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Month: February 2021

Atisha’s Lojong Verses – the core of mind training

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About the Course

Beginning on 3rd November, we will be working with Atisha’s Lojong Root Verses. LoJong means mind training. In order to progress spiritually, it is imperative to train our minds. These verses were given to three of Atisha’s main disciples when they requested the essence of Dharma practice in a concise form. 

Audio from this course can be found here

Picture of Venerable Dekyi

Venerable Dekyi

A very popular teacher at VI, Venerable Dekyi met the dharma in 1992 and realised immediatley that there was no other way for her to live. She was ordained a year later. Ven Dekyi has studied the Buddha dharma in depth, taught at a number of FPMT centres including Tushita, Dharamsala. She has a broad understanding of secular life and the dharma. She completed many of the topics of the Basic Program at Chenrezig Institute before moving to Vajrayana in 2019.

When

Wednesdays 10 am - 11.30 am

Where

In-person at Vajrayana Institute. 9 Victoria Square, Ashfield
and
Streamed Online via Zoom

Cost

By Donation
(Suggested: $15 per class)

Suitable For

Everyone

Live Stream

Meeting ID: 818 6513 4536 Passcode: 1234

Advanced Meditation Series: The Art of Tantric Visualisation

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About the Teaching

Images, visual or otherwise, are especially potent symbols that can affect us in powerful ways. Buddhist tantric teachings make use of our natural ability to imagine and visualise to activate profound experiences of stillness, bliss and clarity.

In this advanced course we will look at how to utilise these techniques to nurture mindfulness, wisdom and compassion conducive to our genuine happiness.

Each weekly session will include explanation, guided meditation and Q&A. No prerequisite required. All are welcome.

 
Picture of Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong Kok is from Singapore. He has been teaching meditation and Buddhism since 1996, with a special interest in making available the benefits of meditation to a wider audience. From 2006-2015 and starting from 2020, he has served as a senior teacher at Vajrayana Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre affiliated to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). After studying Dharma for several years, Wai Cheong set out to deepen his understanding of spiritual practice by finishing the FPMT Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa in Italy from 1998-2004 completed with a four-month solitary retreat in New Zealand.
Register

When

Mondays, 7pm
Dates: 23, 30 October, 6, 13, 20, 27 November, 4, 11, 18 December

Where

Live Streamed Online

Face-to-face
Vajrayana Institute, 9 Victoria Square Ashfield

Cost

By Donation
(Suggested: $15 per class)

Suitable For

Everyone

Watch Live Stream

Register

Live stream this class

Join our live stream by selecting an option below. If you wish to make a donation select the donate button. Once you have donated, close the donation window and select ‘Join Class’. If you’ve already made a donation or do not wish to donate at this time, click the Join the Class button below.

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Mindfulness Meditation Series: Introduction to Mindfulness

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About the Teaching

Recognize, Acknowledge, Inquire and Nurture (R.A.I.N.) present a highly practical way of applying mindfulness to our experiences that transforms the way we relate to them. This meditation course introduces mindfulness via the R.A.I.N. method, which is especially helpful for working with difficult emotions and stressful reactions in our life. Without the need to avoid, deny or strike out against our experiences, we have a way to face up to them without falling back into our old, dysfunctional reactive habits.

We can nurture new, adaptive habits with our mindfulness that will be conducive to happiness. All are welcome; there is no prerequisite. The course will feature brief explanations, guided meditations, and time for Q&A in each session.

Picture of Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong Kok is from Singapore. He has been teaching meditation and Buddhism since 1996, with a special interest in making available the benefits of meditation to a wider audience. From 2006-2015 and starting from 2020, he has served as a senior teacher at Vajrayana Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre affiliated to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). After studying Dharma for several years, Wai Cheong set out to deepen his understanding of spiritual practice by finishing the FPMT Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa in Italy from 1998-2004 completed with a four-month solitary retreat in New Zealand.
Register

When

Mondays, 7pm
Dates: 5 Feb - 4 March

Where

Live Streamed Online

Face-to-face
Vajrayana Institute, 9 Victoria Square Ashfield

Cost

By Donation
(Suggested: $15 per class)

Suitable For

Everyone

Watch Live Stream

Register

Live stream this class

Join our live stream by selecting an option below. If you wish to make a donation select the donate button. Once you have donated, close the donation window and select ‘Join Class’. If you’ve already made a donation or do not wish to donate at this time, click the Join the Class button below.

