Covid Update
Our regular practice sessions have been suspended during the Coronavirus crisis - we will let you know when they resume.
The Drukpa Nuns
Background
There is no doubt that the Drukpa Lineage promotes gender equality amongst its practitioners. In the past female practitioners found it difficult to receive teachings and nuns were mostly neglected or treated as servants in the monastic environment. When He discovered this in the early years Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa, the current lineage holder, was very sad and secretly promised himself that within His life He would try his best to promote gender equality and ensure that female practitioners receive the same attention and support as their male counterparts.
Starting with 15 young Ladakhi nuns in 1992 the community of female practitioners was gradually formed as more girls from remote Himalayan regions took vows with His Holiness so that they could dedicate their entire life to practice and to bring benefit to many less fortunate beings.
In 1999 about 40 nuns from Ladakh were sent by His Holiness to live in a village next to Druk Amitabha Mountain, one of the mountains surrounding the spiritually blessed Kathmandu valley, in Nepal. Despite the very difficult living conditions the nuns practiced with unwavering devotion and dedication. It was a testing period that they endured with great joy. His Holiness then decided to dedicate Druk Amitabha mountain for the benefit of female practitioners and the Druk Gawa Khilwa community was born.
His Holiness's nuns now number over 500 and are mostly based at Druk Amitabha Mountain.
Druk Gawa Khilwa, Kathmandu, on Druk Amitabha Mountain, is the main training centre and currently, the administration headquarter of all the nunneries in the Himalayas
Druk Gawa Khilwa, Kortsa, located in a remote mountainous area in Ladakh, is one of the main retreat centres for the nuns
Druk Gawa Khilwa, Shey, Ladakh, occupying the Naropa Palace (Naro Phodrang) in the compound of the Druk Padma Karpo Institute, is one of the practice centres to support the locals and school children in their daily spiritual practice and development
Druk Gawa Khilwa, Lahaul, recently established, will also be a practice centre to support locals in their spiritual practice and development
Those nuns who are in solitary retreat stay in Kortsa and those who are learning Buddhist philosophy, rituals, English, Tibetan and ceremonial dances and receiving training are staying in Kathmandu. At any one time the nuns are divided into two groups, taking turns to learn and practice in either locations. Some of the experienced nuns are stationed in our Shey and Lahaul branches, to support and teach the locals in their spiritual practice, especially in recitation, rituals and meditation.
For information on the activities of the Drukpa Nuns you can visit their website - www.drukpa-nuns.org or their facebook page
Sengey Tsewa teaching with the Venerable Drubpon Ngawang
We are happy to announce that the Venerable Drubpon Ngawang will be giving teachings on Sengey Tsewa, in London in March 2020.
Sengey Tsewa or "The Revelry with the Lion" is a particular practice of Prajnaparamita. Dakini Machig Labdron offered the teaching of Sengey Tsewa to the Omniscient One - Kunkhyen Pema Karpo (the Fourth Gyalwang Drukpa 1527 - 1592) - through his guru Ava Dhutipa. Ever since then it has been the main practice of many yogis of Tibetan Buddhism. The beneifits of Sengey Tsewa practice can be categorised into two parts :
1. Through the practice of non-attachment (Shunyata) towards one's own body, one will be able to free oneself from sufferings such as diseases and unwanted incidents, and accumulate merits to eventually attain the form of Buddha (Rupakaya)
2. Through the practice of non-attachment (Shunyata) towards one's own conceptual thoughts, one will be liberated from the mental distractions and eventually attain the full realisation (Dharmakaya) of complete omniscience (Wisdom of Buddha).
His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa
All are welcome to attend these teachings
Programme :
Saturday March 7th, 2.30 to 6.30 pm - Sengey Tsewa teachings and practice
Sunday March 8th, 10.30 am to 1 pm - Continuation of Sengey Tsewa teachings and practice
Sunday March 8th 2.30 to 6.00 pm - Sengey Tsewa practice with tsok
Venue:
The City College, University House, 55 East Road, London N1 6AH.
The nearest underground station is Old Street on the Northern Line. Follow the signs to Subway 1 then take the set of steps on the left, which brings you out into City Road, Walk up City Road for about 100 yards and at the traffic lights bear to your right, where East Road begins. Keep walking for another 200 yards and you will see the City College on the other side of the road . We are meeting in the common room on the 2nd floor.
Please note that there is no lift in the building.
To bring:
A cushion if you prefer to sit on the floor (there are plenty of chairs available).
