The Beaufoy – A Review of 2018

January 20th, 2019
Lama Ole Nydahl arriving in London

Lama Ole Nydahl arriving in London

As it’s been a while since we last updated our blog, we thought you’d all be interested to hear about some of the great developments over the last year from our wonderful London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre. 2018 was a busy year for the London Centre, and despite all of the many projects and events, the doors stayed open to the public every Monday and Thursday, offering introductory talks and meditation sessions. So let’s take a look at what took place in 2018.

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Joyous news

March 9th, 2018
Karmapa and Sangyumla

Karmapa and Sangyumla

From Karmapa’s website:

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, and his beloved wife Sangyumla, are delighted to share the joyous news that they are expecting their first child.

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On the road with our Diamond Way Teachers this October: from the Highlands to the bright lights of London

October 26th, 2016
tomek-lehnert-lecture-beaufoy

Diamond Way Teacher Tomek Lehnert begins the London October Course by giving a lecture in the great hall of the Beaufoy

Thankfulness is the basis of any meaningful human exchange and has enabled the Buddha’s teachings to be passed on successfully from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage for over 2,500 years.The importance of thankfulness was therefore a common theme in the lectures given by Diamond Way Teachers at the London October Course at the Beaufoy, as well as during Tomek Lehnert’s tour of the UK this October.

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Historic England at the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre

July 28th, 2016

Group photo of attendees of the event run by Historic England at the Beaufoy Institute

Over the past 2,500 years, the Buddha’s teachings have taken root in various countries and civilisations while adapting their outer form. The Diamond Way Buddhist Centre on 39 Black Prince Road surely embodies this characteristic, bringing to life and re-enriching the iconic Beaufoy Institute in Lambeth. The institute has opened to the public once more, in continuity of the spirit of wisdom and human growth which animated its original foundations.

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Can the lotuses in a lake stay ever together?

July 14th, 2014
Statue of the 6th Shamarpa carved by the 10th Karmapa

Statue of the 6th Shamarpa carved by the 10th Karmapa

Here is an extract from the late 14th Shamarpa’s book “A Golden Swan in Turbulent Waters”, about the life of the 10th Karmapa, Choying Dorje. It illustrates their close relationship as student and teacher.

Here, the 10th Karmapa relates a conversation with his root teacher the 6th Shamarpa:

Shamarpa: “Can the lotuses in a lake stay ever together without separating?”

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Messages of condolence on the passing of Shamar Rinpoche

June 12th, 2014
14th Shamar Rinpoche, Mipham Chokyi Lodro (1952-2014)

14th Shamar Rinpoche, Mipham Chokyi Lodro (1952-2014)

We are saddened by the profound loss of our beloved teacher Shamar Rinpoche, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly yesterday, only a few short days after visiting us in the UK. Below are some messages of condolence as well as encouragement from many eminent Buddhist masters with whom Rinpoche shared a close bond.

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Shamar Rinpoche visits the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre

June 7th, 2014
Shamar Rinpoche teaching in London

Shamar Rinpoche teaching in London, 3 June 2014

On Tuesday 3 June 2014, the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre welcomed the 14th Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche. Shamar Rinpoche is second to Gyalwa Karmapa in the spiritual hierarchy of the Karma Kagyu School, and is an emanation of Buddha Amitabha. The Shamarpas are referred to as the “Red Hat Karmapas” since the 4th Karmapa Rolpe Dorje presented a ruby red crown to the second Shamarpa, saying, “You are the one manifestation, while I am the other. Therefore, the responsibility to maintain the continuity of the teachings of the Kagyu lineage rests equally on you as it does on me.” The present Shamar Rinpoche received the complete teachings and transmissions of the Karma Kagyu School from the 16th Karmapa at Rumtek monastery in Sikkim. In 1994 in accordance with Karma Kagyu tradition, he officially recognised and enthroned Trinley Thaye Dorje as the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa.

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A short visit to the Beaufoy by a noble guest

May 22nd, 2014
Dupsing Rinpoche and friends outside the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre

Dupsing Rinpoche and friends outside the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre

On Monday 19 May 2014, the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre enjoyed a brief visit by a noble guest and old friend, the Third Dupsing Rinpoche.

Dupsing Rinpoche is a Karma Kagyu lama based in Pokhara, Nepal and is highly venerated by the Nepali Buddhist community both in Nepal and internationally. He was born 1981 in Mundgod in Southern India, and became a monk at the age of four. Shamar Rinpoche and other high-ranking Kagyu lamas later recognised him as the reincarnation of the previous Dupsing Rinpoche, and in 1987 Shamar Rinpoche made the official enthronement ceremony at Rumtek Monastery. Following this, the young Dupsing Rinpoche returned to Pokhara to continue his training as a lama and resume the responsibilities of his previous incarnation and study with numerous accomplished masters.

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