Sakya and Karma Kagyu

Buddhist Centres and Groups

Dechen centres and groups of the Sakya or Karma Kagyu traditions 

We offer you the opportunity to connect with the profound teachings and practices of these two traditions.

Visit your local centre
Group of people sitting on cushions and chairs in a brightly decorated room with yellow walls, featuring traditional Tibetan Thangka paintings and a large colorful tapestry on the wall.

What does your local Dechen Buddhist centre offer?

All of our centres offer a range of ways to connect with the Buddhist path, from introductory classes to vajrayana practices. Programmes will also include study groups, retreats and social events.
browse our events

Sakya Buddhist Centres and Groups

  • Dechen Bristol

    Sakya Thinely Rinchen Ling
    A Rich Programme of Teachings and Practice

    Learn more

  • Dechen London

    Sakya Dechen Ling
    Bringing the Sakya Tradition to the Heart of London

    Learn more

  • Dechen Los Angeles

    Sakya Samten  Ling
    A Gateway to the Sakya Buddhist Tradition

    Learn more

  • Dechen Mexico

    Sakya Dolma Ling
    A Vibrant Hub for Sakya Buddhist Practice

    Learn more

  • Dechen Stuttgart

    Sakya Dechen Ling
    Stuttgart’s Hub for Study, Practice, and Community

    Learn more

A rustic countryside house with a stone exterior and a red tile roof, surrounded by trees and a grassy area. A large white event tent is set up beside it, decorated with colorful pennant banners. There are a few people walking on a dirt path nearby, and a white van is parked in front of the tent.
A large group of people, including children, adults, and elderly, gathered inside a decorated white tent outdoors, with trees and greenery visible in the background.

Sakya Changlochen Ling

A Sanctuary of Wisdom and Transmission

Set amidst the tranquil Dordogne region of southwestern France, Sakya Changlochen Ling is Dechen’s European retreat centre—a sacred retreat where the Sakya tradition's golden wisdom is studied, practiced, and transmitted under the guidance of Lama Jampa Thaye.

Each year, the centre hosts an immersive summer school of study and practice —where Lama Jampa leads students through key Sakya texts and initiations. Over the years, the centre has been blessed by visits by lineage heads, including the 41st and 42nd Sakya Trizins. Most recently, in August 2023, His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche honoured the centre by offering the rare initiation of Red Saraswati—bestowing blessings of wisdom that underlie all qualities of the Buddhist path.

Alongside the depth of study and meditation, the retreat weeks at Sakya Changlochen Ling are also a time of genuine joy and connection. Participants not only receive precious teachings and engage in daily practice but also share meals, music, and relaxed social evenings together. These moments of friendship and celebration create a warm, welcoming atmosphere where the rigour of study and the focus of meditation are balanced by laughter, conversation, and the simple pleasure of being in retreat with others on the path.

Learn more

Kagyu Buddhist Centres and Groups

  • Dechen Yorkshire

    Kagyu Dechen Dzong
    A Hub for Study, Practice, and Community in Harrogate

    Learn more

  • Dechen Manchester

    Kagyu Ling
    Manchester’s Home for Karma Kagyu Study and Practice

    Learn more

  • Dechen Scotland

    A Heart of Authentic Kagyu Practice in Scotland

    Learn more

Painting of an Asian-style temple complex with gardens, a pond, and pathways, surrounded by trees and flowering plants.
Logo of the Mikyo Dorje Institute featuring two white mythical animals, a wheel with intricate designs, and the slogan 'Buddhist Wisdom in Practice'

The Mikyo Dorje Institute

A Living Sanctuary for Dharma and Community 

The Mikyö Dorje Institute will be a major new Dechen centre set in the English countryside, dedicated to the study, practice, and transmission of authentic Tibetan Buddhism.

Blessed by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, the centre will bring together temple, retreat facilities, and communal spaces to host teachings, meditation, ceremonies, and cultural gatherings—creating a sacred environment where timeless wisdom meets collective aspiration.

visit website

Connect with a Dechen Centre Near You

Wherever you are, Dechen centres and groups offer authentic Buddhist teachings, meditation, and community rooted in the Sakya and Karma Kagyu traditions. Join us to study, practise, and take part in events that bring the Dharma into everyday life.

get in touch