Centre of Compassion
Study Group
(formerly known as Jamyang Liverpool)

A happy new year for 2022. Our Study Group begins teachings again next Monday 10th January. The first module of teachings continues our exploration of Bodhicitta and the Bodhisattva Path. We are really excited to announce that we have been offered teachings by Geshe Thubten Sherab for the first four weeks of our teaching programme. Geshe Sherab will be teaching on the topic of Bodhisattva Vows and in the fourth week he has very kindly offered to give Bodhisattva Vows to anyone who would like to do that. 

This will be the third time that Geshe-La has offered our group teachings, although obviously this time we will be meeting online. I hope that you are able to join us. If you are interested in these teachings which take place on the following dates:

Monday 10th January
Monday 17th January
Monday 24th January
Monday 31st January

Please drop us a quick email (centreofcompassion@gmail.com) to receive the zoom link and other details. The teachings will take place between 6.30 pm and 8.0 pm UK time. 

Here is a lovely biography of Geshe Sherab which we thought you would enjoy reading:

I was born in 1967 in a very small village in the western part of Nepal. Because my parents had five sons, they wanted at least one to join the monastery; it is an honour and a way of accumulating merit for the family. My parents had a disagreement about who should join the monastery, me or my younger brother, and finally they decided on my younger brother. They brought him to Kopan Monastery, but he was rejected because he was too young, although they had accepted others of the same age. I guess he didn't have the karma in this life to be a monk. When my parents brought me to the monastery, I was accepted. 

When I was around eighteen, as any normal teenager, I struggled a lot, not knowing whether it was best for me to continue or to disrobe. But then, just before I went to Sera, I made the strong decision that being a monk continuously was how I was going to spend my life. 

I had the opportunity to meet and receive teachings from extremely great Lamas and Geshes like Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lama Lhundrup, Lama Konchog, Geshe Gyatso and Geshe Doga, while studying in Kopan monastery. My main root gurus are H.H. Dalai Lama, Gaden Tri Rinpoche, Losang Tenzin, H.E. Khensur Rinpoche Losang Tsering, H.E. Khensur Rinpoche Losang Delek, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. I have great respect for them; they were role models for me and inspired me to study.

I also had many gurus from whom I received initiations, oral transmissions and teachings. Some of them are:

the late Dulkhu Khentse Rinpoche, Denma Lochoe Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, H.E. Khensur Ugen Tseten, Panang Rinpoche, and H. Holiness Sakya Trisur Rinpoche.

I studied in Sera Je Monastery for the Geshe degree from 1987 to 2000. What has influenced me greatly, during that time and since, has been spending time around my teachers and observing how they practice, how they engage in their daily lives. 

After I completed my Geshe studies, I went to Gyume Tantric College for a year and then I was sent to the United States to help at FPMT's International Office, as well as teach at the centres in Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I believe Geshes need to think about how to benefit more people, whether they are Buddhist or not. My view is that it doesn't matter whether people follow the traditional way of practicing or even if they are Buddhist. There are so many good aspects of the Dharma that we can share with them. We sincerely need to respect all other religious traditions, not just with our mouths, but with our hearts. We have His Holiness the Dalai Lama as an example of how to treat other religions with respect.

We also need to understand Western culture and psychology so that we, as Geshes, can be more effective and bring more benefit. However, we should not take too many liberties in changing the traditional ways of doing things, just because it doesn't suit the Westerners' way or because they don't like it. We should always think of the long-term benefit as opposed to simply short-term results.

For beginners in the Dharma, the most important thing is to try and integrate one's study and practice. Some are only into studying, they focus only on the intellectual. They have knowledge like a computer, but this knowledge never really touches the heart. This kind of individual becomes very arrogant and tends to look down on other people with less learning.

Then there are also people who do no study, thinking that all they need to do is practice. But how can you practice if you haven't studied? Study is crucial. Without study, the wrong teacher can easily misguide, take advantage of, and exploit students. Of course, I would emphasize this is my own personal view and I do not mean to imply criticism of anyone.

My final request of my students is to integrate study and practice together, which has always been the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
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Hope to see you at one of our meetings. Please do get in touch if you need more information. 

We currently offer a range of online services to help you learn, stay connected, and feel supported.

The FPMT UK National Office are in the process of coordinating activities with all the centres and study groups within the UK, to offer a range of Covid 19 support, and online services to help you learn, stay connected, and feel supported.

Online activities including pujas, teachings, meditations etc., are available for you all in one place via the Google calendar below.

LDN - Jamyang Buddhist Centre London & FDCW

LDS - Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds

LVL - Centre for Compassion (Liverpool)

- Jamyang Bath Study Group

- Saraswati Study Group

- Togme Sangpo Study Group

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Would you like to learn how to meditate with
friendly like-minded people?   


We attract visiting teachers, enjoy different types of meditation and we read and discuss books from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom archive (www.lamayeshe.com).
 
Oh, and we are big fans of His Holiness the Dalai Lama  (www.dalailama.com) and the founders of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (www.fpmt.org) Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Suggested donation £10 
per class per person

We are organised by unpaid volunteers and are completely reliant on receiving donations to keep going! 

Your generosity is very much appreciated and will help us to invite more teachers to Liverpool from across the globe.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Photographer Olivier Adam)
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Lama Thubten Yeshe, founder of the FPMT (LamaYesheWidomArchive)
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of the FPMT

Centre of Compassion Study Group is an FPMT Study Group

FPMT study groups are groups which are using this status as a probationary period before a group becomes a legal entity and a full FPMT centre.

FPMT Study Groups are not yet affiliated with the FPMT, and therefore do not have the same responsibilities as a centre, financially or administratively.
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Our guiding centre is Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds:        
Jamyang Leeds Buddhist Centre Website       Jamyang Leeds Buddhist Centre Facebook

We follow the Tibetan Gelugpa Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught by
​our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and our spiritual director, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. 

"Real happiness in life starts when you begin to cherish others." Lama Zopa Rinpoche​
Access the latest news from Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) here on the international FPMT website 


​Visit the UK FPMT website
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Statement from UK Buddhist Groups