From 3 - 5 May, in amongst sunshine and showers, Lama Jampa Thaye visited Sakya Dechen Ling in Stuttgart to give a series of dharma teachings. Over the course of three days, around 40 people from Germany, France, Switzerland and the UK gathered to receive the next part of Sakya Pandita's 'Discriminating the Three Vows' and the rarely given initiation of Manjushri Lion's Speech.
Continuing with Sakya Pandita's chapter on the vajrayana vows, Lama Jampa explained that whilst the view within both the mahayana and vajrayana is the same - emptiness beyond elaboration - the methods and duration of the path are different. Whilst the path of perfections within the mahayana takes at least three aeons, with the vajrayana it is possible to attain enlightenment even within this very life. However, as Sakya Pandita outlines, buddhahood is not possible if we mix up the practices within the four classes of tantra, or those of the common and uncommon mahayana. Finally, the verses explain how pilgrimage to holy places only enhances our realisation if we are in the right place, both in terms of the location itself and our own vajrayana practice.
To close the weekend, Lama Jampa gave the beautiful initation of Manjushri Lion's Speech. This lineage is from the Indian master Dampa Sangye and has been transmitted in both the Kagyu and Sakya traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, being contained in the Collection of Sadhanas (Tib. Drubtap Kuntu) brought together by the master Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. The practice of this form of Manjushri with Saraswati is renowned for increasing wisdom to realise the emptiness of all phenomena.
As Lama Jampa mentioned in the introduction to the initiation, the end of meeting is parting, but we look forward to welcoming both Lama Jampa and our dharma friends back to Stuttgart in September. For more details, click here.