Report from New Mexico!
Lama Jampa Thaye teaching at Tesuque, New Mexico
Lama Jampa returned to Los Angeles Monday after a weekend teaching visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe was founded as a Spanish colony in 1610 and is one of the oldest locales in the US. Situated in the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe is in the Northern Rio Grande Valley on the southern end of the Rocky Mountains. The City of Santa Fe itself sits 7,198 feet above sea level and is the third highest city in America. It has a vast and wide open desert landscape and soaring pines as you climb up into the snowy mountains.
Snowy ground, clear blue skies, Jemez Springs
Lama Jampa arrived on Friday afternoon, accompanied by sangha members of Sakya Samten Ling. He enjoyed a welcome dinner with April Dolkar and Dorje Gyaltsen from Tsechen Namdrol Ling as well as other local Buddhist sangha.
Group meal at Los Ojos, Jemez Springs
On Saturday in Tesuque, a neighborhood of Santa Fe, Lama Jampa gave a morning teaching referencing the new edition of his book Diamond Sky and bestowed the initiation of Prajnaparamita in the afternoon.
Teaching at Tsechen Namdrol Ling retreat cabin, Jemez Springs
On Sunday, the anniversary of Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen, Lama and students drove up the mountain to Jemez Springs, an area famous for its hot springs amongst other things. This is the location of the retreat cabin and land which Tsechen Namdrol Ling are currently fundraising for. Here snow still covered the ground under a crisp blue sky. Students gathered in the charmingly decorated cabin for the initiation of Yellow Dzambala. Afterwards, at the the request of April, Lama Jampa spoke about the importance and significance of Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen.
Tesuque teaching
Both Tsechen Namdrol Ling and Diamond Way Kagyu sanghas attended the weekend and there was time for several group meals and interesting conversations. New connections were made and old ones renewed amongst all sanghas.
Clear skies after Prajnaparamita initiation
Lama Jampa continued his activity in Los Angeles today with a full day of filming for his YouTube channel. He will resume teaching Nagarjuna’s Friendly Letter and give the initiation of Manjushri Arapatsana before he returns to London with Dechen Dolma and their daughter Kate on Sunday evening.
Lama Jampa Thaye, Dorje Gyaltsen and April Dolkar
Photos and video stills: Kim Richardson, Dorje Gyaltsen and Fred Tyler.