Meditating on Emptiness, Retreat with Geshe Losel (Onsite) - April Bank Holiday, 17th to 21st April 2025
Date: April Bank Holiday, arrive Thur 17th, finish Mon 21st April 2025
Times: Starting with a welcome on Thursday evening at 8:00pm, closing Monday early afternoon
Format: Residential retreat onsite, stay offsite options available
Overview
Here even the various pleasing blossoming flowers
And attractive shining supreme golden houses
Have no inherently existent maker at all.
They are set up through the power of thought.
Through the power of conceptuality, the world is established.
~ Buddha
The realisation of emptiness is the understanding that all things lack inherent existence, that they do not exist from their own side, including our own very sense of self, our ‘I’. This is contrary to how we ordinarily see ourselves and the world. Out of a deep-seated ignorance we grasp at things as having inherent existence, existing from their own side.
This misapprehension of reality drives us to act unskilfully and is the very root cause of all our suffering. By realising emptiness directly we can put an end to our suffering altogether, bringing total peace of mind, Nirvana. Understanding and meditating on emptiness correctly is very inspiring and beneficial but it is challenging, even with the help of many authoritative texts that explain it.
The retreat will cover the preliminary practices that make meditating on emptiness easier and it will ground our meditation on emptiness in the context of Buddha’s path to freedom. It will focus on explaining the correct view of emptiness in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as beautifully explained by Je Tsongkhapa. It will be an opportunity to practise how to meditate on emptiness, what steps to take, using a selection of the reasonings that prove it. It will give guidance on what to do when we get stuck and how to know when our meditation is working.
This retreat is intended to be highly practical, helping to spur on our understanding of emptiness, providing support and encouragement to clarify our doubts and uncertainties, or to tackle our burning questions and challenging points, giving us the ingredients to make joyful progress with this essential realisation.
This course will provide a useful introduction for those new to Buddhism and the topic of emptiness, and a great opportunity for those who have been practicing Buddhism for a while to sharpen their understanding.
Topics
The need to meditate on emptiness
The correct view of emptiness
The importance of meditation on this topic
How to meditate on emptiness
Reasonings that prove emptiness
The ingredients of successful practice
What to do when we get stuck
Schedule
Thursday 17th April
7:00pm - Supper
Arrive for 8:00pm evening introduction
Friday 18th to Sunday 20th April
8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast
9.30am-12:30pm - Session, with break
12:30-3:00pm - Lunch & Break
3:00pm-6:00pm - Session, with break
6:00pm-7:00pm - Break
7:00pm - Supper
Monday 21st April
8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast
9.30am-12:00pm - Session, with break
12:00pm-2:30pm - Lunch & Break
2.30pm-3.30pm - Session, with break
[Sample schedule, subject to adjustment]
About the Teacher
Geshe Tenzin Losel was born in mid-20th century Britain. He first met Buddhist teachings in England thanks to the exceptionally kind efforts of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa, reaching out to westerners. He left for India in 1990 for further studies and received full ordination as a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan tradition from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1994. He is one of the handful of Westerners trained for two decades in the traditional Tibetan way as a geshe. While a student at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, he attended many public teachings by His Holiness there. In 2006 he received his geshe degree from Drepung Loseling, the monastery where the late Geshe Damcho, founder of Lam Rim Wales also trained. After returning to Britain to care for his parents in their last years, he moved in 2018 to Nalanda Monastery in France. As well as teaching, he has been involved in translating vinaya materials, which deal with ethical conduct and vows, especially for monastics. In fulfilment of Geshe Damcho’s request to him to teach in his centres, he is now associated with Lam Rim Wales and Lam Rim Bristol.
Translations
Tsongkhapa's Praise for Dependent Relativity (2011, Wisdom Publications)
A Glowing Light of Scripture and Reasoning, Lamp Illuminating the Essentials of the Four Seals that Authenticate the View by Gen Lamrimpa Ngawang Phuntsok. (2019). Free Download >
A Mirror Making All Things Clear, A Presentation of Signs and Reasonings by Geshe Tsultrim Namgyel. (2019). Free Download >
Who Should Attend
Course suitable for those looking for an introduction to emptiness or who have studied the topic for a while. Anyone interested in meditation, religious life and inner development is welcome.
