Program. October, November, December Chenrezig Institute 33 Johnsons Rd Eudlo QLD 4554 Ph

Transcription

1 Program October, November, December 2016 Chenrezig Institute 33 Johnsons Rd Eudlo QLD 4554 Ph Chenrezig Institute is affiliated with the FPMT T h e F o u n d a t i o n f o r t h e P r e s e r v a t i o n o f t h e M a h a y a n a T r a d i t i o n is a w o r ld w id e o r g a n i s a t io n o f o v e r c e n t r e s f o u n d e d b y L a m a Y e s h e & L a m a Z o p a R i n p o c h e C h e n r e z ig I n s t i t u t e i s f u l l y a u d i t e d, n o t - f o r - p r o f i t a n d m a i n l y r u n b y v o l u n t e e r s. W e r e l y e n t ir e l y o n t h e s u p p o r t o f m e m b e r s, f r i e n d s, b e n e f a c t o r s a n d b e q u e s t s. F a c i l i t y f e e s a n d d o n a t i o n s a r e n e e d e d t o ke e p t h e c e n t r e r u n n ing. This Keep document up to date with contains the latest dharma news on material Facebook - please go to facebook.com/chenrezig be respectful and dispose Institute and of become appropriately a fan.

2 P a g e 2 Ongoing Weekly Program Our weekly program events are offered by donation and booking is not necessary. Your donations enable us to continue the program. Please give whatever amount you are comfortable with and check our website for latest program changes. Thank you am pm Teachings with Geshe Phunstok Tsultrim Wednesday 4.30pm-6.00pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood 6.00pm-7.00pm Meditation and Discussion at Maroochydore with Lindsay Pratt 6.30pm-7.30pm with CI Sangha Thursday 1.15pm-1.45pm with CI Sangha 6.30pm-8.00pm Teachings with Geshe Phunstok Tsultrim Friday 1.15pm-2.30pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha 6.00pm-7.00pm Meditation at Caloundra with Peter Shepherd Taste of Tibetan Buddhism Taste of Tibetan Buddhism is a drop-in introductory class that runs every week at Chenrezig Institute. It is designed for complete beginners and every week we explore a new topic, such as meditation or the nature of your mind. It s an opportunity to ask questions in a relaxed and welcoming environment. There is no need to have attended any previous classes. Every week we have guided meditations on Wednesdays from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm and Thursdays from 1.15 pm to 1.45 pm, held in the Gompa at Chenrezig Institute. They are led by Sangha members and are suitable for everyone. Additionally, in the weeks where Basic Program teachings are held, there are also s offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9.00 am. Meditation in the Community We also offer ongoing meditation sessions on the shine Coast. They are a great way to establish a time each week to spend on your own inner development and to draw on the support of others in your daily practice. No charge and no need to book. In Maroochydore (Wednesdays 6.00 pm-7.00 pm): Weekly meditation & discussion sessions with Lindsay Pratt held at Millwell Road Community Centre, 11 Millwell Rd, Maroochydore. In Caloundra (Fridays 6.00 pm 7.00 pm): Weekly meditation sessions with Peter Shepherd held at 124 Bulcock Street, Caloundra (above Britannia Garage at Ramsdale's Tang Soo Tao). Please check our online programme at for the latest programme changes. Thank you. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land where Chenrezig Institute sits and pay our respects to the Elders of the past, present and future for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal Australia. We must always remember that this land is, was and always will be traditional Aboriginal Land.

3 P a g e 3 Who s Who Spiritual Director: Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche Primary Teacher - Geshe Phuntsok Tsültrim Geshe Phuntsok Tsultrim was born in Tibet in At the age of 14 he became a monk and was admitted to Sera Je monastery, where he was awarded his Geshe degree (the equivalent of a doctorate in Buddhist studies) in spent a further two years studying tantra at Gyume Tantric Monastery. Geshe Phuntsok Tsultrim was appointed to the position of teacher of Buddhist philosophy at TCV School, Bylakuppee in 2006 where he spent two years teaching. Before coming to Chenrezig Institute, Geshe Phunktsok Tsultrim also spent some time teaching at Root Institute where he was immensely popular for the warm and approachable way in which he presented the Dharma. Executive Committee Gwen McIlroy, Kylie Cassidy Alan Carter, Pam Jackson Judy Bowey, Ven. Rigsal Director Lindsay Pratt Centre Services Manager Steve Robbins Spiritual Program Coordinator Kirsty Sharman Wellbeing Program Coordinator Translator Corey Jackson Coordinator Kathy Vichta Translator Tutor Ven. Kartsön (Yaki Platt) Gompa Manager Ven. Tenzin Wangmo Manager of Monks Community Ven. Lozang Jhampa Manager of Nuns Community Ven. Tenzin Palyon Chenrezig Arts Garden of Enlightenment EPPM Garrey Foulkes Carolyn Pearce Commercial Manager Kylie Cassidy Reception Susanna Naqasima, Andrew Boucher Shop Manager Dechen Gerrard Librarian Hilary Tilton Caretaker Kym Bartlett Big Love Café Cooks Wayne Sparks Robert Gillow Pierre Fluck Volunteer Coordinator Jonnie Wilson Dharma Club Ros Thomsen Nicole Kranz Membership Admin To be advised Housekeeping To be advised Big Love Café Team Leader Jennifer Thomas A Guide to Our Course and Event Categories Wellbeing (Multi-coloured Circle Logo) If you are looking to cultivate physical, emotional and mental balance then these courses are for you. They include authentic traditional and modern psychological approaches to health and lifestyle. They are suitable for everyone. Beginning Buddhism (Green Double Vajra) If you would like to know a little about Buddhism and how it relates to our daily lives, these courses offer a gentle introduction. They include workshops on meditation, dealing with disturbing emotions, and courses on basic Buddhist ideas. They are suitable for everyone. Exploring Buddhism (Red Lotus) If you are familiar with the basic principles of Buddhism, but would like to learn more about certain topics and practices, these courses are for you. They include the ongoing Discovering Buddhism programme and intermediate courses. Geshe and Advanced Topics (Yellow Jewel) These include courses taught by our resident Tibetan teacher (translated into English) and more advanced courses taught by other teachers. It is recommended that you have a good grasp of the fundamentals of Buddhist philosophy as these courses can be quite challenging. Retreats and Meditation (White Dharma Wheel) For those who would like to spend in retreat, we offer a variety of deity, teaching and meditation retreats. Please check the flyers for details about the specific requirements and level of difficulty. Special Buddhist Events and Rituals (Chenrezig Logo) For those interested in learning and sharing the sacred rituals and traditions of Buddhism and learning about sacred art practices. Community and Social (Family Logo) Fun social events for our community with an emphasis on sharing and celebrating. Here you ll find information about our children s program and learn how everyone in your family (even your pets!) can be involved in the centre.

4 P a g e 4 Fulfilling Rinpoche s Wishes On his last visit to Chenrezig Institute our precious teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche asked as to beautify our Tara statue by offering a divine dress and ornaments. We are excited to share that we have been able to follow our teachers advice, creating merit for the centre and all sentient beings. We are exceedingly grateful to the following members of our community for making this happen. Donations of money came from some Vietnamese students during Lama Zopa Rinpoche's visit, the 2015 Nyung Na retreatants and Gayle Laverty. Donations of jewels came from Phil Sleeman (turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli, amber and pearls) and from Annie McGhee, with pearls also being donated by Ven. Ailsa Cameron, Kathy Vichta and Jill Anfield. Ani Fran from Kopan helped with finding the cloth and the tailors for the divine dress. The talented Adrienne Strong volunteered several days to repainting, sculpting and gold leafing. And Anni McGhee and Ven. Ailsa Cameron had a bling day during which they created the new divine ornaments from the donated jewels. We encourage you to visit the gompa and experience the changes in person. A Thousand Hands Compassion is the wish to free all living beings from all their suffering and its causes, but as Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained during the first Mani Retreat held here at Chenrezig Institute in December 2000, Just understanding the teachings on how to develop compassion is not sufficient. Even if we have all the information on how to develop compassion, we must still have the realization. For that, we must receive the blessing of the special deity of compassion. The special deity of compassion is Chenrezig, the embodiment of the compassion of all the buddhas. Ways to receive the blessing of Chenrezig and thus develop compassion include doing nyung nä or another Chenrezig retreat; reciting OM MANI PADME HUNG, the mantra of Chenrezig; and helping to create images of Chenrezig. Nyung nä retreats are held every year at Chenrezig as are Mani Retreats, and now there is the opportunity to help create a large, beautiful statue of Chenrezig for the main CI gompa. The accompanying photograph shows a mockup of how the new statue might look once installed. If you would like to help make this wonderful statue a reality, please make your donation through CI reception or contact Kirsty at spc@chenrezig.com.au.

