Khandro Ling Buddhist Centre
Update 23 June 2010 -
Weekly meetings on Introducing Buddhism, Guest Speakers and Events
See Programme for details.
Offerings at the main shrine during a large Chenrezig Puja, August 2009
Khandro Ling exists to make available the teachings and practices of Buddhism, and especially the
rich tradition that developed in Tibet, in a non-doctrinaire and non-dogmatic manner that encourages
inquiry and openness. The centre is part of the Nyingma school and has a non-sectarian (rime)
orientation.
We seek to present the teachings in a way that takes account of the conditions of contemporary culture
and the western psyche, and of current issues and concerns, while respecting the integrity and value
of the tradition. We aim to create conditions in which individuals and society can enjoy peace,
freedom from fear, happiness, well-being, and the opportunity for spiritual growth according to methods
that are well-established and tested.
We extend a warm welcome to all who are interested in promoting peace, understanding, good health,
well-being, happiness and wisdom, and who wish to meet with others who share those values.
We are most fortunate to be inheritors of the rich, diverse, and evolving traditions of Buddhism with
over 2,500 years of accumulated wisdom and investigation into the human mind and the methods for removing
dissatisfaction and suffering in life, and we wish to make these accessible to all people of good will
and ensure their continuation for future generations.
We hope there is something in our programmes that will interest you and be of benefit, and that you may
also feel you have something to contribute to a growing community from whom you can also gain valuable
support. With warm good wishes for your health and happiness,
Choying Dorje (Gordon Ellis)
Spiritual Director
James Low Teaching
'Love, compassion, joy and equanimity'
Khandro Ling is very fortunate to have as one of its visiting teachers, James Low. James is a renowned and well
respected teacher of Tibetan Buddhist practices and visits the centre in Macclesfield twice a year to deliver a
teaching over the course of a weekend. James’s visits always attract a large group of students to the centre,
some of whom travel quite a distance to receive his teaching.
At the end of June, James visited to teach on the ‘four immeasurables’: love, compassion, joy and equanimity,
qualities which are an important tenet of all Buddhist traditions.
James started the session with a period of quiet reflection and meditation. Throughout the weekend, he gave
the instruction for the “3A” meditation which was to visualise the letter ’A’ in front of us, to relax into the out
breath and allow thoughts, feelings and sensations to dissolve.
James gave us each a copy of the text of the four immeasurables which we chanted in Tibetan:
May all sentient beings have happiness and the cause of happiness!
May they be free of sorrow and the cause of sorrow!.
May they never be separated from the happiness free of sorrow!
May they abide in the equanimity free of both desire for friends and relatives and hatred towards enemies and
strangers.
During the afternoon session, James asked us to explore in small groups our attachment to negative feelings or
experiences which were still influencing our lives. What is it we get from that? How do we feel when we do it ?
Each of us had to think of an example and share it within our group. This group work was quite lively and the
gompa was filled with animated chat.
I’m sure that we all benefited from doing the group work and it acted as a reminder of our tendencies to fall
into patterns of narrow focus and self concern.
James touched on many themes throughout the weekend and wove them together effortlessly, through the
use of traditional texts and also his own inimitable style of humour and sharing of his life experience.
As with all of James’s teaching’s the delivery was informal and the content very accessible, for both
experienced Buddhist practitioners and beginners alike.
It is impossible to capture the full essence of the weekend in a small piece like this but it can be “re-lived” via
the CD or DVD recordings which are available to buy from Khandro Ling and can be ordered via the website Click here to order.
James will be visiting the centre again in January and advance bookings are being taken now for this event.
It would be great to see you there, and in the meantime I hope you enjoy listening to the CD’s or watching the
DVD of what was a very special weekend.
Namaste!
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