The Venerable Lama Karma Samten

Lama Samten making a good recovery

Photo: John Frye www.john.frye.co.uk

The Venerable Lama Karma Samten recently suffered a slight stroke and was in hospital for a few days. I am very happy to report that Lama is making a good recovery and receiving excellent care. He is currenly resident in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kate Hamblyn has been, as always, looking after Lama and he is surrounded by friends offering support and help. Lama has requested the recitation of the 21 Praises of Tara to aid his recovery - but any thoughts, prayers and good wishes will be felt and appreciated.

Lama Samten sent this message:

Dear Dharma friends,
Tashi Delek (Tibetan Greetings).
I would like to express my appreciation to everyone during this recovery period. Everybody has been very supportive, and everyone cares about me. You are contributing to my recovery in so many different ways. I feel very lucky.
Especially I have managed to release 1,000 birds. I prayed not only just for me but for all the great spiritual masters of the world and that they benefit all sentient beings. I prayed for their long life and good health and the flourishing of their enlightened activities. And I prayed the thousand birds we released will become a thousand Buddhas in the future.
I believe sickness is part of our purification – accepting and welcoming whatever comes is crucial. It is like a messenger from the Buddha. My being unwell has stimulated a great deal of positive activity for everyone. I dedicate this joint effort to all sentient beings, that they may be free from suffering.

Being optimistic about the future is the Great View.
Our past experience is Great Learning
Keeping our appreciation is the Dedication

The present moment is real life
Maintain awareness with joy
That is the best meditation.

This is the expression of the talking head lamb chop Lama.
Once again thank you everyone.
Hopefully see you later alligator, don't forget your toilet paper
In a while crocodile
Keep your beautiful smile.

Breathe out, breathe in = 1

We were blessed to have our dear friend Lama Samten visit us at Mill House Farm on his UK teaching tour. We were all inspired by his humour, compassion and wisdom and his continuing help to us to cultivate The Flames of Loving Kindness in our lives and hearts. As well as the residential participants we have made new friends locally with those who attended the teachings at Mill House Farm or at the free talk given at Bridges Community Centre in Monmouth. During lama's stayeEveryone had opportunities for private interviews with Lama between the teaching sessions and also informal moments together.

Born in Tibet and escaping to India in 1959, the Venerable Lama Karma Samten teaches extensively in New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Great Britain and Asia, and is known for his earthy, pragmatic manner and sense of humour, making the teachings accessible to all. He is the author of several books, including Living with Death and Dying.