The big weekly group Padmasambhava practice is on Thursday evenings. So this was problematic for some students in the group I facilitate on Thursdays who wished to do some group practice in the following their initiation.

I had a chat with James about what’s appropriate and have changed what we do on Tuesday evenings at 6.30 pm.
To give them a chance to do that, and anyone else whom that timing suits…
On one week there is half an hour of mediation…
the next is there is Padmasambhava group practice lasting for about an hour.
If anyone would like to join in… just let me know. The next practice will be 25th April.

James is giving a medicine Buddha initiation teaching and practice permission on May 17th.
Along with many others I did many of the associated mantras when C.R. Lama was leaving this life…

A little before that time James’ advice to some of C.R. Lama’s students had been not to depend too heavily for support on the continuity of the inevitably vanishing life of the guru/teacher… but to rely on their and his connection with Padmasambhava…
…this profound energetic connection which is, of course, not separate from its origin – the unchanging ground we share.

Reciting the seven line prayer is seen as a very direct way of deepening this connection…and, if you wish, here is a wonderful opportunity to do this with others…as Milton and João are hosting recitation of the Seven Line Prayer…dedicating the merit to the long-life of James Low.
If you’re thinking you’d like to recite the Long Life prayer for James then you’ll find the words and a translation from that link.

Knowing that the openness of the heart is more important than precision in delivery….if you’d like to sing it here’s a link which might help … along with a modified translation of the prayer which James gave me when I requested it in 2009 …

May all our practices be fruitful…and aspirations be fulfilled…so may the healing balm of wisdom soften and assuage all tensions… in ourselves and in the world

For ears and ease… for hearts and minds…

     

 

Just to refresh your memory, or alert you to the place to be on some future summer evenings…

Aug 12th and 26th between 6.30 pm and 8.00pm London time…

… is in front of your phone, lap-top, or tablet.

James is answering some more questions posed by the sangha on practice and his teaching….

Double-check under Events on simplybeing.co.uk as I just jotted that down on the fly last night.

 

 

bugle horn attribution:

Remember remember the 5 November!

Remembering the lengths people will go to to destroy what they see as bad and the endless consequences of polarisation.

Remember on the 11th November the seen and unseen consequences of war and fighting…

Remembering the value of collaboration, working together in a respectful and harmonious way to achieve a result which is for the common good.

Re-membering,  dissolving the sense of  alienation in discovering who we and others truly are…

the critical remembering…

and of which we will be beautifully reminded on November 8 to the 10th…

Please let Gio know if you are coming…for details see below and Simplybeing.co.uk>Events

James Low:  Evening Talk & Weekend Teaching in Oxford “Easy Illumination” November 8th – 10th 2019 “We inhabit a paradox as our true nature is hidden by our way of looking. Using the structure of a short Dzogchen text by the extraordinary Tibetan Yogini Ayu Khandro we will explore how not to get in the way of our mind’s intrinsic illumination. The focus will be on the clarity of the authentic view and the depth of meditation practice”. James Low is a disciple and teacher in the Byangter and Khordong lineages of the late Chhimed Rigdzin Lama. He began studying and practising Tibetan Buddhism in India in the 1960’s and received teachings from Kalu Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Kanjur Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche. Having met his root teacher, Chhimed Rigdzin Lama (also known as C R Lama), he lived in his home in West Bengal, India for many years, serving him as required and being taught many aspects of the tradition. During this period in India James did several retreats and pilgrimages in the Himalayas. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, on his return to Europe, he also had teachings and guidance from Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. James translated many tantric texts and sadhanas with CR Lama who wanted texts from his lineages, Byangter and Khordong, to be available in English. CR Lama asked James to teach in 1976 and later gave him the transmissions necessary to do this, together with full lineage authority. In particular, James was encouraged to give the traditional instructions using methods that enable people in the west to get the point.  James has been teaching in this way for over twenty years. James regularly teaches the principles of dzogchen in Europe and he publishes translations and commentaries from time to time. James studied at Edinburgh and other universities and has retired from his work in London as a Consultant Psychotherapist in the National Health Service. He is slowly winding down his private psychotherapy practice. He has taught on many psychotherapy trainings in Britain. Evening Talk: Friday November 8th, 7pm- 9pm Weekend Teaching: Saturday November 9th, 9.30am – 1pm & 2.30pm – 6pm (with breaks) Sunday November 10th, 9.30am – 1pm (with breaks) James will alternate between oral teaching & meditation practice  Venue: “The Talbot Hall” in Lady Margaret Hall College, Norham Gdns, Oxford, OX2 6QA Costs and Offerings for Teaching: The prices below cover costs only: venue hire, James’ travel costs, etc. Evening Talk Only: £10 Teaching Sessions (a.m. or p.m): £15 per session (am or pm) Whole Event: £50 In the Buddhist tradition teaching on meditation is offered without charge so there is no fee for the teaching offered this weekend.   If you wish to offer a donation (dana) to support the work of the teacher and those who help him, then please do so at any point during the event Both payment for costs and dana are cash only please on the door! Gio