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I've already made a donation

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Advanced Meditation Series: Blissful Abiding in Deep Concentration

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About the Teaching

Shamatha, or calm-abiding, meditation aims to settle the disturbances and dysfunctions of our body and mind in meditation so that they can truly abide peacefully and blissfully in the here and now. This meditation course will introduce the different elements of concentration meditation presented in the classic Buddhist teachings. We will look at the favourable conditions we need to create and the steps we go through along the path of shifting our meditative experience toward a state of deepening absorption. We will explore the benefits we can gain from the states of deep concentration. All are welcome; there is no prerequisite. The course will feature brief explanations, guided meditations, and time for Q&A in each session.

Picture of Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong Kok is from Singapore. He has been teaching meditation and Buddhism since 1996, with a special interest in making available the benefits of meditation to a wider audience. From 2006-2015 and starting from 2020, he has served as a senior teacher at Vajrayana Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre affiliated to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). After studying Dharma for several years, Wai Cheong set out to deepen his understanding of spiritual practice by finishing the FPMT Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa in Italy from 1998-2004 completed with a four-month solitary retreat in New Zealand.
Register

When

Mondays, 7pm
Dates: April 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27 June 3, 17, 24

Where

Live Streamed Online

Face-to-face
Vajrayana Institute, 9 Victoria Square Ashfield

Cost

By Donation
(Suggested: $15 per class)

Suitable For

Everyone

Watch Live Stream

Register

Live stream this class

Join our live stream by selecting an option below. If you wish to make a donation select the donate button. Once you have donated, close the donation window and select ‘Join Class’. If you’ve already made a donation or do not wish to donate at this time, click the Join the Class button below.

I want to donate for this class

I've already made a donation

Join the Class

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Join the Class

Practical Meditation Series: Working with Emotions

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About the Teaching

Nurturing positive emotions like loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity can help us to rebalance our body and mind, diminish the impacts of stress and unpleasant feelings, and enhance our relationship with those around us. In this series of classes, we will learn about the different meditations that we can cultivate to work with our emotions.

Each weekly session will include explanation, guided meditations and Q&A. Suitable for everyone.

 
Picture of Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong Kok is from Singapore. He has been teaching meditation and Buddhism since 1996, with a special interest in making available the benefits of meditation to a wider audience. From 2006-2015 and starting from 2020, he has served as a senior teacher at Vajrayana Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre affiliated to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). After studying Dharma for several years, Wai Cheong set out to deepen his understanding of spiritual practice by finishing the FPMT Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa in Italy from 1998-2004 completed with a four-month solitary retreat in New Zealand.
Register

When

Mondays, 7pm
Dates: 18, 25 September, 9, 16, October

Where

Live Streamed Online

Face-to-face
Vajrayana Institute, 9 Victoria Square Ashfield

Cost

By Donation
(Suggested: $15 per class)

Suitable For

Everyone

Watch Live Stream

Register

Live stream this class

Join our live stream by selecting an option below. If you wish to make a donation select the donate button. Once you have donated, close the donation window and select ‘Join Class’. If you’ve already made a donation or do not wish to donate at this time, click the Join the Class button below.

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I've already made a donation

Join the Class

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Join the Class

Mindfulness Meditation Series: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness

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About the Teaching

Mindfulness is a natural quality of our mind that has to do with how we pay attention and when mindfulness is developed, it can facilitate a change in the way our body and mind function. This meditation course will introduce the four foundations for applying mindfulness, i.e., the body, feelings, mind and phenomena, and investigate the positive effects of mindful engagement into these different domains.

Mindfulness can facilitate the release of our reactivities to stress in our body and mind, an increase in our share of bliss and pleasure, a greater self-awareness of our mental states, and a change in the emotional habits that impact on us. All are welcome; there is no prerequisite. The course will feature brief explanations, guided meditations, and time for Q&A in each session.

Picture of Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong Kok is from Singapore. He has been teaching meditation and Buddhism since 1996, with a special interest in making available the benefits of meditation to a wider audience. From 2006-2015 and starting from 2020, he has served as a senior teacher at Vajrayana Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre affiliated to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). After studying Dharma for several years, Wai Cheong set out to deepen his understanding of spiritual practice by finishing the FPMT Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa in Italy from 1998-2004 completed with a four-month solitary retreat in New Zealand.
Register

When

Mondays, 7pm
Dates: 11,18,25 March; 8,15 April

Where

Live Streamed Online

Face-to-face
Vajrayana Institute, 9 Victoria Square Ashfield

Cost

By Donation
(Suggested: $15 per class)

Suitable For

Everyone

Watch Live Stream

Register

Live stream this class

Join our live stream by selecting an option below. If you wish to make a donation select the donate button. Once you have donated, close the donation window and select ‘Join Class’. If you’ve already made a donation or do not wish to donate at this time, click the Join the Class button below.

