December Newsletter 2025

Dear Sarah,

Welcome to the final newsletter of 2025 which, as well as details of events in December, includes a sneak preview of what to look forward to in 2026. But first let's start with the picture above.

Lama Zangmo, Ani Semchi and a small group of friends will be going to India to participate in the 40th Bodhgaya Kagyu Monlam and to look after the Akong Tulku Rinpoche Memorial Soup Kitchen. If you would like to take part in this wonderful and meritorious event, feel free to join Lama Zangmo and Ani Semchi in Bodhgaya.

WINTER BREAK - The Centre will close at 8.00 pm on Thursday 18th December, and re-open on Wednesday 7th January at 5.00 pm.

CANCELLED - Letter to a Friend with Lama Zangmo will not take place on 6th December as planned. The next teaching on this will take place on the 17th January.

Now, having dealt with what's not happening, let's move on to the more positive what is happening in December and January.

First of all, on a brighter note, the Centre is taking part in Festive Windows in Bermondsey. From 1–25 December, 25 local windows will be transformed into magical illuminated artworks - each one created by local schools, charities, artists, and independent businesses. There is a trail to follow and full details can be found on the Festive Windows website.

As ever, practice opportunities abound at Samye Dzong London. In addition to the usual morning and evening meditations, there is also a Simply Meditation Day on Sunday 7th December and a Vajrasattva Practice Day on Sunday 14th December.

Also coming up:

Seven Points of Mind Training with Lama Zangmo - Saturday 13th December, part of an ongoing course.

An Introduction to Meditation, with Lama Zangmo - Saturday, 24th January. If you've been thinking that it might be worth learning to meditate, you'll probably think it even more by the time we get to January... just in time for this one day course. Feel free to book your place now and commit to something positive for the New Year.

The Tibetan Doctor will next be available in KSDL on the weekend of the 13th - 14th December, and then again in January on the 17th and 18th. To make an appointment for a consultation please contact Doctor Soktsang directly. If you want to check Dr Soktsang's availability in 2026, the dates of his attendance at the Centre are available on the website.

One final thought. I remember a cartoon in which a Master tells their student how much spiritual progress they've made, and how it's now time for one final test! The next picture shows the student at a family gathering with a child's toy bouncing off their head. Yes, there's a chance for us all to have a break from the usual routines, but this can also bring it's own challenges. Let's try and practice things such as patience, kindness and compassion, not just to others, but also to ourselves.

Wishing you all the best for the Winter Solstice, Christmas and the New Year. See you in 2026!

David Bates

Newsletter Editor

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Transforming the Emotions Through Meditation, with Lama Zangmo

Transforming the Emotions Through Meditation, with Lama Zangmo, runs weekly over four Thursdays, starting on 15th January, and is suitable both for beginners and anyone wanting to become more familiar with working with the emotions. It is a good follow-up for anyone who attended a meditation course and also a good follow-up to the course Lama Zangmo ran on Transforming the Emotions in October.

Lama Zangmo will especially focus on how we can deal with painful emotions such as stress, fear and confusion, and cultivate positive mind states, and will give some meditation instructions.

To tame our unruly mind, we need to be able to recognise the emotion, reflect on the negative impact it has, and apply the appropriate remedy. With time and practise we gradually become able to pacify the afflictions.

There will be time for meditation and Q&A during the sessions. It is fine to come for one or all of the sessions, however we ask that you book in advance.

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A Weekend of Instructions in the Ngondro Practice with Lama Zangmo

On the weekend of the 31st January - 1st February, Lama Zangmo will give instructions on the Ngondro, a practice text by the 9th Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje, consisting of the four ordinary foundations and the four special foundations.

The Four Ordinary Foundations are contemplations on the four thoughts that turn the mind to the Dharma, namely the preciousness of human life, impermanence, karma, cause and effects, and the sufferings of samsara.

The Four Special Foundations are purification and accumulation practices and are: prostrations, recitations of the Dorje Sempa hundred syllable mantra, mandala offerings and guru yoga practice.

The function of the prostrations is to deepen our sense of refuge in the Three Jewels and take root in the Lineage, and to help us appreciate the importance of Dharma practice. It is a method of purification of the obscurations and accumulation of merit.

Lama Zangmo will give instructions in the Four Thoughts and how to start the first of the special foundations, the prostration practice. She will also give the lung, scriptural transmission, for the practice.

This course is suitable for those who have already taken Refuge or are planning to take refuge at the next opportunity. For any questions and guidance about whether to join this course, please feel free to contact the office or make an appointment to speak to Lama Zangmo.

You will need to bring a Ngondro text for the teachings (available from the shop).

The schedule for each day will run between the following times:

• Saturday 31 January: 10am-4pm

• Sunday 1 February: 10am-1pm

The instructions will be followed up with an afternoon of contemplation and prostrations on Sun 15 Feb from 1.30 - 4pm where Lama Zangmo will be available for Q&A at the beginning in order to get started properly on the practice. More information on this can be found here.

For those who wish to start prostrations for the first time, it is best to attend all those dates. It is essential to book in advance for this course.

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What's happening at Samye LIng in 2026

Ani Lhamo writes:

Dear Friends,

We’d like to let you know of some of the main Dharma events planned in Samye Ling for 2026 so that you can share anything of interest with people connected to your centre.

We will publish details on the courses section of the Samye Ling website as and when we have them.

Dates of major events already confirmed in 2026:

• Easter Refuge Ceremony with Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche on Sunday 5 April 2026

• The Sixth UK Kagyu Monlam, from 20 to 26 May 2026

• Saga Dawa Refuge Ceremony with Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche on 31 May 2026

• Akong Memorial Retreat, from 8 to 15 October 2026.

Other Dharma teaching planned in 2026

We are inviting several Khenpos to give teachings regularly for around 6 months, as we’ve done for the last few years. These visits will depend on the Khenpos finding time to travel and also securing a UK visa, so we'll wait until there is more certainty before publicising details.

We appreciate it will be helpful to know when these teachings will be and how long they will last, so we will let you know dates as soon as we possibly can.

Meantime, very best wishes to you and everyone at your centre,

Ani Lhamo

On behalf of Samye Ling

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