Posts Tagged ‘Stupas’

UK Sangha in Karma Berchen Ling

Monday, April 25th, 2011
Karma Berchen Ling, Greece

Karma Berchen Ling, Greece

We want to produce Buddhism, not consume it“. This is how Lama Ole Nydahl started a very inspiring talk given in San Francisco in 1995. We all have and enjoy this wonderful possibility to produce Buddhism in every day life in our groups and centres all over the UK. This year however, such a precious opportunity for the UK sangha also appeared in a distant corner of Southern Europe. For the whole month we had the honour to be responsible for running one of our Diamond Way Buddhist retreat centres. In March 2011 the UK sangha became the host of Karma Berchen Ling centre in Greece.

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Construction of the Kalachakra Stupa in Greece (video)

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

Previously we blogged about the Kalachakra Stupa being built in Greece. The construction is almost complete now, ready for the stupa’s inauguration on 21-23 August 2010, which will be attended by people from all over the world including many of us from the UK. Here is a video which captures some of the early stages in its construction.

Stupa?

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Light Stupa

Light Stupa

The beautiful picture (click to enlarge) was sent to us from a friend in the London Sangha. It was taken by her friend who was in Great Carrs in the British Lake District at a sunrise at, while searching for a ridge known as Broad Slack, the crash site of a Halifax Bomber which crashed in 1944 on a night exercise from Topcliff in Yorkshire while descending through thick cloud.

We rather fancy it looks like a stupa

Renovation of Swayambhu Stupa, Kathmandu

Friday, July 2nd, 2010
Swayambhu Stupa

Swayambhu Stupa

Here in the UK we’re always very happy to hear about positive developments in Buddhism back in the lands where it originated. The Swayambhu stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, recently underwent a major renovation under the supervision of many Tibetan Buddhist masters.

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Lama Ole Nydahl: Kalachakra Stupa in Karma Berchen Ling

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

The following text is from a series of questions and answers with Lama Ole Nydahl on 8 May 2010 in Tonali, Mexico, concerning the construction of the Kalachakra stupa in Karma Berchen Ling, Greece.

Q: What was the reason you decided to build a Kalachakra stupa, especially at Karma Berchen Ling?

A: During Antiquity, due to the Greek conies and their philosophers, the Mediterranean ocean led the western world in free thinking, human rights and democracy.

Kalachakra stupas have been used for the last thousand years in Buddhist Asia to defend such timeless values against any retrograde forces of suppression which history may bring up and they work everywhere.

Our beloved Lama Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche inaugurated one such 13-meter high stupa near Malaga in 1994, looking south. We are searching for fitting land in (more…)

Recalling the Kalachakra Initiation in Spain, May 2009

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

In this extensive post we recall the Kalachakra Initiation given by Beru Khyentse Rinpoche at the Karma Guen Diamond Way Buddhist Retreat Center in Spain one year ago, as well as the meaning and significance of the Kalachakra Tantra.

Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Beru Khyentse Rinpoche, Lama Ole Nydahl

In May and June 2009 several friends from the Diamond Way Buddhism UK sangha travelled to Spain to participate in a series of important Buddhist events. The Kalachakra initiation took place on May 27-28, and was attended by 1,400 international friends. This was followed by the initiation of Loving Eyes (Tib. Chenrezig) by the Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche (who is Beru Khyentse Rinpoche’s son). After this Lama Ole Nydahl gave a Phowa course attened by 1,000 friends. This was followed by the programme of H.H. Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje from June 2-8. Gyalwa Karmapa gave the initiation of Almighty Ocean (Tib. Gyalwa Gyamtso) and teachings on Shantideva’s Aspiration Prayer from the Bodhicharyavatara “Engaging in Bodhisattva Conduct”. These were attended by several important guests including Gyalwa Karmapa’s parents Mipham Rinpoche and Mayumla, Lama Jigme Rinpoche from Dhagpo Kagyu Ling in France, Nendo Rinpoche, Lama Ole Nydahl, Lama Jampa Thaye, the Gómez family who founded Karma Guen, and around 1,600 international friends. Gyalwa Karmapa also visited the Benalmadena Stupa and gave the initiation of White Tara. Many photographs from all the events can be seen at the White Umbrella website, herehere and here.

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New London Buddhist Centre road show in Switzerland

Sunday, March 21st, 2010
Buddhas in the Swiss Alps (yes, the background is real!)

Buddhas in the Swiss Alps (yes, the background is real!)

From 22-24 January 2010, 12 friends took the New London Buddhist Centre road show to Zürich and Amden in Switzerland. Each of our road shows is unique, and following the success of Graz last November, we wanted to continue to make good connections and create positive impressions for the success of the New London Buddhist Centre project. The theme for this road show was “James Bond”. The program also featured typical Swiss cuisine, cheese fondue with powerful pear schnaps, a fantastic party, full English breakfast and of course Buddhist teachings – given by travelling (more…)

New London Buddhist Centre road show goes to Graz

Monday, November 9th, 2009

London and Graz Sanghas together in the Graz Centre's beautiful meditation hall

On 6-8 November several members of the London Buddhist Centre had the amazing opportunity to discover the Diamond Way Buddhist Centre in Graz, Austria. During the weekend they were honoured to be guests of the Austrian sangha as well as being given the chance to present the New London Buddhist Centre project. These events are called “road shows” which mainly brings to mind fundraising activities. However, the most important meaning behind the trip to Graz was the exchange of experience, joint dharma activities and simply spending quality time together and having lots of fun.

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