Kagyu Samye Dzong Finland
Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Centre for Peace and Health
Kagyu Samye Dzong and Kagyu Samye Ling centres ‒ as well as Samye Dharma Groups ‒ are part of an international network of meditation centres. This network extends through many countries in Europe and Africa. All the centres and groups are affiliated to Kagyu Samye Ling in Scotland, at the heart of our network of centres under Rokpa Trust.
Samye Ling was the first major Tibetan Buddhist centre in Europe, co-founded by Akong Rinpoche in 1967. Samye Ling means "Inconceivable Place" and was named after Samye, the first Buddhist Monastery set up in Tibet over 1000 years ago. Rokpa Trust also leads Holy Isle project in Scotland. It is hoped that Holy Isle will become a focal point for interfaith work and retreat and be a peaceful refuge in this hectic modern world.
The centres are under the spiritual guidance of Akong Tulku Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, following the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism under the head of the lineage His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. With the blessing of her teachers the activities in Finland are headed by a Finnish nun Ani Sherab, who studied in Kagyu Samye Ling 1988-1997.
Five Golden Rules
The residents and visitors in Samye Ling and Holy Isle are asked to observe the Five Golden Rules, as needful guidelines to attain interior peace and keeping a peaceful environment.
1. To protect life and refrain from killing.
2. To respect other's property and refrain from stealing.
3. To speak the truth and refrain from lying.
4. To embrace health and refrain from intoxicants.
5. To respect others and refrain from sexual misconduct.
"By keeping these Five Golden Rules we aim to keep Kagyu Samye Ling a pure and special place and an example for ourselves and others, now and in the future." – Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche
Humanitarian work and therapy
The humanitarian activities are lead by ROKPA INTERNATIONAL in Zürich. The organization supports about 150 health, education and environmental projects in Tibet, Nepal, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Most of its activities are centred in the Tibetan Areas. ROKPA projects are mainly directed towards the poorest farmers and nomads.
Tara Therapy is developed to help people especially in Western countries, who are looking for a deeper meaning of life. This method combines psychotherapy with eastern philosophy in order to balance emotions and reduce stress and anxiety. Tara Therapy is not combined to religion, but it is a good basis for further stabilizing the mind with meditation.
Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche has visited Finland in June 1998 and May 2011.
Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche visited Finland in 2006 and 2013 (gallery photos).
His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche's advice to Rokpa Finland, which covered KSD Finland's work until 2013.
Akong Tulku Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe Rinpoche have both visited Finland twice, here are some photos:
