Introduction
The Kagyu centres of southern Africa are in the lineage of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. They are under the spiritual guidance of Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche, founder of Kagyu Samye Ling Tibetan Centre in Scotland and have been active since the early 1970s. Rob Nairn is Akong Rinpoche’s representative in Africa.
Activities
Four arms of activity include:
- Buddhist teachings,
- Tara Rokpa Therapy,
- the environment and
- charity
Teachings include courses on meditation and various aspects of dharma including pujas (traditional practices of chanting, visualisation and mantras), as well as residential retreats ranging from two days to one month. A new development is Mindfulness Africa – a secular approach which aims to allow people to develop a deep and non-judgmental acquaintance with their own thoughts and emotions. Centres are in Cape Town (Kenilworth), Johannesburg (Kensington and Randburg) and Harare, Zimbabwe. Our retreat centre is the Tara Rokpa Centre near Groot Marico.