations we face in our encounters with others, using such situations to overcome our clinging to self, the root of all difficulties. The heart of the teaching is to offer our happiness to others and to take on their sufferings, the essential practice that cultivates the mind of enlightenment, or bodhichitta.

“I will train myself to offer benefit and joy to all my mothers, both directly and indirectly, and respectfully take upon myself all their harms and suffering.”

Geshe Langri Thangpa

The day was held in main hall of the Quaker meeting house in Exeter and was well attended by local members and those new to Buddhism. We were particularly fortunate in having such experienced practitioners to take us through the verses. The unhurried day was broken up into 4 one-hour sessions covering the complete text comprehensively. Each verse was fully and clearly explained by Rachel and Miranda giving plenty of time for reflection, questions and just sitting meditation.

Lunch was shared around a communal table and this gave the chance for people to catch up with one another and for newcomers to talk to established members to get a more informal take on the Exeter community. At the end of the sessions people were quick to express their gratitude and appreciation for
such an illuminating day.

We look forward to welcoming back Rachel and Miranda in November when they will cover another mind training text.

From 31st March, the group continues to meet weekly on a Tuesday evening at 7.30pm and welcomes newcomers and established practitioners alike. Contact: exeter@dechen.org

At the end of January, Sakya Buddhist Centre Bristol hosted the first of this year’s major teaching events in the UK by Lama Jampa Thaye. Defying the storms and rain, over 100 people gathered to receive transformative teachings on mind training and the Vajrayana initiation of White Tara. 

In the morning, Lama Jampa gave teachings on the ‘Mind Training of Birwapa’. Birwapa was one of the 84 great realised Vajrayana masters of India, who flourished in between the 8th and 11th centuries. He is also known for being the source of the ‘Path and its Fruit’, a system of teachings central to the Sakya tradition.

In just two paragraphs, he explains how to train in both the compassionate and wisdom aspects of the thought of enlightenment (bodhichitta) in a direct and practical way that brings even the greatest difficulties into our Buddhist practice to overcome the real enemy – privileging self. 

Birwapa points out that those who harm us are their own worst enemy, the architects of their future suffering. Not only that, but this same person who now harms us has shown us the kindness of a mother time and again, going to the ends of the earth for us. Remembering this, we train to wish them to be completely free of suffering, finally extending this wish to all beings, whether near and far, known or unknown. As Lama Jampa remarked, we begin with the particular and then extend out so our practice is sincere.

In the words of Birwapa: “Consider with compassion all the kind ones who protected one with love from beginningless time. Although this one may now be harmful, previously they were my mother countless times and thus achieved by benefit.”

In the practice we then go further, wishing to take on the sufferings of others, particularly when we are experiencing such difficulties as illness or mental distress, and offering all virtue and happiness to others, finally resting in the wisdom of how things really are.

Lama Jampa pointed out that even these powerful mind training practices, whilst leading to our becoming a Buddha, belong to the common Mahayana. This path is radically transformative, yet takes a long time. However, when joined with the skilful practices of the Vajrayana, including meditation on such deities as Chenrezik, the result can be achieved much more swiftly; even in this very life for very skilled practitioners. Yet, without the support of such mind training teachings, both the common and uncommon (Vajrayana) Mahayana practices will no longer be motivated by the wish to benefit others, instead at best focused only on our own freedom from suffering.

In the afternoon, Lama Jampa gave the Vajrayana initiation of White Tara from the lineage of Shakya Shribhadra. Her practice leads to the increase of both wisdom, making it easier to recognise the true nature of reality, and long life to enable us to accomplish more study and practice, taking us further along the path to enlightenment.

We welcome Lama Jampa back to Bristol on 6 June. To find out more about Lama Jampa and his full teaching programme click here.

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.