Sakya Dechen Ling: Three Times Blessed 6th June 2017 It is most auspicious that in the four months since our new centre in London for Sakya Dechen Ling opened, three of our Lamas, including the head of our tradition His Holiness Sakya Trizin, have visited to bestow their blessings upon it. Shortly after we opened the centre’s doors at the end of February, Lama Jampa Thaye visited the premises in Chepstow Road, West London, which students had transformed into a dharma centre. On that occasion, we offered a mandel tensum to Lama Jampa as a symbol of the wider offering of the centre itself. We offered prayers of long life to our Sakya Lamas that they may continue to turn the wheel of dharma. Lama Jampa offered encouragement to sangha members, saying this was a place fit to meditate and practise together and to welcome people who may want to meet with an authentic Buddhist tradition. He concluded with recitation of prayers to the Sakya lineage and to the Sakya Protectors, thus giving his blessing. May 12th: Karma Thinley Rinpoche Sangha members from London and beyond were again delighted, in May, when Karma Thinley Rinpoche was able to visit to impart his blessings on the new centre. Lama Jampa offered a mandel tensum and led prayers for Rinpoche’s long life. Rinpoche, in turn, gave reading transmissions for the Heart Sutra and the Confession to the 35 Buddhas, and his blessing to the new Sakya Dechen Ling. June 1st: His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin During his visit to the UK, His Holiness The 42nd Sakya Trizin, Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, accepted Lama Jampa’s invitation to visit Sakya Dechen Ling. There, he received a mandel tensum offering and bestowed his blessings on the new centre. This day was especially auspicious because, as His Holiness pointed out, it fell inside the lunar calendar month of Saga Dawa. This is the holiest month in the Buddhist calendar, being the month in which Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment and also, many years later, entered parinirvana. His Holiness, accompanied by his party of monks, recited The Remembrance of The Three Jewels Sutra, Confession to the 35 Buddhas, the Generation of Bodhichitta and Sakya Lineage Prayers, before reciting consecration prayers. In this way, our Dechen sangha in London is hugely encouraged that we have a fit place to meet to practise together and to welcome new people who might wish to take some of the basic steps on entering the Buddhist path. Teachings in London by His Holiness On the evening of 1st June, many students from several Sakyapa sanghas from around the world gathered to hear His Holiness’s teachings and receive the initiation on the three deities of longevity.