How do you feel when you open yourself to the suffering of others? Does it leave you with a hopeless feeling? Do you find yourself closing off very quickly? Since others are always going to suffer is it possible ever to experience complete joy and freedom from suffering? The Buddha, the Awakened One, said it was… Continue reading How do you feel when you open to the suffering of others?
If love is wishing others well and feeling connected in a trusting and open way, then when we notice we have an agenda such as ‘I would love you if you were not so….’ – we can acknowledge that judgemental quality as our own desire and attachment and work with how to become more gentle, open and generous. Continue reading How can we practise with the antidote to the ‘near enemies’ of the Four Apramanas? Correcting distortions of Love, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy & Equanimity
The following is a series of excerpt from Lama Shenpen’s life story book, published in May 2020: Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories – An English Woman’s Journey to Becoming a Buddhist Lama. In the passages below we learn about the extraordinary circumstances that led Lama Shenpen to be based in North Wales – due to a divination and prophecy by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Continue reading How Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Directed Lama Shenpen to North-west Wales
In the short video below Lama Shenpen talks about the importance of having clarity of intention and following through on whatever intention you have – when things get tough, we don’t have to abandon our goal, we just return to the original intention. “…That’s a really good message for this time, that it isn’t all hopeless and useless… Continue reading Video: The importance of having clarity of intention – our intentions in this life carry on to the next
It is the same principle as pranidhanas – you think of qualities that you admire and your heart responds and you find yourself wishing to be like that oneself – as you orientate yourself towards that wish those qualities are already being awakened within you. Continue reading How does rejoicing in the good qualities of others make those qualities arise in us?
An excerpt from Lama Shenpen’s life story book ‘Keeping The Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories: An English Woman’s Journey to Becoming a Buddhist Lama’ about being ordained by the 16th Karmapa and her close connection with him. Continue reading Story & Video: Being ordained by the 16th Karmapa
Thanks to everyone who joined us online last Saturday 16th May to celebrate the Launch of Lama Shenpen’s life story book ‘Keeping The Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories: An English Woman’s Journey to Becoming a Buddhist Lama’ Continue reading Video: Book Launch Celebration
Tantra is much talked about in Tibetan Buddhism but is notoriously difficult to define. Lots of things are said about it but when you look at what is called tantra in practice – well it doesn’t conform to what is said about it. No wonder people are confused! The term is in danger of being rendered meaningless. Many of the ways it is defined do not define it at all… Continue reading What Does The Term Tantra Mean & How Can We Begin To Understand It?
With a life spent in long periods of isolation in meditation retreats, both here in the UK and the Himalayas during the 1970s, Lama Shenpen can teach us a lot about living in lock-down during the Coronavirus pandemic. How might we use this time as an opportunity to benefit ourselves and others through meditation, reflection and insight? Continue reading Isolation Inspiration from Lama Shenpen’s Life Story: What can we learn from her life spent in retreat?
Formless Meditation seems to mean anything from basic Shamata to deepest levels of vipashyana, Mahamudra and/or Dzogchen. Formless Meditation is a term coined by Trungpa Rinpoche which is clearly meant to include far more than simply a Shamata practice without a particular focus or object. Continue reading What does the term Formless Meditation mean & where did it come from?
