March Newsletter 2026
- KSD London
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Dear all,
The days are getting longer and lighter, daffodils are coming into bloom, and towards the end of March you'll have the opportunity to spring into action (see what I did there?) at our annual Spring Clean on Sunday 29th March. Full details and booking (we need to know numbers to prep all those refreshments) can be found on the website.
In other news, we're delighted to be able to announce that Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche will be visiting the Centre in July. He will be with us on the weekends of the 11th/12th (when there will also be a Refuge Ceremony and a children's blessing) and 18th/19th July. A detailed programme will be posted nearer the time, but in the meantime, you've got something to put in your diary.
Coming up in March:
This month you have the treat of two Simply Meditation Days which takes place on Sunday 1st and 15th accordingly.
A Letter to a Friend, with Lama Zangmo takes place this month on Saturday 14th.
The Tibetan Doctor will next be available in KSDL on the weekend of the 21st - 22nd March. 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.
While we always mention the one-off events that take place at the Centre, please don't forget that we do have a regular programme of meditation sessions each week. At 7.00 pm on Wednesday and Friday there is a group meditation in the upstairs Shrine Room, and a Chenrezig Puja on Sundays. And if you can't make those times, the Shrine Rooms are open when the Centre is, and you are welcome to use them for your own meditation practice.
Finally, I hope you're enjoying the lighter days. My daughter recently commented on how wonderful it is to leave work in daylight for the first time in months. May you enjoy the same.
All the best,
David Bates
Newsletter Editor
Foundation in Buddhism teachings, with Lama Zangmo - 1, The Four Noble Truths
On Saturday 4th April, Lama Zangmo will be teaching on the Four Noble Truths, the very first teaching the Buddha gave after he attained enlightenment.
This will be the first of a series of teachings over the next six months, which will give an overview and understanding of the framework for the Buddhist path. It is intended especially for those who are new to Buddhism or those who would like to learn more.
The Four Noble Truths is referred to as the 'First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma' because it represents the first phase of the Buddha's teaching.
This day can be attended as a course on its own or as a part of the monthly Buddhism series. The day will also include time for Q&A and meditation. Lunch will be available in our Tibetan Tearoom.
Please note that each day needs to be booked separately in advance.
Dates for the Foundation in Buddhism Series are :
A Letter To A Friend, with Lama Zangmo
Please note that the instructions on Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend with Lama Zangmo will continue till November this year. All are welcome to attend, even if you did not partake in Module 1.
The text gives a practical approach to daily conduct for both the layperson and the ordained, with an explanation of the different stages leading to enlightenment. The great Indian Buddhist master Nagarjuna wrote his celebrated Letter to a Friend as a gift of advice to a South Indian king, and it has since become a monument in the Indian shastra tradition. Despite its short length it covers the entire Mahayana path.
It has been a source of scriptural authority for many of Tibet’s greatest scholars over time. It is an ideal guide to understand the Buddhist teachings and to apply the teachings to our lives with clarity and wisdom. It is suitable for anyone who wishes to study and learn more about Buddhism.
All are welcome to attend, even if you did not partake in Module 1. When booking onto this course it is a requirement to attend all the dates in full (with the exception of illness) and give it priority over other activities. Booking for the May date will register you for the whole course.
Dates for this course:
*Please note there is no teaching in April.
16 May
20 June
19 Sept
24 Oct
21 Nov
Vajrasattva Meditation Retreat
We will spend the weekend of the 22nd - 23rd March meditating on the purification practice of Vajrasattva (Dorje Sempa) and reciting the 100 syllable mantra as requested by His Holiness 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje.
In an inspiring statement His Holiness said: "It would have a strong positive impact for every single follower of the Karma Kamtsang to recite the Vajrasattva mantra a minimum of one hundred thousand times and the Sutra in Three Sections one thousand times, as soon as possible."
We will also recite the Sutra in Three Sections at the end of some of the sessions. The day is made up of multiple meditation sessions with breaks. Participants are welcome to join in as many sessions as they wish. Once a session has started it is not possible to enter the shrine room.
The sessions are open to all - the only requirement is not to arrive late. Anyone who is not familiar with the mantra practice and visualisation is welcome to simply sit and meditate.
The schedule for both days is as follows:
11.30 am - 12.30 pm Session
12.30 pm - 1.30 pm Lunch break ( A hot lunch will be served in the Tibetan Tea Room)
1.30 pm - 2.30 pm Session
2.30 pm - 3.00 pm break
3.00 pm - 4.00 pm Session
There is no registration for this weekend. If you wish to make a donation, please do so here.
The 6th UK Kagyu Monlam, at Kagyu Samye Ling
Registration and Accommodation Bookings for the 6th UK Kagyu Monlam will open on 15th March 2026 when you can book by sending an email with your details to bookings@samyeling.org
The 6th UK Kagyu Monlam will take place at Samye Ling from the 20th - 26th May, during Saga Dawa, the most auspicious month in the Tibetan calendar, where the anniversary of Lord Buddha’s Birth, His Enlightenment and Parinirvana all occur.
The Monlam begins on the morning on the 4th day of Saga Dawa and finishes in the evening of the 10th day, Guru Rinpoche day.
As in previous years, both Drupon Khen Rinpoche and our Abbot, Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche will preside over the daily practice sessions. Drupon Rinpoche will also give two teaching sessions daily.
Refuge Ceremony at Kagyu Samye Ling
A few days after the Monlam, on the auspicious 15th day of Saga Dawa (31st May 2026), the anniversary of Lord Buddha’s Enlightenment and Parinirvana, our Abbot, Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche will give Refuge to anyone wishing to enter the Buddhist Path.
Please send an email to reception@samyeling.org if you would like to take refuge on this day.
