Last Friday, 4 August, His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche visited the Dechen European retreat centre of Sakya Changlochen Ling, at the request of Lama Jampa. This was the 14th visit His Holiness has made to Dechen centres across the world since he visited the first Dechen Sakya Centre, Sakya Thinley Rinchen Ling, in 1978.
On this occasion, His Holiness gave the initiation of the female deity Red Saraswati, whose practice cultivates the wisdom to both understand the teachings and to realise the true nature of things. As His Holiness remarked, all the seen and unseen qualities on the Buddhist path arise from wisdom. This event provided the perfect opening to two weeks of teachings and practice with Lama Jampa Thaye.
At the end of the visit Lama Jampa expressed his and everyone else’s joy at being able to receive these precious teachings from His Holiness. Lama Jampa offered thanks beyond words to His Holiness for having made the time to teach at Changlochen, requesting His Holiness to visit us again soon and to remain for 100 more years.