Events

In this workshop, Ani Kunsang will give detailed instructions for practising Vajrasattva using the Ngondro text. Ngondro practice is the fundamental practice for our progress on the Buddhist path. This series of workshops comprises instruction in Vajrasattva, Mandala Offering, and Guru Yoga. It is assumed that students will be familiar with Refuge and bodhicitta; however lack of familiarity will not prevent anyone from gaining enormously from these explanations.

Ngondro practice is the fundamental practice for our progress on the Buddhist path. This series of workshops comprises instruction in Vajrasattva, Mandala Offering, and Guru Yoga. It is assumed that students will be familiar with Refuge and bodhicitta; however lack of familiarity will not prevent anyone from gaining enormously from these explanations.

There are mandala sets that can be borrowed or bought, otherwise they can be improvised or imagined. The Ngondro text will be used for this exercise.

On this retreat Kate McAnergney looks forward to working more closely with participants; finding time to workshop postures and introducing partner-assisted yoga stretches. Kate will also be offering sessions of Yoga Nidra (deep guided relaxation), Pranayama (breathing exercises) and Nada Yoga (chanting).

Kate's partner Joel Orenstein has practiced meditation for much of his adult life. He believes that through regular practice all people can develop greater awareness and clarity to experience calm in their lives. Joel has been teaching meditation for four years and will be introducing the Calm Abiding meditation technique as taught by Lama Choedak Rinpoche over this weekend.

Healthy vegetarian food with all diets/allergies catered for.

Previous yoga experience would be beneficial but not essential.

Ngondro practice is the fundamental practice for our progress on the Buddhist path. This series of workshops comprises instruction in Vajrasattva, Mandala Offering, and Guru Yoga. It is assumed that students will be familiar with Refuge and bodhicitta; however lack of familiarity will not prevent anyone from gaining enormously from these explanations.

Meditation has a proven record in its ability to improve health, awaken happiness and give a clear perspective on life. To learn to meditate you need an experienced teacher and a well defined path.Calm Abiding Meditation can help you become relaxed, focussed and peaceful. It enables you to identify the real causes of unhappiness and recover from stress, anxiety and tension.

Lama Choedak Rinpoche has dedicated much effort and committed his focus over many years on the fundamental authentic Buddhist practices that are most effective and relevant to the eager westerners that he teaches. The practice of Calm Abiding meditation has been one of the most popular meditation techniques and Rinpoche has taught this technique to thousands of people. Drawing on the traditional scriptural teachings Rinpoche has developed a retreat programme that is unique in its depth and lucidity. This retreat is more than just Calm Abiding meditation but an introduction to Buddhism itself. Principles such as Refuge and prostrations are included as well as the practicing Right Thought of Bodicitta and learning to cherish others.

Newcomers to meditation find the instruction clear and meaningful while experienced practitioners discover tools for engaging with their meditation that they did not have before.

Lama Choedak Rinpoche will give the empowerment of Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion and impart the instruction on this daily sadhana practice and the recitiation of the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM.

Meditation is a tool to help change undesirable habits, improve self-confidence and to add a touch of dignity and sacredness to your life. You will be able to integrate a sense of calmness into everyday activities, and transform negative situations into something positive.

Come and enjoy learning a time-proven skill that will bring you lifelong happiness.

SIBA 2010 Training the Trainer

Anyone who has completed the Ten-day Calm Abiding Meditation Retreat is eligible to attend the Train the Trainer Retreat. This three day is by invitation and will immediately follow on from the Ten-day Calm Abiding Meditation Retreat. The course will be conducted from 6pm Sunday 3 to 2pm Wednesday 6 October 2010. Click here for more details.

In the past Lama Choedak Rinpoche has taught extensively on the outer generation stage; however, in this year's Hevajra teaching, Rinpoche will be placing a greater emphasis on the inner generation stage, a teaching he hasn't given before. This will be an extraordinary opportunity to hear detailed teachings on the profound body mandala.

Donna has been teaching macrobiotic cooking for years, and will explain in detail the theory of balance as well as many amazing cooking and preparation techniques. She will convert the kitchen in Virupa into a lesson in harmony. Ani Kunsang, an experienced meditation teacher, will prepare you with a morning meditation session with an emphasis on mindfulness. Cost is all inclusive

Buddhism is a philosophy that is logical, practical, beneficial and non-threatening. It is a path that can nurture contentment and meaning in life. The teachings and practices are positive and intellectually stimulating and have attracted great interest world wide in recent history.

The weekend’s topics will cover:

• Buddhas Life and ‘Buddhism’ today
• Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence
• Karma and Responsibility
• Impermanence and Health

This residential retreat will give a well-rounded insight into the Buddhist approach for nurturing the “kind heart” that the Dalai Lama speaks about so evocatively.