Lunch & Refreshments
We are pleased to provide complimentary refreshments throughout the course, with breakfast, lunch and a evening meal. Please advise of any dietary requirements on the booking form.
Residential Accommodation
To understand more about residential accommodation and the various rooms available, click here >
Location
Teachings will be onsite at Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, Pentwyn Manor, Penrhos, Raglan, Usk, Wales, NP15 2LE - directions here >
Visiting by public transport, more information here >
Tickets & Donation
Everyone is welcome to attend Buddhist teachings freely with no donation. However, the Centre does rely on donations to stay open, which are gratefully received. We offer two main rates to enable as many people as possible to attend our teachings. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you are able. Your generosity is vital in supporting the Centre.
Standard Rate - This includes a donation to help sustain Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, and to cover costs and teacher expenses.
Basic Rate - This covers the very basic costs of running this course.
Support Rate - Contact us via lamrimwalesmanagers@gmail.com if the above rates are too high for you where we can discuss further subsidised options.
Donate Onsite - If you prefer to donate cash or use card onsite, please select this ticket option and complete the booking form register.
Donate via BACS - If you prefer to donate via BACS, please select this ticket option and complete the booking form register. Then follow the instructions for BACS donation >
Important on Booking: Our online system uses PayPal to take donations. If you do not have a PayPal Account you can pay as a Guest. Please click the link ‘Try Another Way’ , then follow instructions for ‘Pay by Debit or Credit Card’.
Date: April Bank Holiday, arrive Thur 17th, finish Mon 21st April 2025
Times: Starting with a welcome on Thursday evening at 8:00pm, closing Monday early afternoon
Format: Residential retreat onsite, stay offsite options available
Overview
Here even the various pleasing blossoming flowers
And attractive shining supreme golden houses
Have no inherently existent maker at all.
They are set up through the power of thought.
Through the power of conceptuality, the world is established.
~ Buddha
The realisation of emptiness is the understanding that all things lack inherent existence, that they do not exist from their own side, including our own very sense of self, our ‘I’. This is contrary to how we ordinarily see ourselves and the world. Out of a deep-seated ignorance we grasp at things as having inherent existence, existing from their own side.
This misapprehension of reality drives us to act unskilfully and is the very root cause of all our suffering. By realising emptiness directly we can put an end to our suffering altogether, bringing total peace of mind, Nirvana. Understanding and meditating on emptiness correctly is very inspiring and beneficial but it is challenging, even with the help of many authoritative texts that explain it.
The retreat will cover the preliminary practices that make meditating on emptiness easier and it will ground our meditation on emptiness in the context of Buddha’s path to freedom. It will focus on explaining the correct view of emptiness in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as beautifully explained by Je Tsongkhapa. It will be an opportunity to practise how to meditate on emptiness, what steps to take, using a selection of the reasonings that prove it. It will give guidance on what to do when we get stuck and how to know when our meditation is working.
This retreat is intended to be highly practical, helping to spur on our understanding of emptiness, providing support and encouragement to clarify our doubts and uncertainties, or to tackle our burning questions and challenging points, giving us the ingredients to make joyful progress with this essential realisation.
This course will provide a useful introduction for those new to Buddhism and the topic of emptiness, and a great opportunity for those who have been practicing Buddhism for a while to sharpen their understanding.
Topics
The need to meditate on emptiness
The correct view of emptiness
The importance of meditation on this topic
How to meditate on emptiness
Reasonings that prove emptiness
The ingredients of successful practice
What to do when we get stuck
Schedule
Thursday 17th April
7:00pm - Supper
Arrive for 8:00pm evening introduction
Friday 18th to Sunday 20th April
8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast
9.30am-12:30pm - Session, with break
12:30-3:00pm - Lunch & Break
3:00pm-6:00pm - Session, with break
6:00pm-7:00pm - Break
7:00pm - Supper
Monday 21st April
8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast
9.30am-12:00pm - Session, with break
12:00pm-2:30pm - Lunch & Break
2.30pm-3.30pm - Session, with break
[Sample schedule, subject to adjustment]
About the Teacher
Geshe Tenzin Losel was born in mid-20th century Britain. He first met Buddhist teachings in England thanks to the exceptionally kind efforts of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa, reaching out to westerners. He left for India in 1990 for further studies and received full ordination as a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan tradition from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1994. He is one of the handful of Westerners trained for two decades in the traditional Tibetan way as a geshe. While a student at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, he attended many public teachings by His Holiness there. In 2006 he received his geshe degree from Drepung Loseling, the monastery where the late Geshe Damcho, founder of Lam Rim Wales also trained. After returning to Britain to care for his parents in their last years, he moved in 2018 to Nalanda Monastery in France. As well as teaching, he has been involved in translating vinaya materials, which deal with ethical conduct and vows, especially for monastics. In fulfilment of Geshe Damcho’s request to him to teach in his centres, he is now associated with Lam Rim Wales and Lam Rim Bristol.
