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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 39

earn a living, leaving little time for
spiritual practice.

Buddhist centres are not merely
cultural hubs. The Dharma provides
practical tools for taming the mind.
Ultimately, the survival of these
centres depends on how deeply
people value and engage with the
Dharma. The level of importance
individuals place on it will dictate
whether Dharma centres can thrive
and continue serving their purpose.

How do you approach teaching Lama Zangmo performed smoke offering at Kagyu Samye Dzong.
the Dharma to people from
diverse cultural and spiritual
backgrounds? time. Many highly trained Khenpos spaces for refuge, regular practice
and masters are based in India and and teachings amidst the challenges
Asia and unfortunately these days of urban life.
Kagyu Samye Dzong London
inviting them to teach in the West is
welcomes visitors from any
challenging due to visa restrictions, Dharma centres in bustling city
backgrounds and age groups. For
which limits their ability to travel. environments provide a lifeline for
beginners, we offer courses such
those seeking spiritual grounding
as introduction to Buddhism and
Can you share insights about while managing the pressures of
meditation. For those seeking
integrating traditional Tibetan modern living. Meanwhile, rural
more advanced teachings, there Buddhist practices into urban retreat centres and monasteries
are practices and courses covering
environments like London? such as Samye Ling and Holy Isle
major texts from the Kagyu lineage.
allow individuals to engage in
It is very fortunate that Kagyu deeper practices in a more secluded
While we do our best to provide
Samye Dzong is located in the heart setting. I spend most of my time
a variety of resources, we could
of London. We are in Bermondsey, here at Samye Dzong London,
benefit from greater organisation
which is a central London location though I visit other centres too from
and more teachers. Currently, there
not far from Tower Bridge, but it is time to time.
is a shortage of Dharma teachers.
surprisingly quiet, which is ideal
However, some monks and nuns
for a meditation centre. However, Can you share an anecdote from
from Samye Ling are undergoing
the teachings on taming the mind your time with the 16th Karmapa
six years of intensive training at the
remain the same, whether you are in that continues to inspire you?
Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Center in
an urban or rural setting.
Nepal, and once they complete their
I remember wanting to take refuge
training, they will return to teach
In large cities like London, people with Akong Rinpoche, but he
and contribute in various ways.
often face long hours of commuting, suggested that I take it with His
demanding office jobs, and high Holiness the 16th Karmapa instead
For those wishing to delve
levels of stress. This makes it when he visited Samye Ling in 1977.
deeper into the Dharma, we often
essential to have access to Dharma So I was fortunate to take refuge
recommend visiting Samye Ling
centres in urban areas. City-based with the Karmapa. The main thing
or Nepal, where more extensive
Dharma centres complement rural that struck me was that he radiated
teachings are available from time to
retreat centres by offering accessible pure joy, he was like the sun.