November Newsletter 2025
- KSD London
- Nov 24
- 4 min read
Dear All,
Welcome to the November newsletter. I hope you enjoyed the extra hour we had last weekend when the clocks went back. The only drawback to this for me, bar for the darker evenings, is that my body is telling me that it's time for bed, when my clock's telling me there's another hour to go! But that's a lot better than when the clocks go forward in spring!
You'll guess from the picture at the top of the newsletter that we've come around to the time of year when we have our annual Celebration of Life Through Reflection on Death event, organised by the stalwarts of the KSDL Bardo Group. If you've not been before, it's well worth attending. It's not a topic that's commonly addressed, but if there's somewhere that it can be addressed in a safe space, this is it, with a range of very knowledgeable people and an opportunity to take part in a light offering for those no longer with us. Full details are below, but if you can make it, we hope to see you there this Saturday, 1st November for either all, or part of the day.
The other space in which you can address the topic is at the appropriately named, Death Cafe. This will next take place in the Tibetan Tea Room at Samye Dzong on Thursday 27th November, from 6.45 - 8.00pm.
We have several practice opportunities in late November, with a Ngondro practice weekend on the 22nd - 23rd, and there are now two Simply Meditation days in Nov, one on the 9th and one on 30th November.
Also coming up:
Taming the Wild Elephant Mind - Sunday 2nd November. This is a day of meditation instruction especially suited for beginners.
Transforming the Emotions through Meditation with Lama Zangmo - Thursday evenings at 6.45 - 8.00pm.
Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend, with Lama Zangmo, continues on Saturday 8th November. The instructions combine a practical approach to daily conduct for both the layperson and the ordained. It has been a source of scriptural authority for many of Tibet’s greatest scholars over time.
Seven Points of Mind Training with Lama Zangmo - Sunday 15th November, part of an ongoing course.
Vajrasattva Practice Day - Sunday 16th November. We will spend the day reciting the Vajrasattva (Dorje Sempa) 100 syllable mantra as requested by His Holiness 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje. You are welcome to join in as many sessions as you wish.
The Tibetan Doctor will next be available in KSDL on the weekend of the 22nd - 23rd November. 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.
A place is becoming available for a residential volunteer at KSDL as a housekeeper. If you are interested please fill in the application form.
And that's about it for now. I hope you have a great November, which doesn't go off with too loud a bang on Wednesday the 5th!!!! After that... it will be the last newsletter of 2025. Until then....
Best wishes,
David Bates
Newsletter Editor
A Celebration of Life through Reflection on Death
We would like to invite you to join us this Saturday, 1st November for our annual event, "Death and Dying; A Celebration of Life Through Reflection on Death", organised by the Kagyu Samye Dzong London (KSDL) Bardo Group.
The Bardo Group have run these events since 2017, and this year we will have another full programme of events with speakers from various professions talking about their experience around death and dying.
There will be a space set aside for contemplation, as well as a coffin exhibition, and we will be lighting butter lamps for the deceased and loved ones, with dedications and prayers to end the day.
You are welcome to come along for all or part of the programme.
Schedule:
Shrine room:
10.00 – 10.40 - The Buddhist Approach to Death & Dying ~ Lama Zangmo
10.55 – 11.35 - Insights on Grief – Grief researcher ~ Lizzie Pickering
12.20 – 13.00 -Do’s and don'ts in funerals ~ Clare Montagu, Poppy’s Funerals
13.00-14.10 - Lunch break (poetry reading in the exhibition room)
14.10 - 14.50 - What is palliative care? How can it help us live & die better? ~ Dr Liam Gabb NIHR Doctoral Fellow
15.00 - 15.40 - The power of planning ahead ~ Annmarie Blues, Royal Trinity Hospice
16.10 - 16.40 - Light offering in the courtyard & prayers for deceased and loved ones
Exhibition Room:
All day - coffin display
13.00-14.10 - Poetry Reading (during lunch break)
Clinic Room:
11.00 - 1.45pm - Michael Perry, Bereavement Counsellor
Tibetan Film Festival
40th Kagyu Monlam in Bodhgaya, India
In December this year 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.
If you would like to help in the soup kitchen while there, you will see posters at the Kagyu Monlam with information on how you can contribute. This is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate compassion in action.