5 P a g e 5 Would you Like to Volunteer at Chenrezig Institute? A happy We are currently looking for volunteers to join our team. If you have a spare day, like to make friends and contribute to the community and perhaps learn new skills, this could be a wonderful opportunity for you. We are looking for new members of our café, housekeeping, gardening and maintenance teams. Get in touch with our friendly Volunteer Coordinator Jonnie Wilson (You might recognise him from behind the coffee machine) vc@chenrezig.com.au Meditation 101 with Venerable Damchoe October 1 Sat A fantastic way to manage stress & other life challenges! Have you ever wanted to learn simple meditation techniques that can be utilized to transform your daily life into a more peaceful one? This weekend workshop is designed to introduce Buddhist meditation techniques for complete beginners. You do not need any knowledge of Buddhism, and likewise you also do not need to have an interest in becoming a Buddhist, instead you need only an inclination to learning something about meditation and recognise that the Buddhist approach may be of benefit to you. day 1 October 9.00 am pm, held in the Gompa at Chenrezig. Facility fee $75. 10% discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Ven. Thubten Damchoe is a Buddhist nun and a student of Chenrezig Institute's Buddhist Studies Program. Oct 1 Sat s Birthday Please join us in the cafe as we gather together to celebrate s Birthday with chai and birthday cake. Although like many Tibetan s Geshela doesn t traditionally celebrate his birthday, this is a precious opportunity for students to create a connection with Geshela by sharing our Australian custom. Please come along and help us create the karma for a long and beneficial relationship with Geshela. If you haven t had the pleasure of meeting him yet this is a wonderful opportunity. Geshe Phuntsok Tsultrim was born in Tibet in At the age of 14 he became a monk at Sera Je Monastery in India, where he was awarded his Geshe degree (the equivalent of a doctorate in Buddhist studies) in He then spent a further two years studying tantra at Gyume Tantric Monastery. is immensely popular for the warm and approachable way in which he presents the Dharma. Saturday 1st October. Lunch in the Big Love Café from noon. $12.50 per person. Join us in the Cafe from 1.00 pm to share chai and birthday cake with Geshela. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website

6 The Profound Practice of the Seven Limb Prayer with Alan Carter P a g e 6 October 2 In the past Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche gave advice on how to remove obstacles to dharma practice. He recommended performing the 7-limb prayer over and over again like a mantra, doing this when doing other activities such as walking, sitting on the bus etc. This practice when aided by expansive visualisations and virtuous motivations is very beneficial in inspiring, expanding and clearing the mind. In this interactive day class Alan will share his experience of the practice through explanation and by visualising meditations. The day will be suitable for anyone at any level wanting to: Expand there understanding of this method Remove obstacles to practice using this technique The emphasis of the course will be how to use visualisation and words of the 7-limb prayer to try to develop very positive mental states. Through this course you will: Understand the meaning of each limb in terms of what it is eliminating /enhancing Understand how Guru Yoga is can be utilised in the practice Understand the application of the three principal aspects of the path to this practice Develop some techniques to enhance mental states that can be applied to other practices Become familiar with visualisations that can be applied to practice day 2 October 9.00 am pm, held at Chenrezig. Facility fee $75. 10% discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website October 8-9 Sat, Samsara and Nirvana Retreat - Discovering Buddhism 9 with Venerable Dekyi In this retreat, we reflect on the teachings and instruction from the Samsara and Nirvana module of the Discovering Buddhism programme. The retreat also continues the exploration of the lam-rim, the graduated path to enlightenment, and provides an opportunity to meditate on some of the key points. The retreat provides a chance to ask questions about the teachings and participate in group discussions. It is an excellent opportunity to clear away any doubts you may have, or for those studying at home or online to enjoy group practice and meditation. Everyone is welcome to attend this retreat weekend, even if you haven t attended the previous modules. Saturday 8 October 9.00 am - day 9 October 3.30 pm, held in the Gompa at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $ % discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Venerable Jampa Dekyi met the Dharma (the Buddha s teachings) in 1992 and realised immediately that there was no other way for her to live. She was ordained by Geshe Tashi Tsering at Chenrezig in 1993 and since then has lived and taught at Chenrezig Institute, Vajrayana Institute in Sydney and at Tushita in India. Now back at Chenrezig, she is known for her relaxed and down to earth approach.

7 P a g e 7 Dharma Club Children's Program Oct 2 Nov 6 Dec 4 Are you searching for a meaningful activity to do with your children? Do you struggle to find activities that are based around supporting them to grow into happy and ethical people? If so, stop looking and carve out some time to join us for Dharma Club. We start the morning with a very short meditation to settle the breath and focus our mind on the time we will share. Often the children are less fidgety than the adults. The topic for the morning is introduced and a story is shared with the children to further develop their understanding of the topic. Often a short puppet show is then performed by selected children, this lets the kids demonstrate what they understand of the topic. Often kids are the best teachers of their peers. An explosion of glitter, glue, stickers and colour then follows with the much anticipated craft activity. Parents and children are free to leave whenever they like during the craft time. The topics for Dharma Club are based on the 16 Guidelines for Life, which are broken up into four categories, within each category are four topics. Each Dharma Club is framed around one of the topics, we move through them sequentially. How we Think (Humility, Patience, Contentment, Delight) How we Act (Kindness, Honesty, Generosity, Right Speech) How we Relate to Others (Respect, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Loyalty) How we Find Meaning (Aspiration, Principles, Service, Courage) If you would like to explore these principles in a Buddhist context please join us. Dharma Club is run entirely by volunteers, their availability influences whether it runs or not. We ask for a gold coin donation so we can replenish the craft supplies. day 2 October am pm, in the Art Studio day 6 November10.15 am pm, in the Art Studio day 4 December am pm, in the Art Studio Children 5 and over welcome. All children must be supervised by their accompanying adult at all times. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event.

8 P a g e 8 Chenrezig Art Studio Chenrezig Art Studio, (located near the welcome arch) brings together the painters, builders and architects behind the Garden of Enlightenment stupas, and the many Traditional Tibetan Buddhist artworks that beautify our centre. The recently completed Arts Studio is the hub of Chenrezig Arts and provides a variety of services and important functions for the centre. Visitors are welcome to see how stupas and other holy objects are made, and browse in our retail shop. Open am pm Sat, Tsa Tsa Painting Oct 2 Nov 6 Dec 4 Tsa-tsas are a form of Buddhist art that has flourished for centuries in the Himalayas, most notably Tibet. Like many Tibetan sacred objects, they are iconographic forms of various buddhas. Often, students are given a commitment to make 100,000 tsa-tsas of a particular buddha or meditational deity during their lifetime. In the Art Studio we ll be enjoying painting these beautiful holy objects. And so that no one misses out we ve also created a space for our younger artists to get involved too. Artists young and old art invited to join us in the Art Studio from 1.30 pm pm. Bring your calm creativity and we ll provide all other materials. By donation. Mantra Rolling in the Art Studio Oct 2 Nov 13 Dec 11 Mantras, meaning mind protection, are Sanskrit syllables, usually recited in conjunction with the practice of a particular meditational deity, and embody the qualities of the deity with which they are associated. They bring benefit to all who see, touch, hear or speak them. Further, when you recite mantras with the correct motivation (the wish to benefit others), your speech becomes holy speech, capable of offering blessings to others. Join us in the Art Studio for the relaxed and calm experience of Mantra rolling. No experience necessary. Our Chenrezig Arts community will lead you through this inspiring practice. Second day of each month at am pm in the Art Centre at Chenrezig Institute. Meals in the Big Love Cafe are available separately and must be booked before 10 am on the day of the event.

