Vipassana (Special Insight Meditation), also called analytical meditation, is primarily a practice of wisdom. It is a form of concentration that focuses single-pointedly on the ultimate nature of phenomena through analytical reasoning. Analysing phenomena is a key aspect of Vipassana practice, as it helps develop a definitive understanding of the nature of reality—such as the self, mind, emotions, and thoughts.

As Je Tsongkhapa explains, shamatha (calm abiding) is like a lamp that remains clear and steady in a place without wind, whereas vipassana (special insight) is like seeing the nature of phenomena clearly through such a steady and clear lamp. Therefore, the usual order of these two meditations is: first, achieving calm abiding or mental stability as a foundation, then engaging in special insight meditation through analysis. However, Vipassana meditation can also be practised by analysing and observing sensations, thoughts, and emotions without first achieving shamatha. This practice should still begin with focusing on the breath or another object of meditation. In our case, we will focus on the breath to start analysing the nature of the mind in relation to our sense of self, emotions, and thoughts.

The session begins by focusing on the breath—either the rise and fall of the abdomen or the sensation of air entering and leaving the nostrils. This practice calms the mind and helps establish a deep sense of presence.

Next, we move into a guided body scan, bringing awareness to different parts of the body and observing subtle sensations without judgement. This helps develop a greater connection to your physical experience.

As we proceed, you will practise observing and analysing sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they arise, learning to witness them without attachment or aversion. This fosters a deeper understanding of the impermanence and interconnectedness of the mind and self. Finally, you will rest your mind either in the natural state of awareness or in the analytical clarity gained through observation and reasoning.

Through regular practice, Vipassana meditation cultivates wisdom, encouraging a balanced and objective view of internal experiences. This session is ideal for those seeking greater insight and calmness in their daily lives.

A beautiful practice led by Chrissie and Di.

The Buddhist practice of Giving & Taking (Tonglen in Tibetan) is at its heart a selfless meditation of loving kindness and compassion. You imagine giving all your happiness to others, sometimes using visualisation with the breath, and then taking all the suffering and its causes from others. It’s a powerful practice for the brave-hearted!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (our organisation’s Spiritual Director) suggested Jamyang Leeds perform these practices to help with the financial obstacles we are currently having. From September 2022, we’ll be reciting this practice as much as we can. See the special newsletter explaining all about the practice here.

Purification here means looking at our past unskillful actions which have created seeds of negative karma in our minds, and using visualisation and mantra recitation to remove those seeds in a healthy and productive way. Vajrasattva is the embodiment of all the Buddha’s cleaning and purifying energy. We all make mistakes, and how we deal with them is key to making spiritual progress. We’ll be using a short text composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Everflowing Nectar of Bodhichitta – Annihilating the Demon of the Self-Cherishing Mind

Led by Di or Sande

This practice is based on the short text” Eight Verses of Thought Transformation”, which contains the entire technique for transforming the mind into relative bodhichitta (i.e., the wish to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings) and absolute bodhichitta (i.e., the wisdom realizing emptiness).

Join us to fulfill His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes and chant the Names of Noble Manjushri for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Please come along even if you havent done the practice before, its quite wonderful and very energising. Please download the text below, you can also listen and practice with the audio clip of Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting the Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (our organisation’s Spiritual Director) suggested Jamyang Leeds perform these practices to help with the financial obstacles we are currently having. From September 2022, we’ll be reciting this practice as much as we can. See the special newsletter explaining all about the practice here.

What to Expect in This Module : Mind and its Potential

In this module you will explore the differentiation between mind and brain, mind as the creator of our experiences, and the implications of possessing a mind that has no beginning and no end. Under the guidance, wisdom, compassion & kindness of Geshe Rinchen, you will learn methods to transform destructive thoughts and attitudes and create a positive and joyous mind.

Through:

• Introductory Meditations - Meditation on Space like Clarity, Guided meditations help you explore the nature of the mind, develop mindfulness, and cultivate inner clarity and peace.

• Explanatory Teachings - Understand the Foundations and Special features of The Mind & its Potential. Clear teachings that explore the nature of the mind and provide practical tools for personal growth and well-being.

  Reflection and Discussion - Consider how this module relates to the rest of the path and your own practice. Opportunities to reflect on the teachings and share insights through supportive group discussion.

• 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 teaching methods related to the Mind & its Potential with your lamrim meditation and daily spiritual growth. Ongoing guidance to help sustain and deepen your practice beyond the course.

This module concludes with an online Day of Meditation on Sunday, 4th October, offering time for deeper reflection and integration of the teachings.

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

Awakening the limitless potential of your mind, achieving all peace and happiness

Discovering Buddhism is a beginner to intermediate level, 3 year FPMT 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 commences August 2026 and runs for 3 years on Thursday evenings online for 90 minutes and has 14 subjects, 13 of which are usually taught over 6 weeks. The course runs during March, April, May, July, August, September, October and November. There are no classes in January, February, June and December.

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.

Registration Form . For more information contact our Discovering Buddhsim Coordinator, Ruth: db@jamyangleeds.co.uk

ABOUT YOUR Teacher: Geshe Rinchen Wangyal

Geshe Rinchen studied at Drepung Losel Ling Monastery in India, then at the Institute of Buddhiust Dialectics. He gained his Geshe degree in 2015.

He then studied at the University of Winchester in the UK, gaining a BA (hons) Degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics in 2024

Geshe La has had articles published in The Scientific American in 2020 including 'Hygiene of the mind during the Pandemic’. He has also received awards for essay competitions at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics.

Geshe La’s teachings are known for their clarity, warmth, and practical applicability, making profound topics accessible to students of all backgrounds. Geshe La combines his deep knowledge with genuine compassion, inspiring students to cultivate inner peace and wisdom in their own lives.

Geshe La teaches in English fluently.

You can read more about Geshe Rinchen here.

SUGGESTED DONATION:

Non-members – £72 per module for the Thursday classes (usually 6 weeks), and £32 for the meditation day at the end of each module. This will contribute to the centre’s running costs and include a donation to the teacher.

Free to members - Members 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 module and £10 per meditation day).

We never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons. If you cannot donate the suggested amount, please contact Ruth on db@jamyang.co.uk to discuss what would be affordable for you.

It’s good to practice generosity where we can.

How to Donate:

You can make a donation by card using our Donation Portal here. Please put Discovering Buddhism as a reference in the comments box

Alternatively you can donate by Bank Transfer using the details below, please reference Discovering Buddhism

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. Please indicate when registering if you would like us to claim giftaid on your donations.

Led by Ruth 

Mindfulness of Breathing is universally acknowledged to be of benefit to all living in the modern world. Many feel overloaded with all that is expected of us living this complex and exhausting existence. Developing our awareness in this way is a general prescription for soothing and healing the overworked body and mind.

Practicing focusing the attention on an object such as the breath is also a core practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Gradually over time we are able to hold the object of our attention over longer periods, which enables us to practice other meditations such as Vipassana more successfully.

IDMT Year Four, The Vajra Ground: Mahamudra and Kriya Tantra

In this culminating fourth year of our journey, our path turns inward to the mind itself—its empty, luminous nature—and outward to the transformative methods of tantra, where the naturally pure nature of our perception is recognized as the very ground of awakening. 

As always, the year will start with generating the mind of awakening, using evocative instructions ranging from Langri Thangpa to Nāgārjuna and Lord Buddha in the famous Bodhisattvapiṭaka. This mind generation we'll cultivate through the four immeasurable thoughts and the support of calm abiding. 

Illuminated by the life stories of the masters of the Gelug Mahāmudrā lineage and beyond, we'll explore its roots in the history of the early Indian Mahāsiddhas, such as Saraha and Tilopa, through the Kagyü master Gampopa's and Je Tsongkhapa's Mañjuśrī lineage up to Paṇchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen's Highway of the Conquerors and its perspective on this practice. In Sūtra Mahāmudrā we will practice resting attention in the empty nature of awareness, recognizing its clarity and openness as inseparable. 

Kriyā Tantra offers a complementary method. Rather than suppress the ordinary, narrow self-narrative that we impose on ourselves and our world, it substitutes for it an extraordinary perspective of pure view. Occasionally, by way of introduction, we'll also taste practices from the higher tantras—glimpsing how afflictive emotions can be met as innate wisdom, and how the dissolution of the death process opens onto the innate mind of clear light. The structured practices of generation and recitation become a rehearsal for transformation, training perception to meet appearances as pure. 

These methods rest on a relationship. We will therefore examine the practice of guru devotion candidly—both as the means by which the lineage's realization is transmitted and as a practice with real pitfalls, requiring discernment as much as trust. Through the Ganden Lha Gyāma, the Yoga of the inseparability of guru and Avalokiteśvara, and supporting sādhanas, devotion is approached not as deference but as the ethical road toward the state of Vajradhara: the full integration of wisdom and method. 

This final year is an invitation to let realization ripen into a way of being. Grounded in bodhicitta and the four immeasurables, sustained by the preliminary practices, and held by the strength of community, we learn to meet the mind without grasping and to meet the world as pure appearance. Our aim is not to accumulate practices, but to bring the path to maturity—wisdom and compassion no longer cultivated separately, but lived as one. 

This four-year online course provides students with long term, in-depth support in their meditative development.

The teacher and course developer is Venerable Losang Gendun. He has trained extensively in meditation in both Theravada and Mahayana Traditions

The In Depth Meditation Training course is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT In-Depth Meditation Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

The zoom link and all materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. With your donation we support The Buddha Project and we keep our centre going for the benefit of all sentient beings.

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• The recommended donation per calendar month is £45.

• If you are able to practice generosity and sponsor other students we recommend £58 per calendar month.

• If you are on a reduced income it is £31 per calendar month.

There is also the option to donate annually.

If none of the above options are affordable please do still register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you right now. Please email Marie Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

Discover your best self every Sunday morning

Are you keen to work on your well-being and connect with others trying to make their life a little better for themselves and those around them? Join our uplifting Sunday Community Meditation Sessions.

Each hour-long gathering begins with a soothing meditation to calm your mind, followed by an inspiring discussion on a way of being such as interconnection, that enriches your everyday life. We then dive into a focused meditation designed to help you embrace that way of being fully.

Wrap up your morning with a cup of tea and friendly conversation in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Absolutely everyone welcome.

Meet us every Sunday at 10:30 AM and start your week feeling refreshed, connected, and inspired. Your journey to a happier, more mindful life begins here!

Cost: Generosity Model: Pay as you feel.

From September 2026 to February 2027 we will focus on ‘A Mindful Heart’.

Inspired by the Creating Compassionate Cultures program (“CCC”) by Pam Cayton, and developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom. Grounded in three core pathways of learning: Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion. These pathways guide you towards a happier, more meaningful life by fostering inner growth and a warmer connection with others.

Designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of how the mind works. The aim is to gradually let go of destructive patterns of thought and behaviour while cultivating a healthy sense of self-confidence and a deep, compassionate connection with others.

You are invited to reflect on your attitudes, perceptions, and emotional patterns. By exploring the workings of our own minds and the nature of our interdependence with others and the world around us, we begin to see how deeply connected our inner and outer realities truly are. We examine both logical and scientific perspectives on the nature of the self and our relationships with others.

To deepen the learning, you are encouraged to reflect between sessions, pausing to notice your inner experiences and reconnect with your deepest values. This supports the integration of insights and ways to act with greater mindfulness and wisdom.

Ultimately, the transformation we foster in ourselves contributes to building more compassionate cultures. How can one person influence a whole culture? The answer lies in understanding interdependence. Every action we take, every choice, interaction, and intention, affects others and the broader environment, this principle of cause and effect lies at the heart of all life, reminding us that our individual transformation ripples outward in meaningful ways.

The Creating Compassionate Cultures programme has 7 steps:

• Mindful Intention

• Interconnection

• Change

• Perception

• Transforming harmful emotions

• Empathy

• Compassion

Session overview:

Welcome, Introduction and Motivation 5 mins
Settling Meditation 10 mins
Meditation topic introduced then participants briefly share their experience 15 mins
Guided meditation 15 mins
Feedback from participants 10 mins
Closing and Dedication 5 mins

September 2026

6th and 13th: The Pursuit of Happiness

20th and 27th: Understanding how things exist

October 2026:

4th and 11th: Developing Healthy Self Confidence

18th and 25th: Compassion - Opening the heart

November 2026:

1st and 8th: Mindfulness, reflection and critical thinking

15th and 22nd: Mindful intention - what do I really want

29th: Interconnection (week 1)

December 2026:

6th: Interconnection (week 2)

13th and 20th: Embracing Change

January 2027:

10th and 17th: Perception

24th and 31st Transforming harmful emotions

February 2027:

7th and 14th: Empathy

21st and 28th: Cultivating Compassion

Vipassana (Special Insight Meditation), also called analytical meditation, is primarily a practice of wisdom. It is a form of concentration that focuses single-pointedly on the ultimate nature of phenomena through analytical reasoning. Analysing phenomena is a key aspect of Vipassana practice, as it helps develop a definitive understanding of the nature of reality—such as the self, mind, emotions, and thoughts.

As Je Tsongkhapa explains, shamatha (calm abiding) is like a lamp that remains clear and steady in a place without wind, whereas vipassana (special insight) is like seeing the nature of phenomena clearly through such a steady and clear lamp. Therefore, the usual order of these two meditations is: first, achieving calm abiding or mental stability as a foundation, then engaging in special insight meditation through analysis. However, Vipassana meditation can also be practised by analysing and observing sensations, thoughts, and emotions without first achieving shamatha. This practice should still begin with focusing on the breath or another object of meditation. In our case, we will focus on the breath to start analysing the nature of the mind in relation to our sense of self, emotions, and thoughts.

The session begins by focusing on the breath—either the rise and fall of the abdomen or the sensation of air entering and leaving the nostrils. This practice calms the mind and helps establish a deep sense of presence.

Next, we move into a guided body scan, bringing awareness to different parts of the body and observing subtle sensations without judgement. This helps develop a greater connection to your physical experience.

As we proceed, you will practise observing and analysing sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they arise, learning to witness them without attachment or aversion. This fosters a deeper understanding of the impermanence and interconnectedness of the mind and self. Finally, you will rest your mind either in the natural state of awareness or in the analytical clarity gained through observation and reasoning.

Through regular practice, Vipassana meditation cultivates wisdom, encouraging a balanced and objective view of internal experiences. This session is ideal for those seeking greater insight and calmness in their daily lives.

In 2022, after the war in Ukraine started, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered advice on prayers and practices to do in order to pacify the threats of war. All are welcome to download the booklet, Prayers to Stop War.

At the time, Lama Zopa Rinpoche also gave advice for how to motivate and think when doing these prayers and practices:

At the beginning generate strong bodhicitta, then do these prayers and practices to stop the war. The main purpose is to stop the war immediately. Then also to prevent famine, disease, and all the dangers of earth, water, fire, and wind, for all these dangers to be pacified immediately. To fill the whole world with perfect peace and happiness, including enlightenment, and to generate loving kindness, compassion and bodhicitta in the heart of all sentient beings.

Think that from Guru Padmasambhava’s heart, beams radiate and totally purify all the six realms’ sentient beings, totally purify all the delusions and negative karmas collected from beginningless rebirths, especially anger, attachment, and ignorance; think that these are totally purified. Then recite Sampa Lhundrupma, followed by the Padmasambhava mantra (one or two malas).

