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Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre is a Tibetan Buddhist complex associated with the Kagyu school located at Eskdalemuir near Langholm, Scotland.
Samye_ling_temple.jpg
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History
The site of Samyé Ling was originally a hunting lodge. Johnstone House Contemplative Community was founded there by Theravada monk Anandabodhi. This community declined and Anadabodhi went to Canada he became ordained in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition, and became Namgyal Rinpoche. Chögyam Trungpa and Akong Rinpoche were given the centre by the Theravadins and renamed it Samyé Ling.
Trungpa later left and founded further centres in the United States. The name Samye refers to the first Buddhist monastic university in Tibet, while Ling means a large house with grounds.
The centre flourished and developed under the guidance of Akong Rinpoche and his brother Lama Yeshe Losal, who served as Abbot and Retreat Master, respectively. The centre includes the first Tibetan temple to be constructed in Europe, a large stupa, and accommodation for those taking a range of courses on Buddhism and meditation.
Tourist attraction
Listed as a tourist attraction by the Scottish Tourist Board, the centre attracts visitors who come simply to see a spectacular gilded temple, stupas and gardens with statues of bodhisattvas and Buddhas.
See also
External link
- Samye Ling web site (http://www.samyeling.org)