A short visit to the Beaufoy by a noble guest

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.

In 2002 he made a special retreat at Dhagpo Kundreul Ling in France together with H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje under the guidance of Khenchen Trinley Paljor Rinpoche, who transmitted to them the Six Yogas of Naropa.

As well as gaining academic qualifications in Buddhist Philosophy, Rinpoche came to England in 2003 to study at the University of Cambridge. Here, he studied English Literature, gaining his MA degree in Theology. During this time he visited the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre at its old location in Holborn and got to know the local practitioners.

In recent years, Rinpoche has travelled extensively, and this year he visited the UK as part of a tour encompassing 22 countries. He was invited to the UK by the Nepali Buddhist community to teach and preside over ceremonies organised by the Buddhist Community Centre UK and the South London Nepali (Ghurka) Association. For example, he led the Buddha Jayanthi celebrations which were held in Reading and attended by hundreds of people from the Nepali community as well as Reading’s Mayor and representatives of other Buddhist organisations including the Buddhist Chaplaincy Support Group and Diamond Way Buddhism.

Having heard about Diamond Way Buddhism’s success in overcoming the obstacles to securing the Beaufoy as a representative centre for the Karma Kagyu Lineage in London, Dupsing Rinpoche was happy to be able to find some time in his busy schedule for a visit.

Members of the London sangha welcomed Rinpoche, and after a chat and a cup of tea, guided him around the whole building to see the newly renovated rooms as well as the areas yet to be transformed. Next year Dupsing Rinpoche, Shangpa Rinpoche and other lamas will tour different European locations where they will perform the traditional lama dances (Tib. cham): meditations expressed through dance, which plant deep impressions in the minds of the viewers, and carry a powerful blessing. Looking out over the courtyard, the topic of the tour came up and whether the Beaufoy’s courtyard might be a suitable size for hosting the ceremony…

Before parting, Rinpoche was presented with gifts from the centre, then set off for his next appointment. We look forward to seeing him again in 2015 for a longer visit. Enjoy the photos from Rinpoche’s visit (click to enlarge).

Special guests at the BCCUK Buddha Jayanthi celebrations, Reading 14 May 2014Dupsing Rinpoche and Nepali lamas bless participants at the BCCUK Buddha Janthi celebrations in Reading, 14 May 2014Greeting Dupsing Rinpoche outside the Beaufoy 19 May 2014Dupsing Rinpoche chatting with the London sangha 19 May 2014Dupsing Rinpoche in the main hall of the Beaufoy, 19 May 2014Dupsing Rinpoche learning about the renovation project 19 May 2014Dupsing Rinpoche looking out at the Beaufoy's courtyard 19 May 2014Dupsing Rinpoche lauging 19 May 2014Dupsing Rinpoche in the Beaufoy's carpentry workshop 19 May 2014

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