Lama Jampa Thaye

Lama Jampa Thaye is a teacher of the Sakya and Karma Kagyu traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. He has been teaching for over 30 years and is the spiritual director of the Dechen organisation of Buddhist Centres. He is the author of several books on Tibetan Buddhism and has a PhD in Tibetan Religions from the University of Manchester. He is renowned for being one of the first Westerners who are authorised to transmit Vajrayana teachings.

Early life and education

Lama Jampa Thaye was born a Catholic in 1952 in Manchester, England and met his first spiritual teacher, Karma Thinley Rinpoche, at the age of 20 in 1973. Lama Jampa’s other principal masters include H.H. Sakya Trizin and H.H. Karmapa (both the 16th and the 17th). Lama Jampa Thaye is somewhat unusual in that he has received authority to give teachings from both the Sakya and Karma Kagyu traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, receiving authority to teach from both Karma Thinley Rinpoche and H.H. Sakya Trizin due to his contemplative and scholarly training. Lama Jampa Thaye is married with four children.

Dechen

Lama Jampa Thaye is spiritual director of a network of dharma centres, founded under the authority of Karma Thinley Rinpoche, which bear the name "Dechen" (Tibetan for 'Great Bliss'). As of December 2012, there were 21 Dechen Centres around the world, with the majority in the United Kingdom and others in the U.S., Mexico and continental Europe.

Lama Jampa travels extensively giving teachings and initiations in many countries, both for Dechen and other Buddhist organizations. Lama Jampa is also a member of the international teaching faculty of the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in Delhi. H.H. Sakya Trizin commented: "I would like to commend Lama Jampa Thaye for the unflagging enthusiasm and effort that he has devoted to the noble cause of making the dharma available to all those who have an interest in it, and encourage him to continue his good works."

Lama Jampa’s teaching approach follows the long-established and traditional style of Tibetan Buddhist masters down the ages. He stresses the established historical approach to Vajrayana practice so as to sustain the authentic, continuing transmission of its intellectual and experiential aspects.

Books

• Diamond Sky, (Ganesha Press, 1989 ISBN 0950911917)
• Garland of Gold, (Ganesha Press, 1990 ISBN 0950911933)
• Way of Tibetan Buddhism, (Thorsons, 2001 ISBN 0722540175)
• River of Memory, (Ganesha Press, 2005 ISBN 0950911925)
• Rain of Clarity, (Ganesha Press, 2006 ISBN 0950911941)

Articles and contributions

• Offering the Body, Religion (1989) 19, 221-226
• Buddhadharma and Contemporary Ethics, Religion (1992) 22, 171-182

Forewords

• The History of the Sixteen Karmapas of Tibet (Prajna Press, 1980 ISBN 1570626448)
• The History of the Sakya Tradition (Ganesha Press, 1980 ISBN 0950911909)