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.
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.
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.
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.
Fish-eye view of the Beaufoy, including the course marquee, from the Bellway construction site
The first week of April 2014 was packed with activity and excitement as Lama Ole Nydahl and his team, followed by Lama Jigme Rinpoche arrived in London to stay at the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre at the Beaufoy Institute. While we have previously recounted two important days (namely Lama Ole’s tour Reading, Oxford and St Albans and the public opening of the London Centre at the Beaufoy Institute), here we’d like to share some impressions of what went on during the rest of the time the two lamas were with us.
Erica Beaufoy, Jigme Rinpoche, Lama Ole Nydahl and Councillor Paul McGlone, cutting the ribbon to open the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre at the Beaufoy, 5 April 2014
Saturday 5 April 2014 marked an important day in the history of Buddhism in London and the UK. After over a year of renovation works to prepare the Beaufoy Institute to host a regular programme of meditation and events, the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre officially opened its doors to the public.
Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche in London, July 2013
From 25-31 July 2013, the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre was very fortunate to be able to host Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche for a program of teachings and transmissions at the Beaufoy Institute in Lambeth. Rinpoche is a highly respected lama of the Karma Kagyu lineage. He was ordained in Rumtek monastery by the 16th Karmapa, and is one of the few lamas who holds the title ‘Maniwa’, given to masters of the Loving Eyes (Skt. Avalokiteshvara; Tib. Chenrezig) practice who are able to encourage others to recite the mantra of Loving Eyes, OM MANI PEME HUNG, more than one billion times. Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche has led 30 “Mani Dhungyur” festivals in his homeland of Nepal, which are attended by thousands of students, in which a billion mani mantras are accumulated. Loving Eyes is the Bodhisattva of compassion, so the friends from London, the UK and abroad who gathered for the programme were particularly fortunate to receive teachings and transmissions related so closely to this most noble of qualities, from a master who embodies it so perfectly. London was one of the destinations on Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche’s 2013 tour of Europe.
Lama Ole Nydahl in the Beaufoy Institute, April 2013
This April the new London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre at the Beaufoy Institute was fortunate to receive a visit from Lama Ole Nydahl. London was a surprise addition to Lama Ole Nydahl’s crowded schedule of worldwide travel. Lama Ole’s schedule for April included several “project days”, which are often used to focus on specific projects such as writing a book (for example the soon to be published “Fearless Death“). Because of Lama Ole Nydahl’s great enthusiasm for the new London Buddhist centre, which has gained international project status, he spontaneously decided to spend two of his project days working directly with the friends involved in the project and inspiring them with his personal example and teachings. Having heard about Lama Ole’s decision to come over, the friends in London quickly set to work preparing for the visit.
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