Discovering Buddhism 2025-2026
2024-11-11 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-11-18 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-11-25 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-12-02 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-12-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-12-16 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-12-23 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-12-30 18:30 - 20:30 (Europe/London) and 10 more dates | Hybrid, 43 Renfrew Road, London, London, SE11 4NA, United Kingdom
Please note that enrolment on this course has now closed. The course is now available as a self-paced online program! Head over to our Discovering Buddhism Self Study page to learn more.
Discovering Buddhism

Course Details

Start Date: May 5th, 2025
Schedule: Mondays, 6:30-8:30 PM (UK)
Format: In-person & Online
Location: Jamyang London Buddhist Centre, Kennington
Teachers: Geshe Namdak & Ven. Gendun

About the Course
Have you ever wondered where modern practices like mindfulness and meditation come from? They have their roots in the timeless teachings of the Buddha, developed over centuries to help people cultivate peace, resilience, and wisdom in their lives. Discovering Buddhism is your opportunity to explore these ancient insights and discover how they remain profoundly relevant today.
Buddhist teachings may seem vast and complex at first glance, encompassing philosophy, psychology, and practical tools for living a meaningful life. Fortunately, great masters distilled these teachings into clear, structured paths to guide students step by step. This course introduces you to these practical frameworks, helping you make sense of the Buddhist path and its transformative potential.
Through Discovering Buddhism, you’ll explore essential topics like the mind, karma, meditation, and the art of living a compassionate life. Whether you’re looking to deepen your meditation practice, understand the workings of the mind, or simply find a greater sense of purpose, this course will give you the tools and understanding to start—or deepen—your journey.
The course is accessible to everyone, whether you’re completely new to Buddhism or already familiar with mindfulness and mental wellbeing. Taught by the highly respected Geshe Tenzin Namdak, and offered both in-person and online, it provides a supportive and welcoming environment to learn and grow.
Starting May 2025
Starting in May 2025, Discovering Buddhism will run every Monday evening at 6:30 pm, with options for both in-person and online study. This hybrid format ensures you can join wherever you are, whether you prefer the atmosphere of a classroom or the convenience of learning from home. Recording of each class will be made available for students in time-zones further afield so everyone can access these teachings.
The course will be led by two inspiring teachers: Geshe Tenzin Namdak, a renowned scholar and teacher of Buddhist philosophy, and Ven. Gendun, a dedicated monk from Nalanda Monastery with a wealth of experience in Buddhist study and practice. Together, they’ll provide clear guidance, relatable insights, and the opportunity to engage with centuries-old teachings in a way that feels relevant and accessible today
About the Teachers
Get to know Geshe Namdak and Ven. Gendun, your expert guides to Discovering Buddhism:

Geshe Tenzin Namdak
Resident Teacher at Jamyang
Geshe Tenzin Namdak brings a unique blend of academic rigor, scientific expertise, and deep spiritual practice to his teachings. After completing his university studies in Hydrology, he worked as an environmental researcher in the Netherlands. He began studying Buddhism at Maitreya Institute, eventually ordaining as a monk under His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
He went on to complete the prestigious 20-year Geshe degree—the equivalent of a PhD in Buddhist philosophy—at Sera Jey Monastic University in India, followed by the traditional one-year Vajrayana study program at Gyume Tantric College.

Venerable Gendun
Monk at Nalanda Monastery
Born in Sri Lanka and growing up in England, Ven. Tenzin Gendun studied at art school and finished a degree in illustration. After completing his tertiary studies, he traveled to India and met Tibetan Buddhism in 1991 through the kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He was ordained in 1992, and then worked in FPMT centers in New Zealand.
Ven. Gendun moved to Nalanda Monastery in France in 2000 to deepen his studies. Since then, he has completed the FPMT Basic Program and Masters Program.

The Course Outline
This course follows a clear and practical learning plan designed to guide you step by step through key Buddhist teachings.