This retreat is presented by Lama Choedak Rinpoche who will be assisted by experienced ordained and lay students of Buddhism.

The practice of Ngondro is traditionally undertaken as the skilful means for purification of gross negative karma and the accumulation of merit, without which the accumulation of wisdom, emphasised in the Vajrayana path, will not be accomplished. Ngondro is a Tibetan word for preliminaries and is a foundational Buddhist practice suitable for all. These techniques are a compete practice in themselves for stabilising the practitioner on the path.

The retreat will focus on providing the meditator with the empowerments and instructions for the practice of ngondro including:

• refuge and prostrations
• generation of bodhicitta
• Vajrasattva empowerment and mantra recitation
• Mandala Offering
• Guru Yoga .

Lama Choedak Rinpoche will be leading this weekend retreat which is the beginning of a One-month Ngondro practice retreat from Friday 29 October to Sunday 28th November 2010 (see below).

The retreat will primarily be practice orientated with group, as well as solitary sessions. Lama Choedak Rinpoche will be conducting the first few days of the retreat and imparting essential teachings and empowerments then senior lay and ordained practitioners will lead the remainder of the retreat group practice and study sessions.

SIBA is the perfect location for extended residential retreat with all the necessary support prerequisites including experienced residents. This retreat is suitable for anyone wishing to gain some intensive experience in the special meditations of Vajrayana Buddhism.

The Ngondro Preliminaries weekend of teachings and empowerments (see above) at the beginning is this retreat is an essential prerequisite to a successful retreat and is include as part of the one-month retreat cost.

 This retreat is hosted by Choegye Padma Choe Dzong 07 4124 2980  www.padma.org.au. Please contact them for details.

 As is the tradition with Buddhist pilgrimage the Four Holy Sites that were indicated by the Buddha as places to honour him will be taken in. These are:

• Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha (Nepal close to the border with India); 
• Bodhgaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment (Bihar province and home of the Bodhi Tree);
  
• Sarnath, where Buddha first turned the Wheel of Dharma (Uttar Pradesh Province, on the outskirts of the ancient holy city of Varanasi (Benares) on the banks of the Ganges), and;
  
• Kusinagar, the site of Buddha's passing into Mahaparinirvana (Uttar Pradesh Province).

Though the itinery is yet to be finalised other places that are usually visited include:

• Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandhu, and the monastery and holy relics of His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche as well as IBA (International Buddhist Academy).
• Rajgriha (Vulture Peak) and Nalanda Monastery in Bihar Province, India

Click here for a detailed report on the 2008/2009 pilgrimage.

The tours are always excellently organised by local guides, and accommodation is usually of a very good standard. Transportation is mostly in private air-conditioned buses except for the long distances that may be covered by over-night sleeper train.

Lama Choedak Rinpoche's pilgrimage tours are very popular, and will be offered to those who join the pilgrimage early.  As there will be a limit to the size of the group, those who are interested should make their arrangements as soon as possible.

UPDATE! Click here for more information including a tentative itinery and flight options.

The Calm Abiding Retreat will be conducted in Noble Silence, with the last session of the retreat being an opportunity for participants to share insights. There will be no formal teaching sessions, only Calm Abiding Meditation from start to finish.

Precepts will be taken each morning at 5am, and only two satisfying meals a day will be served, being breakfast and lunch.

Take the opportunity to quieten down and deepen your practice in a beautiful bush setting. To promote a feeling of peace and spaciousness the retreat will be limited to ten (10) participants only.

White Tara is a beautiful meditation for developing kindness and compassion, increasing spiritual vitality and overcoming fears. She represents the feminine energy of the Buddhas. She is said to have originated from the tears of the deity Avalokiteshvara when he wept about the extent and intensity of the suffering experienced by all beings.

The Annual White Tara meditation retreat provides an opportunity for new students to receive the empowerment and learn the practice, and for experienced students to progress. There are group practice sessions to help the student familiarise themselves with the technique and Lama Choedak Rinpoche gives a remarkably thorough explanation of the symbology of the practice as well as its everyday relevance.

All basic Buddhist meditation techniques are included in the practice, with special emphasis placed on the creative visualisation meditations of Vajrayana Buddhism. Lama Choedak Rinpoche's realisation, dedication and experience are transmitted through the heartwarming atmosphere of which this retreat is conducted as well as the joy and humour he brings, particularly in the question and answer sessions.

The practice and teachings of White Tara will be valuable in everyday life and can help bring greater clarity, calm and inner-joy. Students who receive the empowerment and undertake the practice of White Tara will increase their spiritual vitality, intensify their capacity for compassion, and overcome fears, including the fear of death.