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 10.00-11.15am

• Aug 4
• Sep 1
• Nov 3
• Dec 1

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.

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Whilst Venerable Dekyi is away, please join one of VI’s meditation leaders 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 – Sundays

Time – 10.30am – 11.30am

Suggested donation $10

Lama Zopa Rinpoche urges us to recite the Sutra of Golden Light for these reasons:

“The holy Golden Light Sutra is the king of the sutras. It is extremely powerful and fulfills all one’s wishes, as well as bringing peace and happiness for all sentient beings, up to enlightenment. It is also extremely powerful for world peace, for your own protection, and for the protection of the country and the world. Also, it has great healing power for people in the country.  … Anyone can read this text, Buddhists and even non-Buddhists who desire world peace. This also protects individuals and the country from what are labeled natural disasters of the wind element, fire element, earth element, and water element, such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, fires, tornadoes, etc. They are not natural because they come from causes and conditions that make dangers happen. They come from past inner negative thoughts and actions of people, and from external conditions. The benefits of reading this sutra are immeasurable … reciting just a few lines of  the Sutra of Golden Light creates more merit than making … immeasurable offerings to the Buddha. Reciting this sutra directs one’s life towards enlightenment. There is so much merit … one’s life becomes so easy, whatever one wishes for one receives … there is unbelievable purification … one liberates numberless sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric suffering and brings them to enlightenment.”

Join Jackie and Lesta for an hour of reading the precious Golden Light Sutra.

Sunday 1st of December

Time: 12pm- 1pm

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. All are welcome to participate in learning this wonderfully meditative practice.

Dates:

Sundays

• September 22nd
• November 1st
• December 3rd

Time: 1.30pm – 4:30pm

Cost: Donations welcome

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join Alan Marsh/ senior student  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

Starts August 5th

Time – 6pm – 6.50pm

Cost $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

• August 6, 13, 20, 27
• September 3, 10
• October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
• November 5, 12, 26  (No class 19th November – Lhabab Duchen Puja w Geshe Samten)
• December 3, 10, 17

Time: Tuesday evenings, 7pm – 8.30pm

Cost: $15/$13 (VI Members) per session.

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

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 one of our meditation leaders at VI 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 – Wednesday

• Aug 7, 14, 21, 28
• Sep 4, 11, 18, 25
• Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
• Nov 6, 13, 20, 27
• Dec 4, 11, 18

Time – 6pm – 7pm

Suggested donation $10

Sharon Thrupp from Ekno Travels will be coming to VI to provide more details regarding next year’s amazing pilgrimage to North India with Geshe Samten.

This is a wonderful opportunity to clarify anything that may be unclear or ask any questions you have regarding the travel, accommodation, sights we will be visiting, pre-requirements for the trip, what to pack etc

December 4th 6pm

Hope to see you there!

Hemis Festival, Spiti Valley and Dharamsala, India

Tour Dates:
27 June-12 July 2020

Tour Highlights:

Join Geshe Samten and students of Vajrayana as we travel deep into the mountains of Ladakh to experience a once in a lifetime visit to the Hemis Festival. The spectacularly isolated mountain geography of this remote Indian province is one of the few remaining strongholds of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. Monasteries adorned with the iconic blue, red and yellow prayer flags dot the steep mountain slopes and crystal-clear rivers flow from glaciers, cascading into the mighty Indus river. A part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, it was only opened to tourists in the mid-70s and since then thousands of people from around the world have thronged to this bastion of Himalayan Buddhism.

The Hemis festival is a uniquely Ladakhi experience, dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) an 8th century Buddhist master who was responsible for spreading Buddhism across the world. This festival of dance and theatre is enacted with elaborate masks, costumes, and adornment. The glorious finale – in a cacophony of instruments, chants and sounds – ends in the unveiling of the monastery’s giant Thankga (Tibetan Buddhist painting).

We will then travel overland to the Spiti Valley, a little visited area with high passes blocked by snow and ice for half the year, and precariously perched Buddhist monasteries on high cliffs. Truly a land that time forgot. Following this we will visit Manali for a short rest before we reach Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama. Here we will immerse ourselves further into Tibetan culture, visiting the Tibetan Children’s Village and the Norbulingka to witness the preservation of Tibetan culture. Along with a visit to the Dalai Lama’s temple, this is a fitting end to our amazing Pilgrimage.