I want to donate for this class

I've already made a donation

Join the Class

I don't wish to donate at this time

Join the Class

Vipassana and Mahamudra: An Insight Meditation Course

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About the Teaching

Vipassana, or higher seeing, meditation focuses on bringing about a profound shift in our perspective, or insight. This helps us to overcome the misconception and misperception that create suffering for us. A very popular form of vipassana practice is the mindfulness meditation of breathing presented in 16 steps. Mahamudra, or the Great Seal, is a specific lineage of practice for developing insight focusing on the mind itself. In this course we will look at these two methods of cultivating insight, the underlying principles governing them, the conducive conditions needed, and the results we stand to gain through their practice.

All are welcome; no prerequisite needed.

Picture of Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong

Wai Cheong Kok is from Singapore. He has been teaching meditation and Buddhism since 1996, with a special interest in making available the benefits of meditation to a wider audience. From 2006-2015 and starting from 2020, he has served as a senior teacher at Vajrayana Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre affiliated to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). After studying Dharma for several years, Wai Cheong set out to deepen his understanding of spiritual practice by finishing the FPMT Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa in Italy from 1998-2004 completed with a four-month solitary retreat in New Zealand.

When

Wednesdays 7 pm - 8:30 pm
October 13th - December 15th

Where

Live Stream Online

Face-to-face
Vajrayana Institute, 9 Victoria Square Ashfield, from November 3rd

Cost

By Donation
(Suggested: $15 per class)

Suitable For

Everyone

Live Stream

Meeting ID: 895 3428 7467 Passcode: 1234

Discovering Buddhism Module 9: Samsara and Nirvana

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About Samsara and Nirvana

Investigate what “samsara” is and how we are stuck in it. Find out what “nirvana” is and how to achieve it. Learn how to be free from suffering and gain practical tools to deal with and eliminate disturbing emotions forever.

About the 'Discovering Buddhism' Course

Discovering Buddhism is a foundational course on Buddhist philosophy and practice, drawn from the teachings of the great Tibetan master, Lama Tsong Khapa.

The methods and teachings found in this program reflect the unique teaching styles of two contemporary Tibetan masters, Lama Thupten Yeshe (1935-84) and Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945 – present). The course is not just theoretical but experiential, aimed at helping students “taste the chocolate” of the Buddha’s words.

The structure of the course has been planned and written by experienced teachers at FPMT’s education department in the US, under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the spiritual head of FPMT.

Discovering Buddhism is a good course for students who may be completely new to Buddhism, as well as those who may have done some study and had some experience of meditation and would like to go deeper and know more about Buddhist philosophy and practice.

For those planning further studies in the future, Discovering Buddhism provides a firm foundation for more advanced courses such as Exploring Buddhism, and the FPMT Basic Program.  

At Vajrayana Institute, most of the 14 DB modules are taught over a period of four weekly classes, taking around 18 months to complete the full course. Ideally, students start with the first module and progress to the last. However, the modules do not need to be completed in the order they are presented or within any set time frame. Students can enrol in any module at any time. The fourteenth module, “Special Integration Experiences”, involves a retreat and will not be taught. More information on this module can be found at fpmt.org.

In 2023, Discovering Buddhism will be taught online only, via Zoom, with digital copies of  materials provided to students for each module. The materials include extracts of teachings given on the topic by great masters such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as well as weekly notes summarising the main points of each weekly teaching. There is time for discussion online and questions and answers are provided.

Picture of Alan Marsh

Alan Marsh

Alan Marsh has been a student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and member of Vajrayana Institute since it began in the early 1980’s, under the directorship of Ven. Roger Kunsang. During his long association with VI, he’s occupied various positions on the management committee and was a member of the board of FPMTA for several years.
Register

When


Mondays 6 pm - 7:30 pm
6, 13, 20, 27 November 2023

Where

Streamed Online via Zoom

Cost

By Donation
(Suggested: $15 per class)

Join the Class

Live stream this class

I want to donate for this class

I've already made a donation

Join the Class

I don't wish to donate at this time

Join the Class

Discovering Buddhism Module 8: Establishing a Daily Practice

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About Establishing a Daily Practice

Assemble the tools you need to develop a successful daily practice and find out the elements necessary to generate realizations. Get some tips for making every action you do meaningful.

About the 'Discovering Buddhism' Course

Discovering Buddhism is a foundational course on Buddhist philosophy and practice, drawn from the teachings of the great Tibetan master, Lama Tsong Khapa.

The methods and teachings found in this program reflect the unique teaching styles of two contemporary Tibetan masters, Lama Thupten Yeshe (1935-84) and Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945 – present). The course is not just theoretical but experiential, aimed at helping students “taste the chocolate” of the Buddha’s words.