9 P a g e 9 Refuge in the Three Jewels with Oct Sat, Taking refuge is the first step on the Buddhist path to inner freedom, but it is not something new. We have been taking refuge all our lives, though mainly in external things, hoping to find security and happiness. Some of us take refuge in money, some in drugs. Others take refuge in food, mountain climbing or sunny beaches. Most of us seek security in a relationship with a man or a woman. Throughout our lives we have drifted from one situation to the next, always in the expectation of final satisfaction. Our successive involvements may sometimes offer temporary relief but, in sober truth, seeking refuge in physical possessions and transient pleasures merely deepens our confusion rather than ending it... Buddhist refuge is a process of turning inward that begins with our discovery of our own unlimited potential as human beings. This discovery generates tremendous zeal for the development of our own inborn wisdom-energy. Complete, perfect wisdom is buddhahood. Perhaps the word buddha conjures up a remote and rather oriental image. But buddha is just a word, and it means totally opened mind, an opened lotus. When we finally realize our human potential and arrive at this total openness of mind, we become buddhas. Lama Thubten Yeshe, 1978 Join as he explains what it means to be a Buddhist and how we enter the Buddhist path. Saturday 15 October 9.00 am - day 16 October 3.30 pm held in the Gompa at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $ % discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Geshe Phuntsok Tsultrim was born in Tibet in At the age of 14 he became a monk at Sera Je Monastery in India, where he was awarded his Geshe degree (the equivalent of a doctorate in Buddhist studies) in He then spent a further two years studying tantra at Gyume Tantric Monastery. is immensely popular for the warm and approachable way in which he presents the Dharma. Refuge Ceremony with A Refuge Ceremony will be conducted for those who have attended this preparatory course, are ready to make this meaningful commitment to enter the Buddhist Path and who identify Geshela as one of their teachers. If you are taking refuge for the first time, or would like to talk to someone about this commitment please contact the Spiritual Program Coordinator, Kirsty Sharman. Kirsty is in the program office Wed- or alternatively you can her spc@chenrezig.com.au

10 P a g e 10 Buddhist Art Experiences with Andy Weber This October Chenrezig Institute is incredibly fortunate to be able to offer a range of art experiences with Andy Weber that are suitable for beginners through to more experienced students. Buddhist Art is for everyone. Participants in Andy s courses are often amazed by the beauty of the work they have been able to create and deep Oct Wed-Fri Eight Auspicious Symbols with Andy Weber This art course of drawing and sculpting will focus on the most popular symbols in Tibetan Buddhism the Eight Auspicious Symbols. These eight symbols of good fortune represent the celestial offerings made by the Hindu gods to Buddha Shakyamuni after he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. By making such offerings the gods acknowledged that his achievement was greater than theirs because he had truly left cyclic existence behind. The symbols are painted on doors and walls in preparation for the New year celebrations and used as welcome signs at the entrance of monasteries when lamas and teachers visit. Lectures on the deeper symbolism of each symbol and meditations will enhance the experience of the sacred art. Every student will attempt to draw and sculpted in relief one of the symbols either with clay (air hardening clay) on a board. This course is suitable for both beginners as well as advanced students, artistic talent is not required but genuine perseverance and interest preferred. The end result is not as important as the path getting there. Wednesday 19 October - Friday 21 October held in the Arts Studio at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $ % discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Statue Painting - Opening the Eyes with Andy Weber Oct Wed- Thurs Students will learn how to open the " eyes opening of a statue ", which means applying pure gold onto statues and painting the whole face. This is a particular practise in Tibetan Buddhism to decorate the faces of statues. The application of pure gold and the opening of the eyes is perceived as an offering to the Buddha's and deities. Previous experience in tangkha painting will be an advantage but not a necessity. This craft is usually kept secret and only a few are initiated into this Ancient skill. A RARE opportunity, places will be limited. Wednesday 26 October - Thursday 27 October held in the Arts Studio at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $ % discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website

11 P a g e 11 Master Tangkha Painter Andy Weber The artist Andy Weber spent seven years living and studying the iconographical art of Tibetan Buddhism under the guidance of accomplished masters in India and Nepal. His unique style of authentic images for visualisation are highly respected not only by the growing number of Western Buddhists but also by Tibetan Lamas of all traditions, many of whom have commissioned his work. His thangka paintings can be seen in Buddhist centres and temples throughout the world including the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Painting the Guru - Lama Tsongkhapa This course will focus on the image of Lama Tsong Khapa, the great reformer and creator of the Gelug lineage and his two heart sons, Gyaltsab.je and Khedrub.je. Stories about his miraculous life will enhance the experience and deepen the understanding of the special relationship between spiritual teacher and disciple in Tibetan Buddhism, which has been essential to the survival of this sacred tradition and lineage including that of the Dalai Lama. We will look at the Tsongkhapa 80 (the 1000 faces of Lama Tsongkhapa) a series depicting his life in detail. Students will receive personalised hands-on-tuition creating a painting of the Guru image with his disciples or one of the scenes depicted in the Tsongkhapa 80. All students will receive basic instruction about Tangkha painting (canvas making, paint preparation, painting techniques) The course will also include daily meditation and mantra recitations focusing on Guru yoga. Suitable both for beginners and advanced students. As part of the Guru subject we will also offer students of other lineages the opportunity to learn the figure of Guru Rinpoche the legendary mystic who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th Century. Saturday 29 October - day 6 November held in the Arts Studio at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $540 Weekends only: Saturday 29 - day 30 Facility Fee $180 Saturday 5 and day 6 November Facility fee $180 10% discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website

12 P a g e 12 Vajrayogini Practice Days Golden Light Sutra Oct 30 Nov 27 Vajrayogini Practice takes place usually on the last day of every month in the Tara Room. It is a small and dedicated practice group for those who have received the appropriate initiation only. For those practitioners who have also completed an approach retreat with fire Puja, there is a self-initiation session after lunch. Last day of every month 9.30 am pm, in the Tara Room at Chenrezig Institute Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. Oct 29 Sat Nov 20 Sat Dec 23 Fri One of the vast visions of our spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, is to recite the powerful Sutra of Golden Light all around the world for world peace. The benefits from reciting or listening to the sutra are immeasurable, from eliminating conflict, terrorism, torture and famine to achieving full enlightenment. Join us to read the sutra aloud in the Tara room (opposite the library). Please feel free to come for the entire session from 9am until 12pm (with a chai break), or any part of it. Last Saturday of every month 9.00 am 12 noon - or on that month s Holy Day at Chenrezig Institute. Special Guest - Geshe Tenzin Zopa Oct 28, 29 Fri, Sat Chenrezig Institute is excited to host Geshe Tenzin Zopa who stared in the movie Unmistaken Child. You may have met him in late 2015 when he visited the institute with Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche. This year he will be returning to teach and share his unique blend of wisdom and compassion with us. Tenzin Zopa was born in 1975 in the Tsum Valley in Nepal. Geshe Lama Konchog attended his birth and at the age of seven Geshe Zopa joined him as his closest assistant staying with him until his death in 2001 serving as his translator. In 1990, Zopa entered Sera Je Monastic University, where he was the top student in debate, writing, and memorization. He continually ranked among the top five students out of more than 5000 monks. In 2007 he completed his studies and graduated as Geshe (equivalent to a PhD ) one of the youngest ever to do so. He speaks fluent English, Tibetan, Nepali, and Hindi, and a little Mandarin. Geshe Tenzin Zopa has many students worldwide. He is also project director of several monasteries and nunneries in the Tsum Valley of Nepal. In addition, he oversees the physical, mental, and spiritual development of Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, the reincarnation of his heart teacher Geshe Lama Konchog. Chenrezig Institute is excited to host Geshe Tenzin Zopa for the FPMTA National Meeting. We look forward to sharing details of Geshela s teaching schedule very soon.

13 P a g e 13 Chenrezig Reading Circle with Venerable Tseten Nov 6 Do you love reading? Our new reading circle will be drawing on popular modern books that offer Buddhist teachings in ways that might surprise you. Always thought-provoking, these books will invite stimulating discussion when we meet to share our thoughts. Join us as we examine the characters and story lines to find Dharma expressed in a new, modern and easily-accessible context. Is there wisdom in these books that we can apply to our every day lives? Can a work of fiction help us integrate more formal Buddhist teachings? We look forward to sharing these discussions with you. We meet bimonthly at 2.00 pm in the Big Love Cafe at Chenrezig institute. Our next meeting will be on day 6 November. The book we will be discussing is, In the Buddha's Kitchen by Kimberly Snow, published by Shambala. You may have read it before, but we encourage you to re-read it, keeping in mind how it affects you and your understanding of the Dharma. The books will be available shortly in our own shop or, if you wish to buy independently you might visit Hilary will also have a few copies in the library. There is no formal joining of this group, just come along and we will provide chai, good company and great discussion. I look forward to seeing you there. Happy reading! Nov 5 Sat peaceful life. Buddhism in a Nutshell with Venerable Damchoe his course presents an introduction to the core principles and T philosophy of Buddhism from the Tibetan Buddhist perspective. In one day you will be introduced to the Buddha s life and teachings, a brief history of Buddhism and a discussion of the various types of Buddhism practiced today. The course will explore what it means to be a Buddhist and how the philosophy can help you lead a happier, more There will also be an opportunity to learn and practice some basic meditation techniques. If you want a gentle introduction to Buddhist philosophy, or have wondered about Buddhist beliefs and how Buddhism applies to everyday life, this course is a great start! Saturday 5 November 9.00 am pm, held in the Gompa at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $75 10% discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Ven. Thubten Damchoe is a Buddhist nun and a student of Chenrezig Institute's Buddhist Studies Program.