Sengey Tsewa and Rosary of Jewels texts if you have them - copies of the Sengey Tsewa text will be available for purchase at the venue, price £12. Please also bring your bell and damaru if you have them.
Price:
Saturday £15, Sunday £20, whole weekend £30 - payable at the door
We look forward to seeing you there
with best wishes
Riwo Sang Tcheu teachings with Venerable Drubpon Ngawang
We are happy to announce that the Venerable Drubpon Ngawang will be giving teachings in London in September 2019 on the new Riwo Sang Tcheu text.
Riwo Sang Tcheu literally means Smoke Offering in the Mountain and is a powerful practice of Guru Rinpoche for purification and the removal of obstacles. The teachings are open to all
Programme :
Saturday September 14th, 2.30 to 6.30 pm - Riwo Sang Tcheu Teachings and practice
Sunday September 15th, 10.30 am to 1 pm - Riwo Sang Tcheu Teachings and practice
Sunday September 15th, 2.30 to 6.00 pm - Riwo Sang Tcheu Teachings and practice
Venue:
We are meeting at The City College, University House, 55 East Road, London N1 6AH. The nearest underground station is Old Street. Follow the signs to Subway 1 then take the set of steps on the left, which brings you out into City Road, Walk up City Road for about 100 yards and at the traffic lights bear to your right, where East Road begins. Keep walking for another 200 yards and you will see the City College on the other side of the road . We are meeting in room 38 on the 3rd floor.
Please note that there is no lift in the building.
To bring:
A cushion if you prefer to sit on the floor (there are plenty of chairs available).
Rosary of Jewels text if you have it - some copies will be available at the venue
Price:
Saturday £20, Sunday £20, whole weekend £35 - payable at the door
Look forward to seeing you there
with best wishes
P'owa Teaching by Venerable Drubpon Ngawang
We are happy to announce that the Venerable Drubpon Ngawang will be giving teachings in London next weekend - October 6th and 7th.
Programme :
Saturday October 6th, 2.30 to 6.30 pm - P'owa Teachings and practice
Sunday October 7th, 10.30 am to 1 pm - P'owa teachings and practice
Sunday October 7th, 2.30 to 6.00 pm - Amitabha Tsok
Venue:
We are meeting at The City College, University House, 55 East Road, London N1 6AH. The nearest underground station is Old Street. Follow the signs to Subway 1 then take the set of steps on the left, which brings you out into City Road, Walk up City Road for about 100 yards and at the traffic lights bear to your right, where East Road begins. Keep walking for another 200 yards and you will see the City College on the other side of the road . We are meeting in room 38 on the 3rd floor.
Please note that there is no lift in the building - if you require assistance with the stairs please contact us in advance and we will try to provide somebody to help.
To bring:
A cushion if you prefer to sit on the floor (there are plenty of chairs available).
Rosary of Jewels and P'owa texts if you have them - copies will be available at the venue
Price:
Saturday £15, Sunday £20, whole weekend £30 - payable at the door
Financial donations towards the Tsok are welcome
Look forward to seeing you there
with best wishes
Jarvis Smith interviews the Gyalwang Drukpa about his new book, Happiness is a State of Mind
Guru Drakpo Kilaya - Teachings and practice with Venerable Drubpon Ngawang
Guru Drakpo Kilaya is one of the wrathful manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava and this practice overcomes obstacles and serious illnesses.
Programme :
Saturday April 7th, 2.30 to 6.30 pm - Guru Drakpo Kilaya Teachings and practice
Sunday April 8th, 10.30 am to 1 pm - Guru Drakpo Kilaya Teachings and practice
Sunday April 8th, 2.30 to 5.00 pm - Guru Drakpo Kilaya Tsok
Venue:
We are meeting at The City College, University House, 55 East Road, London N1 6AH. The nearest underground station is Old Street. Follow the signs to Subway 1 then take the set of steps on the left, which brings you out into City Road, Walk up City Road for about 100 yards and at the traffic lights bear to your right, where East Road begins. Keep walking for another 200 yards and you will see the City College on the other side of the road . We are meeting in room 38 on the 3rd floor.
Please note that there is no lift in the building - if you require assistance with the stairs please contact us in advance and we will try to provide somebody to help.
To bring:
A cushion if you prefer to sit on the floor (there are plenty of chairs available).
