Clarifying the Natural State – 1 Year Training Course in Mahamudra Meditation with Lama Tsultrim Guelek

Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Meditation Centre in Rochester, Kent, UK and Online: September 2026 – September 2027 

We are overjoyed to be offering this one year training programme in Mahamudra meditation by Lama Tsultrim Gelek from Bodhicharya France.

Book your place now:

All bookings will include in-person access, as well as the live Zoom broadcast link and access to the recordings for attendance flexibility. However, wherever possible, we highly recommend making the effort to come and receive these precious teachings live and in-person at the Centre with Lama Tsultrim and sangha.

If you can only attend online, then please book here (the Zoom link for online attendance will be emailed to you, but if circumstances change you are welcome in-person)

If you can attend in-person, then please book here (the Zoom link will still be emailed to you for the online elements and can be used to attend online if your circumstances change)

This one year training course will follow the meditation instructions in Dakpo Tashi Namgyal‘s Mahamudra meditation manual, Clarifying the Natural State. It will use the commentary Crystal Clear, by the learned and realized Tibetan Master Thrangu Rinpoche, which is a companion volume to the classic meditation manual by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal. Clarifying the Natural State is a practical manual for both teacher and student alike, covering the path from mindfulness to complete enlightenment, simply and methodically. Presenting the profound and ultimate instructions of Mahamudra, it embodies the realization of India and Tibet’s greatest masters.

“The words of Dakpo Tashi Namgyal are unique. Adorned with plenty of pithy advice out of his personal experience, practitioners are greatly benefited by his instructions on how to remove hindrances and progress further. His methods for practicing Mahamudra are preeminent. This book is indispensable as it focuses exclusively on practice.”

~ Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

On the companion volume, Crystal Clear:

In his straightforward and lucid style Thrangu Rinpoche gives us an indispensable guidebook for insight practice (vipashyana). For people who want more than just theory, this is a handbook that begins with watching the breath and leads practitioners through stages of realization, all the way to complete enlightenment.

“In Mahamudra, as one takes the path of direct perception, a person can obtain true and complete enlightenment within the same body and lifetime. Whatever the situation, Mahamudra provides appropriate methods and techniques. So, whether one is able to undertake a lot of hardship or not, whether one is very diligent or not, whichever type of person you might be there is always great benefit in practicing Mahamudra. The practice can be done in the solitude of retreat or while involved in the daily complexities of modern life. Mahamudra training is always applicable in any situation, at any moment of life.” ~ Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

If you would like to purchase the key texts for this course, Crystal Clear, then in the UK you can do so here

Lama Tsultrim Guelek was born in 1955 in Grenoble, France and began began studying the Dharma in 1983 as a disciple of Venerable Kalu Rinpoche and Bokar Rinpoche.

In 1987 he was ordained by Kalu Rinpoche and became a novice monk (getsul). After a traditional 3-year, 3-month, 3-day retreat between 1988 and 1992, he became a fully ordained monk (gelong).

With Bokar Rinpoche’s blessing and permission he has been leading meditation groups since 1995. He is the Spiritual Director of the Bodhicharya France Centre in Lusse where lives and teaches with a group of monks and nuns. He also teaches in several other places and Centres in France and around the world, namely at Bodhicharya Berlin, Bodhicharya Algarve and Bodhicharya UK.

Lama Tsultrim’s many years of teaching have allowed him to become well acquainted with the practice of the Dharma in the West. He supports many practitioners on their path and is well aware of the obstacles that Western practitioners may face, the means to overcome them and the pitfalls to avoid. Finally, Lama Tsultrim transmits the Dharma directly in English and often illustrates his teachings with everyday situations, which makes his teachings lively and accessible.

Course Details

The course will include:

  • 3 weekends of live teachings with Lama Tsultrim at the Bodhicharya Meditation Centre (10:00 – 17:00 each day on Saturday and Sunday)
  • 2 Zoom session teachings with Lama Tsultrim between weekends 1 and 2, and weekends 2 and 3
  • All sessions will be live streamed and recorded and links provided to the recorded teachings for all participants
  • WhatsApp Chat group including the teacher and participants to help and support each other’s study and practice
  • Light refreshments at the Centre throughout the weekend

The course does not include:

  • The key texts, Crystal Clear, which will need to be purchased by each participant individually and can be purchased here.
  • Lunch. We suggest a bring and share vegan/vegetarian lunch for those attending the teachings at the Centre

Course Dates

1st Teaching Weekend: Saturday 26th – Sunday 27th September 2026 at 10:00 -17:00 both days UK time

Zoom Teaching with Lama Tsultrim: 6th December 2026 at 10:00 – 12:00 and then 15:00 – 17:00 UK time

2nd Teaching Weekend: Saturday 27th – Sunday 28th February 2027 at 10:00 -17:00 both days UK time

Zoom Teaching with Lama Tsultrim: 6th June 2027 at 10:00 – 12:00 and then 15:00 – 17:00 UK time

3rd Teaching Weekend: Saturday 25th – 26th September 2027 at 10:00 -17:00 both days UK time

Course Fee

The course is being offered on a suggested dana (donation) basis. Bringing the teachers here and hosting such an event incurs considerable costs for the charity, so please give what you can, thank you.

Monastics – £0 (for ordained Sangha)

Supported – £150 (for those on benefits, out of work or low income)

Standard   – £250 (the minimum standard amount to help cover the charity’s costs)

Supporter  – £350 + (choosing this amount or more will help support someone who cannot donate the standard amount and the charity in its activities)

The Bodhicharya UK Dharma Support Fund

Bodhicharya UK has an annual Dharma Support Fund to help people in the study and practice of the Dharma where there are financial barriers to doing so. If you are unable to offer one of the suggested donations for this course, then you are welcome to apply to the fund here.

Book your place on this 1 Year Training Course in Mahamudra Meditation with Lama Tsultrim Guelek

All bookings will include in-person access, as well as the live Zoom broadcast link and access to the recordings for attendance flexibility. However, wherever possible, we highly recommend making the effort to come and receive these precious teachings live and in-person at the Centre with Lama Tsultrim and sangha.

If you can only attend online, then please book here (the Zoom link for online attendance will be emailed to you, but if circumstances change you are welcome in-person)

If you can attend in-person, then please book here (the Zoom link will still be emailed to you for the online elements and can be used to attend online if your circumstances change)

Venue Details

Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Meditation Centre

Jacksons Field
New Road
Rochester
Kent
ME1 1DX

Getting Here

Car parking: Pay and Display available in parking bays on New Road. Please check signs to see when you are required to pay for parking, thank you.

Bus stops: Jacksons Field, approx. 42 metres away. The following buses have routes that pass near the centre 140,151, 190, 191, 700

Railway Station: Both Chatham and Rochester train stations are close by, with Chatham train station being a 12 minute walk on Google Maps and Rochester Train Station being a 15 minute walk on Google Maps. New Road has Pay and Display parking and there are a number of carparks and other options nearby here.

Any questions?

Please email: uk@bodhicharya.org