Tour Route:
Delhi – Ladakh – Hemis – Keylong – Kaza – Manali – Dharamsala – Delhi

Tour Cost:

$3995 per person twin share

$995 single supplement

Includes

• Fully accompanied by Geshe Ngawang Samten
• 15 nights’ accommodation and daily breakfast
• Internal flights – Delhi to Leh, Dharamsala to Delhi
• Transportation in Delhi by Toyota Innova Car or similar
  Transportation in Leh, Spiti & Dharamsala by AC Toyota Innova/Scorpio
  Following transport included:
  Pickup/Drop off from Delhi airport for international flight (within 24 hours of tour starting and ending)
  Pickup, sightseeing and Hemis Festival Tour in Ladakh
  Transport from Ladakh – Keylong – Kaza – Manali – Dharamsala
  Sightseeing in Dharamsala
  Drop off at Dharamsala airport

• Entrance fees to all museums and monuments
• Local guide in Leh
• Welcome and Farewell Dinner
• Services of local English speaking guide from Delhi to Dharamsala
• Donation to Vajrayana Institute, Sydney

Excludes 

• Return airfares to India
• Cost of Indian tourist visa (on arrival)
• Lunch and dinner (unless otherwise specified)
• Personal expenditure such as drinks, laundry service and souvenirs
• Tipping
• Donations to monasteries
• Compulsory insurance of any kind

Optional Extras:

• Pickup from International airport Delhi (if arriving more than 24 hours before trip)
• Drop off at International airport Delhi (if departing more than 24 hours after trip)
• Extra night in Delhi at Hotel Hans or similar – please ask for details

ITINERARY

Day 01

27 June 2020

Welcome to India! Upon your arrival at the airport in Delhi, our representative will greet you and escort you to the hotel. After checking into your hotel, spend the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the local area and relaxing in the hotel. Our friendly guide and hotel staff will be on hand should you need restaurant recommendations or general provisions.

Overnight: Hotel, Delhi

Day 02

28 June 2020

Delhi – Leh

We will take an early morning flight to Leh, the spectacular capital of Ladakh. Our flight will pass over multiple Himalayan ranges and serves as a fantastic photo opportunity. Leh is framed on all sides by the towering Himalayas, with the mighty Indus River roaring in the valley below. After we land we will take a walking tour of Leh Bazaar, an important stop on trade routes dating as far back as the third century. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to rest and acclimatise.

Overnight: Hotel, Leh

Day 03

29 June 2020

Leh

After breakfast, we will visit Gompa Soma, a Buddhist temple constructed in 1840 at the base of the towering Leh palace. Afterwards, we head to Moti Market, Leh’s old bazaar, for an exploration of its ancient lanes with a rich history that can be traced back to the Asian spice trade. We will eat lunch together followed by free time to rest, explore, or sip traditional Tibetan butter tea at your leisure.

Overnight: Hotel, Leh

Day 04

30 June 2020

Hemis Festival

Today we will witness the celebrations of the Hemis Festival, which commemorates the birth of Guru Padmasambhava. After an early breakfast we will travel to the Hemis Monastery, the largest and richest monastery in all of Ladakh. At 9am the birthday celebrations of Guru Padmasambhava begin in the courtyard, which quickly fills up with local Ladakhi’s and Buddhist pilgrims. A raised platform with a richly cushioned seat and a finely painted small Tibetan table is placed with the other ceremonial items – cups full of holy water, uncooked rice, incense sticks and tormas made of dough and butter. A number of musicians play traditional music using cymbals, drums, trumpets and wind instruments.

The festival highlight is the gathering of the lamas around the central flagpole to perform the mystic mask dances (Chams) and sacred plays. Dressed in colourful bright brocades with vibrantly decorated and richly adorned paper-mache masks the dancers enact an elaborate combat between good spirits and evil demons to the clatter of drums, cymbals and long horns.

