History of Gyalwa Ensapa Broome Buddhist Study Group

Broome Buddhists began at the suggestion of Venerable Robina Courtin after a visit to the north Western Australian Kimberley communities of Derby in 2005 and Broome the following year in 2006. 

Since this time, the group has continuously facilitated the presentation of the Discovering Buddhism at Home modules, guided by the FPMT teachings.

The group currently meet each Wednesday evening for 5:30 - 6:30pm at the Broome Buddha Sanctuary kindly offered by the Cable Beach Club.

It is with much gratitude that Gyalwa Ensapa Broome Buddhist Study Group has the support of Buddha House as the guiding centre and continues a close relationship. 

The group presents modules from The Discovering Buddhism at Home, Buddhism in a Nutshell and Meditation 101 programs, Living in the Path aand other FPMT programs and meditation sessions as appropriate.

About the name: 

The name Gyalwa Ensapa was kindly endowed upon the group by Lama Zopa Rinpoche honouring the 16th century Gyalwa Ensapa 

Enlightened Beings: Life Stories from the Ganden Oral Tradition Paperback  June 15, 1995 by Janice D. Willis (Author)

Gyalwa Ensapa (1505 - 1566) was a great Kadampa master born in Ensa, at Hlaku near the Tsang River in Tibet. He achieved enlightenment in one brief lifetime like the famous yogi Milarepa. Unlike Milarepa, Gyalwa Ensapa achieved enlightenment without having to endure such hardship. G

At a very young age Gyalwa Ensapa had a vision of the whole of samsara being a limitless fire blazing without end. From that time he developed the wish to become ordained. He took vows when he was 11 years old with Abbot Drakpa Dondrub of Chokor Uding Monastery. He felt nothing but revulsion towards every situation he saw in the world, while also feeling overwhelming compassion for every being. He met each one with the thought, “How can I rescue this poor being from the prison of uncontrolled rebirth in cyclic existence?”

Gyalwa Ensapa went to Pema Chan to practise samadhi (concentration). He practised in deserted foothills and isolated ravines and did not think about how long it would take nor about the tremendous effort that would be required. Before he was 21 years old he achieved the ability to remain in samadhi day and night. As a result, whenever he did any activity he experienced bliss.

Gyalwa Ensapa gave this teaching:

“When hearing, pondering and practising the Dharma one’s aim should be first of all to subdue one’s own mind. Then one should carefully investigate the path using stainless reasoning as an antidote to the defiling emotions.

“Moreover, anyone who claims to study the Dharma without thoroughly investigating all of the traditions of the Mahayana and who likes to bicker over the slightest points of language saying, ‘You say this, but I say that’ completely misses the point.”

Image taken from a publication by Sarat Chandra Das (1849-1917), "Contributions on Tibet", in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. LI (1882), so it is in the public domain. John Hill 04:20, 24 September 2007 (UTC)

Lama Yeshe’s Legacy: Taking a Broad View

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Read more in “Lama Yeshe’s Legacy: Taking a Broad View.” From Lama Yeshe’s address to the Council for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (CPMT) meeting at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, January 1983. Edited by Nicholas Ribush and excerpted in Mandala January-March 2015. You can read the entire talk “Lama Yeshe’s Address to the FPMT Family” on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive website (lamayeshe.com).

Through timely advice, news stories, and updates, FPMT.org and Mandala Publications share the wisdom culture inspired and guided by the teachings of FPMT founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.