Mind and its Potential
Explore the limitless potential of your mind and discover how to cultivate positive states of awareness.
How to Meditate
Learn the essential techniques to calm the mind, enhance focus, and develop inner peace.
Presenting the Path
Gain a clear understanding of the step-by-step journey to awakening, known in the Tibetan tradition as the Lam Rim Chenmo.
The Spiritual Teacher
Understand the important role of a mentor, teacher, guru and spiritual friend on the path.
Death and Rebirth
Examine the Buddhist perspective on life’s impermanence, death, and the continuity of consciousness.

All about Karma
Discover how actions shape your experiences and how to create positive change through mindful choices.
Refuge in the Three Jewels
Learn what it means to take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha as sources of guidance.
Establishing a Daily Practice
Build a sustainable daily practice that supports your growth and connects you with the teachings.
Samsara and Nirvana
Explore the cycles of dissatisfaction and suffering and how to break free into liberating peace.

How to develop Bodhicitta
Cultivate the mind of compassion and altruism, aiming to benefit all beings.
Transforming Problems
Learn practical methods to transform life’s challenges into opportunities for growth and wisdom.
The wisdom of Emptiness
Delve into the profound teachings on emptiness and gain insights into the true nature of reality.
Introduction to Tantra
Discover the transformative practices of Tantra and their potential for rapid spiritual development.

Classes and the teaching schedule
Classes begin on Monday, May 5th, and run weekly from 6:30–8:30 pm (UK time). You’re warmly invited to join us in person at the Old Courthouse in Kennington or connect online via Zoom for live teachings. Links and updates will be shared each week by our education team.
To make the course even more accessible, weekly recordings will be available for all enrolled students—perfect if you miss a class, want to revisit a topic, or are studying from a different time zone.
Frequently asked questions

How do I register / Sign Up?

Registration for Discovering Buddhism opens in April. Sign up to our newsletter, join the ‘Discovering Buddhism’ Whatsapp group, or follow our social channels for more info soon.

Is this course right for me?
Discovering Buddhism is perfect for anyone curious about exploring Buddhist teachings and practices in a structured and accessible way. Whether you’re completely new to Buddhism, already familiar with mindfulness or meditation, or looking to deepen your understanding, this course meets you where you are.

What is Dhana and the Generosity model?
Dhana is a Sanskrit word meaning generosity or giving. In Buddhism, it’s a foundational practice that cultivates an open heart and a sense of interconnectedness. The teachings of the Buddha are considered priceless, and offering them on the basis of dana reflects this principle.
At Jamyang, we follow a generosity-based model for our courses and events. This means we rely on your contributions to sustain the center and make these teachings accessible to everyone.

How long is the course?
The Discovering Buddhism course runs from May 5th 2025 to July 27th 2026. The course is 15 months in duration and is divided into 13 modules, each focused around a specific topic. To help make the course more manageable we have built in a few gaps in the schedule; these breaks will be during August, December, and April.

Do I have to sign up for every module?

No, you don’t need to sign up for every module! While the Discovering Buddhism course is designed as a complete program, with each module building on the last, you’re welcome to join for the topics that interest you most.

That said, committing to the full course provides a comprehensive understanding of the Buddhist path, and you’ll benefit from the continuity of learning with the same group of students. If you’re unsure, feel free to start with a single module and see how it resonates—there’s no obligation to continue beyond that.

What type of Buddhism do you teach at Jamyang?

At Jamyang, we teach Buddhism in the tradition of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism, which emphasizes compassion, wisdom, and the path to enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. This approach is rooted in the teachings of the great Indian masters like Nagarjuna and Atisha, passed down through Tibetan lineage masters such as Lama Tsongkhapa.

While grounded in these ancient traditions, our teachings are presented in a way that’s accessible and relevant to modern life. Whether you’re exploring meditation, Buddhist philosophy, or practical tools for living with more peace and purpose, our programs are designed to meet you wherever you are on your spiritual journey.
Our centre is affiliated with the global organisation ‘The Foundation for the preservation of the Mahayana Tradition’ (FPMT) founded by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Our Spiritual Director is His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Are there learning resources and support available?