In the afternoon, we will return to Leh for a guided tour of the city, including a visit to the Royal Palace. Constructed in the 17th century, this imposing nine story stone palace is one of the most captivating architectural ruins in the region. Situated in the foothills of the barren landscape, the palace was built as a residence for the King and to mark the reunification of Upper and Lower Ladakh. Above the Royal Palace, on Namgyal Tsemo (Victory Peak), are the ruins of Leh’s earliest royal residence, a fortress type structure built by King Tashi Namgyal in the 16th century.

Overnight: Hotel, Leh

Day 05

1 July 2020

Stok Palace, Shey Palace & Thiksey Monastery

After breakfast we will set off to explore Stok Palace, Shey Palace and Thiksey monastery.

Stock Palace is the home of the present-day royal family. The palace and accompanying museum were built in the year 1825, by King Tespal Tondup Namgyal. At present the place has a collection of elaborate royal dresses and crowns which are open for travellers to explore.

Shey Palace was built by Deldan Namgyal at the beginning of the 17th century AD. The main image in the monastery is a three-story statue of Buddha Shakamuni, made of copper gilt which was made by Deldan Namgyal in the memory of his father Singay Namgyal. The statue is the only one of its kind in the region.

Thiksey Gompa belongs to the Gelukspa order of Buddhism and is considered to be the most beautiful of all the monasteries in Ladakh. After our day of sightseeing we will return to Leh in the evening to rest and eat dinner.

Overnight: Hotel, Leh

Day 6

2 July 2020

Leh to Keylong (9-10 hours drive, approximately 380 km)

This morning we will leave Leh by private car and travel across the high plateau (approximately 9-10  hours’ drive). We will pass through the border town of Sarchu and into the picturesque Lahaul Valley before reaching Keylong, where we will spend the night. This is a once in a life time journey through an amazing lunar-like landscape often referred to ‘Little Tibet’.

Overnight: Hotel, Keylong

Day 7

3 July 2020

Keylong to Kaza(9-10 hours drive, approximately 190 km)

After breakfast we will leave Keylong and travel to Kaza (approximately 9-10 hours’ drive). We will drive to Chatru and enter the Spiti Valley through the spectacular Kunzum Pass (4550 metres). You might be able to spot yaks as they graze peacefully along the banks of the Spiti River. We will follow the valley floor until we reach Kaza, the largest town of the region, and our overnight stop.

Overnight: Hotel, Kaza

Day 8

4 July 2020

Kaza

We will spend the day in Kaza – arranging our permits to travel though the Spiti Valley, acclimatising and visiting the local town. In the afternoon we will travel by car to Ky Monastery. The monastery is located on top of a hill at an altitude of 4166 metres above sea level and has the distinction of being the oldest and the biggest in the Lahaul and Spiti district as well as being a religious training centre for monks. It is home to around 300 novice monks who receive their religious education here.

We will then head to the remote town of Kibber at 4270 metres. Soak in the remoteness and beauty of the Spiti Valley. With sweeping views of the mountains on one side and the Spiti Valley on the other, it is great place to relax and to enjoy the view. The Kibber area is also home to the elusive Blue Sheep, and if you keep your eyes peeled on the horizon you may see one of these shy creatures in the distance. In the late afternoon we will drive back to Kaza.

Overnight: Hotel, Kaza

Day 9

5 July 2020

Dhankar Monastery & Tabo Monastery

Today we will visit Dhankar Monastery, perched high above the valley floor and with a richhistory.The monastery was built on a 300-metre high spur overlooking the Spiti and Pin Rivers. It truly is one of the world’s most spectacular settings for a monastery and has many holy stories attached to it.

Following this we will travel to Tabo and visit the famous 12^th century Tabo Monastery, known for its Buddhist relics.Tabo Monastery was founded by the Tibetan Buddhist translator Rinchen Zangpo and is noted for being the oldest continuously operated Buddhist enclave in both India and the Himalayas. The monastery houses a priceless collection of thankas (scroll paintings), manuscripts, well-preserved statues, frescos and extensive murals which depict tales from the Buddhist pantheon. The monastery is protected as a national historic treasure of India.

Overnight: Hotel, Kaza

Day 10

6 July 2020

Kaza to Manali

We will leave Kaza very early in the morning for the drive to Manali. You will pass along the valley floor before gradually rising and crossing the spectacular Rothang Pass (3980m) which offers some of the most spectacular mountain views in the world. We will stop at the pass to admire the stunning view, before continuing to Manali and arriving by early afternoon.

