The centre has played host to an array of international teachers on both meditation and mindfulness.  The following teachers have taught workshops and courses at our centre:

 

Rob Nairn is the representative in Africa for The Venerable Dr Akong Rinpoche with responsibility for eleven Buddhist centres in four African countries. His objective is to teach meditation and Tibetan Buddhism to all interested, as well as at graduate and undergraduate level in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Africa and the United States through universities and Dharma Centres.

His unique mix of training and experience in law and psychology as well as having been instructed by eminent meditation teachers enables him to explain traditional Buddhistconcepts from a Western psychological perspective

 

Donal Creedon is a meditation teacher with many years experience, loved and deeply appreciated for his warmth, openness and sincerity. Donal has spent 12 years in retreat and was also a fellow of the Krishnamurti Foundation of India for 3 years.

This allows him to balance a clear and thorough understanding of Tibetan Buddhism with the non-sectarian and uncomplicated teachings given by Krishnamurti, helping Donal to communicate the heart of Buddhist teachings beyond language and culture. For more information, click here.

 

UK-based teachers:

 

Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche joined Akong Tulku Rinpoche and Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in Scotland in 1969 where they had founded Kagyu Samye Ling, the first Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Europe. He became the Abbot of the Monastery and he is also project director of Holy Island, which houses a world’s inter-faith centre.

Lama Yeshe Losal also travels extensively, giving teachings at many associated Samye Dzong branches around the world and participating in numerous interfaith events at the highest level.

His charismatic presence and good humour gives Lama Yeshe the ability to connect with people from all walks of life making him much in demand as a guest speaker at many high profile events’ such as the prestigious Shell International Conference at Maastricht where he was invited to speak to the top six hundred managers in 1999. A year later he attended a week long conference of the Global Business Network in Sonoma USA, where he addressed leading CEOs from many of the world’s multi-national companies on the benefits of meditation.

Publications include “Living Dharma”, also published in French, German, Finnish and Spanish.
Joyful Living, Part One, Joyful Living, Part Two. For more information on Lama Yeshe, click here.

 

Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche is President of ROKPA International, Rinpoche – (meaning precious) – is a Tibetan who came to England in 1963. He visited his homeland in 1986 after a long absence and since then has worked ceaselessly for the expansion of humanitarian activities both there and in many other parts of the World. Founder of Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland.

 

Gelong Thubten : Born into a Buddhist family, Thubten was ordained in 1993. During his early years as a monk he completed a total of 200 pairs of the Nyungney fasting practice in retreat. He has been able to receive teachings and transmissions from many of the greatest Kagyu Lamas. Later he travelled widely teaching at Samye Dzong centres around the world and regularly serves as Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche’s assistant on teaching tours.

He has taught meditation as a method of stress management for business executives in top UK companies, as well as within the NHS, in prisons, to addiction counselling services, local councils and social workers.

In June 2005 Gelong Thubten entered the first long retreat to take place at Samye Dechen Shing on the Isle of Arran. After completing the retreat in June 2009, it is his heartfelt wish to enter the next retreat when it begins in October 2010.

 

Clive Holmes : has been teaching meditation for the last twenty years all over the UK, as well as in Samye Dzong centres overseas. He has completed over a year in intensive retreat and has studied in Europe and India with teachers from Burma, South East Asia, Japan and Tibet. He also has a degree in western philosophy. He is co-editor of  the books “Taming the Tiger”and “Restoring the Balance” by Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche.  He also has an honorary appointment as Teaching Fellow in the School of Education at Aberdeen University and is involved in teaching MSc Mindfulness.