14 P a g e 14 Welcome Day at Chenrezig Institute: explore all we have to offer! Nov 6 Open Days are filled with opportunities to explore what Chenrezig Institute has to offer. Bring the whole family for a relaxing day out! Bring your family to Dharma Club in our beautiful Art Studio and while you are there check out the amazing traditional art practices and beautiful items available. Then head up to our gompa (temple) and listen to a short talk about Buddhist beliefs and practices with our Tibetan teacher. Join us for a delicious vegetarian or vegan lunch in the Big Love Café, stroll through our beautiful Garden of Enlightenment, or browse in our extensive Library. After lunch you can take part in our Buddhist Reading Circle or head back to the Art Studio for an afternoon of art. And don t forget to visit our gift shop - we have a huge range of Dharma books and gifts in stock! am - 12 noon Dharma Club (In the Art studio) am - 12 noon Talk on Tibetan Buddhism with (Gompa) 12 noon pm Lunch in Lama Yeshe s Big Love Café 2.00 pm pm Chenrezig Reading Circle with Ven. Tseten (Big Love Cafe) 1.30 pm pm Tsa Tsa painting (In the Art Studio) pm pm Dzambala Puja day 6 November, am pm. No charge. All welcome, no bookings required! Except for lunch. Lunch in the Big Love Café is available for $12.50 per person. Please book by 9.30 am. Would you like to hold an event at Chenrezig Institute Did you know that Chenrezig Institute is available to hold special events? Each year we help members of our community celebrate precious human rebirths with beautiful baby naming ceremonies and birthday celebrations. We share important moments of commitment as couples take wedding vows and we bring the community together to say goodbye to it s members with meaningful ceremonies. We are able to cater for small intimate get togethers and large fund raising events. If you are interested in talking to us about holding an event here please contact our lovely Café Manager Jen café@chenrezig.com.au so that she can discuss your needs.

15 P a g e 15 How to Develop Bodhicitta: Discovering Buddhism 10 with Alan Carter Nov Sat - Loving kindness is the essence of bodhicitta, the attitude of the bodhisattva. It is the most comfortable path, the most comfortable meditation - Lama Thubten Yeshe Bodhicitta is the heartfelt wish to attain enlightenment in order to be able to benefit all beings. Without it, enlightenment is impossible, because Bodhicitta frees us from the habitual self concern that prevents us from experiencing true happiness and lasting peace. But most of us have trouble just developing kindness and compassion for those that we know, so how do we give rise to the vast aspiration of Bodhicitta? In this module of our ongoing Discovering Buddhism programme, we will analyze the concepts of equanimity, loving kindness, compassion and Bodhicitta. We will explore why Bodhicitta is important, and will learn step-by-step methods for developing Bodhicitta ourselves. These instructions are a practical and effective way to develop the good heart, and show us how to make our lives truly meaningful. Saturday am - day 13 November 3.30 pm, at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $ % discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Motivated to Meditate: Stabilising Shamatha with Nov Sat, The wisdom arising from meditation is not only through investigation but from familiarization so that it is something living, it automatically develops, and that is the counterforce [to mental afflictions]. In order to achieve that, our mind must be controlled, not by force, but by mental effort, which only comes voluntarily, never through force. That single-pointed mind you call shamatha. "The Heart Sutra mentions, gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate. Unless you experience single-pointed meditation, the gate, gate is meaningless. So if you re really serious about gate, gate ( go, go ), then you must start the practice...this is very important a single-pointed mind." His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the topic of shamatha in Washington DC, July 11, Join for these inspiring teachings on the benefits of Shamatha and support for your practice. Saturday 19 November 9.00 am - day 20 November 3.30 pm held in the Gompa at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $150.10% discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Geshe Phuntsok Tsultrim was born in Tibet in At the age of 14 he became a monk at Sera Je Monastery in India, where he was awarded his Geshe degree (the equivalent of a doctorate in Buddhist studies) in He then spent a further two years studying tantra at Gyume Tantric Monastery. is immensely popular for the warm

16 P a g e 16 Nov 20 Buddha Day: Descent From Tushita (Lhabab Duchen) Buddha Shakyamuni is said to have travelled at the age of forty-one to Tushita heaven, where he spent one rainy season giving teachings to benefit the beings of the desire realms, and to repay the kindness of his mother by helping her achieve enlightenment. The twenty-second day of the ninth Tibetan month is celebrated as the day of Buddha Shakyamuni s return from Tushita. It is taught that as the Buddha was descending, the entire universe became clear and unobstructed to all beings. This profound teaching is considered to be one of the eight great deeds of the Buddha. It is part of Buddhist tradition to engage in virtuous activities and prayer on Buddha days as a way of accumulating merit. To help you do so, we have arranged day of merit- making activities am 4.48 am Precepts 9.00 am - 12 noon Golden Light Sutra 9.00 am 3.00 pm Working with Holy Objects (Garden of Enlightenment) 4.45 pm pm Set up light offerings (Main Gompa) 6.30 pm pm Shakyamuni Buddha Puja (Main Gompa) including light offerings day 20 November, at Chenrezig Institute. Everybody welcome, no bookings required (except for lunch) All activities are offered by the centre at no charge, except for lunch which is $12.50 per person. Please book by 9.30 am. Lama Zopa Rinpoche offers lunch to everyone who works with holy objects all day! In the Buddha s Footsteps Pilgrimage with 26 Nov to 16 Dec Chenrezig s Pilgrimage to India in 2016 will be a unique experience. It will cover the Buddhist Sites of the north with leading a Threeday retreat in Bodhgaya and visits to important Buddhist sites in Sarnath, Kushinagar and Sravasti. In the south, visit the Gelupa seat of Sera Jey Monastery, and Ajanta and Ellora Caves which date back to between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD. Geshe Tsultrim will give teachings and lead prayers at all the Buddhist sites throughout the pilgrimage. Highlights Include: Teachings by at Sarnath, Kushinagar, Vultures Peak. Three-Day Retreat lead by at Root Institute in Bodhgaya Chance to stay at s Monastery, Sera Jay in South India. The Pilgrimage can be taken in its entirety or as separate components. Full details: pilgrimage/

17 P a g e 17 Nov Sat - Dharma Kit Bag with Miffi Maximillion Everything you ever wanted to know about Tibetan Buddhist etiquette or ritual, but were afraid to ask! This course is aimed specifically at Discovering Buddhism students so you can bring book learning into your practice, and deepen your experience joining the Dharma dots! The course is equally appropriate for anyone who considers themselves a Buddhist and has a daily practice. If you mix up your mantras and don t know which mudra to use, this is the course for you! You will learn how to set up an altar, offer water bowls; the meaning behind these activities, how to do long and short prostrations, and the visualisations accompanying this practice. The course also covers Gompa etiquette, how to treat the Sangha, and how to relate to a Geshe and other high lamas. A large part of the day will be spent learning and practicing the long mandala, the three-tiered rice offering representing an entire and perfect world system, used in many pujas and other practices. Saturday am - day 27 November 3.30 pm, held in the Gompa at Chenrezig. Facility fee $150. Miffi Maxmillion runs the spiritual program at Langri Tangpa Centre in Brisbane where she leads beginner s classes. Miffi was brought up a Buddhist and had the great good fortune to play with Lama Yeshe as a child, and his hook of compassion sustained her through the many rebellious stages of growing up. 10% discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Advanced Study Program: Home Study Homestudy? If you simply can t get to the centre regularly but would still like a course of study to follow, please contact bsp@chenrezig.com.au We can send details of intermediate level study ie Discovering Buddhism modules or more advanced study ie Basic Programme packages you can work through in your own time at your own leisure. We also have a lovely package made from one of the January Lam Rim Down Under retreats, suitable for any level.