With strong faith in Guru Padmasambhava and total reliance, Guru Padmasambhava will definitely help because his compassion embraces all sentient beings. 

Then another way to think is, with strong faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the aspect of Guru Padmasambhava, nectar beams are emitted to all leaders of war, entering the body and totally purifying all negative karma and obscurations; all the dissatisfied mind, desire, ignorance, anger, and selfish mind are totally purified; they generate bodhicitta especially, and then the whole path to enlightenment. Do that very strongly, making strong prayers to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Then nectar beams are also emitted to all involved, and these purify all the anger and self-cherishing thought. They generate bodhicitta, and stop giving harm to even one sentient being and only benefit sentient beings, up to enlightenment. 

Then recite the Heart Sutra and the prayer to stop wars.

For those who can do the Most Secret Hayagriva sadhana, do this at the beginning of the practice. When reciting the mantra, you can do the same visualizations as above.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave this advice in 2022 to IMI Sangha on prayers and practices they could do in response to the developing war in Ukraine. The above motivation was edited slightly to be more general in order to be relevant for current threats at any time. The original advice can be read here. Please download Prayers to Stop War . 

A beautiful practice led by Chrissie and Di.

The Buddhist practice of Giving & Taking (Tonglen in Tibetan) is at its heart a selfless meditation of loving kindness and compassion. You imagine giving all your happiness to others, sometimes using visualisation with the breath, and then taking all the suffering and its causes from others. It’s a powerful practice for the brave-hearted!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (our organisation’s Spiritual Director) suggested Jamyang Leeds perform these practices to help with the financial obstacles we are currently having. From September 2022, we’ll be reciting this practice as much as we can. See the special newsletter explaining all about the practice here.

Purification here means looking at our past unskillful actions which have created seeds of negative karma in our minds, and using visualisation and mantra recitation to remove those seeds in a healthy and productive way. Vajrasattva is the embodiment of all the Buddha’s cleaning and purifying energy. We all make mistakes, and how we deal with them is key to making spiritual progress. We’ll be using a short text composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Everflowing Nectar of Bodhichitta – Annihilating the Demon of the Self-Cherishing Mind

Led by Di or Sande

This practice is based on the short text” Eight Verses of Thought Transformation”, which contains the entire technique for transforming the mind into relative bodhichitta (i.e., the wish to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings) and absolute bodhichitta (i.e., the wisdom realizing emptiness).

Join us to fulfill His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes and chant the Names of Noble Manjushri for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Please come along even if you havent done the practice before, its quite wonderful and very energising. Please download the text below, you can also listen and practice with the audio clip of Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting the Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (our organisation’s Spiritual Director) suggested Jamyang Leeds perform these practices to help with the financial obstacles we are currently having. From September 2022, we’ll be reciting this practice as much as we can. See the special newsletter explaining all about the practice here.

Led by Ruth 

Mindfulness of Breathing is universally acknowledged to be of benefit to all living in the modern world. Many feel overloaded with all that is expected of us living this complex and exhausting existence. Developing our awareness in this way is a general prescription for soothing and healing the overworked body and mind.

Practicing focusing the attention on an object such as the breath is also a core practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Gradually over time we are able to hold the object of our attention over longer periods, which enables us to practice other meditations such as Vipassana more successfully.

IDMT Year Four, The Vajra Ground: Mahamudra and Kriya Tantra

In this culminating fourth year of our journey, our path turns inward to the mind itself—its empty, luminous nature—and outward to the transformative methods of tantra, where the naturally pure nature of our perception is recognized as the very ground of awakening. 

As always, the year will start with generating the mind of awakening, using evocative instructions ranging from Langri Thangpa to Nāgārjuna and Lord Buddha in the famous Bodhisattvapiṭaka. This mind generation we'll cultivate through the four immeasurable thoughts and the support of calm abiding. 

 Illuminated by the life stories of the masters of the Gelug Mahāmudrā lineage and beyond, we'll explore its roots in the history of the early Indian Mahāsiddhas, such as Saraha and Tilopa, through the Kagyü master Gampopa's and Je Tsongkhapa's Mañjuśrī lineage up to Paṇchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen's Highway of the Conquerors and its perspective on this practice. In Sūtra Mahāmudrā we will practice resting attention in the empty nature of awareness, recognizing its clarity and openness as inseparable. 

 Kriyā Tantra offers a complementary method. Rather than suppress the ordinary, narrow self-narrative that we impose on ourselves and our world, it substitutes for it an extraordinary perspective of pure view. Occasionally, by way of introduction, we'll also taste practices from the higher tantras—glimpsing how afflictive emotions can be met as innate wisdom, and how the dissolution of the death process opens onto the innate mind of clear light. The structured practices of generation and recitation become a rehearsal for transformation, training perception to meet appearances as pure. 

 These methods rest on a relationship. We will therefore examine the practice of guru devotion candidly—both as the means by which the lineage's realization is transmitted and as a practice with real pitfalls, requiring discernment as much as trust. Through the Ganden Lha Gyāma, the Yoga of the inseparability of guru and Avalokiteśvara, and supporting sādhanas, devotion is approached not as deference but as the ethical road toward the state of Vajradhara: the full integration of wisdom and method. 

 This final year is an invitation to let realization ripen into a way of being. Grounded in bodhicitta and the four immeasurables, sustained by the preliminary practices, and held by the strength of community, we learn to meet the mind without grasping and to meet the world as pure appearance. Our aim is not to accumulate practices, but to bring the path to maturity—wisdom and compassion no longer cultivated separately, but lived as one.

This four-year online course provides students with long term, in-depth support in their meditative development.

The teacher and course developer is Venerable Losang Gendun. He has trained extensively in meditation in both Theravada and Mahayana Traditions

The In Depth Meditation Training course is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT In-Depth Meditation Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

The zoom link and all materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. With your donation we support The Buddha Project and we keep our centre going for the benefit of all sentient beings.

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• The recommended donation per calendar month is £45.

• If you are able to practice generosity and sponsor other students we recommend £58 per calendar month.

• If you are on a reduced income it is £31 per calendar month.

There is also the option to donate annually.

If none of the above options are affordable please do still register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you right now. Please email Marie Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

Discover your best self every Sunday morning

Are you keen to work on your well-being and connect with others trying to make their life a little better for themselves and those around them? Join our uplifting Sunday Community Meditation Sessions.

Each hour-long gathering begins with a soothing meditation to calm your mind, followed by an inspiring discussion on a way of being such as interconnection, that enriches your everyday life. We then dive into a focused meditation designed to help you embrace that way of being fully.

Wrap up your morning with a cup of tea and friendly conversation in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Absolutely everyone welcome.

Meet us every Sunday at 10:30 AM and start your week feeling refreshed, connected, and inspired. Your journey to a happier, more mindful life begins here!

Cost: Generosity Model: Pay as you feel.

From September 2026 to February 2027 we will focus on ‘A Mindful Heart’.

Inspired by the Creating Compassionate Cultures program (“CCC”) by Pam Cayton, and developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom. Grounded in three core pathways of learning: Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion. These pathways guide you towards a happier, more meaningful life by fostering inner growth and a warmer connection with others.

Designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of how the mind works. The aim is to gradually let go of destructive patterns of thought and behaviour while cultivating a healthy sense of self-confidence and a deep, compassionate connection with others.

You are invited to reflect on your attitudes, perceptions, and emotional patterns. By exploring the workings of our own minds and the nature of our interdependence with others and the world around us, we begin to see how deeply connected our inner and outer realities truly are. We examine both logical and scientific perspectives on the nature of the self and our relationships with others.

To deepen the learning, you are encouraged to reflect between sessions, pausing to notice your inner experiences and reconnect with your deepest values. This supports the integration of insights and ways to act with greater mindfulness and wisdom.

Ultimately, the transformation we foster in ourselves contributes to building more compassionate cultures. How can one person influence a whole culture? The answer lies in understanding interdependence. Every action we take, every choice, interaction, and intention, affects others and the broader environment, this principle of cause and effect lies at the heart of all life, reminding us that our individual transformation ripples outward in meaningful ways.

The Creating Compassionate Cultures programme has 7 steps:

• Mindful Intention

• Interconnection

• Change

• Perception

• Transforming harmful emotions

• Empathy

• Compassion

Session overview:

Welcome, Introduction and Motivation 5 mins
Settling Meditation 10 mins
Meditation topic introduced then participants briefly share their experience 15 mins
Guided meditation 15 mins
Feedback from participants 10 mins
Closing and Dedication 5 mins

September 2026

6th and 13th: The Pursuit of Happiness

20th and 27th: Understanding how things exist

October 2026:

4th and 11th: Developing Healthy Self Confidence

18th and 25th: Compassion - Opening the heart

November 2026:

1st and 8th: Mindfulness, reflection and critical thinking

15th and 22nd: Mindful intention - what do I really want

29th: Interconnection (week 1)

December 2026:

6th: Interconnection (week 2)

13th and 20th: Embracing Change

January 2027:

10th and 17th: Perception

24th and 31st Transforming harmful emotions

February 2027:

7th and 14th: Empathy

21st and 28th: Cultivating Compassion

Vipassana (Special Insight Meditation), also called analytical meditation, is primarily a practice of wisdom. It is a form of concentration that focuses single-pointedly on the ultimate nature of phenomena through analytical reasoning. Analysing phenomena is a key aspect of Vipassana practice, as it helps develop a definitive understanding of the nature of reality—such as the self, mind, emotions, and thoughts.

As Je Tsongkhapa explains, shamatha (calm abiding) is like a lamp that remains clear and steady in a place without wind, whereas vipassana (special insight) is like seeing the nature of phenomena clearly through such a steady and clear lamp. Therefore, the usual order of these two meditations is: first, achieving calm abiding or mental stability as a foundation, then engaging in special insight meditation through analysis. However, Vipassana meditation can also be practised by analysing and observing sensations, thoughts, and emotions without first achieving shamatha. This practice should still begin with focusing on the breath or another object of meditation. In our case, we will focus on the breath to start analysing the nature of the mind in relation to our sense of self, emotions, and thoughts.

The session begins by focusing on the breath—either the rise and fall of the abdomen or the sensation of air entering and leaving the nostrils. This practice calms the mind and helps establish a deep sense of presence.

Next, we move into a guided body scan, bringing awareness to different parts of the body and observing subtle sensations without judgement. This helps develop a greater connection to your physical experience.

As we proceed, you will practise observing and analysing sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they arise, learning to witness them without attachment or aversion. This fosters a deeper understanding of the impermanence and interconnectedness of the mind and self. Finally, you will rest your mind either in the natural state of awareness or in the analytical clarity gained through observation and reasoning.

Through regular practice, Vipassana meditation cultivates wisdom, encouraging a balanced and objective view of internal experiences. This session is ideal for those seeking greater insight and calmness in their daily lives.

About the Course:

The Lamrim — "Stages of the Path" in Tibetan — is a systematic presentation of the entire Buddhist path to Awakening, written by the great Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa in the 14th and early 15th century, based on writings of the Indian master Atisha. It arranges every essential teaching of the Buddha into a single, coherent, graduated sequence tailored to your mind, exactly as it is right now. Its true power lies not in study alone, but in practice. Each teaching is carefully arranged to meet the mind where it is and guide it—step by step—toward genuine change.

The uncommon preliminary practices (ngöndro) are powerful methods to purify the mind and prepare it for lasting transformation.

Over the first eleven months the common foundations, renunciation, bodhicitta, and the view of emptiness, are explored based on the Lamrim. For the remaining five months the focus is on the uncommon practices, Vajrasattva purification, mandala offerings, and guru yoga. Weekly sessions each introduce a new topic that examines different ways to meditate and why, in combination with a guided meditation.  

The training helps establish a consistent daily meditative practice in supports of its overall aim: to engage in contemplative meditation in a way that genuinely transforms the mind's outlook on the world and gives one's life a new direction. Students gain a deep understanding of how to accumulate merit and purify unskillful karma while cultivating a healthy relationship with the Three Jewels and their teacher. The emphasis is on learning to meditate in a personally tailored way, in accordance with one’s psychological makeup and life conditions.

The Ngondro Lamrim Training teaching sessions are pre-recorded.

Each week, a 90-minute teaching together with two guided meditations are uploaded. On other days, advanced students contribute additional guided meditations. The teacher, Venerable Gendun, offers regular online Q&A sessions. For those who have already studied the Lamrim or the FPMT Basic Program, the training also offers specialized opportunities to learn how to guide others in meditation.

Year 1: Definite Emergence and Mind of Awakening  

• Prepare the mind for śamatha, vipaśyanā, and tantra

• Explore renunciation and bodhicitta, the first two Principles of the Path

• Develop genuine urgency through Lamrim contemplation

• Cultivate the aspiration to Awakening for all beings

FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Taining is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

All materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. Donations help support both the centre and The Buddha Project as well as providing a donation for the teachings to Venerable Gendun.  There are different levels depending on your income. There are three terms a year, each approximately 3 months long

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• For those with a regular income the recommended donation is £95 per term

• The sponsorhsip level is £115 per term

• Ordained Sangha are free

If this isn’t affordable please do register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you at the current time. Please email Marie-Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

A beautiful practice led by Chrissie and Di.

The Buddhist practice of Giving & Taking (Tonglen in Tibetan) is at its heart a selfless meditation of loving kindness and compassion. You imagine giving all your happiness to others, sometimes using visualisation with the breath, and then taking all the suffering and its causes from others. It’s a powerful practice for the brave-hearted!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (our organisation’s Spiritual Director) suggested Jamyang Leeds perform these practices to help with the financial obstacles we are currently having. From September 2022, we’ll be reciting this practice as much as we can. See the special newsletter explaining all about the practice here.

Purification here means looking at our past unskillful actions which have created seeds of negative karma in our minds, and using visualisation and mantra recitation to remove those seeds in a healthy and productive way. Vajrasattva is the embodiment of all the Buddha’s cleaning and purifying energy. We all make mistakes, and how we deal with them is key to making spiritual progress. We’ll be using a short text composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Everflowing Nectar of Bodhichitta – Annihilating the Demon of the Self-Cherishing Mind

Led by Di or Sande

This practice is based on the short text” Eight Verses of Thought Transformation”, which contains the entire technique for transforming the mind into relative bodhichitta (i.e., the wish to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings) and absolute bodhichitta (i.e., the wisdom realizing emptiness).

Join us to fulfill His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes and chant the Names of Noble Manjushri for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Please come along even if you havent done the practice before, its quite wonderful and very energising. Please download the text below, you can also listen and practice with the audio clip of Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting the Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (our organisation’s Spiritual Director) suggested Jamyang Leeds perform these practices to help with the financial obstacles we are currently having. From September 2022, we’ll be reciting this practice as much as we can. See the special newsletter explaining all about the practice here.

What to Expect in This Module : Mind and its Potential

In this module you will explore the differentiation between mind and brain, mind as the creator of our experiences, and the implications of possessing a mind that has no beginning and no end. Under the guidance, wisdom, compassion & kindness of Geshe Rinchen, you will learn methods to transform destructive thoughts and attitudes and create a positive and joyous mind.

Through:

• Introductory Meditations - Meditation on Space like Clarity, Guided meditations help you explore the nature of the mind, develop mindfulness, and cultivate inner clarity and peace.

