New issue of Melody of Dharma

The latest issue of the Sakya magazine, Melody of Dharma, has been uploaded to the official website of His Holiness Sakya Trizin. The issue features, among other things, an article on Atisa and an interview with the sister of His Holiness, Her Eminence Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding.

Please click here to download the issue.

Update on the activities of H.H. Sakya Trizin and H.H. Karmapa

Lama Jampa Thaye recently spoke separately to His Holiness Sakya Trizin and His Holiness Karmapa. They are both in good health and at their respective residences in India. 

His Holiness Sakya Trizin is currently teaching the Jamyang Khyentse Wangchuk Vajrayogini Tri at Sakya Rinchen Choling, the Saky nunnery in Dehradun. His Holiness Karmapa recently concluded giving a series of teachings at KIBI in Delhi, which included the initiations of Gampopa and Chenrezik.

Recent events in Japan

A letter from His Holiness Karmapa in response to the recent events in Japan has been posted on the official website of His Holiness.  Please click here to view the letter.

Lama Jampa Thaye has visited Japan on two occasions as guest of the Nembutsu school of Japanese Buddhism. We have heard that, fortunately, the followers of this school and their master, the Most Ven. Dr. Kyuse Enshinjoh, are safe and their temples have not been damaged as they are some distance from the main affected areas in Japan. Tragically, the total damage in the northeast area of Japan is severe: many people have lost their lives and many others have been injured and lost everything they have. 

Lampa Jampa expressed his sorrow in the following address:

"I am writing to express my profound sorrow at the recent tragedy that has befallen the holy land of Japan. Please be assured that the thoughts and sympathies of all dharma followers here are with their dharma brothers and sisters in Japan.

We pray that all who perished be reborn in Sukhavati and that the grief of all who are bereaved, injured or homeless be swiftly pacified by the buddhas and bodhisattvas."

Lama Jampa Thaye at Sakya Thinley Rinchen Ling

Bestowing blessings

Lama Jampa Thaye gave a series of teachings in Bristol on Saturday, 12 March. In the morning, Lama Jampa taught the 14 Root Downfalls by Sakya Pandita. This text is a brief but authoritative exposition of the nature of the vows and pledges to be maintained by all those who have received a major initiation in the Yoga or Anuttarayoga tantras. In the afternoon, Lama Jampa bestowed the initiation of Green Tara from the lineage of Shakyashribhadra, an important master of Sakya Pandita.

Mandal tensum offering

At the conclusion of the teachings, Lama Jampa remarked that it was wonderful to see so many children coming to dharma events as they are the future of the dharma. He emphasised that the main way to ensure that children practise the dharma in the future is to practise with them in the family, the main vehicle for the transmission of the dharma. Lama Jampa encouraged everyone to practise the dharma together and to share it with their children.

Teaching the dharma

Lama Jampa also explained that he had received this particular initiation of Green Tara from Karma Thinley Rinpoche, who had himself bestowed the initiation in England. Lama Jampa mentioned that Green Tara is a wonderful deity on which to rely: she is mother to all Buddhas and to all beings. In times of difficulty or problems, there is no better deity to rely on. Many generations of dharma practitioners have relied upon her, from great yogis to ordinary beings, and she is an extraordinarily approachable deity. Lama Jampa encouraged peopole to rely on this deity.

Giving refuge

Lama Jampa concluded by looking forward to the upcoming visits of H.H. Sakya Trizin to Sakya Dolma Ling in Mexico in July and H.E. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche to Dechen Centres in the UK in August.

Lama Jampa's next teaching will be in Manchester in April, where he will teach the first part of Clearing the Darkness of Unawareness and bestow the initiation of Milarepa. Following this, Lama Jampa will travel to Los Angeles to bestow an extensive series of teachings.

Translating Texts

Translation of texts and practice materials is obviously a very important part of the transmission of the dharma in the modern world.  However, considering that the great Tibetan translators worked very closely with their Indian masters and were themselves not just highly erudite scholars but accomplished meditators, it is necessary that we approach the whole issue of translation with careful thought and becoming modesty.

Recently a proposal to translate the Kanjur (the Tripitaka) and the Tengyur (Indian Commentarial Literature) into English has been launched to some fanfare.  It would seem that the words of Shamar Rinpoche, the second most important master in the Karma-Kagyu tradition, are particularly relevant in this context.

His Holiness Karmapa in Hong Kong

His Holiness Karmapa visited Hong Kong for several days in February. The main event of the visit was the bestowal of the major empowerment of Chenrezik.  This was followed by the permission initiation of Yellow Dzambala.  Click here to view a full report of the visit on His Holiness' official website and click here for additional photos of the visit, as well as a short video of the arrival of His Holiness in Hong Kong.