18 P a g e 18 Overflowing with Compassion: Chenrezig Retreat with Ven. Choekyi Dec 3-4 Sat - "A mind committed to compassion is like an overflowing reservoir - a constant source of energy, determination and kindness. This is like a seed; when cultivated, gives rise to many other good qualities, such as forgiveness, tolerance, inner strength and the confidence to overcome fear and insecurity." His Holiness the Dalai Lama Compassion, the wish that everyone be free of suffering, lies at the heart of the Buddhist path. This retreat focuses on developing compassion through the joyful and uplifting practice of reciting the mantra of Chenrezig, the Buddha of compassion. It is easy to recite and easy to remember -and its meaning is extremely profound. The benefits of reciting 'Om mani padme hum' are immeasurable: it purifies our negative karma, develops our compassionate heart, and ultimately, it creates the causes for us to actualise the entire path to enlightenment. This retreat is dedicated to the long life of the Dalai Lama and fulfils the wishes of Lama Zopa Rinpoche who considers this practice so powerful he has asked his students to complete 100 million of these retreats. By taking part you will contribute to peace, happiness and freedom of all sentient beings. Everyone is welcome! You don t need any previous retreat experience to participate in this life-changing opportunity. Saturday 3 December - day 4 December held in the Gompa at Chenrezig Institute. Chenrezig Institute is delighted to sponsor the facility fee of this retreat. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website How to Develop Bodhicitta Retreat: Discovering Buddhism 10 with Alan Carter Dec Sat, In this retreat, we reflect on the teachings and instruction from the How to Develop Bodhichitta module of the Discovering Buddhism programme. The retreat also continues the exploration of the lam-rim, the graduated path to enlightenment, and provides an opportunity to meditate on some of the key points. The retreat provides a chance to ask questions about the teachings and participate in group discussions. It is an excellent opportunity to clear away any doubts you may have, or for those studying at home or online to enjoy group practice and meditation. Everyone is welcome to attend this retreat weekend, even if you haven t attended the previous modules. Saturday 10 December 9.00 am - day 11 December 3.30 pm, held in the Gompa at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $ % discount for members and concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Alan Carter has been a Buddhist for 21 years and is a graduate of the Basic Program. He has taught at Karuna, Blue Mountains, Langri Tangpa, Chenrezig Institute and was resident teacher at Chandrakirti Centre in New Zealand for 2 years. He has also led two one- month group retreats at Chenrezig Institute.

19 P a g e 19 Family Dharma Retreat Dec This year the wonderful team of women who bring you Dharma club each month are creating something truly magical to end the year. Families are invited to join us for three days of fun including art and craft, games, campfire stories and singalongs, meditation and peaceful mindful parenting workshops. Throughout the retreat we ll be working with a lantern maker to capture the children s imagination and create some inspiring and unique light offerings that we will parade through our grounds and to the gompa to offer for Lama Tsongkhapa Day. Details of this retreat are still being finalised and exact activities will be suited to the ages of the children participating. Expected Schedule: Wednesday 21st Arrive in the evening - Welcome dinner and Campfire Thursday 22nd Peaceful Parenting workshop, Children s meditation and lantern making Friday 23rd Peaceful Parenting workshop, lantern making and evening parade to make offerings for Lama Tsongkhapa Day. Saturday 24th Farewell breakfast Please watch our website for details. Lama Tsong Khapa Day (Ganden Ngamchoe) Dec 23 Fri Je Tsongkhapa ( ) is one of the most significant Tibetan Buddhist masters, whose studies and meditations in all the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism resulted in the founding of the Gelugpa lineage. Buddhists all over the world honor his attainment of parinirvana on Lama Tsongkhapa Day, which this year falls on December am 4.53 am Precepts 9.00 an- 12 noon Golden Light Sutra (Main Gompa) 9.00 am 3.00 pm Working with Holy Objects (Garden of Enlightenment) 4.45 pm pm Set up light offerings (Main Gompa) 6.30 pm pm Lantern Parade to the Gompa 7.00 pm pm Shakyamuni Buddha Puja (Main Gompa) including light offerings Friday 23 December, at Chenrezig Institute. Everybody welcome, no bookings required (except for lunch) All activities are offered by the centre at no charge, except for lunch which is $12.50 per person. Please book by 9.30 am.

20 P a g e 20 Dec Mon-Sat Vajrasattva Purification Retreat - Release and Renew with Ven. Choekyi Complete your year with the powerful act of releasing all that has gone before and start the New Year with a renewed sense of calm, inspired and motivated. In Buddhist purification, we can let go of the past with mindfulness and perception, and open up to the brightness and potential of the present moment. In this state of openness, we resolve to make beneficial changes in our lives which help increase our emotional and mental wellbeing. Our week-long Purification retreat has been described as life-changing by previous participants. With time for deep reflection in beautiful surroundings, we begin to see how our thoughts, speech and actions have influenced the course of the year; we start to notice how our relationships have been impacted by our own responses to life. Through the gentle, but powerful and stabilising practices of meditation, Buddhist mantra recitation and visualisation we are encouraged to loosen our hold on the past, release our anxieties and regrets, and let go of our pain and heartache. Every courageous gesture we make takes us a little further along the path to awareness. Through the beautiful and profound act of purification, we refresh ourselves with strong, positive mental habits, replacing negativities and worries with potent, aspirational resolutions for the future. This transformative process clears the way for us to fully embrace a more relaxed, peaceful, and happy approach to life. The effects of our increased mental and emotional wellbeing are far-reaching, affecting everything and everyone in our lives. Come along and join us for this period of surrender, quiet reflection and positive transformation in the peaceful setting of Chenrezig Institute. You will enjoy the tranquil ebb and flow of a traditional Buddhist retreat and be supported in your journey with likeminded people. The retreat ends with a beautiful symbolic light offering ceremony, a sublime memory to carry forward into the New Year. This retreat is suitable for beginners or experienced practitioners alike, but a basic understanding of karma will greatly benefit your time here. All welcome! Monday 26th December, 6.30pm Saturday 31st, 9am. Facility fee $ % discount for members and concession card holders. Meals and accommodation also discounted 10% for those attending the full retreat. Meals in the Big Love Cafe are available separately, and must be booked before 9:30am on the day of the event. Having met the Dharma in 1990, Venerable Chokyi ordained with Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche in Venerable Chokyi lives at Vajrayana Institute where she has been studying the Basic Program with Geshe Samten for the past ten years. Venerable Chokyi is Spiritual Program Coordinator at Vajrayana Institute where she has been leading meditation and teaching foundation Buddhist studies, such as Discovering Buddhism, for some years. Venerable Chokyi has been the Director of Liberation Prison Project since Prior to ordination, she taught at university and in the community sector for over 20 years.

21 P a g e 21 January - Sneak Peak Kopan Downunder with Ven. Karston and Ven. Choekyi Dec 3-4 Sat - Our annual lam-rim (Graduated Path to Enlightenment) retreat is affectionately called Kopan Downunder as a nod to the iconic Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, where the first lam-rim courses for westerners were held in the seventies with our founders, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe. This year our Lam Rim will be a completely integrated experience with daily yoga, teachings, meditation, discussion and sacred art experiences. It will be taught in English by experienced sangha dedicated to help you put the teachings into practice. Why choose to go on a lam-rim retreat? Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains: The most unbelievably important thing in our life is lam-rim. The practice of the three principal aspects of the path is the most important thing. This is the most important, more important than a job, money, or anything else in our life. It is the most important thing. You will be able to experience daily life in our thriving Buddhist community, and discover the relevance and freshness of traditional Buddhist teachings to your own life. The lam-rim has been greatly appreciated many thousands of people as an excellent means for clarifying their direction in life, no matter their religion or philosophy. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has explained that even one syllable of a lam-rim teaching is powerful and can be seen by the practitioner as a personal instruction towards achieving enlightenment. Join us at the start of the New Year for this wonderful retreat, and discover ways to transform your own life. All welcome! Monday 2nd January, 6.30pm - day 15th, 1:30pm. Facility fee $ % discount for members and concession card holders. Meals and accommodation also discounted 10% for those attending the full retreat. Meals in the Big Love Cafe are available separately, and must be booked before 9:30am on the day of the event. Ven. Kartsön has been living and working as the main translator for the spiritual program at Chenrezig Institute since Originally from Israel, he met Buddhism in 1997 during his first visit to India. He spent four years in India before joining us in training as an interpreter between English and Tibetan language. In the years he s been with us at Chenrezig Institute he has worked closely with our resident lamas, studying with them and translating 10 years of our advance study program, masters program, and now additionally tutoring this program. He has also taught and translated for lamas in India, Israel, Singapore, Taiwan and China. Having met the Dharma in 1990, Venerable Chokyi ordained with Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche in Venerable Chokyi lives at Vajrayana Institute where she has been studying the Basic Program for the past ten years. Venerable Chokyi is Program Coordinator at Vajrayana Institute where she has been leading meditation and teaching foundation Buddhist studies, such as Discovering Buddhism, for some years. Venerable Chokyi has been the Director of Liberation Prison Project since Prior to ordination, she taught at university and in the community sector for over 20 years.