Translations
Tsongkhapa's Praise for Dependent Relativity (2011, Wisdom Publications)
A Glowing Light of Scripture and Reasoning, Lamp Illuminating the Essentials of the Four Seals that Authenticate the View by Gen Lamrimpa Ngawang Phuntsok. (2019). Free Download >
A Mirror Making All Things Clear, A Presentation of Signs and Reasonings by Geshe Tsultrim Namgyel. (2019). Free Download >
Who Should Attend
Course suitable for those looking for an introduction to emptiness or who have studied the topic for a while. Anyone interested in meditation, religious life and inner development is welcome.
Lunch & Refreshments
We are pleased to provide complimentary refreshments throughout the course, with breakfast, lunch and a evening meal. Please advise of any dietary requirements on the booking form.
Residential Accommodation
To understand more about residential accommodation and the various rooms available, click here >
Location
Teachings will be onsite at Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, Pentwyn Manor, Penrhos, Raglan, Usk, Wales, NP15 2LE - directions here >
Visiting by public transport, more information here >
Tickets & Donation
Everyone is welcome to attend Buddhist teachings freely with no donation. However, the Centre does rely on donations to stay open, which are gratefully received. We offer two main rates to enable as many people as possible to attend our teachings. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you are able. Your generosity is vital in supporting the Centre.
Standard Rate - This includes a donation to help sustain Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, and to cover costs and teacher expenses.
Basic Rate - This covers the very basic costs of running this course.
Support Rate - Contact us via lamrimwalesmanagers@gmail.com if the above rates are too high for you where we can discuss further subsidised options.
Donate Onsite - If you prefer to donate cash or use card onsite, please select this ticket option and complete the booking form register.
Donate via BACS - If you prefer to donate via BACS, please select this ticket option and complete the booking form register. Then follow the instructions for BACS donation >
Important on Booking: Our online system uses PayPal to take donations. If you do not have a PayPal Account you can pay as a Guest. Please click the link ‘Try Another Way’ , then follow instructions for ‘Pay by Debit or Credit Card’.
Date: April Bank Holiday, arrive Thur 17th, finish Mon 21st April 2025
Times: Starting with a welcome on Thursday evening at 8:00pm, closing Monday early afternoon
Format: Residential retreat onsite, stay offsite options available
Overview
Here even the various pleasing blossoming flowers
And attractive shining supreme golden houses
Have no inherently existent maker at all.
They are set up through the power of thought.
Through the power of conceptuality, the world is established.
~ Buddha
The realisation of emptiness is the understanding that all things lack inherent existence, that they do not exist from their own side, including our own very sense of self, our ‘I’. This is contrary to how we ordinarily see ourselves and the world. Out of a deep-seated ignorance we grasp at things as having inherent existence, existing from their own side.
This misapprehension of reality drives us to act unskilfully and is the very root cause of all our suffering. By realising emptiness directly we can put an end to our suffering altogether, bringing total peace of mind, Nirvana. Understanding and meditating on emptiness correctly is very inspiring and beneficial but it is challenging, even with the help of many authoritative texts that explain it.
The retreat will cover the preliminary practices that make meditating on emptiness easier and it will ground our meditation on emptiness in the context of Buddha’s path to freedom. It will focus on explaining the correct view of emptiness in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as beautifully explained by Je Tsongkhapa. It will be an opportunity to practise how to meditate on emptiness, what steps to take, using a selection of the reasonings that prove it. It will give guidance on what to do when we get stuck and how to know when our meditation is working.
