Overview of Programme
DATE: 2026: 9th July, 16th July, 23rd July, 30th July
TIME: Thursday’s weekly 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
LOCATION: Online
LEVEL: The course is suitable for both beginners and intermediate students, providing a structured approach to Buddhist study.
What to Expect in This Module:
Geshe Rinchen will be introducing current Discovering Buddhism Students to the practices of 100,000 long Vajrasattva Mantras as a preliminary Practice, along with an Introduction to 100,000 Prostrations to the thirty five Confession Buddhas as a preliminary practice .
The first session is the Introduction to the 100,000 long Vajrasattva Mantras as a preliminary Practice.
The Vajrasattva practice is a powerful way to clear away obstacles on the path to enlightenment and to bless the mind for gaining the realizations of the path quickly. In addition to being one of the nine preliminary practices of Lama Tsongkhapa’s tradition, it is a trademark of Lama Thubten Yeshe’s style of guiding students that they engage in Vajrasattva retreat, preferably in a group. However, if it is not possible to do the mantras in a full-time retreat situation, which usually takes about three months, 100,000 recitations of the long mantra can be done as an intensive daily practice.
The last three sessions are an introduction to 100,000 Prostrations to the thirty five Confession Buddhas as a preliminary practice.
The practice of prostrations is based on the Sutra of the Three Heaps, otherwise referred to as Confession of a Bodhisattva’s Downfalls to the Thirty-Five Buddhas. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given extensive commentaries on how to do this practice, which have been compiled in The Preliminary Practice of Prostrations. To complete 100,000 prostrations, you can either engage in full-time retreat or do them as a daily practice at home.
Supportive Environment - Learn and share with like-minded practitioners, supported by the wisdom and guidance of Geshe Rinchen.
Integration Guidance - Learn ways to connect these preliminary practices with your lamrim meditation and daily spiritual growth.
About the Course:
Awaken the limitless potential of your mind, achieving all peace and happiness
Discovering Buddhism is a beginner to intermediate level, 2 year study course that will give you a solid foundation in the teachings and practice of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism.
This course was designed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for students to study, explore and put into practice the graduated path to enlightenment, the lamrim. Originally based on Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings from 2500 years ago in India. The lamrim was systematically organised by the Indian master Atisha in the 11th Century and by several other great masters from Tibet including Lama Tsongkhapa in the 15th Century.
Our resident teacher Geshe Rinchen Wangyal (Geshe La) will be teaching this module. This is an excellent opportunity to receive these Lamrim teachings directly from Geshe La. We are indeed most fortunate to be able to do so.
This course commenced January 2024 during term time on Thursday evenings online for 90 minutes and has 14 subjects, 13 of which are usually taught over 6 weeks. It is possible to join at any time during the course. We will start a new series in August 2026 over 3 years
We warmly invite you to join us for this enriching journey with Geshe Rinchen. Together, let us explore how to bring the timeless wisdom of Buddhism into our everyday lives.
You can register for the course using the tab at ther top of the page.
For more information contact our Discovering Buddhism Coordinator, Ruth: db@jamyangleeds.co.uk
ABOUT YOUR Teacher: Geshe Rinchen Wangyal
We are delighted to say that Geshe Rinchen (Geshe La) has kindly agreed to be our resident teacher from January 2025. Many of you will already have met him as he volunteered with us teaching at the centre through the Summer of 2024. He has also led Vipassana meditation since Autumn 2023 on Monday mornings online. As well as kindly teaching online during the time he was studying at Winchester.
Geshe La has many skills. He is a teacher, translator, researcher and Editor. He studied at Drepung Losel Ling Monastery in India, then Institute of Buddhist Dialectics gaining his Geshe Degree in 2015. Since 2021 he has studied at the University of Winchester, UK, gaining a BA (Hons) Degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics. He has had articles published in “The Scientific American” in 2020 including ‘Hygiene of Hand and Mind During the Pandemic’ and translations and original articles published in Tibet Times and Tibet Express. He has also won Awards and Honors include awards for essay competitions at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics and Certificate honoring translation work at Emory-Tibet Science Summer Workshop 2019-2020. Geshe La was born in Tibet so Tibetan is his mother tongue. He teaches fluently in English.
Course Resources:
SUGGESTED DONATION:
Non-members – £60 per half term (6 weeks) for the Thursday classes. and £25 for the meditation day (approximately every 6 weeks). This will contribute to the centre’s running costs and include a donation to the teacher.
Free to members of The Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds (your membership fees already contribute to our core costs in running the centre). You are invited to make a donation for the teacher, as is customary when receiving Buddhist teachings, in order to support their activity (for your reference we recommend a donation in the region of £20 per half term and £10 per meditation day).
We never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons. If you cannot donate the suggested amount, please donate where possible within your means. It’s good to practice generosity where we can.
Donations can be made using the donation tab at the top of the page.
Or you can do a bank transfer using the details below, please also label the reference as Discovering Buddhism
Bank Transfer:
Account Name: Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds
Bank Name: Cooperative Bank Plc
Account number: 65178087
Sort-Code: 08-92-99
SWIFT: CPBK GB22
IBAN: GB76 CPBK 0892 9965 1780 87
Gift Aid: if you are a UK taxpayer we can claim back 25p for every £1 you donate. More information on Gift Aid can be found here. If you could email finance@jamyangleeds.co.uk and share your house number and postcode we will be able to claim giftaid on your behalf.