“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.
Posts Tagged ‘Stupas’
UK Sangha in Karma Berchen Ling
Monday, April 25th, 2011Construction of the Kalachakra Stupa in Greece (video)
Sunday, August 8th, 2010Previously 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.
Lama Ole Nydahl: Kalachakra Stupa in Karma Berchen Ling
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010The 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, 2010In 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.
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, here, here and here.
New London Buddhist Centre road show in Switzerland
Sunday, March 21st, 2010From 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, 2009On 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.