Come and learn the art of gilding in 23 ct gold leaf.

The aim is to train some people to help with re painting & gilding the top of the Stupa and detailing lotus, snowlions and double dorjes this January/ February, as part of the renovation plan in preparation for Lama Zopas return visit to Australia.

In these two workshops Amanda Farquharson, (having a 30 year gilding practice) will share her expertise by guiding students through the process of applying gold leaf to small Buddha tsatsa’s.

The creation of, as well as the offering of paint/ gold to sacred objects such as tsatsas, statues, and stupas is a practice that is said to result in great merit and positive energy for the practitioner as well as the recipient. Tsatsas make wonderful additions to an altar, mantelpiece or any other clean, respectful location.

Each person will be provided with a small (20cm) tsatsa and gold leaf for guilding.

If you have a tsatsa of you’re own that you would like to gild, bring it along.

Dates: 

Saturday the 11th of January

Saturday the 1st of February

Time:  11am -1pm

Cost: $25 to cover materials

(Pay at the door  on the day)

Students will learn the meaning and practice of drawing and painting traditional Buddhist art in the Tibetan style, beginning with the face of the Buddha and progressing through to completion of thangka for those who wish to participate on an ongoing basis. Guidance is also offered in these sessions to those who have one work or more in progress.

For a list of art materials or more information, please email assistantspc@vajrayana.com.au

Paul provides participants with teaching and instruction most Saturdays, but please check the calendar for updates or get on the email list for last-minute updates or cancellations.

Some students like to come in on a Wednesday morning from 11 am and continue their thangkas. Feel free to join in and be supported by the group.

Dates with Paul Smith: Saturday (check the website calendar for dates)

Time: 1pm – 3pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $20 per class, but no set amount)

Pop in for a lovely afternoon chat and a cup of warm chai with a bunch of kind, caring and supportive people from our local community.  Feel free to bring along a personal reading you have enjoyed in your life from the last week, whether as part of your dharma learnings and practice or otherwise, or maybe a piece of poetry, journaling or creative writing you have been working on and feel like sharing.

These informal chats are designed simply to allow people from all parts of our community to come and connect together as human beings, share our stories and journeys together and help each other to listen, learn and grow and do the best we can for ourselves and others in our lives as we strive to live with gratitude, compassion, and loving-kindness each day.

Our chats will follow our Traditional Tibetan Art Classes with our resident art teacher, Paul Smith, so please come and join us for the Painting Classes too, if you would like, for a truly beautiful day together.

Time: 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm (after Art Class)

Cost – No cost but feel free to bring along some biscuits, a slice or fruit to share.

https://vajrayana.com.au/events/first-sunday-sessions-with-wai-cheong/

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Venerable Dekyi in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Sundays

Time – 10.30am – 11.30am

Cost: By donation (suggested $10 per class, but no set amount)

Dharma for Kids uses the ‘Ready Set Happy’, a set of practical, inspirational tools to encourage children to think about ethics and values.

Dates & time: Sunday 10.30-11.30am

• February 2nd
• March 1st
• April 5th
• May 3rd
• NOT on June 7th

Cost: By donation

About the teachers
Jackie and Lesta have been leading dharma classes and meditation in primary schools for many years and are regular students at VI.

Join Wai Cheong Kok for one-off meditation workshops about exploring a range of topics on the first Sunday of each month. 

If you would like to make a weekend of it,  join him on Saturday the night before (see the Saturday night program for more information.)

Practical Buddhism Talk

Lama Zopa Rinpoche urges that reciting Sutra “is an extremely powerful practice for peace in the world, for purification, and for accumulating merit.”

Join Jackie and Lesta for a meritorious hour of reading the Golden Light Sutra, highly recommended for overcoming obstacles such as fires.

Time: 12pm- 1pm

Half an hour break – BYO Lunch

Learn the art of mantra rolling and help prepare mantras for statue filling. Any students requesting statues to be consecrated should attend these sessions, to roll the mantras for their statues. We also will send some of the mantras being rolled to our sister center Kunsang Yeshe Center in the Blue Mountains to help fill the beautiful Yellow Tara.  All are welcome to participate in learning this wonderfully meditative practice.

