Teachings

Saturday 24th May: 10.30 am and 2.30 pm & Sunday 25th May: 9.30 am

Bringing Meaning to our Lives

When our lives have meaning we are motivated, alive, responsive and responsible - qualities that make us happier and more fulfilled. Over the weekend, the Dalai Lama will give a series of talks exploring these aspects and inspiring questions such as: What is really important in our lives? How can we find lasting fulfillment? What is our relationship to the world we inhabit and what can we do right now to help ourselves and others?

Monday 26th to Wednesday 28th May, 9.30 am and 2.00 pm each day

Investigating the Nature of Reality
Commentaries on "Praise to the Buddha for His Discourses on Dependent Origination" - (Tendrel Toepa)
and Nagarjuna's "Hymn to (the Buddha) the World Transcendent"

Among the wealth of Tibetan texts that have been written to illuminate Buddhist philosophy and practice, many have been carefully composed for rigorous study in monasteries, while only a few have been written as direct reflections of a Master's inner realisations. One of the most profound examples of the latter is Praise to the Buddha for His Discourses on Dependent Origination - fifty-eight spontaneous verses inspired by meditation, prayers and dreams - composed by one of Tibet's most respected scholars and teachers, Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419). A joyous expression of gratitude for the teachings of the Buddha, it addresses in a clear and systematic way the ultimate nature of reality and its relationship with the interdependent conditions that shape our everyday experience. As one of the world's most cherished spiritual teachers who is both an adept of all Tibetan Buddhist traditions as well as an exemplar of wisdom and compassion to countless people across the globe, no-one could be better to elucidate and bring relevance to this teaching on the essence of the Buddhist path to peace and insight than His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet.

Copies of both texts will be handed out at the event

Ceremony for the Bodhisattva Vow

During the three days of teachings, His Holiness will conduct the ceremony for engendering the Heart of Awakening - or bodhicitta - providing the opportunity for participants to generate the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings and to enrol on the spiritual career of a Bodhisattva. Bodhicitta is often called the "Wish-fulfilling Jewel", because it has the power to bring true happiness to both ourselves and others, and this ceremony is thus the gateway to practice in Mahayana Buddhism.

Vajrasattva Initiation

On the morning of Wednesday 28th, His Holiness will bestow the Vajrasattva initiation. This practice is essential in all traditions of Vajrayana Buddhism. The meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva is considered supreme among all practices for the purification of all the accumulated negativities, illness and obscurations that are not inherently part of our true nature. This initiation empowers us to cultivate this practice which allows our true nature to manifest, helping us to bring wisdom and compassion into our lives.

Translation

The talks and teachings will be simultaneously translated into French, German, Italian and Spanish.