Overview of Programme
DATE: 2025: 8th May, 15th May, 22nd May, 5th June, 12th June, 19th June and meditiation day 21st June
TIME: Thursday’s weekly 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
LOCATION: In Person and Online
LEVEL: Intermediate students of Buddhism and those interested in Buddhist philosophy
Discover clear meditation instructions to enable you to develop your innate qualities of loving kindness and compassion. Learn the skills of applying these techniques to generate the mind of bodhichitta, the wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of others, known to be the heart of Buddha’s teachings.
Awakening the limitless potential of your mind, achieving all peace and happiness
The Discovering Buddhism course is a beginner to intermediate level, 2 year study programme that will give you a solid foundation in the teachings and practice of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. Establishing a daily practice is the 7th module, but you are welcome to join at any time.
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 and runs for 2 years 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.
At the end of each half term and term there will be opportunity to meet with other students at the centre in Leeds for a meditation day to practice the meditations from the last subject and to socialise. These meditation days will be held on a Saturday 10am – 3pm, for this module it is on 12 April. If you can’t join the meditation days in person, you will be able to join them online if you wish to do so.
Please register for Discovering Buddhism here. for more information contact our course 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 Monstaery 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.
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 ferasons. If you cannot donate the suggested amount, please donate where possible within your means. It’s good to practice generosity where we can.
Or you can do a bank transfer using the details below, please also label the reference as “General Fund”
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 spc@jamyangleeds.co.uk and share your house number and postcode we will be able to claim giftaid on your behalf.