Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre facts for kids
Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre is a special place in Eskdalemuir, Scotland. It's a Tibetan Buddhist center that follows the Karma Kagyu school of Buddhism. People come here to learn about Buddhism, meditate, and find peace.
Contents
The History of Samye Ling
How Samye Ling Started
Before it became a big center, Samye Ling was just one building. It was an old hunting lodge called Johnstone House. In 1965, a group called the Johnstone House Trust was formed. Their goal was to create a place for people to study and meditate. They wanted to help people find mental and spiritual well-being.
At first, a Canadian monk named Anandabodhi led the community. When fewer people came, Anandabodhi went back to Canada. Later, he became a Tibetan Buddhist teacher.
New Leaders and a New Name
In 1967, two Tibetan lamas, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Akong Rinpoche, were invited to take over. They named the community "Samye Ling." Samye means the first Buddhist university in Tibet. Ling means 'Place'. So, Samye Ling means 'Place of Samye'.
Soon, a famous artist named Sherab Palden Beru joined them. The monk Samten also became part of the community.
Growth and Important Visitors
From 1970 onwards, Samten, Beru, and Akong Rinpoche were the main Tibetan leaders. Samye Ling became the oldest and most important Tibetan center in Europe. Many respected teachers visited, including Kalu Rinpoche and the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa.
Even famous musicians like David Bowie and Leonard Cohen studied at Samye Ling in 1969. David Bowie once said he almost became a monk there!
The center grew a lot under Akong Rinpoche's guidance. His brother, Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, is now the Abbot and Retreat Master.
What You Can Find at Samye Ling Today
Today, Samye Ling has one of the first Tibetan temples built in Western Europe. It also has a large Stupa, which is a special Buddhist monument. There are places for people to stay and take courses. These courses teach about Buddhism, meditation, spiritual growth, and art.
ROKPA Trust and Its Work
The Johnstone House Trust changed in 1995. Now, Samye Ling is part of the ROKPA Trust. This trust works to promote Buddhism and understanding between different religions. It also provides medical care, education, and helps people in need.
The ROKPA Trust runs other centers and projects around the world. One important project is on Holy Island in Scotland. This island has Buddhist retreat facilities. It also has a center for world peace and health.
ROKPA International, based in Switzerland, also has many projects. For example, a project at Samye Ling raised money for a girls' school in Kandze Monastery. The trust also helped with relief efforts after the 2010 Yushu earthquake.
The ROKPA Trust is planning to make the Samye Ling temple even bigger. This new extension will have a museum, a library, and lecture halls. It will also have offices and more places to stay. Work on this began in 2008.
Tibetan Art and Crafts at Samye Ling
Samye Ling is also a center for creating and fixing thangkas. Thangkas are traditional Tibetan Buddhist paintings. The Tibetan artist Sherab Palden Beru has taught many Western students how to make these special paintings. The temple walls are decorated with beautiful thangkas made by Sherab Palden Beru and his students.
The center also creates traditional statues and prayer-wheels. These are made by Tibetan experts who live there or visit. You can see many examples of their work around the center. For example, there is a statue of Nagarjuna. This statue was made by Lama Thubten Kunsal.
Samye Ling and Scotland
A Welcoming Place for Visitors
Samye Ling is listed as a tourist attraction by VisitScotland. Many visitors come just to see the beautiful gilded temple. They also enjoy the stupas and gardens with statues of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas.
In the past, there were some disagreements with local residents. But now, the center has a good relationship with the community. Many original members of Samye Ling now live in the area. They help local schools and businesses. Important local leaders, like former MP David Steel, support the center.
In 2003, Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche said that the Scottish Tourist Board told him Samye Ling was one of the most visited places in Scotland. He believes Tibetan Buddhism appeals to people in the West. It helps them find peace in their busy lives.
Famous Scottish comedian Billy Connolly often visits Samye Ling.
A Scottish Buddhist Tartan
In 2010, Lama Yeshe Losal designed a special Buddhist tartan. Tartan is a traditional Scottish fabric pattern. The colors in this tartan represent the five elements in Tibetan beliefs. Lama Yeshe Losal said this tartan shows how much they appreciate the people and culture of Scotland.
See also
- Buddhism in Scotland
- List of monastic houses in Scotland
- Religion in Scotland
