Orkney Buddhists ~ Teachings

The group is under the spiritual direction of The Venerable Gelong Karma Jiga.

Karma Jiga is a senior monk from the world famous Samye Ling Monastery in the Borders of Scotland and the founder and Project Director of Rokpa Dundee.

He has managed different parts of the Samye Ling Monastery, and set up and established projects on behalf of Rokpa Trust since 1986. These include The Holy Island Project on the West coast of Scotland, Samye Dechen Ling retreat centre on Ar­ran, the first Buddhist Centre in Moscow, Russia, where he was resident teacher and for the last ten years, Rokpa Dundee.

He is presently engaged in establishing a new centre in Inverness to serve the Highlands of Scotland called Rokpa Highlands and another in Aberdeen, called Rokpa Aberdeen on the north east coast of Scotland. Karma Jiga travels throughout Britain, Europe and, until recently, Russia where his down to earth, humorous and innovative approach to teaching and Buddhist practice is greatly appreciated.

Karma Jiga has studied with the greatest of Tibetan Masters of the Kagyu Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in Samye Ling, India and Nepal since 1976, completing retreats of vary­ing lengths during this time, culminating in entry into the traditional three year retreat, where having completed his Yidam Practice, was brought from retreat by Choje Lama Akong Tulku Rinpoche, the founding President of Rokpa Trust and asked by The Venerable Abbot of Samye Ling Monastery, Lama Yeshe Losal, to establish and manage the Holy Island Project.

He was the first person to receive life ordination from the Venerable Lame Yeshe Losal Rinpoche. Since then all funds raised from his classes and seminars have been used to establish and develop the projects he is involved with.

Karma Jiga's study, meditation and project work has been encouraged, supported and man­aged, under the personal guidance of Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche, the co-founder of Samye Ling Monastery and previous,16th Karmapa's representative in Europe, aided by the Ven. Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, the present chairman of the Rokpa Trust and Abbot of Samye Ling Monastery.

Karma Jiga makes regular visits to Orkney and gives weekend teaching sessions at The Strond. The dates and syllabus for these weekends can be found in The Events section of the website.

Although we follow the Tibetan Tradition all traditions are most welcome. You do not even need to be a Buddhist. If you have an interest in meditation or in the Spiritual Path then please come along. We are always happy to have visitors to Orkney join in with us.

We have small library of Buddhist books available to borrow and our members, some of whom have been Buddhists for many years, are always happy to answer questions and help in any way.