25 FEB — 5 MAR | IN PERSONSpecial series of teachings with
Khenpo Pema Namgyal

Overview of Teachings

Two very special retreats with Khenpo Pema Namgyal.
Registration will open soon.

Buddha Shakyamuni Retreat
Wednesday 25 February – Sunday 1 March
Based on a beautiful sadhana by Mipham Rinpoche and commentary by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Prajnaparamita Retreat
Monday 2 March – Thursday 5 March
A profound and accessible teaching on the nature of all things, guided by Khenpo’s deep expertise.

Both practices are part of Gomde’s daily morning practice and will be translated by Laura Dainty, a brilliant translator who shares a close connection with our community.

Participants are welcome to stay between retreats at no additional cost.

Register

Buddha Shakyamuni Retreat

Wednesday 25th February – Sunday 1 March

A Treasury of Blessings: The Liturgy of Śākyamuni Buddha. Composed by Mipham Rinpoche

During this retreat, Khenpo will guide us through A Treasury of Blessings, based on a beautiful sādhana composed by Mipham Rinpoche, with commentary from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. This practice is suitable for practitioners at all levels, including beginners. It is clear and accessible, yet on closer inspection reveals itself to be a rich treasury of profound teachings. Khenpo will explain how to engage with the practice step by step, unpack its deeper meaning, and highlight how its essential points can be integrated into daily practice. There will also be time for questions and discussion, offering a supportive space to deepen understanding and confidence in the practice.

The retreat begins with registration, between 2.30 – 5.00 pm on Wednesday 25th, followed by supper at 5.30pm. The retreat will conclude after lunch on Sunday 1st March at approximately 2.30pm.

Prajnaparamita Retreat

Monday 2 March – Thursday 5 March

A profound and accessible teaching on the essence of emptiness, guided by Khenpo’s deep expertise.

Heart Sutra – in Sanskrit this translates as prajñāpāramitā hṛdaya; The Twenty-Five Verses on the Perfection of Wisdom. This is a classic sutra on the nature of all things. The sutra consists of a dialogue between Shariputra and the great bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, however, their words are inspired by the blessings of the Buddha, who remains in meditation, until the end of the discussion. As with all the prajñaparamita sutras, the teaching took place at Vulture’s Peak near Rajagriha.

The retreat begins with registration, between 2.30 – 5.00 pm on Monday 2nd March, followed by supper at 5.30pm. The retreat will conclude after lunch on Thursday 5th March at approximately 2.30pm.

Booking Options

Buddha Shakyamuni Retreat, Wednesday 25th Feb – Sunday 1st March

Day Visitor £175
Shared Room (3–4 people) £265
Twin Room with ensuite £330
Single Room £400
Single Room with ensuite £465


Prajnaparamita Retreat, Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th March

Day Visitor £130
Shared Room (3–4 people) £200
Twin Room with ensuite £250
Single Room £300
Single Room with ensuite £350

If you are attending both retreats, please choose ‘Both – Single Room’ (for example), on the booking form.

This event is by donation. The suggested donation covers our costs of providing teachings, accommodation, all meals and the many facilities offered at Gomde UK. If you have difficulties affording the suggested donation, please contact info@gomde.uk. If you would like to contribute more please feel free to do so.

Your registration will be confirmed once you have sent your deposit. We will do our best to accommodate all bookings, but we cannot guarantee availability. If your preferred accommodation is no longer available, we will get in touch.

Register

General Retreat Schedule

Supper is at 5.30 pm on first day, following registration.

7.00–8.00 Morning practice
8.00–8.45 Breakfast
9.30–1.00 Teaching with translation (with break)
1.15–2.15 Lunch
3.30–4.30 Afternoon practice
5.00–6.00 Evening practice
6.30–7.00 Supper

If you are unable to be there for either the supper on the first day (5.30 pm), or lunch on the final day (1.15 pm), please let us know in advance so we can avoid food wastage. Thank you.

About Khenpo Pema Namgyal

Originally from Nubri, Khenpo Pema Namgyal is a senior monk from Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling in Nepal. He serves as personal tutor to Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche.

Khenpo Pema Namgyal received the vows of a novice monk when he was eight years old. After successfully completing both his basic monastic training and nine years of scholarly advanced Buddhist education in Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling’s shedra or ‘monastic college,’ Pema Namgyal was awarded his khenpo degree designating him as a senior monastic professor, the Western equivalent of a ‘Professor of Divinity.’ Thereafter, Khenpo Pema Namgyal was assigned the responsibility of lecturing daily in the monastic college.

Noticing his astute intellect and gentle nature, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche requested him to move to Nagi Gompa Nunnery to serve as Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche’s private tutor. When Yangsi Rinpoche was old enough, he enrolled in the monastery’s 9-year monastic shedra program. This freed Khenpo Pema Namgyal to occasionally teach summer classes at the Centre for Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute located on the monastery premises. In addition to being conversant in English, highly learned, and well-versed in Buddhist philosophy, Khenpo’s friendly, easy-going manner puts Westerners at ease. As a Rangjung Yeshe Institute teacher, he is not afraid to delve deeply into the profundities of a given treatise. In recent years, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche has chosen Khenpo Pema Namgyal to serve as his trusted travel aide and close personal attendant.

Source: Dharmasun.

Making Offerings for the Teachings

Following teachings, it is traditional to offer a personal offering to those who have imparted the liberating instructions.

Offering Sponsorship and Supporting Gomde

Please note that the centre is almost entirely dependent on the generosity of those who wish to support our activities through donations.

For those of you who are able to give more to either sponsor someone who has difficulty funding a place or to support the running of Gomde UK, a greater donation would be welcome and much appreciated.

Cancelling your booking

Please note your final balance will be required two weeks before the beginning of the retreat.

We hope you don’t need to cancel your booking, but if you do, here is our general policy. If you cancel your booking prior to two weeks before the event, we can return funds to you, minus an administration fee of £25. After this, we can return 50% of your donation.