Within the Madhyamaka, the Middle Way, two schools of thought have developed. These views were taught by Buddha Shakyamuni in the sutras of the 2nd and 3rd turning of the wheel of dharma: in the 2ndturning in the Prajnaparamita Sutras he explicitly taught emptiness; the topic of the 3rd turning is tathagatagarbha, another name for Buddha-Nature. In Tibet subsequently the view of emptiness which was taught in the 2nd turning was by some masters given the name Rangtong-Madhyamaka and the view of emptiness which was taught in the 3rd turning was given the name Shentong-Madhyamaka. Rangtong can be translated approximately as “empty of self-nature” and shentong as “empty of other”.

The text „The Rays of the Stainless Vajra Moon” by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye refers to the Shentong-Madhayamaka. The topic of this text is not so much the theory but rather how to practice the view of Shentong-Madhayamaka. The aim of such a practice is to allow this view to become a real experience in one’s own mindstream.

Lama Jampa Thaye was born in 1952 in Manchester, England. Already at young age he was interested in Buddhism and soon had first contacts with the teachings of Theravada and Mahayana. 1973 he for the first time met Karma Thinley Rinpoche and 1974 H.H. Sakya Trizin, who became his two main teachers. Beside others also the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje and Kalu Rinpoche were among his teachers. Already as early as 1974 he founded the Kagyu center in Manchester.

Lama Jampa Thaye is a teacher of the Sakya and Karma Kagyü tradition – one of the first fully authorized masters of the Tibetan buddhist tradition who was born and grew up in the West.

He has founded buddhist centers and groups all around the world and teaches worldwide. He is among the lecturers at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in New-Delhi and upon request of Shamar Rinpoche he also teaches in the Bodhi Path Centers.

The 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje said about him: „In our present day and age, it is rare to find teachers like Lama Jampa Thaye.”

We are glad that Lama Jampa Thaye will teach the text “The Rays of the Stainless Vajra Moon” from Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye here in Vienna.

Session times for explanations and meditation:
Friday, 16.02.2024
09.30-11.00, 11.30-13.00, 15.00-16.30, 17.00-18.30

Saturday, 17.02.2024
09.30-11.00, 11.30-13.00, 15.00-16.30, 17.00-18.30

Sunday, 18.2.2024
09.30-11.00, 11.30-13.00

Course Fee:
15 to 20 Euro per Unit (Course: 150 to 200 Euro), for participants in the centre or via zoom
The course can be attended at our centre or via Zoom. Zoom Link will be sent shortly before course starts.

Registration is necessary: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it