Background

Wolstonbury Wakes has evolved from thousands of years of history here on Wolstonbury Hill.  Combined with ancient Tibetan  Buddhist ceremonies for the dead, our wakes fullfil a modern day need for time and space to be together in nature after a loved ones death.

Tibetan Buddhist Connections

Wolstonbury Wakes are held on Chantry Farm, which has existed on Wolstonbury Hill for approximately 1000 years, 'Chantry' has it's origins in the verb 'to chant'.  Since 2011 it has been owned by Beki, who has studied with the most respected Tibetan Buddhist teachers of the Kagyu Lineage, such as HH XVII Karmapa, Tai Situpa, and Mingyur Rinpoche (pictured).  The wakes are inspired by overlapping histories, utilising the wisdom of ancient prayers and ceremony for an auspiciou onward journey.  For those left behind, it takes place on a sacred Sussex landmark, revered throughout millenia, this is a place to be at one with contemplative thoughts, each other and nature. 

 

Beki was ordained in an authetic and ancient Buddhist monastic tradition in the early 1990s and remained 'in robes' for 17 years, completing a traditional three-year retreat led by an exemplary and eminent Tibetan teacher.  The prayers continue on Chantry Farm, which Beki saw in a dream during that retreat in New York.  This is a truly international coming together...

All the world's religions agree something happens after we die.  Differences are in the details.  

 

Tibetan Buddhist teachings such as the 'Book of the Dead', explanations of 'the Bardos', the focus on navigating towards a fortunate rebirth and indicative signs after death, such as Tukdam, enrich our understanding of what happens when we die.  

 

The Buddha gave many teachings on death and instructions for prayers which have been preserved for over 2500 years.   To ensure his teachings were not corrupted, diluted, or simply forgotten, the authority to teach, conduct prayers, or even to create shrines has been carefully handed from teacher to student in unbroken succession over millennia.  

 

Whoever leads a formal Buddhist ceremony should be able to refer to their teacher's authority to do so.  The prayers chanted as a part of Wolstonbury Wakes are from an authentic Buddhist tradition - the Kagyu Lineage - with authorised English practitioners conducting the ceremony.

 

The prayers are universal, unrestricted by time, space or culture in their potential benefit.  Similarly to the offering of light as a part of the wake, whatever is done with a genuinely good heart, will be of benefit.  

The Lineage 

 

The Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism traces its origin back to Buddha Shakyamuni - the 'historical Buddha' who was a prince in India around 500 BC. Having 'attained Enlightenment' - woken up from delusion and profoundly realised the nature of our minds and existence beyond duality, the Buddha (literally meaning Awakened One) began to teach.  

 

The most important source for the specific meditation practices that characterize the Kagyu order is the great Indian yogi Tilopa (988-1069), one of the 84 mahasiddhas of India, who first developed the spontaneous insight of enlightened realization. Tilopa gained this realization through the methods that were taught by the historical Buddha Shakyamuni to his closest students, methods that continued to be practiced during the time of Tilopa, and to this day.

 

In turn, the realization of these masters was passed down to their disciples through the great forefathers of the lineage: Indian mahasiddha Naropa, Marpa the Tibetan translator, Milarepa the great yogi of Tibet, and then to Gampopa whose coming was prophesied by the Buddha.

 

The Lineage of Kagyu Teachers continues to this day, many living in India and Nepal, some remaining in Tibet, and also now many others spread around the world.  The teachings and practices have reached Wolstonbury Hill, where they have found a home in a landscape echoing timelessness and a vastness of view and outlook which can help us in this 'modern world' with so much confusion about values, aims, ethics and mortality.