Our Services
Buddhist Funerals
Buddhist funeral services are traditionally held in the family home or in the temple, but can be anywhere, with the Palyul Centre leading the ceremony according to the Tibetan Buddhist teachings.
The ceremony takes place as soon as possible after the passing. Family and friends can take part in the chanting of prayers to dedicate merits for the deceased. Printed phonetic versions with translation enable those not familiar with the practice to join in.
For 49 days the deceased remains in the bardo state, during which guiding practices are performed each day. They can also take place every 7 days for 49 days.
Wedding Blessings
Unlike other spiritual traditions, Buddhists consider marriage to be a secular matter, meaning it is the individual’s choice. For the most part, Buddhist weddings do not take place inside a temple. They are typically held in a private home or rented hall.
Rather than having strict proceedings, a Buddhist wedding is a joyful, fluid occasion that reflects the background of the partners - any culture is welcomed within the Buddhist tradition.
During a traditional Tibetan Buddhist wedding, the ceremony opens with the Verses of the Eight Noble Auspicious Ones, and concludes with rituals for summoning long life, happiness and the forces of prosperity.
A couple is welcome to include these or any other requests.
Our Celebrants
Naming Ceremonies
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition there is no such thing as a “naming ceremony” for a newborn child. However, customarily Tibetan Buddhist parents can request a lama to give a name for their child for auspicious reasons, and purification practices will be done for the child through Vajra Vidharana, “the Vajra Conqueror”.
Traditionally there are also astrological charts drawn up which tell the connection between the child’s past and future life, and which require the commissioning of a particular statue of Buddha in order to ensure a virtuous life.
Although it is not the same in the West, an element can be kept by presenting the chosen name to the child within the purification practice of Vajra Vidharana.
Chonyi Wodser and Lama Dawa perform the practices and prayers at Palyul Centre UK, which will have the direct connection to blessings from the Namdroling Monastery, where in the past HH Penor Rinpoche invited great lamas to give empowerments and transmissions, such as Dilko Khentse, Mingling Trichen, Khenpo Jigphen, Chatral Sangye Dorje, Tulku Thubsang, Taklung Tsetrul, Domang Yangthang, Nyushul Khenpo, Khenpo Tsendu, Khenpo Daser, Khenpo Khedrub, and many more, including HH Dalai Lama.
Chonyi and Dawa, both at a very young age, were given spiritual training in their upbringing in Namdroling Monastery, where they received empowerments and oral transmissions of the Nyingmapa tradition mainly from HH Penor Rinpoche, and practised under his guidance.
In 1985 Thubsan Rinpoche came to Namdroling Monastery from Tibet for two years, to hand down knowledge of the practice aspects of the Palyul tradition of the Nyingma school. Chonyi Wodser was one of five chosen from over a thousand monks at that time by Penor Rinpoche himself; teachings took place in Penor Rinpoche’s personal residence, closely guided by him. Thubsan Rinpoche said that in his lifetime he had never known of any others being trained like this. In Chonyi Wodser’s own words “I was so fortunate to be one of Penor Rinpoche’s personal assistants, travelling widely with him, receiving his empowerments and teachings; we were always there, assisting him during ceremonies and I was so blessed to be able to practice countless times with him - very few have had this opportunity.“
Lama Dawa Norbu received a monastic education during many years at Tibetan traditional monastery. He has long-term experience in Buddhist ceremonies and traditional Tibetan religious practice, along with a humble and friendly character. He received many teachings from numerous Tibetan masters, including HH Penor Rinpoche. Lama Dawa guides meditation sessions and leads on prayers and pujas, along with all the activities at Palyul Centre UK.