The rest of the evening is at your leisure to explore this picturesque town or to take a well-deserved rest.

Overnight: Hotel, Manali

Day 11

7 July 2020

Manali

Today we will spend the day sightseeing in Manali, a quaint town nestled amongst the Himalayas on the banks of the Beas River. Manali offers an exotic charm unlike any other place in India. We will explore old Manali, which has maintained anold-world charm despite modern conveniences such as the many restaurants offering a variety of local and international cuisines. In the afternoon you can relax or visit the local markets and the Manu and Hadimba temples.

Overnight: Hotel, Manali

Day 12

8 July 2020

Manali – Dharamsala

After breakfast we will drive to Dharamsala. On arrival we will check into our hotel before exploring the town of McLeod Ganj with Tibetan shops and culture running through the town. This fascinating and multicultural hill station is universally known as the home of the 14th Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile.

In the afternoon we will visit the temple of His Holiness, the Namgyel Monastery, where you can turn the giant prayer wheels and observe the monks going about their daily activities. Spend the evening in one of the many international restaurants that dot the town as we admire the beauty of the spectacular Dhauladhar mountain range in the background.

Overnight: Hotel, Dharamsala 

Day 13

9 July 2020

Dharamsala

This morning you might like to enjoy one of the many cafes in the town and have that long awaited espresso coffee, you have earned it! After breakfast we will take a short visit to the picturesque village of Naddi. This peaceful village offers spectacular views of both the Dhauladhar mountain range and the lush Kangra valley. Wandering around Naddi and soaking up the scenery is a perfect way to reflect on thejourney we have taken and the Buddha’s teachings.

On our way back to McLeod Ganj we will visit the Tibetan Children’s village (opening hours permitting), which provides care and education for Tibetan children living in exile.The village is a thriving educational community for Tibetan children living in exile. We will return to McLeod Ganj to spend some more time at the temple of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Museum, absorbing Tibetan culture as we explore.

Overnight: Hotel, Dharamsala

Day 14

10 July 2020

Norbulingka Institute

After lunch you will visit the Norbulingka Institute, which works to preserve traditional Tibetan culture and art forms. The visit will include a guided tour of the workshops, where you can meet the artisans as they work. Before heading back to McLeod Ganj, you will be able to visit the Gyoto Monastery, a secluded and peaceful haven specialising in the study of Tantric meditation, Tantric ritual arts and Buddhist philosophy.

Overnight: Hotel, Dharamsala 

Day 15

11 July 2020

Dharamsala – Delhi

Today we will fly back to Delhi. Enjoy your last day sightseeing or shopping in Delhi. As an optional extra you can visit the National Museum which houses the Sacred Relics of Buddha (5th-4th century BC) which were discovered in Uttar Pradesh (a state of India). The relics are outstanding specimens of Buddhist Art and are illustrated through exhibits in a variety of materials and forms from the three principal Buddhist forms – Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.

Overnight: Hotel, Delhi

Day 16

12 July 2020

We will transfer you to the airport in time for your flight home or further travel in India.

New to Buddhism? Want to see what it’s all about or just use its teachings to improve your daily life?

Buddhism in a Nutshell is an FPMT introductory course that provides an overview of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and practice. It is suitable for people encountering Buddhism for the first time, as well as for people who have heard or read some Buddhist teachings but would like a more structured approach to understanding the path to enlightenment as taught by Shakyamuni Buddha. It consists of four sessions that cover topics including the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, the four noble truths, and the three principal aspects of the path to enlightenment—renunciation, bodhichitta, and the right view of emptiness. The course also provides a brief presentation of meditation and five guided meditations suitable for beginners.

Dates:

Course 1

Sept 11, 18, 25, Oct 2

Course 2

Nov 27, Dec 4, 11, 18

Time: 7pm – 830pm

Cost: $15 / $13 or package a whole course for $70 / $60

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

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

• Aug 8, 15, 22, 29
• Sep 5, 12
• September 19th Q&A with Geshe Samten
• September 26th No Class
• Oct 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
• Nov 7, 14, 21, 28
• Dec 5, 12, 19

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

Cost: $15/$13 (per session / VI member per session)

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

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.

