Lama Jampa Thaye on radio in Manchester, 20 May 2012

Lama Jampa Thaye appeared on the radio in Manchester, England on Sunday, 20 May where he discussed his "thought for the week".

A recording of the interview has been uploaded to Lama Jampa Thaye's YouTube channel. Please click here to listen to the interview.

Lama Jampa Thaye teaches in Harrogate, 19 May

On Saturday 19 May, Lama Jampa Thaye arrived in Harrogate for his Spring teaching visit.  Attendees came from from all over the United Kingdom to receive his teachings at a new venue at The Forum, in Harrogate Grammar School’s newly built sixth form centre. 

During the morning session, Lama Jampa began teaching the ‘Doha of Mahamudra’ of the First Jamgon Kongtrul;  in which this famed Kagyu master sets out the Mahamudra (Great Seal) as the basis, path and fruition of spiritual practice.  Lama-la will complete the transmission of this work during his autumn visit to Harrogate this year.

In the afternoon, Lama Jampa bestowed the torma initiation of Vajrakilaya from the Revealed Treasure lineage of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (1829-71). This initiation is from the cycle called Secret Essence.

In conclusion, Lama Jampa pointed out the auspicious conjunction for the Dechen sangha in Yorkshire of the transmissions of these two illustrious masters, Jamgon Kongtrul the Great (Kagyu) and Chokyur Dechen Lingpa (Nyingma).  

Together with Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (Sakya), these compassionate teachers promoted and embodied the non-sectarian Rime movement which flourished in Eastern Tibet.  Through this, a huge body of textual teachings and practices - both famed and little-known - were collected, practised, commented upon and transmitted for the benefit of future generations of practitioners.

Lama Jampa Thaye visits H. H. Sakya Trizin in India

Lama Jampa Thaye visited India for 10 days in May to see His Holiness Sakya Trizin. Lama Jampa requested and received the major two day initiations of Sanjay Menla and Manjushri Arapatsana, both from the Collection of Tantras. His Holiness gave these initiations in Sakya Centre itself, so as usual this provided the opportunity for monks, nuns and lay people to attend. In fact, at the initiation of Manjushri Arapatsana around 1000 people attended as the local Tibetan dharma school brought all its children to the initiation. 

His Holiness also gave some private teaching in the Phodrang for two days. In attendance at these private teachings, as well as Lama Jampa, were the 3 dungseys from the Phuntsok Phodrang (Avikrita Rinpoche, Asanga Rinpoche and Abhaya Rinpoche) and the reincarnation of Tarik Rinpoche. His Eminence Ratna Vajra Rinpoche arrived back from Singapore in time for the initiation of Manjushri Arapatsana. 

Lama Jampa was able to have many discussions with His Holiness, Gyalyum Kusho-la, H.E. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche and Dagmo Kalden-la about future plans. Lama Jampa also met a number of old friends, including Lama Lekshey as well as people from the Phodrang Lama Jampa has known for over 30 years. 

Kirsty Chakravarti invited Lama Jampa to Tegchog Samten Ling, a retreat place she has built approximately 3 miles from the Phodrang,  where there are about nine monks from Gongkar Chode monastery in residence led by Lama Tenpay Gyamtso. Lama Jampa and Dechen Dolma went to see this beautiful place which also has a beautiful stupa and shrines dedicated to the lamas and deities of the Sakya tradition, as well as Atisa and Guru Rinpoche. 

His Holiness is now leaving for His tour of the far East, beginning with Singapore, followed by Taiwan, the Philippines and Malaysia, ending back in India in late August.

Lama Jampa Thaye teaches in Bristol

Lama Jampa Thaye visited Sakya Centre Bristol on 28 April. During the morning Lama Jampa began teaching Chandrogomin’s master work entitled ‘The Twenty Verses on the Bodhisattva Vow’, using the detailed commentary by Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen. This is the first time that either of these has been taught in Europe. Lama Jampa began by explaining the purpose and benefits of taking vows in general. He gave a brief explanation of the particular attributes of and relationship between the three levels of vows contained within the Buddha-dharma. The next part of the text will be given in Bristol in October 2012.

In the afternoon Lama Jampa bestowed the Initiation of Vasudhara from the collection The Hundred Sadhanas of Bari Lotsawa. This deity is associated with the increasing power or accomplishment of wealth.

On Sunday morning Lama Jampa and family attended the Green Tara practice at the Sakya Centre before returning to London.

Lama Jampa and Dechen Dolma are now en route to India to receive teachings from His Holiness Sakya Trizin. Lama Jampa’s next teaching in the UK will be in Harrogate on 19 May, when he will bestow Jamgon Kongtrul's 'Doha of Mahamudra' and the Initiation of Vajrakilaya. Please click here for further information.

Update on activities of Karma Thinley Rinpoche

On 24 April Karma Thinley Rinpoche stopped over in London on his annual journey from Canada to Nepal having spent several months this year in Canada. Rinpoche was hosted in London by Lama Jampa Thaye and Dechen Dolma.

Rinpoche will now spend the summer in Nepal before returning to Canada in the winter. Rinpoche is planning to visit Tibet with his attendant, Kunga, during this time

Lama Jampa Thaye in Mexico

Lama Jampa Thaye's 11 day visit to Sakya Dolma Ling (Mexico) in April was very successful. During his stay, he bestowed three initiations (Medicine Buddha, Chenrezik Mahamudra and White Saraswati), and gave two Mahayana teachings (Chim Namkhai Drak's Lojong, and Sakya Pandita's Answers to Nyimo Gomchen), to an audience of 35-45 students, of which around 25 are regular members of Sakya Dolma Ling. 

In a more private event for SDL members (a questions and answers session), Lama Jampa addressed issues of interest to them such as raising children, explaining the types of prayers that one can do throughout one's practice and ways in which people can help dying relatives/friends and animals. This was a particularly useful session. Finally, 34 people had audiences with Lama Jampa.   

Without doubt, Sakya Dolma Ling is profitting from the blessings of His Holiness Sakya Trizin's visit last year and Lama Jampa's annual visits to Mexico every year for the past six years, allowing it in this way to develop into a more established Dharma centre.

Lama Jampa teaches in West LA

Lama Jampa has just spent ten days in West Los Angeles where he bestowed a series of teachings. This visit marks six years of his dharma activity in Los Angeles and saw him, as is customary, give teachings at both Yeshe Nyingpo LA and Kagyu Donak Ling in addition to Sakya Samten Ling.

Yeshe Nyingpo, whose coordinator is Acharya Ed Heckermann, was founded by Dudjom Rinpoche in the 1980s. Lama Jampa gave the first teaching of his visit, a discourse on the Four Seals here on Saturday March 31. On the evening of April 4 Lama Jampa visited Kagyu Do Nga Chuling and gave a presentation on the qualities of the guru. Kagyu Do Nga Chuling was founded by the previous Kalu Rinpoche and the coordinator is Leroy Griggs.

Lama Jampa's visit culminated with a weekend of teachings at our Sakya centre, Sakya Samten Ling. Following a full day of teaching on the Khorday Yerme (The View of the Sakya Tradition)  Lama Jampa bestowed the initiations of Saraswati and Chenrezik Mahamudra on the Sunday afternoon.

The American sangha were very happy to be able to spend this time with Lama Jampa and all the teachings were very well attended. There was a real sense of community and collaboration evident between the three centres who continue to work well together and support each other in their respective dharma activities in West LA.