Meditation helps change undesirable habits and improve self-confidence, adding a touch of dignity and sacredness to our lives. It has a proven record in its ability to improve health, transform negative situations and awaken happiness and give a clear perspective on life. Calm Abiding Meditation can help you become relaxed, focused and peaceful. It enables you to identify the real causes of unhappiness and recover from stress, anxiety and tension.

To learn to meditate you need an experienced teacher and a well-defined path. Lama Choedak Rinpoche is a master of Calm Abiding Meditation having undertaken extensive retreat in the Tibetan Buddhist monastic tradition and taught in the west for many years. His profound explanation of meditation and its everyday relevance is renowned for its lucidity, authenticity and humour. His teachings are offered from the heart, spiced with the richness of his experience, dedication and realisation.

Retreat is the best method for learning the technique and tools of meditation. SIBA is a beautiful and friendly Buddhist retreat centre in the Snowy River Country of East Gippsland. The consecrated land, surrounding nature, comfortable accommodation, delicious food and the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere provide the perfect support for an enjoyable and successful retreat experience.

Newcomers to meditation will find the instruction clear and meaningful while experienced practitioners discover new tools for engaging with their meditation practice 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 recitation of the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM.

Rinpoche will be giving special teachings on Gyalsay Ngulchu Thokme’s text, ‘The Thirty Seven Practices of Bodhisattva’ at this year retreat.

The last verse of this succinct, yet very famous Tibetan dharma text says:

"In short, no matter what one might be doing,
By examining always the status of one’s mind,
With continuous mindfulness and alertness,
To bring about the good of others.
This is the practice of all the bodhisattvas."

Rinpoche received the transmission of this teaching directly from His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama in 1975 in Bodh Gaya. It is a comprehensive teaching that will be presented by Rinpoche-la as a support to the practice and teachings on Calm Abiding meditation. Every afternoon a teaching session will be dedicated to study this topic in detail as part of the retreat schedule. Rinpoche's teachings on this much cherished indigenous Tibetan work are guaranteed to be satisfying, profound, clear and entertaining.

Watch the YouTube clip of the 2012 SIBA 10-day Calm Abiding Meditation Retreat.

Participants who complete the 10 day retreat can stay on for the three day Train the Trainer retreat - an intensive training program to be able to facilitate 8-week Calm Abiding Meditation Courses.