News and Events
GELONG THUBTEN'S SCOTTISH BOOK LAUNCH, LOCH NESS - JULY 19
Picture courtesy of Ewen Weatherspoon
Thubten held the Scottish launch of his book, A Monk's Guide to Happiness: Meditation in the 21st Century, at Loch Ness Clansman Hotel on Loch Ness-side on Friday, July 19. He gave a talk for the Highland business community and signed his new book.
Our grateful thanks to the Loch Ness Clansman Hotel for kindly hosting this exciting launch in the newly refurbished, award-winning Cobbs Restaurant.
GELONG THUBTEN AT WATERSTONES, INVERNESS - JULY 20
On Saturday afternoon (July 20), Thubten gave a talk and signed copies of his new book at Waterstones bookstore in the Eastgate Centre, Inverness.
The event was very well attended and our thanks go to Toby and the team at Waterstones for a really successful, well organised afternoon.
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Archive
Thubten among the stars in Hollywood
KSD Highlands is on BBC Radio Scotland.
Recently while in the Highlands, Gelong Thubten featured on two magazine programmes on BBC radio. Both are available to download on iPlayer at the following links:
Personal Best >> | Kitchen Cafe >>
Personal Best is following up Thubten’s talk with a series of five Mindfulness tips on the programme during August and early September.
Thubten at BBC Highland
Compassion-based Mindfulness Training
Thubten will teach loving kindness and compassion meditations at a series of weekend events throughout 2016. There will also be teachings on how to transform life's challenges into food for spiritual growth.
Teachings suitable for all.
Gelong Thubten. Picture courtesy of Tony Bartholomew
This is part of KSD Highlands' on-going course of Buddhist Study and Practice. Gelong Thubten, our excellent, knowledgeable teacher, is now giving instruction via Skype on a regular basis to the group and will also travel to the Highlands to offer weekend workshops in person for those taking part in the course.
Regular study groups and get-together-times are held in Inverness between Thutben's visits to support our learning.
The teachings are open to all with an interest in Buddhism or learning more about mindfulness and each weekend workshop will also be designed as a stand-alone course for anyone who wishes to attend but does not want to make the study commitment.
For new entrants to the course, it is possible to join the study group activities during one of Thubten's future weekend visits.
Please book your place by emailing info@highlands.samye.org or text: 07584 250987
Thubten will make sure each weekend can be a standalone teaching. However it is recommended that the best benefit will come if people commit to the whole course. Study material and weekly group practice opportunities available if wished.
For more information or to book email info@highlands.samye.org
*Gelong Thubten was ordained as a monk at Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery in the Borders in 1993, and for many years has served as Akong Tulku Rinpoche's secretary and assistant. Thubten gives courses at Samye Ling and the Samye Dzong centres round Europe. His work also involves teaching meditation in organisations such as companies, hospitals, schools, prisons and social services.
KSD Highlands' sangha is extremely busy with efforts to establish the first Centre for Wold Peace and Health on Loch Ness-side.
This year will primarily revolve around those efforts so that we can offer our friends and sangha a permanent base for our studies, teachings, courses, practice and pujas.
We attempt to provide special events at Kagyu Samye Dzong Highlands every month, over and above our regular programme of weekly classes and groups.
RECENT PAST EVENTS AT KSD HIGHLANDS
LUCID DREAMING WEEKEND WITH CHARLIE MORLEY
As part of his World Tour 2014, Hay House author Charlie Morley kindly agreed to teach us his insights into lucid dreaming and the mindfulness of dream and sleep here in the Highlands in September. Incredibly, we learnt the amazing abilities of lucid dreaming with Charlie in this one weekend! He kindly covered everything we needed to know to begin our practice.
Charlie's book:
BOOK: http://www.dreamsofawakening.com
The TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1i6A7t6L2g
Website: http://www.charliemorley.com
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS - FULLY BOOKED
Public talk on how to learn to forgive with Gelong Thubten at the Mackenzie Centre, 23A Culduthel Road, Inverness on Monday, Sept 1, 7.30pm
SILENT DAY
A Silent Day of secular mindfulness and meditation was kindly organised for us by Loch Ness Mindfulness on Saturday, September 6 at Woodlands Centre, Culduthel Road, Inverness.
There was no fee for the day but those taking part were extremely generous with donations. Some people attending also made this a sponsored event to raise funds for 500 Heroes and the peace centre.
Thank you to all who took part.
WE WILL ARRANGE ANOTHER EVENT SOON SO IF INTERESTED, PLEASE EMAIL info@highlands.samye.org AS PLACES ARE ALREADY BEENING BOOKED UP!
LAMA ZANGMO'S VISITS
LAMA GELONGMA ZANGMO
Lama Gelongma Zangmo, our new Spiritual Director, returned to Kagyu Samye Dzong Highlands in mid-June and gave a series of highly successful teachings, an illustrated lecture and a public talk to regular sangha members as well as new friends.
The title of her talk at the lecture theatre in Inverness College was MAKE MINDFULNESS WORK FOR YOU.
Archive
May 2013
This month we held two visits to Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre. The first trip took place on the bank holiday weekend of early May when we were able to celebrate Akong Rinpoche's birthday and take part in the remarkable events surrounding this enjoyable time. Several of the sangha were honoured and blessed to receive Vajrashatva empowerments from Akong Rinpoche.
Two pictures from Akong Tulku Rinpoche's birthday weekend celebrations, Chod practice and empowerments.
Towards the end of the month there was another good KSDH representation at the Monastery for the wondrous occasion of our precious Lama Yeshe Rinpoche's 70th birthday celebrations. This auspicious and very special time coincided with the celebration of the Buddha's Enlightenment and Parinirvana. Much of the activity around this weekend was dedicated to White Tara as directed by His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa in honour of Lama Rinpoche's great accomplishments and to pray for his continued long life and health.
Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche about to cut his amazing birthday cake
Lama Rinpoche was delighted to see so many of KSD Highlands' sangha at the celebrations, as you can see from this happy picture with Tanya.
Please see our Facebook page for more of Tanya's pictures and short video from this wondrous day.
March and April 2013
In both these months we held separate 'working days' to concentrate on completing Lama Yeshe Losal's 70th birthday gift. Hamish kindly provided his lounge for both Saturday activities and there was a great turnout on both occasions with the sangha members who were able to attend enjoying the activities thoroughly.
February 2013
In February we celebrated Losar with activities at Mackenzie Centre. It was a wonderful day and as well as our Losar feast of course - see below - we also enjoyed launching our 'Lama Yeshe Losal birthday gift' project. For those who have an interest in our great teachers, we watched the beautifully made film about the life of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Brilliant Moon.
January 2013
At the request of Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, Ani Lhamo delayed her annual holiday with her family to enable her to visit KSD Highlands in January. She spent an entire weekend with us - for which we are most grateful - and was able to give us excellent teachings on Chenrezig and Ngondro practices.