Time: 1.30am -4.30pm

Dates: 1st Sunday of every month

• February 2nd 
• March 1st 
• Not in April
• May 3rd
• June 7th 
• July 5th

Cost: Donations welcome

For more information about the Yellow Tara at Kunsang Yeshe Center visit:

Mantra Rolling

https://www.gofundme.com/f/yellowtaraproject

A puja is a special ceremony in which prayers are offered to the Buddhas or different manifestations of enlightened beings to request their blessings or invoke their help.

Pujas are performed to avert and clear the three types of obstacles which arise due to the lack of merit, which prevent us from achieving our worldly and spiritual goals. These include issues affecting our day to day life, our mental and physical health and difficulties we might be experiencing in Dharma practice. Removing these obstacles will help us to achieve happiness and good fortune in all our activities.

The following pujas are held at VI each month:

• Guru Puja with Tsog
• Tara Puja
• Medicine Buddha Puja
• Yamantaka Self Initiation (Restricted attendance)
• Vajrayogini Self Initiation (Restricted attendance)

There is also an opportunity to observe a Precepts Day at home by taking the 8 Mahayana precepts and devoting the day to practice.

Tara Puja – once each month

The Tara Puja is a practice focusing on Tara, making offerings and giving praise, as a way of creating merits and strengthening our connection with our own enlightened potential. Tara is also known as the “Mother of all Buddhas” because she embodies wisdom – all buddhas are born from this wisdom, she is the manifestation of the Buddha’s omniscient mind.

“Reciting the 21 Taras’ prayer with devotion – remembering Tara singing praises and reciting mantras at any time of the day or night – protects you from fear and dangers, and fulfils all your wishes.” Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Green Tara is especially swift in granting the wishes of sentient beings.

Note: times for Tara Pujas vary – please check the calendar for exact times.

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Wai Cheong Kok in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Dates – Mondays

Time – 6pm – 7pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $10, but no set amount) 

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member 

Learn what tantra is, how it works, and why it is a powerful form of practice. Get a broad overview of the four classes of tantra and learn to practice simple kriya tantric methods. Learn how to integrate tantra with Lam Rim meditation to obtain the best results.

Dates: Monday

• February 3, 10, 17
• March 2

Retreat day Sunday 8th March

Time: 7 – 8.30pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

The meditative experience of calmness and stillness within is something that we may long for, especially in response to the stress and agitation we are experiencing in our daily life. In this course we will take a hands-on approach to investigate how to actualize the simple steps to cultivate the conditions for this state of calm-abiding, such as settling into our posture, reconnecting body and mind, and promoting the arising of pleasant blissful sensations in order to gain access to inner stillness amidst an active modern lifestyle. All are welcome; no prerequisite required. Each weekly session includes guided meditations, explanations and time for discussion and Q&A.]

Days: Mondays

Date: February 3rd,10th, 17th, (not the 24th- ‘Losar’- Tibetan New Year )

March 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd , 30th

Time: 7pm – 8pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15, but no set amount)

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Venerable Dekyi in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Dates – Tuesdays

Time – 6pm – 6.50pm

Suggested Donation $10

A puja is a special ceremony in which prayers are offered to the Buddhas or different manifestations of enlightened beings to request their blessings or invoke their help.

Pujas are performed to avert and clear the three types of obstacles which arise due to the lack of merit, which prevent us from achieving our worldly and spiritual goals. These include issues affecting our day to day life, our mental and physical health and difficulties we might be experiencing in Dharma practice. Removing these obstacles will help us to achieve happiness and good fortune in all our activities.

The following pujas are held at VI each month:

• Guru Puja with Tsog
• Tara Puja
• Medicine Buddha Puja
• Yamantaka Self Initiation (Restricted attendance)
• Vajrayogini Self Initiation (Restricted attendance)

There is also an opportunity to observe a Precepts Day at home by taking the 8 Mahayana precepts and devoting the day to practice.

Guru Puja with Tsog (also known as Lama Chopa) – twice each month

During the practice of Lama Chopa, we invoke all the lamas of the graduated path lineage beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha himself, extending to our present direct teachers who have shown us the path. We pay homage to them, make offerings, and request each of them to please bless our minds with the same realizations that they themselves have generated. By offering sincere, heartfelt requests, we make our minds ripe to receive the full blessings of this precious lineage and quickly actualize the realizations we need to attain enlightenment.