22 P a g e 22 Chenrezig Institute Advanced Study Program and Homestudy packages The Advanced Study Programme offered at Chenrezig Institute is a comprehensive, practice-oriented course in Buddhist Studies. It is suitable for ordained and lay students. The course curriculum follows the FPMT s Basic Program, as designed the FPMT s spiritual director Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This five-year course consists of 12 subjects, with nine core and three supplementary subjects. It is undertaken as full-time study and is divided into three or four modules per year. Each module is six to eight weeks long. Remote study options are available via the Homestudy Packages for those who are unable to attend on-site. The syllabus includes nine core subjects: Mind and Cognition Buddhist Tenets Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds Stages of the Path The Heart Sutra Mahayana Mind Training (Wheel of Sharp Weapons) The Sublime Continuum The Fourth Chapter of the Ornament for Clear Realisations Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra, Lower Tantras and Highest Yoga Tantra. Five supplementary subjects: 70 Topics Death, Intermediate State and Rebirth A Highest Yoga Tantra commentary Grounds and Paths of Sutra Signs and Reasoning Our precious BSP students, teachers and helpers from the first module Tenets. For all enquiries and requests please contact Kathy Vichta, me Coordinator at bsp@chenrezig.com.au or visit Dates 26 September - 21 October, The 4 th Chapter of the Ornament for Clear Realisation Part 1 31 October - 22 November, The 4 th Chapter of the Ornament for Clear Realisation Part 2 Exciting News! Lam Rim study in 2017! The Graduated Path to Enlightenment presents our entire path from finding a teacher, through the development of great compassion and the mind of enlightenment up to the paths of shamatha (calm abiding) and vipassana (insight) and takes us all the way to the state of a Buddha. We will devote the entire year to the study of one of Lama Tong Khapa s extensive texts on the Graduated Path. Dates are not final but we expect to offer four modules starting early March and, with breaks for visiting teachers and Nyung Nays etc, finishing around the beginning of November. Join our list for more news contact bsp@chenrezig.com.au

23 P a g e 23 The Wellbeing Centre Big thinking has been a big part of Chenrezig Institute from the very beginning. Lama Yeshe had an extensive vision for the centre and generations of students have been working to fulfil that vision for over forty years. The latest stage in this expansion of our program and community is the newly renovated Wellbeing Centre. At the Wellbeing Centre we are adopting an attitude of universal responsibility to care for everyone, not just Buddhists but all sentient beings. Lama Zopa Rinpoche calls this the Bodhisattva Attitude. With this in mind Chenrezig Institute is developing a program that will be of benefit to those who are looking for genuine happiness and wellbeing in a non-religious framework. The Wellbeing Centre is dedicated to sharing authentic and well established techniques for good health and genuine happiness. Our presenters are experienced and qualified in ancient medical traditions, contemplative approaches, modern scientific methods and more. This program will provide people with tools to improve their quality of life, increase our capacity to be of benefit to others and further expand the Chenrezig Institute Community. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace. - Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama (1990) The Wellbeing centre building has also been re-imagined for its new purpose with fresh white walls and polished wooden floors. A feature wall of glass panels opens up the space to an extensive treetop view and floods the space with natural light. In the near future we ll be adding a kitchenette, bathroom and landscaping the front of the centre to create a more beautiful and easily accessible venue. The two recently added treatment rooms will also become available for hire. For more information you can contact Corey Jackson: wellbeing@chenrezig.com.au

24 P a g e 24 August 28 Reduce Stress and Embrace Life: A Day of Dru Yoga and Somatic Meditation with Ruth Donnelly Enjoy a day of heart-centred flowing movements and embodied meditation to release stress from your body and mind, enabling you to embrace the potential of your life more fully. Dru yoga is an accessible form of yoga, shown to reduce stress and increase the quality of life. Somatic meditation connects us with our physical bodies and from there to our inner experience of life. Come and learn how to care for yourself. Beginners are welcome, and Dru is accessible to most levels of ability, please enquire if you have any concerns. Bring a yoga mat and blanket, and wear comfortable layered clothing. day 28 August 9.30am-4.30pm, held in the Wellbeing Centre at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $95 10% discount for concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Ruth Donnelly is a Buddhist Psychotherapist in Maleny. She runs self-care and training groups using Transformative Mindfulness and Dru Yoga, offering people simple ways to care for and transform their own lives, and the lives of people they live and work with. She has practised Tibetan Buddhism since 1998 and found it to be the key to her own health and happiness. Sept 10 Sat Awareness Through Movement: An All Gain, No Pain Approach with Eric Kiernan, PhD. Many of the behaviours that limit natural expression are habitual. Many issues - pain, physical limitation, anxiety and ineffective action - are amplified by erroneously accepting some limitations as inevitable. As habits are embodied. they can be studied through movement and sensing. This workshop explores an approach, The Feldenkrais Method, based on learning and movement that assists us to move beyond habits that limit development. The approach is fascinating and counter cultural. It is an all gain no pain approach to development. Saturday 10 Sep am pm, at the Wellbeing Centre at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $55. 10% discount for concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Eric Kiernan PhD spent much of his career as an economist at several Australian universities. He has a profound interest in systems that can find themselves in different states; some are unsatisfactory, others are more satisfactory. Of particular interest to Eric are practical methods to assist us to move from one state to another. Eric uses these ideas and practices to assist the development of individuals, couples, teams and organisations. He runs Hummingbird Dojo in Maleny, which offers The Feldenkrais Method, Voice Dialogue and Kraiki (a Feldenkraisinspired approach to Aikido).

25 P a g e 25 October 1-2 Oct emotions. Cultivating Emotional Balance (continued) with Corey Jackson A happy and rewarding life is within our grasp and achieving it is a skill we can learn. Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB) is an evidence-based training that blends ancient techniques for developing mindfulness, empathy and compassion with ground breaking scientific understanding of The course has been shown to reduce people's destructive emotional episodes, improve professional and personal relationships and develop resilience in the face of adversity. Focusing on both theory and practice, CEB aims to give a genuine experience of ancient techniques made relevant to a modern lifestyle and world view. This unique program is the brainchild of Dr. Paul Ekman, a world renowned psychologist within the field of emotions and Dr Alan Wallace, a highly respected meditation teacher and scholar of contemplative traditions. It was developed in response to the year 2000 Mind and Life conference that became the subject of Daniel Goleman's best-selling book, Destructive Emotions. Introductory weekend: Saturday 3 Sep 9.00 am - day 4 Sept 3.30 pm, at the Wellbeing Centre at Chenrezig Institute. The course continues Sept and Oct 1-2 for those who have attended the introductory weekend (making a total of six sessions to complete the training). Facility fee $195 for the introductory weekend, $525 for the whole course. 10% discount for concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Corey Jackson left his career as a jazz pianist in Toronto to study Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan language in India. He holds a degree in Psychology and Sanskrit from the University of Sydney, where he was awarded the Khyentse Foundation award for excellence in Buddhist Studies. The Cultivating Emotional Balance project perfectly facilitates his passion for using ancient wisdom in a thoroughly modern context. Wellness Yoga: A three day Wellness & Yoga Retreat with Paul Wood. October 5-7 Wed-Fri Take time out. Connect to your joy. Create better physical and emotional health. In this 3 day retreat you will be guided into practices designed to increase vitality, release tension and bring you into in a state of ease and happiness. Balancing body & mind is an art form that has developed over thousands of years in the East. Using this wisdom, Chenrezig Institute is offering a 3-day Wellness and Yoga package. Create your own retreat schedule by choosing from our offer of various practice sessions in yoga, meditation, relaxation, and Buddhist philosophy. Do as much or little as you want! Furthermore you have the opportunity to book extra one-on-one sessions, including massage, aromatherapy and energy healing treatments. This is your time to relax, be inspired and recharge in the idyllic natural surrounds of one of Australia s oldest Buddhist centres! Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat and blanket, if you can. All are welcome, some experience of yoga is helpful but not necessary. However, anyone with serious illness or injury must apply to Chenrezig Institute in writing. Wednesday 5 October 9.30 am - Friday 7 October 4.30 pm, at the Wellbeing Centre at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $295 10% discount for concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website