• Explanatory Teachings - Understand the Foundations and Special features of The Mind & its Potential. Clear teachings that explore the nature of the mind and provide practical tools for personal growth and well-being.

  Reflection and Discussion - Consider how this module relates to the rest of the path and your own practice. Opportunities to reflect on the teachings and share insights through supportive group discussion.

• 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 teaching methods related to the Mind & its Potential with your lamrim meditation and daily spiritual growth. Ongoing guidance to help sustain and deepen your practice beyond the course.

This module concludes with an online Day of Meditation on Sunday, 4th October, offering time for deeper reflection and integration of the teachings.

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

Awakening the limitless potential of your mind, achieving all peace and happiness

Discovering Buddhism is a beginner to intermediate level, 3 year FPMT 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 commences August 2026 and runs for 3 years on Thursday evenings online for 90 minutes and has 14 subjects, 13 of which are usually taught over 6 weeks. The course runs during March, April, May, July, August, September, October and November. There are no classes in January, February, June and December.

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.

Registration Form . For more information contact our Discovering Buddhsim Coordinator, Ruth: db@jamyangleeds.co.uk

ABOUT YOUR Teacher: Geshe Rinchen Wangyal

Geshe Rinchen studied at Drepung Losel Ling Monastery in India, then at the Institute of Buddhiust Dialectics. He gained his Geshe degree in 2015.

He then studied at the University of Winchester in the UK, gaining a BA (hons) Degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics in 2024

Geshe La has had articles published in The Scientific American in 2020 including 'Hygiene of the mind during the Pandemic’. He has also received awards for essay competitions at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics.

Geshe La’s teachings are known for their clarity, warmth, and practical applicability, making profound topics accessible to students of all backgrounds. Geshe La combines his deep knowledge with genuine compassion, inspiring students to cultivate inner peace and wisdom in their own lives.

Geshe La teaches in English fluently.

You can read more about Geshe Rinchen here.

SUGGESTED DONATION:

Non-members – £72 per module for the Thursday classes (usually 6 weeks), and £32 for the meditation day at the end of each module. This will contribute to the centre’s running costs and include a donation to the teacher.

Free to members - Members 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 module and £10 per meditation day).

We never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons. If you cannot donate the suggested amount, please contact Ruth on db@jamyang.co.uk to discuss what would be affordable for you.

It’s good to practice generosity where we can.

How to Donate:

You can make a donation by card using our Donation Portal here. Please put Discovering Buddhism as a reference in the comments box

Alternatively you can donate by Bank Transfer using the details below, please reference Discovering Buddhism

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. Please indicate when registering if you would like us to claim giftaid on your donations.

Led by Ruth 

Mindfulness of Breathing is universally acknowledged to be of benefit to all living in the modern world. Many feel overloaded with all that is expected of us living this complex and exhausting existence. Developing our awareness in this way is a general prescription for soothing and healing the overworked body and mind.

Practicing focusing the attention on an object such as the breath is also a core practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Gradually over time we are able to hold the object of our attention over longer periods, which enables us to practice other meditations such as Vipassana more successfully.

IDMT Year Four, The Vajra Ground: Mahamudra and Kriya Tantra

In this culminating fourth year of our journey, our path turns inward to the mind itself—its empty, luminous nature—and outward to the transformative methods of tantra, where the naturally pure nature of our perception is recognized as the very ground of awakening. 

 As always, the year will start with generating the mind of awakening, using evocative instructions ranging from Langri Thangpa to Nāgārjuna and Lord Buddha in the famous Bodhisattvapiṭaka. This mind generation we'll cultivate through the four immeasurable thoughts and the support of calm abiding. 

 Illuminated by the life stories of the masters of the Gelug Mahāmudrā lineage and beyond, we'll explore its roots in the history of the early Indian Mahāsiddhas, such as Saraha and Tilopa, through the Kagyü master Gampopa's and Je Tsongkhapa's Mañjuśrī lineage up to Paṇchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen's Highway of the Conquerors and its perspective on this practice. In Sūtra Mahāmudrā we will practice resting attention in the empty nature of awareness, recognizing its clarity and openness as inseparable. 

 Kriyā Tantra offers a complementary method. Rather than suppress the ordinary, narrow self-narrative that we impose on ourselves and our world, it substitutes for it an extraordinary perspective of pure view. Occasionally, by way of introduction, we'll also taste practices from the higher tantras—glimpsing how afflictive emotions can be met as innate wisdom, and how the dissolution of the death process opens onto the innate mind of clear light. The structured practices of generation and recitation become a rehearsal for transformation, training perception to meet appearances as pure. 

 These methods rest on a relationship. We will therefore examine the practice of guru devotion candidly—both as the means by which the lineage's realization is transmitted and as a practice with real pitfalls, requiring discernment as much as trust. Through the Ganden Lha Gyāma, the Yoga of the inseparability of guru and Avalokiteśvara, and supporting sādhanas, devotion is approached not as deference but as the ethical road toward the state of Vajradhara: the full integration of wisdom and method. 

 This final year is an invitation to let realization ripen into a way of being. Grounded in bodhicitta and the four immeasurables, sustained by the preliminary practices, and held by the strength of community, we learn to meet the mind without grasping and to meet the world as pure appearance. Our aim is not to accumulate practices, but to bring the path to maturity—wisdom and compassion no longer cultivated separately, but lived as one.

This four-year online course provides students with long term, in-depth support in their meditative development.

The teacher and course developer is Venerable Losang Gendun. He has trained extensively in meditation in both Theravada and Mahayana Traditions

The In Depth Meditation Training course is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT In-Depth Meditation Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

The zoom link and all materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. With your donation we support The Buddha Project and we keep our centre going for the benefit of all sentient beings.

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• The recommended donation per calendar month is £45.

• If you are able to practice generosity and sponsor other students we recommend £58 per calendar month.

• If you are on a reduced income it is £31 per calendar month.

There is also the option to donate annually.

If none of the above options are affordable please do still register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you right now. Please email Marie Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

Discover your best self every Sunday morning

Are you keen to work on your well-being and connect with others trying to make their life a little better for themselves and those around them? Join our uplifting Sunday Community Meditation Sessions.

Each hour-long gathering begins with a soothing meditation to calm your mind, followed by an inspiring discussion on a way of being such as interconnection, that enriches your everyday life. We then dive into a focused meditation designed to help you embrace that way of being fully.

Wrap up your morning with a cup of tea and friendly conversation in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Absolutely everyone welcome.

Meet us every Sunday at 10:30 AM and start your week feeling refreshed, connected, and inspired. Your journey to a happier, more mindful life begins here!

Cost: Generosity Model: Pay as you feel.

From September 2026 to February 2027 we will focus on ‘A Mindful Heart’.

Inspired by the Creating Compassionate Cultures program (“CCC”) by Pam Cayton, and developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom. Grounded in three core pathways of learning: Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion. These pathways guide you towards a happier, more meaningful life by fostering inner growth and a warmer connection with others.

Designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of how the mind works. The aim is to gradually let go of destructive patterns of thought and behaviour while cultivating a healthy sense of self-confidence and a deep, compassionate connection with others.

You are invited to reflect on your attitudes, perceptions, and emotional patterns. By exploring the workings of our own minds and the nature of our interdependence with others and the world around us, we begin to see how deeply connected our inner and outer realities truly are. We examine both logical and scientific perspectives on the nature of the self and our relationships with others.

To deepen the learning, you are encouraged to reflect between sessions, pausing to notice your inner experiences and reconnect with your deepest values. This supports the integration of insights and ways to act with greater mindfulness and wisdom.

Ultimately, the transformation we foster in ourselves contributes to building more compassionate cultures. How can one person influence a whole culture? The answer lies in understanding interdependence. Every action we take, every choice, interaction, and intention, affects others and the broader environment, this principle of cause and effect lies at the heart of all life, reminding us that our individual transformation ripples outward in meaningful ways.

The Creating Compassionate Cultures programme has 7 steps:

• Mindful Intention

• Interconnection

• Change

• Perception

• Transforming harmful emotions

• Empathy

• Compassion

Session overview:

Welcome, Introduction and Motivation 5 mins
Settling Meditation 10 mins
Meditation topic introduced then participants briefly share their experience 15 mins
Guided meditation 15 mins
Feedback from participants 10 mins
Closing and Dedication 5 mins

September 2026

6th and 13th: The Pursuit of Happiness

20th and 27th: Understanding how things exist

October 2026:

4th and 11th: Developing Healthy Self Confidence

18th and 25th: Compassion - Opening the heart

November 2026:

1st and 8th: Mindfulness, reflection and critical thinking

15th and 22nd: Mindful intention - what do I really want

29th: Interconnection (week 1)

December 2026:

6th: Interconnection (week 2)

13th and 20th: Embracing Change

January 2027:

10th and 17th: Perception

24th and 31st Transforming harmful emotions

February 2027:

7th and 14th: Empathy

21st and 28th: Cultivating Compassion

Vipassana (Special Insight Meditation), also called analytical meditation, is primarily a practice of wisdom. It is a form of concentration that focuses single-pointedly on the ultimate nature of phenomena through analytical reasoning. Analysing phenomena is a key aspect of Vipassana practice, as it helps develop a definitive understanding of the nature of reality—such as the self, mind, emotions, and thoughts.

As Je Tsongkhapa explains, shamatha (calm abiding) is like a lamp that remains clear and steady in a place without wind, whereas vipassana (special insight) is like seeing the nature of phenomena clearly through such a steady and clear lamp. Therefore, the usual order of these two meditations is: first, achieving calm abiding or mental stability as a foundation, then engaging in special insight meditation through analysis. However, Vipassana meditation can also be practised by analysing and observing sensations, thoughts, and emotions without first achieving shamatha. This practice should still begin with focusing on the breath or another object of meditation. In our case, we will focus on the breath to start analysing the nature of the mind in relation to our sense of self, emotions, and thoughts.

The session begins by focusing on the breath—either the rise and fall of the abdomen or the sensation of air entering and leaving the nostrils. This practice calms the mind and helps establish a deep sense of presence.

Next, we move into a guided body scan, bringing awareness to different parts of the body and observing subtle sensations without judgement. This helps develop a greater connection to your physical experience.

As we proceed, you will practise observing and analysing sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they arise, learning to witness them without attachment or aversion. This fosters a deeper understanding of the impermanence and interconnectedness of the mind and self. Finally, you will rest your mind either in the natural state of awareness or in the analytical clarity gained through observation and reasoning.

Through regular practice, Vipassana meditation cultivates wisdom, encouraging a balanced and objective view of internal experiences. This session is ideal for those seeking greater insight and calmness in their daily lives.

Dedicated to the Swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a bright, unmistaken child.

During the practice of Lama Choepa, we invoke all the lamas of the graduated path lineage, beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha himself, extending to our present direct teachers who have shown us the path. We pay homage to them, make offerings, and request each of them to please bless our minds with the same realizations that they themselves have generated. By offering sincere, heartfelt requests, we make our minds ripe to receive the full blessings of this precious lineage and quickly actualize the realizations we need to attain enlightenment. If we wish to experience realisations quickly, the practice of Lama Choepa is indispensable.

“If you are able to do the practice of Guru Puja in your daily life, it contains all the important points of sutra and tantra. It is a complete practice, and it shows the heart of the instruction of Lama Tsongkhapa’s tradition. Even if one can’t do much else in daily life, Guru Puja is the essential practice.”

Open to all Buddhists, no empowerments needed.

Please arrive early and bring flowers, incense, vegetarian food and drink as offerings for the altar.

More information can also be found on this FPMT page.

About the Course:

The Lamrim — "Stages of the Path" in Tibetan — is a systematic presentation of the entire Buddhist path to Awakening, written by the great Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa in the 14th and early 15th century, based on writings of the Indian master Atisha. It arranges every essential teaching of the Buddha into a single, coherent, graduated sequence tailored to your mind, exactly as it is right now. Its true power lies not in study alone, but in practice. Each teaching is carefully arranged to meet the mind where it is and guide it—step by step—toward genuine change.

The uncommon preliminary practices (ngöndro) are powerful methods to purify the mind and prepare it for lasting transformation.

Over the first eleven months the common foundations, renunciation, bodhicitta, and the view of emptiness, are explored based on the Lamrim. For the remaining five months the focus is on the uncommon practices, Vajrasattva purification, mandala offerings, and guru yoga. Weekly sessions each introduce a new topic that examines different ways to meditate and why, in combination with a guided meditation.  

The training helps establish a consistent daily meditative practice in supports of its overall aim: to engage in contemplative meditation in a way that genuinely transforms the mind's outlook on the world and gives one's life a new direction. Students gain a deep understanding of how to accumulate merit and purify unskillful karma while cultivating a healthy relationship with the Three Jewels and their teacher. The emphasis is on learning to meditate in a personally tailored way, in accordance with one’s psychological makeup and life conditions.

The Ngondro Lamrim Training teaching sessions are pre-recorded.

Each week, a 90-minute teaching together with two guided meditations are uploaded. On other days, advanced students contribute additional guided meditations. The teacher, Venerable Gendun, offers regular online Q&A sessions. For those who have already studied the Lamrim or the FPMT Basic Program, the training also offers specialized opportunities to learn how to guide others in meditation.

Year 1: Definite Emergence and Mind of Awakening  

• Prepare the mind for śamatha, vipaśyanā, and tantra

• Explore renunciation and bodhicitta, the first two Principles of the Path

• Develop genuine urgency through Lamrim contemplation

• Cultivate the aspiration to Awakening for all beings

FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Taining is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

All materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. Donations help support both the centre and The Buddha Project as well as providing a donation for the teachings to Venerable Gendun.  There are different levels depending on your income. There are three terms a year, each approximately 3 months long

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• For those with a regular income the recommended donation is £95 per term

• The sponsorhsip level is £115 per term

• Ordained Sangha are free

If this isn’t affordable please do register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you at the current time. Please email Marie-Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

A beautiful practice led by Chrissie and Di.

The Buddhist practice of Giving & Taking (Tonglen in Tibetan) is at its heart a selfless meditation of loving kindness and compassion. You imagine giving all your happiness to others, sometimes using visualisation with the breath, and then taking all the suffering and its causes from others. It’s a powerful practice for the brave-hearted!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (our organisation’s Spiritual Director) suggested Jamyang Leeds perform these practices to help with the financial obstacles we are currently having. From September 2022, we’ll be reciting this practice as much as we can. See the special newsletter explaining all about the practice here.

Purification here means looking at our past unskillful actions which have created seeds of negative karma in our minds, and using visualisation and mantra recitation to remove those seeds in a healthy and productive way. Vajrasattva is the embodiment of all the Buddha’s cleaning and purifying energy. We all make mistakes, and how we deal with them is key to making spiritual progress. We’ll be using a short text composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Everflowing Nectar of Bodhichitta – Annihilating the Demon of the Self-Cherishing Mind

Led by Di or Sande

This practice is based on the short text” Eight Verses of Thought Transformation”, which contains the entire technique for transforming the mind into relative bodhichitta (i.e., the wish to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings) and absolute bodhichitta (i.e., the wisdom realizing emptiness).

