Current Activities

It is becoming more and more necessary to live a balanced life in this modern stressful world and we do our best to offer talks and guidance on matters applicable to our inner development & happiness, in an atmosphere conducive to spiritual well-being and contemplation.

Sunday
Puja: 8h30   
Teachings: 9h30   
Tibetan classes: 14h30h-15h30

Thursday
Introduction to Meditation with Geshe Samten-la: 19h00
  

Forthcoming events

Saturday, 4 September 10.30-12.30. Geshe la Samten will be offering Refuge for those who wish to take Refuge

Saturday, 11 September 10.30-12.20. Geshela Samten will conduct a Q&A session [those with questions, please hand them in advance to Anna, Philip or Neil at the Lam Rim centre].   

Sunday, 12 September after teachings. A bring and share lunch at the centre as this will be Geshela’s last teaching during this stay with us

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Chenrezig  Retreat
with Geshe Samten-la
20 - 23 August, 2010

Venue: The Lam Rim Buddhist Centre
Check in time: Friday 20 August: 17h30 – 18h00.
Retreat ends: After lunch on Monday 23 August 

Description of retreat:  Click here to download the full programme of the retreat. In brief, each day will include; prostrations; Chenrezig Sadhana and Green Tara puja with Teachings each day on the Three Principal Paths. There will be time for one's own practise and yoga sessions will form part of the schedule. Geshe-la will give full guidance and explanations regarding practises, therefore newcomers are welcome.   
On Sunday, you may wish to take the Eight Mahayana precepts, which involves a more focused and reflective frame of mind whilst fasting from after lunch on Sunday until breakfast the following day; this is optional.  
 
The retreat is open to everyone from beginner level to advanced. No previous experience is needed. Though not a strict, silent retreat, attendees are requested to maintain a respectful silence at all times and to refrain from idle chatter. This will sustain a reflective environment for all participants. 

Accommodation
Nine people can be accommodated in the house in three bedrooms on a first come, first served basis. You will need to bring everything you might need including all your own bedding (including mattress), towels and toiletries. As the house can be cold, therefore, please bring sufficient blankets and warm clothing.
 
Non-resident retreatants are welcome to join the retreat on a daily basis by joining us early in the morning for prostration practice or at 08h00, after breakfast. Please let Maxine know when you will be joining so that we can cater for you.
 
All retreatants are expected to assist with chores during the retreat.
 
If anyone is able to offer accommodation to out-of-towners who cannot be accommodated in the house, kindly refer them to Maxine (see contact details below).
  
Food
Meals will be simple vegetarian food. As we are unable to cater for special diets, please bring your own special foods if needed.
  
Friday 20 August: 17h30 – 18h00 (check-in time) 
Soup will be served at 18h00.
The retreat will begin at 19h00 with an introduction to the retreat and will end
after lunch on Monday 23 August.

Costs

All participants will be charged R80.00 per day (x 3 days) to cover food & supplies.

Those who make use of the Lam Rim accommodation will be charged an additional amount of R50.00 per person, per day (x 3 days).
 
Please note that there is no charge for Teachings at Lam Rim and we encourage participants to make an offering (Dana) to our resident Teacher, Geshe Samten-la, for his kindness in conducting these very special Teachings for our benefit.
 
We also wish to point out that this special charge is a 'once-off' & has been agreed upon especially for this occasion. 
 
BOOKING
To ensure your place, kindly book by 17 August. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate  late bookings, as we will be ordering food and other provisions.
 
Therefore, please contact Maxine asap to confirm your booking, or for any other queries; maxine.fine@gmail.com 

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TEACHER AT THE LAM RIM CENTRE

We are very happy to announce the arrival of a new resident teacher at Lam Rim, Geshe Samten la who will be joining us in South Africa from 27th June to 13th September 2010. During this period he will give Lam Rim teachings as did his predecessor, Geshe Ngawang Phende la and our Spiritual Director, Geshe Damcho Yonten la.

On Monday 21st June at 10h50 Geshe Samten Gyatso will be arriving from India [all are invited to be at the airport to welcome Geshe la]. He will be with us for 3-months before he starts his commitments at Drepung Monastic University in south India. We are hoping to make the most of his short time with us and we are appreciative of the support from Lam Rim Wales in making this happen!

Geshe Samten Gyatso was born in Amdo, eastern Tibet in 1969. He has two brothers and a sister. He attended a village school from the age 7 to 9 and became a monk when he was 14 years old and entered a local monastery, called Ngarong Tashi Choeling. At the age of 16 he escaped to India and joined the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics at Dharamsala, where he studied Buddhist philosophy for 10 years and worked for the Institute for one and half years. In 1996 he joined Drepung Gomang monastery and studied for his Geshe Lharampa degree until 2004. In 2005 he completed the Geshe Lharampa degree and joined Gyumed Tantric University and studied Tantra for one year and obtained the Ngarampa degree.

SUNDAY 27 JUNE - this will be the first Teaching programme for Geshe Samten-la after puja. Puja will commence at the usual time of 8h30 and Teachings at approx. 9h30. Please bring along your favourite vegetarian dish to share. Please join us for a bring-and-share lunch in order to welcome Geshe-la to South Africa. RSVP here
 
SUNDAY 4TH JULY - we will be celebrating His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday, who turns 75 on the 6th July. Please join us for puja at 8h30 and please join us for lunch after Geshe Samten-la's Teachings. Further details will be avaiable closer to the time. RSVP here
 
Thursday evenings - Geshe Samten-la will give Teachings on meditation practises and give guidance in this respect on Thursday evenings, commencing 1st July at 19h00.

Some Recent Events...

World Peace & Compassion Tour ~ South Africa

Johannesburg
16 - 22nd May 2010
Lam Rim Buddhist Centre

The Tibet Society of South Africa is proud to announce a visit of six Tibetan Buddhist monks, from the Rizong monastery in Ladakh, who will be constructing sand mandalas for World Peace & Compassion during the month of May 2010 in Durban, Cape Town & Johannesburg.

This is also to acknowledge and highlight the work of His Holiness the Dalai Lama who works tirelessly for the benefit of mankind and the planet as a whole. His Holiness turns 75 years of age in 2010.

The Creation of a Sand Mandala

From all the artistic traditions of Tantric Buddhism, that of painting with coloured sand is one of the most unique and exquisite and is used as a tool for re-consecrating the earth and its inhabitants. These millions of grains of sand will be painstakingly laid into place over a period of five days and during this process explanations on the symbology of the mandala will be given as well as other events arranged.

You can connect to Lam Rim South Africa on FaceBook now! HERE

• Regular Buddhist teachings
• Regular guided meditative sessions
• Family get-togethers
• Fund-raising events
• Films