26 Free the Mind a movie by Richard Davidson Supporting Mental Health Awareness Week P a g e 26 October 9 Presented by Corey Jackson. Join us for the award-winning documentary "Free the Mind". This inspiring film details some of the very impressive work of world-renowned neuroscientist, Richard Davidson, and his team at the Centre for Investigating Healthy Minds. His research, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has revolutionised how the west understands the mind, our emotions, and how to nurture well-being for ourselves and others. Corey Jackson will present the documentary, speak a little about Richard Davidson's work, and lead an informal Q&A afterwards. Light refreshments will be served. day 9 October 4.30 pm pm, at the Wellbeing Centre at Chenrezig Institute. By donation (suggested $10 to cover costs) Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before 9.30 am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website October 14 Fri Mental Health: Chat and Chai with Bryan Peck Supporting Mental Health Awareness Week Mental Health Week raises community awareness about mental health issues and is held every October each year to coincide with World Mental Health Day on 10 October. The aim of Mental Health Week is to promote social and emotional wellbeing to the community, encouraging people to maximise their health potential, enhancing the coping capacity of communities, families, individuals and increasing mental health recovery. The 2016 Mental Health Week is being held from 8 to 15 October. The 2016 theme is Act-Belong-Commit with a focus on suicide prevention, Together we can save lives. Recognising this vitally important work within our community, Chenrezig Institutes Wellbeing Centre has invited Brian Peck to share his experience and research about mental health and how we as individuals can care for our selves and others. "Let s open a discussion that depression and anxiety are normal in society and there is something you can do about it, mental health issues don't have to be a life sentence." Brian Peck Friday 14 October 6.30 pm pm, at the Wellbeing Centre at Chenrezig Institute. Chenrezig Institute s Wellbeing Centre is excited to host Brian Peck as part of Mental Health Week. We look forward to sharing more details of this event soon. Please keep an eye on our website or like us on Facebook. Bryan Peck works as an instructor and consultant to organisations on the shine Coast. He has been working in the field of mental health training for 3 years, and has been studying in Psychology for over 5 years. Bryan has 2.5yrs experience conducting Mental Health First Aid trainings to over 600 participants from 38 trainings. Bryan conducts trainings in diverse areas, with diverse participants, with an emphasis on training skills to enhance daily well-being. Currently, Bryan is also completing a PhD in the areas of Cognitive Psychology, and the effects of Shame on Mental Health.

27 P a g e 27 Mental Health Awareness with Bryan Peck Supporting Mental Health Awareness Week October 15 Sat This is a half-day facilitator led course focusing on communication and influencing skills required to help people through overwhelming issues. It is designed to help you recognise when friends and family members may be struggling with their mental health and give you tools and confidence to help. The course will help you communicate with people who are suffering so that they don t feel alone and know that there is help available. It makes everyone comfortable with even acknowledging that when someone's not feeling the best. Saturday 15 October 10am pm, at the Wellbeing Centre at Chenrezig Institute. Chenrezig Institute s Wellbeing Centre is excited to host Brian Peck as part of Mental Health Week. We look forward to sharing more details of this event soon. Please keep an eye on our website or like us on Facebook. Chenrezig Institute s Wellbeing Centre is excited to host Brian Peck as part of Mental Health Week. We look forward to sharing details of this event soon. Please keep an eye on our website or like us on Facebook. Rainforest Yoga: A Two Day Eco Yoga Retreat with Paul Wood Nov 5-6 Sat, Spend some time synchronising with natures harmony. The ancient yogi's understood how we could find balance and taught us to respect nature and work with its rhythms. On this retreat we explore our place with our natural surroundings and the help of yogic ideas and philosophy increase our wellbeing. Where better to practice than Chenrezig Institute set in 160 acres of pristine rainforest? The schedule also includes daily asana practice (physical exercise), pranayama (breathing exercise) and deep relaxation/mediation. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat and blanket, if you can. All are welcome, some experience of yoga is helpful but not necessary. However, anyone with serious illness or injury must apply to Chenrezig Institute in writing. Saturday 5 November 9.00 am - day 6 November 4.30 pm, held in the Wellbeing Centre at Chenrezig Institute. Facility fee $ % discount for concession card holders. Accommodation and meals available separately. Meals must be booked before am on the day of the event. All bookings can be made on our website Retreat leader Paul Wood (Woody) is Yoga instructor trained in India in the Guru Kulu system. His emphasis is to bring flexibility to body, spirit and mind. Woody enjoys light hearted but focused classes that lead participants into a meditative space. He has been practicing Yoga and Healing Arts for over 10 years.

28 P a g e 28 Non-Violent Communication with Cate Crombie Nov 19 Sat Most of us have been educated from birth to compete, judge, demand and diagnose to think and communicate in terms of what is right and wrong with people. We express our feelings in terms of what another person has done to us. We struggle to understand what we want or need in the moment, and how to effectively ask for what we want without using unhealthy demands, threats or coercion. As founder of Nonviolent Communication, Marshall Rosenberg says, What others do may be a stimulus of our feelings, but not the cause. At best, thinking and communicating this way can create misunderstanding and frustration, or simply keep us from getting what we want. It can also keep us from the fulfilling relationships we deserve. And still worse, it can lead to anger, depression and even emotional or physical violence. Join Non-Violent Communication trainer Cate Crombie for a full day workshop in this transformative approach to both personal and professional relationships. Chenrezig Institute s Wellbeing Centre is excited to host Cate Crombie. We look forward to sharing details of this event soon. Please keep an eye on our website or like us on Facebook. Cate Crombie has been a facilitator of communication courses for over 20 years. Since, 2001, Cate has been learning and practicing Nonviolent Communication skills in both her personal and professional life, as she is committed to fully living the process. Being inspired to share this powerful yet natural model with others, Cate is a Centre for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) certified trainer of Compassionate or Nonviolent Communication. Working in a gentle and empowered experiential style, Cate invites participants to work with examples from their own lives. Her workshops and private work involve a balance of support as well as challenge that people say they find both stimulating and enjoyable! The Ayurvedic Approach to Wellbeing with Eumundi Medicine Man Jay Mulder Nov 20 Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world s oldest medical systems. It originated in India more than 3,000 years ago and remains one of the country s traditional health care systems. Its concepts about health and disease promote the use of herbal compounds, special diets, and other unique health practices. India s government and other institutes throughout the world support clinical and laboratory research on Ayurvedic medicine. Join Eumundi Medicine Man Jay Mulder for a day of exploring the Ayurvedic approach to health and wellbeing. Chenrezig Institute s Wellbeing Centre is excited to host Eumundi Medicine Man Jay Mulder. We look forward to sharing details of this event soon. Please keep an eye on our website or like us on Facebook. Jay D Mulder. Holds a Bachelor of Complimentary and Herbal Medicine from Charles Sturt University, a Diploma of Herbalism and Nutrition from Queensland Institute of Natural Science, a Certificate IV of Ayurveda and an Ayurvedic Clinical Certificate from Dr Rajan Coopan of South Africa (Jay s original Ayurvedic teacher). He has also completed a two year course in Sanskrit at Queensland University. Jay regularly meets Ayurvedic professors of Ayurveda and scholars in India to discuss the philosophical concepts of Ayurveda (padartha vinana), as well as knowledge of dravya (substance) known as dravyagunavijnana. He also undergoes pancakarma twice each year. Previously, he spent 12 years in a ashram. For the past ten years, Jay has taught the Ayurvedic Lifestyle course and now the Advanced Diploma of Ayurvedic Medicine course at East Coast TAFE, and also the College of ACE BMS. Having retired into private practice Jayadharma now teaches interested students on a one to to basis.