Join us to fulfill His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes and chant the Names of Noble Manjushri for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Please come along even if you havent done the practice before, its quite wonderful and very energising. Please download the text below, you can also listen and practice with the audio clip of Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting the Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (our organisation’s Spiritual Director) suggested Jamyang Leeds perform these practices to help with the financial obstacles we are currently having. From September 2022, we’ll be reciting this practice as much as we can. See the special newsletter explaining all about the practice here.

What to Expect in This Module : Mind and its Potential

In this module you will explore the differentiation between mind and brain, mind as the creator of our experiences, and the implications of possessing a mind that has no beginning and no end. Under the guidance, wisdom, compassion & kindness of Geshe Rinchen, you will learn methods to transform destructive thoughts and attitudes and create a positive and joyous mind.

Through:

• Introductory Meditations - Meditation on Space like Clarity, Guided meditations help you explore the nature of the mind, develop mindfulness, and cultivate inner clarity and peace.

• Explanatory Teachings - Understand the Foundations and Special features of The Mind & its Potential. Clear teachings that explore the nature of the mind and provide practical tools for personal growth and well-being.

  Reflection and Discussion - Consider how this module relates to the rest of the path and your own practice. Opportunities to reflect on the teachings and share insights through supportive group discussion.

• 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 teaching methods related to the Mind & its Potential with your lamrim meditation and daily spiritual growth. Ongoing guidance to help sustain and deepen your practice beyond the course.

This module concludes with an online Day of Meditation on Sunday, 4th October, offering time for deeper reflection and integration of the teachings.

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

Awakening the limitless potential of your mind, achieving all peace and happiness

Discovering Buddhism is a beginner to intermediate level, 3 year FPMT 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 commences August 2026 and runs for 3 years on Thursday evenings online for 90 minutes and has 14 subjects, 13 of which are usually taught over 6 weeks. The course runs during March, April, May, July, August, September, October and November. There are no classes in January, February, June and December.

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.

Registration Form . For more information contact our Discovering Buddhsim Coordinator, Ruth: db@jamyangleeds.co.uk

ABOUT YOUR Teacher: Geshe Rinchen Wangyal

Geshe Rinchen studied at Drepung Losel Ling Monastery in India, then at the Institute of Buddhiust Dialectics. He gained his Geshe degree in 2015.

He then studied at the University of Winchester in the UK, gaining a BA (hons) Degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics in 2024

Geshe La has had articles published in The Scientific American in 2020 including 'Hygiene of the mind during the Pandemic’. He has also received awards for essay competitions at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics.

Geshe La’s teachings are known for their clarity, warmth, and practical applicability, making profound topics accessible to students of all backgrounds. Geshe La combines his deep knowledge with genuine compassion, inspiring students to cultivate inner peace and wisdom in their own lives.

Geshe La teaches in English fluently.

You can read more about Geshe Rinchen here.

SUGGESTED DONATION:

Non-members – £72 per module for the Thursday classes (usually 6 weeks), and £32 for the meditation day at the end of each module. This will contribute to the centre’s running costs and include a donation to the teacher.

Free to members - Members 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 module and £10 per meditation day).

We never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons. If you cannot donate the suggested amount, please contact Ruth on db@jamyang.co.uk to discuss what would be affordable for you.

It’s good to practice generosity where we can.

How to Donate:

You can make a donation by card using our Donation Portal here. Please put Discovering Buddhism as a reference in the comments box

Alternatively you can donate by Bank Transfer using the details below, please reference Discovering Buddhism

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. Please indicate when registering if you would like us to claim giftaid on your donations.

Led by Ruth 

Mindfulness of Breathing is universally acknowledged to be of benefit to all living in the modern world. Many feel overloaded with all that is expected of us living this complex and exhausting existence. Developing our awareness in this way is a general prescription for soothing and healing the overworked body and mind.

Practicing focusing the attention on an object such as the breath is also a core practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Gradually over time we are able to hold the object of our attention over longer periods, which enables us to practice other meditations such as Vipassana more successfully.

IDMT Year Four, The Vajra Ground: Mahamudra and Kriya Tantra

In this culminating fourth year of our journey, our path turns inward to the mind itself—its empty, luminous nature—and outward to the transformative methods of tantra, where the naturally pure nature of our perception is recognized as the very ground of awakening. 

 As always, the year will start with generating the mind of awakening, using evocative instructions ranging from Langri Thangpa to Nāgārjuna and Lord Buddha in the famous Bodhisattvapiṭaka. This mind generation we'll cultivate through the four immeasurable thoughts and the support of calm abiding. 

 Illuminated by the life stories of the masters of the Gelug Mahāmudrā lineage and beyond, we'll explore its roots in the history of the early Indian Mahāsiddhas, such as Saraha and Tilopa, through the Kagyü master Gampopa's and Je Tsongkhapa's Mañjuśrī lineage up to Paṇchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen's Highway of the Conquerors and its perspective on this practice. In Sūtra Mahāmudrā we will practice resting attention in the empty nature of awareness, recognizing its clarity and openness as inseparable. 

 Kriyā Tantra offers a complementary method. Rather than suppress the ordinary, narrow self-narrative that we impose on ourselves and our world, it substitutes for it an extraordinary perspective of pure view. Occasionally, by way of introduction, we'll also taste practices from the higher tantras—glimpsing how afflictive emotions can be met as innate wisdom, and how the dissolution of the death process opens onto the innate mind of clear light. The structured practices of generation and recitation become a rehearsal for transformation, training perception to meet appearances as pure. 

 These methods rest on a relationship. We will therefore examine the practice of guru devotion candidly—both as the means by which the lineage's realization is transmitted and as a practice with real pitfalls, requiring discernment as much as trust. Through the Ganden Lha Gyāma, the Yoga of the inseparability of guru and Avalokiteśvara, and supporting sādhanas, devotion is approached not as deference but as the ethical road toward the state of Vajradhara: the full integration of wisdom and method. 

 This final year is an invitation to let realization ripen into a way of being. Grounded in bodhicitta and the four immeasurables, sustained by the preliminary practices, and held by the strength of community, we learn to meet the mind without grasping and to meet the world as pure appearance. Our aim is not to accumulate practices, but to bring the path to maturity—wisdom and compassion no longer cultivated separately, but lived as one.

This four-year online course provides students with long term, in-depth support in their meditative development.

The teacher and course developer is Venerable Losang Gendun. He has trained extensively in meditation in both Theravada and Mahayana Traditions

The In Depth Meditation Training course is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT In-Depth Meditation Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

The zoom link and all materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. With your donation we support The Buddha Project and we keep our centre going for the benefit of all sentient beings.

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• The recommended donation per calendar month is £45.

• If you are able to practice generosity and sponsor other students we recommend £58 per calendar month.

• If you are on a reduced income it is £31 per calendar month.

There is also the option to donate annually.

If none of the above options are affordable please do still register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you right now. Please email Marie Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

Discover your best self every Sunday morning

Are you keen to work on your well-being and connect with others trying to make their life a little better for themselves and those around them? Join our uplifting Sunday Community Meditation Sessions.

Each hour-long gathering begins with a soothing meditation to calm your mind, followed by an inspiring discussion on a way of being such as interconnection, that enriches your everyday life. We then dive into a focused meditation designed to help you embrace that way of being fully.

Wrap up your morning with a cup of tea and friendly conversation in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Absolutely everyone welcome.

Meet us every Sunday at 10:30 AM and start your week feeling refreshed, connected, and inspired. Your journey to a happier, more mindful life begins here!

Cost: Generosity Model: Pay as you feel.

From September 2026 to February 2027 we will focus on ‘A Mindful Heart’.

Inspired by the Creating Compassionate Cultures program (“CCC”) by Pam Cayton, and developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom. Grounded in three core pathways of learning: Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion. These pathways guide you towards a happier, more meaningful life by fostering inner growth and a warmer connection with others.

Designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of how the mind works. The aim is to gradually let go of destructive patterns of thought and behaviour while cultivating a healthy sense of self-confidence and a deep, compassionate connection with others.

You are invited to reflect on your attitudes, perceptions, and emotional patterns. By exploring the workings of our own minds and the nature of our interdependence with others and the world around us, we begin to see how deeply connected our inner and outer realities truly are. We examine both logical and scientific perspectives on the nature of the self and our relationships with others.

To deepen the learning, you are encouraged to reflect between sessions, pausing to notice your inner experiences and reconnect with your deepest values. This supports the integration of insights and ways to act with greater mindfulness and wisdom.

Ultimately, the transformation we foster in ourselves contributes to building more compassionate cultures. How can one person influence a whole culture? The answer lies in understanding interdependence. Every action we take, every choice, interaction, and intention, affects others and the broader environment, this principle of cause and effect lies at the heart of all life, reminding us that our individual transformation ripples outward in meaningful ways.

The Creating Compassionate Cultures programme has 7 steps:

• Mindful Intention

• Interconnection

• Change

• Perception

• Transforming harmful emotions

• Empathy

• Compassion

Session overview:

Welcome, Introduction and Motivation 5 mins
Settling Meditation 10 mins
Meditation topic introduced then participants briefly share their experience 15 mins
Guided meditation 15 mins
Feedback from participants 10 mins
Closing and Dedication 5 mins

September 2026

6th and 13th: The Pursuit of Happiness

20th and 27th: Understanding how things exist

October 2026:

4th and 11th: Developing Healthy Self Confidence

18th and 25th: Compassion - Opening the heart

November 2026:

1st and 8th: Mindfulness, reflection and critical thinking

15th and 22nd: Mindful intention - what do I really want

29th: Interconnection (week 1)

December 2026:

6th: Interconnection (week 2)

13th and 20th: Embracing Change

January 2027:

10th and 17th: Perception

24th and 31st Transforming harmful emotions

February 2027:

7th and 14th: Empathy

21st and 28th: Cultivating Compassion

Vipassana (Special Insight Meditation), also called analytical meditation, is primarily a practice of wisdom. It is a form of concentration that focuses single-pointedly on the ultimate nature of phenomena through analytical reasoning. Analysing phenomena is a key aspect of Vipassana practice, as it helps develop a definitive understanding of the nature of reality—such as the self, mind, emotions, and thoughts.

As Je Tsongkhapa explains, shamatha (calm abiding) is like a lamp that remains clear and steady in a place without wind, whereas vipassana (special insight) is like seeing the nature of phenomena clearly through such a steady and clear lamp. Therefore, the usual order of these two meditations is: first, achieving calm abiding or mental stability as a foundation, then engaging in special insight meditation through analysis. However, Vipassana meditation can also be practised by analysing and observing sensations, thoughts, and emotions without first achieving shamatha. This practice should still begin with focusing on the breath or another object of meditation. In our case, we will focus on the breath to start analysing the nature of the mind in relation to our sense of self, emotions, and thoughts.

The session begins by focusing on the breath—either the rise and fall of the abdomen or the sensation of air entering and leaving the nostrils. This practice calms the mind and helps establish a deep sense of presence.

Next, we move into a guided body scan, bringing awareness to different parts of the body and observing subtle sensations without judgement. This helps develop a greater connection to your physical experience.

As we proceed, you will practise observing and analysing sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they arise, learning to witness them without attachment or aversion. This fosters a deeper understanding of the impermanence and interconnectedness of the mind and self. Finally, you will rest your mind either in the natural state of awareness or in the analytical clarity gained through observation and reasoning.

Through regular practice, Vipassana meditation cultivates wisdom, encouraging a balanced and objective view of internal experiences. This session is ideal for those seeking greater insight and calmness in their daily lives.

About the Course:

The Lamrim — "Stages of the Path" in Tibetan — is a systematic presentation of the entire Buddhist path to Awakening, written by the great Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa in the 14th and early 15th century, based on writings of the Indian master Atisha. It arranges every essential teaching of the Buddha into a single, coherent, graduated sequence tailored to your mind, exactly as it is right now. Its true power lies not in study alone, but in practice. Each teaching is carefully arranged to meet the mind where it is and guide it—step by step—toward genuine change.

The uncommon preliminary practices (ngöndro) are powerful methods to purify the mind and prepare it for lasting transformation.

Over the first eleven months the common foundations, renunciation, bodhicitta, and the view of emptiness, are explored based on the Lamrim. For the remaining five months the focus is on the uncommon practices, Vajrasattva purification, mandala offerings, and guru yoga. Weekly sessions each introduce a new topic that examines different ways to meditate and why, in combination with a guided meditation.  

The training helps establish a consistent daily meditative practice in supports of its overall aim: to engage in contemplative meditation in a way that genuinely transforms the mind's outlook on the world and gives one's life a new direction. Students gain a deep understanding of how to accumulate merit and purify unskillful karma while cultivating a healthy relationship with the Three Jewels and their teacher. The emphasis is on learning to meditate in a personally tailored way, in accordance with one’s psychological makeup and life conditions.

The Ngondro Lamrim Training teaching sessions are pre-recorded.

Each week, a 90-minute teaching together with two guided meditations are uploaded. On other days, advanced students contribute additional guided meditations. The teacher, Venerable Gendun, offers regular online Q&A sessions. For those who have already studied the Lamrim or the FPMT Basic Program, the training also offers specialized opportunities to learn how to guide others in meditation.

Year 1: Definite Emergence and Mind of Awakening  

• Prepare the mind for śamatha, vipaśyanā, and tantra

• Explore renunciation and bodhicitta, the first two Principles of the Path

• Develop genuine urgency through Lamrim contemplation

• Cultivate the aspiration to Awakening for all beings

FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Taining is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

All materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. Donations help support both the centre and The Buddha Project as well as providing a donation for the teachings to Venerable Gendun.  There are different levels depending on your income. There are three terms a year, each approximately 3 months long

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• For those with a regular income the recommended donation is £95 per term

• The sponsorhsip level is £115 per term

• Ordained Sangha are free

If this isn’t affordable please do register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you at the current time. Please email Marie-Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

Tara Puja dedicated to world peace is held on a monthly basis.

Led by Ondy Willson and translated by Venerable Tenzin into Russian for Russian and Ukrainian students

Please join us, occasionally or regularly, at 17.45 UK time to show our support for the courageous spiritual communities both in Ukraine & Russia and also in Israel and Gaza. May we all nurture compassion & peace in the face of destruction & violence.

By coming together like this we send a powerful message that comes from the depths of our being. We value peace, harmony and the enlightened qualities we aspire to embody, as generated in the 21 Taras Sadhana.

By the power of our merit may there be a non-violent and bloodless revolution of consciousness so that enlightened democracies based on social wellbeing flourish everywhere.

Please forward this invitation to anyone who you think may be interested in this free and beneficial session.

The puja will last approximately 45 minutes to include some guidance on harnessing the positive power of the prayers in generating the particular qualities of compassion and fearlessness.

Ondy Willson, a touring FPMT teacher since 2007, has students in Russia & Ukraine, so felt particularly moved to offer these pujas both to connect with & support those who are suffering on the front line. So these pujas have provided, not just an opportunity to deal with fear and pray for peace, but to meet directly together as a global community and interact with our Ukrainian and Russian dharma friends.  At the end of one week’s puja, participants in Ukraine & Russia shared their stories & experiences, which was very moving for us all to hear.

A beautiful practice led by Chrissie and Di.