We provide a range of resources to help you get the most out of the Discovering Buddhism course:

Weekly Recordings: All classes are recorded, so you can revisit teachings at your own pace or catch up if you miss a session.
Course Materials: You’ll receive comprehensive handouts, readings, and worksheets for each module to deepen your understanding.
Facilitator and Teaching Assistant Support: Regular review sessions and assessments are led by experienced facilitators to help clarify and reinforce key concepts.
Discovering Buddhism WhatsApp Group: A dedicated space to connect with fellow students, share resources, and ask questions.
Recommended Readings: Curated book and article lists to expand your study of each topic.
Online Resources: Access to additional materials and suggested meditations to support independent practice.

These resources are designed to ensure you feel supported throughout the course, whether you’re joining in person or online.

We’re here to help
Contact
If you need any further information or assistance, simply reach out to Freddie, our Assistant Spiritual Program Coordinator, and he’ll be happy to help.
gateway@jamyang.co.uk

Thank you for your interest in Discovering Buddhism. The course is offered on a subscription basis, and we invite you to offer a monthly donation for the duration of the course. Please select the level of donation that best suits your financial situation – you can amend your donations at any time on your account page.
Jamyang is a non-profit charitable organisation that relies on the kindness of our donors, including students and community members. The donations, or Dana, given when registering for events and teachings support the Centre’s operations, allowing us to deliver our activities.
We wish to emphasise that the Dharma is always offered freely and no-one is ever excluded because of their financial status.

Reciting Scriptures on Lhabab Düchen (Lord Buddha's Descent from God Realm of 33)
2024-11-22 14:30 - 16:00 | Hybrid, 43 Renfrew Road, London, London, SE11 4NA, United Kingdom
About this celebration
Lhabab Duchen celebrates Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s return to Earth from the God Realm of the Thirty-Three after teaching Dharma for several months to the gods, including his mother, Mayadevi, who had died a week after Buddha’s birth and been reborn there. As a merit multiplying day, the karmic results of actions done on this day are multiplied 100 million times. This amazing result is taught in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
So, it’s a perfect opportunity to practice virtue and accumulate merit! Join us to do exactly that as we recite scriptures to mark the auspicious occasion, including the Sutra Remembering The Three Jewels, and Chanting the Names of Manjushri (as advised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to remove obstacles for the swift and unmistaken identification of the reincarnation of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche).
How to join
Register below! Join online or in-person.

Mending Circle
2024-11-27 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-01-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Café at Jamyang, 43 Renfrew Road, London, London, SE11 4NA, United Kingdom
About the Community Workshop | Elephant & Castle, Kennington

Close to Kennington and Elephant and Castle Stations
In -person

Join the next Community evening of Textile Mending.

Come along to the community evening of textile mending. Bring your hard-working beloved clothes that need love and care. We will sit together with a pot of tea and mend.

Threads and needles are provided, or if you have them, please also bring your own. Bring patches of textiles to mend with if you have some.

There will be no teachers/students. No experience is necessary.
We will exchange mending tips and share stories about loving and looking after the things we have.

If you have nothing to mend, still come along with your craft project!

No need for booking

Free to join!
Hand-sewing only.
For more details, please email Asako asakoishere@gmail.com

Fermentation Workshop
2025-01-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Café at Jamyang, 43 Renfrew Road, London, London, SE11 4NA, United Kingdom
About the Community Workshop

Join Asako and Joe for our next fermentation workshop!

Close to Kennington and Elephant and Castle Stations
In-person
Free Event Supported by the Mayor’s Fund for London.

How to book
Please book by e-mail to reserve your place (asakoishere@gmail.com)

Rainbow Sangha Day Retreat
2025-01-25 10:00 - 16:30 | Main Gompa at Jamyang, 43 Renfrew Road, London, London, SE11 4NA, United Kingdom
Holding Ourselves and the World in Kindness: A Queer Meditation Retreat on the Four Immeasurables

What are the Four Immeasurables in Buddhism?
Loving Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity—these four attitudes are immeasurable.

The Four Immeasurables constitute a core Buddhist practice that is helpful for establishing attentional balance, transforming our relationships with others, and building healthy intentional communities for bringing change to the world. This retreat is being offered by the Jamyang Rainbow Sangha for all who identify as LGBTQ+ and are interested in Buddhism and meditation practice.