29 31 The Ornament of Clear Realization with Andy Weber Painting the Guru October 2016 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Commences 9.00 am 2 Concludes 3.30 pm Cultivating Emotional Balance with Corey Jackson 3 The Ornament of Clear Realization with 4 The Ornament of Clear Realization with am pm Letter to a Friend With Commences 9.00 am Wellness Yoga 6.30 pm pm 6 The Ornament of Clear Realization with 1.15 pm pm Continues Wellness Yoga 7 The Ornament of Clear Realization with 1.15 pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha 9.00 am pm Meditation 101 with Ven. Damchoe 1pm s Birthday Party 8 Commences 9.00 am Samsara and Nirvana - DB 9 with Ven. Dekyi 9 Cultivating Emotional Balance with Corey Jackson 9.00 am pm The Profound Practice of the Seven Limb Prayer with Alan Carter am- 12noon Dharma Club (Art Studio) 1.30 am pm Tsa Tsa Painting (Art Studio) 6.30 pm pm Dzambhala Puja Concludes 3.30 pm Samsara and Nirvana -DB 9 with Ven. Dekyi 4.49 am am Eight Mahayana Precepts am pm Mantra Rolling in the Art Centre 4.30 pm pm Free the Mind 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva with Concludes 4.30 pm Wellness Yoga 6.30 pm pm Tara Puja 10 The Ornament of Clear Realization with 17 The Ornament of Clear Realization with 11 The Ornament of Clear Realization with Guru Puja 18 The Ornament of Clear Realization with am pm Letter to a Friend With 4.30 pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood 6.30 pm pm 19 Andy Weber Eight Auspicious Symbols am pm Letter to a Friend With 4.30 pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood 6.30 pm pm 13 The Ornament of Clear Realization with pm pm 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva with Andy Weber Eight Auspicious Symbols The Ornament of Clear Realization with 1.15 pm pm 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva with 14 The Ornament of Clear Realization with pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha Mental Health: Chat & Chai Brian Peck Andy Weber Eight Auspicious Symbols The Ornament of Clear Realization with 1.15 pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha 15 Commences 9.00 am Refuge in the Three Jewels with 22 10am - 2pm Mental Health Awareness with Brian Peck FPMTA Meeting Gompa Closed am am Eight Mahayana Precepts at home Concludes 3.30 pm Refuge in the Three Jewels with Medicine Buddha Puja FPMTA Meeting Gompa Closed 24 FPMTA Meeting Gompa Closed 25 Guru Puja 26 Andy Weber Opening the Eyes am pm Letter to a Friend With 4.30 pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood 6.30 pm pm 27 Andy Weber Opening the Eyes 1.15 pm pm 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva with 28 Andy Weber Opening the Eyes 1.15 pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha Geshe Tenzin Zopa am pm Golden Light Sutra Andy Weber Painting the Guru Geshe Tenzin Zopa am - 5 am Eight Mahayana Precepts Andy Weber Painting the Guru 9.00 am pm Vajrayogini Practice (Tara Room)

30 November 2016 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat am- 12noon Dharma Club (Art Studio) The Ornament of Clear Realization with am pm Letter to a Friend With The Ornament of Clear Realization with The Ornament of Clear Realization with 9.00 am pm Buddhism in a Nutshell with Ven. Damchoe 11 am - 12 noon Chat with 1.30 am pm Tsa Tsa Painting (Art Studio) Andy Weber Painting the Guru Andy Weber Painting the Guru Andy Weber Painting the Guru Andy Weber Painting the Guru Andy Weber Painting the Guru Andy Weber Painting the Guru 4.30 pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood 6.30 pm pm 1.15 pm pm 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva with 1.15 pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha Commences 9.00am Rainforest Yoga with Paul Wood (Wellbeing Centre) Concludes 4.30 pm Rainforest Yoga with Paul Wood 2.00 pm Chenrezig Institute Reading Circle with Ven Tseten (Café) am am Eight Mahayana Precepts The Ornament of Clear Realization with Tara Puja 8 The Ornament of Clear Realization with am pm Letter to a Friend With 4.30 pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood 6.30 pm pm 10 The Ornament of Clear Realization with 1.15 pm pm 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva with 11 The Ornament of Clear Realization with 1.15 pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha 12 Commences 9.00 am How to Develop Bodhichitta -DB 10 with Alan Carter pm pm Dzambhala Puja Concludes 3.30 pm How to Develop Bodhichitta -DB 10 with Alan Carter am pm Mantra Rolling in the Art Centre am am Eight Mahayana Precepts at home The Ornament of Clear Realization with Medicine Buddha Puja 21 The Ornament of Clear Realization with The Ornament of Clear Realization with 22 The Ornament of Clear Realization with am am Eight Mahayana Precepts at home am pm Letter to a Friend With 4.30 pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood 6.30 pm pm am pm Letter to a Friend With 4.30 pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood Guru Puja The Ornament of Clear Realization with pm pm 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva with The Ornament of Clear Realization with 1.15 pm pm 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva with 18 The Ornament of Clear Realization with pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha The Ornament of Clear Realization with 1.15 pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha 19 Commences 9.00 am Motivated to Meditate with Non-Violent Communication with Cate Crombie (Wellbeing Centre) 26 Commences 9.00 am Dharma Kit Bag with Miffi Maxamillion Concludes 3.30 pm Motivated to Meditate with 4.28 am am Eight Mahayana Precepts Buddha Day Decent from Tushita see program for all details The Ayurvedic Approach with Jay Mulder (Wellbeing Centre) Concludes 3.30 pm Dharma Kit Bag with Miffi Maxamillion 9.00 am pm Vajrayogini Practice (Tara Room) 4.30 pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood 6.30 pm pm

31 December 2016 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Chenrezig Retreat with Chenrezig Retreat with Ven Choekyi Ven Choekyi 1.15 pm pm 1.15 pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha am- 12noon Dharma Club (Art Studio) 1.30 am pm Tsa Tsa Painting (Art Studio) 6.30 pm pm Dzambhala Puja am am Eight Mahayana Precepts 4.30 pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood Tara Puja pm pm am am Eight Mahayana Precepts 1.15 pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha Guru Puja 10 Commences 9.00 am How to Develop Bodhichitta -DB 10 with Alan Carter 11 Concludes 3.30 pm How to Develop Bodhichitta -DB 10 with Alan Carter am pm Mantra Rolling in the Art Centre am am Eight Mahayana Precepts Medicine Buddha Puja pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood 6.30 pm pm pm pm pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha Family Dharma Retreat 22 Family Dharma Retreat 23 Family Dharma Retreat 24 Family Dharma Retreat 25 Centre Closed 4.30 pm pm Hatha Yoga Class with Paul Wood 6.30 pm pm 1.15 pm pm 1.15 pm pm Taste of Tibetan Buddhism with CI Sangha Lama Tsongkhapa Day See program for full details 26 Vajrasattva Retreat with Ven. Choekyi 27 Vajrasattva Retreat with Ven. Choekyi 28 Vajrasattva Retreat with Ven. Choekyi 29 Vajrasattva Retreat with Ven. Choekyi 30 Vajrasattva Retreat with Ven. Choekyi am am Eight Mahayana Precepts at home 5.36 am am Eight Mahayana Precepts at home

32 Guest Services Reception & Dharma Gift Shop Opening Hours Mon, Tue Closed Wed 9.30 am pm Thu am pm Fri am pm Sat 8.30 am pm We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respects to the Elders of the past, present and future for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal Australia. We must always remember that this land is, was and always will be traditional Aboriginal Land am pm Lyndon Davis 2011 at the consecration of the Garden of Enlightenment. Big Love Cafe Opening Hours & Prices Closed on Mondays, *Tuesdays see below, Wed to 7.00 am pm Cakes and coffee available between mealtimes. Meals must be ordered before 9.30am Breakfast $ am am Lunch Please book lunch by 10am on the day $12.50 (children half price) pm pm Supper $ pm pm *The Big Love Cafe is open on Tuesdays for registered guests, residents & BSP students. The Chenrezig Gompa is open 6.00 am 9.00 pm everyday. The Tara Meditation Room is open 24 hours. Accommodation Prices Retreat Hut (shared bathroom) Retreat Hut (with en suite) Sangha House Lotus House (Motel) Dorm Bed (male and female) Single $70 pp (no twin option) Single $80 pp (no twin option) Twin $50 pp / Single $60 pp Twin $40 pp / Single $52 pp Single $27 pp Library Hours Wednesday - day 1.00 pm pm (Closed 3-10 August for renovation) Art Studio Hours Saturday and day am pm Not receiving our weekly updates? Many web-based services (e.g. Hotmail, Yahoo! etc.) send bulk messages automatically to your spam/ junk folder. Please add info@chenrezig.com.au to your address book/contacts list and the chenrezig.com.au domain to your safe list. Find us on Facebook and Twitter If you are a Facebook user, look for our profile: ChenrezigInstitute. It s loaded with photos from current events and we ll keep it up to date with news of upcoming events. On Twitter we are #ChenrezigFPMT. Check our programme updates online Find our online calendar atwww.chenrezig.com.au/programme/ calendar/ and for regular updates subscribe to our ENews mailing list.