Dates – Friday

• Aug 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
• Sep 6, 13, 20, 27
• Oct 4, 11, 18, 25
• Nov 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
• Dec 6, 20

Time – 10am – 11am

Suggested donation $10

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.

Dates: Friday mornings

• Aug 9, 16, 23, 30
• Sep 6, 13, 20, 27
• Oct 18, 25
• Nov 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
• Dec 6

Time: 11.15am -12.30pm

Cost: $15 per class or buy a 10-pack of classes for $120

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.

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 a 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.

Paul provides participants teaching and instruction most Saturdays. Please confirm dates on the website calendar.

Students are also able to come on a Wednesday morning to use the space as a group for self-directed progression with their artworks.

Please email assistantspc@vajrayana.com.au  for further inquiries, such as a list materials needed for the class.

Dates with Paul Smith: Saturdays (check calendar for dates)

Time: 1pm – 3pm

Cost: $20 / $18 VI 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 assistantspc@vajrayana.com.au

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

A Buddhist View on Conative Intelligence

The psychological term “conation” refers to the faculty of desire and intention, and our intelligence in this regard reflects the degree of wisdom we have in choosing which aspirations and ideals to embrace as we seek to find happiness and freedom from suffering. This theme has a great bearing on the Buddhist emphasis on cultivating an authentic and benevolent motivation for all human endeavours and in particular for spiritual practice. In this lecture, Alan Wallace will explore this topic from a Buddhist perspective, highlighting its relevance in today’s world, when there is such an urgent need for humanity to cultivate greater conative intelligence if we are to stop destroying our natural environment and undermining human civilization.

Date and Time: 7th December 2019, 6pm

Cost: $25 / $20 (VI members)

Alan Wallace

Alan Wallace is a prominent voice in the emerging discussion between contemporary Buddhist thinkers and scientists who question the materialist presumptions of their 20th-century paradigms. He left his college studies in 1971 and moved to Dharamsala, India to study Tibetan Buddhism, medicine and language. He was ordained by H.H. the Dalai Lama, and over fourteen years as a monk he studied with and translated for several of the generation’s greatest lamas. In 1984 he resumed his Western education at Amherst College where he studied physics and the philosophy of science. He then applied that background to his PhD research at Stanford on the interface between Buddhism and Western science and philosophy. Since 1987 he has been a frequent translator and contributor to meetings between the Dalai Lama and prominent scientists, and he has written and translated more than 40 books. Along with his scholarly work, Alan is regarded as one of the West’s preeminent meditation teachers and retreat guides. He is the founder and director of the Santa Barbara Institute for Conscious Studies and is the motivating force behind the develop of the Centre for Contemplative Research in Tuscany, Italy.

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Whilst Venerable Dekyi is away, please join one of VI’s meditation leaders 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 – Sundays

Time – 10.30am – 11.30am

Suggested donation $10

The Way of Shamatha: Soothing the Body, Calming the Mind, Illuminating Awareness

During this retreat, we will explore in theory and practice a range of methods for developing meditative quiescence, or shamatha. We will begin with the practice of mindfulness of the breathing as taught by the Buddha, which is an especially effective approach to soothing the body and calming the discursive mind. We will then explore an approach to shamatha that is particularly pertinent for Dzogchen practice, called “settling the mind in its natural state,” as taught by the nineteenth-century Dzogchen master Lerab Lingpa in his commentary to the Heart Essence of Vimalamitra.

Finally, we will engage in the practice of “shamatha without signs” as taught by Padmasambhava in his classic terma Natural Liberation. Although this subtle practice is taught explicitly as a means of achieving shamatha, Padmasambhava comments that it may even result in a realization of rigpa, or pristine awareness.

The achievement of shamatha is widely regarded in the Buddhist tradition as an indispensable foundation for the cultivation of contemplative insight (vipashyana), and this retreat is designed to provide students with a sufficient theoretical understanding and a basis in experience to enable them to proceed effectively toward this extraordinary state of mental and physical balance.

Suitable for beginners and experienced meditators alike.