How to deepen equanimity, love, compassion, and joy?
The methods for cultivating these attitudes are a contemplative technology of their own—a highly refined system of practice that brilliantly illustrates all the basic principles of Buddhist meditation and provides the practitioners with immediate benefits, affecting the overall quality of life and strengthening multiple habits related to inner wellbeing.

This retreat will be suitable for beginners as well as more experienced practitioners. We will draw upon traditional texts as well as some modern-day research on the benefits of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. In addition to that, we will touch upon the topic of mental states that underlie these attitudes: empathy, caring, and mental stability.

This retreat will be held in person at Jamyang and online, hosted by Buddhist translator and meditation instructor Michael Lobsang Tenpa. Please note that Michael Lobsang Tenpa will be joining us remotely on this occasion.

We will explore the four quintessential aspects of kindness, along with the two underlying qualities necessary for their cultivation: attentional balance, established through a certain amount of concentration practice, and the quality of tsewa, or tender affection that serves as a stem cell for the immeasurable mental states. You can also find further resources on the Four Immeasurables for this retreat here.

About Michael Lobsang Tenpa
Michael Lobsang Tenpa is a Tibetan Buddhist translator, meditation instructor, Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB) teacher, and student of EcoDharma. Born in Siberia, he earned BA and MA degrees in South Asian studies, worked in social media, and eventually received ordination in Nepal, spending nine years as a Tibetan Buddhist monastic before switching to the path of a lay teacher/practitioner. In addition to years of Buddhist studies and translator work (including translating and interpreting for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and other masters), he also trained as a secular ethics and mindfulness instructor in the Netherlands, the UK, and the US. You can find more info about Lobsang Tenpa and his work on his website.

How to join?
You can register for the retreat by booking your ticket below. The retreat is offered free, and includes lunch, as well as tea and coffee during the breaks.

The Role of Non-Sectarianism Relying on a Spiritual Teacher
2025-02-08 13:00 - 16:30 | In-person, The Old Courthouse, 43 Renfrew Road, London, London, SE11 4NA, United Kingdom
Geshe Lobsang Choegyal Rinpoche from the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, Dharamsala, will be teaching at Jamyang over the weekend of 8th and 9th February.

Schedule
8th February, 1pm – 4:30pm – The Role of Non-Sectarianism Relying on a Spiritual Teacher
9th February, 1pm – 4:30pm – The Three Principle Aspects of the Path

Suggested Donation: £12 per day
Contact: info@meridian-trust.org
Register here: https://forms.gle/Y3J13hAGTdsUHsHh8
This event is organised by the Meridian Trust. If you have questions about this event please contact Meridian Trust.

The Three Principle Aspects of the Path
2025-02-09 13:00 - 16:30 | In-person, The Old Courthouse, 43 Renfrew Road, London, London, SE11 4NA, United Kingdom

In Praise of Dependent Origination, Part 2 | Yangten Rinpoche
2025-02-22 10:00 - 12:00 | online
About this teaching
This February we welcome Yangten Rinpoche back to Jamyang, this time for an online teaching. Following on from his teachings given last year, Rinpoche will continue his explanation of Lama Tsongkhapa’s revered text, In Praise of Dependent Origination. The verses, written after Lama Tsongkhapa attained enlightenment, express unbounded reverence for the profound reasoning taught by the Buddha so that we may realise emptiness, the ultimate nature of reality, and thereby liberate ourselves and others from the suffering of cyclic existence.
There is no recording of last years’ teaching available unfortunately but don’t worry if you missed it, Rinpoche will most likely give a summary of what was covered last time. Students joining for the first time are very welcome.

Schedule

Saturday, 22nd February: 10am – 12 midday

About the teacher
Born in the Kham region of Tibet, Yangten Rinpoche was recognised as the reincarnation of his predecessor at the age of 10. An alumnus of the illustrious Sera Monastery, he graduated with the highest possible degree of Lharampa Geshe before completing his studies at Gyuto Tantric College. Since 2008, at the personal behest of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Yangten Rinpoche has been working at the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in various capacities. For the past few years Rinpoche has been offering teachings at Jamyang, including his teachings on Tsongkhapa’s Song of Experience, the Ten Innermost Jewels of the Kadam, as well as dialgoues with Science & Wisdom Live. Click here to read Rinpoche’s full bio.

