Year Round
THE CHENREZIG INSTITUTE TIBETAN BUDDHIST CENTRE
Chenrezig is the Bodhisattva of Compassion, one of the most beloved figures in the Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist tradition, representing the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in their tireless work to benefit all beings.
Chenrezig (Sanskrit: Avalokiteshvara) translates as ‘all seeing’ and manifests in many forms, both male and female, often with many arms and eyes. Chenrezig’s mantra is: OM MANI PADME HUM.
LAMRIM RETREAT
The texts are founded on the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, and form a complete and gradual spiritual path leading to ultimate happiness and enlightenment. Through cultivating an awareness of our present conditions, we gain an understanding of the nature of our dissatisfaction and unhappiness, identify the causes for these states of mind, and find out how we can overcome them. Understanding this, we can then direct our energy to deal more effectively with any situation, be it positive or negative. The retreat covers many important topics such as the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the four noble truths, karma, the nature of our mind, conventional and ultimate truth, the twelve links of dependent origination and bodhicitta, just to name a few.
EASTER RETREAT
Within Tibetan Buddhism, there is an emphasis on creating a connection with a spiritual friend or teacher who will be able to support and nurture your personal development. This person will provide inspiration, encouragement, guidance and, most importantly, lead a life of example. In modern terms, they are the ultimate life coach, not only for this life, but for the lives beyond. When choosing this teacher, the Buddha advises students to look carefully for specific qualities and not to make any commitment until you are completely sure. This retreat is ideal for students who have taken refuge with Geshe Tsultrim or who are starting to attend his teachings, but is also suitable for everyone else.
MANI RETREAT (18 September - 25 September 2022)
A mani retreat focuses on developing compassion through a joyful and uplifting practice of visualising Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion and reciting his powerful mantra of. It is easy to remember, easy to recite and its meaning is extremely profound. The benefits of reciting OM MANI PADME HUM are immeasurable: the mantra purifies our negative karma, develops our compassionate heart, and ultimately creates the causes for us to actualise the entire path to enlightenment.
VAJRASSATVA RETREAT
Vajrasattva Purification Retreat
Purification within the Buddhist tradition involves looking over our lives and considering times where we may have thought, said or acted in ways that caused harm to ourselves or others. We do this without guilt but rather with a sense of regret, recognising that it was harmful and not beneficial. With the power of resolve, we firmly envision how we can improve our behaviour in the year ahead. We overcome self-doubt and confusion, and instead focus on the clean clear state of mind that is always present. This retreat is suitable for beginners or experienced practitioners alike, but a basic understanding of karma will be helpful. Senior members of the Sangha will lead students through the practices.
Chenrezig Institute - Tibetan Buddhist Centre, Our Teachers.
GESHE TSULTRIM
Geshe Phuntsok Tsultrim is Chenrezig Institute’s resident Tibetan Buddhist teacher and is immensely popular for his warm-hearted, outgoing, caring nature and his practical, accessible presentation of the Dharma. He continually inspires our community by the example he sets both inside and outside the gompa. We are most fortunate to have this precious teacher living here at Chenrezig Institute to directly transmit the Buddha’s teachings to us via the unbroken Mahayana lineage.
VEN KARTSON
Venerable Kartson is Chenrezig Institute’s translator of Tibetan into English and the skilful interpreter for our precious Tibetan teacher Geshe Tsultrim. Venerable Kartson’s generosity and expertise in language mean that teachings direct from the Buddha and Mahayana lineage are available to us all.
VEN TONY
Tony Beaumont set off on his travels to South East Asia and India in the mid-seventies aged 25. With around 30 different jobs under his belt at that point, it was time for a break and to go exploring. Kopan Monastery became one of his destinations and so, most fortuitously, his path into Buddhism began.
VEN PENDE
Venerable Pende received full ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala in 1986, having been ordained a novice monk (getsul) by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1983. Venerable Pende’s path into Buddhism began in 1979 on the one-month Kopan course led by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Back in Australia, he became a founding member of Atisha Centre in Bendigo, Victoria.