June/July Newsletter 2025

Dear All,

Welcome to the June / July newsletter where we inform you of events and activities at the Centre. There's no shortage of teachings, and there are plenty of meditation sessions (including the Simply Meditation day this Sunday). However we also need to carry the teachings and meditation into action, so if you would like the opportunity to join a mindful volunteering event, please see below.

Coming up this month:

Volunteer Day - Sunday 6th July. Those of you who have attended Lama Yeshe Rinpoche's previous visits to the Centre will know exactly how busy they can be - and with our special visitor and so many people coming we want the Centre to be looking good to welcome everyone. Here is your chance to make a contribution to that while also developing your practice with a combination of meditation sessions and mindful cleaning. Full details on the website.

Ajahn Brahm will be teaching in KSDL on Thursday 19th June from 6.30 - 8.30 pm. If you're not familiar with him, I'd suggest a quick search on YouTube. Personally, I love his down to earth talks and the humour that infuses them, which is deeply rooted in the observations from his practice. This event isn't organised by KSDL, so to book a seat, please visit the Anukampa Project website.

The Tibetan Doctor will next be available in KSDL on the weekend of the 21st - 22nd June. To make an appointment for a consultation please contact Doctor Soktsang directly. If you want to check Dr Soktsang's availability in 2025, the dates of his attendance at the Centre are available on the website.

Death Cafe - Thursday 3rd July. At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to discuss death. On this occasion we will be hosted in the Centre's Tibetan Tearoom and sit in small groups around a pot of tea, with five people on each table facilitated by a member of the KSDL Bardo Group. See the website for full details. Please note, places are limited and you do need to book in advance.

That's pretty much it for now, but expect another newsletter shortly before Lama Yeshe Rinpoche's visit. Oh, one more thing! For those wondering how the Crazy Golf went, I didn't win but thoroughly enjoyed taking part, which was really the point of it.

Best wishes,

David Bates

Newsletter Editorial

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Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche's coming visit to KSDL

We are looking forward to the visit of our Abbot, Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, in July. To find out what's going on over the two weekends, here is the full programme. We hope to see you over this period.

Taking Refuge - there will be an opportunity to take Refuge on Sunday 13th July. If you wish to become a Buddhist and you would like to make use of this wonderful opportunity, please fill in this form or feel free to email us with any questions.

Saturday 12th July

10.00 - 11.00: Meditation and Finding Purpose ~ Gelong Thubten​

11.00 - 11.45: Break​

11.45 - 12.45: Meditation and Finding Purpose ~ Gelong Thubten​

12.45 - 14.00: Lunch break​

14.30: Q&A Session ~ with Lama Yeshe Rinpoche. An opportunity to ask Lama Yeshe Rinpoche questions about the Dharma and your practice.

Sunday 13th July

10.00 – 11.00: Ethics in Buddhism ~ Gelong Thubten

11.00 - 11.45: Break

11.45: Children’s Blessing ~ with Lama Yeshe Rinpoche. We recommend the children bring a gift for Rinpoche, such as a drawing, or a katta, or anything they’d like to offer.

12.45 - 14.00: Lunch Break

14.00 - 15.00: The Meaning of Refuge ~ Ani Gelongma Lhamo . An explanation of what it means to take refuge and what to expect in the ceremony.

15.00 - 15.30: Break

15.30 - 16.30: Refuge Ceremony ~ with Lama Yeshe Rinpoche. Please fill in the form here if you wish to take part in the Refuge Ceremony. An opportunity for those who wish to become Buddhist by taking refuge in the Three Jewels, and for those wishing to take precepts, or wishing to renew their precepts.

Saturday 19th July

10.00- 11.00: The Importance of Lineage ~ Gelong Thubten

11.00 - 11.45: Break

11.45 – 12.45: Importance of Lineage ~ Gelong Thubten

12.45 - 14.00: Lunch Break

14.00 - 15.00: Registration for Skills Auction

15.00 - 16.30: Skills Auction. All funds raised will go to the Temple project in Johannesburg.

Sunday 20th July

10.00 - 11.00: The Three Trainings of Ethics, Meditation and Wisdom ~ Ani Gelongma Lhamo

11.00 - 11.45: Break

11.45: Q & A Session ~ with Lama Yeshe Rinpoche. An opportunity to ask Lama Yeshe Rinpoche questions about the Dharma and your practice.

12.45 - 14.00: Lunch Break

14.30pm - 16.30: Milarepa Tsok Puja, followed by refreshments in the courtyard garden with Rinpoche.

Visits by Lama Yeshe Rinpoche tend to be... a bit busy!!! It would be really helpful if you could book for whichever (or both) weekends you intend joining us to give us an idea of numbers. It really helps with the catering and set-up of the Centre. Use the links above to go to the page for each weekend. Book the weekend of the 12th - 13th July, and/or the 19th - 20th July. Thank you.

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Upcoming teachings with Lama Zangmo

The Precious Garland of the Supreme Path - Lama Zangmo continues her teachings on Gampopa's seminal text with plenty of time built in for questions and meditation. Saturday 14th June

Buddhism for Beginners - Thursday evening, 26th June. Ideal for anyone who's curious about the Buddha's teachings. Thursday evening 26th June.

An Introduction to Meditation - a three-week course on Thursday evenings starting on 10th July, it is especially suited for beginners and those who would like to refresh their knowledge and understanding.

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One year retreat on Holy Isle and Arran

For some years now Kagyu Samye Ling has offered the opportunity to join a one-year retreat dedicated to the Foundation or Preliminary Practices (Ngondro in Tibetan).

This year Samye Ling will once again offer this golden opportunity to spend one year in retreat under the guidance of our Retreat Master, Drupon Khen Rinpoche.

The next one-year retreat will begin in the retreat facilities on Holy Isle (for women) and on the Isle of Arran (for men) on the auspicious day of Lhabap Duchen, 22 November 2025.

This retreat is open to all committed practitioners of the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Throughout the retreat regular teachings will be given online by Drupon Khen Rinpoche from the Thrangu Retreat Centre in Nepal.

If you are interested in joining this retreat, please email Lama Katen at Samye Ling.

Prospective retreatants will be required to attend the Summer Meditation Retreat at Samye Ling from 13th to 20th August, where they will receive the necessary pre-retreat transmissions and guidance from Drupon Khen Rinpoche.

For more information, please visit the Samye Ling website.

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Awakening through practice

An interview between Zhi Yi of Eastern Horizon Magazine and Lama Zangmo, 1st December 2024.

Zhi Yi: What inspired you to go to Kagyu Samye Ling in 1977?

Lama Zangmo: In the 1970s, there were very few Buddhist centres in Europe, and Kagyu Samye Ling was the only Tibetan Buddhist centre at the time. I had learned a little about meditation here and there, but later I came across Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s book ‘Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism’. I remember walking into a bookshop and noticing a stack of copies on the shelf. I picked one up and flipped through it, and the content immediately resonated with me. His language was clear and fresh, unlike most translations of Buddhist texts at the time, which often used archaic terms that were hard to follow. Many Buddhist concepts didn’t yet have equivalents in English, which made earlier texts even more challenging to understand. Trungpa Rinpoche and his books left a deep impression on me.

I decided to visit Samye Ling to learn more about meditation, as there were few other options available at the time. By then, Trungpa Rinpoche had moved to the United States in 1970, but it was simply a desire to deepen my understanding of meditation that led me to Samye Ling.

How has your perspective on retreat practice evolved since your first retreat in 1984?

I deeply value the retreat experience. During my first long retreat.....

To read the full interview with Lama Zangmo (which is way too long to include in this newsletter), just visit the website.