May Newsletter 2025
- KSD London
- Jun 12
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 17
Dear All, Shrine Room - upstairs
Welcome to the May newsletter, and the exciting news that Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche will be visiting the Centre in July for not just one weekend but two! So guess what the first main story is this month? And that's closely followed by news of Clive Holmes latest course - Attitude of Gratitude which takes place on the 17th-18th May. But what else is going on in the meantime?
Coming up this month:
Saturday 10th May, A Precious Garland of the Supreme Path with Lama Zangmo - a continuation of Lama's teachings on Gampopa's seminal text.
Sunday 11th May, Simply Meditation Day. Not much explanation required for this one, but the link will give you access to the timetable. On this day there will also be a light offering in the courtyard garden dedicated to all those we have been requested to pray for.
Sunday 25th May is a busy practice day, starting with a Green Tara Puja at 10.00 am, followed by a Vajrasattva Practice Day starting at 11.30 am, and finishing with a Medicine Buddha Puja at 7.00 pm.
The Tibetan Doctor will next be available in KSDL on the weekend of the 24th - 25th May. 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.
Looking for a workshop room to hire in central London? If so, check out the story at the very end of this newsletter.
Interested in volunteering at the Centre? We are always happy to receive applications from potential volunteers, both part time and full time residential. You can find out more about what's involved on the website. Everyone who gets in touch will receive a reply.
Finally, don't forget that the Centre is closed from 30th May - 5th June inclusive while the UK Kagyu Monlam is taking place.
The Centre closure also coincides with my own short holiday as my partner Jenny and I join the world of elite sports. Should you be in Hastings on Saturday 6th June, feel free to give us a wave as we take part in the 2025 World Crazy Gold Championships.
Best wishes,
David Bates
Newsletter Editorial
Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche visit in July
We are delighted to announce that our Abbot, Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, will once again be visiting Samye Dzong London in July. During Rinpoche's stay, events will take place over two consecutive weekends: the 12th - 13th July and the 19th - 20th July.
Lama Yeshe Rinpoche will be assisted by Ani Lhamo and Gelong Thubten, who will give talks each weekend on related topics. Please see the programme for each weekend using the links above.
Taking Refuge - there will also be an opportunity to take Refuge on Sunday 13th July. If wish to become a Buddhist and you would like to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity, please fill in this form or feel free to email us with any questions.
We very much look forward to welcoming Lama Yeshe Rinpoche again in KSD London and we hope you will be able to join us for some or all of this visit.
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. Thank you.
Attitude of Gratitude with Clive Holmes
We look forward to welcoming Clive Holmes to London again for his course on the 17th - 18th May. Clive has been leading courses in meditation for the last twenty five years all over the UK, as well as in Samye Dzong centres overseas.
Attitude of Gratitude
Attitude is more important than events, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. But few of us exercise the muscle of this choice and consequently are thrown about like feathers in the wind.
We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is take charge of our Attitudes. Every moment is an opportunity to wake up from our negativities, assumptions, prejudices and habits. An attitude of gratitude helps us correct our negativity bias. Gratitude can be fun too. Not some “heavy duty” thing to add to our to-do list. The heart of the weekend will be an in-depth investigation of how to cultivate gratitude based on the seven points of mind training-a deep text from the Tibetan tradition.
Attitude of Gratitude with Clive Holmes takes place on the weekend of the 17th - 18th May. Full details of the day, as well as a booking link, can be found on the website.
Sarah's new chapter
Regular visitors to the Tea Room will be very familiar with the welcoming smile of Sarah Sheehan. Unfortunately for us, Sarah has now moved on, although not too far from the Centre.
We are grateful for all her help over the years and will miss her, but she assures us we'll see her regularly. Here is Sarah's journey in her own words:
"In 2019 I had the good fortune of speaking with Lama Zangmo on the cosy couch in the kitchen at Johnson House, Samye Ling. At that point, I had finished some travelling and decided after speaking to her that it would be a good idea to spend some time at the London Centre while I figured out my next steps. I signed up for a 3-month live-in volunteer contract and moved in, imagining to be on my way in a few months. I had no idea that for years to come, I would call Kagyu Samye Dzong London (KSDL) my home and find with it a place of spiritual growth, deep friendship and joy, with a few healthy challenges sprinkled along the way. I am very grateful for this time as it will deeply enrich my life as I move out from living at the centre.
I’ve been privileged to have had a few different roles and hats in my time here. I have been both a volunteer and a resident, worked with our wonderful Simon in the office, driven our old red van to go shopping in East Street Market, over-watered the garden and undercooked the food, cleaned, worked on a blog during Covid and a new website, and more recently managed the tearoom in an ever-so-slightly chaotic way.
Being able to live at the centre opened up the possibility of receiving incredible teachings from Lama Zangmo as well as from the many visiting teachers who have taught over the years. Last year was also the first time Lama Yeshe Rinpoche visited in five years and it was very special to be part of this! Living at the centre also allowed me to spend valuable time with visiting teachers over meals or going for walks. There is nowhere else I could have lived, other than Samye Ling, where I would have had such privileged exposure.
While all of the above was taking place I began to appreciate the opportunity to practice with others. There is more motivation in doing prostrations or sitting in the morning meditation if you know others will be there, and without a doubt there is more energy in the evening sessions or a Simply Meditation day when the shrine room is full. Although there is still room for improvement, my discipline in practicing daily has improved, and I am very grateful to the KSDL Sangha for this...."
Carry on reading the remainder of Sarah's blog post on the website.
Looking for a Workshop Room to Hire?
Look no further! The Centre has a high quality workshop room available for hire and we currently have regular space on Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings, as well as some daytime weekends.
The room is spacious and airy with wooden floors and large windows that let in a lot of natural light. The space is ideal to host yoga and other wellness classes and activities.
For further details, or if you wish to apply to hold a class with us, please see the room hire page and fill in the enquiry form at the bottom of the page.