The structure of the course has been planned and written by experienced teachers at FPMT’s education department in the US, under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the spiritual head of FPMT.

Discovering Buddhism is a good course for students who may be completely new to Buddhism, as well as those who may have done some study and had some experience of meditation and would like to go deeper and know more about Buddhist philosophy and practice.

For those planning further studies in the future, Discovering Buddhism provides a firm foundation for more advanced courses such as Exploring Buddhism, and the FPMT Basic Program.  

At Vajrayana Institute, most of the 14 DB modules are taught over a period of four weekly classes, taking around 18 months to complete the full course. Ideally, students start with the first module and progress to the last. However, the modules do not need to be completed in the order they are presented or within any set time frame. Students can enrol in any module at any time. The fourteenth module, “Special Integration Experiences”, involves a retreat and will not be taught. More information on this module can be found at fpmt.org.

In 2023, Discovering Buddhism will be taught online only, via Zoom, with digital copies of  materials provided to students for each module. The materials include extracts of teachings given on the topic by great masters such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as well as weekly notes summarising the main points of each weekly teaching. There is time for discussion online and questions and answers are provided.

Picture of Alan Marsh

Alan Marsh

Alan Marsh has been a student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and member of Vajrayana Institute since it began in the early 1980’s, under the directorship of Ven. Roger Kunsang. During his long association with VI, he’s occupied various positions on the management committee and was a member of the board of FPMTA for several years.
Register

When


Mondays 6 pm - 7:30 pm
23, 30 October

Where

Streamed Online via Zoom

Cost

By Donation
(Suggested: $15 per class)

Join the Class

Live stream this class

I want to donate for this class

I've already made a donation

Join the Class

I don't wish to donate at this time

Join the Class

Discovering Buddhism Module 10: How to Develop Bodhichitta

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About How to Develop Bodhicitta

Discover practices that develop our innate qualities of compassion. Learn to apply these techniques to generate bodhichitta, the mind of enlightenment, known as the very heart of Buddha’s teachings.

About the 'Discovering Buddhism' Course

Discovering Buddhism is a foundational course on Buddhist philosophy and practice, drawn from the teachings of the great Tibetan master, Lama Tsong Khapa.

The methods and teachings found in this program reflect the unique teaching styles of two contemporary Tibetan masters, Lama Thupten Yeshe (1935-84) and Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945 – present). The course is not just theoretical but experiential, aimed at helping students “taste the chocolate” of the Buddha’s words.

The structure of the course has been planned and written by experienced teachers at FPMT’s education department in the US, under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the spiritual head of FPMT.

Discovering Buddhism is a good course for students who may be completely new to Buddhism, as well as those who may have done some study and had some experience of meditation and would like to go deeper and know more about Buddhist philosophy and practice.

For those planning further studies in the future, Discovering Buddhism provides a firm foundation for more advanced courses such as Exploring Buddhism, and the FPMT Basic Program.  

At Vajrayana Institute, most of the 14 DB modules are taught over a period of four weekly classes, taking around 18 months to complete the full course. Ideally, students start with the first module and progress to the last. However, the modules do not need to be completed in the order they are presented or within any set time frame. Students can enrol in any module at any time. The fourteenth module, “Special Integration Experiences”, involves a retreat and will not be taught. More information on this module can be found at fpmt.org.

In 2023, Discovering Buddhism will be taught online only, via Zoom, with digital copies of  materials provided to students for each module. The materials include extracts of teachings given on the topic by great masters such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as well as weekly notes summarising the main points of each weekly teaching. There is time for discussion online and questions and answers are provided.

Picture of Alan Marsh

Alan Marsh

Alan Marsh has been a student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and member of Vajrayana Institute since it began in the early 1980’s, under the directorship of Ven. Roger Kunsang. During his long association with VI, he’s occupied various positions on the management committee and was a member of the board of FPMTA for several years.
Register

When

12,26 Feb,4, 11 March 2024
Mondays 6 pm - 7:30 pm

Where

Streamed Online via Zoom

Cost

By Donation
(Suggested: $15 per class)

Join the Class

Live stream this class

I want to donate for this class

I've already made a donation

Join the Class

I don't wish to donate at this time

Join the Class

Vajrayana Institute is a Buddhist Centre located in Ashfield, NSW Australia. Vajrayana Institute is a non-profit incorporated association that is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a grouping of over 150 meditation centres worldwide. 

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View Vajrayana Institute’s  Protection from Abuse Policy

Vajrayana Institute acknowledge the Gadigal and Wangal peoples of the Eora nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our centre sits. We pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

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