The Buddhist practice of Giving & Taking (Tonglen in Tibetan) is at its heart a selfless meditation of loving kindness and compassion. You imagine giving all your happiness to others, sometimes using visualisation with the breath, and then taking all the suffering and its causes from others. It’s a powerful practice for the brave-hearted!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (our organisation’s Spiritual Director) suggested Jamyang Leeds perform these practices to help with the financial obstacles we are currently having. From September 2022, we’ll be reciting this practice as much as we can. See the special newsletter explaining all about the practice here.

Purification here means looking at our past unskillful actions which have created seeds of negative karma in our minds, and using visualisation and mantra recitation to remove those seeds in a healthy and productive way. Vajrasattva is the embodiment of all the Buddha’s cleaning and purifying energy. We all make mistakes, and how we deal with them is key to making spiritual progress. We’ll be using a short text composed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Everflowing Nectar of Bodhichitta – Annihilating the Demon of the Self-Cherishing Mind

Led by Di or Sande

This practice is based on the short text” Eight Verses of Thought Transformation”, which contains the entire technique for transforming the mind into relative bodhichitta (i.e., the wish to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings) and absolute bodhichitta (i.e., the wisdom realizing emptiness).

Join us to fulfill His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes and chant the Names of Noble Manjushri for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Please come along even if you havent done the practice before, its quite wonderful and very energising. Please download the text below, you can also listen and practice with the audio clip of Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting the Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri.

What to Expect in This Module : Mind and its Potential

In this module you will explore the differentiation between mind and brain, mind as the creator of our experiences, and the implications of possessing a mind that has no beginning and no end. Under the guidance, wisdom, compassion & kindness of Geshe Rinchen, you will learn methods to transform destructive thoughts and attitudes and create a positive and joyous mind.

Through:

• Introductory Meditations - Meditation on Space like Clarity, Guided meditations help you explore the nature of the mind, develop mindfulness, and cultivate inner clarity and peace.

• Explanatory Teachings - Understand the Foundations and Special features of The Mind & its Potential. Clear teachings that explore the nature of the mind and provide practical tools for personal growth and well-being.

  Reflection and Discussion - Consider how this module relates to the rest of the path and your own practice. Opportunities to reflect on the teachings and share insights through supportive group discussion.

• 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 teaching methods related to the Mind & its Potential with your lamrim meditation and daily spiritual growth. Ongoing guidance to help sustain and deepen your practice beyond the course.

This module concludes with an online Day of Meditation on Sunday, 4th October, offering time for deeper reflection and integration of the teachings.

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

Awakening the limitless potential of your mind, achieving all peace and happiness

Discovering Buddhism is a beginner to intermediate level, 3 year FPMT 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 commences August 2026 and runs for 3 years on Thursday evenings online for 90 minutes and has 14 subjects, 13 of which are usually taught over 6 weeks. The course runs during March, April, May, July, August, September, October and November. There are no classes in January, February, June and December.

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.

Registration Form . For more information contact our Discovering Buddhsim Coordinator, Ruth: db@jamyangleeds.co.uk

ABOUT YOUR Teacher: Geshe Rinchen Wangyal

Geshe Rinchen studied at Drepung Losel Ling Monastery in India, then at the Institute of Buddhiust Dialectics. He gained his Geshe degree in 2015.

He then studied at the University of Winchester in the UK, gaining a BA (hons) Degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics in 2024

Geshe La has had articles published in The Scientific American in 2020 including 'Hygiene of the mind during the Pandemic’. He has also received awards for essay competitions at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics.

Geshe La’s teachings are known for their clarity, warmth, and practical applicability, making profound topics accessible to students of all backgrounds. Geshe La combines his deep knowledge with genuine compassion, inspiring students to cultivate inner peace and wisdom in their own lives.

Geshe La teaches in English fluently.

You can read more about Geshe Rinchen here.

SUGGESTED DONATION:

Non-members – £72 per module for the Thursday classes (usually 6 weeks), and £32 for the meditation day at the end of each module. This will contribute to the centre’s running costs and include a donation to the teacher.

Free to members - Members 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 module and £10 per meditation day).

We never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons. If you cannot donate the suggested amount, please contact Ruth on db@jamyang.co.uk to discuss what would be affordable for you.

It’s good to practice generosity where we can.

How to Donate:

You can make a donation by card using our Donation Portal here. Please put Discovering Buddhism as a reference in the comments box

Alternatively you can donate by Bank Transfer using the details below, please reference Discovering Buddhism

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. Please indicate when registering if you would like us to claim giftaid on your donations.

Led by Ruth 

Mindfulness of Breathing is universally acknowledged to be of benefit to all living in the modern world. Many feel overloaded with all that is expected of us living this complex and exhausting existence. Developing our awareness in this way is a general prescription for soothing and healing the overworked body and mind.

Practicing focusing the attention on an object such as the breath is also a core practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Gradually over time we are able to hold the object of our attention over longer periods, which enables us to practice other meditations such as Vipassana more successfully.

IDMT Year Four, The Vajra Ground: Mahamudra and Kriya Tantra

In this culminating fourth year of our journey, our path turns inward to the mind itself—its empty, luminous nature—and outward to the transformative methods of tantra, where the naturally pure nature of our perception is recognized as the very ground of awakening. 

As always, the year will start with generating the mind of awakening, using evocative instructions ranging from Langri Thangpa to Nāgārjuna and Lord Buddha in the famous Bodhisattvapiṭaka. This mind generation we'll cultivate through the four immeasurable thoughts and the support of calm abiding. 

Illuminated by the life stories of the masters of the Gelug Mahāmudrā lineage and beyond, we'll explore its roots in the history of the early Indian Mahāsiddhas, such as Saraha and Tilopa, through the Kagyü master Gampopa's and Je Tsongkhapa's Mañjuśrī lineage up to Paṇchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen's Highway of the Conquerors and its perspective on this practice. In Sūtra Mahāmudrā we will practice resting attention in the empty nature of awareness, recognizing its clarity and openness as inseparable. 

Kriyā Tantra offers a complementary method. Rather than suppress the ordinary, narrow self-narrative that we impose on ourselves and our world, it substitutes for it an extraordinary perspective of pure view. Occasionally, by way of introduction, we'll also taste practices from the higher tantras—glimpsing how afflictive emotions can be met as innate wisdom, and how the dissolution of the death process opens onto the innate mind of clear light. The structured practices of generation and recitation become a rehearsal for transformation, training perception to meet appearances as pure. 

These methods rest on a relationship. We will therefore examine the practice of guru devotion candidly—both as the means by which the lineage's realization is transmitted and as a practice with real pitfalls, requiring discernment as much as trust. Through the Ganden Lha Gyāma, the Yoga of the inseparability of guru and Avalokiteśvara, and supporting sādhanas, devotion is approached not as deference but as the ethical road toward the state of Vajradhara: the full integration of wisdom and method. 

This final year is an invitation to let realization ripen into a way of being. Grounded in bodhicitta and the four immeasurables, sustained by the preliminary practices, and held by the strength of community, we learn to meet the mind without grasping and to meet the world as pure appearance. Our aim is not to accumulate practices, but to bring the path to maturity—wisdom and compassion no longer cultivated separately, but lived as one.

This four-year online course provides students with long term, in-depth support in their meditative development.

The teacher and course developer is Venerable Losang Gendun. He has trained extensively in meditation in both Theravada and Mahayana Traditions

The In Depth Meditation Training course is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT In-Depth Meditation Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

The zoom link and all materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. With your donation we support The Buddha Project and we keep our centre going for the benefit of all sentient beings.

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• The recommended donation per calendar month is £45.

• If you are able to practice generosity and sponsor other students we recommend £58 per calendar month.

• If you are on a reduced income it is £31 per calendar month.

There is also the option to donate annually.

If none of the above options are affordable please do still register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you right now. Please email Marie Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

What to Expect in This Module : Mind and its Potential

This module concludes with an online Day of Meditation on Sunday, 4th October, offering time for deeper reflection and integration of the teachings.

In this module you will explore the differentiation between mind and brain, mind as the creator of our experiences, and the implications of possessing a mind that has no beginning and no end. Under the guidance, wisdom, compassion & kindness of Geshe Rinchen, you will learn methods to transform destructive thoughts and attitudes and create a positive and joyous mind.

Through:

• Introductory Meditations - Meditation on Space like Clarity, Guided meditations help you explore the nature of the mind, develop mindfulness, and cultivate inner clarity and peace.

• Explanatory Teachings - Understand the Foundations and Special features of The Mind & its Potential. Clear teachings that explore the nature of the mind and provide practical tools for personal growth and well-being.

  Reflection and Discussion - Consider how this module relates to the rest of the path and your own practice. Opportunities to reflect on the teachings and share insights through supportive group discussion.

• 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 teaching methods related to the Mind & its Potential with your lamrim meditation and daily spiritual growth. Ongoing guidance to help sustain and deepen your practice beyond the course.

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

Awakening the limitless potential of your mind, achieving all peace and happiness

Discovering Buddhism is a beginner to intermediate level, 3 year FPMT 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 commences August 2026 and runs for 3 years on Thursday evenings online for 90 minutes and has 14 subjects, 13 of which are usually taught over 6 weeks. The course runs during March, April, May, July, August, September, October and November. There are no classes in January, February, June and December.

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.

Registration Form . For more information contact our Discovering Buddhsim Coordinator, Ruth: db@jamyangleeds.co.uk

ABOUT YOUR Teacher: Geshe Rinchen Wangyal

Geshe Rinchen studied at Drepung Losel Ling Monastery in India, then at the Institute of Buddhiust Dialectics. He gained his Geshe degree in 2015.

He then studied at the University of Winchester in the UK, gaining a BA (hons) Degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics in 2024

Geshe La has had articles published in The Scientific American in 2020 including 'Hygiene of the mind during the Pandemic’. He has also received awards for essay competitions at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics.

Geshe La’s teachings are known for their clarity, warmth, and practical applicability, making profound topics accessible to students of all backgrounds. Geshe La combines his deep knowledge with genuine compassion, inspiring students to cultivate inner peace and wisdom in their own lives.

Geshe La teaches in English fluently.

You can read more about Geshe Rinchen here.

SUGGESTED DONATION:

Non-members – £72 per module for the Thursday classes (usually 6 weeks), and £32 for the meditation day at the end of each module. This will contribute to the centre’s running costs and include a donation to the teacher.

Free to members - Members 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 module and £10 per meditation day).

We never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons. If you cannot donate the suggested amount, please contact Ruth on db@jamyang.co.uk to discuss what would be affordable for you.

It’s good to practice generosity where we can.

How to Donate:

You can make a donation by card using our Donation Portal here. Please put Discovering Buddhism as a reference in the comments box

Alternatively you can donate by Bank Transfer using the details below, please reference Discovering Buddhism

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. Please indicate when registering if you would like us to claim giftaid on your donations.

Discover your best self every Sunday morning

Are you keen to work on your well-being and connect with others trying to make their life a little better for themselves and those around them? Join our uplifting Sunday Community Meditation Sessions.

Each hour-long gathering begins with a soothing meditation to calm your mind, followed by an inspiring discussion on a way of being such as interconnection, that enriches your everyday life. We then dive into a focused meditation designed to help you embrace that way of being fully.

Wrap up your morning with a cup of tea and friendly conversation in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Absolutely everyone welcome.

Meet us every Sunday at 10:30 AM and start your week feeling refreshed, connected, and inspired. Your journey to a happier, more mindful life begins here!

Cost: Generosity Model: Pay as you feel.

From September 2026 to February 2027 we will focus on ‘A Mindful Heart’.

Inspired by the Creating Compassionate Cultures program (“CCC”) by Pam Cayton, and developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom. Grounded in three core pathways of learning: Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion. These pathways guide you towards a happier, more meaningful life by fostering inner growth and a warmer connection with others.

Designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of how the mind works. The aim is to gradually let go of destructive patterns of thought and behaviour while cultivating a healthy sense of self-confidence and a deep, compassionate connection with others.

You are invited to reflect on your attitudes, perceptions, and emotional patterns. By exploring the workings of our own minds and the nature of our interdependence with others and the world around us, we begin to see how deeply connected our inner and outer realities truly are. We examine both logical and scientific perspectives on the nature of the self and our relationships with others.

To deepen the learning, you are encouraged to reflect between sessions, pausing to notice your inner experiences and reconnect with your deepest values. This supports the integration of insights and ways to act with greater mindfulness and wisdom.

Ultimately, the transformation we foster in ourselves contributes to building more compassionate cultures. How can one person influence a whole culture? The answer lies in understanding interdependence. Every action we take, every choice, interaction, and intention, affects others and the broader environment, this principle of cause and effect lies at the heart of all life, reminding us that our individual transformation ripples outward in meaningful ways.

The Creating Compassionate Cultures programme has 7 steps:

• Mindful Intention

• Interconnection

• Change

• Perception

• Transforming harmful emotions

• Empathy

• Compassion

Session overview:

Welcome, Introduction and Motivation 5 mins
Settling Meditation 10 mins
Meditation topic introduced then participants briefly share their experience 15 mins
Guided meditation 15 mins
Feedback from participants 10 mins
Closing and Dedication 5 mins

September 2026

6th and 13th: The Pursuit of Happiness

20th and 27th: Understanding how things exist

October 2026:

4th and 11th: Developing Healthy Self Confidence

18th and 25th: Compassion - Opening the heart

November 2026:

1st and 8th: Mindfulness, reflection and critical thinking

15th and 22nd: Mindful intention - what do I really want

29th: Interconnection (week 1)

December 2026:

6th: Interconnection (week 2)

13th and 20th: Embracing Change

January 2027:

10th and 17th: Perception

24th and 31st Transforming harmful emotions

February 2027:

7th and 14th: Empathy

21st and 28th: Cultivating Compassion

Vipassana (Special Insight Meditation), also called analytical meditation, is primarily a practice of wisdom. It is a form of concentration that focuses single-pointedly on the ultimate nature of phenomena through analytical reasoning. Analysing phenomena is a key aspect of Vipassana practice, as it helps develop a definitive understanding of the nature of reality—such as the self, mind, emotions, and thoughts.

As Je Tsongkhapa explains, shamatha (calm abiding) is like a lamp that remains clear and steady in a place without wind, whereas vipassana (special insight) is like seeing the nature of phenomena clearly through such a steady and clear lamp. Therefore, the usual order of these two meditations is: first, achieving calm abiding or mental stability as a foundation, then engaging in special insight meditation through analysis. However, Vipassana meditation can also be practised by analysing and observing sensations, thoughts, and emotions without first achieving shamatha. This practice should still begin with focusing on the breath or another object of meditation. In our case, we will focus on the breath to start analysing the nature of the mind in relation to our sense of self, emotions, and thoughts.

The session begins by focusing on the breath—either the rise and fall of the abdomen or the sensation of air entering and leaving the nostrils. This practice calms the mind and helps establish a deep sense of presence.

Next, we move into a guided body scan, bringing awareness to different parts of the body and observing subtle sensations without judgement. This helps develop a greater connection to your physical experience.

As we proceed, you will practise observing and analysing sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they arise, learning to witness them without attachment or aversion. This fosters a deeper understanding of the impermanence and interconnectedness of the mind and self. Finally, you will rest your mind either in the natural state of awareness or in the analytical clarity gained through observation and reasoning.

Through regular practice, Vipassana meditation cultivates wisdom, encouraging a balanced and objective view of internal experiences. This session is ideal for those seeking greater insight and calmness in their daily lives.

