In the autumn of 2024, Simon, Sophie, Lucy, Louise and Jane from Cardiff all travelled to Kagyu Samye Ling Buddhist Monastery in southern Scotland to receive a succession of Empowerments, including: Dorje Sempa, Guru Rinpoche, 1,000 Armed Chenrezig, 4-Armed Chenrezig, Green Tara, Medicine Buddha and White Tara.
Our teacher was Tulku Damcho Rinpoche. Everybody was motivated to seize the opportunity to travel such a long distance from our homes to further deepen our practice with a community of like-minded people.
Our accommodation was a comfortable, cosy former hunting lodge called Johnstone House. The décor was bright and cheery. There was a unique staircase inside, an endless knot tiled on the floor, abundant bookcase and thriving plants on the window sills amongst many other interesting picture frames and objects.
We had the opportunity in the house to socialise and learn with people from other Kagyu Samye Dzong centres across the country and shared stories of how they practiced at theirs.
We received our teachings surrounded by monks, nuns and lamas inside the grand main temple and were instantly struck by the presence of a large golden buddha inside looking down upon us together with other deities. The tasteful crystal chandelier hung above us catching the flickering light whilst prayer wheels constantly turned each side of the shrine. Spectacular Tibetan Thangkas displaying intricate detail and cultural significance draped the walls. We knew this was a very special place to be indeed.
The surreal life like statue of Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche at the front whose eyes seemed to follow you in a pleasant way was actually mistaken for a real person several times! A lady actually said “we can’t turn the lights off yet as there is somebody still meditating!”
During the Dorje Sempa empowerment as Tulku chanted and walked amongst us placing a bumpa upon my head and saffron water in my hand to drink I was overcome with emotion.
We enjoyed walks through beautiful scenery where the leaves were just changing colour and falling gently in the wind in readiness for winter. The birds were plentiful, diverse and very tame. Fish leapt out of the fast-flowing stream catching flies to eat. It was alive with nature and spirituality. Simon found a peregrine falcon wing feather on a walk towards Purelands which signified soul healing!
At night the sky was dazzling and magnetic with dense twinkling stars and a bold bright moon.
During the day we sometimes circumambulated the Victory Stupa in the Garden of World Peace. This activity left us with an enormous sense of well-being and optimism inside the heart. On our way back, we passed (lucky) ducks and ended up in either the Tibetan coffee house or the wonderful dharma shop that sold books, blankets, singing bowls, clothing, malas, deity statues. It's very easy to fulfil all your Dharma needs here!
It was interesting to witness how the local village people living nearby integrated into the monastery and would arrive also to do their practices and to feed the ducks, even giving you a cheery wave on their tractor as they passed by!
At the end of our stay in Samye Ling, we came away with lots of inspirations and wholesome feeling in our hearts. We'd like to thank Tulku Damcho Rinpoche and the efforts of Lama Katen, Deputy Abbot of Kagyu Samye Ling, for this opportunity to receive the empowerments, and everyone in Samye Ling for making us feel so welcomed and keeping the place running so well, so that we can all enjoy this splendid establishment that we can call our home of Dharma in Britain.
Words written by Lucy, edited by Louise, with photos from all of us, and the video made by Jane.