Centres

see the separate entries for Rongton Buddhist College aka Evatt, and Virupa Retteat Centre for details,

The Evatt site, also known as Rongton Buddhist Training College, is the Canberra centre of Sakya Losal Choe Dzong (Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra Inc). At the Evatt centre you can find information about all SLCD activities such as workshops, talks, empowerments, residential retreats and Tibetan language studies.

Regular meditation and philosophy classes are held here every Tuesday of the school term by Lama Choedak Rinpoche; and on most Wednesdays Rinpoche leads practice sessions at 7.30pm according to the schedule of practices listed below.

Other workshops, courses, and practices are also held at Evatt from time to time. For these, please look under Classes and under Events.

Virupa Retreat Centre and SIBA (Tsarchen Choeling) are both retreat centres of the Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra Inc (Sakya Losal Choe Dzong)

Virupa RC is a beautiful venue for short or long residential retreats and work shops, only 20 minutes from Canberra airport, 15 minutes from Queanbeyan, and 30 minutes from Canberra.

It has 100 acres of mountain scrub with magnificent peaceful views and deep quiet. There is a beautiful traditional Tibetan Buddhist shrine room which is looked after by the resident community of volunteers, and which is open for personal practice and also for hire. VRC is, of course, also a venue for teachings and empowerments.  Apart from the dormitory accommodation in the main house used during teachings, there are three individual meditation retreat huts for long-term and short-term retreats.

You are welcome to visit or spend some time at Virupa. There is regular Soor practice and daily Green Tara practice at 7am. Please call if you wish to join in practice, or to request Soor prayers for the deceased.

To see what classes etc are held here, look under Classes and under Events.

DIRECTIONS for those who go gaga with maps: take the Kings Hwy from Queanbeyan for a few km to the big roundabout where you turn right into Captains Flat Road. Follow that 11 km to Douglas Close turnoff on your right. 1.79 km along there you come to three driveways: take the middle one with the prayer flags. Don't use a navcam etc.

Our centre takes in Taree, Forster district and hinterland.  We invite Lama Choedak Rinpoche for visits at least annually, enjoying the company of the Port Macquarie group on these retreats.

Marpa BC Meditation Programme:Weekly Calm Abiding Meditation -

Every Tuesday evening 6.30 till 8.00pm

at 22 Tulloch Rd Tuncurry (in the shed next to the house).

What to bring: comfortable clothes.

Cost: by donation.

Weekly Green Tara Pracitice -

Every Friday morning 7.30am till 9.00am

at 22 Tulloch Rd Tuncurry (in the shed next to the house).

What to bring: comfortable clothes.

Cost: by donation.

Weekly Chenrezig Practice -

Second Sunday of each month 10.00am till 12.00pm, usually followed by Soor practice for the deceased.

at 22 Tulloch Rd Tuncurry (in the shed next to the house).

What to bring: comfortable clothes.

Cost: by donation.

All of these sessions are open to all.

Manjushri Buddhist Centre was named and consecrated by Lama Choedak Rinpoche on the 21st of October 2007. For many years before that, and since our inauguration we have been actively promoting Dharma activities in and for the local community by:

- hosting Lama Choedak Rinpoche, Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe (Drogmi Retreat Centre) and other visiting teachers, to give public talks, teaching and conduct workshops.

- The 8 week Calm Abiding Meditation course has been facilitated regularly since 2004

- Buddhist scripture classes at the local primary schools have been offered since 2005

- weekly meditation sessions (see Centre Schedule)

- bi-annually, since 2003, hosting the Sacred Footsteps from the Roof of the World (Tibetan monks from Sera Je Monastery India, spending a week making sand mandala)

The Centre is situated in the picturesque historic village of Milton, just north of Ulladulla on the south coast of N.S.W. There is plenty of great accommodation and camping available  - not to mention great beaches and tranquil bush walks. 

With the steady progress of Manjushri Buddhist Centre we will continue to offer such activities and hopefully offer more for locals and visitors alike. 

If you would like to be kept informed, simply send an e-mail requesting to be added to our contact list.

Regular Events at the Centre:

Kacho Yulo Ling is a cousin centre under the patronage of HH the Sakya Trizin and HE Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. www.yuloling.com

Hervey Bay is a beautiful subtropical location adjacent to Fraser Island, 3 hours drive north of Brisbane. Padme Buddhist Centre is a not-for-profit community organisation whose members are inspired by the example set by H E Chogye Trichen Rinpoche and Lama Choedak Rinpoche, and who wish to support Tibetan Buddhist practice in Hervey Bay and the surrounding region. Anyone wishing to be more involved with our activites is most warmly welcome. All of Padma's work is done voluntarily.

