Reflections on Another Year Gone By,

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Kagyu Samye Dzong London.

As we are coming to the end of 2024, I wanted to try to put a simple summary of the year into words and describe what has been accomplished here, but it is not easy….

Lama Yeshe Rinpoche Giving Refuge At Samye Dzong London

I look at my worn out diary and it has definitely been a busy year. Many Dharma courses have been offered and countless people have passed through the doors of the Centre. We had an exceptional and precious visit from our Abbot Lama Yeshe Rinpoche in July, where he gave Refuge and blessings to many of his older students as well as new, many of whom brought their own young children to meet him for the first time. How fortunate we are to have known him for all this time!

We also had special visits and teachings from Karma Lhabu Drupon KhenRinpoche from Thrangu Sekhar retreat, and Khenpo Lekthong from Gyaltsap Rinpoche’s monastery, as well as Khenpo Tashi from Thrangu Monastery in Nepal.

Khenpo Tashi and Lama Zangmo in front of Samye Dzong London

All of them great bearers of the torch of Dharma which illuminates and dispels the darkness of confusion. Thanks to the efforts of Lama Katen, Deputy Abbot of Kagyu Samye Ling, it has been a year rich in Dharma teachers and teachings.

Students need teachers, but teachers without students are not much benefit, so also worth mentioning is a large group of dedicated Samye Dzong London students who finished an eighteen month’s course this year on Gampopa’s text Jewel Ornament of Liberation. A long term course on Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend is starting in 2025, as well as a course on Mindtraining, so hopefully the Dharma knowledge of everyone attending is growing steadily.

Photo after Lama Zangmos teachings on the Jewel Ornament of Liberation

I would like to thank everyone who have supported Samye Dzong London with their kindness by dedicating their time, skills and financial support, or by simply holding us in your thoughts and prayers. Your help is invaluable and much appreciated even when we don’t always manage to express our gratitude in person.

Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche, our Founder, always stressed the importance of having a long term vision and establishing the Dharma in the West for future generations, not just for ourselves. May the benefit of the teachings spread far and wide.

I look forward to seeing you in 2025,

With best wishes for your health and happiness

Lama Zangmo.