THE WISDOM OF TIBET
BLESSINGS, INITIATIONS & TEACHINGS IN THE TIBETAN TRADITION
With Lama Khenpo Rinpoche

Thursday October 9th, 7.30 to 10.00pm.... THE BODHISATTVA'S WAY OF LIFE, A guide to Buddhist practice for the 21st century spiritual warrior.

Lama Khenpo will introduce the concept and explain the inner meaning of what is meant by the term Bodhisattva. We generally interpret this word as meaning one who has great spiritual qualities, but what is at the heart of the wish to attain this state?. In Tibet, it is known as 'Bodhicitta' or 'The Great Wish'. It is about awakening the deep compassion that wells up and motivates us to strive for freedom and happiness, not for its own sake, but in order to help others become free from suffering. In this evening talk, Lama Khenpo with the support of western students will elucidate the essence of the Tibetan Buddhist path and will give practical guidance to help each of us develop greater compassion and clarity in our daily lives and spiritual practices.

Venue: St Mary's Church Hall, Magdalene St Glastonbury

Contribution: £5 unwaged, £10 waged. Advance booking and payment will reserve you a preferential seat but you may just turn up on the night for an unreserved place.

Friday October 10th 7.00 to 10.00pm... THE TIBET EVENING in the company of Lama Khenpo

Delicious eastern style buffet with vegetarian options, music, presentations and a talk by Lama Khenpo on Tibet, and the Dalai Lama's work to help his homeland and his people. Come and enjoy a relaxed informal evening, bring some friends, meet and chat with Lama Khenpo, and help raise funds to support the Siddhartha Foundation School for Tibetan children in Kathmandu, Nepal (www.siddharthafoundationuk.org).

Venue: La Lune Cafe, 22 High St, Glastonbury

Contribution: £10, payable on the door. If possible please confirm your attendance by 3.00pm on the day at the very latest by phoning 01458 831173 or 078 999 64123 or email to: siddharthainfo@yahoo.co.uk

Saturday October 11th, 10.00am to 5.00pm.... THE BLESSINGS OF THE GODDESS TARA

A day of teaching and meditation culminating in the empowerment and blessing of Green Tara. Tara who is one of the representations of the divine feminine, in Tibetan Buddhism. She is the great protectress, a universal mother, the granter of boons and blessings, the heart of the world. The practice of Green Tara involves meditation, invocation, visualisation, offerings, and the chanting of the beautiful mantra Om Tare Tu Tare Ture Soha. Lama Khenpo will give instructions on how to undertake the preliminary practices of the Green Tara Tantra with the visualisations and mantra. By doing this practice for even a few minutes a day, one can bring the love and radiance of the Tara energy into one's life in a very direct and powerful way.

Venue: The Shekinashram, Dod Lane, Glastonbury

Contribution: £25 unwaged, £40 waged. Advance booking is necessary for this day as places are limited and it will be very popular!

Saturday 18th to Wednesday 22nd October, 9.00am to 6.00pm daily.... HEALING & PURIFICATION RETREAT

This 5 day rtreat can be attended on a residential or non residential basis. The Shekinashram is a lovely place to stay, nestling at the foot of the Chalice Hill and with direct access to the magical Bushy Coombe valley.

The retreat is an opportunity to enter into a state of higher consciousness through a programme of talks, ceremonies, teachings and events presented by Lama Khenpo and western teachers. The meditational practice will focus on the ancient and profound tantric purification practice of Vajrasattva. Full instruction will be given on how to undertake this practice which has been used in Tibet for many centuries. Now this practice, once secret and guarded, is available to all. An initiation and blessing of Vajrasattva was recently given by the Dalai Lama to the 6000 people who attended his teachings in Nottingham this year. To complement the Tibetan teaching, western teachers who have spent many years developing their own spiritual paths will present a programme that will help make this retreat a truly memorable healing journey for all participants. The programme will include the following:

• A daily session of Kum Nye, a gentle form of Tibetan yoga for increased energy and vitality
• Storytelling to connect to the inner child and your sense of wonder and mystery.
• Art to connect you to your inner world through symbols, and the images of the Tibetan deities and mandalas. Create your own healing mandala!
• Mini massage or Reiki sessions for you to help release tension and stress
• Guided meditations and explanations of the teachings given by Lama Khenpo
• The purifying fire ceremony called Agni Hotra.
• The effect of Buddhist practice and the understanding of Pure View on our chakras and meridian body in order to generate the Pure Light of Bliss
• Private Access to Chalice Well Gardens for a water blessing ceremony and foot bathing
• Healthy food including juice fast day if residential.
• One to one time with Lama Khenpo for each participant
• The opportunity to take refuge (in the Three Jewels, which are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the spiritual community) in a special ceremony with Lama Khenpo