Samye Ling – Tibetan Buddhist Centre

Yet again I’ve been completely distracted from blogging! Alongside work, blogging and general life I’m studying a web development course! It’s coming into the final stages now do is getting quite intense.
That and the fact I can’t help but work on a little side project I’ve got going – Erica’s Imagination

Feel free to have a little peek if you haven’t already!

Mothers day was almost a week ago now (time is flying) and I spent it with my nana. We picked her up mid morning and whisked her away to Samye Lings. If you have never heard of Samye Ling, it is situated in Eskdalemuir in South West Scotland, 15 miles from Lockerbie.

If was spectacular! Traveling there we passed through some fine Scottish country side that would not looked out-of-place in a movie. It was breath-taking! We passed through sleepy villages, forests, over rivers and ravines and past lush fields.

We even saw a pea hen that I thought was a turkey! Needless to say I’m not going to live that one down!

The retreat itself was set on a quite road. My nan, who had been many times before over the past 30 years told us that it used to be completely hidden from sight by trees. No it is pretty visible, although I suspect that is to draw people in to visit.

Samye Ling is a monastery and international centre of Buddhist training, known for the authenticity of its teachings and tradition. It offers instruction in Buddhist philosophy and meditation within the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also a centre for the preservation of Tibetan religion, culture, medicine, art, architecture and handicrafts.

Founded in 1967 by two spiritual masters, Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche and Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Samye Ling was the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre to be established in the West and was named after Samye, the very first monastery to be established in Tibet.

Samye Ling is home to a residential community of over 60 people, made up of both monastic and lay volunteers.

The centre is completely ran by volunteers, with all profits going back into the centre. They have plans to build classrooms, libraries and expand on the extensive gardens to grow their own produce.

I hope you enjoy the photos – please visit the Samye Ling website to learn more about the work that goes on there.