About the Retreat Leader

Alan Wallace is a prominent voice in the emerging discussion between contemporary Buddhist thinkers and scientists who question the materialist presumptions of their 20th-century paradigms. He left his college studies in 1971 and moved to Dharamsala, India to study Tibetan Buddhism, medicine and language. He was ordained by H.H. the Dalai Lama, and over fourteen years as a monk he studied with and translated for several of the generation’s greatest lamas. In 1984 he resumed his Western education at Amherst College where he studied physics and the philosophy of science. He then applied that background to his PhD research at Stanford on the interface between Buddhism and Western science and philosophy. Since 1987 he has been a frequent translator and contributor to meetings between the Dalai Lama and prominent scientists, and he has written and translated more than 40 books. Along with his scholarly work, Alan is regarded as one of the West’s pre-eminent meditation teachers and retreat guides. He is the founder and director of the Santa Barbara Institute for Conscious Studies and is the motivating force behind the develop of the Centre for Contemplative Research in Tuscany, Italy.

ADVISE FOR INTERSTATE PARTICIPANTS

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

• August 6, 13, 20, 27
• September 3, 10
• October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
• November 5, 12, 26  (No class 19th November – Lhabab Duchen Puja w Geshe Samten)
• December 3, 10, 17

Time: Tuesday evenings, 7pm – 8.30pm

Cost: $15/$13 (VI Members) per session.

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

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Join one of our meditation leaders at VI 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 – Wednesday

• Aug 7, 14, 21, 28
• Sep 4, 11, 18, 25
• Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
• Nov 6, 13, 20, 27
• Dec 4, 11, 18

Time – 6pm – 7pm

Suggested donation $10

New to Buddhism? Want to see what it’s all about or just use its teachings to improve your daily life?

Buddhism in a Nutshell is an FPMT introductory course that provides an overview of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and practice. It is suitable for people encountering Buddhism for the first time, as well as for people who have heard or read some Buddhist teachings but would like a more structured approach to understanding the path to enlightenment as taught by Shakyamuni Buddha. It consists of four sessions that cover topics including the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, the four noble truths, and the three principal aspects of the path to enlightenment—renunciation, bodhichitta, and the right view of emptiness. The course also provides a brief presentation of meditation and five guided meditations suitable for beginners.

Dates:

Course 1

Sept 11, 18, 25, Oct 2

Course 2

Nov 27, Dec 4, 11, 18

Time: 7pm – 830pm

Cost: $15 / $13 or package a whole course for $70 / $60

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

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

• Aug 8, 15, 22, 29
• Sep 5, 12
• September 19th Q&A with Geshe Samten
• September 26th No Class
• Oct 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
• Nov 7, 14, 21, 28
• Dec 5, 12, 19

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

Cost: $15/$13 (per session / VI member per session)

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

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 a 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.

Paul provides participants teaching and instruction most Saturdays. Please confirm dates on the website calendar.

Students are also able to come on a Wednesday morning to use the space as a group for self-directed progression with their artworks.

Please email assistantspc@vajrayana.com.au  for further inquiries, such as a list materials needed for the class.

Dates with Paul Smith: Saturdays (check calendar for dates)

Time: 1pm – 3pm

Cost: $20 / $18 VI 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 assistantspc@vajrayana.com.au

Limited tickets available. Registration required

Please do not show up without pre-registration

Saturday 14th December. 5.30pm – 7pm

Balmain Town Hall. Main Hall

Jesus counselled his followers to be perfect as their Father in heaven is perfect, and for centuries, mystical union with God—understood as perfect love and omniscient wisdom—was the ideal of Christian contemplatives. Buddha counselled his followers to realise perfect freedom from suffering by irreversibly dispelling all the afflictions and obscurations of the mind. The ideals of personal liberation and perfect enlightenment have been pursued by Buddhist contemplatives over the past 2,500 years.

While these two contemplative traditions appear to have had little contact throughout their long histories, they did exhibit remarkable parallels as well as differences. Ideals of perfection and the means to realise it will be explored in this lecture, with the hope that the vitality of both the Christian and Buddhist contemplative traditions may be revitalised in the modern era, which could so deeply benefit from their insights and wisdom.

Peace begins in the mind and a peaceful mind benefits both you and those around you. Whilst Venerable Dekyi is away, please join one of VI’s meditation leaders 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 – Sundays

Time – 10.30am – 11.30am

Suggested donation $10