We receive biannual visits from Lama Choedak Rinpoche as well as from other visiting teachers. Our group meets each Thursday 6.30pm - 8.30pm for practice, meditation and teachings (except during the school holidays) at the Padma Shrine Room in Point Vernon, a suburb of Hervey Bay.

 Our regular practices include Calm Abiding Meditation, Manjushri, Green Tara, and Medicine Buddha. As well, study and discussion on Buddhist topics forms part of our evenings.

Regular courses introducing Calm Abiding Meditation are held throughout the year by students who have been trained by Lama Choedak Rinpoche.

Visit us on www.padma.org.au

Rongton Buddhist Centre is an incorporated not-for-profit association in the Brisbane suburb of Newmarket, and is part of a national network of centres established in the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism with Lama Choedak Rinpoche as its spiritual head. Established in 2004, RBC was named after the celebrated 15th century Tibetan Buddhist scholar and meditator Rongton Sheja Kunrig, who founded the renowned Nalendra monastery outside of Lhasa.

Our centre regularly offers an 8-week Introduction to Calm Abiding Meditation course, in addition to Introduction to Buddhism classes for those who wish to discover and develop their inner potential. Regular weekly centre practices include calm abiding meditation sessions (for those who have completed the introductory course or those who have some experience), Chenrezig practice sessions, Green Tara and white Tara practice sessions, Medicine Buddha, and Ngondro. Our centre also regularly performs Soor to aid the deceased, as well as performing the 16 Arhat Puja on full moon days.

Rongton Buddhist Centre hosts retreats, teachings, and public talks by Lama Choedak Rinpoche throughout the year, as well as hosting visits by other highly qualified teachers within the Sakya tradition. We also warmly welcome teachers from all Buddhist traditions.

Daily Green Tara Puja and weekly teachings from ordained sangha. www.aryatara.info

Dharmottara BC is located on the town limits of Nanango, gateway to the South Burnett region.  We are  2.5 hours' drive north west from Brisbane, and the same distance from Hervey Bay and Sunshine Coast.  We are only 1.5 hours from Toowoomba and 3 hours from the Gold Coast. 

Our centre strongly promotes the practice of Calm Abiding meditation skills.  We have also been very blessed by Rinpoche and His Eminence Chogye Trichen, for the empowerments of Vajrasattva, Ngondro, Sinamukha, Medicine Buddha and Chenrezig teachings and practice.

Our regular practice night is Thursday 6.30 - 8.30 pm. 

Regular Calm Abiding meditation courses continue locally and in Kingaroy - contact Jac-Aileen for details. 

Adelaide Non-Sectarian Buddhist Group

Established in 1996, Adelaide Non-Sectarian Buddhist Group, provides a platform for teachers from all traditions of Buddhism to deliver their message to the people of South Australia.

The group of dedicated volunteers has hosted the visits of many Buddhist teachers. The group formally invites Buddhist teachers from interstate and overseas to teach in Adelaide. We also petition the organisers of the national and international tours of Buddhist teachers to include South Australia on their teaching schedule.

On the 27th of June 2001, during his visit to Adelaide, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche formalised the group by giving the name Tsechen Thubten Choe Ling on his official paper bearing his personal crest with his donation for the group to purchase a representation of the Buddha. The word "Tsechen" is the Tibetan word for the Sanskrit "Mahakaruna". Tsechen Thubten Choe Ling translates as "Great Compassion Dharma Garden of Buddhadharma".

Adelaide Non-Sectarian Buddhist Group is one of the founding members of the Buddhist Council of South Australia. The group has been a member of the Council's Management Committee since the BCSA's inception and has served as the Council's Treasurer and Secretary.

SIBA (Sakya International Buddhist Academy) is a beautiful retreat centre in the Snowy River Country of East Gippsland Victoria. Formerly ONTOS, SIBA was founded by Lama Choedak Rinpoche and formally opened and consecrated by His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche in 2006. At this time His Eminence bestowed the dharma name of Tsarchen Choeling (Great Dharma dwelling of the Tsarpa Tradition).

Throughout the year, SIBA has a programme of group residential retreats conducted by Lama Choedak Rinpoche, visiting lamas or SIBA residents. SIBA is also perfectly set up for individual retreats .

SIBA is set in 108 hilly forested acres, and is maintained by a community of volunteer residents.

If you would like to spend some time at SIBA, whether as part of a formal retreat or not, please contact us