This retreat is intended to be highly practical, helping to spur on our understanding of emptiness, providing support and encouragement to clarify our doubts and uncertainties, or to tackle our burning questions and challenging points, giving us the ingredients to make joyful progress with this essential realisation.
This course will provide a useful introduction for those new to Buddhism and the topic of emptiness, and a great opportunity for those who have been practicing Buddhism for a while to sharpen their understanding.
Topics
The need to meditate on emptiness
The correct view of emptiness
The importance of meditation on this topic
How to meditate on emptiness
Reasonings that prove emptiness
The ingredients of successful practice
What to do when we get stuck
Schedule
Thursday 17th April
7:00pm - Supper
Arrive for 8:00pm evening introduction
Friday 18th to Sunday 20th April
8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast
9.30am-12:30pm - Session, with break
12:30-3:00pm - Lunch & Break
3:00pm-6:00pm - Session, with break
6:00pm-7:00pm - Break
7:00pm - Supper
Monday 21st April
8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast
9.30am-12:00pm - Session, with break
12:00pm-2:30pm - Lunch & Break
2.30pm-3.30pm - Session, with break
[Sample schedule, subject to adjustment]
About the Teacher
Geshe Tenzin Losel was born in mid-20th century Britain. He first met Buddhist teachings in England thanks to the exceptionally kind efforts of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa, reaching out to westerners. He left for India in 1990 for further studies and received full ordination as a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan tradition from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1994. He is one of the handful of Westerners trained for two decades in the traditional Tibetan way as a geshe. While a student at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, he attended many public teachings by His Holiness there. In 2006 he received his geshe degree from Drepung Loseling, the monastery where the late Geshe Damcho, founder of Lam Rim Wales also trained. After returning to Britain to care for his parents in their last years, he moved in 2018 to Nalanda Monastery in France. As well as teaching, he has been involved in translating vinaya materials, which deal with ethical conduct and vows, especially for monastics. In fulfilment of Geshe Damcho’s request to him to teach in his centres, he is now associated with Lam Rim Wales and Lam Rim Bristol.
Translations
Tsongkhapa's Praise for Dependent Relativity (2011, Wisdom Publications)
A Glowing Light of Scripture and Reasoning, Lamp Illuminating the Essentials of the Four Seals that Authenticate the View by Gen Lamrimpa Ngawang Phuntsok. (2019). Free Download >
A Mirror Making All Things Clear, A Presentation of Signs and Reasonings by Geshe Tsultrim Namgyel. (2019). Free Download >
Who Should Attend
Course suitable for those looking for an introduction to emptiness or who have studied the topic for a while. Anyone interested in meditation, religious life and inner development is welcome.
Lunch & Refreshments
We are pleased to provide complimentary refreshments throughout the course, with breakfast, lunch and a evening meal. Please advise of any dietary requirements on the booking form.
Residential Accommodation
To understand more about residential accommodation and the various rooms available, click here >
Location
Teachings will be onsite at Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, Pentwyn Manor, Penrhos, Raglan, Usk, Wales, NP15 2LE - directions here >
Visiting by public transport, more information here >
Tickets & Donation
Everyone is welcome to attend Buddhist teachings freely with no donation. However, the Centre does rely on donations to stay open, which are gratefully received. We offer two main rates to enable as many people as possible to attend our teachings. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you are able. Your generosity is vital in supporting the Centre.
Standard Rate - This includes a donation to help sustain Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, and to cover costs and teacher expenses.
Basic Rate - This covers the very basic costs of running this course.
Support Rate - Contact us via lamrimwalesmanagers@gmail.com if the above rates are too high for you where we can discuss further subsidised options.
Donate Onsite - If you prefer to donate cash or use card onsite, please select this ticket option and complete the booking form register.
Donate via BACS - If you prefer to donate via BACS, please select this ticket option and complete the booking form register. Then follow the instructions for BACS donation >
Important on Booking: Our online system uses PayPal to take donations. If you do not have a PayPal Account you can pay as a Guest. Please click the link ‘Try Another Way’ , then follow instructions for ‘Pay by Debit or Credit Card’.