He will also be giving talks on mindfulness during his visit. Born in Tibet, Lama Yeshe Rinpoche spent his formative years in education in a Buddhist monastery. In 1969, he and two other high lamas moved to Scotland where they founded the first Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Europe.
He left monastic life for the attractions of the Western world, but after five years was disillusioned with modern Western culture, with its materialism and the false highs of 60s hippydom. He moved to the United States and established a meditation centre in New York where he taught for many years.
Lama Yeshe has done more than 20 years of retreat and has himself been taught by many renowned meditation teachers. His accomplishments have made him one of the foremost meditation masters alive today.
He is Abbot of Kagyu Samye Ling Tibetan Centre in Scotland where he gives retreats, is Director of the Holy Isle Centre for World Peace and Health which focuses on bringing together people of all faiths, and is chairman of Rokpa Trust International’s charity activities.
Lama Yeshe is being hosted by the Harare Kagyu Samye Dzong, which is part of the Rokpa Trust of Zimbabwe. The Trust, which was founded by Lama Yeshe’s brother, Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche, has four main activities which are all founded on the principles of not harming any living beings through actions, speech or attitudes of mind and by performing wholesome and beneficial actions wherever possible:
- Spiritual development including mindfulness,
- Charity for those who are vulnerable,
- Healing and therapy for people living with HIV, and
- Care for the environment.
There are centres in Monavale, Hatfield and Chitungwiza.
