Overview of Programme
DATE: 2025: 5th March, 12th March, 19th March, 26th March, 2nd April, 9th April and Meditation day 11th April.
TIME: Thursday’s weekly 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
LOCATION: Online
LEVEL: Intermediate students of Buddhism and those interested in Buddhist philosophy
What to Expect in This Module
Join us for this uplifting module and discover how life’s challenges can become powerful tools for spiritual growth. Together we’ll explore the ancient lojong (mind-training) teachings that show us how to transform difficulties into compassion, wisdom, and inner peace. Through shared reflection, meditation, and discussion, we learn to see every obstacle as an opportunity to open our hearts and deepen our practice—both on and off the cushion.
This module explores the profound methods of transforming life’s difficulties into the path of awakening, as taught by the Buddha — the key to breaking the cycle of suffering and moving toward genuine inner freedom through:
Guided Meditation: Cultivate clarity, compassion, and resilience.
Analytical Inquiry: Deepen understanding & insight through reflection and discussion.
Accessible Commentary: Receive & gain practical explanations into ancient mind-training teachings.
Supportive Environment: Learn and share with like-minded practitioners, supported by the wisdom and guidance of Geshe Rinchen.
Practical Tips: Discover skillful & effective ways to overcome obstacles & challenges to bring consistency & meaning to your practice.
Suitable for both new and experienced students ready to delve into the inspiring methods that turn life’s challenges into opportunities for growth, compassion, and wisdom.
The Transforming Problems Module offers students the opportunity to learn the disadvantages of selfishness and the advantages of cherishing others. Learn to employ the special techniques of mind training (lojong) to transform problems into happiness
The module concludes with a dedicated day of meditation on Saturday 11th April, offering students the opportunity to deepen their understanding through personal reflection and guided practice.
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. Transforming Problems is the 11th 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.
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.
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.