Note: starting times for Pujas vary – please check the calendar for exact times.

Nagarjuna is renowned for his penetrating analysis of reality.  In the Precious Garland Nagarjuna describes the cause & effect sequences for the  development of happiness within ordinary life, as well as the practices of wisdom, realizing emptiness & compassion that lead to enlightenment.  He describes a Buddha’s qualities & offers encouraging advice on the effectiveness of practices that reveal the vast attributes of Buddha-hood.  The Precious Garland includes a detailed analysis of attachment to sensual objects as a preparation for realization of the profound truth that, when realized, makes attachment impossible.

Dates:  Tuesdays

Time: Tuesday evenings, 7pm – 8.30pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member

At VI we aim to make Dharma teachings as accessible as possible, so if you wish to attend but are unable to afford the full cost of classes at this time please email spc@vajrayana.com.au

Whether we are religious or not, we all want to make the most of our life and not be caught wasting time on distractions. Discover how to make every moment of the day more meaningful and how to transform our mundane activities into the path to lasting happiness.

These teachings are open to everyone!

Wednesdays

Time: 10am – 11.30am

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Wai Cheong in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators. 

Dates – January 15th, 22nd, 29th and then

Every Wednesday evening from February until end of June.

Time – 6pm – 7pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $10, but no set amount) 

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member 

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member 

Key Buddhist topics to help us live with an open heart and a clear mind (how to meditate, our potential for Buddha-hood, faith based on logic and experience, death and reincarnation, karma and compassion) Includes hands-on practice in sitting comfortably, setting up an altar and a developing a daily practice.

Dates:

Course 1

February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4

Course 2

March 11, 18, 25, April 1

Course 3

April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6

Course 4

May 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10

Revision and Q&A

June 17th

Time: 7pm – 830pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

In this class, Geshe la will focus on the famous wisdom chapter (chapter 9) of Shantideva’s classic text ”Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds” on Bodhicitta and the six perfections.  This chapter is a detailed and profound exposition on emptiness, ultimate reality according to Buddhism.

The dialogue takes place between the Madhyamaka school, represented by the author Shantideva, and various other Buddhist and non‐Buddhist schools.

This is an advanced level course on Buddhist philosophy.

Audio recordings of Basic Program subjects taught by Geshe Samten are available on the VI website on our Resources page.

Dates: Thursdays

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
[Discussion group from 6:00pm – 6:45pm]

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Alan in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Fridays

Time – 10am – 11am

Cost: By donation (suggested $10 per class, but no set amount)

Yoga works with the body and the breath to still the mind. Through regular practice, achieve a sense of lightness and ease in the body and clarity and stillness of mind. At VI, we teach an integrated style of classical yoga incorporating breath, movement and meditation.

Classes are suitable for all ages and abilities. Mats provided.

Fridays – no classes during school holidays

Time: 11.15am -12.30pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $10 per class, but no set amount)

Explore the definition and purpose of meditation, how to sit, how to set up a meditation session, different meditation techniques, and how to deal with obstacles to meditation.

“In order to awaken, or become conscious, we need to practice meditation. We tend to think we’re conscious most of the time but actually we’re not; we’re unconscious. But by gradually developing our meditation practice we slowly integrate our mind with the object of reality.

When we meditate, we often encounter obstacles to our practice and experience much trouble and frustration. The fundamental character or absolute nature of our mind is clean clear – we call this nature clear light – but relatively it is obscured by misconceptions and other hindrances that prevent us from seeing reality.” (Lama Yeshe).

Date: Saturday February 8th

Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $35 per class, but no set amount)

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Venerable Dekyi in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Sundays

Time – 10.30am – 11.30am

Cost: By donation (suggested $10 per class, but no set amount)

A puja is a special ceremony in which prayers are offered to the Buddhas or different manifestations of enlightened beings to request their blessings or invoke their help.

Pujas are performed to avert and clear the three types of obstacles which arise due to the lack of merit, which prevent us from achieving our worldly and spiritual goals. These include issues affecting our day to day life, our mental and physical health and difficulties we might be experiencing in Dharma practice. Removing these obstacles will help us to achieve happiness and good fortune in all our activities.