About the translator
Geshe Kelsang Wangmo is a German-born Buddhist nun, scholar, and teacher. She is the first woman to ever be awarded the title of Geshe. We are honoured to have her translating for Yangten Rinpoche.

How to join
Register below to attend.

Donation
Jamyang operates on a generosity model. Please select the donation option that is most suitable for your situation.
Jamyang is a non-profit charitable organisation that relies on the kindness of our donors, including students and community members. The donations, or Dana, given when registering for events and teachings support the Centre’s operations, allowing us to deliver our activities. If you’re able to give a little more, that’s wonderful; if a little less, that’s fine too. These donations help with essentials like feeding residential volunteers, housing our monastics, and keeping our doors open. However, we wish to emphasise that the Dharma is always offered freely and no-one is ever excluded because of their financial status.

Plant Gazing
2025-02-24 16:30 - 18:30, 2025-03-10 16:30 - 18:30 | Café at Jamyang, 43 Renfrew Road, London, London, SE11 4NA, United Kingdom
In this workshop we will draw, paint and write about a herb in season. We will then drink it as a tea.
We will meditatively spending time with a plant, drawing, observing and drinking, we will gather sketches and writing. We will see if it may give ways that are preferable to describing relations with earth, our-selves and other kinds of consciousness.
This is also a relaxing activity to do with others.

Prompts and guidance will be given on plant gazing and observation. No skills are necessary.

Joseph Walsh
Is an Artist, his work is about plants and actualising the statement “we co-habit with nature”. This has involved doing herb meditation workshops, observational drawing and painting in nature, and learning through his upkeep of a plot of land in a wildlife community garden.

About the Community Workshop at the Courtyard Cafe | Elephant & Castle, Kennington

A Courtyard Cafe Workshop at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London
Closed to Kennington and Elephant and Castle Stations
In -person
Supported by The London Community Foundation

How to book
Please book by e-mail to reserve your place: jowwalsh@hotmail.com
Free, though donations are welcome.

Losar Prayers and Scripture Recitation
2025-02-28 14:00 - 15:00 | Hybrid, 43 Renfrew Road, London, London, SE11 4NA, United Kingdom
The Fifteen Days of Miracles from the first day of the Tibetan new year, Losar, (this year on February 28th, 2025) until the fifteenth, Chotrul Düchen (this year on March 14th, 2025) —commemorate the special time when Guru Shakyamuni Buddha showed miraculous powers to inspire faith in his followers. It culminates on the full moon, the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar.
All fifteen days are merit multiplying days, when the merit of virtuous actions performed on each of these days is multiplied by 100 million, according to the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
Join us on Friday afternoon for the recitation of Chanting the Names of Noble Mañjuśrī. Students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche have been advised to recite this text regularly for Rinpoche’s swift return into a manifestation that brings the greatest benefit to sentient beings.
The full prayers we will be using can be downloaded here in mobile friendly format:
Prayers for Sutra Recitation
Register below to join in-person or online.

Celebrating the Day of Miracles at Jamyang
2025-03-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Hybrid, 43 Renfrew Road, London, London, SE11 4NA, United Kingdom
Chotrul Düchen, the Day of Miracles, commemorates the special time when Guru Shakyamuni Buddha showed miraculous powers to inspire faith in his followers. It culminates on the full moon, the fifteenth day of the new year in the lunar calendar.
This, and the fifteen days leading up to it, are merit multiplying days, when the merit of virtuous actions performed on each of these days is multiplied by 100 million, according to the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
Join us at Jamyang for a prayer service for world peace, the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the success of all Jamyang’s projects, and for the health and happiness of all sentient beings.
During this session we will recite the sutra Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri. The full prayers we will be using can be downloaded here in mobile friendly format:
Prayers for Sutra Recitation
How to join in
Please register below to receive the Zoom link, or just drop-in at the centre.