Dedicated to the Swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a bright, unmistaken child.

During the practice of Lama Choepa, we invoke all the lamas of the graduated path lineage, beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha himself, extending to our present direct teachers who have shown us the path. We pay homage to them, make offerings, and request each of them to please bless our minds with the same realizations that they themselves have generated. By offering sincere, heartfelt requests, we make our minds ripe to receive the full blessings of this precious lineage and quickly actualize the realizations we need to attain enlightenment. If we wish to experience realisations quickly, the practice of Lama Choepa is indispensable.

“If you are able to do the practice of Guru Puja in your daily life, it contains all the important points of sutra and tantra. It is a complete practice, and it shows the heart of the instruction of Lama Tsongkhapa’s tradition. Even if one can’t do much else in daily life, Guru Puja is the essential practice.”

Open to all Buddhists, no empowerments needed.

Please arrive early and bring flowers, incense, vegetarian food and drink as offerings for the altar.

More information can also be found on this FPMT page.

About the Course:

The Lamrim — "Stages of the Path" in Tibetan — is a systematic presentation of the entire Buddhist path to Awakening, written by the great Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa in the 14th and early 15th century, based on writings of the Indian master Atisha. It arranges every essential teaching of the Buddha into a single, coherent, graduated sequence tailored to your mind, exactly as it is right now. Its true power lies not in study alone, but in practice. Each teaching is carefully arranged to meet the mind where it is and guide it—step by step—toward genuine change.

The uncommon preliminary practices (ngöndro) are powerful methods to purify the mind and prepare it for lasting transformation.

Over the first eleven months the common foundations, renunciation, bodhicitta, and the view of emptiness, are explored based on the Lamrim. For the remaining five months the focus is on the uncommon practices, Vajrasattva purification, mandala offerings, and guru yoga. Weekly sessions each introduce a new topic that examines different ways to meditate and why, in combination with a guided meditation.  

The training helps establish a consistent daily meditative practice in supports of its overall aim: to engage in contemplative meditation in a way that genuinely transforms the mind's outlook on the world and gives one's life a new direction. Students gain a deep understanding of how to accumulate merit and purify unskillful karma while cultivating a healthy relationship with the Three Jewels and their teacher. The emphasis is on learning to meditate in a personally tailored way, in accordance with one’s psychological makeup and life conditions.

The Ngondro Lamrim Training teaching sessions are pre-recorded.

Each week, a 90-minute teaching together with two guided meditations are uploaded. On other days, advanced students contribute additional guided meditations. The teacher, Venerable Gendun, offers regular online Q&A sessions. For those who have already studied the Lamrim or the FPMT Basic Program, the training also offers specialized opportunities to learn how to guide others in meditation.

Year 1: Definite Emergence and Mind of Awakening  

• Prepare the mind for śamatha, vipaśyanā, and tantra

• Explore renunciation and bodhicitta, the first two Principles of the Path

• Develop genuine urgency through Lamrim contemplation

• Cultivate the aspiration to Awakening for all beings

FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Taining is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

All materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. Donations help support both the centre and The Buddha Project as well as providing a donation for the teachings to Venerable Gendun.  There are different levels depending on your income. There are three terms a year, each approximately 3 months long

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• For those with a regular income the recommended donation is £95 per term

• The sponsorhsip level is £115 per term

• Ordained Sangha are free

If this isn’t affordable please do register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you at the current time. Please email Marie-Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

In 2022, after the war in Ukraine started, Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered advice on prayers and practices to do in order to pacify the threats of war. All are welcome to download the booklet, Prayers to Stop War.

At the time, Lama Zopa Rinpoche also gave advice for how to motivate and think when doing these prayers and practices:

At the beginning generate strong bodhicitta, then do these prayers and practices to stop the war. The main purpose is to stop the war immediately. Then also to prevent famine, disease, and all the dangers of earth, water, fire, and wind, for all these dangers to be pacified immediately. To fill the whole world with perfect peace and happiness, including enlightenment, and to generate loving kindness, compassion and bodhicitta in the heart of all sentient beings.

Think that from Guru Padmasambhava’s heart, beams radiate and totally purify all the six realms’ sentient beings, totally purify all the delusions and negative karmas collected from beginningless rebirths, especially anger, attachment, and ignorance; think that these are totally purified. Then recite Sampa Lhundrupma, followed by the Padmasambhava mantra (one or two malas).

With strong faith in Guru Padmasambhava and total reliance, Guru Padmasambhava will definitely help because his compassion embraces all sentient beings. 

Then another way to think is, with strong faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the aspect of Guru Padmasambhava, nectar beams are emitted to all leaders of war, entering the body and totally purifying all negative karma and obscurations; all the dissatisfied mind, desire, ignorance, anger, and selfish mind are totally purified; they generate bodhicitta especially, and then the whole path to enlightenment. Do that very strongly, making strong prayers to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Then nectar beams are also emitted to all involved, and these purify all the anger and self-cherishing thought. They generate bodhicitta, and stop giving harm to even one sentient being and only benefit sentient beings, up to enlightenment. 

Then recite the Heart Sutra and the prayer to stop wars.

For those who can do the Most Secret Hayagriva sadhana, do this at the beginning of the practice. When reciting the mantra, you can do the same visualizations as above.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave this advice in 2022 to IMI Sangha on prayers and practices they could do in response to the developing war in Ukraine. The above motivation was edited slightly to be more general in order to be relevant for current threats at any time. The original advice can be read here. Please download Prayers to Stop War . 

A beautiful practice led by Chrissie and Di.

The Buddhist practice of Giving & Taking (Tonglen in Tibetan) is at its heart a selfless meditation of loving kindness and compassion. You imagine giving all your happiness to others, sometimes using visualisation with the breath, and then taking all the suffering and its causes from others. It’s a powerful practice for the brave-hearted!

Everflowing Nectar of Bodhichitta – Annihilating the Demon of the Self-Cherishing Mind

Led by Di or Sande

This practice is based on the short text” Eight Verses of Thought Transformation”, which contains the entire technique for transforming the mind into relative bodhichitta (i.e., the wish to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings) and absolute bodhichitta (i.e., the wisdom realizing emptiness).

Join us to fulfill His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes and chant the Names of Noble Manjushri for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Please come along even if you havent done the practice before, its quite wonderful and very energising. Please download the text below, you can also listen and practice with the audio clip of Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting the Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri.

Led by Ruth 

Mindfulness of Breathing is universally acknowledged to be of benefit to all living in the modern world. Many feel overloaded with all that is expected of us living this complex and exhausting existence. Developing our awareness in this way is a general prescription for soothing and healing the overworked body and mind.

Practicing focusing the attention on an object such as the breath is also a core practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Gradually over time we are able to hold the object of our attention over longer periods, which enables us to practice other meditations such as Vipassana more successfully.

IDMT Year Four, The Vajra Ground: Mahamudra and Kriya Tantra

In this culminating fourth year of our journey, our path turns inward to the mind itself—its empty, luminous nature—and outward to the transformative methods of tantra, where the naturally pure nature of our perception is recognized as the very ground of awakening. 

As always, the year will start with generating the mind of awakening, using evocative instructions ranging from Langri Thangpa to Nāgārjuna and Lord Buddha in the famous Bodhisattvapiṭaka. This mind generation we'll cultivate through the four immeasurable thoughts and the support of calm abiding. 

Illuminated by the life stories of the masters of the Gelug Mahāmudrā lineage and beyond, we'll explore its roots in the history of the early Indian Mahāsiddhas, such as Saraha and Tilopa, through the Kagyü master Gampopa's and Je Tsongkhapa's Mañjuśrī lineage up to Paṇchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen's Highway of the Conquerors and its perspective on this practice. In Sūtra Mahāmudrā we will practice resting attention in the empty nature of awareness, recognizing its clarity and openness as inseparable. 

Kriyā Tantra offers a complementary method. Rather than suppress the ordinary, narrow self-narrative that we impose on ourselves and our world, it substitutes for it an extraordinary perspective of pure view. Occasionally, by way of introduction, we'll also taste practices from the higher tantras—glimpsing how afflictive emotions can be met as innate wisdom, and how the dissolution of the death process opens onto the innate mind of clear light. The structured practices of generation and recitation become a rehearsal for transformation, training perception to meet appearances as pure. 

These methods rest on a relationship. We will therefore examine the practice of guru devotion candidly—both as the means by which the lineage's realization is transmitted and as a practice with real pitfalls, requiring discernment as much as trust. Through the Ganden Lha Gyāma, the Yoga of the inseparability of guru and Avalokiteśvara, and supporting sādhanas, devotion is approached not as deference but as the ethical road toward the state of Vajradhara: the full integration of wisdom and method. 

This final year is an invitation to let realization ripen into a way of being. Grounded in bodhicitta and the four immeasurables, sustained by the preliminary practices, and held by the strength of community, we learn to meet the mind without grasping and to meet the world as pure appearance. Our aim is not to accumulate practices, but to bring the path to maturity—wisdom and compassion no longer cultivated separately, but lived as one.

This four-year online course provides students with long term, in-depth support in their meditative development.

The teacher and course developer is Venerable Losang Gendun. He has trained extensively in meditation in both Theravada and Mahayana Traditions

The In Depth Meditation Training course is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT In-Depth Meditation Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

The zoom link and all materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. With your donation we support The Buddha Project and we keep our centre going for the benefit of all sentient beings.

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• The recommended donation per calendar month is £45.

• If you are able to practice generosity and sponsor other students we recommend £58 per calendar month.

• If you are on a reduced income it is £31 per calendar month.

There is also the option to donate annually.

If none of the above options are affordable please do still register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you right now. Please email Marie Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

Discover your best self every Sunday morning

Are you keen to work on your well-being and connect with others trying to make their life a little better for themselves and those around them? Join our uplifting Sunday Community Meditation Sessions.

Each hour-long gathering begins with a soothing meditation to calm your mind, followed by an inspiring discussion on a way of being such as interconnection, that enriches your everyday life. We then dive into a focused meditation designed to help you embrace that way of being fully.

Wrap up your morning with a cup of tea and friendly conversation in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Absolutely everyone welcome.

Meet us every Sunday at 10:30 AM and start your week feeling refreshed, connected, and inspired. Your journey to a happier, more mindful life begins here!

Cost: Generosity Model: Pay as you feel.

From September 2026 to February 2027 we will focus on ‘A Mindful Heart’.

Inspired by the Creating Compassionate Cultures program (“CCC”) by Pam Cayton, and developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom. Grounded in three core pathways of learning: Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion. These pathways guide you towards a happier, more meaningful life by fostering inner growth and a warmer connection with others.

Designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of how the mind works. The aim is to gradually let go of destructive patterns of thought and behaviour while cultivating a healthy sense of self-confidence and a deep, compassionate connection with others.

You are invited to reflect on your attitudes, perceptions, and emotional patterns. By exploring the workings of our own minds and the nature of our interdependence with others and the world around us, we begin to see how deeply connected our inner and outer realities truly are. We examine both logical and scientific perspectives on the nature of the self and our relationships with others.

To deepen the learning, you are encouraged to reflect between sessions, pausing to notice your inner experiences and reconnect with your deepest values. This supports the integration of insights and ways to act with greater mindfulness and wisdom.

Ultimately, the transformation we foster in ourselves contributes to building more compassionate cultures. How can one person influence a whole culture? The answer lies in understanding interdependence. Every action we take, every choice, interaction, and intention, affects others and the broader environment, this principle of cause and effect lies at the heart of all life, reminding us that our individual transformation ripples outward in meaningful ways.

The Creating Compassionate Cultures programme has 7 steps:

• Mindful Intention

• Interconnection

• Change

• Perception

• Transforming harmful emotions

• Empathy

• Compassion

Session overview:

Welcome, Introduction and Motivation 5 mins
Settling Meditation 10 mins
Meditation topic introduced then participants briefly share their experience 15 mins
Guided meditation 15 mins
Feedback from participants 10 mins
Closing and Dedication 5 mins

September 2026

6th and 13th: The Pursuit of Happiness

20th and 27th: Understanding how things exist

October 2026:

4th and 11th: Developing Healthy Self Confidence

18th and 25th: Compassion - Opening the heart

November 2026:

1st and 8th: Mindfulness, reflection and critical thinking

15th and 22nd: Mindful intention - what do I really want

29th: Interconnection (week 1)

December 2026:

6th: Interconnection (week 2)

13th and 20th: Embracing Change

January 2027:

10th and 17th: Perception

24th and 31st Transforming harmful emotions

February 2027:

7th and 14th: Empathy

21st and 28th: Cultivating Compassion

Vipassana (Special Insight Meditation), also called analytical meditation, is primarily a practice of wisdom. It is a form of concentration that focuses single-pointedly on the ultimate nature of phenomena through analytical reasoning. Analysing phenomena is a key aspect of Vipassana practice, as it helps develop a definitive understanding of the nature of reality—such as the self, mind, emotions, and thoughts.

As Je Tsongkhapa explains, shamatha (calm abiding) is like a lamp that remains clear and steady in a place without wind, whereas vipassana (special insight) is like seeing the nature of phenomena clearly through such a steady and clear lamp. Therefore, the usual order of these two meditations is: first, achieving calm abiding or mental stability as a foundation, then engaging in special insight meditation through analysis. However, Vipassana meditation can also be practised by analysing and observing sensations, thoughts, and emotions without first achieving shamatha. This practice should still begin with focusing on the breath or another object of meditation. In our case, we will focus on the breath to start analysing the nature of the mind in relation to our sense of self, emotions, and thoughts.

The session begins by focusing on the breath—either the rise and fall of the abdomen or the sensation of air entering and leaving the nostrils. This practice calms the mind and helps establish a deep sense of presence.

Next, we move into a guided body scan, bringing awareness to different parts of the body and observing subtle sensations without judgement. This helps develop a greater connection to your physical experience.

As we proceed, you will practise observing and analysing sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they arise, learning to witness them without attachment or aversion. This fosters a deeper understanding of the impermanence and interconnectedness of the mind and self. Finally, you will rest your mind either in the natural state of awareness or in the analytical clarity gained through observation and reasoning.

Through regular practice, Vipassana meditation cultivates wisdom, encouraging a balanced and objective view of internal experiences. This session is ideal for those seeking greater insight and calmness in their daily lives.

About the Course:

The Lamrim — "Stages of the Path" in Tibetan — is a systematic presentation of the entire Buddhist path to Awakening, written by the great Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa in the 14th and early 15th century, based on writings of the Indian master Atisha. It arranges every essential teaching of the Buddha into a single, coherent, graduated sequence tailored to your mind, exactly as it is right now. Its true power lies not in study alone, but in practice. Each teaching is carefully arranged to meet the mind where it is and guide it—step by step—toward genuine change.

The uncommon preliminary practices (ngöndro) are powerful methods to purify the mind and prepare it for lasting transformation.

Over the first eleven months the common foundations, renunciation, bodhicitta, and the view of emptiness, are explored based on the Lamrim. For the remaining five months the focus is on the uncommon practices, Vajrasattva purification, mandala offerings, and guru yoga. Weekly sessions each introduce a new topic that examines different ways to meditate and why, in combination with a guided meditation.  