The following pujas are held at VI each month:

• Guru Puja with Tsog
• Tara Puja
• Medicine Buddha Puja
• Yamantaka Self Initiation (Restricted attendance)
• Vajrayogini Self Initiation (Restricted attendance)

There is also an opportunity to observe a Precepts Day at home by taking the 8 Mahayana precepts and devoting the day to practice.

Medicine Buddha Puja – once each month

Most commonly this puja is performed on behalf of sick people to assist with recovery from illness or an operation and those who are dying. It is also done to achieve higher rebirth for the deceased and is very powerful in bringing about success, both temporary and ultimate. The prayers invoke help from the Seven Medicine Buddhas and Buddha Shakyamuni.

Note: times for Medicine Buddha Pujas vary – please check the calendar for exact times

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Wai Cheong Kok in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Dates – Mondays

Time – 6pm – 7pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $10, but no set amount) 

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member 

Learn what tantra is, how it works, and why it is a powerful form of practice. Get a broad overview of the four classes of tantra and learn to practice simple kriya tantric methods. Learn how to integrate tantra with Lam Rim meditation to obtain the best results.

Dates: Monday

• February 3, 10, 17
• March 2

Retreat day Sunday 8th March

Time: 7 – 8.30pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

The meditative experience of calmness and stillness within is something that we may long for, especially in response to the stress and agitation we are experiencing in our daily life. In this course we will take a hands-on approach to investigate how to actualize the simple steps to cultivate the conditions for this state of calm-abiding, such as settling into our posture, reconnecting body and mind, and promoting the arising of pleasant blissful sensations in order to gain access to inner stillness amidst an active modern lifestyle. All are welcome; no prerequisite required. Each weekly session includes guided meditations, explanations and time for discussion and Q&A.]

Days: Mondays

Date: February 3rd,10th, 17th, (not the 24th- ‘Losar’- Tibetan New Year )

March 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd , 30th

Time: 7pm – 8pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15, but no set amount)

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Venerable Dekyi in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Dates – Tuesdays

Time – 6pm – 6.50pm

Suggested Donation $10

Nagarjuna is renowned for his penetrating analysis of reality.  In the Precious Garland Nagarjuna describes the cause & effect sequences for the  development of happiness within ordinary life, as well as the practices of wisdom, realizing emptiness & compassion that lead to enlightenment.  He describes a Buddha’s qualities & offers encouraging advice on the effectiveness of practices that reveal the vast attributes of Buddha-hood.  The Precious Garland includes a detailed analysis of attachment to sensual objects as a preparation for realization of the profound truth that, when realized, makes attachment impossible.

Dates:  Tuesdays

Time: Tuesday evenings, 7pm – 8.30pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member

At VI we aim to make Dharma teachings as accessible as possible, so if you wish to attend but are unable to afford the full cost of classes at this time please email spc@vajrayana.com.au

Whether we are religious or not, we all want to make the most of our life and not be caught wasting time on distractions. Discover how to make every moment of the day more meaningful and how to transform our mundane activities into the path to lasting happiness.

These teachings are open to everyone!

Wednesdays

Time: 10am – 11.30am

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Wai Cheong in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators. 

Dates – January 15th, 22nd, 29th and then

Every Wednesday evening from February until end of June.

Time – 6pm – 7pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $10, but no set amount) 

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member 

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member 

Key Buddhist topics to help us live with an open heart and a clear mind (how to meditate, our potential for Buddha-hood, faith based on logic and experience, death and reincarnation, karma and compassion) Includes hands-on practice in sitting comfortably, setting up an altar and a developing a daily practice.

Dates:

Course 1

February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4

Course 2

March 11, 18, 25, April 1

Course 3

April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6

Course 4

May 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10

Revision and Q&A

June 17th

Time: 7pm – 830pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

In this class, Geshe la will focus on the famous wisdom chapter (chapter 9) of Shantideva’s classic text ”Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds” on Bodhicitta and the six perfections.  This chapter is a detailed and profound exposition on emptiness, ultimate reality according to Buddhism.

