Congratulations to Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre (MKUKBC) who has won an award for the Community Contribution of Outstanding Religious Charity 2023.  

In the U.K. religions, for instance Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism, are open, free, and equal. There are registered 49,881 faith-based charities in England and Wales, of which 2,200 are based in London. We are delighted to announce MKUKBC has been commended with an award in this year’s 2023 Community Contribution for Outstanding Religious Charitable Groups Awards.

Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre (MKUKBC) was established by His Holiness Gangri Karma Rinpoche, who is the lineage holder of the Martsang Kagyu tradition and a Buddhist scholar. The Centre follows the Martsang Kagyu of Tibetan Buddhism, founded 857 years ago. For over than 10 years, His Holiness Gangri Karma Rinpoche spreads joyful Dharma for the benefit of the public through lectures, seminars, public talking and meditation to promote mental health and wellbeing. MKUKBC seeks to benefit all people in the community without prejudice or judgement. 

There are many unique aspects to the Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre that bring sustainable benefit to the community. Two key aspects contributing to our recognition for the award are as follows:

1. Our study programme is based on ancient teachings that originated in India and a rich cultural tradition in Tibet. The three- and half-year Diploma course called the ‘Martsang LamRim’ taught by His Holiness Gangri Karma Rinpche is a unique studying system which includes teachings, exams, debates and retreats. This course is extremely comprehensive and detailed, commencing from a beginner level up to an academic standard, supported with in-depth actual practices to enable students to transform their minds and open their hearts. There are very few places in the world, where a student can receive a full guide to the achievement of enlightenment from an authentic lineage-holder and accomplished teacher and practitioner. 

2. Meditation is a simple, fast, and easy way to improve both physical and mental health and wellbeing. Regular practice has been shown to positively impact problems such as insomnia, depression, anxiety and trauma, as well as aid self-development through improving productivity, confidence, emotional stability and relationships. Our teachers are fully trained in creating a friendly, warm and open environment, and helping students to integrate the practices for their own specific circumstances.

The pandemic was a unique moment in history, where many people felt loneliness and anxiety like never before. Being able to calm one’s mind through mindfulness meditation requires precise instructions. It’s a fantastic achievement that Martsang Kagyu UK Buddhist Centre was able to teach so many people how to meditate correctly to alleviate the mental health issues arising during that time. On the other hand, we have more responsibility to continue to provide the best service for the communities as we can.

About Buddhist Centres of  Martsang Kagyu Tibetan Buddhism

The Martsang Kagyu International Head office currently has two centres; one in the East; the Taichung Centre in Taiwan, and the other in the West; the London Centre in the UK.  As both centres are the first to be formed they will provide the model for future centres in the East and West respectively.

There are two main objectives we would like our centres to achieve.  One is to promote to the wider community the many benefits of Buddhist practice; the increase in the well-being and happiness of its practitioners, and thereby enhance good relationships within society as a whole. The other is to rebuild the Martsang Kagyu Education Institution so that students can with spiritual support study to complete their training, and go on to teach within the institution.  .

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The Taichung Centre was established in 2008 in Taichung, Taiwan, and represents the head office of the Martsang Kagyu organisation. It offers a place to provide the many benefits of Buddhist practice to the wider community. This includes an increase in the well-being and happiness of its practitioners and various ceremonies such as the ‘New Year Wishing Prayer’. All such practices help to enhance and develop good relationships within society as a whole. The Main Hall of the Martsang Kagyu Centre in Taichung, Taiwan, seats 180-230.

The Taichung centre promotes the Martsang Kagyu lineage, in addition to supporting several charitable causes in Tibet, India and Taiwan:

The education of children continues to be very important, and in India where many orphaned Tibetan children now live, we offer school scholarships.  We also provide clothing and food for the children, and disadvantaged families living in India.

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Martsang Kagyu London Centre is a new charity recently started in London. 

We are a small charity in London with two main objectives that we would like our centre to achieve.  One is to promote to the wider community the many benefits of Buddhist practice; these include an increase in the well-being and happiness of its practitioners and thereby enhance good relationships within society as a whole. The other is to rebuild the Martsang Kagyu Education Institution so that students can, with spiritual support, study to complete their training and go on to teach within the institution.

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