Understanding Karma - Buddhist First Step to Happiness, with Tenzin Palmo (Residential), Fri 27th to Sun 29th Sept 2024

• Date: Fri 27th, Sat 28th & Sun 29th Sept 2024

• Times: Starting with a welcome on Friday evening, closing Sunday early afternoon

• Format: Residential course, onsite

We are very pleased to announce Lam Rim Centre’s first residential retreat since the Centre re-opened just over a year ago. Thanks to the kind generosity of many who have given their time and financial donations, we have been working on making the necessary refurbishments and upgrades, such as meeting modern fire regulations, that allow residential retreats once again!

For this very special occasion, we are joined by Gelongma Tenzin Palmo, travelling over from Italy, to cover the essential Buddhist topic of Karma. She will joined by Gelongma Gyaltsen Palmo who will lead meditations on the course. This is an extremely rare opportunity to meet two fully ordained nuns in the UK!

We look forward to welcoming you on this special retreat!

Overview

Karma is a term used almost daily in today's world but how is it to be really understood? How does it explain the suffering we see? How does it relate to developing spiritually and leading a happier life? 

Buddha taught that for every action we make there is a corresponding result, happiness, neutral or suffering, cause and effect. He taught that the results of our actions are largely governed by our intentions behind them rather than the acts themselves. Tibetan Buddhism provides extensive explanations on how karma works, categorising a spectrum of karmic results such as, the fully ripened effect, effect similar to cause, conditioning effect and proliferating effect, and how these relate to actions that result in suffering (non-virtue) and actions that result in happiness (virtue).  

Understanding these traditional explanations and the wider context of karma, we can begin to understand how suffering is explained in the world, how it relates to our daily life, how to know 'right' from 'wrong', and how to work with this natural law to become happier and more stable individuals ourselves. 

Join us on this short retreat in the beautiful grounds of Lam Rim as we take a deeper dive into karma. There will also be opportunity for Q&A to get those difficult questions about karma resolved.

About the Teachers

Tenzin Palmo comes from the Czech Republic. Originally a high school teacher, she took refuge with Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche in 2008 and three years later was ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. Graduated from the FPMT Basic Program in Lama Tsong Khapa Institute in 2014, she continued her studies in Kopan Nunnery in Nepal for seven years. In 2022 she returned to Lama Tsong Khapa Institute to study the FPMT Master Program, being also Teaching Assistant for the Basic Program online organized by Jamyang London and teaching a group of FPMT students in Prague, her hometown.

Dutch nun Gyaltsen Palmo met Buddhism in 2018. She took refuge and lay vows that same year from Geshe Sonam Gyaltsen at the Maitreya Institute. She also started to study the Basic Program, taught by Ven. Losang Gendun. In 2020, she moved to Monastery Dorje Pamo and was ordained at Nalanda Monastery in 2021 by Geshe Gyaltsen. In 2023 she had the chance to take full ordination in the Vietnamese pagoda Khánh Anh in Paris, from Ven. Thich Nu Nhu Vien. She finished the Basic Program in 2024. Currently staying in the Netherlands, she intends to go to Sravasti Abbey in the US to learn and live the Vinaya.

Schedule

• Friday 27th Sept

  • Arrive from 5pm

  • 7:00pm - Supper

  • 8:00pm-9:00pm - Welcome & Evening Introduction

• Saturday 28th Sept

  • 8:00am - Morning Meditation

  • 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast

  • 9.30am-12:00pm - Session: Meditation & Teachings, with Refresher Break

  • 12:00pm-3:00pm - Lunch & Afternoon Break

  • 3:00pm-6:00pm - Meditation & Teachings, with Refresher Break

  • 6:00pm-7:00pm - Evening Break

  • 7:00pm - Supper

• Sunday 29th Sept

  • 8:00am - Morning Meditation

  • 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast

  • 9.30am-12:00pm - Session: Meditation & Teachings, with Refresher Break

  • 12:00pm-2:30pm - Lunch & Break

  • 2.30pm-3.30pm - Session: Meditation & Teachings, with Refresher Break

  • 3:30pm - Course Ends

Who Should Attend

Anyone interested in meditation, religious life, and inner development, Buddhist practitioners of all levels.

Lunch & Refreshments

We are pleased to provide complimentary refreshments throughout the course, with breakfast, lunch and a evening meal. Please advise of any dietary requirements on the booking form.

Residential Accommodation

To understand more about residential accommodation and the various rooms available, click here >

Location

Teachings will be onsite at Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, Pentwyn Manor, Penrhos, Raglan, Usk, Wales, NP15 2LE - directions here >

Visiting by public transport, more information here >

Tickets & Donation

We offer two main rates to enable as many people as possible to attend our teachings. Please consider donation at the highest rate that you are able. Your generosity is vital in supporting the Centre. 

• Standard Rate - This includes a donation to help sustain Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, and to cover costs and teacher expenses. 

• Basic Rate - This covers the very basic costs of running this course

• Support Rate - Contact us via lamrimwalesmanagers@gmail.com if the above rates are too high for you and we can then discuss further subsidised options.

Day Attendees

We recommend that everyone interested in attending this course, whether local or living further afield, takes advantage of the opportunity to stay onsite in order to maximise the course experience and be part of the residential group.

However, for those living locally who prefer or need to return home in the evenings, please see suggested donation options below.

Important on Booking: Our system uses PayPal to take donations. If you do not have a PayPal Account you can pay as a Guest. Please click the link ‘Try Another Way’ , then follow instructions for ‘Pay by Debit or Credit Card.