Three day Chenrezik retreat at the Sakya Buddhist Centre, Bristol.

We will be hosting a three day retreat on Chenrezik, the embodiment of compassion, at the Sakya Buddhist Centre, Bristol over the second May Bank Holiday weekend (23rd – 25th May 2026). The retreat will be led by Adrian and Emma Place; Maggie Griffiths; Liz Godfrey and Val Bamber.

Everyone is welcome. You may participate in the practice if you have taken refuge and received the relevant reading transmission for this particular practice from Lama Jampa Thaye: “The Benefit of Beings that Pervades Space: The Meditation Recitation of the Great Compassionate One” by Tangtong Gyalpo. Others are welcome to sit in (we will be chanting in Tibetan).

Meditation on Chenrezik helps us to develop compassion – defined in Buddhism as the wish for others to be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.

The composer of this particular Chenrezik practice, Tangtong Gyalpo (1385-1464), was a legendary Buddhist master, and an emanation of Chenrezik and Padmasambhava. His extraordinary life story can be read in his biography: King of the Empty Plain: the Tibetan Iron-Bridge Builder Tangtong Gyalpo by Cyrus Stearns (2007, Snow Lion Publications).

The transmission for this particular Chenrezik meditation practice was given by the (then) head of the Sakya tradition of Buddhism, His Holiness Sakya Trichen on his very first visit to Sakya Thinley Rinchen Ling in Bristol in 1978. It has been practised regularly at the Centre ever since, and Lama Jampa has continued to give the transmission, enabling many others to practise it individually also, with the wish to benefit all sentient beings.

You are welcome to join us for all or any of the sessions – you may commit to one session, one day or the whole retreat – please just call in as you are able. There will be 4 one-hour sessions each day:

• • 10.30 – 11.30
  • 12.00 – 1.00
  • 2.00 – 3.00
  • 3.30 – 4.30

This is a non-residential retreat being held in the peace and seclusion of the Sakya Centre, Bristol. The Centre will open at 10am and close 5pm each day.  Please arrive in good time for the start of each session. [Note: the usual Saturday class will not run, though people are welcome to sit in the puja if they would like to. The retreat is off-line except for the usual Sunday 10.30 session, via the usual puja link].

This is a practice retreat – simply an opportunity to meditate. The explanatory text by Lama Jampa will be available to anyone wishing to learn more about the practice.

If you would like to request a dedication please ask about this on the day or contact us: bristol@dechen.org

At the end of each day we will recite the prayers wishing for the long-life our teachers.

Refreshments will be provided, but if you are there for lunch please feel free to bring some food to add to the table.

There is no charge for the retreat, but donations to help with the upkeep of the Centre are welcome.