The training helps establish a consistent daily meditative practice in supports of its overall aim: to engage in contemplative meditation in a way that genuinely transforms the mind's outlook on the world and gives one's life a new direction. Students gain a deep understanding of how to accumulate merit and purify unskillful karma while cultivating a healthy relationship with the Three Jewels and their teacher. The emphasis is on learning to meditate in a personally tailored way, in accordance with one’s psychological makeup and life conditions.

The Ngondro Lamrim Training teaching sessions are pre-recorded.

Each week, a 90-minute teaching together with two guided meditations are uploaded. On other days, advanced students contribute additional guided meditations. The teacher, Venerable Gendun, offers regular online Q&A sessions. For those who have already studied the Lamrim or the FPMT Basic Program, the training also offers specialized opportunities to learn how to guide others in meditation.

Year 1: Definite Emergence and Mind of Awakening  

• Prepare the mind for śamatha, vipaśyanā, and tantra

• Explore renunciation and bodhicitta, the first two Principles of the Path

• Develop genuine urgency through Lamrim contemplation

• Cultivate the aspiration to Awakening for all beings

FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Taining is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMTNgondro Lamrim Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

All materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. Donations help support both the centre and The Buddha Project as well as providing a donation for the teachings to Venerable Gendun.  There are different levels depending on your income. There are three terms a year, each approximately 3 months long

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• For those with a regular income the recommended donation is £95 per term

• The sponsorhsip level is £115 per term

• Ordained Sangha are free

If this isn’t affordable please do register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you at the current time. Please email Marie-Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

A beautiful practice led by Chrissie and Di.

The Buddhist practice of Giving & Taking (Tonglen in Tibetan) is at its heart a selfless meditation of loving kindness and compassion. You imagine giving all your happiness to others, sometimes using visualisation with the breath, and then taking all the suffering and its causes from others. It’s a powerful practice for the brave-hearted!

Everflowing Nectar of Bodhichitta – Annihilating the Demon of the Self-Cherishing Mind

Led by Di or Sande

This practice is based on the short text” Eight Verses of Thought Transformation”, which contains the entire technique for transforming the mind into relative bodhichitta (i.e., the wish to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings) and absolute bodhichitta (i.e., the wisdom realizing emptiness).

Join us to fulfill His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes and chant the Names of Noble Manjushri for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Please come along even if you havent done the practice before, its quite wonderful and very energising. Please download the text below, you can also listen and practice with the audio clip of Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting the Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri.

What to Expect in This Module: How to meditate

Under the guidance of Geshe Rinchen you will learn the definition and purpose of meditation, how to sit, how to set up a meditation session, different meditation techniques, and how to deal with obstacles to meditation.

Through:

• Introductory Meditations

• Explanatory Teachings - Understand the Foundations and Special features of Meditation.

• Reflection and Discussion - Consider how this practice relates to the rest of the path and your own practice.

• 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 Meditation methods with your lamrim meditation and daily spiritual growth.

This module concludes with an online Day of Meditation on Sunday, 29th November, offering time for deeper reflection and integration of the teachings.

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

Awakening the limitless potential of your mind, achieving all peace and happiness
Discovering Buddhism is a beginner to intermediate level, 3 year study programme that will give you a solid foundation in the teachings and practice of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. The Mind & its Potential is the 1st Module.

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 commences August 2026 and runs for just over 3 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

Geshe Rinchen studied at Drepung Losel Ling Monastery in India, then at the Institute of Buddhiust Dialectics. He gained his Geshe degree in 2015.

He then studied at the University of Winchester in the UK, gaining a BA (hons) Degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics in 2024

Geshe La has had articles published in The Scientific American in 2020 including 'Hygiene of the mind during the Pandemic’. He has also received awards for essay competitions at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics.

Geshe La’s teachings are known for their clarity, warmth, and practical applicability, making profound topics accessible to students of all backgrounds. Geshe La combines his deep knowledge with genuine compassion, inspiring students to cultivate inner peace and wisdom in their own lives.

Geshe La teaches in English fluently.

You can read more about Geshe Rinchen here.

SUGGESTED DONATION:

Non-members – £72 per module for the Thursday classes (usually 6 weeks), and £32 for the meditation day at the end of each module. This will contribute to the centre’s running costs and includes a donation to the teacher.

Free to members - Members 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 module and £10 per meditation day).

We never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons. If you cannot donate the suggested amount, please contact Ruth on: db@jamyangleeds.co.uk to discuss what would be affordable for you.

It’s good to practice generosity where we can.

How to Donate:

You can make a donation by card using our Donation Portal here. Please put Discovering Buddhism as a reference in the comments box

Alternatively you can donate by Bank Transfer using the details below, please reference Discovering Buddhism

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. Please indicate when registering if you would like us to claim gift aid on your donations.

Led by Ruth 

Mindfulness of Breathing is universally acknowledged to be of benefit to all living in the modern world. Many feel overloaded with all that is expected of us living this complex and exhausting existence. Developing our awareness in this way is a general prescription for soothing and healing the overworked body and mind.

Practicing focusing the attention on an object such as the breath is also a core practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Gradually over time we are able to hold the object of our attention over longer periods, which enables us to practice other meditations such as Vipassana more successfully.

IDMT Year Four, The Vajra Ground: Mahamudra and Kriya Tantra

In this culminating fourth year of our journey, our path turns inward to the mind itself—its empty, luminous nature—and outward to the transformative methods of tantra, where the naturally pure nature of our perception is recognized as the very ground of awakening. 

As always, the year will start with generating the mind of awakening, using evocative instructions ranging from Langri Thangpa to Nāgārjuna and Lord Buddha in the famous Bodhisattvapiṭaka. This mind generation we'll cultivate through the four immeasurable thoughts and the support of calm abiding. 

Illuminated by the life stories of the masters of the Gelug Mahāmudrā lineage and beyond, we'll explore its roots in the history of the early Indian Mahāsiddhas, such as Saraha and Tilopa, through the Kagyü master Gampopa's and Je Tsongkhapa's Mañjuśrī lineage up to Paṇchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen's Highway of the Conquerors and its perspective on this practice. In Sūtra Mahāmudrā we will practice resting attention in the empty nature of awareness, recognizing its clarity and openness as inseparable. 

Kriyā Tantra offers a complementary method. Rather than suppress the ordinary, narrow self-narrative that we impose on ourselves and our world, it substitutes for it an extraordinary perspective of pure view. Occasionally, by way of introduction, we'll also taste practices from the higher tantras—glimpsing how afflictive emotions can be met as innate wisdom, and how the dissolution of the death process opens onto the innate mind of clear light. The structured practices of generation and recitation become a rehearsal for transformation, training perception to meet appearances as pure. 

These methods rest on a relationship. We will therefore examine the practice of guru devotion candidly—both as the means by which the lineage's realization is transmitted and as a practice with real pitfalls, requiring discernment as much as trust. Through the Ganden Lha Gyāma, the Yoga of the inseparability of guru and Avalokiteśvara, and supporting sādhanas, devotion is approached not as deference but as the ethical road toward the state of Vajradhara: the full integration of wisdom and method. 

This final year is an invitation to let realization ripen into a way of being. Grounded in bodhicitta and the four immeasurables, sustained by the preliminary practices, and held by the strength of community, we learn to meet the mind without grasping and to meet the world as pure appearance. Our aim is not to accumulate practices, but to bring the path to maturity—wisdom and compassion no longer cultivated separately, but lived as one.

This four-year online course provides students with long term, in-depth support in their meditative development.

The teacher and course developer is Venerable Losang Gendun. He has trained extensively in meditation in both Theravada and Mahayana Traditions

The In Depth Meditation Training course is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT In-Depth Meditation Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

The zoom link and all materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. With your donation we support The Buddha Project and we keep our centre going for the benefit of all sentient beings.

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• The recommended donation per calendar month is £45.

• If you are able to practice generosity and sponsor other students we recommend £58 per calendar month.

• If you are on a reduced income it is £31 per calendar month.

There is also the option to donate annually.

If none of the above options are affordable please do still register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you right now. Please email Marie Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

Discover your best self every Sunday morning

Are you keen to work on your well-being and connect with others trying to make their life a little better for themselves and those around them? Join our uplifting Sunday Community Meditation Sessions.

Each hour-long gathering begins with a soothing meditation to calm your mind, followed by an inspiring discussion on a way of being such as interconnection, that enriches your everyday life. We then dive into a focused meditation designed to help you embrace that way of being fully.

Wrap up your morning with a cup of tea and friendly conversation in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Absolutely everyone welcome.

Meet us every Sunday at 10:30 AM and start your week feeling refreshed, connected, and inspired. Your journey to a happier, more mindful life begins here!

Cost: Generosity Model: Pay as you feel.

From September 2026 to February 2027 we will focus on ‘A Mindful Heart’.

Inspired by the Creating Compassionate Cultures program (“CCC”) by Pam Cayton, and developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom. Grounded in three core pathways of learning: Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion. These pathways guide you towards a happier, more meaningful life by fostering inner growth and a warmer connection with others.

Designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of how the mind works. The aim is to gradually let go of destructive patterns of thought and behaviour while cultivating a healthy sense of self-confidence and a deep, compassionate connection with others.

You are invited to reflect on your attitudes, perceptions, and emotional patterns. By exploring the workings of our own minds and the nature of our interdependence with others and the world around us, we begin to see how deeply connected our inner and outer realities truly are. We examine both logical and scientific perspectives on the nature of the self and our relationships with others.

To deepen the learning, you are encouraged to reflect between sessions, pausing to notice your inner experiences and reconnect with your deepest values. This supports the integration of insights and ways to act with greater mindfulness and wisdom.

Ultimately, the transformation we foster in ourselves contributes to building more compassionate cultures. How can one person influence a whole culture? The answer lies in understanding interdependence. Every action we take, every choice, interaction, and intention, affects others and the broader environment, this principle of cause and effect lies at the heart of all life, reminding us that our individual transformation ripples outward in meaningful ways.

The Creating Compassionate Cultures programme has 7 steps:

• Mindful Intention

• Interconnection

• Change

• Perception

• Transforming harmful emotions

• Empathy

• Compassion

Session overview:

Welcome, Introduction and Motivation 5 mins
Settling Meditation 10 mins
Meditation topic introduced then participants briefly share their experience 15 mins
Guided meditation 15 mins
Feedback from participants 10 mins
Closing and Dedication 5 mins

September 2026

6th and 13th: The Pursuit of Happiness

20th and 27th: Understanding how things exist

October 2026:

4th and 11th: Developing Healthy Self Confidence

18th and 25th: Compassion - Opening the heart

November 2026:

1st and 8th: Mindfulness, reflection and critical thinking

15th and 22nd: Mindful intention - what do I really want

29th: Interconnection (week 1)

December 2026:

6th: Interconnection (week 2)

13th and 20th: Embracing Change

January 2027:

10th and 17th: Perception

24th and 31st Transforming harmful emotions

February 2027:

7th and 14th: Empathy

21st and 28th: Cultivating Compassion

Vipassana (Special Insight Meditation), also called analytical meditation, is primarily a practice of wisdom. It is a form of concentration that focuses single-pointedly on the ultimate nature of phenomena through analytical reasoning. Analysing phenomena is a key aspect of Vipassana practice, as it helps develop a definitive understanding of the nature of reality—such as the self, mind, emotions, and thoughts.

As Je Tsongkhapa explains, shamatha (calm abiding) is like a lamp that remains clear and steady in a place without wind, whereas vipassana (special insight) is like seeing the nature of phenomena clearly through such a steady and clear lamp. Therefore, the usual order of these two meditations is: first, achieving calm abiding or mental stability as a foundation, then engaging in special insight meditation through analysis. However, Vipassana meditation can also be practised by analysing and observing sensations, thoughts, and emotions without first achieving shamatha. This practice should still begin with focusing on the breath or another object of meditation. In our case, we will focus on the breath to start analysing the nature of the mind in relation to our sense of self, emotions, and thoughts.

The session begins by focusing on the breath—either the rise and fall of the abdomen or the sensation of air entering and leaving the nostrils. This practice calms the mind and helps establish a deep sense of presence.

Next, we move into a guided body scan, bringing awareness to different parts of the body and observing subtle sensations without judgement. This helps develop a greater connection to your physical experience.

As we proceed, you will practise observing and analysing sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they arise, learning to witness them without attachment or aversion. This fosters a deeper understanding of the impermanence and interconnectedness of the mind and self. Finally, you will rest your mind either in the natural state of awareness or in the analytical clarity gained through observation and reasoning.

Through regular practice, Vipassana meditation cultivates wisdom, encouraging a balanced and objective view of internal experiences. This session is ideal for those seeking greater insight and calmness in their daily lives.

About the Course:

The Lamrim — "Stages of the Path" in Tibetan — is a systematic presentation of the entire Buddhist path to Awakening, written by the great Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa in the 14th and early 15th century, based on writings of the Indian master Atisha. It arranges every essential teaching of the Buddha into a single, coherent, graduated sequence tailored to your mind, exactly as it is right now. Its true power lies not in study alone, but in practice. Each teaching is carefully arranged to meet the mind where it is and guide it—step by step—toward genuine change.

The uncommon preliminary practices (ngöndro) are powerful methods to purify the mind and prepare it for lasting transformation.

Over the first eleven months the common foundations, renunciation, bodhicitta, and the view of emptiness, are explored based on the Lamrim. For the remaining five months the focus is on the uncommon practices, Vajrasattva purification, mandala offerings, and guru yoga. Weekly sessions each introduce a new topic that examines different ways to meditate and why, in combination with a guided meditation.  

The training helps establish a consistent daily meditative practice in supports of its overall aim: to engage in contemplative meditation in a way that genuinely transforms the mind's outlook on the world and gives one's life a new direction. Students gain a deep understanding of how to accumulate merit and purify unskillful karma while cultivating a healthy relationship with the Three Jewels and their teacher. The emphasis is on learning to meditate in a personally tailored way, in accordance with one’s psychological makeup and life conditions.

The Ngondro Lamrim Training teaching sessions are pre-recorded.

Each week, a 90-minute teaching together with two guided meditations are uploaded. On other days, advanced students contribute additional guided meditations. The teacher, Venerable Gendun, offers regular online Q&A sessions. For those who have already studied the Lamrim or the FPMT Basic Program, the training also offers specialized opportunities to learn how to guide others in meditation.

Year 1: Definite Emergence and Mind of Awakening  

• Prepare the mind for śamatha, vipaśyanā, and tantra

• Explore renunciation and bodhicitta, the first two Principles of the Path

• Develop genuine urgency through Lamrim contemplation

• Cultivate the aspiration to Awakening for all beings

FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Taining is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMTNgondro Lamrim Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

All materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. Donations help support both the centre and The Buddha Project as well as providing a donation for the teachings to Venerable Gendun.  There are different levels depending on your income. There are three terms a year, each approximately 3 months long

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• For those with a regular income the recommended donation is £95 per term

• The sponsorhsip level is £115 per term

• Ordained Sangha are free

If this isn’t affordable please do register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you at the current time. Please email Marie-Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

A beautiful practice led by Chrissie and Di.

The Buddhist practice of Giving & Taking (Tonglen in Tibetan) is at its heart a selfless meditation of loving kindness and compassion. You imagine giving all your happiness to others, sometimes using visualisation with the breath, and then taking all the suffering and its causes from others. It’s a powerful practice for the brave-hearted!

