Dechen: Sakya Buddhist Centre Bristol

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

Lama Jampa Thaye explores whether Buddhism spread as far as ancient Greece, uncovering the historical encounters between the Buddhist world and Hellenistic c...

31/05/2026

Today is one of the four great celebration days of the Buddhist year, Saga Dawa Duchen.

The Buddha Day of Saga Dawa Duchen marks the anniversary of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. Shakyamuni the ‘Sage of the Shakyas’, in order to benefit beings in this world, demonstrated the attainment of enlightenment. This he did in the same place that all of the 1,000 Buddhas of this fortunate aeon demonstrate enlightenment – the place called in Tibetan ‘Dorje Den’ (Diamond Throne), under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, in present day India (the picture is of the ancient main Buddha image in Bodh Gaya). Shakyamuni is the fourth Buddha of the 1,000 Buddhas that demonstrate all the 12 special deeds of a fully enlightened one, to guide and liberate beings of this fortunate aeon.

This day also marks the anniversary of another of the twelve great deeds, being the demonstration of passing into Mahaparinirvana, at the place called Kushinangara. At that time Lord Buddha gave his final direct teaching, saying “It is in the nature of all things that take form to dissolve again. Strive with your whole being to attain perfection.”

In many traditions this day also marks the anniversary of the birth of the Buddha.

On this day, the effects of positive and negative actions are multiplied.

At the Sakya Centre in Bristol the day will be celebrated with The Praise of the Twelve Deeds of Sakyamuni Buddha and the beautiful Sixteen Sthaviras Puja. All are welcome to attend and participate. [Please note: there will be no Chenrezik puja today] Anyone is welcome to join us in the shrine room or on Zoom (using the usual link for pujas – please email us if you need this: [email protected]).

30/05/2026

This morning at 10.30am - meditation, reflection and discussion on what can truly help us when we meet the moment of our death...

The session is free and all are welcome. Find out more at our Sakya Buddhism Bristol Meetup on meetup.com

25/05/2026

Today, 25th May, we celebrate the 95th birthday of one of Lama Jampa’s principal teachers and master of the Sakya and Kagyu traditions, Karma Thinley Rinpoche.

Karma Thinley Rinpoche was born into the noble family of Bongsar in 1931 in the Nangchen area of Kham, Eastern Tibet. Over the last twenty-five years, Rinpoche has founded centres and taught extensively in Canada, the U.S.A., New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He has hundreds of devoted Western, Tibetan and Nepali students and has received a vast array of teachings from within the Kagyu, Sakya and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

In addition to being an accomplished poet and artist, Rinpoche is a renowned historian, having written (in English) 'The History of the Sixteen Karmapas'.

His major projects are the continuing supervision of his nunnery Tegchen Lekshey Ling in Bodhnath, Nepal and of Sangngak Phodrang in Nangchen, Tibet.

“Following the glorious Karmapa and Sachen, activity of the holders of the black and red crowns...Supreme guide, glorious spiritual friend, long may you remain.”

From Karma Thinley Rinpoche’s Long Life Prayer, composed by His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche.

Happy birthday Rinpoche from all of us at Sakya Thinley Rinchen Ling. May you live long! 🙏

The video footage is of prayers being offered to Rinpoche in Nepal - thank you Kunga Gyaltsen for sharing!

25/05/2026

Today, 25th May, we celebrate the 95th birthday of one of Lama Jampa’s principal teachers and master of the Sakya and Kagyu traditions, Karma Thinley Rinpoche.

Karma Thinley Rinpoche was born into the noble family of Bongsar in 1931 in the Nangchen area of Kham, Eastern Tibet. Over the last twenty-five years, Rinpoche has founded centres and taught extensively in Canada, the U.S.A., New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He has hundreds of devoted Western, Tibetan and Nepali students and has received a vast array of teachings from within the Kagyu, Sakya and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

In addition to being an accomplished poet and artist, Rinpoche is a renowned historian, having written (in English) 'The History of the Sixteen Karmapas'.

His major projects are the continuing supervision of his nunnery Tegchen Lekshey Ling in Bodhnath, Nepal and of Sangngak Phodrang in Nangchen, Tibet.

“Following the glorious Karmapa and Sachen, activity of the holders of the black and red crowns...Supreme guide, glorious spiritual friend, long may you remain.”

From Karma Thinley Rinpoche’s Long Life Prayer, composed by His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche.

Happy birthday Rinpoche from all of us at Sakya Thinley Rinchen Ling. May you live long! 🙏

24/05/2026

We are delighted to announce that Lama Jampa will be giving the teaching Lojong in a Single Session on 6th June 10.30am-1pm at Future Inn Hotel Bristol. This teaching is open to anyone even if you have no experience of Buddhism or meditation. Lojong, also known as mind training, is a special way of transforming the mind to reveal innate qualities of wisdom and compassion. This practice has everything one needs to do this in a single session of meditation - repeated many many times of course! See our link below for more info and to book.

https://www.sakyabristol.org/events/lama-jampa-june2026/

18/05/2026