Rosary of Jewels and Guru Drakpo Kilaya texts if you have them - copies will be available at the venue
Price:
Saturday £15, Sunday £20, whole weekend £30 - payable at the door
Donations towards the Tsok are welcome
Look forward to seeing you there
Prayers for the swift return of Bairo Rinpoche
We request all followers and friends of the Drukpa Order to join in continuous prayers for the swift rebirth of His Eminence Zhichen Bairo Rinpoche, the beloved father of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa
His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche to visit London in February
We are happy to announce that His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche will be coming to London in February 2017
Born in Ladakh in 1986, His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche was recognised by H.H. 14th Dalai Lama and H.H. 12th Gyalwang Drukpa as the reincarnation of the first Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche – a prominent figure in Himalayan Buddhism during the last century. After his exile from Tibet, he ensured the continuity, legacy and teaching of the Drukpa School of Buddhism, establishing one of its main monasteries, Druk Thubten Sangag Choeling, in Darjeeling India.
His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche spent most of his childhood in this monastery before continuing his education for nine years at the prestigious Tango University in Bhutan. An accomplished meditation master, His Eminence has taken on many responsibilities including the management of the monastery in Darjeeling, the Druk Pema Karpo School - an award-winning educational project in Ladakh, and the Drukpa centres of Buddhist studies and meditation in Europe. He is an articulate advocate of compassion in action, having also set up an animal sanctuary in the Himalayas.
His Eminence is part of the young generation of spiritual Masters who bring a contemporary and modern approach to Buddhism and spirituality. He speaks fluent English and is able to teach from a depth of realisation, communicating the essence of spiritual teachings in an engaging manner.
Programme :
Friday February 3rd, 7 pm to 9 pm
Helping Ourselves To Compassion: Practical Strategies For A Better World
Public Talk at Asia House, 63 New Cavendish St, Marylebone, London W1G 7LP
Click here to book
Sunday February 5th, 10 am to 6 pm
Chenrezig Teaching and Initiation
Rigpa London Centre, 330 Caledonian Rd, London N1 1BB
Click here to book
We look forward to seeing many of you at these events
With best wishes
Drukpa UK
Naropa 2016
Once every twelve years, in the fifth lunar month of the Monkey year, half a million people from across the Himalayas gather in Ladakh, India, to celebrate Naropa’s life in one of the largest events of the decade. Also known as the “Kumbh Mela of Himalayas,” this month-long festival includes several rare cultural events that are believed to grant spiritual liberation upon sight. This includes the ceremonial unfurling of one of the greatest regional treasures – an ancient silk embroidery of Guru Padmasambhava that stretches to several stories in height, a beloved devotional art piece which is only ever displayed to public audiences during the Naropa festivities.
The Naropa events also mark the largest assembly of Drukpa masters and includes cultural performances by prominent Himalayan artists representing the wider Drukpa community. The culminating event is the display of the famed sacred Six Bone Ornaments belonging to Naropa, the 11th century Indian saint, by His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, head of the Drukpa Order. The Six Bone Ornaments are amongst the holiest treasures of the Himalayas, and are the symbolic origin of many of the foundational practices of Himalayan Buddhism.
The Naropa events are considered unmissable by the hundreds of thousands who attend.
For further information please visit www.naropa2016.org
In accordance with the wishes of His Holiness, Drubpön Ngawang, His representative in Europe, is organising a group tour to Ladakh to celebrate Naropa 2016. Drukpa UK is happy to assist with the registration for this - please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information and booking form
More...
Compassion in Action - Public Talk by His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche
Globalisation, the development of the virtual world, instant and plentiful methods of communication have paradoxically isolated us from each other and call for more humanisation.
One needs to develop benevolence towards oneself and others, to be able to listen to, and be open to others. Clear understanding is required for empathy and compassion to exist.
Sengey Tsewa Retreat and Birthday Celebrations in Kathmandu
Sengey Tsewa is a practice of Prajna Paramita (the practice of Wisdom). Dakini Machig Labdron offered the teaching of Sengey Tsewa (The Revelry with the Lion) to the Great Omniscient Kunkhyen Pema Karpo (the Fourth Gyalwang Drukpa 1527-1592) through his master Awa Dhutipa. Ever since then, it has been the main practice of many historical yogis of Vajrayana Buddhism.
6th Annual Drukpa Council
As taught by His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, the entire practice of Buddhism is to inspire the practitioners to open their hearts so that the blessing/understanding will be there without any obstacle or difficulty. The focus of teachings and practices such as chanting, spiritual dances, spiritual yoga, recitations, pujas, etc. is to inspire us to achieve an understanding mind, which also known as the Mind or Heart of Enlightenment.
His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche to visit in January
We are happy to announce that His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche will be visiting London in January 2015.
The previous Thuksey Rinpoche was the first guru of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa and we are especially delighted to welcome His Eminence now on the occasion of his first visit to the UK.