Our Visiting Teachers
His Holiness Khenchen Lama Rinpoche
His Holiness is head of the Padma Dragnag Lingpa lineage of the Tibetan Nyingma tradition, being the recognised reincarnation of Treasure-Revealer Padma Dragnag Lingpa – the emanation of Nubchen Sangye Yeshe, one of the five closest disciples of Guru Padmasambhava and the founder of the Yogic traditions in Tibet. Khenchen Lama displayed unusual compassion and strong inclination towards meditation from a very early age. Despite pressures to become abbot of four monasteries in his youth, instead Rinpoche undertook 25 years of rigorous scholastic and meditation training. Rinpoche studied under His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche for a period of 10 years, and has done many retreats. He is an accomplished master of Dzogchen and Dream Yoga.
Venerable Chamtrul Rinpoche
Chamtrul Rinpoche is an eminent scholar and recognised reincarnation of a great master of the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, the oldest school in Tibet. With his renowned knowledge of the Buddhist teachings of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen, he dedicates his life to helping people find inner peace
https://www.chamtrul-rinpoche.com/
Lama Jampa Thaye
Lama Jampa Thaye is a scholar and meditation master trained in the Sakya and Karma Kagyu traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. He is authorised as a Lama and Vajrayana master by his two main teachers, Karma Thinley Rinpoche and His Holiness 41st Sakya Trizin. He is also the author of various works including Garland of Gold (1990), Way of Tibetan Buddhism (2001), Rain of Clarity (2006) and Wisdom in Exile (2017). In 1975, Lama Jampa established the first of the worldwide network of Buddhist centres and groups dedicated to the study and practice of the teachings of either Kagyu or Sakya schools.
Venerable Lama Jiga
A Lama of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, Venerable Jiga trained for 40 years with the foremost Tibetan Buddhist masters. He has taught, set up and managed centres and projects in the UK, Russia, Eastern and Western Europe, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Mongolia. An acknowledged Dharma Master and sought-after teacher, he also has an M.Sc. in teaching Mindfulness-Based Approaches. Lama Jiga regularly teaches at the Nilupul Foundation in Dundee.
Martin Goodson
A former Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk, Martin is recognised as one of UK’s leading Zen Buddhist teachers. An exceptionally clear, humorous and inspirational speaker, for many years Martin has been senior instructor at London’s Shoboan-Zen Centre Training School and teacher at the annual Buddhist Society Summer School. Martin is a founder member of The Zen Gateway online community
Venerable Canda
Bhikkhuni Canda has studied and practiced Buddhism all her adult life. After graduating in London with an Ayurvedic Medicine degree, she ordained in Burma in 2006 where she trained for four years. After another two years as a wandering nun in Europe, she moved to Australia and took full ordination as a bhikkhuni. At the end of 2015, Ajahn Brahm asked her to establish a UK monastery, to increase equality in practice and ordination opportunities for women.
Ajahn Aod (Phra Aod Boonyong)
Ajahn Aod was ordained as a Therevadan Buddhist Monk in Thailand in 1987.
On moving to England in 1994 he was based at Wat Santiwongsaram Buddhist Temple in Birmingham, providing teachings on meditation as well as Buddhist pastoral care to the Thai community and others. He is a Trustee of the Therevada Buddhist Sangha in the UK and studied Inter-religions Theology at the University of Birmingham.
Ajahn Aod has recently set up Wat Pa Buddharam Temple near Irchester, Northamptonshire where he continues to serve Thai and local communities with Buddhist teachings and support. He recently visited Thailand to undertake training as a Phra Uppachaya (Preceptor) which will allow him to facilitate novices to ordain into the monkhood.
Mark Strathern
A former Sōtō Zen Buddhist monk and Buddhist practitioner since the early 1960s, Mark was an early follower of Jiyu-Kennet, the first female to be sanctioned by the Sōtō School of Japan to teach in the West. Now retired from Cranfield University where he was a research scientist, Mark devotes his time to advanced meditation teaching and mindfulness training.
Venerable Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
A high lama of the Karma Kagyu lineage, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche is a recognised reincarnate, European representative of His Holiness 17th Karmapa, professor of Tibetology, renowned author (e.g. ‘Lazy Lama’ series) teacher and humanitarian. Videos of his teachings in Kettering can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E77fIJEjxgw
Karma Yeshe Rabgye
Having taken ordination vows from H.E. Tai Situ Rinpoche in Sherabling Monastery, Northern India, Yeshe studied with H.H.14th Dalai Lama, H.H.17th Karmapa and other leading Tibetan Buddhist masters. In 2012 he authored a popular, no nonsense Buddhist book, The Best Way to Catch a Snake, inspired by successive short-term retreats in which Yeshe took the Buddha’s early teachings as his inspiration for practice
Venerable Lama Jinpa
Originally taking refuge with His Holiness the 16th Karmapa in 1980, in the same year, Lama Jinpa met Kalu Rinpoche while on a pilgrimage to India. A renowned Chöd master, he has practiced Vajrayana for over 35 years. He combines his dharma background with 40 years as a healer, teacher and author, to make this sometimes complex practice accessible, dynamic and practical in daily life.
Venerable Lobsang Dawa
Ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Venerable Dawa is a senior Buddhist monk of the Tibetan Gelugpa tradition. Having founded and ran the Jamyang Mindrol-ling Centre in Coventry, he now leads a Buddhist retreat centre in Scotland’s Isle of Skye.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamyang-Mindrol-ling/217978834970665