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Sakya Buddhist Centre
It was founded in 1977 by Lama Jampa Thaye at the request of his teacher, Karma Thinley Rinpoche. Rinpoche named the Centre ‘Thinley Rinchen Ling’, after His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin’s grandfather, the 39th Sakya Trizin, Dakshul Thinley Rinchen. Translated into English, the Centre’s name means ‘place of precious Buddha activity’. ‘Sakya Trizin’ means ‘throne-holder’ and refers to the supreme head of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Endowed with this rather grand title, Sakya Thinley Rinchen Ling, the Centre began its life in 1977 in a modest basement flat in Clifton, attracting a few local people interested in Buddhism. Now occupying a beautiful, spacious house located opposite St Andrews’ Park, it has introduced a great number of men and women from Bristol and beyond to the Buddhist spiritual path. The Centre houses a traditional Tibetan shrine room which was blessed with a magnificent new life-sized Buddha statue, specially made for us in Nepal in 2015.

Lama Jampa Thaye, the Centre’s spiritual director, teaches frequently at the Centre. Since its inception he has given numerous teachings from the Sakya tradition and is recognised as one of the few Westerners authorised to teach Tibetan Buddhism to the highest level. He has built up a large following of students at the Centre who have received many public and private teachings from him.

For 40 years, the Centre has hosted teachings from some of the most important Tibetan lamas alive today. His Holiness Sakya Trichen, (the 41st Sakya Trizin) has bestowed many profound and powerful teachings to numerous people at the Centre. His sons, Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, the current and 42nd Sakya Trizin, and Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, eminent lamas in their own right, are also frequent visitors.
Sakya Buddhist Centre
121 Sommerville Rd, St Andrews, Bristol BS6 5BX
United Kingdom
44 (0)117 924 4424




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