The dialogue takes place between the Madhyamaka school, represented by the author Shantideva, and various other Buddhist and non‐Buddhist schools.

This is an advanced level course on Buddhist philosophy.

Audio recordings of Basic Program subjects taught by Geshe Samten are available on the VI website on our Resources page.

Dates: Thursdays

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
[Discussion group from 6:00pm – 6:45pm]

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Alan in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Fridays

Time – 10am – 11am

Cost: By donation (suggested $10 per class, but no set amount)

Yoga works with the body and the breath to still the mind. Through regular practice, achieve a sense of lightness and ease in the body and clarity and stillness of mind. At VI, we teach an integrated style of classical yoga incorporating breath, movement and meditation.

Classes are suitable for all ages and abilities. Mats provided.

Fridays – no classes during school holidays

Time: 11.15am -12.30pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $10 per class, but no set amount)

Students will learn the meaning and practice of drawing and painting traditional Buddhist art in the Tibetan style, beginning with the face of the Buddha and progressing through to completion of thangka for those who wish to participate on an ongoing basis. Guidance is also offered in these sessions to those who have one work or more in progress.

For a list of art materials or more information, please email assistantspc@vajrayana.com.au

Paul provides participants with teaching and instruction most Saturdays, but please check the calendar for updates or get on the email list for last-minute updates or cancellations.

Some students like to come in on a Wednesday morning from 11 am and continue their thangkas. Feel free to join in and be supported by the group.

Dates with Paul Smith: Saturday (check the website calendar for dates)

Time: 1pm – 3pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $20 per class, but no set amount)

Pop in for a lovely afternoon chat and a cup of warm chai with a bunch of kind, caring and supportive people from our local community.  Feel free to bring along a personal reading you have enjoyed in your life from the last week, whether as part of your dharma learnings and practice or otherwise, or maybe a piece of poetry, journaling or creative writing you have been working on and feel like sharing.

These informal chats are designed simply to allow people from all parts of our community to come and connect together as human beings, share our stories and journeys together and help each other to listen, learn and grow and do the best we can for ourselves and others in our lives as we strive to live with gratitude, compassion, and loving-kindness each day.

Our chats will follow our Traditional Tibetan Art Classes with our resident art teacher, Paul Smith, so please come and join us for the Painting Classes too, if you would like, for a truly beautiful day together.

Time: 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm (after Art Class)

Cost – No cost but feel free to bring along some biscuits, a slice or fruit to share.

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Venerable Dekyi in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Sundays

Time – 10.30am – 11.30am

Cost: By donation (suggested $10 per class, but no set amount)

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Wai Cheong Kok in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Dates – Mondays

Time – 6pm – 7pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $10, but no set amount) 

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member 

Learn what tantra is, how it works, and why it is a powerful form of practice. Get a broad overview of the four classes of tantra and learn to practice simple kriya tantric methods. Learn how to integrate tantra with Lam Rim meditation to obtain the best results.

Dates: Monday

• February 3, 10, 17
• March 2

Retreat day Sunday 8th March

Time: 7 – 8.30pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

The meditative experience of calmness and stillness within is something that we may long for, especially in response to the stress and agitation we are experiencing in our daily life. In this course we will take a hands-on approach to investigate how to actualize the simple steps to cultivate the conditions for this state of calm-abiding, such as settling into our posture, reconnecting body and mind, and promoting the arising of pleasant blissful sensations in order to gain access to inner stillness amidst an active modern lifestyle. All are welcome; no prerequisite required. Each weekly session includes guided meditations, explanations and time for discussion and Q&A.]

Days: Mondays

Date: February 3rd,10th, 17th, (not the 24th- ‘Losar’- Tibetan New Year )

March 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd , 30th

Time: 7pm – 8pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15, but no set amount)

A puja is a special ceremony in which prayers are offered to the Buddhas or different manifestations of enlightened beings to request their blessings or invoke their help.

Pujas are performed to avert and clear the three types of obstacles which arise due to the lack of merit, which prevent us from achieving our worldly and spiritual goals. These include issues affecting our day to day life, our mental and physical health and difficulties we might be experiencing in Dharma practice. Removing these obstacles will help us to achieve happiness and good fortune in all our activities.