Everflowing Nectar of Bodhichitta – Annihilating the Demon of the Self-Cherishing Mind

Led by Di or Sande

This practice is based on the short text” Eight Verses of Thought Transformation”, which contains the entire technique for transforming the mind into relative bodhichitta (i.e., the wish to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings) and absolute bodhichitta (i.e., the wisdom realizing emptiness).

Join us to fulfill His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes and chant the Names of Noble Manjushri for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Please come along even if you havent done the practice before, its quite wonderful and very energising. Please download the text below, you can also listen and practice with the audio clip of Lama Zopa Rinpoche reciting the Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri.

What to Expect in This Module: How to meditate

Under the guidance of Geshe Rinchen you will learn the definition and purpose of meditation, how to sit, how to set up a meditation session, different meditation techniques, and how to deal with obstacles to meditation.

Through:

• Introductory Meditations

• Explanatory Teachings - Understand the Foundations and Special features of Meditation.

• Reflection and Discussion - Consider how this practice relates to the rest of the path and your own practice.

• 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 Meditation methods with your lamrim meditation and daily spiritual growth.

This module concludes with an online Day of Meditation on Sunday, 29th November, offering time for deeper reflection and integration of the teachings.

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

Awakening the limitless potential of your mind, achieving all peace and happiness
Discovering Buddhism is a beginner to intermediate level, 3 year study programme that will give you a solid foundation in the teachings and practice of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. The Mind & its Potential is the 1st Module.

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 commences August 2026 and runs for just over 3 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

Geshe Rinchen studied at Drepung Losel Ling Monastery in India, then at the Institute of Buddhiust Dialectics. He gained his Geshe degree in 2015.

He then studied at the University of Winchester in the UK, gaining a BA (hons) Degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics in 2024

Geshe La has had articles published in The Scientific American in 2020 including 'Hygiene of the mind during the Pandemic’. He has also received awards for essay competitions at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics.

Geshe La’s teachings are known for their clarity, warmth, and practical applicability, making profound topics accessible to students of all backgrounds. Geshe La combines his deep knowledge with genuine compassion, inspiring students to cultivate inner peace and wisdom in their own lives.

Geshe La teaches in English fluently.

You can read more about Geshe Rinchen here.

SUGGESTED DONATION:

Non-members – £72 per module for the Thursday classes (usually 6 weeks), and £32 for the meditation day at the end of each module. This will contribute to the centre’s running costs and includes a donation to the teacher.

Free to members - Members 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 module and £10 per meditation day).

We never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons. If you cannot donate the suggested amount, please contact Ruth on: db@jamyangleeds.co.uk to discuss what would be affordable for you.

It’s good to practice generosity where we can.

How to Donate:

You can make a donation by card using our Donation Portal here. Please put Discovering Buddhism as a reference in the comments box

Alternatively you can donate by Bank Transfer using the details below, please reference Discovering Buddhism

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. Please indicate when registering if you would like us to claim gift aid on your donations.

Led by Ruth 

Mindfulness of Breathing is universally acknowledged to be of benefit to all living in the modern world. Many feel overloaded with all that is expected of us living this complex and exhausting existence. Developing our awareness in this way is a general prescription for soothing and healing the overworked body and mind.

Practicing focusing the attention on an object such as the breath is also a core practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Gradually over time we are able to hold the object of our attention over longer periods, which enables us to practice other meditations such as Vipassana more successfully.

IDMT Year Four, The Vajra Ground: Mahamudra and Kriya Tantra

In this culminating fourth year of our journey, our path turns inward to the mind itself—its empty, luminous nature—and outward to the transformative methods of tantra, where the naturally pure nature of our perception is recognized as the very ground of awakening. 

As always, the year will start with generating the mind of awakening, using evocative instructions ranging from Langri Thangpa to Nāgārjuna and Lord Buddha in the famous Bodhisattvapiṭaka. This mind generation we'll cultivate through the four immeasurable thoughts and the support of calm abiding. 

Illuminated by the life stories of the masters of the Gelug Mahāmudrā lineage and beyond, we'll explore its roots in the history of the early Indian Mahāsiddhas, such as Saraha and Tilopa, through the Kagyü master Gampopa's and Je Tsongkhapa's Mañjuśrī lineage up to Paṇchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen's Highway of the Conquerors and its perspective on this practice. In Sūtra Mahāmudrā we will practice resting attention in the empty nature of awareness, recognizing its clarity and openness as inseparable. 

Kriyā Tantra offers a complementary method. Rather than suppress the ordinary, narrow self-narrative that we impose on ourselves and our world, it substitutes for it an extraordinary perspective of pure view. Occasionally, by way of introduction, we'll also taste practices from the higher tantras—glimpsing how afflictive emotions can be met as innate wisdom, and how the dissolution of the death process opens onto the innate mind of clear light. The structured practices of generation and recitation become a rehearsal for transformation, training perception to meet appearances as pure. 

These methods rest on a relationship. We will therefore examine the practice of guru devotion candidly—both as the means by which the lineage's realization is transmitted and as a practice with real pitfalls, requiring discernment as much as trust. Through the Ganden Lha Gyāma, the Yoga of the inseparability of guru and Avalokiteśvara, and supporting sādhanas, devotion is approached not as deference but as the ethical road toward the state of Vajradhara: the full integration of wisdom and method. 

This final year is an invitation to let realization ripen into a way of being. Grounded in bodhicitta and the four immeasurables, sustained by the preliminary practices, and held by the strength of community, we learn to meet the mind without grasping and to meet the world as pure appearance. Our aim is not to accumulate practices, but to bring the path to maturity—wisdom and compassion no longer cultivated separately, but lived as one.

This four-year online course provides students with long term, in-depth support in their meditative development.

The teacher and course developer is Venerable Losang Gendun. He has trained extensively in meditation in both Theravada and Mahayana Traditions

The In Depth Meditation Training course is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMT In-Depth Meditation Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

The zoom link and all materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. With your donation we support The Buddha Project and we keep our centre going for the benefit of all sentient beings.

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• The recommended donation per calendar month is £45.

• If you are able to practice generosity and sponsor other students we recommend £58 per calendar month.

• If you are on a reduced income it is £31 per calendar month.

There is also the option to donate annually.

If none of the above options are affordable please do still register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you right now. Please email Marie Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

Discover your best self every Sunday morning

Are you keen to work on your well-being and connect with others trying to make their life a little better for themselves and those around them? Join our uplifting Sunday Community Meditation Sessions.

Each hour-long gathering begins with a soothing meditation to calm your mind, followed by an inspiring discussion on a way of being such as interconnection, that enriches your everyday life. We then dive into a focused meditation designed to help you embrace that way of being fully.

Wrap up your morning with a cup of tea and friendly conversation in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Absolutely everyone welcome.

Meet us every Sunday at 10:30 AM and start your week feeling refreshed, connected, and inspired. Your journey to a happier, more mindful life begins here!

Cost: Generosity Model: Pay as you feel.

From September 2026 to February 2027 we will focus on ‘A Mindful Heart’.

Inspired by the Creating Compassionate Cultures program (“CCC”) by Pam Cayton, and developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom. Grounded in three core pathways of learning: Knowledge, Strength, and Compassion. These pathways guide you towards a happier, more meaningful life by fostering inner growth and a warmer connection with others.

Designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of how the mind works. The aim is to gradually let go of destructive patterns of thought and behaviour while cultivating a healthy sense of self-confidence and a deep, compassionate connection with others.

You are invited to reflect on your attitudes, perceptions, and emotional patterns. By exploring the workings of our own minds and the nature of our interdependence with others and the world around us, we begin to see how deeply connected our inner and outer realities truly are. We examine both logical and scientific perspectives on the nature of the self and our relationships with others.

To deepen the learning, you are encouraged to reflect between sessions, pausing to notice your inner experiences and reconnect with your deepest values. This supports the integration of insights and ways to act with greater mindfulness and wisdom.

Ultimately, the transformation we foster in ourselves contributes to building more compassionate cultures. How can one person influence a whole culture? The answer lies in understanding interdependence. Every action we take, every choice, interaction, and intention, affects others and the broader environment, this principle of cause and effect lies at the heart of all life, reminding us that our individual transformation ripples outward in meaningful ways.

The Creating Compassionate Cultures programme has 7 steps:

• Mindful Intention

• Interconnection

• Change

• Perception

• Transforming harmful emotions

• Empathy

• Compassion

Session overview:

Welcome, Introduction and Motivation 5 mins
Settling Meditation 10 mins
Meditation topic introduced then participants briefly share their experience 15 mins
Guided meditation 15 mins
Feedback from participants 10 mins
Closing and Dedication 5 mins

September 2026

6th and 13th: The Pursuit of Happiness

20th and 27th: Understanding how things exist

October 2026:

4th and 11th: Developing Healthy Self Confidence

18th and 25th: Compassion - Opening the heart

November 2026:

1st and 8th: Mindfulness, reflection and critical thinking

15th and 22nd: Mindful intention - what do I really want

29th: Interconnection (week 1)

December 2026:

6th: Interconnection (week 2)

13th and 20th: Embracing Change

January 2027:

10th and 17th: Perception

24th and 31st Transforming harmful emotions

February 2027:

7th and 14th: Empathy

21st and 28th: Cultivating Compassion

Vipassana (Special Insight Meditation), also called analytical meditation, is primarily a practice of wisdom. It is a form of concentration that focuses single-pointedly on the ultimate nature of phenomena through analytical reasoning. Analysing phenomena is a key aspect of Vipassana practice, as it helps develop a definitive understanding of the nature of reality—such as the self, mind, emotions, and thoughts.

As Je Tsongkhapa explains, shamatha (calm abiding) is like a lamp that remains clear and steady in a place without wind, whereas vipassana (special insight) is like seeing the nature of phenomena clearly through such a steady and clear lamp. Therefore, the usual order of these two meditations is: first, achieving calm abiding or mental stability as a foundation, then engaging in special insight meditation through analysis. However, Vipassana meditation can also be practised by analysing and observing sensations, thoughts, and emotions without first achieving shamatha. This practice should still begin with focusing on the breath or another object of meditation. In our case, we will focus on the breath to start analysing the nature of the mind in relation to our sense of self, emotions, and thoughts.

The session begins by focusing on the breath—either the rise and fall of the abdomen or the sensation of air entering and leaving the nostrils. This practice calms the mind and helps establish a deep sense of presence.

Next, we move into a guided body scan, bringing awareness to different parts of the body and observing subtle sensations without judgement. This helps develop a greater connection to your physical experience.

As we proceed, you will practise observing and analysing sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they arise, learning to witness them without attachment or aversion. This fosters a deeper understanding of the impermanence and interconnectedness of the mind and self. Finally, you will rest your mind either in the natural state of awareness or in the analytical clarity gained through observation and reasoning.

Through regular practice, Vipassana meditation cultivates wisdom, encouraging a balanced and objective view of internal experiences. This session is ideal for those seeking greater insight and calmness in their daily lives.

About the Course:

The Lamrim — "Stages of the Path" in Tibetan — is a systematic presentation of the entire Buddhist path to Awakening, written by the great Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa in the 14th and early 15th century, based on writings of the Indian master Atisha. It arranges every essential teaching of the Buddha into a single, coherent, graduated sequence tailored to your mind, exactly as it is right now. Its true power lies not in study alone, but in practice. Each teaching is carefully arranged to meet the mind where it is and guide it—step by step—toward genuine change.

The uncommon preliminary practices (ngöndro) are powerful methods to purify the mind and prepare it for lasting transformation.

Over the first eleven months the common foundations, renunciation, bodhicitta, and the view of emptiness, are explored based on the Lamrim. For the remaining five months the focus is on the uncommon practices, Vajrasattva purification, mandala offerings, and guru yoga. Weekly sessions each introduce a new topic that examines different ways to meditate and why, in combination with a guided meditation.  

The training helps establish a consistent daily meditative practice in supports of its overall aim: to engage in contemplative meditation in a way that genuinely transforms the mind's outlook on the world and gives one's life a new direction. Students gain a deep understanding of how to accumulate merit and purify unskillful karma while cultivating a healthy relationship with the Three Jewels and their teacher. The emphasis is on learning to meditate in a personally tailored way, in accordance with one’s psychological makeup and life conditions.

The Ngondro Lamrim Training teaching sessions are pre-recorded.

Each week, a 90-minute teaching together with two guided meditations are uploaded. On other days, advanced students contribute additional guided meditations. The teacher, Venerable Gendun, offers regular online Q&A sessions. For those who have already studied the Lamrim or the FPMT Basic Program, the training also offers specialized opportunities to learn how to guide others in meditation.

Year 1: Definite Emergence and Mind of Awakening  

• Prepare the mind for śamatha, vipaśyanā, and tantra

• Explore renunciation and bodhicitta, the first two Principles of the Path

• Develop genuine urgency through Lamrim contemplation

• Cultivate the aspiration to Awakening for all beings

FPMT Ngondro Lamrim Taining is also part of The Buddha Project led by Venerable Losang Gendun. You can find out more about Venerable Gendun, the course and who it is suitable for on our FPMTNgondro Lamrim Training webpage

If you have any questions you would like to ask before registering please email our In-Depth Meditation Coordinator Marie Odile on idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk

All materials for the course are provided to registered students.

Donations:

Generosity is one of the cornerstones of the Buddhist path. Donations help support both the centre and The Buddha Project as well as providing a donation for the teachings to Venerable Gendun.  There are different levels depending on your income. There are three terms a year, each approximately 3 months long

As the course is a collaboration with other FPMT centres it is not possible to offer this as part of our Jamyang Leeds membership programme.

• For those with a regular income the recommended donation is £95 per term

• The sponsorhsip level is £115 per term

• Ordained Sangha are free

If this isn’t affordable please do register, we never turn anyone away from the Dharma for financial reasons and we can agree a donation that is affordable for you at the current time. Please email Marie-Odile our IDMT Coordinator idmt@jamyangleeds.co.uk if you would like to chat.

Tara Puja dedicated to world peace is held on a monthly basis.

Led by Ondy Willson and translated by Venerable Tenzin into Russian for Russian and Ukrainian students

Please join us, occasionally or regularly, at 17.45 UK time to show our support for the courageous spiritual communities both in Ukraine & Russia and also in Israel and Gaza. May we all nurture compassion & peace in the face of destruction & violence.

By coming together like this we send a powerful message that comes from the depths of our being. We value peace, harmony and the enlightened qualities we aspire to embody, as generated in the 21 Taras Sadhana.

By the power of our merit may there be a non-violent and bloodless revolution of consciousness so that enlightened democracies based on social wellbeing flourish everywhere.

Please forward this invitation to anyone who you think may be interested in this free and beneficial session.

The puja will last approximately 45 minutes to include some guidance on harnessing the positive power of the prayers in generating the particular qualities of compassion and fearlessness.

Ondy Willson, a touring FPMT teacher since 2007, has students in Russia & Ukraine, so felt particularly moved to offer these pujas both to connect with & support those who are suffering on the front line. So these pujas have provided, not just an opportunity to deal with fear and pray for peace, but to meet directly together as a global community and interact with our Ukrainian and Russian dharma friends.  At the end of one week’s puja, participants in Ukraine & Russia shared their stories & experiences, which was very moving for us all to hear.