The following pujas are held at VI each month:

• Guru Puja with Tsog
• Tara Puja
• Medicine Buddha Puja
• Yamantaka Self Initiation (Restricted attendance)
• Vajrayogini Self Initiation (Restricted attendance)

There is also an opportunity to observe a Precepts Day at home by taking the 8 Mahayana precepts and devoting the day to practice.

Guru Puja with Tsog (also known as Lama Chopa) – twice each month

During the practice of Lama Chopa, we invoke all the lamas of the graduated path lineage beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha himself, extending to our present direct teachers who have shown us the path. We pay homage to them, make offerings, and request each of them to please bless our minds with the same realizations that they themselves have generated. By offering sincere, heartfelt requests, we make our minds ripe to receive the full blessings of this precious lineage and quickly actualize the realizations we need to attain enlightenment.

Note: starting times for Pujas vary – please check the calendar for exact times.

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Venerable Dekyi in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Dates – Tuesdays

Time – 6pm – 6.50pm

Suggested Donation $10

Nagarjuna is renowned for his penetrating analysis of reality.  In the Precious Garland Nagarjuna describes the cause & effect sequences for the  development of happiness within ordinary life, as well as the practices of wisdom, realizing emptiness & compassion that lead to enlightenment.  He describes a Buddha’s qualities & offers encouraging advice on the effectiveness of practices that reveal the vast attributes of Buddha-hood.  The Precious Garland includes a detailed analysis of attachment to sensual objects as a preparation for realization of the profound truth that, when realized, makes attachment impossible.

Dates:  Tuesdays

Time: Tuesday evenings, 7pm – 8.30pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member

At VI we aim to make Dharma teachings as accessible as possible, so if you wish to attend but are unable to afford the full cost of classes at this time please email spc@vajrayana.com.au

Whether we are religious or not, we all want to make the most of our life and not be caught wasting time on distractions. Discover how to make every moment of the day more meaningful and how to transform our mundane activities into the path to lasting happiness.

These teachings are open to everyone!

Wednesdays

Time: 10am – 11.30am

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Wai Cheong in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators. 

Dates – January 15th, 22nd, 29th and then

Every Wednesday evening from February until end of June.

Time – 6pm – 7pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $10, but no set amount) 

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member 

Key Buddhist topics to help us live with an open heart and a clear mind (how to meditate, our potential for Buddha-hood, faith based on logic and experience, death and reincarnation, karma and compassion) Includes hands-on practice in sitting comfortably, setting up an altar and a developing a daily practice.

Dates:

Course 1

February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4

Course 2

March 11, 18, 25, April 1

Course 3

April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6

Course 4

May 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10

Revision and Q&A

June 17th

Time: 7pm – 830pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member 

In this class, Geshe la will focus on the famous wisdom chapter (chapter 9) of Shantideva’s classic text ”Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds” on Bodhicitta and the six perfections.  This chapter is a detailed and profound exposition on emptiness, ultimate reality according to Buddhism.

The dialogue takes place between the Madhyamaka school, represented by the author Shantideva, and various other Buddhist and non‐Buddhist schools.

This is an advanced level course on Buddhist philosophy.

Audio recordings of Basic Program subjects taught by Geshe Samten are available on the VI website on our Resources page.

Dates: Thursdays

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
[Discussion group from 6:00pm – 6:45pm]

Cost: By donation (suggested $15 per class, but no set amount)

Support Vajrayana Institute by becoming a member

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Alan in meditation to cultivate a peaceful and loving mind. The session includes mindfulness of breathing meditation and analytical meditation. Ideal for anyone wishing to kick start their own meditation or to be supported in their on-going practice by meditating with a group. Suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators.

Fridays

Time – 10am – 11am

Cost: By donation (suggested $10 per class, but no set amount)

Yoga works with the body and the breath to still the mind. Through regular practice, achieve a sense of lightness and ease in the body and clarity and stillness of mind. At VI, we teach an integrated style of classical yoga incorporating breath, movement and meditation.

Classes are suitable for all ages and abilities. Mats provided.

Fridays – no classes during school holidays

Time: 11.15am -12.30pm

Cost: By donation (suggested $10 per class, but no set amount)